A ‘Knight Rider’ Movie

A ‘Knight Rider’ Movie is in Development

by Damon Houx June 25, 2013 8:31 PM

 

‘Knight Rider’ was a popular TV show (albeit briefly) that ran from 1982 through 1986. In it, David Hasselhoff’s crime-fighting Michael Knight was partnered with a talking car named KITT. And now it’s ready to become a movie.

The LA Times is reporting that Brad Copeland — who was a writer on ‘Arrested Development,’ but also penned ‘Wild Hogs’ and the ‘Yogi Bear’ film adaptation — has been hired to work on a screenplay. With his hiring, it’s obvious that they’re going for a slightly more comic version of the film, and likely interest has been boosted by the success of ‘Fast and Furious 6.’
But it’s worth noting that this is something Hollywood has tried before. Back in 2002, Revolution Studios wanted to get a ‘Knight Rider’ film going, and then The Weinstein Company snapped up the rights in 2006 and tried to get Orlando Bloom to star in the picture. That didn’t happen, and the project has been cold ever since.This is on top of the 2008′s television reboot, which lasted only one troubled season.
Though ‘Knight Rider’ is embedded in pop culture, it’s also a program that only lasted four seasons, so the premise wore out its welcome before it could get to a more syndication-friendly hundred episodes. While much of the modern appreciation of the show seems ironic (which is likely why they’re going for a comic flavor), and fueled by a fascination with David Hasselhoff. But common sense never stopped Hollywood before, so this has a real shot at being made.

Filed Under: Knight Rider Category: Movie News

Vin Diesel in Talks for Marvel Studios Role – Who Will He Play?

With only one chapter of Phase Two (Iron Man 3) out of the way, Disney and Marvel Studios have begun unveiling their plans for Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After The Avengers 2 and Ant-Man hit theaters in 2015, there will be at least three additional Marvel franchise movies, unannounced titles officially scheduled for 2016 and 2017, with more on the way.
San Diego Comic-Con is three weeks out and Marvel is expected to host a major panel presentation for Thor: The Dark World, that will also likely include bits for Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy. Adding to the list of hopeful unveilings – that now includes the mysterious Phase Three film titles – are the major casting confirmations and surprise announcements. Could one of them involve a role for Vin Diesel?


Vin Diesel just told his 47 million Facebook fans that he’s meeting with Marvel, joking that he doesn’t know why or what for. It came as a secondary part of one of his regular Facebook photos and messages:

“P.s. Marvel has requested a meeting… no idea what for… haha, you probably know better than me…”

With the timing of this statement, Comic-Con around the corner, Fast & Furious 6 (& 7) in everyone’s mind, and the fact that writer-director James Gunn is beginning to shoot Guardians of the Galaxy in London, our immediate guess would be that Marvel is looking to finalize the voice actors for their space epic. Heroes Rocket Raccoon and Groot for instance, along with the big bad villain of the universe (Thanos) will likely be (at least, partially) CG animated, along with many other of the alien characters.
How does Vin Diesel’s voice (think an angrier Iron Giant) behind the grinning face of Thanos sound?

By coincidence or perhaps not at all, we’re not surprised to see Diesel’s name pop up with the Marvel brand. Last year in August, he stirred the rumor mill himself with his super-popular Facebook page by throwing up an image of Vision (the photo below, actually) as his profile photo before quickly taking it down. Vision is an android, a love interest of confirmed new Avengers Scarlet witch and a member of Earth’s Mightiest himself.

Vision

Knowing from our sources that actors such as Benicio Del Toro were signed quite a while before the news was slipped to trade magazines, it’s possible that Diesel is playing coy and is already set to play some character in the series. All we have to go on is the timing of the news and the uncast characters we know are hitting the big screen in the future.
There’s an additional piece to the story that I mentioned last year and on the Screen Rant Underground podcast, but five years ago, Diesel told MTV in an interview why he hadn’t gotten involved in comic book movies. His main reason is that he was “holding out,” for a film where the protagonist is the villain from the Marvel universe, a role that no one had come to him yet at that point in time.
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Iron Man 3 is currently in theaters, Thor: The Dark World on November 8, 2013, Captain America: The Winter Soldier on April 4, 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy on August 1, 2014, The Avengers 2 on May 1, 2015, Ant-Man on November 6, 2015, and unannounced films for May 6 2016, July 8 2016 and May 5 2017.
Let me know on Twitter @rob_keyes who Vin Diesel should play!
Sources: Vin Diesel & MTV

‘Resident Evil 6’ Movie Update: Filming to Begin This Fall

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Some franchises just refuse to die, no matter how ramshackle they become. When said franchise is ostensibly about the undead, the irony is amusing.
Thus is the case with the Resident Evil series – a critically rejected franchise that has nonetheless made great deals of money with each new release. After securing a 2014 release slot and a director in series originator Paul W.S. Anderson (Pompeii), it looks as if the technically-untitled Resident Evil 6 will continue the series’ forward lurch when it begins filming this fall.


