American Sniper

According to CinemaBlend.com, Steven Spielberg is set to direct American Sniper, "an adaptation of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle's autobiography that Bradley Cooper acquired nearly a year ago, intending to produce and also star."

CinemaBlend.com, also writes, "Having tackled World War II many times, World War I in War Horse and the Civil War in Lincoln, Spielberg will for the first time be telling a story about modern warfare, following Kyle's life as a sniper in the Iraq War. He was dubbed the "Devil of Ramadi" by Iraqis and, according to the title of his book, was the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. "

It will be very interesting to see how Spielberg does with a modern war film. I believe that he will make it a masterpiece. Bradley Cooper seems to be an interesting choice for the role, but we will see.

Iron Man 3: China

Source: CinemaBlend.com

Interesting!  China has added two scenes to Iron man 3.  *SPOILER ALERT BELOW* *SPOILER ALERT BELOW*

Don't continue reading if you don't want to know how the movie ends!

According to CinemaBlend.com:

The Hollywood Reporter has done some digging and has discovered that there are only two extra scenes included in the China version that weren't included in the cut everyone else in the world gets to see. The trade says that the first scene features the character Dr. Wu (Wang Xueqi) making a telephone call from his office in Beijing while a TV in the background shows Iron Man "cheered by schoolchildren in one of the Chinese capital’s landmarks." The other is an extended version of Tony's surgery at the very end of the film and has Dr. Wu talking about the surgery with an unnamed assistant (played by X-Men: Days of Future Past's Fan Bingbing).

So it doesn't look like they're adding much.  I think it's innovative, but also a bit weird that China is adding scenes to movies.  China added scenes to 21 & Over, as well.  This reminds me of Italy forbidding the import of Western movies, but in a different way.  I wonder if we'll see any Man of Steel: China Version?

Natalie Portman!, Natalie Portman!, Natalie Portman!

Source: CinemaBlend.com

I don't know if any of you can guess by my title or not, but Natalie Portman is one of my favorite females...(cough)...actresses, ever!  According to CinemaBlend.com, she is set to play Lady Macbeth in "See Saw Films' adaptation of Macbeth."  She will be opposite Michael Fassbender, as well as, his lady.  CinemaBlend.com also writes:

Macbeth's cast is already remarkable. Making this project even more enticing is that its buzzed about script will be directed by Justin Kurzel, who won notice with his true-crime drama Snowtown, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011.

 So, we have two incredible cast members, along with an incredible cast and director.  This sounds like it will be an incredible film.  Natalie Portman just makes me want to see this film even more too!  Also, Macbeth should be going into production sometime later this year.  This one is way too far off, I wish it was being released this summer!

Gears of Hollywood?

Source: CinemaBlend.com

CinemaBlend.com is reporting that a Gears of War movie is in the works.  As an adaptation of the video game Gears of War, this film could be big.  As a tie-in with our Movie History: A Survey text, Universal is in a first-look deal with Scott Stuber, the guy handling production duties for the Gears of War film.  Stuber has worked on Ted and Safe House.  However, it is important to note that no studio has committed to making this film.  

Video game movies don't always have the best success rate, so it's interesting to see which studio picks this project up.  I can see Universal making this movie, as they have had some incredibly visually stunning films in the past.  We'll just have to wait and see.  In the meantime, I should start playing Gears of War.

Things Aren't Always Dandy in the Film World

In an interesting case, filmmaker, Michael Costanza, is suing Paramount Pictures, as well as, producers of the Paranormal Activity franchise.  Big surprise.  Michael Costanza is the writer and director of the no-budget 2002 independent horror film, The Collingswood Story.

Michael Costanza's claim tells, according to CinemaBlend.com, "...he presented sections Collingswood to the studio in 2010 for a pitch meeting that ended with his material being turned away, and that portions of the fourth entry of the found footage horror series are almost exactly the same as the ideas he brought to them."

Costanza is suing for unspecified damages.  Part of the suit includes Paramount destroying all material based on any of his concepts.  Michael Costanza can be best described in the immortal words of George Costanza,"I'm like a weed Jerry." I find this law suit credible and quite humorous.  I'll have to see both films and see for myself, whether or not, Paramount Pictures used his ideas.

J.J. Abrams and Star Wars: Episode VII?

CinemaBlend.com features an article on their websites which discusses an interview with J.J. Abrams.  Katey Rich, from CinemaBlend.com, writes, "...While responding with simply a smile when asked about details for Star Wars Episode VII, and insisting over and over again that there's no way he can share details about a movie that doesn't exist yet, he did talk about the relief of having George Lucas around as a consultant-- especially after making Star Trek years after creator Gene Roddenberry's death..."  This could be a really incredible Episode 7 if J.J. Abrams is at the helms.  It would be weird to not have George Lucas direct the movie, but I want a new Star Wars film; it's been too long since the last installment.  J. J. Abrams states in the interview:

I meant if I viewed this from a fan’s point of view—and no one’s a bigger Star Wars fan than I am—or from a legacy standpoint, it would scare the hell out of me. But instead of trying to climb this mountain in one giant leap, I’m just enjoying the opportunity and looking to the people I’m working with. I’ve known Kathy for years. I’ve worked with the screenwriter, Michael Arndt, for a long time. I’ve known George for a number of years and he’s now a friend. Even if this wasn’t Star Wars, I’d be enormously fortunate to work with them.

I'm excited to read follow up details in the future about Star Wars: Episode VII.

Zombieland: The Series

Zombieland is one of my favorite movies of all time, so when I saw that they made a series out of it, I was pumped!  The film is a guide on how to survive a zombie invasion, while it stands as one of the most creative recent movies.  I had a bit of fear when I found out it was being made into a series.  I was hoping that the show wasn't completely awful compared to the movie.  After watching the trailer, it looks like this series is going to be awesome.  Amazon is hosting the show on their website with the Prime Instant Video service.  You can watch for free over at Amazon right now.  Eli Craig is directing this series adaptation.  Now, I should warn everyone, they changed the cast.  Woody Harelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, and Jesse Eisenberg are now out; Kirk Ward (Tallahassee), Maiara Walsh (Wichita), Izabela Vidovic (Little Rock), and Tyler Ross (Columbus) are now in.  The film has such incredible script writing and directing, along with editing; I'm glad they're keeping this series going.