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Finally, the Martian Manhunter has revealed himself. A founding member of DC‘s Justice League of America, the shape-shifting Martian J’onn J’onzz was slated to appear in one of the most infamous canceled movie projects, the Justice League film almost directed by Mad Max creator George Miller.

Miller’s Justice League: Mortal would have featured the “Big Seven” most associated with the Justice League, including the Martian Manhunter. And to play the Manhunter, Miller turned to one of his favorite collaborators, Hugh Keays-Byrne, who played Toecutter in the first Mad Max film and would later go on to play Immortan Joe in Mad Max: Fury Road.

Thanks to new behind-the-scenes photos posted by prosthetics artist Antony McMullen, we can finally see what the big screen version of Martian Manhunter would have looked like, as envisioned by Miller and his team. And he looks… pretty much like Martian Manhunter.

Sony Pictures’ recent release Madame Web is directed by S.J. Clarkson from a screenplay she co-wrote with Claire Parker and a writing team of Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless. The movie stars Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, Isabela Merced, Tahar Rahim and more.

The movie is a suspense thriller that follows the story of Madame Web’s origin story in a standalone universe. Madame Web is a part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe and opened up to negative reviews from the critics as well as the audience. Dedicated fans of Marvel Comics mentioned how the writers of the movie do not have a single successful movie under their kitty.

Suggested“We all owe The Rock an apology”: Fans are Turning to the Dcu After Madame Web’s Horrific Reviews Leave Them Disappointed

Dakota Johnson, Sydeny Sweeney and Isabela Merced

Madame Web’s writer Matt Sazama criticized for back-to-back...

As the actors strike entered its fourth month, morale among SAG-AFTRA members remained high despite no additional talks with the AMPTP, not to mention the picket-line hurdles of hurricanes and heat waves.

Stars, including Richard Gere, Kevin Bacon and “Abbott Elementary” Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph, continued to show their support at picket lines in New York and Los Angeles.

Here’s a few of the famous faces who’ve been spotted marching shoulder to shoulder with their fellow guild members.

Getty Images

Richard Gere

The “Primal Fear” and “Pretty Woman” star held a sign supporting both WGA East and SAG-AFTRA on a recent appearance in New York.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Sheryl Lee Ralph

The “Abbott Elementary” Emmy winner danced on the picket lines in New York.

Getty Images

Kevin Bacon

The “City on a Hall” actor hit the New York picket lines in a “SAG-AFTRA Strong” T-shirt.

Dermot Mulroney didn't decide that he wanted to be an actor until he was already partway through college. According to a profile in a 1986 profile in the Washington Post, Mulroney -- then an up-and-coming 22-year-old -- auditioned for a William Morris agent who just happened to be visiting his college. She was so impressed, she laid a contract in front of him on the spot, and he was on screen in the CBS TV movie "Sin of Innocence" only weeks later. Since then, Mulroney has enjoyed a long and lucrative career in film and TV, appearing in hit films, indie movies, thrillers, horror movies, Christmas movies, and just about anything. Mulroney received a SAG Award nomination for his performance in "August: Osage County" in 2013. He is currently appearing in the Marvel series "Secret Invasion" (as the president) and the Showtime series "Ghosts of Beirut." He also can be seen in...

There’s controversy and then there’s comic book movie controversy. While usually its concerning something more lighthearted like the internet losing their minds over some kind casting decision, we sometimes get the darker stuff. Like “shifting an entire studio’s heirarchy” level of craziness. From reported verbal abuse to alleged threatening of careers to a miserable Ben Affleck, there’s a lot of bad that came from Warner’s 2017 film. So today on DC Revisited, we’re diving into the moustache removing and tone lightening of Joss Whedon’s Justice League.

If you think other films in the DC lineup have had controversy then you haven’t seen anything yet because the stuff that goes on here is absolutely nuts. But I should state outright: we’ll deal with the Snyder Cut and all of that surrounded that in a future video. For now, we’ll just focus on the original filming period,...

(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)

"Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" first hit the airwaves in 1993, and even though that original iteration of Rangers didn't last all that long, the series has remained remarkably enduring. 30 years later, the series has aired nearly 1,000 episodes through its various iterations, has inspired hundreds of issues of comics books, millions in toy sales, and is truly a globally recognized brand with huge staying power. Still, the franchise has never managed to fully crack the code in making the jump to movies.

