In this edition of In Case You Missed It: Film News, we catch up with all the major headlines from the silver screen – including the latest Marvel/DC and Disney news, as well as some other juicy tidbits. And of course, we’ll have the lowdown on all the shiniest new trailers to hit the internet too!
COMIC BOOK MOVIE NEWS
And in other news: The Russo Bros. (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) will officially be directing Avengers Infinity War: Parts 1 and 2. (set for release in 2018 & 2019).
DISNEY NEWS
Forefront of the news from Camp Disney, is that Frozen 2 is officially happening. Given that the first film – released in 2013 – reached such box office highs that it is now the highest grossing animation of all time, this shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. The news was announced in March in a tweet by the company, while director Jennifer Lee, also expressed her delight, stating that she was “beyond excited to create alongside [her] Frozen family!” One of the film’s main actresses, Kristen Bell (who voices Princess Anna) also took to the social media site, posting a cute picture of herself perched dreamily on a bag of ice, under the caption “Dreams do come 2!” A release date is yet to be confirmed, but for fans keen to see more of their favourite Arendelle residents, a short entitled ‘Frozen Fever‘ is currently playing in cinemas as a prelude to Disney’s live-action version of Cinderella.
Speaking of live-action adaptations, the company has also been very busy planning yet more reincarnations of their classic animations. Following the successes of Alice In Wonderland and Maleficent, The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively revealed that the corporation’s plans to develop a live-action version of Mulan. The Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, which Disney last tackled in their 1998 musical animation, is currently being reimagined by screenwriters Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek. The release date, directors and cast members are yet to be decided, but fans have already began speculating their dream casting choices – with X-Men: Days of Future Past actress Fan Bingbing looking an ideal candidate for the leading role. Tim Burton is also planning a live-action twist on Dumbo – the tale of a circus elephant with extraordinarily large ears – which was last depicted in Disney’s 1941 animation.
More casting announcements have also been made for the Mouse House’s current live-action project, Beauty and The Beast. Following the casting of Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as the Beast and Luke Evans as Gaston, Bill Condon’s film has taken on even more stars to portray it’s beloved characters. Chief amongst them is Emma Thompson, who will provide the voice of Mrs Potts – the teapot infamously brought to life by Angela Lansbury in the original animation. Kevin Kline has also been cast as Belle’s eccentric inventor father Maurice, while Frozen‘s Josh Gad has been selected to play Gaston’s sidekick Le Fou. Audra McDonald will play Garderobe – the enchanted wardrobe. Filming begins in May, with the movie targeting a March 2017 release in the US – a UK date is yet to be confirmed.
AND IN OTHER NEWS…
Neill Blomkamp to helm Alien sequel, After releasing concept art on his Instagram that he claimed he did ‘just for fun.’ Turns out the next Alien film will be his next. Neil Blomkamp is a well known South African director, so far he has directed District 9, Elysium and Chappie which was released earlier this year. So far proving that Blomkamp is a mixed bag. District 9 is loved by most and has been named in IGN’s top 25 sci-fi films of all time. Elysium has most audiences torn and Chappie has had mostly terrible reviews, even receiving a poor 30% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Alien sequel will be the director’s first step into a franchise and something not of his own creation. There is no set release date for the film as of this time.
Bradley Cooper is currently in talks to make his directorial debut on the Warner Bros’ remake of A Star is Born. Deadline reports that the American Sniper star is negotiating a deal with the company and already seeks to cast Beyoncé as his leading actress. The film – about a young woman whose dreams of stardom are aided by a self-destructive former star – has been remade several times, the last incarnation being in 1976 and starring Barbra Streisand. Cooper also plans to produce and act in the film.
Idris Elba is reportedly in talks to play a new villain in Star Trek 3. According to Variety, nothing is set in stone just yet, but there are rumours that he could be playing a Klingon leader. Co-writer and star of the film, Simon Pegg has since kept schtum about Elba’s possible involvement, but given the secrecy surrounding the franchise’s last villain – Benedict Cumberbatch’s John Harrison/Khan – anything is possible. Filming is supposed to start in June, with a release date sometime in 2016 – to tie in with Star Trek‘s 50th broadcast anniversary.
