Hello, everyone. It's been a relatively quiet week with the giant that is San Diego Comic Con looming in the distance. The two largest events of the week have already been covered (the release of the latest Batman trailer and the final Harry Potter film). However, there have been some interesting announcements, especially one regarding a certain big green monster.


1. Akira News
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An adaptation of the popular sci-fi cyberpunk anime/manga Akira has been rumored for years. Names such as Zac Efron have been tossed around more than once for starring roles in the film, and due to negative backlash it appeared as if the film had gone into development hell. According to Variety, Warner Bros. has finally announced a new director for the adaptation and a new more conservative production budget for the film of $90 million. Akira will be directed by Oprhan and Unknown director  Jaume Collet-Serra.


2. Kingdom Hearts 3 Update
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Development hell is an unfortunate state of being that seems to take hold of a large amount of properties this day. It held onto Duke Nukem Forever for over a decade and look how that turned out. However, depsite a lack of news fans of the Kingdom Hearts franchise have waited patiently for years on information on the latest installment in the series. This week series director Tetsuya Nomura announced that the aniticipated handheld spin off Kingdom Hearts 3D would feature numerous hints towards the next installment in the main franchise Kingdom Hearst 3. He also announced that the plot for the game would finish the Xenahort saga, but keep Sora around for future installmetns in the franchise.


3. The Hobbit Production Diary #2
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In keeping with true Peter Jackson fashion, the New Zealand director has continued to offer us glimpses into the behind the scenes settings of the latest trip to Middle Earth. This time the production diary gives us a glimpse into the actor's lives between filming, but still offers us some tantalizing glimpses at next years two part prequel.

4. The Evil Dead to be Remade
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There are few bigger cult films than the Evil Dead franchise. Each film is held in high esteem in sects of nerd culture across the world, and their success helped to elevate star Bruce Campbell and director Sam Raimi to cult status. Now before anyone starts crying foul on this, Ghost House Pictures has announced that Evil Dead will be remade, but with Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell both acting as producers. Ghost House also announced that the two handpicked fledgling director  Fede Alvarez to direct and write the film after seeing his work on the short film "Panic Attack". The script will later be revised by Academy Award winner Diablo Cody.

5. David Goyer to Write Godzilla Script
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There are few films I am more excited for than the upcoming reboot of the Godzilla franchise. However, little has been said about the production since the January announcement that Monsters director Gareth Edwards would direct the film. Wednesday, Legendary announced that the film would be written by David Goyer who previously penned the scripts for Batman Begins, Blade 2, and the upcoming Superman reboot Man of Steel. He also has story credits on the two Nolan Batman sequels. Later this week, Legendary Pictures head Thomas Tull spoke to the heads of Motion Captured regarding the film and its take on the world famous monster star:

What I can tell you about the approach the studio is taking to the film is that Godzilla is not "just" a giant monster. He is a character, a major force of nature, and there will definitely be other giant monsters in the world. They're focusing on the notion of Godzilla as a defender of Earth, the one thing that can stop some of these other giant creatures, and while there will obviously be a human story playing out with the giant monster story, don't expect it to overwhelm or overshadow the monsters. They know why you're going to the theater, and they are determined to give you a real, no-compromises Godzilla film featuring the giant lizard you know and love already. There are definite design choices they'll make, and the official Toho Godzilla has gone through many changes over the years, but I guarantee when you see this one for the first time, you will know immediately that it is Godzilla.

The site also hinted that if the film performs well that there will be multiple sequels.

Source: http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/motion-captured/posts/legendary-brings-in-david-goyer-to-rewrite-godzilla

Outside of Rango, this year has been rather lackluster when it comes to animation. The always trusty Pixar delivered its first ever flop, and the rest have been equall uninspired.

This film based off the classic comic books by Belgian artist Georges Rémi produced by Peter Jackson, directed by Steven Spielberg, and written by Edgar Wright looks to be a spectacle on par with some of the highest budget live action films.

Not to mention that gorgeous animation.

Ever since Guillermo Del Toro dropped out of directing the adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkein's fantasy epic The Hobbit in May, the search for a new director has been a major focus of all aspects of the media. Studio heads, magazines, and of course the internet have been spewing out numerous names and possiblities ranging from Harry Potter's David Yates to District 9's Neill Blomkamp. However, one name that has been especially exciting to fans of the Lord of the Rings franchise is the rumor that Peter Jackson himself may be returning to Middle-Earth.

According to Deadline, Peter Jackson may in fact be directing The Hobbit. Apparently, MGM and Warner Bros. are in talks with the New Zealand director to lead the adaptations of both the classic fantasy: "He will shortly take the reins over from Guillermo del Toro, after Jackson extricates himself from other project obligations that caused Jackson and manager Ken Kamins to initially deny he would be the director...While Jackson's camp has been tight-lipped, I'm told that the case is being made to MGM's owners to loosen the purse strings and make the movies happen. The impetus for these talks is that Jackson will be the director of both of The Hobbit films, which will be shot back-to-back in his New Zealand backyard."