Two films, the "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" movie in 1995 and "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie," did fine enough by '90s "kids movies based on a show" standards, which were ultimately more about selling toys and copies of the films on VHS.

Disney is once again turning to theme park rides as inspiration for movies, so let's hope this next one is more of a "Pirates of the Caribbean" than a "The Country Bears." According to Deadline, the new project will be based on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a gold rush-themed roller coaster that's been a part of Disneyland since 1979.

Though details about the project are still under wraps, the movie already has directors and writers on board. The filmmaking duo known as Bert and Bertie are reportedly in talks to direct the as-yet-untitled project. Bert and Bertie are perhaps best-known for their work on Marvel's "Hawkeye" series, for which they helmed three episodes last year.

A certain faction of TV viewers, myself included, also bows down to the Berties for their stunning work on "Our Flag Means Death," including on the episode that memorably ends with an epic scene set to Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain.

It’s the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness! Disney is in the works on a movie inspired by its Disneyland attraction Big Thunder Mountain, and “Hawkeye” directors Bert & Bertie — the professional name of the duo Amber Templemore-Finlayson and Katie Ellwood — are in negotiations to direct the film, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.

Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney (“Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”) are writing the script for the film, though plot details are being kept under wraps.

Margot Robbie’s production banner LuckyChap Entertainment and Ridley Scott’s banner Scott Free are both producing the film.

Also Read:

Disneyland Hikes Annual Pass Prices, New ‘Inspire Key’ Will Cost 1,599 Per Year

“Big Thunder Mountain” would follow the Dwayne Johnson movie “Jungle Cruise” from last year, and Disney is also in the works on a reboot inspired by its Haunted Mansion attraction that has Owen Wilson attached to star.

HBO Max and Warner Bros. are looking to build a Sherlock Holmes film-tv universe in the mold of the TV series offshoots of Suicide Squad and The Batman on the WarnerMedia streamer.

We hear that two potential spinoff series from the Warner Bros. movie franchise starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are in early development at HBO Max. Executive produced by Team Downey’s Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey, each of the proposed series would focus on a different character.

Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey, and Team Downey’s Amanda Burrell are exec producing alongside Wigram Productions’ Lionel Wigram, who produced the two Sherlock Holmes films.

Unlike the Suicide Squad offshoot series Peacemaker and The Batman’s Penguin, which are built around existing characters, we hear the Sherlock Holmes spinoffs would revolve around characters that have not been introduced yet.

We hear the plan has been for the...

You know what working from home makes me miss? Water coolers. If Hollywood still gathered in offices and writers rooms, one of the hottest topics around those coolers today would be authentic storytelling onscreen.

In September, the announcement that Ron Howard was attached to direct an adaptation of Chinese pianist Lang Lang’s memoir (scripted by Michele and Kieran Mulroney) drove director Lulu Wang to Twitter to express her dismay at Hollywood telling yet another distinctly Chinese story while excluding Chinese voices from the key creative team. More directly and controversially, novelist and former Congressional candidate Saira Rao recently tweeted: “White people ...

News that Ron Howard will direct an upcoming biographical drama about the life of famed Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang is being criticized on social media by writer-director Lulu Wang. “The Farewell” filmmaker took to Twitter to express frustration over a white director such as Howard being the creative force behind a film about the Asian experience.

“As a classically-trained pianist born in China, I believe it’s impossible to tell Lang Lang’s story without an intimate understanding of Chinese culture and the impact of the Cultural Revolution on artists and intellectuals and the effects of Western imperialism,” Wang wrote. “Just saying.”

Wang added that her criticism had nothing to do with her wanting to direct the Lang Lang movie herself, writing, “I do not [want to direct it]. I just don’t think these are the artists to grapple with the cultural specificities of Northeast China where Lang Lang (and my family) are from.

Ron Howard will direct a biopic about Lang Lang, the acclaimed Chinese concert pianist. The movie will be based on Lang’s autobiography Journey of a Thousand Miles, with Michelle Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney handling the screenplay. Howard plans to start work on the film after he finishes the Thai Cave Rescue movie Thirteen Lives. Variety says Ron Howard […]

The post Ron Howard Will Direct a Biopic About Pianist Lang Lang appeared first on /Film.