The Star has published an interview with Anderson, in which he announces that he will begin actively shooting Resident Evil 6 in the autumn of 2013. This puts the production roughly on track to meet its previously announced September 12th, 2014 debut.
The announcement is a clear ray through a cloud of confusion currently surrounding the film’s actual release date. This is largely due to recent tweets by star Milla Jovovich (The Expendables 3), which indicated that the next Resident Evil movie had been pushed back to 2015. Anderson’s comments seem to refute that assertion.
For the uninitiated, the Resident Evil films follow the badass adventurer Alice (Jovovich) as she navigates a zombie pandemic released by the evil Umbrella Corporation. Based (somewhat loosely) on the video game series of the same name, the Resident Evil franchise has always featured hordes of undead, but has also branched into mutant horrors, psychic powers, clone armies, brain-altering parasites, and all sorts of science fiction-horror weirdness.

While the Resident Evil movies have never been well-reviewed, they’ve also become increasingly crowded and nonsensical as the series has progressed. One need only read Screen Rant’s reviews of Resident Evil: Afterlife and Retribution to see that the series is more or less coasting.
As such, it’s difficult to decide whether to regard the news of Resident Evil 6’s production schedule with anticipation or dread. Will this installment finally put a nail in the series’ uneasy coffin? Or will Resident Evil 6 revive not only our faith in its franchise, but also help to evolve zombie horror as a whole? As Anderson states in his interview:

“I think the undead genre really plays to primal human fears… That kind of stuff never goes out of fashion. The themes of a zombie story are always good; they make for good filmmaking.”

We’ll have to wait until at least September of next year to find out whether Anderson’s assertion will pan out.
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Resident Evil 6 is currently set to infect theaters on September 12th, 2014 – though this may change in the near future. Stay tuned to Screen Rant for further updates.

‘Escape Plan’ Trailer: Schwarzenegger and Stallone Break Out of Prison

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone didn’t have much luck at the box office with their solo vehicles The Last Stand and Bullet to the Head earlier this year (even though both were solid action-throwbacks), but that might change with their upcoming team effort Escape Plan. In this prison breakout thriller, Ray Breslin (Stallone) – the world’s foremost expert on structural security – cautiously accepts one more job before retirement: break out of the world’s most hi-tech (and ultra-secret) prison. Ray is deceived and incarcerated in the facility known as “The Tomb” (the film’s original title), where he plans a break-out with help from a fellow inmate (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who’s also getting on in the years.
Escape Plan was directed by Mikael Håfström, who’s more experienced at making supernatural horror films (1408, The Rite) than this kind of masculine buddy flick. The screen story was designed by Miles Chapman (Road House 2: Last Call) – whose original script was revised by Jason Keller (Machine Gun Preacher), credited as Arnell Jesko – and the film costars Jim Caviezel (Person of Interest), 50 Cent (The Frozen Ground), Amy Ryan (The Office), Sam Neil (Alcatraz) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Sinister).
Judging by the Escape Plan trailer, the people behind the film’s marketing seem to have learned a thing or two from the miscalculated campaigns for Stallone and Schwarzenegger’s recent films. Both Last Stand and Bullet to the Head suffered in part because the trailers kept reminding moviegoers that these muscular gents have gotten slower and creakier over the years. As opposed to fellow old dog Bruce Willis, who has somehow become more invulnerable after turning 50, according to A Good Day to Die Hard and G.I. Joe: Retaliation (which are vastly inferior to both Sly and Arnie’s most recent movies).

Here, there are no jokes about the stars being in their 60s or excess attention paid to the comedic and cheesy drama; instead, the trailer makes Escape Plan look like a good old-fashioned helping of tough guys on a mission, cracking wise and winking at the audience along the way (see: Schwarzenegger response to Stallone’s claim that he breaks out of prisons for a living).

Previously-released details from the Escape Plan script (back when the project was still called The Tomb) suggest the story and thematic elements come together to form an enjoyable homage to old-school buddy fare like Tango & Cash and Red Heat (minus the kitsch and camp found in an action throwback like Expendables 2). If that’s true, then here’s to hoping that Escape Plan proves to be successful at the box office, so we can enjoy more of Sly and Arnie’s macho posturing onscreen in the future (so long as they’re able and willing).