Filming on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales has been delayed by a hand injury that Johnny Depp sustained in an off-set incident, back in early March. Thought initially to be a minor injury, the star has since needed surgery to have a pin inserted into his damaged finger. This is not the first time the film has been delayed since filming started in Australia’s East Coast; Tropical cyclone Nathan also disrupted second-unit photography in February. The remaining cast and crew – including Javier Bardem and Geoffrey Rush – had previously tried to keep up with filming their scenes without Depp. Although the production still has around 14 weeks of filming left to complete, the film is apparently still on target to meet its scheduled release date, 7 July 2017.
The much anticipated Zoolander 2 was also announced in style at Paris Fashion Week back in March. Stars Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, strutted down the catwalk – bringing the infamous ‘Blue Steel’ look with them left, right and center – in character as models Derek Zoolander and Hansel. According to a tweet by Paramount Pictures, the sequel is set to be released on February 12th next year, and is currently shooting in Rome. Kristen Wiig and Penelope Cruz are set to appear, as well as returning cast members Christine Taylor and Will Ferrell.
TRAILERS
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD – RELEASE DATE: 14TH MAY 2015
If you count the trailer released at Comic Con last year, this is the 3rd trailer for Mad Max Fury Road. The last couple of trailers certainly made a splash in the world of cinema and this trailer is no different. Focusing more on the story line more than the others but still planting two feet in the mad scary vision created by the masterful Director George Miller. The trailers that came before were heralded as some of the best trailers ever made, with skillful editing and music mixing. This trailer doesn’t show us that much new content but we see more of our villain and more of Tom Hardy. Mad Max has certainly surprised every body with it’s adrenaline pumping kinetic style, as well as beautiful jaw dropping cinematography and crazy practical stunts. Mad Max Fury Road is now aiming to be one of the biggest releases this year.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROGUE NATION – RELEASE DATE: 30TH JULY 2015
The trailer for the fifth installment of the Mission Impossible franchise has exploded onto the internet to raucous excitement. Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, who this time must uncover a deadly syndicate of assassins and rogue operatives who seek to threaten the IMF(Impossible Mission Force)’s existence. Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg also return as Agents William Brandt and Benji Dunn respectively. New to the scene are Alec Baldwin – who plays the Head of the CIA – and Swedish actress, Rebecca Ferguson who plays the film’s enigmatic female lead. A thrilling mix of action and fun, this trailer promises big things for the movie, released later this Summer.
PAPER TOWNS – RELEASE DATE: 21ST AUGUST 2015
John’s Green’s popular teenage novel The Fault in Our Stars did very well as a film last year, it had a small budget and made a big profit at the box office while still actually being good. So as studios do, they kept going with the formula and decided to adapt more of his properties, step in Paper Towns. Paper Towns is a story about a girl called Margo (Cara Delevigne) who disappears after an all night adventure with our main character Quintin (Nate Wolff). The trailer is okay, but just shows a just bit too much. However I am most interested in seeing Cara Delevigne in her first proper acting role, the model looks very convincing, a lot of stigma comes with being a model turned actor/actress. This is the first role that will display her acting chops to a wider audience. Cara is also appearing in Pan this year and Suicide Squad next year.
SPECTRE – RELEASE DATE: 23RD OCTOBER 2015
The first teaser trailer for Bond’s 24th outing has been released, depicting Daniel Craig’s 007 going down a dark path in his past, that will inevitably lead him face to face with the film’s titular sinister organisation; Spectre. The trailer also teases a first look at Christoph Waltz’ villain Franz Oberhauser. The film, also starring Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Léa Seydoux and Monica Bellucci, is set to be released this Autumn.
Words by Annie Honeyball and Eddie Michael
Compiled by Annie Honeyball