AGC Studios will fully finance an untitled biopic about Lang Lang from Oscar-winning director Ron Howard.

The film about the world-renowned pianist will be produced by Howard’s longtime partner Brian Grazer, as well as Imagine Entertainment President of Features Karen Lunder and AGC Studios Stuart Ford.

The screenplay by Michelle Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney, the team behind “Paper Man” and “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” is based on “Journey of a Thousand Miles,” a memoir that Lang Lang wrote with David Ritz.

Lang Lang ranks as one of the greatest classical pianists, beloved for his dramatic playing style. But his rise to the top of the music world came at great personal cost. His childhood was marred by the collapse of his parents’ marriage and his family’s precarious financial situation. After moving to America, Lang Lang attended the Curtis Institute of Music where he was mentored by Gary Graffman,...

Ron Howard, Imagine Entertainment, AGC Studios and CAA are teaming up for the movie biopic of virtuoso Chinese pianist Lang Lang.

Two-time Oscar-winner Howard will direct the currently untitled film with Oscar-winner Brian Grazer producing alongside Imagine’s President of Features Karen Lunder, and AGC Studios’ Stuart Ford.

The project plans to shoot in China and the U.S. and will feature both Mandarin and English. It is intended to be Howard’s next film after he finishes the upcoming Thirteen Lives for MGM.

Born in China to aspiring musicians, Lang Lang (who is only 38 years old) has emerged as one of the world’s most famous contemporary classical pianists. His memoir documents the remarkable story of a family who sacrificed almost everything for the belief in his prodigious talent.

The film will chart the story from Lang’s childhood in the provincial city of Shenyang in Northern China to...

Ron Howard will direct a biopic on the life of Lang Lang, the world-renowned Chinese pianist about his journey from life in Northern China to making it to the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music and to international acclaim.

The untitled feature on Lang Lang will be fully financed by Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios and will be produced by Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment. Michelle Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney wrote the screenplay based on Lang Lang’s own memoir co-written with David Ritz called “Journey of a Thousand Miles.”

At just 38 but someone who has been active since the early 1990s, the young concert pianist Lang Lang has played with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic and some of America’s top orchestras. His memoir charts his own childhood and shows how his family, both of them musicians whose careers in China’s insular classical music world never panned out,...

Ron Howard will direct a new, as-yet-untitled biopic on world-renowned pianist Lang Lang based on the memoir Journey of a Thousand Miles by Lang and David Ritz.

Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios is financing the new film, which Brian Grazer will produce through his and Howard’s Imagine Entertainment shingle. Michelle Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney will adapt the book for the screen.

Lang Lang and Jean-Jacques Cesbron will act as executive producers on the film, together with Polygram Entertainment’s Michele Anthony and David Blackman.

Journey of a Thousand Miles traces Lang Lang’s extraordinary life story, from his childhood in the provincial ...

Ron Howard will direct a new, as-yet-untitled biopic on world-renowned pianist Lang Lang based on the memoir Journey of a Thousand Miles by Lang and David Ritz.

Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios is financing the new film, which Brian Grazer will produce through his and Howard’s Imagine Entertainment shingle. Michelle Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney will adapt the book for the screen.

Lang Lang and Jean-Jacques Cesbron will act as executive producers on the film, together with Polygram Entertainment’s Michele Anthony and David Blackman.

Journey of a Thousand Miles traces Lang Lang’s extraordinary life story, from his childhood in the provincial ...

Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, Karen Lunder producing with AGC head Stuart Ford.

AGC Studios will fully finance and Ron Howard will direct an untitled biopic of the celebrated pianist Lang Lang from Imagine Entertainment.

Brian Grazer, Imagine Entertainment executive chairman, is producing with president of features Karen Lunder, and AGC Studios chairman and CEO Stuart Ford.

Michelle Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney wrote the screenplay based on the memoir Journey Of A Thousand Miles by Lang Lang and David Ritz. Lang Lang and Jean-Jacques Cesbron along with Polygram Entertainment’s Michele Anthony and David Blackman will serve as executive producers.

Netflix and Imagine Impact — an offshoot of Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s production company Imagine Entertainment — are teaming up develop original content from up-and-coming screenwriters.

Through the open submission process, Imagine Impact will identify and develop feature film ideas in four specific genres over the next year that they will then bring to Netflix. The companies announced Wednesday that they are seeking submissions for large scale action-adventure movies for all audiences with a “well-thought out idea and writing sample” through July 6.

