Green Lantern Will Be Heavy on Visual Effects

From ReelzChannel.com

The superhero Green Lantern is not as well-known as some of DC Comics’ other characters like Superman and Batman, but Warner Bros. is banking on director Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) and lead actor Ryan Reynolds changing that when the live-action Green Lantern movie hits theaters.

So far, Reynolds is the only actor cast in the movie, and principal photography isn’t expected to begin until March. However, that doesn’t mean that work on the movie hasn’t already begun. In a recent interview with Empire, Campbell said that there will be roughly 1,300 visual effects shots and that “the process” of coordinating all of those shots is both “daunting” and “mind-blowing.” He said that most of the effects revolve around the source of Green Lantern’s super powers, stemming from his power ring.

Campbell added “It’s energized by a battery on the planet of Oa, which taps into the willpower of everyone in the universe. From that ring you can form constructs. So if you got into a fight, you could form a giant fist. Or a fighter plane.”

Clay Pinney is the special effects supervisor. Mr. Pinney is known for his work in such films as Independence Day, The Matrix Reloaded,  Star Trek, Angels & Demons as well as Speed Racer.

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Nimoy Reprises Mystery Mogul Role on Fringe

Leonard Nimoy

Hugh Hart – Wired.com

When Leonard Nimoy returns to sci-fi series Fringe Thursday in the role of genius mogul William Bell, fans can expect to get a baby-step closer to understanding the man behind a global conspiracy that has driven the series’ back story from the beginning.

During a conference call, Nimoy promised an intense scene with FBI Agent Olivia Dunham (played by Anna Torv) in the upcoming show, which airs Thursday at 9 p.m. EST on Fox.

“We will learn a lot more about their relationship and we will be told what William Bell’s intentions are, although we’re not sure that everything he says is accurate,” said the Star Trek veteran.

Nimoy (pictured) made his debut as Bell in the Season 1 Fringe finale, which hinted at an alternate universe riddled with “soft spots” enabling Agent Dunham and her associate Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) to straddle the time/space continuum.

Nimoy’s take? “You’d have to ask Stephen Hawking,” he said. “I’m not a scientist and can’t tell you if there’s a soft spot through which you can slip into an alternate world, but I think Fringe deals with that question in an intriguing way.”

On the Star Trek front, Nimoy said he felt his contributions to the original series were “validated” by appearing in last summer’s reboot, powered not coincidentally by Fringe co-creators J.J. Abrams, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.

However, the 78-year old actor does not expect to reprise Spock Prime in future installments. “I frankly doubt that I will be called upon again,” he said. “I was useful in this last film to bridge between the original actors and the new cast but I don’t see why they would need me in the next film.”

Anna Torv

As for his Dr. Bell character, Nimoy shoots another episode in two weeks but cautioned that future Fringe appearances have yet to be firmed up. Meanwhile, the actor will be preparing an exhibition of photographs to be staged next year at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.

“I think of myself as an ocean liner going full speed for a long distance,” Nimoy said. “When the captain pulls the throttle all the way back to stop, the ship doesn’t stop immediately, does it? It has its own momentum and keeps on going.”

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Swamp Thing actor dies as Warner Bros plans new 3D remake

Dick Durock as Swamp Thing

By David Bentley – CoventryTelegraph.net

THE ACTOR who played the DC Comics character Swamp Thing in two films and a television series has died at the age of 72.

Dick Durock, a 6ft 5ins former Marine, passed away at his home in Oak Park, California, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, according to his official website.

Dick Durock

Durock wore a latex bodysuit and make-up to play the monster in 1982′s Swamp Thing directed by Wes Craven; its 1989 sequel The Return of Swamp Thing; and a subsequent Swamp Thing series that ran for 71 episodes from 1990 to 1993.

The actor appeared in dozens of other movies and TV series including the shows Star Trek, Knight Rider, The A-Team, Battlestar Galactica and The Incredible Hulk.

Fans had been hoping Durock would have a cameo role in the new 3D remake of Swamp Thing or at least be able to see his classic creation come to life on the big screen again.

The story tells of a scientist who is caught in a lab explosion and, doused with chemicals, falls into a swamp. He is resurrected as a humanoid mass of vegetation who – in a strong ecological theme – fights to protect the environment from various threats.

Warner Bros is considering a remake of Swamp Thing. Producer Joel Silver last month told Collider: “I’m developing a picture now that I’d like to do…I’ll hopefully do Swamp Thing, which is a movie we’ve had for a long time. We think that would be great to do in 3D.”

