Our Top Story Tonight: Hollywood Finds a Cinderella, Rosaline & Lady Macbeth

Hollywood was busy finding lead ladies for some pretty big projects today...

The first major casting announcement is that Lily James, an actress I have never heard of but is apparently a part of the rather large "Downton Abbey" cast, has been selected to play the titular role in Disney's live action version of Cinderella. This project actually sounds somewhat interesting. I am growing a bit tired of Disney churning out dark re-imaginings of their classic fairy tales, but the fact that Cinderella is a much more 'realistic' fantasy story, and will likely rely less on CGI, has me curious as to how it turns out. Kenneth Branagh is directing the film, and Cate Blanchett is set to star so there is clearly talent both in front of and behind the camera. With more casting announcements to be announced soon and a release date in 2014, I think this is one to keep an eye on.

Next, "Girls" star Allison Williams has been cast as Rosaline, a minor character in Shakespeare's classic "Romeo & Juliet" but the titular character in a new take on the play. For those who don't know, Rosaline is the original object of Romeo's affections who he quickly forgets about after setting his sights on Juliet. So, this new film will relay the classic story through Rosaline's point of view. As I mentioned yesterday, I'm a bit of a Shakespeare nerd and I love the idea of seeing the story from Rosaline's point of view. It could be hilarious. I've also really enjoyed what I've seen of "Girls" (I've watched the entire first season) and all the ladies from the series deserve to have a solid career. Also of note, Williams is on the shortlist for a role in the Fantastic Four reboot. Hopefully we'll hear more on that soon.

And when we're on the topic of Shakespeare, Michael Fassbender has found his Lady Macbeth in Natalie Portman. While Portman wasn't the first actress that came to mind when I heard about the project, she's an undeniably talented actress and will probably do wonders with the role. This Macbeth film should be interesting, and I'm really curious to see who else is cast.

Ending tonight's little news summary, it seems like Fox is planning on making a sixth Die Hard film despite the fact that A Good Day to Die Hard was universally panned. This sixth film is actually being drawn from an unused script for the fourth film, which is set in Tokyo. I pretty much gave up on this franchise. I'm not very cynical when it comes to studio films (more on that tomorrow...) but this franchise is so clearly an excuse for everyone involved to get a hefty paycheck it's almost insulting to both audiences and the original.


That's it for tonights news, check back tomorrow for more posts and in the meantime don't forget to...


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May 2013 Preview: The Summer Movie Season Begins!

May is the start of the summer movie season, where studios unveil their most anticipated (and most expensive) projects of the year and hope that audiences don't mind spending their hard earned cash at the theater week after week after week. This particular May is a bit of a battlefield when it comes to big blockbusters, with a highly anticipated comic book film, a long awaited sequel to one of the most well received sci-fi reboots in recent memory, the finale to one of the most profitable comedy trilogies of all time and an adaptation of the greatest novel of the 20th century. And that's not even half of it! Yes, get ready for a busy few weeks at the movies and feel free to use this guide to decide what you'll be seeing-

Worth making the trip:

The film I'm most anticipating this May is J.J. Abrams' long awaited follow up to my second favorite film of 2009. Star Trek Into Darkness (May 17) also happens to be the action film I want to see the most this whole summer. While I have not seen the film or TV series that spawned the popular reboot, 2009's Star Trek was my favorite action film of the past decade and remains extremely entertaining regardless of how many times I've seen it. Now, I am a bit worried that I'll be going in to see this movie with sky high expectations, and it's hard to imagine that lightening will strike twice for Abrams and this legendary franchise, but I do think this looks like a ton of fun and could be the best of this year's big budget flicks.

But I've also jumped, head first, onto the growing bandwagon of people waiting anxiously for Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby (May 10). I'm a big fan of Luhrmann's two most popular films, Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!, so the fact that the film barely resembles Fitzgerald's prose doesn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, I expected it. Luhrmann's style is always interesting, and while it may not be a testament to the film as a whole, the trailers and clips are showing that this will be one of the most unique films of the year. The cinematography is breathtaking, the soundtrack is fantastic and Warner Bros. has utilized a brilliant marketing strategy to get people excited for a film that's based on a book hundreds of teenagers dreaded reading for school. The Great Gatsby may be the only event film of the summer to not be a sequel or based on a comic book, and I can't wait to be a part of the large crowds on opening night, waiting to see if Luhrmann has delivered another spectacle of a motion picture.