“Netflix is the most innovative content creation and distribution company of the last decade, leading the way in streaming since 2007 and changing the original content game with ‘House of Cards’ in 2013. As Impact continues to evolve the way that global talent is discovered, projects are developed and how the creative industry connects, this partnership demonstrates both companies’ commitment to improving the development system in order to generate more original,...

Philip Tarl Denson.

After Philip Tarl Denson won the Northern Territory Literary Award for Screenwriting way back in 2011, persistence, patience and talent are paying off for the Darwin-based former teacher.

Chances are the writer/producer’s first TV series Anomaly will get the go-ahead this year with the backing of two Us heavy hitters.

Denson is going to the Us later this month to pitch Anomaly to streamers and networks in tandem with Legendary Entertainment and the Us producer Michael London, whose credits include Sideways, Trumbo and Thirteen.

In the past few years London has focussed on TV series, executive producing the Snowfall, the FX crime drama co-created by John Singleton (which screens here on Fox Showcase), the Showtime comedy Smilf and Syfy fantasy The Magicians.

The recipient of the Monte Miller Award for unproduced screenplay in the long form category, Anomaly (10 x 1 hour) centres on three astronauts – Us, Russian...

Imagine Entertainment has set its roster of participants of Impact 2, the inventive program where the company empowers outside voices, “creators,” paying the newcomers accepted to the program to develop TV series and movies under the watchful eye of “shapers,” a group of established industry writers and showrunners. The program, hatched by Imagine co-heads Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, this year got over 4000 submissions from 57 countries covering every continent but Antarctica. Tyler Mitchell runs the program.

The “shapers” in this year’s program are: Stacy Traub, Akiva Goldsman, Doug Ellin, Seth Grahame-Smith, Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney and Sascha Penn.

Here are the newcomers whose work was accepted and who will be paid a stipend to create one new project during the boot camp, before all of the work gets pitched to the town. Traub will oversee:

Writer/actor and Chicago native Aris Mendoza is creating the half hour TV project Blasian...

Minecraft fans are going to have to wait quite a bit longer for the latest film adaptation of the beloved world-building game.

The film has been rescheduled for release on March 4, 2022, from its original release date of May 25 of this year, Warner Bros. announced Tuesday. The news follows turnover in the project's cast and crew in the last few years: Warners first picked up the rights to the cult-favorite game in February 2014, and early on Shawn Levy, who was considering the director's seat, and writers Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney were developing the story, before Levy ...

Minecraft fans are going to have to wait quite a bit longer for the latest film adaptation of the beloved world-building game.

The film has been rescheduled for release on March 4, 2022, from its original release date of May 25 of this year, Warner Bros. announced Tuesday. The news follows turnover in the project's cast and crew in the last few years: Warners first picked up the rights to the cult-favorite game in February 2014, and early on Shawn Levy, who was considering the director's seat, and writers Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney were developing the story, before Levy ...

Hollywood unions and entertainment companies have stepped up to support the 31,000 Los Angeles teachers in the second day of a massive strike that’s affected nearly half a million students.

More than 50 SAG-AFTRA members picketed at a Tuesday afternoon rally in the driving rain next to the Hollywood & Highland Center with secretary-treasurer Jane Austin among the speakers in support of the United Teachers of Los Angeles.

“It’s important for us to support our fellow union members,” Austin said. “It’s all about showing solidarity and supporting better education for our children.”

SAG-AFTRA member Patrick Fabian (“Better Call Saul”) spoke as an Lausd parent. L. Scott Caldwell, Ellen Crawford and national vice president Clyde Kusatsu were among those attending.

For its part, the Writers Guild of America West has adopted Hancock Park Elementary School, near its headquarters on Fairfax Avenue as its picket line location for two days...

Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment has promoted Karen Lunder to Evp Production, overseeing film development and production.

Lunder joined Imagine a year ago as a senior motion picture executive under Imagine Entertainment president Erica Huggins. Lunder will now become the company’s top film development/production executive following Huggins’ recent departure to become president of Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door production company.

Since joining Imagine from FilmNation Entertainment, Lunder executive produced and oversaw production on Lionsgate’s The Spy Who Dumped Me, starring Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon, and is also overseeing Andrew Adamson’s upcoming adaptation of Curious George and David Gordon Green’s reboot of Friday Night Lights, both for Universal.