More recently, it was reported that producer Akiva Goldsman was linked to the project and wanted a reboot based upon the highly regarded Swamp Thing comic book stories by Watchmen writer Alan Moore.

Last year, director Guillermo del Toro expressed enthusiasm for taking on the project, telling The LA Times: “Oh, I would love to make a Swamp Thing movie. Really, Swamp Thing is one of the last Holy Grail projects that is still out there. Those stories were fantastic, with the hallucinogenic feel of that world. I don’t think anyone is tackling that one anytime soon. It is one of those Holy Grails that dates back to that same boom as Watchmen and The Killing Joke. For me it would be an honour to do it.”

But his schedule is piled high and he added: “Right now, I don’t think it’s happening. If I had enough time to tackle it. But I will be 50 when I get out of The Hobbit.”

Star Trek sequel aims to connect to real-world issues

Star Trek Crew, Old and New

By David Bentley – CoventryTelegraph.net

Where does the newly-relaunched Star Trek go next after taking the franchise from the black hole of oblivion into a shiny new universe?

That’s the question everyone’s been asking, including director J.J. Abrams and screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.

The pressure’s on the team to deliver an equally stellar sequel and Abrams (pictured above) has explained what they have in mind. Think deep space with deep meaning…

He told the Los Angeles Times: “The ambition for a sequel to Star Trek is to make a movie that’s worthy of the audience and not just another movie, you know, just a second movie that feels tacked on.

“The first movie was so concerned with just setting up the characters – their meeting each and galvanising that family -that in many ways a sequel will have a very different mission. it needs to do what [the late Trek creator Gene] Roddenberry did so well, which is allegory. It needs to tell a story that has connection to what is familiar and what is relevant.

“It also needs to tell it in a spectacular way that hides the machinery and in a primarily entertaining and hopefully moving story. There needs to be relevance, yes, and that doesn’t mean it should be pretentious. If there are simple truths – truths connected to what we live – that elevates any story – that’s true with any story.”

Orci added: “We’ve literally had two meetings now. We haven’t decided anything but we’re starting to circle around some ideas.

“We got a lot of fan response from the first one and a considerable amount of critical response and one of the things we heard was, ‘Make sure the next one deals with modern-day issues.’ We’re trying to keep it as up-to-date and as reflective of what’s going on today as possible. So that’s one thing, to make it reflect the things that we are all dealing with today.”

Zoe Saldana Talks ‘Star Trek’ Sequel and ‘Avatar’

Zoe Saldana

by Elisabeth Rappe – Cinematical.com

The lovely Zoe Saldana is quickly becoming a name to contend with after managing to land plum parts in not one, but two of the biggest sci-fi films of the decade: Star Trek and Avatar. One is a bonafide hit, the other remains shrouded in a lot of mystery, but it’s a mark of Saldana’s star power that she’s making a name outside of their huge hype. Plus, she’s becoming an action heroine in her own right, and just might be our generation’s Sigourney Weaver or Linda Hamilton.

We had the chance to catch up with Saldana this week, and she was game to talk about both projects. Of course with the Star Trek sequel still in a misty writing stage, she didn’t have any big secrets to spill, but she shared the opinion of a lot of female Trek fans in hoping Uhura gets to do a little butt-kicking later on. “In Star Trek, I had so much fun, but the boys got all the action! J.J. [Abrams] promised me that I’m going to — [that] in the sequel, she will have at least one little fight. I mean, just [let me] kick a guy in the groin or something!” Laughing, she revealed that there was an enormous ongoing e-mail list among the cast, Abrams, and the Trek producers where they regularly chat and joke back and forth. From the sound of it, that’s also where the groin-kicking requests are made.

 Saldana was full of enthusiasm and emotion for her Avatar experience and was as full of praise for James Cameron as her costar Sam Worthington. “Avatar definitely had a purpose and will always have a very special place in my heart because it was the one film that I got to shoot for two years. Usually, we only shoot for three months and you have this amazing time with the cast, and the director, and the crew. And then the film lives forever for you guys, but our experiences of shooting that will only live for three months, and sometimes we feel cheated. Working with an amazing director like James Cameron, and working with Sam Worthington who I just — he’s one of the most selfless actors I’ve ever met. We’re literally like brother and sister now. But not incestual! [laughs] Don’t [confuse] that with Avatar, because they are in love! Sh*t! But it was amazing.”