Finally, one can't talk about summer movies without mentioning Iron Man 3. The film, which has already begun breaking records overseas, might be the biggest film of the year and it's hitting theaters in a matter of days. Now, I'm excited for Iron Man 3 (May 3). Marvel has done a fine job in handling their growing Avengers franchise, and while some entries (Thor) have been a bit dull, none have been truly awful. But, whenever a comic book franchise reaches its third installment, I can't help but be nervous. So, you'll excuse me if I look forward to Iron Man 3 (hell, I'm seeing it opening night) but if I keep my expectations low. I'd rather be pleasantly surprised then disappointed.

I do feel a obligated to include Before Midnight (May 24) in this bunch. The film is, essentially, the indie movie equivalent to Iron Man 3. But, I have not seen any of the Before films at this time. I definitely plan on it by the end of the year, however.

Rentals and Matinees: 

There are a number of films that will be given a limited release this May that I would love to see, but most likely won't be able to due to the fact that they won't be playing in many theaters. Noah Baumbach's Frances Ha (May 17) looks terrific, but I highly doubt it will play anywhere near me so  I'll have to wait until it arrives on DVD. I also think that The Kings of Summer (May 31), which premiered at Sundance to positive reviews, looks like a fun little film but it also looks like one I won't be able to see until I can watch it at home.

But the independent film I'm most upset about (probably) missing is The East (May 31), Zal Batmanglij's follow up to the largely unseen Sound of My Voice. That film just barely missed my honorable mentions last year, mainly due to an ending that felt way too rushed, but I strongly recommend you all seek it out. It's a really great thriller that offers a lot of food for thought. The film also introduced me to Brit Marling, who stars in and co-wrote both Sound of My Voice and The East with Batmanglij. Marling has a screen presence like few actresses of her generation- there's an almost hypnotic quality to her acting. I'd love to see The East in theaters, especially since Marling has surrounded herself with some great co-stars (Ellen Page, Alexander Skarsgard, Patricia Clarkson). But, much to my chagrin, I'll have to wait until I can see it on DVD.

On the blockbuster side of things, Fast & Furious 6 (May 24) looks like a lot of fun but I'll probably be waiting until it hits DVD, if only because I have never actually sat through any other films from the franchise. Obviously, the Fast franchise isn't the sort of thing where a lack of knowledge regarding the previous films will seriously dictate your enjoyment of it, but I just can't muster up the excitement (or willingness to pay for a ticket) given my lack of attachment to the long running series. Maybe I'll catch up on the series and check out Fast & Furious 7 in theaters, but I won't have to think about that until next summer.

I'm also a bit on the fence about Now You See Me (May 31). I love the cast, hate the director, enjoyed the first trailer and rolled my eyes a bit too much during the second. Its release date doesn't inspire much confidence, as it gives the impression that the studio is trying to bury it. So, I'm gonna have to wait until DVD for this one. But, with a cast like this, I can't help but feel it will be worth checking out eventually.

I'm not interested:

I'm sorry, but I fail to understand how anybody can watch the trailer for The Hangover 3 (May 24) and think it looks good. Granted, I didn't enjoy the original and didn't bother to see the sequel. But its third installment just looks bad. I find no enjoyment in watching annoying, completely unlikable characters run around Las Vegas screaming and saying things that are outrageously inappropriate but allegedly 'funny.' Oh, and Zach Galifianakis' whole shtick has got to stop. His entire purpose in The Hangover series is to do and say things that are so ridiculously stupid that I can't help but wonder why the rest of the Wolfpack aren't legitimately worried for his well being. So don't expect a review of The Hangover 3 this May. I have no intention of ever seeing it.