“Karen is an exceptional creative force who seamlessly navigates between varying genres and budgets,” said Grazer and Howard. “She has great taste in material, unique vision, and is the consummate collaborator. We are excited...

Director and co-writer Rob McElhenney is no longer working on Warner Bros.’s film adaptation of “Minecraft,” according to The Wrap.

The “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” star was picked to direct the film in 2015, but now it’s not happening, he recently told The Wrap. Warner reportedly asked the writer/director duo of Adam and Aaron Nee to write a new script. “Wonder Woman” scribe Jason Fuchs wrote the previous draft with McElhenney. The Nee brothers are best known for “The Last Romantic” (2006) and “Band of Robbers” (2015). They’re also directing the upcoming “Masters of the Universe” film.

McElhenney is the second director to leave the project. Originally, “Night at the Museum” director Shawn Levy and writers Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney were brought in to work on the film, but they left in 2014 after reportedly presenting new ideas to the studio that didn’t mesh with what Mojang was looking for.

Flashback to 2007. In the midst of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, WB and DC were about to beat Marvel Studios to the punch. Mad Max: Fury Road director George Miller had signed on to direct a Justice League film written by husband and wife duo Michele and Kieran Mulroney, subtitled Mortal.

Intended to be the start of a new franchise, the pic had even finalized its cast. D.J. Cotrona (Superman), Megan Gale (Wonder Woman), Common (John Stewart Aka Green Lantern), Adam Brody (Flash), Santiago Cabrera (Aquaman), Hugh Keays-Byrne (Martian Manhunter) and Armie Hammer (Batman) were all set to star, with production scheduled to take place in Australia.

Unfortunately, however, Miller’s superhero epic never made it to Sydney. The 2007-08 Writers Guild of America Strike and other troubles behind the scenes forced WB to abandon Justice League: Mortal and the rest, as they say, is history.

Over a decade...

The action-packed, coming of age feature film Saban’s Power Rangers will morph onto Digital HD June 13 and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital HD), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital HD), DVD and On Demand June 27 from Lionsgate.

Lrm is giving away a Blu-ray copy of Saban's Power Rangers to one lucky reader on our site.

To enter this giveaway contest please fill out the form below, for our mobile users please send an e-mail to contest@lrmonline.com with Saban's Power Rangers Giveway in the subject line. Please give your name, address and phone number. Only one winner will be selected and must be a U.S. resident for this contest. Winner will be notified via e-mail. The deadline for entry is Monday, June 26, by 11:59 p.m. Pst. So good luck!

Name * Name First Name Last Name Email Address * Address * Address Address 1 Address 2 City State/Province Zip/Postal Code Country Thank you!

The Saban’s Power Rangers DVD will include exclusive audio commentary with director Dean Israelite and writer John Gatins, and deleted/alternate/extended scenes and outtakes. Saban’s Power Rangers will be available on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD for the suggested retail price of $42.99, $39.99, and $29.95, respectively.

Story by Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless and Michele Mulroney & Kieran Mulroney. Screenplay by John Gatins. Directed by Dean Israelite.

4K/Blu-Ray/ Digital HD Special Features

· Audio Commentary with Director Dean Israelite and Writer John Gatins

· “The Power of the Present” Documentary

o “Rangers Then to Now”

o “Building the Team”

o “Beyond the Rangers”

o “Suiting Up”

o “Rangers, Welcome to Training”

o “Rangers in the Wild”

o “It’s Morphin Time”

o “Power Ballad: Music and Sound”

o “This is Your Destiny”

· Deleted/Alternate/Extended Scenes

· Outtakes

· Theatrical Trailer with Audio Commentary by Director Dean Israelite

DVD Special Features

· Audio Commentary with Director Dean Israelite and Writer John Gatins

· Deleted/Alternate/Extended Scenes

· Outtakes

The Official Lrm Last call for the Bellas https://t.co/RpeKqqcoWk about 21 minutes ago...

