Milla Jovovich In Talks For Expendables 3

While in Cannes this year, we had the opportunity to talk to Jackie Chan, and to ask him about the chances that he'll turn up in The Expendables 3. While excited by the idea, he was a little non-committal on the subject, but is now, according to The Wrap, in “advanced negotiations” alongside Nicholas Cage, Wesley Snipes and Milla Jovovich.This is the first time that Jovovich’s name has cropped up in connection with the movie, though Sly has said that he was looking to add more of a female dynamic to the third outing. And she certainly brings enough arse-kicking credentials from her work on the Resident Evil franchise and elsewhere.As for Chan, Cage and Snipes, they’ve all been talked about for ages, but never seemed to really be in contention. Perhaps we really will finally get to see them all share the screen? A bigger question is can they finally make an Expendables movie that actually lives up to the fun premise?Red Hill director Patrick Hughes is the man charged with carrying out that particular brief, with a start date pencilled in for August.

Cannes 2013: Venus In Fur Initial Reaction

Roman Polanski's Venus In Fur was the last film to screen in competition, and although there weren't very high hopes for the controversial director's latest – like Carnage, it is a single-set drama based on a play, this time with even fewer characters – it played very well in the Grand Lumiere Theatre. It may not do as well as Carnage, being based on a play that is based on Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch's scandalous S&M novel of 1870, but this should be a hit with French arthouse audiences in the UK, while continuing to feed the myth of Polanski with its provocative comedy.Mathieu Amalric stars as Thomas, a Parisian theatre owner who is staging a production of Venus In Fur and complains that he cannot find an actress to play Vanda, the heroine. It is a dark and stormy night, and out of nowhere a woman (Emmanuelle Seigner) appears, claiming to be perfect for the part, even though she seems somewhat stupid and distinctly low class. Nevertheless, she begins to work a strange charm on Thomas, and he soon realises that she knows more about his play than he does, goading him into roleplay that becomes more and more extreme.With a shaggy haircut that makes him look extraordinarily like the younger Polanski, Amalric is basically a foil for a very entertaining performance by Seigner, the director's real-life wife, his eyes popping in mute outrage at her every faux pas. Soon, though, she reels him in, and in the final moments reveals her true purpose. How this all pertains to his recent inclement fortune we may never know, but it is certainly a bold step for Polanski that he has made a film that deals head on with the subject of men exploiting women in the name of art. 

Beautiful. Immense. Spectacular. Perfect
Now Playing: The Dark Knight Ries
Topic: Movies
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I could go on and on about how great this movie is, but I have limited space, and so will finish with this: This movie is absolutely fantastic. You will not be disappointed should you see this film. I had extremely high expectations and it delivered. While my optimistic approach to judging this movie may stem from it being brand new and fresh after what feels like a long 4 years since The Dark Knight, there is no denying that this movie will be one to remember for years to come. People worrying about it being overshadowed by the Dark Knight need not worry. This film delivers just as well.

'Return of the Jedi': 25 Things You Didn't Know About the Original 'Star Wars' Trilogy Finale

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... well, OK, 30 years ago (on May 25, 1983) in our own galaxy, came the theatrical release of "Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi." The installment triumphantly wrapped up the "Star Wars" saga for all time. Or so we thought.

Little did we know that the movie's cuddly-but-ferocious Ewoks would soon spawn a cottage industry of spinoffs, or that we'd be getting a trilogy of "Star Wars" prequels in another 16 years, and "Jedi" sequels another 15 years after that ("Episode VII" is due in 2014). Nor did we know, at the time, how close "Jedi" came to being an art-house film (judging by the directors whom "Star Wars" guru George Lucas initially asked to take the helm), or how close we came to losing Han Solo (Harrison Ford), or many of the other secrets of "jedi," which you can read below.

1. David Lynch and David Cronenberg both turned down the job of directing "Jedi." Instead, Lynch would go on to make his own sci-fi epic, 1984's "Dune," while Cronenberg would make the hit horror films "The Dead Zone" (1983) and "The Fly" (1986).

2. Welsh filmmaker Richard Marquand had previously directed the 1981 World War II spy thriller "Eye of the Needle." It was that film that brought him to the attention of George Lucas and ultimately earned him the directing job on "Jedi."

