Film Junk » Sci-fi

Harrison Ford to Return for Blade Runner Sequel? (UPDATED)

Sean — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:46:38 +0000

Update: Alcon Entertainment has since denied the rumour: "The casting of the movie could not be further from our minds at this moment." When it was first announced last year that some sort of Blade Runner sequel or prequel was in development at Alcon Entertainment, it seemed like a pretty questionable idea. Without anyone from the original creative team involved, the project lacked legitimacy... that is, until Ridley Scott signed on to direct. Many of the naysayers started to change their tune once they heard that he would be involved, but it was still unclear what kind of story he wanted to tell. The only thing we knew was that Harrison Ford would not be involved, and that it would be a "total reinvention" of the original film. Well, actually you can scratch that, because we have recently received word that Harrison Ford may be involved in this new Blade Runner project after all. Of course, just how extensive that involvement will be remains to be seen. According to Twitch, Harrison Ford has "entered into early talks to join the new Blade Runner." They didn't have any other details to offer at this time, but they hinted that this would mean the film was a direct sequel to Blade Runner as opposed to a reboot or spin-off. If it is true, this is very intriguing news indeed. Assuming that the plan is to once again focus on Rick Deckard as the protagonist, this brings up a few questions. If Deckard is actually a replicant (which Scott has insinuated in the past), there would be a lot of make-up or CG required to make Ford look like he did in the original film. Also, at 69 years old, Harrison Ford is not really up for much in the way of action scenes anymore (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull might dispute that a little bit, I suppose). On the other hand, maybe they're planning a completely computer-generated Deckard like Arnold Schwarzenegger's appearance in Terminator: Salvation. What do you think? Could Harrison Ford's involvement be a good thing or is this a sign that we're about to get yet another regrettable sequel to an iconic film?

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The Hunger Games Super Bowl Trailer

Sean — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:05:25 +0000

The new Super Bowl commercial for The Hunger Games has gone online over at Yahoo!, and well... if this is all we can expect from this year's Super Bowl trailers, it could end up being a pretty boring game! Once again it consists primarily of footage we've seen before in other trailers, however, I will say that has a little more energy and urgency than the previous promos. It also has a little more Stanley Tucci, which is obviously a good thing. Lionsgate recently announced that The Hunger Games will be getting released in IMAX but for one week only. Will you pay a little extra to watch it on a really big screen? The movie hits theatres on March 23rd; check out the Super Bowl spot after the jump and see what you think.

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Star Wars Live Action TV Show to Introduce Time Travel?

Sean — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:16:03 +0000

I want to make it clear right up front that this next story is nothing more than a big fat rumour, but since Star Wars fans are willing to argue over just about anything, I figured it might be worth mentioning. We all know that George Lucas has been working on a live action Star Wars TV series for quite some time now, but back in 2010 he announced that the series was being put on hold for a few years because it was not yet economically feasible. With a proposed title of Star Wars: Underworld, the series is expected to fill in the gap between the prequels and original trilogy by focusing on the seedy underbelly of the Star Wars universe. Now this week there is a rumour floating around the web stating that the show might introduce a sci-fi element that has been completely absent from Star Wars up until now: time travel. Is George Lucas getting ready to go back to the future? The good folks over at Ain't It Cool News recently received information from an "untested source" about the plot of one of the first episodes of Star Wars: Underworld. The story in question revolves around "a group of bandits acquiring the capability of time travel, and using it to travel back in time to stop Darth Vader from ever existing." This would potentially involve revisiting the prequels and stopping Anakin before he turns to the dark side. If this is true, it could be a pretty dangerous idea to bring to the mix. It's very easy to get carried away with time travel and to start altering continuity (yet again) or to use it as a band-aid solution for every problem. On the other hand, I can't say that I'm not intrigued by the possibilities. Once again, we have no idea if this rumour is reliable in any way, but it doesn't seem all that far-fetched either. Would you like to see time travel introduced to the Star Wars universe? Do you have faith in Star Wars: Underworld or have you completely given up on George Lucas at this point?

