Who Should Play Irwin Fletcher in the Warner Bros. ‘Fletch’ Reboot?

In a disturbing Hollywood trend, Warner Bros. is now close to rebooting another great comedy from the 1980s.

Fletch still remains one of our favorite 80s comedies, but Warner Bros. wants to turn it into a “smart, action comedy that plays out on a much larger canvas.”

Having already starred in Vacation, Caddyshack and Saturday Night Live, Chevy Chase was an established comedy star by the time Fletch released in 1985. While Fletch may have been based on an eleven book series, few would argue that Chevy Chase is the only reason for Fletch‘s iconic status in movies. Some would say Irwin Fletcher is an intriguing character, no matter who plays the part, but it is tough to imagine Fletch without Chevy Chase.

It’s understandable that some classics are going to get a reboot for modern audiences – and the Weinstein Co. has been attempting to reboot this franchise for over a decade. If the film company had allowed Kevin Smith to make his proposed Fletch prequel starring Jason Lee then it may have had a real shot at capitalizing on the source material while bringing something new to the table. Lee is one of few comedians today that possesses an ability similar to Chase – combining the sarcasm and wit the role would require.

The core problem here is what Warner Bros. wants to do with the character. The studio has picked up the rights to all 11 books from which the original films (Fletch, Fletch Lives) were based on. But the original novels were not nearly as hilarious as Chase’s interpretation. Heat Vision has the scoop:

“No writer or director is aboard [sic], but Warners and the producers are aiming for a reimagining, not a remake, and hope to make a [sic] smart action comedy that plays out on a bigger canvas than the previous movies.”

What does Warner Bros. mean by “a bigger canvas”? It could mean something like National Treasure, which somewhat fits Fletch’s style. If Warner Bros. executives do their homework, they might stumble upon what truly made Fletch so funny – Chevy Chase. The scale of the movie is irrelevant as long as it manages to be funny – that is, if they want to capture what made the original so great.

The entertainment industry does not need any more Seth Rogen action comedies. So, who could fill Fletch’s shoes in a potential reboot?

Note: These are our own opinions – no one is currently associated with the production. The only sure thing right now is Warner Bros. has acquired the rights to the book series.

5 potential fits for Irwin 'Fletch' Fletcher?

Joel McHale – The perfect blend of charisma and comedic timing. He has spent plenty of time with Chevy Chase in Community and may have picked up a nuance or two in the process.Ryan Reynolds – Reynolds seems to get every role under the sun these days, but he has proven more than capable of delivering action, comedy and charisma all at once. If Warner Bros. wants a big name in this film that can handle the “bigger canvas,” Reynolds is a perfect fit.John Krasinski - His popularity has diminished a bit, but there is something to his delivery as Jim Halpert that rings true to the character of Irwin Fletcher.Jason Lee - The Weinstein Co. didn’t want him because they thought he wasn’t enough of a star. Now that he has his own hit television series, maybe he could get another shot.Jason Sudeikis - He has yet to shine in a leading role on film, but has shown the comedic chops to be successful in certain circumstances. His comedy thrives on witty comments and he grows a killer mustache that might serve him well in undercover situations.

The undying effort to bring back the character of Gregory McDonald’s novels is proof at how timeless the material is. If Chevy Chase hadn’t portrayed Fletch with such memorable charisma, we might not be complaining about a potential reboot. As most fans of the films will attest, this isn’t an awful idea. Rather, it just needs the proper focus and casting to work. Unfortunately, at this point, we don’t know the true direction of the reboot – aside from Warner Bros.’ brief statement.

Either Warner Bros. will stay true to the source material and create a character worth remembering that rests somewhere between James Bond and Axel Foley (Beverly Hills Cop) or they’ll go for the money and hire a big-name star to simply cash in on yet another remake. Let’s hope they put the effort in to actually create a fully-formed character that might produce a great modern franchise. It is a tough task to try and push Chevy Chase’s performance to the back burner, but not impossible. For now, we remain skeptical at this idea until further details emerge.

Who would you like to see play Fletch? Would you like to see anybody play him at all? Sound off in the comments section below.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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Tyler Perry Replaces Idris Elba in the Alex Cross Reboot

Tyler Perry is one of those auteurs whose work generally seems to inspire either unconditional love or unadulterated hatred from people. He’s only acted in one film that’s not one of his original creations (J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot), and now he will add another reboot to his resume, an adaptation of James Patterson’s I, Alex Cross.

