Steve Carell in Talks for ‘Minecraft’
Hollywood has been trying and failing to make video game movies work in their favor for decades now. Despite all evidence proving their inability to successfully do so, they’re still diligently at work trying to crack to code, as it were. Some games seem ready made for cinematic adaptation, with their built-in storylines and characters who would translate well onto the big screen. Then there’s Minecraft, a game largely without a plot or purpose. So of course Minecraft is a go. Warner Brothers, who acquired the rights to the mega-popular game early this year, is reportedly close to landing Steve Carell as one of the stars of the adaptation, to be directed by It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney, who also co-wrote the script with Wonder Woman scribe Jason Fuchs. WB is clearly hoping Minecraft could turn into another Lego Movie, which was a worldwide surprise hit that’s spawned a spinoff with Lego Batman as well as a sequel, which is currently in the works. Minecraft’s Lego-esque philosophy could play in their favor here, but, all in all, in kind of sounds like a bad idea.
(Variety)
‘Green Hornet’ Looks to Reboot and Revamp into New Franchise
Green Hornet, the 1960’s series which introduced many to iconic martial artist Bruce Lee, is getting the gritty reboot treatment from director Gavin O’Connor (The Accountant). Supposedly inspired by Christopher Nolan’s take on Batman with The Dark Knight Trilogy, O’Connor hopes to update the character for modern audiences, in addition to erasing the bad taste left in the mouths of moviegoers following the disastrous Seth Rogen led film from 2011. O’Connor is working closely with screenwriter Sean O’Keefe on the update, which the director describes as full of the kind of existential angst superhero fans have come to be indifferent towards in recent years. Still, there’s kind of a lot to work with in the Green Hornet mythos, and O’Connor has proven his ability to handle serious and intense action films. It seems doubtful, but perhaps Britt Reid and Kato will finally get the treatment they deserve.
(Deadline)
‘O.J.’ Director Sets Sights on Richard Jewell
After his success on O.J.: Made in America, director Ezra Edelman is taking on another iconic 90’s crime story in a new film exploring Richard Jewell, the man who helped prevent further bombings of a right wing extremist during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta before becoming wrongly accused of the crimes himself. Jonah Hill is set to star in The Ballad of Richard Jewell in addition to producing the film alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. Edleman’s work on O.J.: Made in America has proven his ability to handle the links between crime and celebrity, though this time the roles are somewhat reversed. O.J. Simpson was a celebrity prior to his murder trial. Jewell, on the other hand, became something of a celebrity after being vilified in the media during the FBI investigation. It’s an interesting switch for the director to make, but his experience makes him uniquely qualified for the role.
‘Hidden Figures’ Tells Heroic Story of Overcoming Prejudice
Telling the unsung story of three African American women who were integral to the launch of astronaut John Glenn on his historic mission to become the first man in space, Hidden Figures looks to be a front runner for a whole slew of statues this coming awards season. Director Theodore Melfi (St. Vincent) brings the story to life from the book by Margot Lee Shetterly. Taraji P. Henson (Empire), Octavia Spencer (Allegiant), and Janelle Monae (Moonlight) star as three mathematicians who overcome both racism and sexism in 1960’s America to become a part of one of the greatest accomplishments in human history. Watch the trailer below.
(20th Century Fox)
Cranston Faces off Against Franco in NSFW Red Band Trailer for ‘Why Him?’
It’s good to see Bryan Cranston getting back into comedy. Before starring in Breaking Bad, he was best known as the hilariously inept father Hal on Malcolm in the Middle. He returns to his comedic roots in Why Him? a new Christmas movie about a WASPy family coming to terms with their daughter’s new boyfriend, a foul-mouthed James Franco. The latest trailer is seriously not safe for work, so it would be best to watch this somewhere it can’t be heard, but seeing Cranston and Franco go up against each other looks like it might be an irreverent new classic among holiday movies. Watch the trailer below. Why Him? opens on December 23.
(20th Century Fox)
