Tag Archives: reboot

Fuller wants Kristen Bell in ‘Munsters’ reboot

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This month brought news that Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller is bringing a “modern-day reboot” of The Munsters to NBC.  Today Fuller expressed interest in nabbing actress Kristen Bell, who comes from TV roots (Veronica Mars), to play the part of Marilyn, the “plain” cousin of the wacky Munster clan.  “Are you kidding me?” explaimed Fuller.  “Kristen would be perfect.”  He explains that Marilyn will have a much more pivotal role in the reboot than she did in the classic 1960s sitcom.  “She is our eyes into the world, in the sense that we all can relate to our families exhibiting some level of monstrous behavior.”  He also hinted that Eddie’s pet dragon Spot will also serve a larger purpose.  NBC has ordered a pilot to be made, and Fuller splendidly spilled some info as to what we can expect.  “This version has teeth and isn’t afraid to use them,” he said.  “For example, the story begins when young Eddie unexpectedly manifests as a werewolf on a scout camping trip and inadvertently eats two of his fellow scouts.”  Um, yes.

[Via EW-AusielloFiles]

Zack Snyder checks in to direct ‘Superman’

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Zack Snyder, helmer of 300, Watchmen, and the upcoming Sucker Punch, has signed on to direct the Superman franchise reboot.  He joins a stellar creative team in the Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures backed project.  Christopher Nolan, the man famous breathing life into the Batman franchise, is producing alongside wife Emma Thomas, Charles Roven (The Dark Knight), and Zack’s wife and producing partner Deborah Snyder.  The Superman story has already been imagined by Nolan and David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight); Goyer is currently penning the script.

Deadline recently spoke with Snyder about the news.  “I’ve been a big fan of the character for a long time, he’s definitely the king of all superheroes, he’s the one.  It’s early yet, but I can tell you that what David and Chris have done with the story so far definitely has given me a great insight into a way to make him feel modern.  I’ve always felt he was kind of awesome.”  Snyder promises to get started on Superman as soon as production wraps on Sucker Punch.  Warner Bros. and DC Comics are aiming for a 2012 holiday release.

[Via Deadline]

Bryan Fuller is bringing back The Munsters!

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Bryan Fuller, the brilliant mind behind Pushing Daisies, is creating a “modern-day reboot” of the classic 1960s sitcom The Munsters.  According to EW’s Michael Ausiello, NBC has ordered a pilot and the reboot is being described as “Modern Family meets True Blood.”  And there’s this: Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pans Labyrinth) is rumored to have a behind-the-scenes role in the show.  Uhhh…count me in!  I wonder what The Munsters will look like in beautiful HD technicolor, don’t you?

[Via EW-AusielloFiles]

Short film: Mortal Kombat (A MUST WATCH)

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On Tuesday this viral video hit the ‘Net and quickly garnered critical acclaim.  After watching this extremely well produced short film based on the classic video game Mortal Kombat people everywhere began to speculate.  Was this a teaser trailer for a reboot of 1995’s Mortal Kombat film or was it just a fan-made work of art?  Shortly after its arrival it was discovered that the seven-and-a-half minute short was directed by Kevin Tancharoen (director of 2009’s Fame) and it was produced in an attempt to pitch Tancharoen’s vision for a reimagined Mortal Kombat movie to Warner Brothers (as confirmed by actress Jeri Ryan’s Twitter feed).  Mortal Kombat: Rebirth was Tancharoen’s way of saying, “Hey WB, check out this video, see what I can do, and let’s talk about making a new Mortal Kombat flick.”

This mini-movie is nothing short of fantastic.  Though it takes place in the MK universe, the characters’ origins are based in reality.  Instead of attributing their abilities to the supernatural, each villain transforms into their malaligned selves due to psychotic breaks or hereditary disease.  These characters have mental and physical “issues” and they know martial arts.  That’s Tancharoen’s spin on the MK universe.  And obviously he retains the overall plot which revolves around the tournament.  From the intense fight sequence to the stunning camera shots and visuals, Tancharoen’s short deserves WB approval.  As Jackson Briggs was trying to convince Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion to enter the tournament to kill Baraka, Reptile, and the other villains I was instantly imagining and anticipating how the story would continue.  And then I remembered I was only watching a short clip on YouTube.  I have no doubt this masterpiece of a short will lead to a feature-length MK movie sometime in the near future.

MK: Rebirth stars Michael Jai White as Jackson Briggs, Matt Mullins as Johnny Cage, Ian Anthony Dale as Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion, Richard Dorton as Reptile, Lateef Crowder as Alan Zane/Baraka, and Jeri Ryan as Sonya Blade.  The fight sequence was choreographed by Larnell Stovall. Continue reading Short film: Mortal Kombat (A MUST WATCH) →

Spider-Man is getting a reboot; Sam Raimi & Tobey Maguire are out

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People, I have sad news to share with you: Spider-Man 4 is not being made.  Director of the first three movies Sam Raimi and Spider-Man himself Tobey Maguire will not be involved in future Spider-Man films.  I am quite disappointed.

Ramai pulled out of the blockbuster franchise “because he felt he couldn’t make its summer release date and keep the film’s creative integrity,” according to Deadline.  There were disagreements between him and the studio heads.  He wanted to focus on one villain while the studio wanted to incorporate numerous villians.  He insisted that John Malkovich play the villain (Vulture), and the studio wanted to nab Anne Hathaway for the part.  The studio wanted to shoot the film in 3D (look at the financial success from Avatar, right?!), but the Spidey 4 team did not include anyone with background knowledge of shooting in 3D.  With all these issues up in the air and the script getting delayed on more than one occasion, Sony Pictures decided to scrap a fourth installment and reboot the entire franchise with a new production team and actors.

Sony has released an official statement about the matter: “The new chapter in the Spider-Man franchise produced by Columbia, Marvel Studios and Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will have a new cast and filmmaking team. Spider-Man 4 was to have been released in 2011, but had not yet gone into production.”  What direction will the new film take?  “Peter Parker is going back to high school when the next Spider-Man hits theaters in the summer of 2012. Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced today they are moving forward with a film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.”  Hm, this could work if executed properly.

Raimi shares his thoughts: “Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction, and I know they will do a terrific job.”  As does Maguire: “I am so proud of what we accomplished with the Spider-Man franchise over the last decade.  Beyond the films themselves I have formed some deep and lasting friendships.  I am excited to see the next chapter unfold in this incredible story.”

When I first heard news that the Spider-Man franchise was going to be rebooted I felt severely disappointed.  Though the third film was not so good, we are all so invested in the characters and the building relationships and themes in the three films.  I believe the franchise is strong and there’s no need to restart the story.  Tobey Maguire is Spider-Man.  What’s happening here is like taking Sean Connery out of a James Bond film only three movies in.  (I am not comparing Maguire to Connery in any way, shape, or form; it’s the idea that counts.)  With word of new a direction–going back in time to witness Peter Parker’s high school days–I feel somewhat confident that such a new story could work, only if executed successfully.  If the reboot is a flop (think what happened with The Hulk, but Ang Lee’s version coming second) my disappointment will turn into sheer anger.  Hopefully the studio can find the right set of actors and come up with a smart story to reignite the Spidey film series.

[Via Deadline]