It was announced today that Collin Trevorrow, who directed the sci-fi indie comedy, Safety Not Guaranteed, will be at the helm of next summer's Jurassic Park 4. There isn't much else to say about the film, other than that it is being prepped for release next June, with Steven Spielberg producing.
Now, I'm no film producer, but two things stick out to me about this announcement. For one thing, I don't see how directing a well received mumble core flick served as an indicator that Trevorrow would be a good fit for this extremely expensive franchise. Second, I find releasing the film next June, almost a month after the Godzilla reboot dominates theaters, to be a huge mistake. But, truth be told, I'm not excited for Jurassic Park 4 in the slightest. The original is great, but the franchise has been milked and I have no desire to revisit it. But, Saftey Not Guaranteed had some great dialouge and the interactions between the characters felt genuine. So, maybe if Trevorrow can bring some of that to a big budget dino flick, we'll be in for something more interesting.
Check out more news after the jump, including a major casting update and word on Ang Lee's next project...
In other news...
- Robert Duvall has replaced Jack Nicholson in The Judge, an upcoming legal thriller starring Robert Downey Jr. In the film, RDJ will play a lawyer who has to defend his father (Duvall) who's on trial for murdering his wife. Ridiculous plot withstanding, I'm interested to see Robert Downey Jr. step away from franchises and, while I'd be more interested in seeing him star with Nicholson, Duvall is certainly a fine substitution. No word on the release date yet, but I'm assuming it won't be until 2014.
- A new trailer for Scary Movie 5 has made it's way online, along with a poster. Personally, I stopped enjoying these films in middle school and this new one looks even worse than the others, but I'm sure there is an audience for it somewhere.
- It was just announced that Ang Lee will be directing the pilot for a new FX series, "Trespass", which will follow an American family dealing with turmoil in the Middle East. Given the plot this sounds almost too much like "Homeland" but I'm more than willing to give it a try with Lee at the helm of the first episode. Obviously we don't know if this will actually be ordered to series, but I can't imagine a pilot with a two time Oscar winning director failing. It's scheduled to be filmed in June, which leads me to believe it will launch in the winter. Knowing FX's scheduling, likely in January.
- Rose Byrne is looking to star in two upcoming comedies: The Shawn Levy directed This is Where I Leave You and the Nicholas Stoller directed Townies. 'Where I Leave You' is set to star Jason Bateman as a man who returns to his childhood town with his now adult siblings for their father's funeral. The impressive cast also includes Tina Fey, Adam Driver, Corey Stoll and Jane Fonda. Byrne will play a "former wild child" and possible love interest for Bateman, a role that many other actresses competed for including Isla Fisher and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. As for Townies, that film has already secured Seth Rogen and Zac Efron as it's leads. Rogen will play a small town man who is constantly bothered by his frat boy neighbor (Efron), while Byrne will play the former's wife. There is no word on a release date but they both sound decent enough, with solid actors lined up for both projects.
- Wrestler Dave Buitista has been cast in Guardians of the Galaxy as Drax the Destoryer, a part originally intended for Jason Momoa. That's the extent of my knowledge on this soon-to-be franchise. The film, which will be directed by James Gunn, already stars Chris Pratt and will be released next August.
- Finally, the Wachowski's Jupiter Ascending has been set for release on July 25, 2014. The film, which stars Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis, is one of my most anticipated of next year. The plot follows a woman on Earth who, unbenowkst to her, is a descendant of a superior race and is targeted by an assassin from another planet who ends up falling in love with her and vowing to protect her.
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