Amazon to Release Spike Lee's Chicago Film in Late 2015
The much-criticized "Chicago" film by Spike Lee recently wrapped production last week. Story details are still under wraps, but as we noted many moons ago, the film was rumored to be a musical comedy based on the Greek play, Lysistrata, with a cast led by Mad Men's Teyonah Parris alongside Nick Cannon, Jennifer Hudson, Wesley Snipes, John Cusack, Angela Bassett, Samuel L. Jackson, and more. However, the "musical" element of the film is in question, as the script, co-written by Lee and Kevin Willmott, is in a lyrical style similar to Shakespeare, but assumedly modernized.
Originally, the film was going to hold its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival 2016 (if accepted), but both Spike Lee and Amazon Studios, the film's distributor, are confident enough in the film that they're bumping its release up to December 2015 as part of a limited theatrical run to qualify it for the awards season. Furthermore, the film will be Amazon Studios' first original film, establishing Amazon's film distribution program that was started back in January. The film will officially open next year in theaters, followed by an Amazon-exclusive release online.
Lee had this to say about the film and Amazon Studios' involvement:
I’m honored to be part of the film that will launch Amazon Studios and to tell a story that is so important. Please don’t be fooled by the title of Chi-Raq, this new Spike Lee joint will be something very special.
I've already cast judgment on the film and its offensive title, but I'll hold any real criticism until the film is released. Could this be Spike Lee's return to form? I can only hope.
[via The Hollywood Reporter]
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Reunite in Sisters Trailer
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The team of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler has become a force to be reckoned with in recent years, strengthened by their real life friendship (and the public spillover that has ingratiated the duo even more with fans). They're banking on their natural comedic chemistry with one another to empower their upcoming film, Sisters, teamed together with another rising comedic voice in Pitch Perfect director Jason Moore.
Fey and Poehler star as polar opposite sisters who have to clean out their childhood bedroom before their family sells the house. Wanting to re-live the glory days of their youth, they decide to throw one final house party. The script is writer Paula Pell's first feature screenplay, but she has also written for Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, Bridesmaids, and This is 40.
The trailer has its ups and downs, but the real highlights are when Fey and Poehler can build off of one another's jokes, the kind of chemistry we've grown to love in Apatow films. Plus, the more we can get out of Fey and Poehler sharing screen time, the better.
Sisters will be out in theaters on December 18th.
Fantastic Four Flex Their Powers in Final Trailer
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While San Diego Comic Con 2015 was a huge hit for superhero films, Fantastic Four unfortunately got buried beneath the hype surrounding Deadpool, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Suicide Squad. After all, it's hard to build more excitement for a film with no new information and scheduled for a release less than a month away.
Nevertheless, Fox is prepared for Fantastic Four to be a big hit, as showcased in this final trailer for the film. The trailer holds no punches back (pun intended) by showing off each of the Fantastic Four's powers. The new cut is decidedly more action-oriented and should help sway any potential moviegoers on the fence. Don't forget, this is the year for Michael B. Jordan.
Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, and Toby Kebbell all star with Josh Trank directing. Fantastic Four will be in theaters on August 7th.
Hayao Miyazaki Making CG Short Film
Famed animator Hayao Miyazaki is returning to the drawing board... literally. It's been two years since Miyazaki's retirement and the release of his last film, The Wind Rises, yet it was only a matter of time before the legendary director got the creative itch and returned to work on a new project. However, there are a few caveats surrounding the announcement of his return.
Firstly, the short, which is rumored to be a 10-minute short about a fuzzy caterpillar named Boro, might be a Ghibli Museum-exclusive. Miyazaki has created Ghibli Museum-exclusive shorts before, such as the My Neighbor Totoro follow-up, Mei and the Kittenbus, but rarely do they screen in the United States, nor do they ever get an official domestic release. Fans of Miyazaki interested in seeing this new short will have to visit the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo to do so. The second caveat, which isn't much of a bad thing, is Miyazaki's use of CG to create the short. Miyazaki has utilized CG in the past to supplement his art, but this will be his first full CG short film. Lastly, it might take an estimated three years for the short to be completed.
Regardless, it's great to see Miyazaki returning to what he loves the most. We can only hope he'll still have the itch to develop a full-length feature once the short is completed.