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Escape Plan opens in U.S. theaters on October 18th, 2013.

New ‘Transformers 4′ Truck Revealed – Nemesis Prime Storyline?

Now that shooting on Transformers 4 is underway, Michael Bay has attempted to curb the set photo reveals that plagued his Transformers 3 shoot by sporadically releasing official images of each vehicle that will be featured in the new film. We’ve already seen a redesigned Optimus Prime (with a Western Star truck replacing his Peterbilt 379 alternate mode from the first three films) and Bumblebee (now a modified vintage 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS) – along with a host of entirely new vehicles. Most newcomer cars have not been been publicly connected to their respective robot warrior (yet), meaning that we’ve been doing a lot of digging through the expansive franchise canon to get an idea of which cybertronians might be included this round – as well as what direction Bay intends to take the story (especially since Transformers 4 is supposed to set-up a new trilogy saga).
Today the speculation game continues, as Bay has unveiled a new image revealing that a 2014 Argosy cab-over truck by Freightliner will join the franchise – subsequently delivering some very interesting story and character possibilities.


The Argosy image first appeared on MichaelBay.com (click to enlarge) – accompanied by the following caption:

The adventure continues to transform with a very different offering from Daimler Trucks North America . . . the imposing 2014 Argosy cab-over truck by Freightliner.

For longtime Transformers enthusiasts that have read the comics and watched the various TV series, several fan-favorite character possibilities will come to mind. While other bots are possible (more on that further down), we’re going to start with the two most straightforward entries - most notably Ultra Magnus and Motormaster. Both characters are “leader” characters that played pivotal roles in numerous Transformers storylines  - and they’re both traditionally depicted with a comparable freighter truck-like alternate mode.

Ultra Magnus

Ultra Magnus has previously (on more than one occasion) been depicted as a Freightliner car carrier – the same brand as the new truck in the film. Bay has been known to switch-up alternate modes in past movies – so while Ultra Magnus is an obvious choice, that doesn’t mean he’s a lock for the movie (especially given the ominous coloring of Bay’s Freightliner). In terms of character, several versions of Ultra Magnus exist throughout the Transformers canon: ranging from the brother of Optimus Prime, to a obedient follower in the Autobot army, or even a cocky and reckless leader himself. However, after the close personal relationship between Optimus and Sentinal that was explored in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, it’s hard to imagine the filmmakers will retread similar ground by utilizing the brother iteration of Magnus. So, if he is in the film, it’s more likely he’ll be a new second-in-command type (similar to the role Ironhide played) – a soldier that helps Optimus reunite with his new cast of Autobots.
Motormaster on the other hand, is a Decepticon leader – and head of the Stunticon sub-team (which also includes Breakdown, Drag Strip, Dead End, and Wildrider). Motormaster has never been a Freightliner brand truck specifically but regularly appears as a tractor-trailer-type truck – most notably the Kenworth K100 Aerodyne. Plenty of Transformers fans would likely be excited to see the Stunticons in the new film but, unfortunately, after The Dreads (Crankcase, Crowbar, and Hatchet) chase in Dark of the Moon, the crazy personalities and acrobatic driving/transforming of the Stunticons might not seem quite as fresh to casual audiences who aren’t savvy about specific characters in the franchise.

Motormaster

Similarly, the group’s combiner capability (joining to become Menasor) has already been tackled onscreen by the Constucticons – when they formed Devastator in Revenge of the Fallen. Plus, given that the new film is supposed to take the franchise in a difference direction (possibly off-planet), it’s hard to imagine where the Stunticons would fit into a story that could feature some of the series’ more over-the-top ideas like Dinobots and Unicron. As a result, a character like Motormaster seems less likely (albeit still entirely possible) at this point.
Assuming that Transformers 4 really is going to dramatically shift the trajectory of the story, the Freightliner could actually be something very unexpected – such as Nemesis Prime. While certain versions of Nemesis Prime were tied to a long-running Unicron storyline (that also included alternate dimensions), one interpretation presented the character as a twisted clone of Optimus Prime – created by human engineers using spare parts from the Autobot leader.
Check out the Nemesis Prime toy (which debuted as a Comic-Con 2008 exclusive). The figure was a reskin of the “Classics” Optimus Prime but bears a strong resemblance to the color scheme and design seen in Bay’s Freightliner image:

If that idea sounds familiar, it should – since an unofficial synopsis for the film indicated that the plot would center around a group of businessmen and scientists that naively attempt to study and use Transformer tech to build new weapons – with dire consequences (while a larger threat from outer space approaches). Studio sources maintain the plot synopsis was fake – but it would not be the first time that official reports outright lied to hide the twists and turns in an upcoming film.
Between the possible plot synopsis, along with the casting of Kelsey Grammer as a human (likely businessman) villain, a Nemesis Prime plot line isn’t too far-fetched and could provide some interesting onscreen robot drama. Evil twin stories can be a total misfire but, when done properly, they are a cool opportunity to explore different sides of a fan-favorite character (like Optimus Prime) – by showcasing a version with the same skill set but entirely different sense of morality.

