A Third Clip Arrives from Steven Spielberg and JJ Abrams’ Super 8

We just finished showing you two new clips from producer Steven Spielberg and director JJ Abrams’ forthcoming film, Super 8…and now a third one has debuted online, courtesy of AOL.
You can check it out using the embedded player below.
The clip further hints at everything we were talking about here, and simply makes us want to see this film more and more.
Story Synopsis:
In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth—something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.
Super 8 stars Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, Gabriel Basso, Noah Emmerich, Ron Eldard, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee and Zach Mills.
The film arrives in theaters on June 10.

Albert Hughes Follows Keanu Reeves Out of Live Action Akira Film

The live-action adaptation of Akira isn’t getting much love these days. Barely one week after the departure of Keanu Reeves — purportedly due to fan outcry surrounding the actor’s casting as Kaneda — today comes word that the Warner Bros’ project has also lost director Albert Hughes (The Book of Eli). Hughes may not have been a popular choice in some quarters, but his departure casts some doubt on the future of the troubled production.
According to Deadline, Hughes is definitely gone, and while the reasons aren’t specified, many believe that a growing schism between the fundamental tenants of the source material and the studio’s own conflicted aspirations for the film may have been the root cause. Hughes may well have wanted a more mature film with the grittier, darker tone that better reflected the brutal world of the anime, even as the studio attempted to leverage the project as a PG-13 movie to maximize box office revenue.
Moreover, Reeves’ departure from the project perfectly illustrated the difficulties that Warner Bros is having; an older, established actor attempting to personify a film about teenage rebellion. The studio wants to birth a new action-adventure franchise, even as the source material is much more complicated than that.
Deadline is now suggesting that the studio may return to the original vision for the project, which would have seen up-and-coming 20-something actors starring in the adaptation.
Regardless of which way Warner Bros now chooses to go, hopefully the more “mature” tone that Hughes’ likely wanted won’t leave the project with him.

Is Headshot Losing One of its Leads to Studio Meddling?

AICN is reporting that the Walter Hill-directed Stallone actioner, Headshot, is running into a casting conflict. The film’s co-star Thomas Jane (The Mist, The Punisher) is the favored choice for both director Hill and star Sylvester Stallone. However, Warner Brother’s Dark Castle is flexing its muscle and insisting on casting someone more “ethnic” in the role as it fits within the studio’s tried-and-true formula for a successful buddy picture.
While it’s great to see Hill (48 Hrs, The Warriors) back in the saddle again, news of studio meddling is cause for concern. Sounds like the movie execs are trying to fit art into a repeatable equation, a strategy that rarely works well. And with a maverick and individual director at the helm, is a clashing of wills close behind?
In Headshot, Stallone plays a New Orleans hitman who reluctantly teams up with an NYPD cop (Jane) to solve the murders of their old partners and take down all who stand in their way.

New Images from Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy with Oldman, Hardy and Firth

Based upon master spy novelist John le Carré novel of the same name, Tinker, Tailor, Solider Spy may be one of those films that doesn’t fall on the radar of most moviegoers this year, but probably should. The film stars Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy and Colin Firth…with a supporting cast that includes Mark Strong, Ciarán Hinds, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Dencik, Stephen Graham, Toby Jones, and John Hurt.
Several new images from the film have been released, thanks to The Playlist, which you can check out to your left and below.
Quite apart from the amazing cast (which should automatically tell you something), le Carré’s story is itself one of the greatest espionage tales of the past century. In a nutshell, the thriller is set during the Cold War and follows a retired spy named George Smiley (Oldman) brought in to find a suspected mole within the British intelligence agency MI6.
Unlike James Bond — which is artificially pumped up on glamor and action (not that we don’t love it anyway!) — le Carré’s story focuses on a more real world approach to spy-craft, with plots that are woven intricately.
Producer Doug Urbanski reported earlier that the Universal Pictures film had been invited to open the Venice Film Festival and that it was a “very serious Oscar contender.”
The only other time “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” appeared on screen was as a PBS miniseries back in 1979, starring Alec Guinness as Smiley.
The Tomas Alfredson-directed film is scheduled for release in the UK in September and in North America in October or November.