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Robocop Reboot Gets Gran Torino Writer

Sean — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:24:47 +0000

Despite the initial setback of losing director Darren Aronofsky, MGM's Robocop reboot is slowly inching its way toward becoming a reality. Last year Brazilian director José Padilha (Elite Squad) signed on to helm the movie and Joshua Zetumer (Quantum of Solace) was assigned to pen the script. Now this week they have hired screenwriter Nick Schenk to do some rewrites on the movie as well. Schenk's only major credit to date is the Clint Eastwood drama Gran Torino. According to Heat Vision, Schenk had already been collaborating with Padilha on an action-thriller called Tri-Border based on the drug trade in South America. He also has a movie called The Judge in development at Warner Brothers. It's unclear what they might do to distinguish this version of Robocop from the previous installments, but Padilha had this to say in a previous interview:

"In the first 'RoboCop' when Alex Murphy is shot, gunned down, then you see some hospitals and stuff and then you cut to him as RoboCop. My movie is between those two cuts. How do you make RoboCop? How do you slowly bring a guy to be a robot? How do you actually take humanity out of someone and how do you program a brain, so to speak, and how does that affect an individual?"

I guess that would make it a prequel of sorts? I'm still not entirely convinced that this movie needs to be made, but I am certainly curious to see what comes of it. Are you on board for Robocop reboot, and does this sound like the right creative team to see it through?

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Monty Python Members to Reunite for New Sci-fi Film

Sean — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:51:35 +0000

Although I'm not a huge Monty Python fan, I am getting the distinct feeling that this is next bit of news could be a pretty big deal. After decades of concentrating on their own solo careers, it appears that England's most influential comedy troupe will once again come together for a new big screen collaboration. The plan is for Terry Jones (Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian, The Meaning of Life) to direct a new feature film called Absolutely Anything, described as "a sci-fi farce combining CGI and live action." Terry Gilliam, John Cleese and Michael Palin have all agreed to be involved, and the producers are currently in talks with Eric Idle as well. If they are successful, the only missing member would be the late Graham Chapman, who died in 1989. Clearly it could never be a true Monty Python film without him, but Jones assures us that "it certainly has that sensibility." According to Variety, the movie revolves around a group of aliens who conduct an experiment by bestowing an earthling with the power to do "absolutely anything", just to see what a mess he will make of things. The Pythons will each voice one of the aliens, while Robin Williams will apparently voice a talking dog named Dennis. The script was written by Terry Jones and Gavin Scott (Small Soldiers), who worked on it together over the past two decades. The last movie that Jones directed was The Wind in the Willows starring Steve Coogan in 1996, but he was disheartened that Sony gave it such a small release and took a long hiatus from directing as a result. The Monty Python troupe recently worked together on A Liar's Autobiography, an animated adaptation of Graham Chapman's memoir, although Eric Idle sat that one out as well. It sounds like they might be counting their eggs before they've hatched, but I'm guessing Monty Python fans will still be following the project with great interest. What do you think, will Eric Idle actually sign on, and more importantly, could this actually be good or are the Pythons just too far past their prime?

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Iron Sky Trailer: Motherf***in’ Space Nazis

Sean — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:03:29 +0000

Nazis in space... what's not to like? We've been hearing about Iron Sky for years, and in that time the filmmakers managed to produce it through financial support from fans online, who were also given some say in the creative direction of the film. Now this labour of love is finally about to hit theatres, starting with a premiere at the Berlin Film Festival next month. To go along with this triumphant announcement, they're released a final trailer for the film. Coming from the director of Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning, Iron Sky imagines a world where the Nazis built spaceships and traveled to the dark side of the moon where they built a secret base and awaited the perfect time to return to Earth and take over. That time is in the year 2018. The movie stars Udo Kier and Christopher Kirby, and although I wish it was played a little more straight, it still looks like a lot of fun. Iron Sky will make its world premiere in Berlin on Feb. 11th before getting a theatrical release on April 4th. Check out the new trailer after the jump and see what you think.