[via Variety]
Official First Look at DC's Suicide Squad
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Over the weekend, fans attending San Diego Comic Con were treated with a special first-look at DC's upcoming film, Suicide Squad. Featuring a ridiculously talented cast that includes Margot Robbie, Will Smith, Cara Delevingne, amongst others, and End of Watch's David Ayer helming, Suicide Squad is just one of DC's re-vitalized attempts at not only re-shaping their united DC film universe, but to also change the superhero film script up by featuring villains as the protagonists.
In the clip, which was leaked over the weekend following its closed doors reveal at San Diego Comic Con, each character is highlighted as the nexus of their formation is revealed. The big twist, however, is the surprise appearance by Jared Leto's oft-criticized Joker. As far as first looks go, this footage hits the right balance of showing off just enough to get fans more hyped while not spoiling the film outright.
As I mentioned previously, DC released the footage following a bootleg video of the Suicide Squad SDCC-exclusive clip. The studio had this to say, posted on the Suicide Squad Facebook:
"Warner Bros. Pictures and our anti-piracy team have worked tirelessly over the last 48 hours to contain the Suicide Squad footage that was pirated from Hall H on Saturday. We have been unable to achieve that goal. Today we will release the same footage that has been illegally circulating on the web, in the form it was created and high quality with which it was intended to be enjoyed. We regret this decision as it was our intention to keep the footage as a unique experience for the Comic Con crowd, but we cannot continue to allow the film to be represented by the poor quality of the pirated footage stolen from our presentation."
- Sue Kroll, President Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures
Suicide Squad will be in theaters in August 2016.
Ben Affleck Directing and Starring in Solo Batman Film Written by Geoff Johns
Following this week's release of new photos of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice comes news that Ben Affleck will not only don the cape and cowl following 2016's Dawn of Justice and 2017's Justice League, but he'll also direct a solo Batman film co-written by legendary DC Comics writer and Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns.
Johns has had his hand in shaping DC Comics' latest TV series, Arrow and The Flash, as well as having written for Smallville, co-produced and was a creative consultant for Green Lantern, is executive producing Dawn of Justice, and has written many, many DC titles over the years.
Considering the project is years away with two other films serving as buffers in the interim, there are no details on the script. Affleck's next project, a film adaptation of the novel Live By Night by Dennis Lehane, was greenlit by Warner Bros. just this week. However, considering the viability of a solo Batman film, there may be potential for Warner Bros. to switch the two film productions around.
We'll have more information on this rumored solo Batman film when more comes!
[via /Film]
Marisa Tomei Cast as Aunt May in Spider-Man Reboot
In a surprising (but delightful) move, Sony and Marvel have tapped the lovely Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny, The Wrestler) to play Aunt May in the upcoming Spider-Man reboot opposite Tom Holland. While nothing official has been announced, Variety is reporting that the two studios offered the role to Tomei last week.
Aunt May has traditionally been depicted as the older, wise maternal figure in young Peter Parker's life. However, the Ultimate Spider-Man version of the character depicted her as a bit more "street smart" and not as fragile or naive as her counterpart. Ideally, Tomei's Aunt May will be more like the Ultimate Spider-Man version. Tomei doesn't necessarily fit what most are used to as the "Aunt May-type," as can be seen by the online backlash from the comic book community. However, as both a comic and film fanatic, I'd love to see what Tomei can bring to the role and for the Spider-Man reboot to shed the cobwebs (hurr hurr) off of what we've already grown accustomed to to establish a new status quo for this now third reboot of the Spider-Man film franchise.
This'll be an interesting career move for Tomei. The actress typically opts for dramatic roles, my favorite of which was Pam in Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler. Depending on the writer Sony and Marvel find for the film (they haven't found/announced one just yet), this could be the best depiction of Spider-Man on the big screen yet.
[via Variety]
New Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Photos
The hype train for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is in full gear going into this year's San Diego Comic Con this weekend. As a build up to the country's largest pop culture convention, Entertainment Weekly has released a few new photos from the film.
The photos, which you can see below, feature Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor (complete with a full head of hair), Gal Gadot and Ben Affleck as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman and Bruce Wayne/Batman, respectively, Henry Cavill as Superman swarmed by what appears to be fans, a face-off shot of Batman and Superman staring each other down, and Batman standing next to the iconic Bat-Signal.
As San Diego Comic Con 2015 begins tomorrow, we're sure to have more news from the film later this week. For now, enjoy the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice photo gallery.
[Entertainment Weekly via /Film]