Dimension/Miramax Announce Second Amityville Horror Sequel

You’re probably already aware that Hannibal Classics is developing a new ‘Amityville Horror’ film, based on John G Jones’ “Amityville: The Evil Escapes” book. The intention is to start filming this fall for October 2012 release.
Meanwhile, Dimension Films and Miramax have announced that they will begin production on The Amityville Horror: The Lost Tapes, part of Miramax’s strategy to release sequels to some of their most popular properties.
The new movie will take place after the events depicted in the original Amityville Horror film; the plan being to shoot the film in the popular found footage-style (a la Paranormal Activity).
Casey La Scala and Daniel Farrands will direct from their own script. Jason Blum (Insidious, Paranormal Activity) is producing.
Shooting begins this summer for a January 27, 2012 release.
Story Summary: An ambitious female television news intern, on the verge of breaking the most famous haunted house case in the world, leads a team of journalists, clergymen and paranormal researchers into an investigation of the bizarre events that will come to be known as The Amityville Horror … only to unwittingly open a door to the unreal that she may never be able to close.
“We are thrilled to return to the mythology of ‘The Amityville Horror’ with a new and terrifying vision that will satisfy our existing fans and also introduce an entirely new audience to this popular haunting phenomenon,” said producer Bob Weinstein.

Chris Hemsworth Confirmed for Snow White as Universal Bumps Release to Summer 2012

Chris Hemsworth has inked a deal to star opposite ‘Twilight Saga’ starlet Kristen Stewart as the Huntsman in Snow White And The Huntsman, Universal’s take on the fairy tale, reports Deadline.
After a long process and several possible candidates for the male lead, the actor won the role, with speculation being that the star-making success of Thor factored into the studio’s decision. It seems like a safe bet. Hemsworth filled the tunic of the Asgard god with relish…and should do just fine in the classic Brothers Grimm adaptation.
Meanwhile, perhaps hoping to avoid confusion with Relativity Media’s “Untitled Snow White Project”, which is slated to be released in June 29, 2012, Universal Pictures has announced today that it has moved up the theatrical release of Snow White and the Huntsman from December 21, 2012 to June 1, 2012.
Below is the official release:
Judd Apatow’s This is Forty was supposed to come out June 1, 2012 but the studio has now moved it back to “Huntsman’s” old date of December 21. Also scheduled to come out on June 1 is Adam Shankman’s Rock of Ages.
Universal Pictures announced today that its epic action-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman will make a bold move into the early summer movie season with its new release date of June 1, 2012. The much anticipated film stars Twilight’s Kristen Stewart, Academy Award® winner Charlize Theron, Thor’s Chris Hemsworth and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ Sam Claflin.
Kristen Stewart will star as Snow White.This breathtaking new vision of the legendary tale from Joe Roth, the producer of Alice in Wonderland, and acclaimed commercial director and state-of-the-art visualist Rupert Sanders (Halo 3 campaign) had originally been set for release in late December of next year. With adjustments to the production timeline, however, the film will now be ready for a summer 2012 release date.
In Snow White and the Huntsman, Stewart plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen (Theron) who is out to destroy her. But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the one girl threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with a huntsman (Hemsworth) who was dispatched to kill her. Claflin plays the prince long enchanted by Snow White’s beauty and power.
“As Rupert and Joe were finalizing casting and preproduction of Snow White and the Huntsman, we realized that the ambitious and fully-formed world they had promised was blowing away all expectations,” said Universal Chairman Adam Fogelson and Co-Chairman Donna Langley in a joint statement. “We’re thrilled that Universal will be bringing this singular version of a timeless story almost seven months earlier than anticipated.”

More Cowboys & Aliens Action Revealed in Third TV Spot

A third TV spot for Cowboys & Aliens has debuted online. You can watch it using the player below.
The Jon Favreau-directed film stars Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Adam Beach, Paul Dano, Noah Ringer, Keith Carradine, Clancy Brown, Ana de la Reguera and Abigail Spencer.
Plot Summary: 1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger (Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don’t welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). It’s a town that lives in fear.
But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known.
Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he’s been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. With the help of the elusive traveler Ella (Olivia Wilde), he pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents—townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws and Apache warriors—all in danger of annihilation. United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival.