Now that I'm done with that rant, I have a (much less malicious) one about Epic (May 24), an animated film that looks like a catastrophe to me. Now, I'm not all too knowledgeable about film marketing but I feel safe in assuming that animated films are intended (primarily) for children and that children like animated films with lovable characters that they'd want to take home in the form of a stuffed animal or action figure. Now, which characters in Epic are intended for children to take home with them? The strange looking human/fairy/warrior creatures? The stereotypically spunky snails, an archetype even the youngest of filmgoers have seen before? I don't know, I can't see anybody actually being interested in this. I had a similar vibe to Rise of the Guardians back in November. That film went on to break $100 million at the domestic box office, yet it still lost a lot of money over at DreamWorks and resulted in massive layoffs for the company. I can't help but think Epic will be an even worse disaster.

Then there is After Earth (May 31) which abandoned its well timed release date in June for a crappy one in late May just a few weeks ago. If that doesn't foreshadow a major flop, I don't know what will. This film fails to impress me in anyway. It just looks like a mess. And I'm not saying that because of M. Night Shylaman's involvement. The film just feels like a rehash of many different ideas that worked well in other blockbusters, with a plot that we've seen dozens of times before. Remember when Will Smith was a major movie star? Well, Smith may be likable but After Earth only serves as further evidence that he has lost the "golden touch" he once had when it came to selecting projects.

Finally, we come to Peeples (May 10), the film that wins the award for strangest title of the summer. Now, my knowledge on this film is fairly limited. I don't think I've ever actually watched the trailer, so I do feel bad for writing it off. But, this looks like what would happen if Meet the Parents was directed by Tyler Perry. Now, Kerry Washington is talented (and gorgeous), and the film doesn't look all that bad. But I've watched a lot of films in my time, and I feel like I've seen enough where the biggest laugh in the is a joke about a dog humping a human. I'll pass.

Love it or hate it, the summer movie season is upon us and after a rather dull start to the year, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the studios were simply saving their big guns for the hottest months of the year. You can expect my first review of the summer this weekend, and many more throughout the month.

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Our Top Story Tonight: More "Pacific Rim" is Here & More of Colin Firth on the Way!

Kicking off tonight's movie news recap is the very impressive trailer for Guilmero del Torro's Pacific Rim. This is the same trailer that premiered at Wondercon earlier this year and, in my opinion, it does a much better job at showing audiences what they can expect from this big budget flick. The action looks much more exciting here, and while the plot is hardly original the trailer gave me the impression that the film can be unique in terms of execution. If anything, this looks like a mashup of all things nerd and I'm now much more excited for Pacific Rim then I was when the first footage premiered. For those who don't know, Pacific Rim is essentially a film where soldiers use giant robot suits to combat giant monsters that have invaded the Earth. Clearly, we aren't talking about Shakespeare here, but this could be a lot of fun. You can check out the trailer above, and the film itself on July 12.

Speaking of Shakespeare, Michael Fassbender has just signed on to star in an adaptation of the Bard's classic play Macbeth. It's unclear if the film will modernize the play or not, but we do know that it will retain the original language and will be directed by Justin Kurzel (The Snowtown Murders). I'm a bit of a Shakespeare nerd, and Macbeth is one of my favorite plays so I really can't wait to see what Fassbender does with the part. Any suggestions for who should play Lady Macbeth? The first two actresses that come to mind are Tilda Swinton and Cate Blanchett, but I'm open to suggestions. Maybe Rooney Mara? She's a bit too young, but she has the ferocity that would be needed to pull off the part. Regardless, the role of Lady Macbeth is a dream part for any actress and it'll be interesting to see who is cast.

Meanwhile, on the totally opposite side of the filmgoing spectrum, Jamie Foxx has signed on to play Benjamin Stacks in Will Gluck's update of the musical classic Annie. Stacks is the new and (possibly?) improved version of Daddy Warbucks, the rich man who adopts Annie. The film, which is being produced by Jay-Z and Will Smith, already has Oscar nominee Quevanzhané Wallis in the titular role and is set to be released next Christmas. I'm not much of a fan of the original (or musicals in general), but I am (mildly) interested in seeing how this film works out. Will Gluck has proven to be a solid comedic director as well, so this could be quite charming. And Foxx proved to have some nice pipes in Dreamgirls, so this could be interesting.

