Cinema Scene: Adam Sandler’s Generous Gifts, Betty White’s MIB Mystery

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Biopics, Drama, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Casting, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases,

-It pays to be one of Adam Sandler’s friends. According to Chris Rock, the comedian gave his (male) Grown Ups costars Maseratis as “Thank You” presents. (He could just give me the $200,000 in cash.)

-Batman Live will be hitting the UK and the US next year. The traveling stage production – which will not be a musical – will include a “brand new original storyline” and a list of familiar Batman characters.

-Although we shouldn’t be surprised to hear about a “Chilean miners” film – did you know that shooting on The 33 of San Jose started five days after the miners were rescued? No release date has been announced yet.

-Despite reports that Betty White would join the cast of Men in Black III, it appears that news wasn’t true. “Where did that come from?” the Golden Girl questioned. "All these rumors come up but there is absolutely no truth to any of it."

Cinema Scene: Newsies Heading to Broadway, August: Osage County Heading to Theaters

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Musicals, Casting, Filmmaking, Scripts, Upcoming Releases,

-Oscar winners Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep may team up for August: Osage County, a big screen version of a Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Playwright Tracy Letts would adapt his own story for the Weinsten production.

-Meanwhile, a Broadway version of Newsies, a 1992 Disney musical starring Christian Bale, is being written by Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast), Harvey Fierstein and Jack Feldman.

-Speaking of musicals, the cast of The Sound of Music will reunite later this month for the first time in 45 years. Christopher Plummer, Julie Andrews and the kids will all appear October 29 on Oprah.

-Brenda Chapman has just been named the first female director in Pixar history. Brave, a movie she will also write, will be released in June 2012. Reese Witherspoon, Emma Thompson, and Julie Walters will all voice characters in the project.

Cinema Scene: Sing-Along Beauty and the Beast; Live-Action Mulan

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Action, Animation, Family, Musicals, Remakes, Romance, Comedy, Upcoming Releases,

-A sing-along version of Beauty and the Beast will be coming to theaters at the end of the month. The animated film will be available in limited release on September 29 and October 2.

-Speaking of old Disney films, Zhang Ziyi will star in a live-action version of Mulan. The English-language project will be directed by Speed‘s Jan de Bont and produced by an independent studio.

-Blockbuster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The video chain – which has nearly approximately $1 billion in debt – will be preparing to close another 800 stores.

-Ed Zwick’s Love and Other Drugs, starring Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal, has been chosen to open AFI Fest 2010 in November. Black Swan will close the festival.

Cinema Scene: Oscar the Cat’s Film, Wesley Snipes’ Free Time

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Adaptation, Biopics, Thrillers, Awards, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases,

-Oscar, a real-life nursing home cat, is getting a movie based on him. Family members have been notified when the Rhode Island feline with the uncanny ability to predict death has been seen curling up on a patient’s bed.

-Danny DeVito will sub for longtime friend Michael Douglas at the Zurich Film Festival. Douglas, who is receiving treatment for a throat tumor, was scheduled to accept a Golden Icon Award on October 3.

-Wesley Snipes’ date with slammer has been delayed. Although he was supposed to start his three-year sentence by September 2, additional motions being filed by his defense team have given the actor more free time.

-Idris Elba will be taking over an old Morgan Freeman role. The Wire star will be playing Dr. Alex Cross - the character in Kiss the Girls - in an adaptation of James Patterson’s Cross.

Cinema Scene: John Belushi Biopic, Bugs Bunny Film

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Warner Bros, Adaptation, Animation, Biopics, Drama, Family, Music, Scripts, Technology, Upcoming Releases,

-Edie Falco says she would be interested in reprising her role as Carmela Soprano if a Sopranos film was ever made. “Frankly, I think it’s not going to materialize, but stranger things have happened,” she said.

-Director Todd Phillips (The Hangover) and screenwriter Steven Conrad (The Pursuit of Happyness) are teaming up for a John Belushi biopic. At this point, Phillips is only attached as a producer.

-Speaking of biopics, director Jon Chu (Step Up 3D) has just been tapped to direct the 3-D concert/biopic centering on Justin Bieber. The movie is scheduled to hit theaters over Valentine’s Day weekend next year.

-Bugs Bunny will be the latest animated character to get the live-action/CGI treatment. David Berenbaum has been tapped by Warner Bros. to draft a script on the Looney Tunes figure.

