stuff
One of the upcoming films that's got me most hyped up is Wanted. It's a sexy, violent, fantasy/action "Watchmen" for supervillains, inspired by (but not strictly based on) the love-it-or-hate-it Mark Miller graphic novel, and directed by Timur Bekmambetov, who made Day Watch/Night Watch.
In the lead role is James McAvoy (Atonement, The Last King of Scotland), who, if you've been following his career since the early days, is no stranger to action. (Picture to the right is from Children of Dune.) Angelina Jolie (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), Morgan Freeman (Batman Begins), Common (Smokin' Aces), Chris Pratt (Everwood), Thomas Kretschmann (The Pianist), Marc Warren (Hustle), Terrence Stamp (Elektra) and Konstantin Khabensky (Night Watch) are also part of the cast. Here are some photos of Angelina Jolie filming with a red Dodge Viper.
The synopsis from CIA:
25-year-old account manager Wes (James McAvoy) was the most pathetic, cube-dwelling hypochondriac the planet had ever known. His boss chewed him out hourly, his girlfriend cheated on him daily and his life plodded on interminably. Everyone was certain this weakling would never amount to anything. There was little else for Wes to do but wile away the days and die a slow, clock-punching death.
Until he became Wanted.
After the murder of a father he never knew, Wes discovers powers beyond his dreams. He becomes the latest recruit in the Fraternity - a secret society of assassins - and develops lightning-quick reflexes with superhuman agility. Wes soon learns his league of henchmen has but one mission: carry out the death orders of the mythological Fates, weavers of every man's lifeline.
With wickedly brilliant tutors, he morphs into a killing machine and starts erasing one bad guy after another. But as Wes grows into the mantle passed down by his father... he discovers his clan members are not exactly the enforcers of justice they claim to be. Just as he gets everything he ever Wanted, Wesley Gibson will learn that with the ability to deliver death comes an even more difficult power... controlling your own life.
Bekmambetov says about McAvoy's character and Angelina Jolie, who plays Fox:
"Young people will like [McAvoy's Wesley Gibson] because he is very sarcastic, very smart, very provocative and very solid as a character. ... Angelina has a lot of interesting dramatic moments with James. They will love each other, and they will hate each other. She's a teacher who will bring James into this world and teach him how to be different, be a killer."
And this is a blurry picture of them (from PopSugar) that I just had to include because looking at them makes my brain melt:
And did I mention Thomas Kretschmann is in it? Seriously, hottest cast ever, Y/Y? For more information about either the comic or the film, check out the unofficial website. If James McAvoy ends up being nominated for an Oscar next year, as folks are predicting, for his role in Atonement, it could be the best kind of buzz leading up to the release of Wanted, which is scheduled for March 2008 in the US. [imdb]
Edited: James McAvoy in October's Esquire.
Trailer for O' Jerusalem, a drama about the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 told from alternating points of view - Jewish, Arab, and British - and based on the novel by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre. It stars J.J. Feild (Last Orders), Said Taghmaoui (Three Kings), Maria Papas (A Good Year), Tovah Feldshuh (Lady in the Water) and Ian Holm. [imdb]
Producer James Middleton reveals a little more about the Terminator 4 script, which will be written by Michael Ferris and John D. Brancato, the same team behind T3: Rise of the Machines. The film will apparently be set in the post-apocalyptic future and focus on a new heroic character, a "Ben-Hur" to John Connor's Jesus, who is involved in the war against the machines. John Connor and Kate Brewster are in the script, but whether Nick Stahl or Claire Danes will return in those roles is not certain. Also: Rachel Weisz and Chloe Sevigny are rumoured to be contending for the female lead. (IGN) [imdb]
5 scenes from the next episode of Heroes, "Lizards". So are there going to be 7 more murdered out of the heros' forebearers? Or do Isaac's paintings also include attempted murders? 8 paintings plus the 3 who were already dead (Deveaux, Papa Petrelli, Linderman), and that leaves only one out of twelve, ie. the assassin. I also wish they would stop saying the word "iPod".
Hiro: "You must be sober. If we don't go after Yaeko right now she'll be killed."
Kensei: "Who's Yaeko?"
Hiro: "The girl you're supposed to fall in love with."
Kensei: "The one who hates me?"
Hiro: "Yes. Before I came back in time and ruined everything, she was supposed to be your princess and you, are hero."