Finally, fans of Colin Firth will be pleased to know that the Oscar winning actor has signed up for not one but two films. The first is Matthew Vaughn's Secret Service, an adaptation of a comic series written by Mark Millar and David Gibbons that follows a veteran secret agent and his young into the shadowy business. That film is set to be released November 2014. But on a much more interesting note, the actor has also landed the lead role in Woody Allen's next film opposite Emma Stone. Now, this being a Woody Allen film, there is no real information to share regarding the project, but I'm already hoping that Firth and Stone play a couple and not a father/daughter as we would expect. Strangely enough, I could see the two having quite a bit of chemistry and it would be interesting to see the two as romantic leads. But, either way, I'm excited. The untitled film is set to film in the south of France later this year.

That's it for today! You can expect a preview of May's movies some time tomorrow, and a new box office related article by Thursday. Stay tuned!

Our Top Story Tonight: Who's Ready for "Scream" on MTV?

I remember hearing speculation about a "Scream" TV series, but now it seems to be a reality- MTV has just ordered a pilot version of the acclaimed slasher series, a personal favorite of mine, and Wes Craven may even be behind the camera for it. We don't have a storyline for the series, or even a writer, but fans of the film are already divided on it. I'm not exactly opposed to a series like this- and I'd rather see a TV show than another sequel, to be honest- but how will it be done?

One of my problems with the Scream sequels, most notably Scream 3, is that the series forgot what made the original so great- the fact that it mixed horror and meta comedy together seamlessly. Sure, the original film was funny and had some great one liners, but it was still legitimately scary. The legendary opening scene to the original freaked me out quite a bit as a kid. Nothing from the sequels ever even came close. Sure, there were some cool scenes but, generally speaking, they relied more on meta-humor. I have a feeling MTV will be going in that direction too.

I'm also wondering about how the mystery of the series will be developed. I could see MTV taking a "Pretty Little Liars" approach and stretch everything out for numerous seasons- a decision I would hate. The film franchise could barely make the mystery last an hour and a half before it started to become clear who the killer was. I just don't think a serious would work if the mystery as to who the killer was lasted past a season. So, maybe take the "American Horror Story" approach and have a new storyline/cast every year? That could be interesting- but I don't think they'll go for it.

Obviously, this is all speculation. We don't have enough information to write anything but speculation. Now, anybody that follows TV news knows that just because a pilot has been ordered, we don't know if the series will ever actually see the light of day. Hell, it wouldn't be the first property-based pilot to get the boot- remember NBC's "Wonder Woman"? Or the planned "L.A. Confidential" series starring Kiefer Sutherland. But I'm already a bit pessimistic when it comes to the possibility of a "Scream" series. I just can't imagine the series turning out okay and, best case scenario, it's a mildly entertaining guilty pleasure. Granted, with Craven involved I can't be totally upset. And I suppose it's best to move the franchise to television as opposed to having a terrible sequel. But, a part of me just wishes Sidney and the rest of the gang at Woodsboro just moved on after the original.

Our Top Story Tonight: JGL and C-Tates Get Ready to Sing on a Slow News Day

There just isn't much movie news to talk about today, but there was one interesting piece that Deadline broke earlier: Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are committed to starring in a remake of the classic musical "Guys and Dolls." While the film doesn't necessarily have a greenlight, 20th Century Fox has the rights and apparently both actors are interested in the parts, so the studio will be trying to scoop a writer and director together. For those who don't know, the classic film starred Hollywood legends- Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando. Are these guys the right actors to take over those roles?

My knowledge of "Guys and Dolls" is limited, outside of "Luck Be a Lady Tonight", but with Les Miserables impressing me so much (and doing so well at the box office) I don't really mind the inevitable wave of movie musicals revving up to hit theaters. That being said, I'm more interested in seeing film versions of "Wicked" or "Spring Awakening" (which will be hard to adapt, but still...). I also want another Rent movie, so we can forget the godawful travesty of a film Christopher Columbus churned out a few years ago. Hell, I even liked the idea of having JGL in the role of Roger. But, a guy can dream.

Also, with all this talk of music, has anybody been listening to the songs released from The Great Gatsby soundtrack? All I can say is wow. We got some serious contenders for Best Original Song. I included my favorite track at the bottom of this article, be sure to check it out.