The titular protagonist of Patterson’s novel was previously brought to life by Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman in the films Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. Now the skillful psychologist will return to the big screen in the form of Perry – the man behind everyone’s favorite (?) gun-toting grandma, Madea.

Idris Elba was originally approached to star in the new Alex Cross flick last August, but Deadline says that Perry became the lead in just the past few weeks. That could prove problematic, since Elba has a solid following (he was arguably the best thing about both The Losers and Takers last year) and seems a proper fit for the role. Perry is more of a wild card whose fan base is willing to turn out to see his latest relationship melodramas, but may pass on watching him in a crime procedural.

For those not familiar with the character, Alex Cross is an African-American detective and psychologist whose resume includes stints as a consultant for the FBI and Metropolitan Police Department. An elite professional with a messy personal life, Cross has matched wits with serial killers, kidnappers, murderous burglars, and even a cult of vampires on one occasion. It’s a role Freeman handled all too well, but it’s been nine years since the character last appeared in theaters – and in Hollywood nowadays, that means it’s time for a revamp (besides, Freeman’s going to be busy with The Dark Knight Rises as is).

It would be easy (and admittedly not unreasonable) to be dismissive about this casting since Elba has a background in playing sophisticated, capable, men in action-oriented movies, whereas Perry is… well, best versed in the art of cross-dressing and portraying comical creations. The latter was convincing enough as Admiral Richard Barnett in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek and is certainly not without talent, so perhaps Perry will prove himself worthy of following in Freeman’s footsteps.

Arguably the bigger concern to have in regards to I, Alex Cross is that it’s being directed by Rob Cohen, the man behind mindless action blockbusters like The Fast and the Furious and xXx, as well as the the expensive flop, Stealth. On that note – chances are good that most people didn’t wake up this morning and expect to read the words “‘The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’ filmmaker will direct Madea in a crime thriller.” But, here we are…

I, Alex Cross is tentatively scheduled to begin filming this June. Distributors are currently circling the project, which likely won’t hit theaters earlier than spring of 2012.

Source: Deadline via Black Voices

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‘Charlie’s Angels’ TV Show Reboot Headed Into Production

You’d think that a classic series that received not one, but two big-budget movie adaptations was played out. Nobody tell ABC: they’re in the initial stages of bringing Charlie’s Angels back to its TV stomping grounds.

We previously reported that Al Gough and Miles Millar, the writers for the first eight seasons of Smallville, are attached to the project. Gossip Girl director Mark Miznarski is in negotiations to direct. (Miznarski also has a credit for the 2008 reboot of 90210 -  coincidence?)

Producers include Leonard Goldberg and Nancy Juvonen, who worked on the aforementioned 2000 and 2003 Charlie’s Angels movies. Juvonen also helped develop the original TV series, as well as other classics like Starsky & Hutch and TJ Hooker. Drew Berrymore, who played an Angel in both movies, is a producer on the new show. No casting information is available at this time.

Whispers about a new Charlie’s Angels TV show have been heard around Hollywood for years.  In 2004 (a year after the truly awful sequel to the 2000 movie) an attempt was made to reanimate the franchise, but it never made it off the ground. Similar efforts were launched in 1988 with similar results, not to mention copycat franchises in Latin America and Germany. The show will join such auspicious company as Knight Rider, Melrose Place (the reboot) and Bionic Woman – that’s assuming that it fails. If it doesn’t, it may join more palatable remakes like Battlestar Galactica, V, and Hawaii Five-O.

When rumors of the Angels return started flying in 2009, Screen Rant‘s Paul Young made some excellent suggestions for the reboot’s potential cast, including Eliza Dushku, Alyssa Milano, and Emilie Ullerup. Summer Glau was also mentioned, but she’s a little busy with The Cape at the moment, so I’ll add Rosario Dawson as a substitute.

What I’m more interested in is who’ll be playing Charlie. The original Charlie for the 1970s show and both movies was voiced by John Forsythe, who unfortunately passed away in April of last year. I’d suggest Val Kilmer, who’s voice-only part in the Knight Rider reboot makes him perfect for ill-advised TV speaking roles. Bernie Mac, who played Bosley for both movies, tragically died of complications from pneumonia in 2008. However, former Heroes regular Stephen Tobolowsky seems to fit the Bosley role to a T.