Kensei: "You look like a fish when you talk."
Hiro: "No! I promise. If you do this, they will tell the story for four hundred years. Minimum."
Kensei: "Like a giant carp."
In the lead role is James McAvoy (Atonement, The Last King of Scotland), who, if you've been following his career since the early days, is no stranger to action. (Picture to the right is from Children of Dune.) Angelina Jolie (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), Morgan Freeman (Batman Begins), Common (Smokin' Aces), Chris Pratt (Everwood), Thomas Kretschmann (The Pianist), Marc Warren (Hustle), Terrence Stamp (Elektra) and Konstantin Khabensky (Night Watch) are also part of the cast. Here are some photos of Angelina Jolie filming with a red Dodge Viper.
The synopsis from CIA:
25-year-old account manager Wes (James McAvoy) was the most pathetic, cube-dwelling hypochondriac the planet had ever known. His boss chewed him out hourly, his girlfriend cheated on him daily and his life plodded on interminably. Everyone was certain this weakling would never amount to anything. There was little else for Wes to do but wile away the days and die a slow, clock-punching death.
Until he became Wanted.
After the murder of a father he never knew, Wes discovers powers beyond his dreams. He becomes the latest recruit in the Fraternity - a secret society of assassins - and develops lightning-quick reflexes with superhuman agility. Wes soon learns his league of henchmen has but one mission: carry out the death orders of the mythological Fates, weavers of every man's lifeline.
With wickedly brilliant tutors, he morphs into a killing machine and starts erasing one bad guy after another. But as Wes grows into the mantle passed down by his father... he discovers his clan members are not exactly the enforcers of justice they claim to be. Just as he gets everything he ever Wanted, Wesley Gibson will learn that with the ability to deliver death comes an even more difficult power... controlling your own life.
Bekmambetov says about McAvoy's character and Angelina Jolie, who plays Fox:
"Young people will like [McAvoy's Wesley Gibson] because he is very sarcastic, very smart, very provocative and very solid as a character. ... Angelina has a lot of interesting dramatic moments with James. They will love each other, and they will hate each other. She's a teacher who will bring James into this world and teach him how to be different, be a killer."
And this is a blurry picture of them (from PopSugar) that I just had to include because looking at them makes my brain melt:
And did I mention Thomas Kretschmann is in it? Seriously, hottest cast ever, Y/Y? For more information about either the comic or the film, check out the unofficial website. If James McAvoy ends up being nominated for an Oscar next year, as folks are predicting, for his role in Atonement, it could be the best kind of buzz leading up to the release of Wanted, which is scheduled for March 2008 in the US. [imdb]
Edited: James McAvoy in October's Esquire.
Trailer for O' Jerusalem, a drama about the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 told from alternating points of view - Jewish, Arab, and British - and based on the novel by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre. It stars J.J. Feild (Last Orders), Said Taghmaoui (Three Kings), Maria Papas (A Good Year), Tovah Feldshuh (Lady in the Water) and Ian Holm. [imdb]
Producer James Middleton reveals a little more about the Terminator 4 script, which will be written by Michael Ferris and John D. Brancato, the same team behind T3: Rise of the Machines. The film will apparently be set in the post-apocalyptic future and focus on a new heroic character, a "Ben-Hur" to John Connor's Jesus, who is involved in the war against the machines. John Connor and Kate Brewster are in the script, but whether Nick Stahl or Claire Danes will return in those roles is not certain. Also: Rachel Weisz and Chloe Sevigny are rumoured to be contending for the female lead. (IGN) [imdb]
5 scenes from the next episode of Heroes, "Lizards". So are there going to be 7 more murdered out of the heros' forebearers? Or do Isaac's paintings also include attempted murders? 8 paintings plus the 3 who were already dead (Deveaux, Papa Petrelli, Linderman), and that leaves only one out of twelve, ie. the assassin. I also wish they would stop saying the word "iPod".
Hiro: "You must be sober. If we don't go after Yaeko right now she'll be killed."
Kensei: "Who's Yaeko?"
Hiro: "The girl you're supposed to fall in love with."
Kensei: "The one who hates me?"
Hiro: "Yes. Before I came back in time and ruined everything, she was supposed to be your princess and you, are hero."
Kensei: "You look like a fish when you talk."
Hiro: "No! I promise. If you do this, they will tell the story for four hundred years. Minimum."
Kensei: "Like a giant carp."