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Saldana didn’t comment on the Internet hype or criticism of the Avatar trailer, or say anything about the finished product, but she makes sure Cameron hears the good stuff fans are throwing his way. “I’ve only seen the first one, I’ve seen the first 16 or 25 minutes that we also showed in Amsterdam over the summer. But I’ve seen the movie! And I always e-mail Jim, like everytime I hear someone say ‘Oh, I can’t wait for Mr. Cameron’s movie!’ I go “Oh, People love ya!’”

Patrick Stewart talks X-Men future and Star Trek

Patrick Stewart

Having appeared in both Star Trek and the X-Men films Patrick Stewart has become a regular at conventions over the years, and he recently attended DragonCon 09 and answered questions about both franchises.

When the discussion turned to “X-Men,” Stewart, who had a cameo as a younger Professor Charles Xavier in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” said that from what he had heard, audiences have probably not seen the last of the professor. He mentioned he recently co-starred in a production of “Waiting for Godot” with Ian McKellen and the two agreed that they would like continue exploring the relationship between Xavier and McKellen’s “X-Men” character Magneto.

Producer Lauren Shulder Donner said a few months ago that they couldn’t make X-Men: First Class without Patrick Stewart, so that is probably what he has heard. First Class is currently being written by Josh Schwartz and takes place during the first year at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Patrick Stewart will most likely be made to appear younger, like we saw in X3 and Wolverine.

As for that other franchise, Stewart thought that this summer’s reboot of “Star Trek” was “terrific,” but didn’t see a future for Jean-Luc Picard in the franchise, leaving open only the possibility that he would agree to do a cameo in a sequel. Stewart mentioned a proposed final “Next Generation” film, but after the disappointing box office for “Star Trek: Nemesis,” it never materialized.

“I feel that I have left behind a legacy as Picard,” he said. “In my head and heart, I’ve moved on.”

Source(s) CNN, Filmonic.com

Leonard Nimoy will not return for another Star Trek film

Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner

From WENN.com

Leonard Nimoy poked fun at Star Trek pal William Shatner during a rare and much-anticipated meeting of the two sci-fi icons at an Atlanta, Georgia convention on Friday.

Organisers of the Dragon-Con event couldn’t believe it when the original Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock agreed to converse with each other in what became a comedy event of epic proportions.

Nimoy needled hid old friend about the fact he was not part of the new Star Trek franchise, which opened with a prequel to the original TV series this summer, asking him, “(Have you) seen any good movies lately?”

Shatner, who has admitted he’s upset about not getting cast in the J.J. Abrams blockbuster, asked, “Why wasn’t I in the movie?”

Nimoy suggested that might have something to do with the fact his Kirk was killed off in the movie Star Trek Generations.

Shatner told his friend he has yet to see the film, although director Abrams had offered to screen it for him.

The actor told Nimoy he refused to see the film at the cinema for fear of fans recognising him and asking, “Why weren’t you in the movie?”

Meanwhile, Nimoy, who had a cameo role in the new film, told Shatner and the 2,200 fans present that he would not return for another Star Trek film.

Downey Jr. and Favreau team again for Cowboys and Aliens

By Dave Campbell

It looks as if the chemistry of the Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau partnership isn’t limited to the Iron Man franchise. Today it is being reported in the trades that the pair will re-team immediately after Iron Man 2, for Cowboys and Aliens.

Creators Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley published the indie comic Cowboys & Aliens in 2006 with Platinum Studios. The story surrounds the wild west Arizona landscape in the mid-1800s. An extraterrestrial species crash lands with the intent of enslaving humans, but the Cowboys and native Apache who’ve previously been battling each other have other plans for the invading aliens.

Downey Jr. has been attached to the production since announcements of the project surfaced in the summer of 2008, but no director has been attached until the news broke that Favreau was in final negotiations to direct. Iron Man writing team Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus have been involved as one of the seven writing teams attached to the screenplay since Universal and Dreamworks gained the rights in 1997, before the comic was published.

The current draft is being penned by box office darlings Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who are the team responsible for the Star Trek (2009) and Transformers franchises. This is all being backed by a producer dream team of Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Alex Kurtzman, Richard Marincic, Roberto Orci, Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, Damon Lindelof, Ervin Rustemagic, and Steven Spielberg.

