|
Thursday, November 27, 2003
In The Mood For News
Howdy folks, lets get this news thang all going on. Not the biggest update I’m afraid, I don’t have Mr. Foy’s incredible news-gathering skills but I have some interesting stuff for you nevertheless.
An article at SLAM! Sports brings more wrestling/movie news, about an independent movie called Enter… Zombie King. This novel venture sees another Canadian tribute to old Mexican movies starring their wrestling stars, this time a group of masked luchadores are taking on zombies. Though most of the wrestlers are largely unknown recruits from a wrestling gym in Toronto, it also stars Sinn and Tracy from NWA:TNA and Bret Hart’s former tag team partner from the Hart Foundation – Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart! Humbly described by the director Stacey Case as “the best Mexican wrestling movie ever made”, its also available on DVD from the official website. Sounds like fun.
Is Spawn 2 on? Yes, says an informer for Ain’t It Cool News who says that at the recent Super Boston Megafest says Michael Jai White was there. White announced that Spawn 2 will be happening next year and apparently Sylvester Stallone could be on-board playing Brimstone. It will be “a very dark, Batman-like sequel, one that will please comic fans” apparently. Personally I thought the first one was pretty Batman-like already, and pleasing comic fans? Oh please.
In some sadly non-wrestling related news, Dark Horizons tells us that Christopher Nolan is looking to cast someone as The Scarecrow for the upcoming Batman: Intimidation Game (still hate that title). Ra’s Al-Ghul is to be the main villain for the film, but Nolan wants to use The Scarecrow as a way to introduce Christian Bale’s Batman, taking down this villain before going on to the main conflict with the immortal lead villain, who Batman will have to go to London to face. Nolan’s favourite for the role of The Scarecrow is currently Christopher Eccleston, a distinguished British actor most recently seen as a sinister army commander in 28 Days Later. Excuse my ignorance, but who the hell is Ra’s Al-Ghul?
Sometimes it pays to be British. The folks at Creature Corner are all crying like whiny bitches because us in the UK are getting a theatrical release of Dead End from December 12th and America isn’t. They say its very good and I will certainly be going to see it, especially as it’s a Christmas-themed horror movie and I like those. Maybe I’ll tell you what its like. HA!
Also from CHUD, the fantasy franchise cash-in continues as Dimension Films have picked up the rights to make films based on the Merlin: The Lost Years series of books. Somewhere between Harry Potter and Tolkien’s masterwork they tell the story of a young Merlin and his adventures on the way to becoming the wizard of legend. The link with Harry Potter is strengthened by the producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura being in charge of the project. If this time they could find some kids who can actually bloody well act, I would be most grateful.
Over to Asia we go for more movie news, the following is from Monkey Peaches:
Eros is an intriguing project due for release some time next year. Starring Gong Li (Farewell My Concubine) as a club dancer in 1960’s Hong Kong, the film is split into three parts each with a different director. Wong Kar Wai (In the Mood For Love) has recently finished his section, with the other two directed by Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni and Steven Soderbergh. Its due to premier at Cannes next May. Meanwhile Wong Kar Wai should have his 2046 project wrapped up within the next 12 years or so.
There is speculation that Jackie Chan might be in talks to play Kato in the upcoming The Birth of the Pink Panther. Whether Jackie would be willing to appear in what would basically be a cameo appearance remains to be seen, though at least he’ll be used to playing second fiddle to an American actor by now.
Jackie Chan has run into more trouble with the production of New Police Story, going over budget thanks to a number of grandiose action scenes that will feature in the film. The budget of 100 million Hong Kong dollars (nearly US$13 million) is nearly all gone but the film needs a further month of filming. The plot thickened when Jackie went to his long time manager and some-time producer Willie Chan to get another HK$20 million but was turned down, but help came from the boss of Emperor Group, Yeung Sau-Shing who is co-producing the film. The extra money needed was attained through him, and Jackie can finish his movie. New Police Story has had its fair share of on-set problems such as a number of accidents and this latest incident, lets hope the resulting film was worth all the hassle.
Michelle Yeoh is back! Click here for the teaser for her latest film Silver Hawk (teaser in .mov format, its only 3 megs or so). The official site is here and I have to say I’m really looking forward to this one, where we see Michelle as a futuristic super hero, the teaser has the promise of some action in the spirit of the cult favourite The Heroic Trio. Its directed by Jingle Ma who has had a mixed career, making the dull Hot War to the well-received romantic Fly Me to Polaris. However Ma also served as cinematographer for many films including Jackie Chan’s Drunken Master 2 (AKA Legend of the Drunken Master, Jet Li’s Fong Sai Yuk (AKA The Legend) and Yuen Biao’s The Iceman Cometh. Unfortunately, the film does not appear to have anything to do with the failed 80’s toy line.
Well that’s all for this time folks, take care and look for the man in the smiling bag.
Martin Leggett
posted by Martin 6:47 AM | Comments
Visit our news archive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