Nightwatch Optimus Prime [via Deviant Art: Art-Master-1983]

There are certainly other possibilities regarding who the Freightliner will ultimately be in the final film, and feel free to share your ideas in the comments, but one final possibility is that the truck isn’t a new character at all – and could merely be a “stealth” version of Optimus Prime. In fact, there’s already a Transformers: Dark of the Moon toy featuring the Autobot with a black and blue paint jobs (Nightwatch Jet Wing Optimus Prime and Nightwatch Optimus Prime, respectively). A stealth Optimus Prime alternate mode might not be the most likely option out of the ideas we’ve presented here but, depending on what actually happens in the film, it’s still a possibility – and might come as a relief to die-hard Transformers fans who still cringe at the sight of those orange flames. ___
Transformers 4 hits theaters on June 27, 2014.
Follow me on Twitter @benkendrick for further updates on Transformers 4 as well as future movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: Michael Bay

Kevin Spacey Wanted to be a ‘Big Bad’ on ‘Dexter’

On this week’s episode of The Kevin Pollak Show, Dexter star Michael C. Hall revealed that, before Kevin Spacey began his climb in politics as Frank Underwood on Netflix’s hit series House of Cards, he was interested in joining the series as a ‘Big Bad’. So what happened?


In the two-hour interview (above), Hall talks about his Broadway beginnings, the evolution of Dexter and life after the series, among many other things. But one of the most surprising Dexter anecdotes to come from Pollak’s interview is a brief mention of a conversation that Hall had with Spacey at a party:

Well I saw Kevin Spacey at a party and he was sort of lobbying to be on ‘Dexter’ as a ‘Big Bad’. This was, I think, right before ‘House of Cards’ materialized… [then] that went away. That’s a real shot in the arm; that’s pretty cool, when somebody of that caliber is saying, ‘Yeah, that would be fun… to spend some time with you guys.’

We spoke to Spacey’s manager, who said that she was unaware of his interest in joining Dexter as a “Big Bad.” But she did say that that Spacey is a fan of Dexter – which means that Hall is likely correct in saying that Spacey being attached House of Cards prevented him from ever truly pursuing a role in the series. But still, imagine if he would have!

Ever since John Lithgow wowed audiences in Dexter season 4 as the Trinity Killer, which garnered him an Emmy and Golden Globe award, fans have been yearning for their favorite blood spatter analyst to face an antagonist as strong as Trinity. Even though it’s impossible to know whether or not Spacey would have filled a role eventually given to another actor of if he would have had something crafted especially for him, it’s safe to assume that Spacey, who shines in each and every performance he provides, would have given Lithgow a run for his money as the series’ fan-favorite nemesis.
But still, even without Spacey, Dexter has made good use of their “Big Bads” – which have, for the most part, put more weight on Dexter’s shoulders, forcing him to deal with the repercussions of his actions and the affects that his thirst for blood has on those around him. Because even though Dexter is technically a sociopath, it’s been his interest in exploring and understanding human relationships which has been put him in the position that he currently finds himself in.
This season, Charlotte Rampling joins the series as a nero-psychiatrist Evelyn Vogel, who specializes in child psychopaths, and Hall hinted in his interview with Pollak that she plays a part Dexter’s past, so it’s very likely that we’ll see Dexter’s origins explored more throughout its final run. But even so, when Dexter reaches its final moments, there’s only so many ways that it can end.
And if the Dexter season 8 promo image (below) is any hint at what’s to come, the Bay Harbor Butcher may ultimately find himself in quite a bit of trouble.

