[IMG:L]Bello Battles Mummies
Maria Bello will replace Rachel Weisz in the third installment of The Mummy. She joins Brendan Fraser, Luke Ford, Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh in the Rob Cohen-directed film. The film brings the O’Connells and their full-grown son (Ford) to the forbidden tombs of China and the Himalayas, where they battle a shape-shifting mummy, a former Chinese emperor (Li) cursed by a wizard (Yeoh). Bello will play Evelyn Carnahan O’Connell, the adventuress played in the first two films by Weisz , after Weisz declined to reprise the role. I really wondering how they snagged Bello, whose more known for her searing portrayals in indie films such as The Cooler and A History of Violence. Maybe the idea of doing a full-fledged action movie just appealed to her. It IS mummies, after all.
One Dubious and One Very Bad Idea
[IMG:R]The dubious idea? Eddie Murphy is in talks to make a big-screen adaptation of the TV series Fantasy Island, once again playing multiple roles in the film. The popular TV series, which ran from 1978-84, starred Ricardo Montalban as the mysterious Mr. Roarke, who ran an island on which anyone, for a price, could live out their fantasy. The fantasies always took a dark turn, but Mr. Roarke always ended things on a positive note by handing down some sound advice. I’m cringing over this possible big-screen treatment, but a miniaturized Tattoo-like Murphy yelling, “De plane! De plane!” could actually be funny. The bad idea? Nicolas Cage is negotiating to star in Brian De Palma‘s prequel, The Untouchables: Capone Rising. The script follows Chicago mob boss Al Capone’s rise to power and his relationship with police detective and nemesis Jimmy Malone. Wow, De Palma must be desperate. According to Variety, all sides stressed that discussions with Cage are ongoing. Let’s hope he talks himself out of it because this will surely be stinker #132 on Cage’s growing list of flops.
[IMG:L]Costner Gets the Swing Vote
Kevin Costner is set to star in the indie election comedy Swing Vote, directed by Joshua Michael Stern. The story revolves around a single father thrust into the national spotlight when the presidential election comes down to his vote. Suspend your disbelief, anyone? Swing Vote will also be the first project to come from Costner and producing partner Jim Wilson’s new shingle, Treehouse Films, Variety reports. An offshoot of their Tig Prods., Treehouse will produce film, television and online content produced fully by Costner. “Treehouse will give me (the) opportunity to shepherd projects from the ground up, with the goal of aligning partners of a like mind,” Costner told Variety. “Swing Vote fits right into that mold,” he added. You go, Kevin!
Rodriguez Wants to Meet The Jetsons
[IMG:R]It really isn’t as odd as it may sound. Director Robert Rodriguez, who helmed the zombie flick portion of Grindhouse, is in talks to direct a live-action feature version of futuristic 1960s cartoon The Jetsons. Going from zombies to the Jetsons may seem like a stretch, but Rodriguez’s Spy Kids series shows he knows a thing or two about family entertainment. At the same time, he has met with Will Ferrell and Universal executives for helming duties on Land of the Lost, based on the 1970s Sid and Marty Krofft fantasy TV series to which Ferrell is attached to star. While no offers have been made, sources tell the Hollywood Reporter The Jetsons has the edge because its script is farther along. I totally forgot they were making a Land of the Lost movie! Will Ferrell battling Sleaziaks? I’m so there.
[IMG:L]Perry, Swank Break Some Laws Together
Matthew Perry and Hilary Swank are set to star in Laws of Motion, an indie comedy scheduled to begin production this month. Perry plays a husband struggling with life in a repressive career and community, and with headaches caused by his free-spirited brother and sister. Swank will take on a supporting role as the all-too-perfect neighbor of Perry‘s harried character. She will also serve as a producer. Ben Foster (Six Feet Under) is in negotiations to play the brother. Even though this sounds a little lame, at least Swank is finally trying her hand at comedy. Let’s see if it works out for her.
Hawke Sucks Blood
Or maybe not. Ethan Hawke has signed on to star in the futuristic vampire film Daybreakers. He will play a researcher in the year 2017, when a plague has transformed most of the world’s population into vampires. As the human population nears extinction, vampires must capture and farm every remaining human or find a blood substitute before time runs out. However, a covert group of vampires makes a discovery that has the power to save the human race. In my book, you can’t have enough vampire movies, but this one has an added bonus of sounding a little like Children of Men. Cool.
Wilson Jumps Into the Poole
[IMG:R]Luke Wilson will play a man who discovers he has only six weeks to live in the comedy drama Henry Poole Is Here, with Mark Pellington (Arlington Road) directing. He leaves his cushy job, his fiancée, and his overbearing mother hoping to spend the remainder of his time alone in suburbia, where he subsists on a steady diet of pizza, Twinkies and vodka. But a so-called miracle transforms his life, and his quirky neighbors disrupt his plan to live out his days in quiet desperation. What would YOU do if you found out you only had six weeks to live? Eating Twinkies might be on my list.
[IMG:L]Vardalos, Purefoy Hate Valentine’s Day
James Purefoy, the delicious British hunk who so vividly brought Mark Anthony to life in HBO’s now defunct Rome, is in negotiations to star with Nia Vardalos in the romantic comedy I Hate Valentine’s Day. The indie movie, written by Vardalos, follows a commitment-phobic woman who closely adheres to a set of dating rules but finds them put to the test when she falls for a Brit who dumps her. “He’s mischievous and dirty on the phone, so he’s a joy to write for,” Vardalos told Hollywood Reporter about Purefoy. “The part was written for an American guy in mind, but I’m now revamping the script to make it about a British guy who doesn’t understand the ways of American women.” Vardalos, who was nominated for an Oscar for writing My Big Fat Greek Wedding, said her goal was to write “a movie for everybody, whether you’re in a relationship or not, and how Valentine’s Day puts so much pressure on us to be romantic. And the last two things that go hand in hand are “have to” and “be romantic now.”
Ritchie Gives It Another Go
[IMG:R]Since his brilliant dark British gangster comedies Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, director Guy Ritchie hasn’t had much luck with his follow-up films, including the horrendous 2002 Swept Away (made with his lovely wife, Madonna) and 2005’s Revolver. But now he’s trying again with RocknRolla, an action comedy about a Russian mobster who orchestrates a crooked land deal, putting millions of dollars up for grabs and attracting all of London’s criminal underworld. A dangerous crime lord, a sexy accountant, a corrupt politician and a band of petty thieves are among those double-crossing one another. Sounds pretty much like his early stuff, so let’s hope nothing goes wrong this time.
Until next week…