Cinema Scene: Fishburne’s Daughter Turns to Porn, Amy Fisher Does Too

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Rumors,

-Laurence Fishburne’s daughter, Montana, has decided to get into the porn industry. The 19-year-old apparently believes a sex tape will make her famous like Kim Kardashian. Sigh.

-“Long Island Lolita” Amy Fisher is also seeking fame through adult films. Fisher - already the subject of a homemade video - has struck a deal to star in four new movies.

-According to actor Scott Patterson, a big screen Gilmore Girls movie might still be in the future. “I think the fans are so loyal and so faithful, that it probably will happen,” he told EW.

-Inception‘s Leonardo DiCaprio has reportedly dropped out of a movie that was to be directed by Mel Gibson. The actor claims his participation in the project was only part of Mel’s dream.

Cinema Scene: Joss Whedon Helms Avengers, Del Toro’s Haunted Mansion

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Lionsgate, Paramount, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Remakes, Comedy, Thrillers, Distribution, Filmmaking, Rumors, Upcoming Releases,

-Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s Joss Whedon officially announced at Comic-Con that he will be directing The Avengers. The superhero film is scheduled for a May 4, 2012 release.

-According to Will Arnett and show creator Mitch Hurwitz, the Arrested Development movie is still going to happen. I guess I’ll believe it when I see it?

-Lionsgate finally blinked. Saw 3D, originally scheduled to debut on Oct. 22, has been pushed to Oct. 29 - one week after Paranormal Activity 2 premieres.

-A Hobbit-less Guillermo del Toro is focusing on his next project. He is now planning to produce, write and possibly direct a scary version of Disney’s The Haunted Mansion.

-Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, has been chosen to open the 67th Venice Film Festival. The festival opens September 1.

Cinema Scene: New Adventure for Pee Wee, Release Date for Phoenix

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Magnolia, Universal, Documentary, Political, Comedy, Casting, Celeb News, Rumors, Scripts, Upcoming Releases,

-Now that Aaron Sorkin has finished targeting Facebook, he’s moving back to politics. The writer has chosen John Edwards to be the subject of his feature directorial debut. Sorkin’s screenplay will be based on Andrew Young’s book.

-Judd Apatow, in the meantime, will be helping to produce a Pee Wee Herman project. The film co-written by Herman (a.k.a. Paul Reubens) and Paul Rust will have Pee Wee involved in a “gigantic adventure.”

-Stanley Tucci may direct his Devil Wears Prada and Julie & Julia co-star, Meryl Streep, in a comedy titled Mommy & Me. Tina Fey may also star in the project which currently has no script.

-The documentary/mockumentary following Joaquin Phoenix’s strange behavior has finally been given a date on the calendar by Magnolia. I’m Still Here: The Lost Year Of Joaquin Phoenix is set to open in limited release on September 10.

Cinema Scene: AMPAS Invite for Sandler, Animated Movie for Trolls

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Animation, Family, Science Fiction, Comedy, Awards, Upcoming Releases,

-What do Adam Sandler, Mo’Nique and James Gandolfini have in common? They all recently received invites from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

-Avatar may not have cleaned up at those Oscars, but it did win more than its share of Saturn Awards. The movie nabbed 10 prizes this week including Best Science Fiction Film.

-Should we be blaming or thanking The Smurfs for this? The Troll dolls, recently seen in Toy Story 3, will soon be the subject of their own DreamWorks Animation film.

-Looking forward to the Entourage premiere? If so, you should be happy to know executive producer Mark Wahlberg is still planning a big screen version of the HBO program.

-The only piece of robot memorabilia remaining from 1984’s Terminator is going up for auction. The “T-800 Terminator” metal arm is expected to fetch over $15,000.

Cinema Scene: Blues Brothers’ Vatican Approval, Darth Vader’s Personality Disorder

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Universal, Action, Religious, Science Fiction, Comedy, Home Entertainment,

-The Blues Brothers, starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, was just recommended by the Vatican’s official newspaper. Other films suggested to Catholics include It’s a Wonderful Life and The Passion of the Christ.

-A new agreement will allow Paramount’s movies to be available to Redbox customers without delay. The studio’s films can be rented via the kiosks on their actual day of release through 2011.

-According to a paper published by French psychiatrists and psychologists, Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader may have been a result of a borderline personality disorder.

-One of two 1964 Aston Martin DB5s seen in Goldfinger and Thunderball will go up for auction this October. Some fully-operational James Bond gadgets will come included.