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Dexter season 8 premieres Sunday, June 30 @9pm on Showtime

‘Noah’ Images: Meet the Characters in Darren Aronofsky’s Biblical Epic

Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky is finally making an expensive cinematic epic, after having tried (and having failed) to do so with his original vision for The Fountain (followed several years later by his departure from the X-Men film The Wolverine).
The project in question is Noah, a retelling of the Noah’s Ark story – based on the graphic novel written by Aronofsky and illustrated by Nico Henrichon – that the filmmaker is assembling, with the intention of creating a Biblical blockbuster that’s as viscerally-powerful and emotionally-brutal as the original tale featured in the Book of Genesis. Russell Crowe is playing Noah, alongside his A Beautiful Mind costar Jennifer Connelly as Noah’s wife, Naameh.
Rounding out the main cast of Aronofsky’s Noah film are Emma Watson as Noah’s daughter-in-law Ila, Watson’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower costar Logan Lerman as Noah’s son, Ham, Anthony Hopkins as Noah’s grandfather Methuselah (who is traditionally close to a millennium-old in the story), and Ray Winstone (Snow White and the Huntsman) as a character written specifically for Aronofsky’s retelling; who, in the story, opposes Noah’s decision to build an enormous ark, as he believes the act to be a form of madness (rather than the will of God).
Check out promo images from Noah, which feature all of the aforementioned cast members in character (via RealWallFlower and The Film Stage):

We actually got our first look at Crowe as Noah almost a year ago, back when Aronofsky was shooting on location around Iceland. The ragged costumes and ratty hairstyles boasted by the rest of the cast is in keeping with Crowe’s grizzled appearance, as well as the generally harsh and miserable nature of the film’s ancient world setting.
Noah depicts a world that has been ruined, thanks to large expanses of humankind committing barbaric acts against one another (and the Earth) in their relentless campaigns to conquer and claim what they can for themselves. Because of that, Aronofsky has referred to Noah as being “the first environmentalist” and promised that his version of the story will not exclude the less savory portions of the Biblical source material (like, Noah’s propensity for getting drunk on wine).
That said, don’t expect the film to feature quite the same amount of nightmarish imagery and adult content as, say, Black Swan; something closer to The Fountain is to be expected, tonally-speaking.

Bryan Fuller Offers David Bowie a Role in ‘Hannibal’ Season 2

It has been a week since Hannibal served up its delicious season finale, but news has continued to pour in regarding the direction showrunner Bryan Fuller is headed and the possible additions he’d like to make to the cast as the series moves forward. And although it may be hard for many die hard fans to imagine what could possibly make the superb serial killer drama any better, Fuller recently announced he has offered the legendary David Bowie a role in season 2.
As it turns out, the move would not only welcome Bowie to NBC, but it would also make him a part of the Lecter family, as the role Fuller has in mind is that of Count Robert Lecter, Hannibal’s uncle from the 2006 prequel novel Hannibal Rising.

According to E!, Fuller confirmed that the NBC drama has begun testing the waters to see whether or not the famed musician and actor has the time and inclination to make an appearance on the series.
Fuller said:

“We have reached out to David Bowie to see if he’s interested and available. We would love for him to play Hannibal’s uncle, who is a character from the literature and in the books…. since our timeline is a little more present, there’s a little bit of J.J. Abrams-style alternate universe storytelling where he could still be alive.”

But before anyone gets too excited, this bit of information should probably be filed under Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal Season 2 Wish List, as the creator was quick to point out, “We don’t have an answer yet.”

For those not familiar with the character, Robert Lecter is introduced in Hannibal Rising where he adopts a teenaged Hannibal shortly before being killed by the Nazis. Obviously, given the contemporary setting of Hannibal and taking Fuller’s “alternate universe” comments into consideration, there would have to be a substantial departure from the source material in order to bring Robert into the fold.
Perhaps even more interesting, however, is the way Fuller appears to have answered the question of whether or not Count Robert Lecter would exist in the present, or if his role would consist solely in flashback, before it had even been asked.
As fans (or Fannibals) have become deeply devoted to the series, it doesn’t seem like any deviation Fuller would want to make – especially one that could potentially bring in David Bowie – would be viewed negatively. Besides, as Fuller goes on to state, much of the season 2 plotline requires that he and his writers go off on a lengthy tangent, based on some backstory that was only briefly mentioned in Red Dragon.

“We’re going to see Will Graham institutionalized and what we know from ‘Red Dragon,’ the backstory that is given, which is very, very thin, explains that Will Graham was so psychologically compromised from investigating the Minnesota case that he had to be institutionalized. And that’s sort of one sentence that we can do quite a bit with.
“As you can see from the first season, we held true to that backstory in a very faithful way, but obviously we took huge liberties in how we interpreted that one sentence. So right now, for season 2, we are in fresh territory with a chapter that hasn’t even been written by Thomas Harris. It’s exciting.”

So far, Fuller has managed to put his own unique stamp on several of Harris’ characters, but putting Bowie alongside Mad Mikkelsen would be a truly remarkable achievement.

However, Robert Lecter wouldn’t be the only addition to season 2, as the plot would also introduce the role of Barney – the guard who works at the Baltimore State Hospital Will finds himself incarcerated in – a character Fuller believes would be perfect for well-known character actor Chi McBride.