Not only is the DVD version of the Power Rangers feature film coming in June, but you can also find Power Rangers Dino Super Charge: The Complete Season. Here are specifics:

Santa Monica, CA (May 3, 2017) – The action-packed, coming of age feature film Saban’s Power Rangers will morph onto Digital HD June 13 and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital HD), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital HD), DVD and On Demand June 27 from Lionsgate. As part of the 24-year-old global phenomenon and based on the five Rangers from the original TV series, “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,”, the reimagined movie features a modern generation of Rangers including Dacre Montgomery (TV’s “Stranger Things”) as Jason the Red Ranger, Naomi Scott (The 33) as Kimberly the Pink Ranger, Rj Cyler (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) as Billy the Blue Ranger, Ludi Lin...

The action-packed, coming of age feature film Saban’s Power Rangers will morph onto Digital HD June 13 and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital HD), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital HD), DVD and On Demand June 27 from Lionsgate. As part of the 24-year-old global phenomenon and based on the five Rangers from the original TV series, “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,”, the reimagined movie features a modern generation of Rangers including Dacre Montgomery (TV’s “Stranger Things”) as Jason the Red Ranger, Naomi Scott (The 33) as Kimberly the Pink Ranger, Rj Cyler (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) as Billy the Blue Ranger, Ludi Lin (Monster Hunt) as Zack the Black Ranger, and Becky G. (Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising) as Trini the Yellow Ranger, as they attempt to stop the evil and unpredictable Rita Repulsa (played by Elizabeth Banks, The Hunger Games...

We are about a week and a half away from the long awaited release of Saban's Power Rangers from Lionsgate. At last we will have the opportunity to see if director Dean Israelite's vision of our beloved Power Rangers that we remember from our younger days. We know for a fact that there are going to be a lot of aspects from the original television show that are going to show up in the film. For example, Rita Repulsa, played by Elizabeth Banks, will reprise her role as the Ranger's antagonist, but with an awesome twist, she used to be a Ranger herself! Also we know that Zordon himself, played by Bryan Cranston, was also a Power Ranger in the past. A lot of what remember from the television show is going to make an appearance in the film like Alpha 5, the Zords, Goldar and the mighty Puddies Just...

Officially released in November 2011, Minecraft earned immediate plaudits for its clever, creative and addictive gameplay. More than 100 million people had played the game by the time Hollywood came calling. Warner Bros. acquired movie rights in February 2014 and made plans for a live-action version. By the end of that year, director Shawn Levy (Real Steel) and writers Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney had come and gone. In July 2015, we heard that Rob McElhenny (TV's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) had been hired to make his feature directorial debut on the project.     Now comes word that Steve Carell is in talks to appear in the movie. If things work out, according to Variety, Carell would "join the ensemble," suggesting that he...

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Officially released in November 2011, Minecraft earned immediate plaudits for its clever, creative and addictive gameplay. More than 100 million people had played the game by the time Hollywood came calling. Warner Bros. acquired movie rights in February 2014 and made plans for a live-action version. By the end of that year, director Shawn Levy (Real Steel) and writers Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney had come and gone. In July 2015, we heard that Rob McElhenny (TV's It's Always...

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If the Minecraft movie is even half as popular as the video game, then Mojang will have a true, ahem, blockbuster on its hands. As anticipation builds for Minecraft's silver screen debut, we've decided to dig around for some more information.

From potential release dates and budgets, to storylines, directors and producers, here's everything we know about the Minecraft movie so far.

What's the Minecraft movie all about?

Plot details are thin on the ground, but Mojang COO Vu Bui told The Guardian that it will tell one of the countless possible stories from Minecraft's build-it-yourself game world. "When coming up with a story, we want to make sure it is just a story within Minecraft, as opposed to the story within Minecraft," he said.

Elaborating on his comments, Bui said that the company doesn't want to discourage players by coming up with an official story of the Minecraft universe.

George Miller is riding a wave of adulation right now thanks to the critical and commercial success of Mad Max: Fury Road, but eight years ago the filmmaker came this close to making a superhero movie that would've resulted in an entirely different DC Cinematic Universe.

Back in summer 2007 a script titled Justice League Mortal, by Michele and Kieran Mulroney, impressed Warner Bros bosses and the studio quickly enlisted Miller to make it a reality for a summer 2009 release. However, the movie - which was due to shoot in Australia - was plagued by behind-the-scenes issues that eventually led to the plug being pulled.

Did you know Mad Max director almost made a Justice League movie? How many of these stars do you recognise? pic.twitter.com/gEeDuOAXCD

— Digital Spy Film (@digitalspyfilm) May 27, 2015

An incoming writer's strike meant the script couldn't be finished, Christopher Nolan objected to a different cinematic...

