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Singer Returns "Twilight Zone" To TV

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

Bryan Singer is attached to develop, executive produce and potentially direct a reboot of classic sci-fi anthology series "The Twilight Zone" at CBS Television Studios.

CBS is currently searching for a writer to adapt Rod Serling's original series. The project has yet to be taken out to networks.

This marks the third attempt at a 'Zone' reboot following an '80s revival on CBS that ran three seasons, and a UPN reboot in 2002 that lasted one season.

This deal has no connection with the attempt at a film adaptation that director Matt Reeves is developing.

Source: The Live Feed

Categories: Science Fiction

Efron, Harden Cast In "Parkland"

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

Zac Efron and Marcia Gay Harden will join Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton and Jacki Weaver in the cast of "Parkland" at Playtone and Exclusive Media.

Based on Vincent Bugliosi's non-fiction book "Reclaiming History," the film recounts the dramatic true story of the chaotic events that occurred at Parkland Hospital in Dallas on the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22nd 1963.

Award-winning journalist and novelist Peter Landesman adapted the script and will make his directorial debut.

The project will be shot in Austin, Texas ahead of a 2013 US theatrical release on the 50th anniversary of the assassination.

Source: THR

Categories: Science Fiction

Fox, Constantin Pick Up Sci-Fi Works

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

20th Century Fox has picked up the film rights to Top Cow's one-shot 2011 sci-fi thriller comic "Theory of Everything" by Dan Casey and Nick Nantell.

The story follows a disgraced scientist as he seeks to rescue his thought-dead wife from a parallel dimension. Dan Jinks ("American Beauty," "Milk") will produce.

Meanwhile, Constantin Film have acquired the film rights to Neal Shusterman’s 2007 young-adult sci-fi novel "Unwind". Robert Kulzer, Marc Benardout, Catherine Kimmel, Julian Stone and Charlotte Stoudt will produce.

The story is set in a dystopian future after the Second Civil War, a world in which teenagers’ parents can decide if they want their children’s organs transplanted into different donors at Harvest Camps — a process known as being “unwound.”

Sources: Heat Vision & Deadline

Categories: Science Fiction

Jonathan Groff Gets "Frozen"

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

Stage star and "Glee" actor Jonathan Groff is set to voice the character of Kristoff in the upcoming animated comedy-adventure "Frozen" at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

When a prophecy traps a kingdom in eternal winter, fearless optimist Anna (Kristen Bell) teams up with extreme mountain man Kristoff (Groff) and his sidekick reindeer Sven on an epic journey to find Anna’s sister Elsa (Idina Menzel), the Snow Queen, and put an end to her icy spell.

Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee helm the film which features music by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. The film is slated for a November 27th 2013 release.

Source: Stitch Kingdom

Categories: Science Fiction

Brooks McLaren Re-Writes "Line of Sight"

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

Warner Bros. Pictures and Silver Pictures have hired Black List writer Brooks McLaren to rewrite the action thriller "Line of Sight."

The story revolves around an elite commando squad who, in the midst of an attack on the United States, must transport a high value target along the eastern seaboard to insure the security of the government.

Producers Joel Silver and Andrew Rona are aiming to make an action thriller grounded in the real world as much as possible

Mouse McCoy ("Act of Valor") is directing. Scott Frasier penned the previous draft.

Source: THR

Categories: Science Fiction

Affleck Out Of "Focus," Jackman In "X-Men"

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

A scheduling conflict has forced Ben Affleck to drop out of Glenn Ficarra and John Requa's "Focus" at Warner Bros. Pictures. Shooting was to begin in the Spring.

The story deals with a romance between a professional conman and someone just learning the criminal art and how their past relationship comes back into play when they meet up again years later.

Meanwhile, Bryan Singer recently tweeted "I would officially like to welcome @RealHughJackman to the cast of #Xmen Days of Future Past. Very excited!"

This confirms earlier reports that Hugh Jackman will star in the soon to shoot 'First Class' sequel - "X-Men: Days of Future Past."

Source: Vulture

Categories: Science Fiction

"Ten," "Anchorman," "Grandmasters" Dated

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

A couple of key release date announcements today.