“That will be some fun stunt casting. I would love to bring in Chi McBride, if he’s available. There are so many great actors I would love to work with.”

Sadly, like Fuller, we’ll all have to wait and see if Bowie (and maybe even McBride) finds the opportunity to appear on Hannibal tantalizing enough to pursue. As the series is preparing to begin production on season 2 in Toronto this August, we won’t have too long to wait.
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Screen Rant will keep you posted on all the Hannibal news and any developments regarding David Bowie’s potential involvement in the series.
Source: E! Online

‘Terminator 5′ Gets a Summer 2015 Release Date; Will Kick-Off Standalone Trilogy

Once Arnold Schwarzenegger confirmed that Terminator 5 (not the official title) is slated to begin filming by January 2014, it seemed inevitable that a Summer 2015 release date announcement would follow. Sure enough, Paramount has finalized a deal to co-finance and distribute the long-rumored project, setting in on course to arrive during what is shaping up to be the most tentpole franchise sequel-happy season on record (but more on that later…).
Perhaps more interesting, however, is a (not so insignificant) tidbit from the official press release provided by Skydance Productions, the current Terminator rights owner Annapurna Pictures and Paramount Pictures.
To be exact, we mean the one which reveals that the fifth Terminator movie will be “the first in a stand-alone trilogy.” The press release also refers to new film as “a rebooted ‘TERMINATOR’ movie,” and confirms that the script is going to be written by Laeta Kalogridis (Shutter Island) and Patrick Lussier (Drive Angry). Finally, Annapurna head Megan Ellison (Zero Dark Thirty) will be a producer on the film, alongside her brother David and Dana Goldberg and Paul Schwake (Star Trek Into Darkness, World War Z) as the executive producers.

So, what does this all mean for Terminator 5? Well, there have been a whole lot of questions and rumors about what we can expect from the fifth Terminator movie, be it further disruption of the series’ continuity (What continuity?) through the time-travel plot device – or what explanation (if any) will be provided for a 66-year old Schwarzenegger reprising “AS the Terminator” – and even the latest casting rumors, which suggest that Dwayne Johnson could play a new robotic menace (in a story that introduces several additional new characters).
The announcement of a new standalone Terminator movie trilogy does lend more credibility to certain aspects of the recent Johnson rumors (re: bringing new characters into the mix); though it doesn’t, per se, mean the wrestler-turned actor himself is now more likely to join Schwarzenegger in the film. Then again, in Hollywood nowadays it seems as though the rule of thumb is: when in doubt, bring “The Rock” aboard (not a bad approach, mind you).
That said: if you were holding out hopes that Terminator 5 would directly continue the post-apocalyptic storyline from Terminator Salvation, well… consider this update the official death toll, as far as that possible scenario is concerned. Basically, to answer the question that was previously raised: all bets are off, as far as the fifth Terminator installment is concerned right now.

Lastly, as mentioned before, Terminator 5 will reach theaters on June 26th, 2015. That is a week after Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed video game movie hits theaters, and a week before Roland Emmerich releases his long-delayed Independence Day sequel.
In addition, The Avengers 2 will begin the 2015 Summer Movie Season in May, followed sometime thereafter by Jurassic Park IV AND Pirates of the Caribbean 5 in July (a week after Independence Day 2 hits the scene). Oh, and did we mention that Star Wars: Episode VII is also making its way into theaters during that time frame?
How about it – will Terminator 5 be successful enough to justify making two more sequels (before Cameron reclaims the franchise rights)? Or will the film wind up becoming a casualty in a summer movie season – one in which Steven Spielberg and George Lucas’ prophecy of an implosion in the film industry comes (at the least, partially) true?
… Or, rather, will the final outcome fall somewhere in between those extremes? Let us know what you think in the comments section!
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Terminator 5 opens in U.S. theaters on June 26th, 2015.
Source: Paramount Pictures

He Was Legend: Sci-Fi Author Richard Matheson Dies at 87

By Mark Deming | Movie Talk – Mon, Jun 24, 2013 8:09 PM EDT

Richard Matheson attends the 1998 premiere of 'What Dreams May Come.' Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage.

