The new hip trendy thing these days is to have DVD releases with different exclusive bits depending on which store you buy it from. For the most part, they're shruggable. But I must admit that the Best Buy offering for Indiana Jones IV is kinda snazzy if you like the film. It is a "Gift Set with replica crystal skull from Sideshow Collectibles and a $25 gift card to Sideshowcollectibles.com." That's all well and good, but can I drink vodka out of it? You can order your non-snazzy DVD release here or your Blu-Ray-snazzy DVD release here.
There's a big article here about the the Dreamworks/Paramount divorce. Honestly, you don't need to know much of it. Tintin is the only project that had any activity and is now in danger of not happening, but that's not news. The news I take away from this--and thus share with you--is the word that these are in the works: first, a Lemony Snicket 2, which stays at Paramount. I know, apparently it made money--who knew? Steven Spielberg is producing a remake of When Worlds Collide, which stays as a co-production between the two companies (i.e. joint visitation rights) like Transformers 2 is. Spielberg is directing Lincoln with Liam Neeson in the lead, this from a screenplay by Tony Kushner (Angels in America). Right now that last bit is supposed to start production in the spring.
Julie Taymor, after astounding with The Lion King musical and confounding with a gorgeous but flawed Titus, she's doing The Tempest. Helen Mirren will be playing Prospera and not Prospero. Also in the cast are Russell Brand (as Trinculo), Djimon Hounsou (as Caliban), Jeremy Irons (as Alonso), Felicity Jones (as Miranda), Alfred Molina (as Stephano), Ben Wishaw (as Ariel)--and Geoffrey Rush is in talks to join them as Gonzalo. Sweet damn. Production looks like it will start in Hawaii next month. Can somebody release a Region 1 of Prospero's Books because of this? Please? Source: Hollywood Reporter.
This would seem like a great opportunity/excuse to have some Gielgud on the site.
Jordan Ladd and Sally Kellerman will star in The Wishing Well for the Hallmark Channel. Do you need to know that? No. What you need to know is that also on board is Ernest Borgnine and this will be his 200th movie. He was in The Black Hole. He was in The Wild Bunch. He was in The Dirty Dozen. And if that wasn't enough, he was co-pilot of Airwolf. Ernest Fucking Borgnine, ladies and gentlemen. 200 movies to his name, still working. Hell yes. Source: Hollywood Reporter.
Absolutely Fabulous is going to attempt to be Americanized. Fox is working on it. Jennifer Saunders is on board as one of the executive producers. It will be based in L.A. "but retain the basic template of the original, revolving around the friendship of two boozy, over-40 best friends who are desperate to stay hip and youthful and who carry on under the disapproving eye of Edina's teenage daughter, Saffy." You may commence betting whether the pilot ever airs and how many episodes it will last...startiiiing...now. Source: Variety.
Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland has its queens: Anne Hathaway is White, Helena Bonham Carter is Red. Not bad. Source: Hollywood Reporter.
Devil's Due comic Hack/Slash is having issues with somebody who claims to have the rights to Re-Animator, so Diamond has decided, for legal reasons, not to distribute the planned three-issue crossover (or at least not distribute it any more). Devil's Due is therefore self-distributing them. Buy your copies here if you want to check them out--looks like it'll be the only way to do so. For more details on the weird nature of this, check out io9.
This actually has nothing to do with the comic, but I wish somebody would hack and slash this video.
Chortle reports good news for QI: first, it's making the move to BBC1 from BBC2. Both Stephen Fry and Alan Davies return. If that wasn't enough, they want a spinoff. A pilot has been commissioned for BBC2 called The QI Test and will have non-celebs on the panel. Fry will not be hosting this show. "The concept of The QI Test is to show that members of the public can be just as interesting as TV pundits. It also intends to celebrate knowledge rather than humiliating contestants." While I admit that most of the people I know are more interesting than the people on television are usually, that's pretty tough to put people up against the likes of the panelists on that show--much less Stephen himself. The pilot will be shot in November. Source: Chortle here and here. Image source.
A one-time staged reading of the screenplay for All About Eve with Annette Bening as Margo (the Bette role)? With more casting news to come? You guys better damn well film this. That's one of my favorite screenplays ever. Source: Variety.