First up, Open Road Films have set a January 24th 2014 release date for David Ayer's "Ten". The "And Then There Were None"-inspired action thriller stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Joe Manganiello, Sam Worthington, Harold Perrineau and Terrence Howard.

Then, Paramount Pictures has settled on a December 20th 2013 release date for the soon to begin production comedy sequel "Anchorman: The Legend Continues." Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, David Koechner and Paul Rudd and more cast members are all expected to return for the follow-up.

Though Wong-Kar Wai's LONG delayed "The Grandmaster" hasn't set a release date yet, it has finally settled on a premiere date. The 1930’s China set epic martial arts drama has been set as the opening film of the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival which commences February 7th.

Categories: Science Fiction

Character Posters: "The Great Gatsby"

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

Warner Bros. Pictures has now unveiled all six character posters from Baz Luhrmann's upcoming adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic "The Great Gatsby". There's Leonardo Di Caprio as Jay Gatsby, Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan, Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway, Elizabeth Debicki as Jordan Baker. Isla Fisher as Myrtle Wilson, and Joel Edgerton as Tom Buchanan. I'd expect more shortly, and when they do arrive they'll be added to this page:

Categories: Science Fiction

Jon Voight To Spy On "Reagan"

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

Jon Voight is negotiating to play a pivotal role in the $35 million indie biopic "Reagan."

The story unfolds as a young Russian leader visits a retired KGB agent named Viktor (Voight) so that he may learn of the demise of the Soviet Union. Viktor's job was to track Ronald Reagan during his presidency.

The film is based on two books by Paul Kengor and is being penned by Jonas McCord and Howie Klausner. Ralph Winter and Mark Joseph will produce.

Source: THR

Categories: Science Fiction

TV News: Who, SHIELD, Sherlock, Fly

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

Doctor Who
The BBC have released a photo of the new look interior for the TARDIS that will make its debut during the upcoming "Doctor Who" Christmas special.

A new version of the theme tune and opening credits are also set to debut. [Source: Digital Spy]

S.H.I.E.L.D.
Jeph Loeb, head of Marvel TV, says he hopes Marvel's 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' TV series will be ready to air next Fall on ABC. [Source: Comic Book]

Sherlock
Benedict Cumberbatch says that despite the film success he and Martin Freeman are having, he intends to stick with the BBC's "Sherlock" for some time to come.

"I love it too much. Making [Sherlock] is all about availability. Martin Freeman has the same kind of pressures on him now. It's a thing of quality not quantity that show - thank God. We started young with it. We started when they meet and we still are young for those roles. There's no reason why it can't continue until we get too old." [Source: Yahoo]

Stick Fly
Playwright Lydia Diamond is set to adapt the Broadway hourlong drama "Stick Fly" for HBO. Diamond, Alicia Keys and Nelle Nugent will executive produce

The story deals with the secrets of prejudice, hypocrisy and adultery that are exposed during an African-American family's weekend at Martha's Vineyard. [Source: The Live Feed]

Categories: Science Fiction

Roth To Produce "Smoke and Bone"

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

Joe Roth ("Alice in Wonderland") is set to produce the young adult fantasy adaptation of Laini Taylor’s "Daughter of Smoke & Bone" at Universal Pictures.

The first in a trilogy, the story follows a 17-year-old art student whose father occasionally sends her on errands around the world collecting human teeth for a mysterious purpose.

She gradually becomes aware that she is part of an ancient struggle between devils and angels and finds herself in a forbidden romance with a warrior angel.

Source: Heat Vision

Categories: Science Fiction

Casting: Schoenaerts, Sagal, Barks, Burr

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

The Faithful
Matthias Schoenaerts ("Rust and Bone," "Bullhead") has joined Michael R. Roskam's film noir "The Faithful" at Savage Film and Stone Angels.

The story deals with a crime gang in Brussels. Roskam is currently co-writing the script while Pierre-Ange Le Pogam will produce. Shooting kicks off Spring 2014. [Source: Variety]

There’s Always Woodstock
Katey Sagal ("Sons Of Anarchy") has joined the cast of the indie rom-com "There’s Always Woodstock". Sagal will play a suffer-no-fools owner of the SHOP coffeehouse in the upstate New York town.

