As I mentioned on yesterday’s post, I was in the middle of working on this post when the Immortals trailer hit. But even within a day, there’s always new movie news to share, so read on below and hope you learn something you didn’t know before you come over here 😀
- Firstly, I’m so excited that Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, one of my anticipated movies of this year is going to open Venice Film Festival! Here’s a quote from the film’s producer Doug Urbanski via Playlist: “We’re in post-production. We’ve been invited to open the Venice Film Festival. We’ll be releasing in the U.K. probably in September. Then we’ll probably release in America in October or November… All of these things will be decided in the next two weeks but I would think that we have a very serious Oscar contender for next year.” Considering the cast that’s comprised of Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ciaran Hinds, Mark Strong, Toby Jones, and John Hurt, I think the Oscar buzz is totally understandable. The film is said to open sometime in December and I sure hope Gary Oldman would finally garner a nomination!
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I couldn’t find a photo with a lot of the cast members, but I did see this one of Tom Hardy sporting a blond wig and a bunch of tattoos. (Photos courtesy of JustJared)
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… - Speaking of on-set photos, I also found a bunch of photos of Gerry Butler (who co-stared w/ Hardy in Rocknrolla) was also spotted on the set of his upcoming dramedy Playing the Field with Dennis Quaid, along with the female cast who play his ex-wife (Jessica Biel) and the soccer moms who have the hots for him.
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As I mentioned before here, the movie is about a former soccer star with a wild past who tries to redeem himself by coaching his son’s soccer team, only to find himself tempted by the kids’ restless and gorgeous moms. Y’know, I wasn’t too enthused about it when I first heard it, but now that Uma Thurman and Catherine Zeta-Jones have joined the cast, I’m really looking forward to this. There hasn’t been a great soccer comedy flick (well, since Bend It Like Beckham), so I hope this movie will change that. Plus GB looks ever so handsome in his soccer uniform 😀 (Photos courtesy of Caughtonset.com)
Butler w/ Biel | Thurman, Quaid & Zeta-Jones on the set
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- Now this one is fresh from the oven! Variety just reported this morning that the upcoming Superman film now has a villainess to go along with General Zod in fighting their ultimate Kryptonian nemesis. Thirty year-old German actress Antje Traue (Pandorum) has been cast as Superman villainess Faora, which according to the article is believed to have been the inspiration for the character Ursa in Richard Donner’s Superman films. I can kinda see the resemblance between the two, especially their striking but chilly eyes.
Antje Traue & Sarah Douglas as Ursa Looks like the Man of Steel better watch out! Here’s the brief description of the character in that Variety article: Faora Hu-Ul was introduced in Action Comics #471 as a beautiful Kryptonian woman with an intense unexplained hatred for all men. She was an expert at the Kryptonian martial art of Horo-Kanu, which utilizes pressure points on the Kryptonian body and made her a dangerous foe for Superman to fight in hand-to-hand combat.
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Last but not least, this is a pretty interesting news and I do hope it’s more than a rumor. Not contend with being one of the most talented actors in the business, Russell Crowe is seriously considering tackling on directing. What’s the movie about? Well, according to Deadline, it’s a period cop drama from L.A. Confidential‘s crime author James Ellroy in which he might also star in.
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The story “… deals with the unsolved murder of an LAPD officer, and the nationally televised shootout in South Central L.A. between the Symbionese Liberation Army and the LAPD, where 50,000 rounds of gunfire were exchanged.” Well, L.A. Confidential is one of my favorite crime dramas, so this definitely piqued my curiosity and if Russell does end up helming the project, I’d be sure to watch it.
Well, that’s the news roundup for this week folks. Any thoughts on any of these news? Feel free to also add any movie news you’ve just heard that you’re excited about.
FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
Look at you with all this news flowing.
I do love on set images, behind the scenes are always my favourite parts of the DVD extras.
Superman is shaping up to be very interesting indeed. Fingers crossed!!
C
I love behind the scenes stuff, too! And yeah, I’m excited about the Krypton storyline w/ Supes’ enemies having similar powers, makes for an interesting fight scenes!
I didn’t know Tom Hardy has another film coming out this year besides the boxing one. The film sounds interesting.
I feel bad for Butler, he’s been in box office duds after duds, maybe he should fire his agent. Not sure if this new film of his will be a hit, Jennifer Biel is considered a box office jinx.
I’m keeping my expectations low for this new Superman flick, maybe Snyder will finally show his true talent.
Crowe the director, hmm not sure about that. But he’s worked with so many talented directors so maybe he learned something from them.
I’m much more interested in ‘Soldier Spy’ one than ‘Warrior’ just ’cause I’m not into boxing (plus just look at the ENTIRE cast!)
Yeah well, as someone who’s followed Butler’s career the past 5 yrs or so, I have plenty of high hopes for him as he’s really a better actor than people give him credit for. But I think he’s done a great job in continuing to mix things up, playing a Shakespeare character, a preacher and a soccer star and then a surfer mentor is pretty darn impressive I think.
As Crowe directing, like I said above, I think he can do it.
Mmm, slightly shaggy Butler, showing his legs. This makes Samanthas happy.
You know, I just saw the thing about Crowe directing, and I think it could be a good idea. He needs some kind of publicity rehab, and being behind the camera might work for him. Additionally, I think he’s a very intelligent individual who has good ideas about how things should work, so I think he’d do a good job. Will I see it? Well, that all depends on cast, trailers, and reviews, doesn’t it? 😀
i agree that Crowe’s intelligent & directing might be good for his image.
it’s possible that he’ll be a pretty mellow director because he’d be in control. but doing publicity seems to set him off so he’d need to avoid that.
