Fox Wants Charlize Theron for Alien Prequel

Academy Award winner Charlize Theronmay be leading the crew in Ridley Scott’s untitled prequel toAlien, if 20th Century Fox gets their way.

According toVulture, the studio is having the script rewritten so the female lead, Elizabeth Shaw, is more befitting of the South African-born actress (or at least someone of her caliber), while Scott is pushing for Swedish actress Noomi Rapace ofThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoofame.

Apparently Scott wants a multi-national crew aboard his sci-fi vessel for the film, which takes place roughly 35 years before Sigourney Weaver’s encounter with the creatures of Scott’s 1979 original. If he had his picks, Rapace would star alongside rising Irish actorMichael Fassbender, who is currently in negotiations to play an android, and Chinese Malaysian actress Michelle Yeohas Vickers, a“tough-but-sexy” crew mate.

I’m not sure Theron is exactly the box office draw Fox thinks she is– Aeon Fluxanyone?– particularly for a high-profile film like this one that doesn’t need a“name.” Studio executives love to plaster a recognizable face on the poster or feature their expensive star heavily in the trailer when, in reality, for this movie people just want to see aliens slithering out of the shadows and devouring humans.  Plus star power and Oscar glory mean nothing if Theron can’t convincingly play a resilient underdog struggling to survive in space.

Meanwhile, Universal is stillattempting to lureTheron to play the evil queen, Ravenna, inSnow White and the Huntsman, a PG-13 re-imagining of the classic fairy tale.

This newfound interest in Theron sparked when the 35-year-old actress passed on Clint Eastwood’sJ. Edgar, a biopic of Hoover starring Leonardo DiCaprio. According to the report, her representation assumedshe would accept the roleof Helen Gandy, Hoover’s personal secretary for over 54 years, but Theron ultimately turned it down and issued an apology to Eastwood for the mix-up. The director is now seeking a new actress for the part, reportedly Naomi Watts or Amy Adams.  Personally, I’m surprised top talent are considering the part since it’s merely a supporting role in the script and has little impact on the plot, unlike Hoover’s beloved mother (played by Judi Dench) and his male lover (played by Armie Hammer). Perhaps it’s just the opportunity to work with the great Clint Eastwood?

We will have to wait and see whether Theron chooses sci-fi or fantasy.

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Viggo Mortensen, Javier Bardem Rumored for 'Dark Tower' Series

When Universal Pictures and multi-hyphenated talentRon Howardannounced their extremely ambitious adaptationof Stephen King’s“The Dark Tower” series, the question on every fan’s mind was“who will play Roland Deschain?”

Deschain is the lead role in King’s sprawling, seven-novel series, a gunslinger destined to discover the secrets of his world and the titular tower. The character spans the book series, meaning whoever commits to the coveted role will appear in all three planned films (starting in 2013) and the television seasons they intend to“bridge” the story gaps.

Howard himself, in an interview with theLA Times, name droppedDaniel Craig,Hugh Jackmanand“Mad Men” starJon Hammas potential candidates, though all three are leading their own film and television franchises. He also acknowledged the fan favorite to beViggo Mortensen, who skyrocketed to fame due to the“Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

But, over the holiday break, theNY Postclaimed Javier Bardemis“leading the pack” with Mortensen a close second. Bardem is the phenomenal actor who won the“Best Supporting Actor” Academy Award for playing the unrelenting Anton Chigurh inNo Country for Old Menand may pick up another Oscar nomination for his performance inBiutiful.

It’s important to note that the massive undertaking is still in the early planning and scripting stages, and that casting won’t be finalized until there’s more structure. Perhaps these two simply top the wishlist for Howard and his producing partners Akiva Goldsman and Brian Grazer.  Both are exceptionally talented actors— though Mortensen is probably more suited for the part physically— and definitely the caliber of star they will need in order to capture and sustain public interest throughout three movies and at least two TV seasons.

But will Bardem or Mortensen agree to that kind of massive, multi-year commitment? Can Universal afford an A-lister for five separate pieces?  What about Mortensen’s franchise fatigue or age concerns (he’s 52)?