Allison Miller plays a would-be songwriter who returns to her dead parents’ home in Woodstock, New York for the summer. Rita Merson makes her feature directorial debut. [Source: Deadline]

Walking on Sunshine
Samantha Barks ("Les Misérables," "Groove High") is in talks to join Kylie Minogue and others in the musical comedy "Walking on Sunshine" which is set to 1980s pop songs.

The story deals with a mother and daughter who fall in love with the same man in Spain. Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini ("StreetDance 3D") will direct. [Source: The Wrap]

Walk of Shame
Bill Burr, Liz Carey, Ken Davitian, Willie Garson, Lawrence Gilliard Jr, Oliver Hudson, Alphonso McAuley, Kevin Nealon, Tig Notaro, Ethan Suplee and Sarah Wright have all joined the cast of Stephen Brill's comedy "Walk of Shame" at Lakeshore Entertainment and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.

Elizabeth Banks plays a highly-strung news anchor (Banks) who finds herself locked out of her flat after a heavy night of drinking with no money, ID, telephone or keys. She finds herself suffering a series of misadventures as she desperately attempts to attend a very important job interview on time. James Marsden and Gillian Jacobs also star. [Source: Digital Spy]

Categories: Science Fiction

Radio Silence Helms Found Footage Film

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

The directing team of Radio Silence are set to direct an untitled found footage project at 20th Century Fox and Davis Entertainment.

Lindsay Devlin penned the script and all that's known is that it is being described as a female-driven film and having horror elements.

Radio Silence consists of four people - Tyler Gillett, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Chad Villella and Justin Martinez. John Davis is producing.

Source: Heat Vision

Categories: Science Fiction

Robert Rugan Adapts "Genius Files"

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

Commercials director Robert Rugan has been hired to pen the script for Warner Bros.’ adaptation of Dan Gutman's book series "The Genius Files".

The story revolves around twelve-year-old twins who are recruited to be part of a secret government experiment that uses young geniuses to solve complex national problems.

The pair must fight for their lives while on a road trip with their family. Mike Karz is producing.

Source: THR

Categories: Science Fiction

Poster: "Oz: The Great and Powerful"

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

Disney Pictures have unleashed a new character one-sheet for Sam Raimi's upcoming "Oz: The Great and Powerful," this one showcasing the Wicked Witch of the West. The true identity of said witch, namely if it's being played by Mila Kunis or Rachel Weisz, is being kept secret for now.

Categories: Science Fiction

Jolie To Direct Hillenbrand's "Unbroken"

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

Angelina Jolie is in talks to direct the World War II drama "Unbroken" at Universal Pictures and Walden Media.

Based on Laura Hillenbrand's 2010 bestseller, the story chronicles the life of Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini.

Zamperini was captured by the Japanese navy and detained at a P.O.W. camp. That came AFTER he survived both a near-fatal plane crash and being stuck on a raft for 47 days.

"Les Misérables" scribe William Nicholson penned the latest draft for the project, while Matthew Baer ("The Replacement Killers") and Erwin Stoff ("The Blind Side") are producing.

Jolie made her directorial debut with last year's war drama "In the Land of Blood and Honey."

Source: Universal Pictures

Categories: Science Fiction

Hurd To Produce Live-Action "Gaiking"

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

Valhalla Entertainment, Toei Animation and All Nippon Entertainment Works are teaming to develop Toei's iconic but short-lived 1970s anime property "Gaiking" into a live-action feature for the international market.

The story follows a young man who is recruited to serve as the lead pilot for the Super Robot Gaiking.

When Earth is threatened, he emerges as the only one who can pilot the massive robot. He and his fellow co-pilots must fight off an alien force.

The anime became part of the "Shogun Warriors" toyline and later was aired under the name "Force Five" in Western markets in the early 1980s.

Gale Ann Hurd, Yoshi Ikezawa and Joseph Chou will produce. No screenwriter is yet attached.