One of the great men of fantasy films is gone. Richard Matheson, who was one of America's most respected and prolific authors in the field of science fiction and fantasy, died Sunday at the age of 87 after a lengthy illness.
In addition to publishing twenty-eight novels and well over a hundred short stories, Matheson enjoyed a successful career as a screenwriter, and many of his literary works were adapted for the screen, inspiring such diverse motion pictures as "I Am Legend," "Real Steel," "Somewhere In Time," "Stir Of Echoes," and "The Incredible Shrinking Man."
Matheson also wrote the short story "Duel" and adapted it into a screenplay that would become the breakthrough project for a young television director named Steven Spielberg. First aired in 1971, "Duel" was one of the few made-for-TV movies that would later earn a theatrical release, and helped launch the filmmaker into theatrical projects.
In a statement released Monday, Spielberg spoke warmly about Matheson and his work.
"Richard Matheson's ironic and iconic imagination created seminal science-fiction stories and gave me my first break when he wrote the short story and screenplay for 'Duel,'" Spielberg said. "His 'Twilight Zone' [episodes] were among my favorites and he recently worked with us on 'Real Steel.' For me, he is in the same category as [Ray] Bradbury and [Isaac] Asimov."
Matheson was born in Allendale, New Jersey in 1926, and spent most of his childhood in Brooklyn, graduating from Brooklyn Technical High School. Matheson went on to earn a degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri in 1949, and in 1950 he published his first story in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.
In 1955, one of Matheson's short stories, "Young Couples Only," was adapted for the television anthology series "Studio 57," and when Universal purchased the screen rights to Matheson's novel "The Incredible Shrinking Man," he was hired to write the script. The literate, philosophical approach of 1957's "The Incredible Shrinking Man" won the film a cult following as an early sci-fi classic, and launched Matheson on a lengthy career writing for movies and television.
In the 1960s, Matheson penned sixteen episodes of the classic fantasy anthology series "The Twilight Zone," including "Steel" (which was later adapted into the 2011 Hugh Jackman vehicle "Real Steel") and "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" (which was remade for 1983's "Twilight Zone: The Movie"). Matheson also wrote for "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "Star Trek," and "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.," and he did the screenplays for three of Roger Corman's popular Edgar Allan Poe adaptations, "House of Usher," "The Pit and the Pendulum," and "The Raven."
1964 saw the release of "The Last Man On Earth," the first of three full-length adaptations of Matheson's 1954 novel "I Am Legend." It would be remade in 1971 as "The Omega Man" starring Charlton Heston, and in 2007 as "I Am Legend" with Will Smith.
In the 1980s, Matheson primarily wrote for television, though he helped pen the ill-fated "Jaws 3-D," and his 1975 novel "Bid Time Return" became the basis for the popular romantic fantasy "Somewhere in Time," starring Christopher Reeve." Two more of Matheson's novels were brought to the screen in the 1990s: "What Dreams May Come," starring Robin Williams, and "A Stir of Echoes," featuring Kevin Bacon.
From the mid-1990s onward, Matheson focused on writing novels; he was elected into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2010, and published his last book, "Generations," in 2012. He died at his home in Calabasas, California, surrounded by friends and family, according to his daughter Ali Marie Matheson..

The Rock Works Out Like a Demi-God for 'Hercules' Role

By Bryan Enk | Movie Talk – Mon, Jun 24, 2013 4:51 PM EDT

 
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson works out for 'Hercules: The Thracian Wars' (Photo: Dwayne Johnson/Twitter)Is it us or is The Rock even bigger lately? Is that even possible?

Dwayne Douglas Johnson has always been a sizable fella, though his physical appearance from his days as a 17-time WWE champion is positively wimpish compared to the way he looks in his several big-screen roles this year.

We first noticed Johnson's superhuman physique as Roadblock, the heavy machine gunner who just wants to be a chef, in "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" (March 29). And just a month later he could've passed for the Hulk in Michael Bay's "Pain & Gain" (April 26), in which Johnson plays a generally sweet-natured though hopelessly drug-addicted, born-again Christian bodybuilder caught up in an increasingly absurd kidnapping plan.

[Related: Video: The Rock Is Awesomely Added Into Classic Movies]

The 42-year-old appeared equally-yoked a month after that in "Fast & Furious 6" (May 24), in which he reprized his "Fast Five" role as Luke Hobbs, a Diplomatic Security Services agent who isn't beyond picking up a suspect and slamming him into the ceiling if it'll get some answers. Johnson's workout regimen for that film might have very well involved picking up grown men and throwing them across the room, as he barely seemed to be straining at all ... nor did it seem like he was receiving too much of a special effects assist.