Charlie’s Angels will begin production very soon, and should premiere on ABC in spring or fall 2012.

Source: Comingsoon.net

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C. Thomas Howell Joins the Spider-Man Reboot

Some projects in Hollywood seem like they never get off the ground (see all the turmoil surrounding The Three Stooges), while other project like The Social Network go from idea to potential Oscar winner in only a few months.

The Spider-Man reboot seems to fall in the latter category (Oscar-winning potential excluded) because it feels like just a few months ago we were discussing the news of how Sony let everyone attached to the Spider-Man 4 project go, decided to reboot the series, hired Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer) to direct and announced Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) would be the new web-slinger.

Even as production on the Spider-Man reboot began last month – as verified by the set pictures of Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) and Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) – Webb is still adding actors to the roster and the latest to join his crew is C. Thomas Howell. There is no official word by Sony on Howell’s character in Spider-Man other than that his name will be Ray.

There aren’t many characters from the Spider-Man canon named Ray, so the only comic book-related possibility to choose from is the father of Peter Parker’s current comic book girlfriend, Ray Cooper. With the knowledge that Gwen Stacy is going to be Peter’s main squeeze in this film, the chances of the character being Ray Cooper are slim.

It was rumored that Zooey Deschanel could be joining the cast as Betty Brant and maybe Howell will play her father – of course that’s only speculation on our part. More realistically, Howell’s character is new to the Spider-Man universe and was created specifically for the film.  We already know the Curt Connors and Flash Thompson are returning to the story and Denis Leary will be Gwen Stacy’s father, George.  Only time will tell how many other characters will join the party, but as production ramps up over the next couple weeks I’m sure we’ll hear plenty of news.

Howell had a great run during the ’80s with roles in popular films like The Outsiders, Tank and Red Dawn. Unfortunately, the quality roles available to him started to decline as he has starred in mainly direct-to-video films such as War of the Worlds and The Da Vinci Treasure, both produced by The Asylum.  Maybe a role in Spider-Man is exactly what he needs to kick-start his career once more?

Spider-Man swings into theaters July 3rd, 2012.

Follow us on Twitter for TV and Movie News @Walwus and @ScreenRant

Source: EW

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‘Spider-Man’ Reboot Set Images: Gwen Stacy at a Funeral

Filming for Marc Webb’s Spider-Man reboot – starring Andrew Garfield as the titular superhero and Emma Stone as the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Gwen Stacy – is officially underway. Somewhere, Sam Raimi is wringing his fists toward the heavens and screaming, “Damn you, Sony, and your rebooting ways!”

Earlier this week, we brought you pictures from the red carpet displaying Emma Stone in her beautiful, natural blonde glory (as opposed to, say, the synthetic red hair we’re used to). And today, JustJared has pictures straight from the set of the Spider-Man reboot – depicting what appears to be a funeral.

Gloomy cathedral? Check. Relentless rain? Check. Black umbrellas? Check. Black Cars? Check. Dark clothing? Double check. Yeah, it’s a typical movie funeral, all right.

There’s no telling whose funeral it could possibly be – after all, nearly 200 people die in New York City every day – but using context clues and the visual absence of Captain George Stacy (played by funnyman and star of FX’s Rescue Me, Dennis Leary), we can assume that it’s probably Gwen’s father in the casket.

Check out the photos of Gwen at the (funeral?) below:

Gwen Stacy’s father – named George in the main 616 Marvel Universe and John in the Ultimate Universe – was a New York police captain. In the 616 Universe he appreciated Spider-Man’s work and tried to prove to the public that the red and blue wallcrawler wasn’t a menace. In the Ultimate universe, John admired Spider-Man’s vigilante justice, sort of, but was no fan of the hero nonetheless. In 616, he was old (ish) and had the white hair to prove it. In Ultimate, he was fairly young and tough, much like Dennis Leary. In both universes, he died sacrificing his life to save someone else’s.

Therefore, you can pretty much guarantee that the funeral is his.

Meanwhile, The New York Times recently talked to Irrfan Khan (Slumdog Millionaire) about his role as the villain Van Adder. His response was certainly…telling:

“Is that his name? These science-fiction names don’t mean a lot to me. He’s a character who, I think, was not in the comics or perhaps a minor character. I’ve read some pages, but the whole script hasn’t been made available to me.”

