Big Headed For TV

Rush Hour will also become a show

Well-known movie titles spawning TV series have clearly become a big thing across the pond. On the heels of Fargo’s success comes news that not one but two films will be reborn on the small screen. First up: word of a show based on the 1988 Tom Hanks comedy Big .

The original finds Hanks as Josh, a lad who just wishes he could grow up faster. He makes a wish at a Zoltar sideshow machine and he’s soon dealing with being a boy in a grown man’s body. Cue giant piano floors and funny feelings about ladies.

Quite how the film will be converted for TV remains to be seen, though according to Deadline, “the series will be loosely based on the movie and will explore what it means to be an adult, what it means to be a kid, and how in today’s world those two things are more confused than ever.” And it’s in the hands of people who know how to create entertaining blends of comedy and emotion, since the show will come from Kevin Biegel and Mike Royce, who last brought the late, lamented sitcom Enlisted to screens across the pond.

In related TV news – partly related because it’ll be co-created by Bill Lawrence, Biegel’s old Scrubs/Cougar Town boss – Warner Bros. TV is looking to turn Brett Ratner’s Rush Hour films into a series.

Lawrence will work with Blake McCormick (another Cougar Town veteran) to write a series that takes the basic concept from the films – a by-the-book Hong Kong police officer is assigned to follow a case in Los Angeles, where he reluctantly joins forces with a cocky, talkative black LAPD officer. Can the concept work on a weekly basis? We may find out next year…

from Empire News

Tetris Movie In The Works

We're not kidding

The list of seemingly silly titles we can crack wise about when a new brand-mining film is announced grows shorter with every day. Add to the roster Tetris, which is now kicking off a journey to the big screen via Threshold Entertainment.

Yes, the game first unleashed upon the world in 1984 by Soviet game-designer Alexey Pajitnov and perhaps made most famous by Nintendo’s Game Boy, is looking to become the next potential block-buster. (Sorry).

It sounds a little ridiculous given the seemingly limited narrative opportunities – and the fact it has been spoofed more than once. Yet CEO Larry Kasanoff tells the Wall Street Journal that his company has big plans for the idea, including a story in place that has yet to be revealed. “This isn’t a movie with a bunch of lines running around the page,” he says. “We’re not giving feet to the geometric shapes.”

And his ambitions are bigger than one film. “Brands are the new stars of Hollywood,” he says. “We have a story behind Tetris which makes it a much more imaginative thing. We certainly have the canvas for location-based entertainment based on the epicness.” Tetris: The Theme Park, anyone? There are no studios, writers or directors attached yet, so we’ll see if this becomes the next Lego Movie or labours in limbo alongside Asteroids. All involved will no doubt be hoping that Adam Sandler's latest, Pixels, gets the nostalgia juices flowing ready for this one.

Oh, and EARWORM.

from Empire News

Alec Baldwin And Kevin Spacey Set For Boss Baby

From DreamWorks Animation

DreamWorks Animation has been suffering a little of late, with more misses than hits. It’ll no doubt be hoping for better things from one of its more reliable talents, Madagascar co-director Tom McGrath with Boss Baby, which now boasts the vocal chops of Alec Baldwin and Kevin Spacey.

With Austin Powers co-writer Michael McCullers loosely adapting Maria Frazzee’s picture book, Boss Baby finds a seven-year-old boy becoming jealous of the attention lavished upon his smart-talking, briefcase-sporting baby brother (Baldwin).

Looking to win back his parents’ affection, the older discovers a secret plot by the CEO of Puppy Co. (Spacey) that threatens to destroy the balance of love in the world. It turns out that the brash baby executive that has finagled his way into the family like a cuckoo is the focus of the plan – and the brothers will have to work together to stop the scheme and prove love is an infinite force.

McGrath is directing alone this time, aiming at a March 18, 2016 release in the States.

from Empire News

Billy Elliot Beats The Equalizer

Live screening of stage musical scores at the UK box office

Denzel Washington might be a former Special Forces badass who takes on all comers in The Equalizer, but there’s one challenge he couldn’t handle – a ballet dancing boy. Yes, Billy Elliot The Musical – Live! bested Event Cinema records to score £1.9 million.

The live stream from Victoria Palace Theatre, which included a specially choreographed finale feature 25 former leads from the show on September 28 took first place ahead of previous theatre-based champion, the NT Live performance of War Horse, which galloped home with £1.6 million. It even beat out the hugely successful showing of Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary episode The Day Of The Doctor, which took in £1.82 million last year.

The Equalizer, meanwhile, took in £1.89 million from UK audiences. The success of Billy Elliot’s initial showing means that there will be encores in 250 cinemas across the UK running from October 2-5 before it hits Blu-ray and DVD on November 24.

from Empire News

Exclusive Gone Girl clip sees Ben Affleck meeting Neil Patrick Harris

Gone Girl opens in cinemas this week and we've landed an exclusive clip from the film.

Starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl is based on Gillian Flynn's bestseller, in which Amy (Pike) disappears on the day of her wedding anniversary, and husband Nick (Affleck) is suspect numero uno.

In the clip below, Nick meets strange man from Amy's past...

Gone Girl opens in the UK on 2 October.

via Total Film

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via Total Film

New Interstellar TV spot shows off brand new footage: watch now

A brand new TV spot has arrived online for Interstellar, boasting a whole host of brand new footage from Christopher Nolan’s latest film.



The new promo was made for Australian TV and clocks in at just under a minute, with much of that runtime showing off new content from the space-centric saga.



Cue more grit and determination from Matthew McConaughey’s astronaut, further heartbreak as he leaves his children, and a massive bump of adrenaline courtesy of Hans Zimmer’s score.



Take a look at the new spot, below…







To be honest, Warner could release a minute-long title card for this one and we’d still be excited, but this latest footage genuinely does look breathtaking, as McConaughey and chums head for distant planets in order to save the Earth.



Directed by Nolan and co-starring Anne Hathaway, Casey Affleck and Jessica Chastain, Interstellar will open in the UK on 7 November 2014.

via Total Film

Crouching Tiger sequel will be simultaneously released in IMAX and on Netflix

The Weinstein Company has struck a deal to simultaneously release martial arts sequel, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend, on both Netflix and IMAX theatres.


The film is being billed as Netflix’s “first original movie” and will tell a story of “lost love, young love, a legendary sword and one last opportunity at redemption.”



Original star Michelle Yeoh will be returning for round two, alongside Donnie Yen and Harry Shum Jr, while renowned martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo-Ping will be behind the camera.



“The moviegoing experience is evolving quickly and profoundly, and Netflix is unquestionably at the forefront of that movement,” said Harvey Weinstein.



“We are tremendously excited to be continuing our great relationship with Netflix and bringing to fans all over the world the latest chapter in this amazing and intriguing story.”



Principle photography is currently underway in New Zealand, with the film set to premiere on Netflix and in selected global IMAX theatres on 28 August 2015.

via Total Film