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Aaron Sims’ Archetype: Another YouTube Short Gathers Online Buzz

Sean — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:58:04 +0000

From Fede Alvarez' Panic Attack! to Patrick Jean's Pixels, YouTube continues to be great way for Hollywood hopefuls to land production deals. Every now and then, a short film that is posted online manages to attract the attention of everyone on the internet, which in turn attracts the attention of studio execs. While a lot of these filmmakers are still unproven, it's hard to deny the level of talent and creativity they bring to the table. This time around it is veteran art director and special effects designer Aaron Sims who has set the blogosphere on fire with his short film Archetype. The plot involves a combat robot who malfunctions and begins to believe that he is partially human. Sims is hoping to turn the idea into a feature-length film, and although I haven't heard anything about any studio offers as of yet, I wouldn't be surprised if he finds funding for it. There's certainly an audience out there for this kind of pulpy science-fiction goodness. What do you think, could this lead to the next District 9? Check out the full 5-minute short after the jump.

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Former On the Lot Contestant to Direct Great Scott: A Love Letter to Back to the Future

Aaron — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:47:33 +0000

Over the past few years, we've seen many films that pay homage to 1980s cinema. Just last year there was Paul, Super 8, and Attack the Block, to name a few. Now audiences can prepare for another helping of nostalgia with Great Scott, a film that pays tribute to Robert Zemeckis' Back to the Future Trilogy. The movie takes place in 1980s Manchester, England and centers on a teenage boy who loves the sci-fi classic so much that he wants to become Marty McFly, attempting to escape his mundane, working-class life in the process. Financing will come from Philm Company, Sonic Screenworks and Lip Sync, who have helped produce such films as We Need to Talk About Kevin and Jane Eyre. Alex Child and Hiram Bleetman wrote the script and filming is planned to start this spring. While you may not recognize the name of the director, Phil Hawkins, he was actually a contestant on Fox's short-lived reality show On the Lot. Produced by Steven Spielberg, the show pitted 16 aspiring directors against each other in an effort to win a development deal with DreamWorks. (How many people remember this show?) Hawkins didn't fare too well in the competition, but he has been working in TV and movies steadily since then. While the idea behind Great Scott doesn't sound like anything fresh, it does have a certain appeal to someone like myself who also obsesses over movies. What are your thoughts on Great Scott and what do you think about the frequent use of nostalgia in films these days?

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Resident Evil: Retribution Teaser Trailer

Sean — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:34:05 +0000

Well I think we all know that movie trailers are nothing more than giant commercials, but has there ever been a movie trailer as utterly shameless and morally bankrupt as this one? The new teaser trailer for Resident Evil: Retribution (distributed by Sony Screen Gems) presents itself as a full-blown ad for Sony products for the first 30 seconds, before morphing into a look at the post-apocalyptic future. On the one hand, it's kind of a clever twist that could catch you by surprise, but on the other hand, its audaciousness feels downright offensive. Resident Evil: Retribution is the fifth installment and at this point I have no idea what Paul W.S. Anderson could possibly add to the series. According to the official plot synopsis, "Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true." Isn't that every Resident Evil movie? Milla Jovovich stars along with Sienna Guillory, Michelle Rodriguez, Shawn Roberts and Johann Urb. Resident Evil: Retribution hits theatres on September 14th; check out the trailer after the jump and see what you think.