Source: Variety

Categories: Science Fiction

"Riddick" Set For September 6th

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

Universal Pictures has locked in a September 6th 2013 release date for David Twohy's "Riddick".

This third film featuring Vin Diesel's famed anti-hero will be screened in both conventional theaters and IMAX on the same day.

Left for dead on an isolated planet, Riddick fights for survival against aliens and becomes more powerful than ever before. Meanwhile, bounty hunters from the far reaches of the galaxy descend on the planet in an attempt to capture the fugitive.

Categories: Science Fiction

"Game of Thrones" Eps Run Longer

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

Each of the ten episodes of the upcoming third season of HBO's "Game of Thrones" will run a few minutes longer than episodes in the first two seasons.

Showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss are adapting the first half of George R.R. Martin’s massive third novel "A Storm of Swords" in his "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. This is not only a fan-favorite book, but arguably the most pivotal one in the series.

Weiss says "There's almost another full episode's worth of extra minutes spread across the season. One of the great liberties with HBO is we're not forced to come in at a specific time. We can’t be under 50 minutes or over 60, but that gives us a lot of flexibility."

Benioff says "A super-sized season, as befitting Storm of Swords. Last year we had a lot of 52-minute episodes. This year is a lot of 56, 57."

The third season finale is expected to run over an hour. The new season premieres March 31st 2013, and below is a new production video blog about Season 3's art direction.

Source: EW

Categories: Science Fiction

Review: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Dark Horizons - Fri, 12/28/2012 - 11:32

A welcome albeit less magical return to Middle Earth, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" kicks off a likely nine-hour cinematic trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien's quite slim pre-"The Lord of the Rings" tome "The Hobbit". Like the books, this is a lighter and decidedly less emotional journey - one with a more playful sensibility and quieter rewards to yield.

This welcome dash of the whimsical is offset by the fact the film is also considerably less efficient in its storytelling manner. Repetitive and pointless action scenes fill out an already bloated runtime, not an unusual problem for director Peter Jackson. His remake of "King Kong" more than doubled the length of that film's original, in the process adding almost a solid hour of CG creature fights and escapades that had no bearing on the story other than to pad it out. Some of it worked, most didn't.

"The Hobbit" thankfully doesn't suffer to the same degree, mostly due to a more carefully crafted story. Concerns were raised about how Jackson and his co-scribes were incorporating elements from the appendices from "The Lord of the Rings" into this film. It's hard to believe, but the film itself really only covers the first six chapters of "The Hobbit" - about 100 pages in all. Yet the big surprise is that much of the added material includes many of my favorite scenes in the film.

One sequence has former "Doctor Who" star Sylvester McCoy as the hippy wizard Radagast the Brown investigating a Necromancer who has taken up residence at the abandoned fortress of Dol Guldur. Another is the meeting of the White Council which sees four of Middle Earth's most famous faces discussing politics. There's also a few throwbacks to the structure of "The Fellowship of the Ring" be it the mid-point arrival at Rivendell, a distinct Orc as this chapter's antagonist, and the final scene with the dwarves looking into the distance at the mountain they are trying to reach. Most of these scenes worked wonders and magically transported me back to the Middle Earth of the former trilogy I remember.

Yet these are only occasional stretches in a film that overstays its welcome. Like 'Fellowship', this is essentially a road movie with our heroes crossing the countryside to get to the other side of the Misty Mountains (the 'Rings' sequels then took them south, these ones will take them east). The stakes, the urgency and the danger are considerably less though, which makes the overall journey feel more slipshot and episodic in nature. Jackson's adaptation keeps the tone darker than the admittedly kid-friendly novel, but even at its darkest points this never approaches the more adult sensibility of the original trilogy.

There's a half-hour dinner scene at the start, a twenty minute game of riddles with Gollum, and a whole hour in which our heroes outrun Orcs, fall down a shaft, outrun goblins, talk on a hillside, and hide in trees from Orcs. It's a movie that takes a good amount of time to get going, and once it does it's not sure in which direction to travel. A longer runtime would be justified if it helped us get to know these characters better. However, all but three of the dwarves remain fairly anonymous.

