Great Bloomberg feature on Marvel’s Kevin Feige. And some interesting implications for Star Wars, if you read between the lines: Doesn’t Marvel’s “six-member creative committee with people steeped in comic book lore” sound a lot like Lucasfilm’s Story Group?
Report: Jesse Plemons looking unlikely for Episode VII
No Jesse Plemons for Episode VII? The actor is in talks for the Whitey Bulger biopic Black Mass with Johnny Depp, says The Hollywood Reporter. Black Mass, like Episode VII, is slated to begin filming in May.
Plemons’ name first came up for Star Wars in January; he was even confirmed as a possible contender (well, someone “we’ve talked to”) by J.J. Abrams not long after. Plemons, along with another actor THR mentions as probably being out, Matthew James Thomas, were reportedly in the mix last month.
Trailer: The Wachowski’s Jupiter Ascending
Here’s the second trailer for Jupiter Ascending, the latest from the Wachowskis. Is the lure of a brand-new space opera movie enough to make you forget The Matrix sequels (and/or Speed Racer/Cloud Atlas) and give this a try?
Rumor: Does the future of Indiana Jones lay in recasting Indy? Does Lucasfilm already have a name in mind?
As ‘scoops’ go, this seems pretty much a simple conclusion to draw, but for what it’s worth, Latino Review is saying that the Indiana Jones franchise will indeed take a page from James Bond and recast Dr. Jones, as was theorized back in December when the rights issue was settled.
LR is saying while that Harrison Ford may do one more film as the hero, if things don’t move forward by a certain date, they may go forward with a new trilogy – and a new actor – instead.
Bradley Cooper supposedly tops that Lucasfilm wish list. (That’s not a guarantee: I’m sure he’s on a lot of lists these days.) And on the writing end, The Walking Dead’s Frank Darabont – who wrote for the Young Indy series and an early version of Crystal Skull – may have pitched an idea.
UPDATE #1: The folks at Slashfilm say a source tells them that this isn’t true – at least not at the moment.
UPDATE #2: And Frank Marshall weighs in:
Due to the ridiculous rumors that keep popping up, like agents pipe dreams, I will stop commenting on our projects until I have real news.
— Frank Marshall (@LeDoctor) March 26, 2014
Confirmed: Episode VII to be released in IMAX
A press release from Disney and the IMAX Corporation today confirms that Episode VII is among the upcoming Disney films that will be released in IMAX.
However, it’s worth noting that director J.J. Abrams said earlier this year that he’s not particularly fond of shooting with the IMAX camera.
The other films are Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Maleficent, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Tomorrowland.
As much as 1/3 of ILM’s effects work on Episode VII will be done in Vancouver
“We have 10 years of work ahead,” said Industrial Light & Magic president and general manager Lynwen Brennan as the company takes over a former Pixar facility in Vancouver. As much as one-third of the work on Episode VII will be done there. In addition to the various new Star Wars films, they’ll also be working on Warcraft and Jurassic World.
Captain America to challenge Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman in 2016
Captain America to challenge Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Yes Marvel and DC movies will face off directly at the box office on May 6, 2016 with the third Captain America film and the Man of Steel sequel both opening the same weekend. Is Marvel’s head start and higher quality enough to take down DC’s three biggest names? All I know is that I’ll probably be seeing the one that’s not directed by Zack Snyder first.
Rumor: Modelmakers at Pinewood under contract for 7 years, space booked for Indy 5?
And here’s another from Den of Geek this morning, which at the very least seems/feels slightly more probable than the last one. They report that there’s been a clampdown on the Pinewood prop shop, but that the modelmakers are working on a Millennium Falcon (as frequently reported and possibly proved) and lightsaber hilts. The modelmakers also supposedly have seven-year contracts covering the new trilogy and three spin-offs.
They’re also reporting that the planning office has a listing for an Indiana Jones 5, which wouldn’t be all that surprising giving Disney and Paramount’s announcement regarding the franchise in December.
Trailer: Veronica Mars
Here’s the first theatrical trailer for the Kickstarter-funded followup to the cult TV series that ran from 2004 to 2007. It’ll be out in “select theaters” March 14.
Alan Horn: Episode VII script expected in January
Disney expects to get script for Star Wars 7 in January. No budget for movie although studio wouldn't be surprised if it costs $200 million.
— Marc Graser (@marcgraser) December 13, 2013
At a Variety event this morning, Disney’s Alan Horn said that they expect to get the Episode VII script in January and that the film will likely cost $200M. (Revenge of the Sith‘s production budget was $113M, per Box Office Mojo, but that was almost a decade ago.)
He also reiterated that we’ll be seeing Star Wars movies yearly, which has been the plan for a while now, but has been rumored to be in doubt.
Disney expects a Star Wars related movie (including spin offs) every year from Lucasfilm. #StarWars
— Marc Graser (@marcgraser) December 13, 2013
As for Indy:
Disney's Alan Horn on Indiana Jones: "We need a story." Guesses it will be another two to three years before we see a fifth movie.
— Marc Graser (@marcgraser) December 13, 2013
Graser is a reporter at Variety.