New Images from Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy with Oldman, Hardy and Firth

Based upon master spy novelist John le Carré novel of the same name, Tinker, Tailor, Solider Spy may be one of those films that doesn’t fall on the radar of most moviegoers this year, but probably should. The film stars Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy and Colin Firth…with a supporting cast that includes Mark Strong, Ciarán Hinds, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Dencik, Stephen Graham, Toby Jones, and John Hurt.
Several new images from the film have been released, thanks to The Playlist, which you can check out to your left and below.
Quite apart from the amazing cast (which should automatically tell you something), le Carré’s story is itself one of the greatest espionage tales of the past century. In a nutshell, the thriller is set during the Cold War and follows a retired spy named George Smiley (Oldman) brought in to find a suspected mole within the British intelligence agency MI6.
Unlike James Bond — which is artificially pumped up on glamor and action (not that we don’t love it anyway!) — le Carré’s story focuses on a more real world approach to spy-craft, with plots that are woven intricately.
Producer Doug Urbanski reported earlier that the Universal Pictures film had been invited to open the Venice Film Festival and that it was a “very serious Oscar contender.”
The only other time “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” appeared on screen was as a PBS miniseries back in 1979, starring Alec Guinness as Smiley.
The Tomas Alfredson-directed film is scheduled for release in the UK in September and in North America in October or November.

Go Behind the Scenes of Transformers: Dark of the Moon

A behind-the-scenes clip about the high-flying stunts for Transformers: Dark of the Moonhas been posted online courtesy ofMoviefone. You can check it out below.
Plot summary: When a mysterious event from Earth’s past erupts into the present day it threatens to bring a war to Earth so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save us.
The film stars Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Ken Jeong, Patrick Dempsey, Alan Tudyk, John Turturro and Leonard Nimoy.
Directed by Michael Bay, the third installment opens in conventional, 3D and IMAX theatres on June 29.

More New Images of Marvel’s The Avengers

Two new images have turned up online from Joss Whedon’s much antipatedAvengers movie.
One of those images shows the two Chris’s, Hemsworth and Evans, looking skyward amid what appears to be rubble. Each is dressed in more-or-less the full regalia of their superhero characters, Thor and Captain America.
The second image shows the rather delicious Scarlett Johansson, who plays Black Widow, chatting with writer and director Whedon on set wearing her costume.
We’ve reproduced both images below and you can see larger versions if you pop over to Coming Soon.
Marvel’s The Avengers is expected to open in May next year with a cast that also includes Robert Downey Jr., Samuel Jackson, Mark Ruffalo and Stellan Skarsgård.
Our thanks to Coming Soon for putting us on to this story.

TV Sci-Fi Stars Help to Raise Over $90,000 at Hunter Syndrome Gala

A star-studded fundraising gala last weekend at Vancouver’s spiffy Sutton Place Hotel has raised over $90,000 for research in Hunter Syndrome, a degenerative disease in children.
The formal event, called the Once Upon a Cure Gala, was attended by a host of familiar faces from TV sci-fi and fantasy, including Sanctuary‘s Amanda Tapping, Ryan Robbins, Robin Dunne, Christopher Heyerdahl, Gillian Horvath and Damian Kindler, Supernatural‘s Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, and Robert Carlyle and Julia Benson from Stargate Universe.
Carlyle is currently appearing in the ABC series Once Upon a Time. Edward Kitsis and Steve Pearlman, who have been executive producers on that show, were also big supporters of the event.

The Once Upon a Cure Gala raised money for Hunter Syndrome Research through ticket sales, donations and live and silent auctions. The latter included items ranging from video games to hockeymemorabilia. The preliminary tally of $90,000 was announced on the event’s Twitter feed@onceuponacure.
Also attending the event were Deb and Ryan Purcell, whose seven-year old son Trey was diagnosed with Hunter several years ago. Trey recently became the first Canadian child to receive a new drug treatment for the condition. Ryan Purcell is a camera operator who has worked on many productions in Vancouver, including Sanctuary, Stargate, Fringe and Smallville.
Sanctuary star Ryan Robbins with actress Karyn Baltzer at the Once Upon a Cure Gala in Vancouver.
You can find more information on Hunter Syndrome at the websites of the Canadian MPS Society andOnce Upon a Cure. Donations can also be made through these sites.

Matthew Modine’s Part in The Dark Knight Rises Revealed

Last week we reported that Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket) had joined the cast of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, as a character named Nixon.
Today, a few details have been revealed about the character, thanks toshowbiz411.com. Apparently, “Nixon” is a “a politician and a key villain.”
It’s unlikely that the character is any direct relation to the former US President, and more likely that Nolan is simply having a little fun with an homage of sorts.
Modine joins an expanding list of villains in the film, including Bane (Tom Hardy) and Catwoman (Anne Hathaway).
The Dark Knight Rises is filming internationally, including locations in Pittsburgh, New York, Los Angeles, England and Scotland. Recently the production has been shooting scenes at the ancient Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, India.