Secondly, casting rumors are focused on“Old Roland” and not the younger version of the character portrayed and explored in the flashbacks and comic book backstories, which will become the basis for the“bridge” episodes. So it’s possible that even when a Roland Deschain is finally named, there will still be another Roland to come.

I’d love to hear what“Dark Tower” fans have to say or any other suggestions for Deschain.

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Glenn's Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2010

Here are a few of my favorite flicks from 2010. (Please take into account that as of this writing I haven’t yet caught up withThe Kids are All Right,Get Low,Toy Story 3(yes, I’m the one guy in the world who hasn’t seen it),The FighterorRabbit Hole.)

10. (tie)Piranha 3DandScott Pilgrim vs. the World– They won’t be winning any awards or be featured on most critic’s end of the year list, but they ended up far and away the best popcorn munching, do-or-try-literally-anything-to-entertain, good time movies of the year.

9.{REC} 2– The original {REC} was a terrifying POV Spanish horror film about an infection spreading through an apartment complex. Unfortunately, nobody in America saw it. {REC} 2, an amplified, action-packed sequel featuring a group of soldiers cleaning house managed to up the ante in every way and devisesome fantastically tense scenes, resulting in this year’s most terrifying film. And once again, nobody in America saw it.

8.Harry Brown– Sure it’s an England-set Death Wish, but this dark and grim tale features some truly icky, disturbing images that I’ve had a difficult time shaking many months later. Michael Caine delivers an underappreciated performance as a lonely, widowed pensioner who strikes out in frustration againsta brutal gang after his friend is murdered.

7.The Town– Though not quite as grand as The Departed, this Boston-set crime thriller thoroughly entertained, turning the screws on one member of a gang of armed robbers. Close friends, crime bosses, the FBI and a girlfriend who also happens to be an unknowing witness add multiple layers of conflict as a big heist is staged – resulting in some outstandingly tense sequences.

6.127 Hours– All of the pre-release press focused on exaggerated stories of horrified and fainting moviegoers. Contrary to all those crazy reports, this is one of the most upbeat, inspiring, life-affirming flicks of the year, bursting with energy and anchored by a great performance from James Franco. If onlythe news stories had focused on all its positive attributes, perhaps more would have seen it.

5.The Social Network– The first movie featuring characters hunched over computer screens that didn’t bore me senseless. David Fincher’s newest was a beautifully shot impression of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Its portrait of a brilliant social misfit who slowly antagonizes himself while creating the world’s most popular social networking tool was consistently fascinating.

4.The King’s Speech– A fascinating and moving piece of history well told. This could have been as exciting as watching paint dry, but instead enthralled by focusing on two great performances chronicling the development of an unusual friendship, accented with a potent and dry sense of humour.

3.Black Swan– Darren Aronofsky’s portrait of an insecure and paranoid ballet dancer’s mental breakdown was ripe with mood and atmosphere. The sudden jolts, chills from shapes lurking in the backgrounds and eerie photography sent chills down the spine. Creeped me out!

2.The Ghost Writer– Brilliantly sinister, this stylish throwback to classic 70’s conspiracy thrillers still managed to deliver a timely and relevant message. The allusions to past British Prime Minister Tony Blair are fascinating, The ferry boat sequence was absolutely riveting and one of the best suspense sequences of the year, while the tone itself maintained an appropriately biting sense of dark humor that followed right to its clever close.

1.Inception– No other film this year inspired more conversations and debates– although I tend to think it is more straight-forward in its storytelling than some theorists out there. Regardless of what any person might interpret, this is a beautifully crafted, exciting and engaging film. From the jaw-dropping hallway fight to the vision of a city folding over itself, it’s full of ideas and images that will linger in most minds for years to follow.

Hey, it’s an odd list, but I’m an odd guy. The following films also made an impact. On a different day and mood, they could have also found themselves in my top ten –Cemetery Junction,The Crazies,Frozen,Never Let Me Go,Tangled,True Grit,The Warrior’s Way(my guilty pleasure of the year) andWinter’s Bone.