He..he… I’ll have you know this post is just an excuse to put up Mr. Butler’s photos 😉 LOVE his longish hair.
I’m gonna give our beloved Crowe the benefit of the doubt in that he’d do an excellent job. I mean, I’m not saying great actors make great directors, but he strikes me as someone w/ a strong vision when he’s acting, which I think should translate well when he’s behind the camera too. I think he might also star in it, so that means at least I like one of the cast already 😀
PS – Ooh, that picture. 😀
He…he… so it’s Sam-approved, yay! Y’know I loooove his intense, brooding look 😀
Looking at the picture, I initially thought GB was Russell Crowe! The long hairs got me ahah
He..he.. As you can see, I have quite a consistent taste in my fave actors 😀
there’s our Catie Zeta! I’m sending her a kiss now 🙂 And one for Gerry Berry too 🙂
Yeah, glad to see Catherine still working whilst in treatment for her bipolar disorder. The chemistry between her and GB has gotta be pretty scorching 🙂
re: Tinker….that ~is a wig, but those tatts are all Tom’s 🙂
Wow, I had no idea. That’s way too much tattoos for my liking though, but it does suits his colorful personality.
i don’t mind them 🙂
Great images and update on GB. You know, I REALLY count on you to keep me updated on him, no holding back… EVER 😉
He..he.. duly noted, my dear friend. I think another one of this post (https://flixchatter.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/my-top-5-favorite-gerard-butler-roles) is due soon. He continues to look very different from movie to movie, just the way we like it!
Poor Gerard Butler, he should stop all these rom-coms!! 😦
Heard about the Russell Crowe news the other day, interesting that he wants to direct and star in another Ellroy novel but given how good LA Confidential was, that could be a really great idea!
Poor GB?? I won’t feel too sorry for him Castor, I don’t see being seduced by Uma Thurman & Catherine Zeta-Jones for a living is something we ought to feel sorry for, ahah.
I actually don’t see this as a rom-com, more like a sports comedy. The Italian director, Gabriele Muccino is known more for his dramatic films, i.e. The Pursuit of Happiness & Seven Pounds. But even if it IS a rom-com, it’s not like it’s automatically bad. It could very well be a good one like One Fine Day or Return to Me… even his first rom-com P.S. I Love You is great, I don’t care what the critics say. Oh, and I heard that he gets to use his own accent here, VERY wise decision I’d say, I mean, most soccer stars are Europeans anyway 😀
Just saying he is better than that! What, you want him to turn into Matthew McConnaughey next? 😛
He will NEVER turn into McConnaughey, even if they both had eight-pack abs at one point. For one thing, GB has doesn’t always rely on looks only for a movie (just look at the pics of him as Machine Gun Preacher) and his resume is ten times more diverse. Btw, funny you mention Matthew, did you know they were actually in a movie together? With Christian Bale too, no less, when both GB and CB were still unknowns. See if you can guess what movie that is 😀
So you’re giving him a lifetime pass despite the terrible movies he’s been in for the past three years? :S
Yeah, you know what? I might too. I saw Dear Frankie recently. I don’t know who the perfect man is, but looks wise, he comes close.
I’m giving him a lifetime pass despite some of the terrible choices because he’s done a ton of great work in the past that went unrecognized. And besides, even in a terrible movie, he’s still the best part in it.
Oh glad you got to see Dear Frankie. Y’know, as gorgeous as he is in that one, I don’t actually think that’s his BEST look, that’d have to be Tomb Raider 2 😀
I am SO going to watch this movie only to see Benedict Cumberbatch plays another role beside playing the most perfect Sherlock I have ever seen.
I see now why you like Benedict so much. He’s awesome in Amazing Grace as well… he’s got screen presence, I hope he gets more prominent roles in the future.
Cumberbatch must have some guts because i’m sure everyone tried to get him to change his name & he hasn’t done it. i hope if they ever remake the Harry Potter series he can be in it somehow, it would be so right.
I don’t get why they need to change it, it’s a cool and unique name. I can see how if your name’s Archibald that you need a better screen name, but Benedict is kinda cool IMO.
I like the name too. i think it’s so English, hence my wish for his involvement in HP.
I don’t KNOW that anyone tried to get him to change it, but it is longer than the average name and pretty unusual. and there seems to be a long tradition of actors’ agents telling their clients to change their appearances, names, whatever, to get roles. Particularly names that are at all out of the ordinary or long or whatever.
It’s funny you mention Archibald, Cary Grant’s real name was Archibald Leach.
Oh yeah, he’d be an awesome addition to HP! It’s funny that uniqueness is considered a bad thing, you’d think that BECAUSE nobody else has the same name he’d stand out more above the Michaels, Johns, Roberts, etc.
He…he… yes I know that’s Cary Grant’s name, dearest. I think it’s cute since his original name just doesn’t fit such a masculine, hunky man 🙂
I am planning to find Amazing Grace next week. I also curious with his role as Stephen Hawking, but I am not sure it will be easy to find.
ps. I think his name is cool, so British. hope he’ll more recognition in the future.
For your love of Hardy, here’s a pumped up shot of him prepping for his BANE role: http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/865601/the_dark_knight_rises_new_tom_hardy_pic_shooting_news.html