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Liv Tyler to Star in Ti West’s New Sci-Fi/Thriller The Side Effect

Aaron — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:59:17 +0000

While currently earning some praise for his most recent film The Innkeepers, director Ti West has already begun work on his next effort, a sci-fi thriller called The Side Effect. Liv Tyler has just been announced as the lead, playing a woman who "spends several months alone in space as an experimental subject for a global pharmaceutical company, and finds herself inexplicably pregnant." Her paranoia grows as the cause of conception becomes more elusive. Described as more psychological than his previous efforts, West maintained that the film doesn't abandon his genre roots, commenting that "it is still somewhat of a horror film." Sounds like a cross between Moon and Rosemary's Baby. The Side Effect marks a return to thriller territory for Tyler who starred in 2008's The Strangers. While some may voice concern over Tyler's ability to carry a film, I think West's ability to create and manipulate tone will stand as a better marker for the movie's effectiveness. He's certainly shown his skills in that department thus far and watching him tackle material that aims to be more psychological in nature should make for an interesting film. Both Tyler and West will be attending Sundance later this month to promote separate films (she has Robot And Frank, he has V/H/S), so perhaps we will hear more details on The Side Effect then. Are you excited that Ti West's latest falls into the sci-fi genre? What do you think of Liv Tyler as the lead?

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Live Action Akira on the Verge of Being Shut Down… Again

Sean — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:41:28 +0000

Sometimes it seems that certain movies just weren't meant to be, and at this point surely there are a few people over at Warner Brothers asking themselves if the live action Akira remake has become more hassle than it's worth. Over the past decade the movie has been through three different directors and has undergone numerous budget cuts, but apparently it's still not good enough for the top brass at the WB. According to Heat Vision, the film's production offices in Vancouver are being closed down and crew members have been sent home while the budget is re-evaluated one more time. If they are unable to slice another $20 to $30 million out of the pie, the movie could end up being shelved for good. Something tells me that might be the best move at this point. Based on the seminal anime film and manga by Katsuhiro Otomo, the movie takes place in a post-apocalyptic neo-Manhattan where a teenager named Tetsuo has developed psychic powers and attempts to connect with the mind of a young boy named Akira who destroyed the city some thirty years ago. His best friend Kaneda, the leader of a motorcycle gang, must try to stop him before the military can find him and kill him. Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown) is currently attached to direct. Last we heard, Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) had landed the lead role, while Kristen Stewart, Ken Watanabe and Helena Bonham Carter were all in talks for supporting roles. Now it's unclear what will happen as the budget is set at $90 million and Warner Brothers is hoping to get it down to $60 or $70 mil. For a science-fiction movie with a heavy emphasis on special effects, that will likely be a difficult task. What do you think, will this Akira remake ever see the light of day? And more importantly, does anyone even care?

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Benedict Cumberbatch and Noel Clarke Join Star Trek 2

Sean — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:42:47 +0000

While we're still no closer to knowing whether or not the villain in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek sequel is actually fan favourite Khan Noonien Singh, this week we have finally learned who will be playing the role. Late last year, Benicio Del Toro officially passed on the opportunity, and it was being reported that Edgar Ramirez (Carlos) had entered into talks to replace him. Since they were both Latin American actors, it seemed a safe assumption that Khan was definitely the character being cast. However, in a surprise move, it appears that British actor Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) has been secured for the role instead. Cumberbatch will join fellow BBC star Noel Clarke (Doctor Who), who has also signed on for the film. Yesterday, Deadline reported that Cumberbatch had been cast in a "lead role" in the film, but did not know whether he would play a hero or villain. Variety has since cleared up the confusion, confirming that he will be a villain and that it is the very same role that Ramirez had auditioned for. While no other information about his character has been given, Noel Clarke is said to be playing "a family man with both a wife and daughter." They will join Alice Eve and Peter Weller, the latter of which is said to be playing a CEO of some sort. It's pretty clear that this is a huge deal for Cumberbatch, and his career is continuing to skyrocket thanks in large part to the universal praise for his performance as Sherlock Holmes on the BBC series Sherlock. With recent roles in War Horse and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, plus an upcoming gig as the voice of Smaug in The Hobbit, it's safe to say that this will be his biggest exposure yet. However, the news is bound to confound Star Trek fans, who were told that the villain of the movie would be a familiar one. So what do you think, is J.J. Abrams taking Khan in a new direction, or is Cumberbatch playing a totally different villain?

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