Last week, a rumor surfaced that critically acclaimed science fiction director Neill Blomkamp may be the latest director approached by MGM or Warner Bros. to lead adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkein's The Hobbit. While the response to this rumor was surprisingly positive, Vulture has uncovered the unfortunate truth. Blomkamp will not direct The Hobbit, and in fact was never in the talks to do so.

However, the District 9 director will in fact be working on a new science fiction project, entitled Elysium, for Media Rights Capital for a 2011 release.

Last week came the sad news that acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro had stepped down from helming the Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit. For a film that has been in limbo since 2004, this announcement seemed like the death nail to the much anticipated Tolkein adaptation.


However, Ian McKellen, who played the wizard Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings films posted on his Twitter account today that the project is still in production: "Hobbit sets are ready, script ready and movie is casting this month. Fans are not to worry." So despite the lack of a director, The Hobbit is still ready to go. Now we may not see the release as soon as earlier expected, but we certainly have not heard the last of this project.

For a film following one of the most successful trilogies of all time, The Hobbit has had difficulty getting off the ground. Numerous casting conflicts and shooting delays have mired the film for months now, but the final blow had yet to be struck. Director Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy)has left the production after signing on more then two years ago.

Del Toro announced today to the Lord of the Rings fansite theonering.net that numerous delays have scared him away from the project. "In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming The Hobbit, I am faced with the hardest decision of my life. After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien's Middle-earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures. I wish the production nothing but the very best of luck and I will be first in line to see the finished product. I remain an ally to it and its makers, present and future, and fully support a smooth transition to a new director."

Del Toro will still co-write the film along with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh.

First announced at San Diego Comic Con last year, Peter Jackson has released information regarding the upcoming theme park ride based on his adaptation of King Kong. Jackson describes the ride in the video below.

The ride is scheduled to open at Universal Hollywood in July of this year.

The Hobbit movie seems to be creeping along according to actor Ian McKellen, who played the wizard Gandalf in the trilogy of films released almost ten years ago. McKellan mentioned today to What's Playing? that he is pleased with the script, but only just discussing a contract for the film several days ago. At the moment him, and the film, are in a state of limbo. McKellan mentions that he's excited for filming, and plans to meet with director Guillermo del Toro and executive producer Peter Jackson later this month. Despite this disconcerting news, was countered by comments made by actor Andy Serkis, who played Gollum. Serkis insists that shooting will start in May. Either way, it will still be some time before we return to Middle-Earth.

Peter Jackson announced today to Moviefone.com that the scripts for the two Hobbit films have been finished and that they have begun talks for a budget and shooting dates. Looks like we will be seeing the long awaited Hobbit adaptations sooner then expected. Peter Jackson had the following to say about the announcement: "We've just delivered the script. Literally last week, we delivered the second of the two screenplays -- the first draft. So the studio's got both scripts now, which is a milestone; and if anything was holding it up, it was us doing the screenplays, because we'd just been writing as fast as we can, but it took us this long to get them finished. So we take whatever responsibility there is for the speed. And we're now in the process of budgeting the films, and then hopefully we'll get to a budget the studio [people] are happy with, and they'll greenlight the movies and we'll announce the shooting dates. I'd be pretty optimistic that we'll be shooting before the end of the year. I would imagine October, November, we'd be shooting by. I'm not announcing it, though."

Okay. I was offline for a week and in said week we got a ton of news on various things ranging from comics to movies. Here's a quick round up of cool stuff that happened while I was dormant.


1. Juarssic Park Comics by IDW



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Believe or not Jurassic Park was once, in addition to being a novel and movie series, was once a comic series published by IDW.Come this June the series will be revived by the company beginning with the Jurassic Park: Redemption arc.The story follows John Hammond's grandchildren ten years after the original film/novel. The series features art by Frank Millar and Nat Van Dyke, and is coedited by Bob Schreck.
source:ign.com

2. Captain America is Chris Evans


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It has been a long multimonth journey, but we finally have an actor set to play Captain America in the upcoming film The First Avenger: Captain America. Chris Evans, known for his role as The Human Torch in the Fantastic Four films, is set to play the famous patriot in next summer's film. However, his contract current holds him to reprise the role into nine films, including 2012's Avengers movie.
Source: ign.com

3. Two New Independence Day Films!?!

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Yes, whether you loved Roland Emmerich's Independence Day or hated it, it looks like we may get two sequels. Thats right, a film thats almost ten years old, now may get two sequels. IESB.net has reported that Will Smith, in addition to Men In Black 3, has signed on for two sequels to the 90's alien film that will be shot back to back. The sequels are expected to begin shooting in 2011.
Source: Comingsoon.net

4. Hobbit Films to Begin Filming Later This Year


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Andy Serkis, the actor who played Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, has confirmed at the Japanese Empire Awards that the two Hobbit films will begin shooting in late 2010. This means that the release date may in fact be pushed back from its originally slated 2011 to 2012. However, he does offer some words of encouragement stating that they have the look for the film down, and that Middle Earth will still look like Middle Earth.
Source: comingsoon.net