3. Lawrence Kasdan had worked for Lucas as the co-screenwriter of "Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" before Lucas hired him a third time as his collaborator on the "Jedi" screenplay. Somewhere in there, Kasdan found time to write and direct his first solo feature, the 1981 thriller "Body Heat," the movie that made Kathleen Turner a star.

4. Warwick Davis, then 11, made his debut as Ewok guide Wicket, after his grandmother learned of an open casting call for dwarfs in London. Davis was initially cast as an extra. Wicket was initially a role for Kenny Baker, who already had an established role as R2-D2 (he would inhabit the little droid in all six "Star Wars" features to date), but Baker fell ill, and Lucas gave his part to Davis. Baker ended up playing another Ewok in addition to R2-D2.

5. Lucas was on the set most of the time, often as a second-unit director (that is, shooting scenery, stunt sequences, and other footage not involving the primary cast). Marquand joked, "It is rather like trying to direct "King Lear" – with Shakespeare in the next room!"

    6. Unlike the other principal "Star Wars" cast members, Harrison Ford hadn't contracted to do a second sequel, and it wasn't initially clear whether he'd return for "Jedi."

7. Ford suggested that Han Solo be killed off early, through self-sacrifice. Kasdan thought that was a good idea, one that would increase suspense, but Lucas said no.

8. Also, Yoda wasn't supposed to be in the movie, but Marquand insisted on a return to Dagobah so that Yoda could confirm that Darth Vader wasn't just playing mind games with Luke Skywalker in "The Empire Strikes Back" and was really his father.

9. Other rejected script ideas: the climactic battle would have taken place on a planet of Wookiees instead of Ewoks (like Wookiees, but shorter!), and Obi-Wan Kenobi would have returned from his ghostly existence to corporeal form, rather than remaining a ghostly presence within the Force.

10. Actually filmed, but left on the cutting room floor, were a sequence of the heroes getting caught in a sandstorm as they tried to leave Tatooine, a scene among imperial officers on the Death Star during the final battle, and a scene of Darth Vader communicating with Luke via the Force before Luke enters Jabba's palace. These scenes finally saw the light of day on the 2011 Blu-ray release.

‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ $22M Friday For Lower $62.2M Weekend And $75.5M Domestic Cume; Overseas Total Predicted $75M

Friday domestic numbers for Star Trek Into Darkness diverged wildly last night as did estimates for the 3-day weekend and 4 1/2-day cume from 3,868 theaters. Heck, they’re still over the place. One thing I can say for sure: despite the passage of 4 years and the addition of 3D and IMAX for ticket premiums, Star Trek Into Darkness even though its release began Wednesday night will not beat 2009′s Star Trek opening 3-day weekend. The new film’s 4 1/2 day number may not even gross bigger than 2009′s $75.2M. Paramount obviously wants to put the best face on an underperforming situation and is still telling me that “when opening day isn’t Friday you get a higher multiple vs Friday”. But the numbers are the numbers, and rival studios have estimates for STID that are dramatically lower. Don’t get me wrong: the movie is still making a lot of money. Just not the $100M cume predicted all week by the studio which is now claiming $22M for Friday, $70M for the 3-day weekend, and $83M for the 4 1/2-day total. Rival studios have numbers of $21.6-$22.0M for Friday, $56.2M-$66.2M for the 3-day weekend, and $69.7M-$75.5M for the 4 1/2-day total. Paramount says moviegoers “are definitely choosing IMAX as it is 14% of the gross” helped by director/producer J.J. Abrams filming 30 minutes of the new sequel using high-resolution cameras to increase the IMAX audience. “The IMAX screens are selling out early so there isn’t as much late business,” a Paramount exec tells me.
1. Star Trek Into Darkness (Skydance/Paramount) Week 1 [3,868 Theaters]
Friday $22.0M, Weekend $66.2M, Cume $75.5M
2. Iron Man 3 (Marvel/Disney) Week 3 [Runs 4,237]
Friday $9.6M, Weekend $35.0M, Cume $337.0M
3. The Great Gatsby (Warner Bros) Week 2 [Runs 3,550]
Friday $7.6M, Weekend $24.4M (-51%), Cume $91.2M
FRIDAY 1 PM, 3RD UPDATE: My sources say early matinees are very strong for Star Trek Into Darkness from Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions, and director J.J. Abrams‘ Bad Robot. It continued its domestic run today in 3,762 theaters with a refined number of $13.4 million from Wednesday’s 336 IMAX late shows and Thursday’s midnights and then yesterday’s wide release. Today’s grosses are almost double Thursday’s and an early read of noon averages is ranging from $25M to $27M Friday and $80M to $88M for the 3-day weekend - with a prediction of $100M for the first four days. Abrams’ first 2009 installment of the long-running film franchise opened to $30.1M Friday (without a Thursday start) and $79M for the first weekend. Fandango reports the new pic’s ticket sales are outpacing the first movie at the same point in the cycle and 55% of surveyed filmgoers plan to see it more than once. Over 80% of MovieTickets sales are for Star Trek Into Darkness and that’s led to some 430 sold out screenings this weekend. Overseas, the iconic 3D space tentpole’s cume is now $47M through Thursday.