Well, it’s good to know that we’re not the only ones in the dark. I guess.

The Spider-Man reboot hits theaters July 3, 2012.

Sources: JustJared & The New York Times

Header image: John Romita Jr., Amazing Spider-Man #600

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Alan Alda Talks ’30 Rock’, ‘MASH’ Reboot & Life As A TV Legend

This Thursday, Alan Alda will be appearing in the holiday episode of NBC’s 30 Rock, reprising his role as Jack Donaghy’s father, Milton Greene. The episode, titled “Christmas Attack Zone,” airs tonight and is the last 30 Rock episode until the show returns January 20th, 2011.

In tonight’s episode, Alda is back to pay a visit to the Donaghy residence for Christmas. Jack (Alec Baldwin) is persuaded by Liz (Tina Fey) and Avery (Elizabeth Banks) to come clean about issues he’s keeping from his mother (Elaine Stritch) when she visits for Christmas. Jack’s parents don’t exactly get along, and the verbal jabs are expected to come fast and furious. Expect some great zingers from Alda, who is no stranger to the hilarious one-liner.

Alda’s career in television spans all the way back to 1958, where he appeared on the Phil Silvers Show. He is best known for his work on MASH, but has had memorable roles on the silver screen as well in The Four Seasons, Same Time Next Year, and several Woody Allen films such as Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Alda took the time to speak to the media in a conference call today, where the talented actor, writer and director discussed topics including his thoughts on the cast of 30 Rock, his near-death experience, his secret to being creative in today’s modern world, and some reminiscing about MASH… including his thoughts on a possible series reboot.

Although he admits to not watching a lot of television, I asked him which character currently on TV today does he most enjoy watching?

Alan Alda: “I love the guy on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David. He’s really created a Moliere character that’s so risky, it’s amazing you can enjoy watching that schmuck week after week. It’s delicious to see the mistakes he makes. It’s a little bit like Archie Bunker was, where he gave voice to attitudes and a temperament that you never saw before on television, but an even slier version of that.”

The topic of improvisation came up (Curb is known to be mostly improv), and Alda explained his thoughts on the unconventional acting method.

“I would love to improvise, and started out that way. I was always suggesting on the MASH set that we do some. We didn’t improvise a smidgen, every word was written. We did one show that was improvised; it was the black and white interview show. We improvised most of the speeches that were reorganized and punched up and written by Larry Gelbart. Many moments were done on the spot where the interviewer would have questions we’ve never heard before and we would answer in character.”

Throughout the interview, Alda was always gracious and at times very funny, delivering some one-liners with the trademark wit he’s known for.

Here are the highlights from the Q&A:

On comparing the MASH experience with 30 Rock:

“When I first went on 30 Rock, I had the same feeling about the group there then when we were doing MASH. Everyone knows where they’re going and what they’re doing… they’re unique personalities. They’re very tuned into one another, just like we were. It’s a different kind of comedy, but like us, they’re taking chances. They’re expanding to another kind of comedy, and the people who love it recognize how interesting and funny it is and I’m one of those people.”

On his near death experience:

“It was Oct. 19, seven years ago. It was the last interview I was doing on the top of the mountain in Chile. A yard of my intestine had to be removed and I came within a few hours of dying. I was glad to be alive in a way I had never been before. No matter how tough things get, that’s not so bad, because I was supposed to be dead by now. I’ve had seven wonderful years. When I get a chance to do something new, like write a couple of books and be on 30 Rock, it’s very exciting to me. I realize it’s something I wouldn’t have had. But that’s trivial compared to my grandchildren growing up, my daughters… I might not have seen that. I even enjoy complaining more.”

On what he’s learned about himself in playing these roles:

“It’s very possible I wouldn’t have learned to get in touch with my emotions because of my professional obligations. Another, I don’t think I would have gotten up so early in the morning.”

On doing another comedy series:

“I like coming in and out of 30 Rock too much.”

On wanting to direct again:

“I’m glad it’s not me who has to worry about it… it’s one of the extra pleasures in life. So many people want to be directors, but I did that already and the experience itself is something I don’t want to do anymore. It’s a wonderful feeling of power, especially on a movie more so than a TV show, but I don’t think I need that.”

