Dark Tower’s Lead To Be Announced This Week

Javier Bardem? Viggo Mortensen? It’s a good problem to have, deciding between Oscar worthy talent to lead your franchise. One of the most ambitious film and television projects to date is about to announce its leading star and poster boy, and fans of the Dark Tower novels are eager to find out if a member of the Hollywood A-List will play that man.

Producer Brian Grazer revealed on the red carpet for the Golden Globes on Sunday that sometime this week we will find out who they have chosen to play Roland Deschain, the last of the “gunslingers” in the adaptation Stephen King’s Dark Tower series.

MTV had a brief moment to poke and prod Grazer for some tidbits regarding Dark Tower and got him to seemingly spill that they have made their decision about who will play Roland, and that they did speak with previously reported lead candidates Mortensen and Bardem. The pair however, are just the two lead candidates who were mentioned alongside popular stars Daniel Craig, Hugh Jackman and Jon Hamm.

All of these actors can sell such a franchise on their own, but I am fond of either of the two top contenders having the part. There was talk before that the TV series, which would bridge the trilogy of films, would recast a lesser known actor for the small screen but director Ron Howard specified to MTV prior to the Golden Globes ceremony that the actor they choose, will play Roland in the movies AND television series – making this decision that much more important and ground-breaking.

Has Javier Bardem or Viggo Mortensen been cast into 'Dark Tower'?

If it is really down to Javier Bardem and Viggo Mortensen, my haunch is that it’s Viggo. Plus, he’s got less on his current schedule and he has a lot of fans gunning for him for this role. Who would you fantasy cast as Roland?

The Dark Tower series, which sets itself in a magic-infused version of the Old West, is described as Stephen King’s Magnum Opus and if any series is to get the treatment and attention Ron Howard and co. are planning to give it, this is the right franchise. Let’s just see who’s chosen to help bring it to life on screen. Stay tuned!

Follow us on Twitter @rob_keyes and @screenrant.

Source: MTV

View the original article here

‘James Bond 23′ Release Date Announced, Sam Mendes Officially Directing

After months of whispers, rumors, and speculation about the fate of James Bond 23, we finally have an official announcement from EON Productions and MGM Studios regarding its star, its writers, its director, and its much anticipated release date.

It’ll come as no surprise that Daniel Craig is returning to fill Bond’s very expensive shoes, with a screenplay by frequent Bond writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (as well as newcomer John Logan of The Aviator fame). Also unsurprising is the announcement that the oft-rumored Sam Mendes (American Beauty) will be directing.

Check out the press release below:

Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions, together with Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., today announced that the 23rd James Bond film will commence production in late 2011 for a worldwide release on November 9, 2012.

Daniel Craig will be returning as the legendary British secret agent, with Sam Mendes directing a screenplay written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan.

We reported last month that MGM and EON was keen on releasing a James Bond movie in 2012, otherwise known as the fiftieth anniversary of Dr. No., and that an announcement regarding that film and its particulars was likely forthcoming.

Besides the specific November release date — since Daniel Craig, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Sam Mendes were already all but a lock — the other news in this press release is that Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon) is off screenwriting duties and John Logan is on. Does this mean that the “shocking” work Morgan did on the film was thrown out entirely, or has it just been expanded upon by Logan? Only the ghost of Albert Broccoli knows for sure.

The last Bond film, The Quantum of Solace, was a fairly disappointing venture in my opinion — especially when juxtaposed next to the previous outing, Casino Royale. I can only speak for myself when I say that I’m cautiously optimistic about Bond 23. Sam Mendes proved with Road to Perdition that he can stage some pretty intense, not to mention gorgeous, action scenes. Hopefully he can do the same with James Bond, minus some of the more depressing aspects. (Though a little sadness and emotion in a James Bond movie can go a long way, e.g. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.)

James Bond 23 hits theaters November 9th, 2012, fifty years, one month, and four days after the first James Bond movie. Keep your eyes on the main page for more Bond news as we get it.

View the original article here

‘The Cape’ On-Air Promo Trailer; Premiere Date Announced

Almost a year after the announcement that NBC would be picking up the superhero drama The Cape, the freshman series has finally received it’s official premiere date.

On Sunday, January 9, 2011, the American public will bear witness to NBC’s newest foray into the fantastical world of superheroes with a two-hour series premiere. After that, The Cape will move to its normal timeslot on Monday nights, for the completion of its 13 episode run.

Check out an official synopsis for the show below:

The Cape is a one-hour drama series starring David Lyons (ER) as Vince Faraday, an honest cop on a corrupt police force, who finds himself framed for a series of murders and presumed dead. He is forced into hiding, leaving behind his wife Dana (Jennifer Ferrin, Life on Mars) and son, Trip (Ryan Wynott, Flash Forward). Fueled by a desire to reunite with his family and to battle the criminal forces that have overtaken Palm City, Vince Faraday becomes “The Cape” – his son’s favorite comic book superhero – and takes the law into his own hands.

What NBC’s PR department left out is the fact that after being left for dead, Faraday is rescued by a circus gang of bank robbers and after recovering from his injuries, the ring leader, Max Malini (Keith David), teaches him the ways of mysticism, which allows him to successfully take on “The Cape” moniker. Helping “The Cape” wage his war against crime is investigative blogger, Orwell (Summer Glau).

Of course, no superhero series is complete without an arch nemesis. In that regard, The Cape’s focus will be on taking down the evil “Chess,” alter-ego of billionaire Peter Fleming (James Frain), who is the man responsible for framing Faraday.

Accompanying the scheduling news is the new trailer for The Cape. While the previous trailer released earlier this year provided a more in-depth look at what viewers can expect from the series, this latest on-air promo is meant to generate curiosity and intrigue. While it’s hard to say if that goal was accomplished, I will admit that the series looks interesting… and yet, something feels a bit off.

Following the rollercoaster success that NBC received with Heroes‘ first season, I can understand the notion of implementing a new superhero series. Unfortunately, The Cape feels more like a mixture of many current series that have already saturated the television landscape. In some moments, the series feels refreshing and exciting… and then at other moments, it feels like a terrible drama on The CW.

Hopefully I’ll be able to take a look at the first episode soon and see how everything is coming together. Perhaps I’m wrong. Although, I have pretty good instincts about this type of thing.

You can take a look at the promo trailer and previous trailer below:

-

The Cape premieres Sunday, January 9, on NBC

Follow me on Twitter @anthonyocasio

Follow Screen Rant on Twitter @screenrant

Source: Zap2It

View the original article here