THURSDAY PM, 2ND UPDATE: Still more good news at the start of the Summer 2013 box office as May continues to sizzle. My sources say Star Trek Into Darkness from Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions, and director J.J. Abrams‘ Bad Robot began its domestic run in 3,762 theaters with at least $14 million including $3.5M in Thursday midnights and Wednesday 336 IMAX late shows. The iconic space tentpole in 3D received a coveted “A” CinemaScore to help word of mouth and 87% positive Rotten Tomatoes score setting it up for a strong weekend. Over 400 screenings offered by MovieTickets.com are sold out for this upcoming weekend. The budget was a costly $190M, but the studio is still predicting a 3-day weekend domestic estimate of $80M and 4-day estimate of $100M. Right now Star Trek Into Darkness is running around 80% of Fandango’s ticket sales today while 75% of yesterday’s sales on MovieTickets.com came from STID. Star Trek Into Darkness is expected to easily beat the director’s first installment in North America and do much better overseas, where the franchise has long underperformed. To do that, Abrams filmed 30 minutes of the new sequel using high-resolution cameras to increase the IMAX audience, while Paramount dispatched his Bad Robot partner Bryan Burk to share 20 minutes of footage with media and distributors abroad earlier this year. The international grosses continue to surprise: My sources say the film’s opening day in Russia looks like $1.4 million, or nearly 4x the starting gross of 2009′s Star Trek. The sequel opened in 7 international markets this past weekend, earning $40M thru Wednesday. The combined figures from these territories are almost 70% greater than 2000′s Star Trek from the same UK, Australia, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland. New markets, led by Russia, will open this weekend representing just over 15% of the overseas potential. Total now is just over 50% with 40 markets playing the pic through Sunday. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto reprise their roles as Kirk and Spock in this sequel to Abrams’ 2009 reboot of the franchise, which began as a 1960s TV series. His first grossed $257.7M in North America but only $128M overseas, where most Hollywood tentpoles do far better. Star Trek Into Darkness, based on Gene Roddenberry’s creation, was written by credited scripters Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman & Damon Lindelof, who also are producers along with the Bad Robot duo of Abrams and Burk.

'Wild Bunch' Remake: Will Smith Eyes Modern-Day Reboot

He’s busy working on remaking the musical classic “Annie,” but Will Smith already has yet another reboot in his sights: “The Wild Bunch.”

Smith is currently in negotiations to star in and produce a revamped version of the 1969 classic western about a gang of aging outlaws set to pull off one final heist on the Mexican-American border in 1913. The reboot would be set in modern times, and focus on a disgraced DEA agent who pulls together a team to hunt down a Mexican drug lord -- and his money.

Warner Bros. and Smith's producing partner, Jerry Weintraub, have been trying to wrangle together a “Wild Bunch” remake for some time, most recently with director Tony Scott on board and a screenplay half-finished. But that plan was put on hold after Scott’s death last year, and now the filmmakers are looking for a new writer to pen the project.

The Wrap notes that Smith has never made a “proper western,” which is true. He infamously rebooted the 1960s television show “Wild Wild West” in 1999, and the film disappointed with critics and audiences alike, barely recouping its production costs at the box office. Considering “The Wild Bunch”’s iconic legacy -- the film starred many Hollywood heavyweights, including William Holden and Ernest Borgnine -- it may be difficult for Smith’s take to do it justice.

If he can resist the urge to record a single to soundtrack the new film, that’s already a step in the right direction.