Continue to Alan Alda the changing landscape of television….

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Joss Whedon Turned Down ‘Buffy’ Reboot; New Writer Speaks

Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series accumulated a legion of rabid fans over the course of its seven seasons. Last week, many of them were outraged to learn that Warner Bros. was moving forward with a big screen reboot of the property – and that Whedon wasn’t involved.

Despite being hard at work on The Avengers, Whedon quickly drafted an amusing (if not slightly esoteric) response to the news and expressed his frustration over how soon all of this seemed to be happening. Unfortunately, Whedon doesn’t own the rights to Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Kazui Enterprises does. He even admitted he doesn’t have any legal ground to stand on.

Although the thought of a Whedon-less Buffy probably sounds sacrilegious to fans, Heat Vision is reporting that he was offered the chance to be involved but turned it down. Evidently, Kazuis approached him last year with their plans for the reboot and Whedon decided he was more interested in other projects.

I’m a little surprised by how many people seem to think this means he has no business complaining about the situation. Of course they offered Whedon the opportunity to participate and of course he passed. It’s not like they were proposing a big screen continuation of the series. This is a brand new Buffy that eschews established continuity and all of the supporting characters. Why would Whedon want to rebuild the mythology from the ground up when he’s already told this story so successfully?

Meanwhile, Hero Complex recently profiled the screenwriter of the Buffy reboot – Whit Anderson. When plans for the film were unveiled and Anderson’s script was mentioned, her name raised a few eyebrows. The reaction was understandable considering she’s an aspiring actress with a few small roles on her resume, but no produced writing credits (her IMDb page is up 12558% in popularity now, though).

It’s impossible to try and guess the tone of her script with no past work to examine, but Anderson says she was a huge fan of the show and of the Buffy character in particular:

“I didn’t really watch much television at all, but I always watched ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.‘ That was the one show I would watch when I got home. I just loved this character. I was the same age as Buffy, and it was so rare to have a female lead character on TV in those days who was strong and capable and smart but also allowed to be feminine.”

Anderson also indicates that she’s aware of fan skepticism, but uses Batman Begins as an example of how a franchise can be successfully revitalized. She goes on to explain what she believes makes Buffy the Vampire Slayer so unique:

“The thing that was so wonderful about ‘Buffy’ is what made it special was so timeless … The deep struggle she had with duty and destiny, that tug between what you’re supposed to be doing and what you want to be doing. The fate of the world is on her shoulders, but some days she wakes up, and she just doesn’t want to do it. And are we doomed and destined to love someone? That conflict was very interesting to me. Those are the things I loved about her and her world. She also represents — like all the heroes — something empowering for us. She reminds us of what we could be if we were in our top form, the best of us if we were at our very best, and even then we still see the vulnerability and doubts she has inside. That’s where we all connect.”

Clearly Warner Bros. believes that this property still has teeth with or without Whedon. They might even be counting on a whole new legion of fans for the reboot rather than simply trying to appeal to old ones. I previously expressed my concern over another writer trying to emulate Whedon’s incredibly unique and specific style, but it’s more likely this reboot will be as dramatically different from the series as it was from the original 1992 film.

As a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I have to admit I always thought that Buffy herself was one of the least interesting characters on the show. Creating an ensemble as dynamic and entertaining as Xander, Willow, Spike, and Giles (just to name a few) seems like an arduous challenge. We’ll see if Anderson is up to it.

Source: Heat Vision and Hero Complex.

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Hans Zimmer Will Score the Superman Reboot

Composer Hans Zimmer frequently collaborates with Christopher Nolan, and it always seemed like a strong possibility that he might score the upcoming Superman reboot, The Man of Steel.  Zimmer previously offered his thoughts on whether or not the iconic themes by John Williams should be utilized for the upcoming reboot film, but gave no confirmation of his involvement.

Zimmer is one of the most in-demand composers currently working and now Thompson on Hollywood is reporting that after he finishes working on the scores for Pirates of the Caribbean 4, Sherlock Holmes 2, and Kung-Fu Panda 2, Zimmer will compose the music for The Man of Steel. (I’m not sure this guy has enough on his plate.)

This tidbit evidently comes from Zimmer himself, who opened up about his future projects during an Inception DVD and Blu-Ray release party Tuesday night.