After a month of being attached to direct a live-action adaptation of the popular video game Minecraft, Shawn Levy has dropped out. That’s not all, though. According to Variety, writers Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney have left the Warner Bros. project as well.

So what happened? Apparently, the creative team presented a new idea to the studio last month, but that idea didn’t fit with what the video game developers were looking for, so Levy and the studio thought that the best idea for them to part ways. In an interview with WSJ, Levy said,

"What happened simply is, Warners asked me to develop kind of how might this ever be a story for a movie, because it’s not a narrative game. We came up with an approach that felt good to us and I discussed it with Mojang, the game makers who make Minecraft, and they were like,...

Shawn Levy has exited Warner Bros's Minecraft film over creative differences.

Writers Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney have also departed the video game adaptation.

Variety reports that their ideas for the project "didn't mesh with what the video game developers [Mojang] were looking for".

Levy begins promoting his most recent film Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb this week.

He is said to be choosing between Ali Baba reimagining 40 Thieves, the Melissa McCarthy-starring Tinkerbell or Will Smith vehicle The City That Sailed as his next project.

Warner hopes to secure a new director for Minecraft by the new year.

The Minecraft movie hits a sizeable stumbling block, as its core creative team leaves the project.

Uh-oh. Earlier this year, it was revealed that Warner Bros had snagged the rights to make a film based on the videogaming phenomenon, Minecraft. Then, we learned that Shawn Levy (Night At The Museum trilogy, Real Steel) was set to direct the film, working with screenwriters Kieran Mulroney and Michelle Mulroney.

But it seems all hasn't gone to plan there, as the trio have walked away from the Minecraft project. The three of them had been developing their idea for which way the Minecraft film should go, and they presented this to Warner Bros and Mojang - the firm behind the game - last month.

Yet according to Variety, what they came up with "didn't mesh" with what Mojang was looking for. Hence their departure, it seems.

Warner Bros remains insistent that Minecraft is high up its priority list,...

Shawn Levy won't be building up any more blocks for Minecraft. The director has exited the Warner Bros. project based on the popular video game, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Warner Bros. acquired the film rights to the game in late February, and brought on Levy and writers Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney to develop it, with Levy eyeing it as a directorial project. The game, which centers on players using blocks to create structures and worlds, allows for many interpretations for a film, and sources say Levy's vision wasn't aligning with the vision of others involved with the project.

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Last month it was reported that Real Steel/Night at the Museum director Shawn Levy would helm a big screen adaptation of the popular video game Minecraft. Now it turns out that Levy won’t direct the movie after all. Justin Kroll has learned that “Levy and writers Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney have decided to leave” after the […]

The post Shawn Levy Won’t Direct ‘Minecraft’ Movie appeared first on /Film.

Director Shawn Levy and writers Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney have decided to up and leave the film adaptation of the mega-selling video game "Minecraft".

The three were brought on to develop the film with Levy eyeing to direct. Levy and the Mulroney’s presented their idea to the studio last month but it didn't mesh with what the video game developers were looking for.

Rather than trying again, they've decided to part ways with the studio now set to look in another direction. They reportedly hope to land a new director by the start of the new year.

Levy, who is about to begin several weeks of promotional work for "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb," isn't likely to set his next film until the new year.

Source: Variety...

• Guy Pearce and Dominic West have signed on for Genius, joining Colin Firth, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, and Laura Linney. Michael Grandage is directing the film, marking his feature debut. John Logan adapted A. Scott Berg’s book for the screen. Pearce will play F. Scott Fitzgerald, while West will portray Ernest Hemingway. The film will relay the true, complicated relationship between novelist Thomas Wolfe (Law) and his editor, Max Perkins (Firth). Kidman will play Aline Bernstein, with Linney as Louise Perkins. Genius comes as the third collaboration between Grandage, producing partner James Bierman, and John Logan. Filming kicks off...