Here are a few of my least favorite films of 2010. These titles did worse than disappoint me– they truly annoyed me. Once again, please note that I missed out onVampires Suckand intend to continue missing it for as long as humanly possible. Otherwise, here are the 2010 movies currently looping in my nightmares…

The Bounty Hunter– A frothy romantic comedy that features one of the most grating couples ever filmed doing little else but bickering incessantly for two full hours. Sound like fun?

Furry Vengeance– This children’s film makes a shaky plight for wildlife preservation after its woodland creatures murder a man in its opening sequence. Star Brendan Frasier is forced to endure eighty minutes of indignity, repeatedly being pooped on and peed on before being covered in human excrement from a port-o-let. Hilarious!

Jonah Hex– Edited with a chainsaw, filled with random events occurring for no discernable reason, unmotivated explosions and animated sequences to fill in exposition for a nearly nonexistent plot. Even at a brief eighty minutes, it’s painfully dull.

My Soul to Take– This incoherent mess featured a gaggle of bizarre, unidentifiable teens with little rational motivation. A highlight – one victim falling out of a closet and devoting his dying breaths not to identifying his killer or sending a final message to loved ones, but instead to filling in a plot holeas to how he arrived to his specific location!

Sex and the City 2– When your wife drags you to a chick flick and then spends most of the running time apologizing for its awfulness, you know you’re watching something truly abominable. Besides its obnoxious, unlikable characters and wince inducing treatment of other cultures, this stinker contained four pointless plotlines with no dramatic conflict.

Skyline– For its first two acts, this cheesy, logic challenged sci-fi flick merely clunked along with wooden dialogue and gaping plot holes. But its staggeringly absurd final act put it way over the top. Whatever the intention, leaving an audience with their jaws on the floor in disbelief or rolling in the aisles with laughter was probably not the desired effect.

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Gemma Arterton Joins Jeremy Renner in 'Hansel and Gretel'

Gemma Arteton has secured the female lead alongside Jeremy Renner in Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, a dark, action movie re-imagining of the German fairy tale.

Arterton and Renner will play the brother and sister duo who is traumatized by their encounter with a cannibalistic witch as children into becoming witch bounty hunters as adults.

Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) is directing the Paramount picture, which starts shooting in March, according to theHollywood Reporter, meaning Renner is fitting another film into his tight schedule of action-oriented fare. His Hansel role will be wedged between playing Hawkeye inThe Avengersand a lead in Paramount’sMission: Impossible– Ghost Protocol.

Adam McKay and Will Ferrell are producing the R-rated horror/action movie under their Gary Sanchez banner. D.W. Harper wrote the screenplay (as well as the fantastic, sci-fi script All You Need is Kill, which landed third on theBlack Listlast month).

The British actress reportedly won the role over Dianne Kruger (Inglourious Basterds), fellow bond girl Eva Green, and Swedish import Noomi Rapace.

THR says Paramount is hoping to have their supernatural hunter film ready before Fox’sAbraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, a horror piece of revisionist history that tells of the President’s secret life as an axe-wielding slayer of the undead. That script, written by Seth Grahame-Smith from his own novel, is actually quite good, despite it’s far-fetched premise.

H&G and Lincoln’s late-night adventures are just two of Hollywood’s push to retell familiar fairy tales with a darker, supernatural twist. There are at leastthreeseparate Snow White movies in the works each with its own additions, like the werewolves and trolls of Universal’s Snow White and the Huntsman.

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Joe Carnahan's 'The Grey' Recruits Liam Neeson and More

Liam Neesonhas been confirmed to lead Joe Carnahan’sThe Grey, a thriller that just received the green light to start next week.

Neeson, who replaced Bradly Cooper inSeptember 2010, will play Ottoway, a hunter hired to protect a camp of oil workers in the Alaskan tundra. But, on a flight back to Anchorage, the plane crashes and the crew of drillers are besieged by an aggressive, highly-intelligent pack of grey wolves.

He will be joined by star of“The Pacific” and the cancelled“Rubicon” James Badge Dale,Dermot Mulroney,Frank Grillo,Nonso Anozie, andJoe Anderson. Carnahan and Neeson worked together on the mainstream adaptationThe A-Team, but this won’t be anything like that flick’s catch phrases and flying tanks.