Nolan and director Zack Snyder are rebuilding the Superman film franchise from the ground up, so unlike Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns – any nods to previous films seems extremely unlikely. I think it’s safe to assume that includes the score.

Here’s what Zimmer said back in October regarding the approach he favored:

“It’s a hard one … but I followed one of the most iconic things on Batman with Chris [Nolan] as well, and it’s the same thing. You are allowed to reinvent, but you have to try to be as good or at least as iconic and it has to resonate and it has to become a part of the zeitgeist. That’s the job. On Gladiator I remember people always talking about Spartacus and I kept telling them, ‘When you saw Spartacus and how it affected it you, that’s how I want a modern audience to be affected by what we do now.’ So I think ultimately you’re supposed to reinvent.”

The Man of Steel is rumored to be a Clark-centric story that focuses on the mild-mannered reporter traveling the globe and coming to terms with his destiny. If that’s true, it sounds incredibly similar to the series Superman: Birthright. Yet, Snyder previously commented that Man of Steel isn’t based on any Superman comic. Regardless, if a total reinvention is the name of the game, it just doesn’t make sense to use any of John Williams’ music. Here’s why:

The theme is in your head right now, isn't it?

That theme music is just too closely associated with past films and with Christopher Reeve’s portrayal of Superman. I know many fans probably feel that there’s no way to top a piece of music so completely perfect for the character (and that might be true), but as Zimmer stated – this won’t be the first time he’s been tasked with following up an iconic score.

As a matter of personal taste, I largely prefer Danny Elfman’s Batman scores to Zimmer’s work on Batman Begins and The Dark Knight – but I also realize that anything resembling Elfman’s music would have sounded wildly out of place in Nolan’s films. They had a different tone, style, and sensibility.

If Man of Steel is as different from past Superman films as Batman Begins was from prior Batman movies (and it should be), it’s going to require an entirely different musical approach. Something that’s still suitable for the character, but immediately recognizable as its own entity.

Is Zimmer qualified to deliver such a score? I do prefer him to Snyder’s usual composer, Tyler Bates, and I have no doubt he’ll bring something unique to the table; however, to be totally honest, I was keeping my fingers crossed for Michael Giacchino (Star Trek, Up). It was a long shot, I know. Zimmer has a tendency to recycle cues from past work, and his formerly distinctive style is now being imitated by countless other composers.

However, Zimmer does seem to enjoy experimenting with new sounds and I get the feeling he still has a few tricks up his sleeve. Do you think he’s a good match for The Man of Steel?

Source: TOH.

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Superman Reboot Plot Rumors; Anne Hathaway As Lois Lane?

The rumor mill for Zack Snyder’s reboot of the Superman franchise, The Man of Steel, keeps chugging along, even now that speculation about a middle-aged Clark Kent or General Zod as the villain in the film has been laid to rest.

Additional (possibly even accurate) information about the film’s plot has been discovered, while another 20-something, A-list actress is now being rumored as a top contender to play Clark Kent’s object of affection, Lois Lane.

Word is that a character description for Man of Steel has been sent out to a variety of casting agencies, who are currently searching for an unknown, 28-32 year-old actor to play the iconic superhero. What’s Playing claims that Snyder’s Clark Kent will be “a young journalist, traveling the globe, who would rather solve problems and help people without resorting to using his special powers,” and provided the following information about the reboot’s plot:

When he is compelled to use his secret powers to intervene in a crisis in West Africa, Clark returns to Smallville to learn more about his origins and the hero he was born to be.

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Recall that while Superman reboot “godfather” Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins was the origin story of the Caped Crusader, it also plumbed the psychological depths of Bruce Wayne and sent him (literally) on a journey to understand himself and his purpose in life. These possible Man of Steel plot details should definitely be taken with a sizable grain of salt, but the proposed storyline would very much pave the way for Nolan and Snyder to examine the Superman character in a fittingly complex fashion.

Allowing Clark Kent to venture out and explore the world would also be an effective means to modernize the character, who would find himself in new territory by actually confronting, head-on, the global issues and crises that afflict the world – outside of Metropolis, that is. Nolan’s Batman films have benefited from shifting the setting beyond that of Gotham City – will the Superman reboot do the same?