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Patrick Stewart has ghostly sighting while on stage

Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart

To millions of his fans worldwide Patrick Stewart is best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard through seven seasons and four feature films of Star Trek or for his role as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men trilogy of films. Now the 69-year-old Shakespearian actor may have another distinction to talk about: seeing a ghost. And it wasn’t in a house where Stewart had his sighting, it was in one of England’s oldest and reportedly most haunted establishments: on the stage of Royal Haymarket Theater while working with his X-Men co-star Sir Ian McKellen.

Stewart and McKellen are playing the parts of Vladimir and Estragon in a new production of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. During the first part of a recent showing of the play, Stewart saw something that caused him to momentarily throw his concentration. During the intermission McKellen asked him what had happened that caused his co-star to falter during the performance. It was then that Stewart said that during the first act of the play he saw a figure standing in the wings of the stage wearing what appeared to be a beige coat and twill trousers. The man simply should not have been there.

“Patrick told us all about it. He was stunned. I would not say frightened, but I would say impressed,” said Nigel Everett, one of the directors working at the Haymarket Theater.

Reports of the ghostly figure haunting the Haymarket have gone on for decades and been reported by stage hands, actors and audience members. Based on the descriptions given by other eyewitness it’s believed that the ghost is that of John Baldwin Buckstone, an actor as well as a manager who worked at the Haymarket during the mid-19th century. The ghost has been reported to walk down the hallways between actors’ dressing rooms as well as backstage, sometime wearing period costumes and other times wearing the street clothes fashionable during the 1860s.

Stewart’s sighting was related by McKellen and Everett during a documentary about the theater and its three centuries of operation.

Sources: The Telegraph, CoronaComingAttractions.com

2009 ALMA Awards Honorees in Movies

Sofia Vergara

from AceShowBiz.com

Javier Bardem and Joaquin Phoenix are vying for Best Actor of the Year title, while Cameron Diaz, Eva Mendes and Penelope Cruz will battle it out for the actress kudo.

The honorees for ALMA Awards 2009′s special achievement in motion picture category have been unraveled by the National Council of

Eva Mendes

La Raza. On Tuesday, August 25 at a news conference at Beso Restaurant, NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguia and Executive Producer Eva Longoria revealed that there will be 11 actors and 8 actresses competing for Best Actor and Best Actress.

Among those vying for Best Actor of the Year title are “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” leading man Javier Bardem, “Two Lovers” star Joaquin Phoenix and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” actor Ramon Rodriguez. Meanwhile, the actresses receiving nominations include Cameron Diaz, Eva Mendes, Michelle Rodriguez, Penelope Cruz and Rosario Dawson.

Beside the performers in motion pictures, a number of film crew also get a shot at winning Behind the Scenes honor. “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” director Kenny Ortega, “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” helmer Guillermo del Toro, “Twilight” make-up artist Jeanne Van Phue and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” cinematographer Claudio Miranda are among them.

The larger number of nominees for each category is part of the significant format change for this year’s ALMA Awards. “If you like the ALMA Awards, you will love this year’s show because we’re bringing you more of what you love most, unique musical pairings and the best Latino entertainment,” Murguia shared on the changes.

The 2009 ALMA Awards will be taped on September 17 at the Royce Hall Auditorium at UCLA and aired on ABC Television Network the next day, September 18 from 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. ET/PT. Eva Longoria will co-host with George Lopez. To give special honors to Salma Hayek and Oscar De La Hoya, and special tribute to the late Ricardo Montalban, ALMA also honors the best in television, music and sports television.

Zoe Saldana

2009 ALMA Awards’ Special Achievement Honorees for Year in Film:
Best Actor of the Year:

Alfred Molina, “The Pink Panther 2″

Cheech Marin, “Race to Witch Mountain”

Freddy Rodriguez, “Nothing Like the Holidays”

Oscar Nunez, “The Proposal”

Clifton Collins Jr., “Star Trek” and “Crank: High Voltage”

Efren Ramirez, “Crank: High Voltage”

Javier Bardem, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

Joaquin Phoenix, “Two Lovers”

John Leguizamo, “Nothing Like the Holidays”

Luis Guzman, “The Taking of Pelham 123″

Ramon Rodriguez, “Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen”

 

Best Actress of the Year:

Elisabeth Pena, “Nothing Like the Holidays”

Sofia Vergara, “Madea Goes to Jail”

Cameron Diaz, “My Sister’s Keeper”

Eva Mendes, “The Women” and “The Spirit”

Michelle Rodriguez, “Fast and Furious”

Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

Rosario Dawson, “Seven Pounds”

Zoe Saldana, “Star Trek”