Exclusive: Katheryn Winnick has joined the cast of Geostorm, the 2016 environmental disaster pic from Warner Bros. Gerard Butler stars as a man sent into space to prevent climate-controlling satellites from creating a cataclysmic storm capable of destroying the planet. Winnick will play Olivia, ex-wife to Jake (Butler) and mother of Hannah. Jim Sturgess, Andy Garcia, Ed Harris, and Abbie Cornish are also starring in the Dean Devlin-helmed picture which Devlin, Skydance Productions, and Electric Entertainment are producing. Devlin has scripting credit with Michele Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney and is gearing up to begin filming next month in New Orleans. Winnick’s recent films include Love And Other Drugs and A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III. She’ll reprise her role as the warrioress Lagertha on History’s Vikings and is repped by CAA. Geostorm is set to open on March 26, 2016.

Jim Sturgess, Abbie Cornish, Ed Harris and Andy Garcia are in negotiations to join Gerard Butler in Dean Devlin's sci-fi adventure "Geostorm" for Warner Bros. Pictures and Skydance.

Butler plays a charming, yet stubborn satellite designer who, when the world's climate-controlling satellites malfunction has to work together with his estranged brother (Sturgess) to save the world from a giant man-made storm.

As the designer heads into space, the brother discovers a plot to assassinate the president (Andy Garcia). Cornish will play Stugess' Secret Service agent girlfriend. Harris will play the Secretary of State.

Devlin, Kieran Mulroney and Michelle Mulroney penned the script and filming aims to begin in October in New Orleans.

Source: Heat Vision...

Matched is the next in a long line of dystopian Ya romance novels being prepped for the big screen, and it looks like Disney has found a director: GI Joe: Retaliation’s Jon M. Chu.

He replaces David Slade, who was previously attached to direct. Chu has also worked on Step Up 2: The Streets and Step Up 3D and the Justin Bieber: Never Say Never movie. Maybe we should expect a dance scene in Matched.

The writers from Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows, Michelle and Kieran Mulroney, wrote the script based on Ally Condie’s words.

The book is described as thus:

Set in a future society where people are told what to read, what to watch, what to believe and who to love, the story centers on a young woman who rejects an arranged romance and chooses her own path.

While The Twilight Saga: Eclipse director David Slade was originally in talks to helm Disney's book-to-screen adaptation of Ally Condie's dystopian Matched, it looks like G.I. Joe: Retaliation director Jon Chu will slip into the director's chair for it instead. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chu is now in negotiations for the job, which would pair him back up with his Step Up 2: The Streets and Step Up 3D producers Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot. Matched tells the story of Cassia, a young woman who is all too happy to have her futuristic society's powers that be decide her romantic future via its systematic pairing process, until a glitch reveals that there may be more than one pos ... Crossed and Reached, and has been scripted by Michelle and Kieran Mulroney of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows ...

"G.I. Joe: Retaliation" director Jon M. Chu is in negotiations to direct the film adaptation of Ally Condie's young-adult novel "Matched".

The action is set in a future society where people are told what to read, what to watch, what to believe and who to love. The story centers on a young woman who rejects an arranged romance and chooses her own path.

Michelle and Kieran Mulroney ("Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows") wrote the script, while Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot are producing.

David Slade was previously linked to helm the project.

Source: THR...

G.I. Joe: Retalition director Jon M. Chu is in negotiations to direct a film for Disney called Matched. David Slade (30 Days of Night) was previously attached to direct the project but he ended up dropping out of it. The movie is based on a young adult sci-fi romance book series by Ally Condie. The story is set in "a future society where people are told what to read, what to watch, what to believe and who to love, the story centers on a young woman who rejects an arranged romance and chooses her own path."

The project was set up by producers Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot. Both of whom worked with Chu on the films, Step Up 2: The Streets and Step Up 3D. The script for the film was written by Michelle and Kieran Mulroney who also wrote the script for the wonderful film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,...

David Slade has signed on to direct Disney's Matched. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse helmer will direct the adaptation of Ally Condie's young adult sci-fi novel, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Michelle and Kieran Mulroney (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows) have written a script based on the novel, which is set in a future where people's every move is determined by officials of the Society. Cassia is happy to trust their (more)...

David Slade ("The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," "30 Days of Night") is Disney's top choice to direct the futuristic love story "Matched" says Heat Vision.

Based on Ally Condie's 20110 young adult novel and set in a totalitarian future society, the story centers on a young woman who rejects an arranged romance and chooses her own path.

Michelle and Kieran Mulroney ("Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows") adapted the script while Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot are producing. The third book in Condie's series hits stores in November.