Just about every young, established actress working in the biz right now has been (and likely will be again) floated as a possibility to play the role of Lois Lane in Snyder’s Superman reboot. While Warner Bros. was interested in Natalie Portman a while ago, the new gal rumored to be a serious contender for the part is Anne Hathaway.

The Oscar-nominated Hathaway would be a decent choice for the role of Miss Lane, though we agree with The Playlist that someone like Rebecca Hall (The Town) seems like a better fit to play the character, who has more than her share of beauty, brains, and focus on her career – especially when Superman is in the picture.

The Man of Steel is expected to begin shooting by June 2011, so it’s a bit early to expect any concrete information about the film’s plot or casting decisions to leak out just yet – but what do you make of these new rumors?

Source: What’s Playing

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‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Movie Reboot On The Way [Updated]

[UPDATE: Buffy creator Joss Whedon has responded to the news. Check out his comments below.]

There have been rumblings of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie reboot for a couple of years now. The last time we heard, original rights holders Fran Rubel Kazui and Kaz Kazui were interested in developing a new film that would take the franchise in a “darker direction” – and they were doing it without the involvement of Buffy creator Joss Whedon.

When the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series debuted on television in 1997, it was more than a quirky cult hit – it also acted as vindication for Whedon, whose original vision for the 1992 film of the same name had been severely compromised by Kazui Enterprises.  When the movie reboot rumors surfaced, fans were understandably apprehensive about the property reverting back to Kazui, the same people who had so poorly mishandled it in the first place.

It was later reported that Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical) had been offered the lead role of Buffy and that TV series star Sarah Michelle Gellar might make a cameo appearance. Thankfully, this never materialized and the project seemingly vanished.

Well, now it’s back – Warner Bros. has optioned the rights and a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie is officially underway. Charles Roven and Steve Alexander will produce the reboot alongside Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment (How To Train Your Dragon, The Departed).

The script is being written by Whit Anderson and evidently this new take on Buffy‘s mythology was enough to spark Roven’s interest:

“Whit approached us with an exciting idea about how to update Buffy…There is an active fan base eagerly awaiting this character’s return to the big screen. We’re thrilled to team up with Doug and Roy on a re-imagining of Buffy and the world she inhabits. Details of the film are being kept under wraps, but I can say while this is not your high school Buffy, she’ll be just as witty, tough, and sexy as we all remember her to be.”

I know I won’t be alone in declaring that I’m not terribly supportive of this. Whedon has such an offbeat and specific sense of humor. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show had just the right balance of scares and laughs and it did it all with a pitch-perfect tongue-in-cheek attitude. It’s an incredibly difficult tone to achieve. In fact, look no further than the original Buffy movie for an example of how easy it is to screw up.

I’m just not convinced that this is a property that needs updating – especially when new generations of fans continue to discover Whedon’s TV show. The concept -a high school valley girl becomes a hardened vampire slayer – meshed well with Whedon’s unique style of writing, but I’m not sure how it’s going to hold up with a “darker” approach.

Update: It looks like Buffy fans aren’t the only ones saddened by this news. After the story broke, E!‘s Kristin Dos Santos sent an email to Joss Whedon asking how he felt about this development. Here’s his reply:

Kristin, I’m glad you asked for my thoughts on the announcement of Buffy the cinema film. This is a sad, sad reflection on our times, when people must feed off the carcasses of beloved stories from their youths—just because they can’t think of an original idea of their own, like I did with my Avengers idea that I made up myself.

Obviously I have strong, mixed emotions about something like this. My first reaction upon hearing who was writing it was, “Whit Stillman AND Wes Anderson? This is gonna be the most sardonically adorable movie EVER.” Apparently I was misinformed. Then I thought, “I’ll make a mint! This is worth more than all my Toy Story residuals combined!” Apparently I am seldom informed of anything. And possibly a little slow. But seriously, are vampires even popular any more?

I always hoped that Buffy would live on even after my death. But, you know, AFTER. I don’t love the idea of my creation in other hands, but I’m also well aware that many more hands than mine went into making that show what it was. And there is no legal grounds for doing anything other than sighing audibly. I can’t wish people who are passionate about my little myth ill. I can, however, take this time to announce that I’m making a Batman movie. Because there’s a franchise that truly needs updating. So look for The Dark Knight Rises Way Earlier Than That Other One And Also More Cheaply And In Toronto, rebooting into a theater near you.