The Rock's Hercules workout (Photo: Dwayne Johnson/Twitter)
Now, Dwayne Johnson looks to be taking his astonishing physique even further as he takes on another crazy diet and workout regimen for his upcoming role as ... well, the son of a god. Johnson will be playing the title role in "Hercules: The Thracian Wars," a fantastical action-adventure directed by Brett Ratner ("X-Men: The Last Stand") based on the Greek myth of the mighty muscle man born of the immortal Zeus and the mortal Alcmene.
A series of photos that Johnson himself provided via Twitter show him hard at work to become Hercules. One pic shows him grimacing (we're sure it's just for show) as he pulls down weighted cables to work his upper arm muscles. The medium shot reveals that Johnson will be just as muscular than he was in "Pain & Gain" though perhaps not as, well, wide — his stomach and chest appear to be more toned than they were in Bay's film, giving him more of an athlete's physique than a hardcore bodybuilder's. It's just as well, too —Hercules will no doubt be involved in a lot more actual fight scenes than the hapless Paul Doyle. The man's arms are still ridiculous, though. Another pic features a close-up of Johnson's deltoid, complete with fake scars as he's transformed into Hercules in the makeup room. It's about the size of Texas. This pic is also interesting as it gives a glimpse of the long-haired wig that Johnson will be wearing in the film — after all, you've got to get those dramatic shots of hair blowing in the wind, as Brad Pitt recently showed us in "World War Z."
 
The Rock's Hercules workout (Photo: Dwayne Johnson/Twitter)
Another pic takes us back to the gym and shows off Johnson's leg, which appears like it could kick a football to the moon (interestingly enough, the legs are Johnson's personal favorite body part, according to AllStarWorkouts.com). Really, how do the other gym members feel whenever The Rock is around? Do they wonder why they even bother?
It's not all about hitting the exercise equipment, though. You've got to eat a lot to get that big, and by "a lot" we mean at least seven meals a day. That's right — the rest of us barely eat three, and Dwayne Johnson eats seven. He even took a pic of the inside of his refrigerator, which reveals a series of seven pre-packaged meals on each shelf.
Believe it or not, Johnson would probably be eating seven meals a day even if he weren't preparing to play Hercules. According to AllStarWorkouts.com, eating seven times is just another part of his everyday workout: "The Rock eats seven times a day. His crazy diet is about getting enough protein to aid lean muscle growth. The key to the Rock Diet is that he consumes a lot of protein, fibrous carbs, and starchy vegetables. Nutrition is everything. The reason The Rock eats this way, is because it helps him lose weight and gain muscle." Diet AND exercise, people.
 

Taken in the hair and makeup trailer for 'Hercules: The Thracian Wars' (Photo: Dwayne Johnson/Twitter)
And here's an idea of what might be in six of those seven containers in the fridge:

Meal 1: 10 scrambled egg whites, 3 servings cream of rice or 1 cup oatmeal, 3 rice cakes, 24oz water
Meal 2: 6oz skinless grilled chicken breast, 1 cup grits, 6oz yams, 1 cup of steamed asparagus, 24oz water
Meal 3: 6oz tuna, 1 cup brown rice, 1 sliced cucumber, 24oz water
Meal 4: 6oz perch fillet, 1 cup barley, 6oz baked potato, 1 cup steamed green beans, 24oz water
Meal 5: 6oz pork tenderloin, 1 cup brown rice, 6oz sweet potato, 1 cup peas, 24oz water
Meal 6: 10 scrambled egg whites, 3 servings cream of rice or 1 cup oatmeal, 24oz water

And the seventh? Apparently that's between The Rock and his stomach.

[Related: 'Pain & Gain' 5 Film Facts: The Rock & Mark Wahlberg Combine for 17 Meals a Day]

You might also be wondering about that bottle of fish oil. According to Wiki Answers, fish oil contains Omega 3, an essential fatty acid that your normal American diet is almost devoid of. It supports heart health, joint health and brain health, including promoting memory retention, cognitive skills and supporting good moods! In addition fish oil helps to promote immune health and supports healthy eyes, skin and hair.
All essential elements in becoming the son of Zeus.
"Hercules: The Thracian Wars" will commence with walking amongst us puny mortals in theaters on July 25, 2014.
See The Rock tell us the move he learned from his professional wrestling grandfather

Countdown to 'White House Down' - 02DAYS 00HOURS:25MINS:37SECS

Capitol Policeman John Cale has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer. Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation’s government falling into chaos and time running out, it's up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country.

Countdown to 'White House Down'

02DAYS  00HOURS:25MINS:37SECS

Catch Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx in early screenings starting Thursday.

Find Showtimes and Tickets for 'White House Down'

BULLET IN THE HEAD

Bullet to the Head is a 2013 action film, written by Alessandro Camon and directed by Walter Hill based upon Alexis Nolent's French graphic novel Du Plomb Dans La Tete. The film stars Sylvester Stallone, Sung Kang, Jason Momoa, Sarah Shahi, and Christian Slater. Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Kevin King Templeton produced the film. The film premiered at the International Rome Film Festival on November 14, 2012.