Those three are amongst the best things in the film though, not surprising when you consider all three have years of British television experience under their belts. I've been a fan of Richard Armitage for a while, especially during his days on the spy thriller "Spooks," and here he brings a solid gravitas and regality to the leader Thorin Oakenshield. James Nesbitt adds both mirth and a warm earnestness to his strangely capped Bofur, making the most of his few lines. Same with Ken Stott as the eldest dwarf and sage advice giver. The other dwarves aren't bad, but they are very much in the background here despite the long runtime.

This film however is all about Martin Freeman and Ian McKellen. The former is just a perfect fit, bringing his comic sensibility to a part that has more warmth than some of his other roles in the past. There's mini-arcs in play here, Bilbo's self-actualisation and Thorin's ultimate acceptance of him, and Freeman pulls it off in a believable and welcome manner. McKellen meanwhile just has a ball, getting to do more than usual whilst having sly fun as the more human and rascally 'Grey' version of Gandalf.

From a production value perspective, "The Hobbit" is exactly what you'd expect. With basically all of the team from the original 'Rings' films back in place, this Middle Earth feels very much like coming home. It's an earlier version, one not blanketed by a feeling of impending doom and one more simple and magical in its sensibility. As a result it's a little brighter, more colorful, and sadly a bit more populated by computer generated creatures than before.

There's less consistency overall. With a heavier reliance on computer graphics, the results are surprisingly mixed. The sequences with both the cave trolls and Gollum look smashing, the creature effects have a weight and quality to them that's actually quite astonishing. Less effective are the Orcs and Goblins, with both Azog the Defiler and the scrotum-chinned Goblin King coming off very poorly. These stand out as otherwise the cinematography, the musical score, the digital landscapes, etc. are all impressive and near or on par with the previous films.

Now we come to the other elephant in the room - HFR. I watched the film in the new 48 frames per second 3D technology, and the effect was one that definitely distracted and subtly detracted from the filmgoing experience. As someone who grew up on 1970s and 1980's BBC shows, those making comparisons to that "look" are kidding themselves. Those comparing it to either video games or TruMotion 100Hz/200Hz TVs are much more accurate in their description. It's not that the film is "hyper real", it's just certain shots look sped up without any frame lag or the sound going out of sync.

The stupid decision was made to start the film with nearly ten minutes of roller coaster-like swooping shots and narration. Nausea-inducing to those of us unfamiliar with the look, it really seems as if the film is being played on fast forward. When the action shifts to Bag End and you see people talking whilst moving strangely fast - you come to realise this is the effect. Much like the way 3D is not good at handling quick cutting or shaky cam style filmmaking, certain types of shots work much better with the HFR technology than others.

The upside of this technology is that it solves almost all the problems of 3D. Eye fatigue, ghosting, overly dark shots, etc. are gone. It's also surprisingly good at giving more weight and believability to digital characters - Gollum for example really feels as if he's a part of the actual scene being filmed rather than added in later by digital wizards.

It does however show up the phoniness of filmmaking at times. When the group is caught in a rainstorm, you can really tell it is just people hosing them down from above. A flashback to the dark history that Thorin shares with Azog gives us a big battle sequence that looks almost entirely lifted from a "God of War" video game. At best the tech solved some minor irritations with 3D, at worst it was a stomach-churning distraction. Most of the time though all I could think of was if the shot I was watching would look better in 24fps 2D. More often than not I came to the conclusion that it would be.

Jackson is obviously trying to recapture the spirit of Middle Earth with "The Hobbit" films, but this first chapter only succeeds at the challenge at certain moments. It's as polished as it ever was, if not more so, but the approach of expanding out a thin story rather than cutting back on a large one has resulted in a film that's frustrating in its indulgences, its pacing, and its lack of focus - especially in its early stages. Judicious self-criticism and restraint are as much qualities of great filmmaking as ambition and scope, and here they have not been obviously employed. A great journey on par with the three previously films could've been on offer. What we've got, though not in the same league, is still a nice weekender away.

Categories: Science Fiction
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