Leave me to my pain! Sincerely, Joss Whedon.

Meanwhile, Bones creator Hart Hanson just tweeted this picture of Buffy alum David Boreanaz’s reaction to the news:

That pretty much sums it up.

What do you think? Is Buffy the Vampire Slayer ripe for re-imagining or should they leave well enough alone?

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Update Source: E! and Twitter.

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Denis Leary To Play Gwen Stacy’s Dad in Spider-Man Reboot

With production expected to begin next month, Sony is hard at work locking down its principal cast for the 3D reboot of the Spider-Man franchise. This new take on Spider-Man will focus on Peter Parker’s days in college and will explore his relationship with Gwen Stacy while also touching on his earlier years when he was a young child when his parents were alive.

Andrew Garfield will be playing the title character and joining him so far are Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy and Rhys Ifans as The Lizard, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field reportedly in talks to play Parker’s aunt and uncle. Now comes word that Gwen Stacy’s dad is about to be cast…

The Hollywood Reporter has the exclusive scoop that Rescue Me star Denis Leary is currently in negotiations to play the character of George Stacy opposite Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy. George is the father of Gwen and a captain of the police and in the books, his character crosses paths with Spider-Man on many occasions and is known for being a defender of his cause. At least, that’s his character in the mainstream Marvel Comics universe.

In the Ultimate Marvel Comics however, George Stacy is a younger man who’s not fond of Spidey but digs his vigilante style. The one key story point that sticks in both universes is that Mr. Stacy dies at the hands of Spider-Man”s villains so that could be an emotional trigger for Gwen in the film, should the script follow a similar path.

Since we know Mary Jane will not be a character featured in Marc Webb’s Spider-Man reboot, this lets the story focus on only one love interest of Peter Parker and delve deeper into her character and relationships, an opportunity not taken advantage of previously in the Sam Raimi-Tobey Maguire Spider-Man trilogy where Bryce Dallas Howard and James Cromwell played Gwen and George respectively.

I applaud Webb and Sony Pictures for continuing to think out of the box in adding another unexpected but likable actor to the growing Spider-Man cast.

Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @rob_keyes and @screenrant.

Spider-Man is directed by Marc Webb and written by James Vanderbilt. Filming starts in December and the film will be released in 3D on July 3, 2012.

Source: THR

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Zooey Deschanel Rumored To Join Spider-Man Reboot

Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) might not be the only attractive young lady that turns Peter Parker’s head in Sony’s Spider-Man reboot – and no, we’re not backtracking on the “no Mary Jane” promise again.

Word is that Zooey Deschanel may reunite with her 500 Days of Summer director Marc Webb for the webslinger’s new movie, which officially shifts into production mode beginning next month.

Deschanel would reportedly star in the Spider-Man reboot as Elizabeth “Betty” Brant, the assistant to Peter’s fast-talking, hard-edged boss J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle. Actress Elizabeth Banks dyed her blonde locks brown to play the character in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, but Miss Brant was never a major player in those films. Showbiz Spy indicates that that could change in Webb’s reboot and claims that the director has “big plans” for the character and “wants a strong performer to carry the role and Zooey fits the bill perfectly. The role is hers if she wants it.”

The female half (naturally) of the musical duo She & Him, Deschanel is a charismatic actress who delivered memorable performances in films like Almost Famous, Elf, and Webb’s Summer indie rom-com (see what we did there?), among others. She would be a welcome addition to the Spider-Man reboot cast, which recently added Sally Field and Martin Sheen to its ranks as well.

Joseph Godon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel in '500 Days of Summer'.

What exactly are these “big plans” that Webb has for Miss Brant? The character was romantically involved with Peter Parker a handful of times in the original Spider-Man comics, but things never seemed to work out between those two crazy kids (supervillains and Peter’s hero duties always tended to get in the way). Will the reboot set Betty up as a future love interest for Mr. Parker? Or might she have more of a platonic relationship with Peter in future Spider-Man installments?

Miss Bryant will definitely appear in the webslinger’s new movie, regardless of whether or not Deschanel plays her. A larger role for the character would help the reboot further distinguish itself from Raimi’s Spider-Man and provide some additional personal drama for Peter to deal with – and he can never have enough of that, right?

What do you think of the latest Spider-Man casting rumor?

Source: Showbiz Spy (via MTV)

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