Drama Pilot ‘Advocates’ Gets A Pass From CBS, To Be Shopped Elsewhere

I’ve learned that CBS has passed on high-profile drama pilot The Advocates. The project, written by The Mentalist creator Bruno Heller and directed by David Nutter, starred Mandy Moore and Ben McKenzie as a female lawyer and a male ex-con who team up as “victim advocates,” going to the very edge of the law to right wrongs and fight for the underdog. I hear Warner Bros. TV, which produces the project, will shop it elsewhere. Also being shopped at the moment is another CBS drama pilot that didn’t make the cut, Beverly Hills Cop. So far CBS has picked up two new drama series, Hostages, also from Warner Bros., and Intelligence, from ABC Studios/CBS TV Studios.

'Now You See Me' Exclusive Image: Follow the Queen of Diamonds

Now You See Me
                                                                                                                                                'NOW YOU SEE ME' pits an elite FBI squad in a game of cat and mouse against "The Four Horsemen", a super-team of th... Read More
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This exclusive image from "Now You See Me" is more than meets the eye: it contains a hidden gem -- or should we say diamond.

To celebrate the upcoming release of the Summit Entertainment film -- which follows a team of illusionists as they pull off a series of heists using their unique talents -- the production company announced an interactive treasure hunt called the Diamond Heist Challenge. To take part in the magical challenge, you'll have to find the thirteen diamond playing cards –- from the Ace through the King -- that are hidden in various places online, from websites to social media platforms, and even in the New York Times crossword puzzle from Friday, May 3 (your first hint!).

Once each of the thirteen diamond playing cards are found, you can unlock exclusive video content featuring the stars of "Now You See Me" by downloading the Blippar app to your iPhone or Android, and then pointing your phone at the image.

As you'll see below, Moviefone has been chosen to hide one of those playing cards in an exclusive image! Hidden amidst Morgan Freeman, a crowd of smiling faces, and a shower of money, you'll find the Queen of Diamonds! Blipp the photo to reveal exclusive content. To find out more about the Diamond Heist Challenge watch this video, and for a list of clues visit nowyouseememovie.com.

Falling ‘Idol’ Fuels New Mariah-Minaj Feud

Maybe a diva fight will get viewers to watch American Idol. Judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj were at it again last night on the same night Idol had its worst Wednesday rating ever. The judges got into a war of words that spilled onto Twitter today: Carey tweaked Minaj about her not having a “Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 song.” Then the rapper wrote online: “What u SHOULD be doing (wit your messy ass) is asking why a woman SO successful at her age, is still so INSECURE, and bitter”. The two are actually tied with 44 Hot 100 hits, but Minaj has never had a tune make it higher than No. 3 on the charts. Minaj also tweaked Carey about reports that Jennifer Lopez may be returning to the show. “All dem #1s but JLo phone ringin? LOL. I guess having a personality, being a secure woman, and giving genuine critique still trumps that.” Carey has not responded to Minaj’s latest taunts, and Minaj seems to have dropped it for now. But like the dust-up between the testy two late last year the new brouhaha brought Idol some badly needed attention. Will sparks between the two judges who so obviously dislike each other translate into much needed numbers tonight?
Related: Judging The Judges: Minaj & Carey – ‘American Idol’
Wednesday’s low came less than a week after Idol hit an all-time regularly scheduled show low in the 12 seasons of the Fox series. Wednesday also saw the once-dominant competition show beaten for the third time in a row in adults 18-49 by a new episode of ABC’s Modern Family. If that doesn’t hurt enough, on April 18, Idol was bested in total viewers for the first time by a repeat of The Big Bang Theory. Sure, Idol did fine up against a special Wednesday episode of The Voice last night. But that was a season-to-date recap. Next week, Idol will find itself against a new and live Voice.

Alexander Payne’s ‘Nebraska’ To Roll Out For Awards Season; Paramount Also Sets ‘Almanac’ Date

Paramount is priming Alexander Payne’s Nebraska for an awards-season run with a limited rollout starting November 22. The drama starring Bruce Dern as a booze-ridden father on a road trip with his son (Will Forte) will be in Competition at Cannes next month. By mid-March, it still remained cloudy as to whether filmmaker’s follow-up to his best picture Oscar-nominated The Descendants would be finished in time to roll out on the Croisette. It was produced by Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa’s Bona Fide Prods.
The studio today also said that rookie helmer Dean Israelite’s Almanac, with a 2012 Black List script by Jason Pagan & Andrew Stark, will open wide February 21, 2014. The film, whose story is being kept under wraps, is produced by Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes. Bay will produce along with Andrew Form and Brad Fuller. Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec are exec producing.