The screenplay by Carnahan and Ian Jeffers is very much about man versus his environment, as the characters battle to survive the wolves picking off the weak and the elements, like hypothermia. But there also exists an internal struggle with primal instincts and faith that makes the story more complex than the expected“will they make it?” plot.

It’s an exceptional script, especially a scene that reads like an homage toJurassic Parkas the men race and hobble across a clearing with the wolves snapping at their ranks.

Carnahan said, ”The wolves have a territorial range of 300 miles, and they will run you out if you cross that. If you’re within 30 miles of their den as is the case here, they will try to kill you. It’s simple arithmetic, but it creates an opportunity for one of those man vs. nature movies I love like Deliveranceand Touching The Void.”

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Stephen Sommers Will Not Direct 'G.I. Joe 2'

Despite reports to the contraryfive months ago,Stephen Sommersis not returning to direct the sequel toG.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Paramount offered“no comment.”

TheLA Timesheard the news from two separate agents who were contacted about their clients directing the Hasbro toy movie follow-up. No word on who those filmmakers might have been, though just about anyone would be a step up from Sommers.

During post-production for the original, there were rumors of contention between Sommers and the studio, which were quickly, typically denied by Paramount flacks. But the evidence was in the messy finished product, essentially a montage of shoddy CGI and flashy action sequences where the characters played with their own high-tech toys.

The movie was met with generally unfavorable reviews (34% on RottenTomatoes) prompting Sommers to open his trap and spew nonsense about film criticism. “I don’t think the mainstream critics are relevant here, they have criticized themselves into irrelevancy,”he saidshortly after the release, while the film’s TV advertisements quoted those critics who enjoyed it.

Nevertheless, the movie made just over $300 million worldwide, so a sequel is inevitable. The principal actors are contractually obligated to return, andZombielandwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick wrote a draft last year.

Meanwhile, Sommers is still attached to aTarzanremake and recently adapted Dean Koontz’sOdd Thomashimself, which he hopes to direct.

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Robert Pattinson Joins 'Cosmopolis'

In a bizarre turn of events,The Twilight Sagastar Robert Pattinson hassigned to replaceColin Farrell as the lead in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis, the adaptation of Don DeLillo’s novel/commentary on capitalism.

Pattinson will play Eric Packer, a 28-year-old multibillionaire asset manager traveling in his custom-made stretch limousine across town to get a haircut.  His rolling office is lined with monitors, tickers, and various other by-the-minute devices, which allows Packer to bet heavily (his impossibly large fortune) against the yen on a crawling, chaotic trip through the city.  Along the way Packer stops to meet his brand new wife (Marion Cotillard was attached), several mistresses, and the funeral of a Sufi rap artist he listens to in his private elevator.

Paul Giamatti has been rumored as Packer’s stalker, an embittered 40-something man who used to work for the wunderkind.  But, again, this was when Farrell was attached as the lead and he’s now headlining Len Wiseman’s big-budget remake ofTotal Recall.

This unorthodox, high-minded project will mark Pattinson’s first film role after completing the Twilight saga, which he’s currently filming with co-stars Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, and is sure to baffle his ardent fans, particularly the younger crowd. The philosophical language alone, which Cronenberg lifts neatly from DeLillo’s pages, will soar right over their heads. As someone who detested Cronenberg’s adapted script, I’m wondering if it may be more fulfilling to witness the reaction of a die-hard RPattz fan than watch as nothing much happens to his Eric Packer character.

The 24-year-old actor has been distancing himself from the brooding vampire Edward with a variety of vastly different roles, including his starring part inWater for Elephants. Role like these and his upcoming film Bel Amishow an admirable strategy of longevity over box office busters, but Pattinson has been widely criticized for his actual acting ability, especially in Little AshesandRemember Me. While I applaud his career choices, I’m not sure Pattinson has shown he’s capable of carrying a movie on his own. Will Cronenberg be the one to draw that performance from him?

Source:Deadline

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