Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Religious Music & Entertainment
Newsbites: The sequels and remakes edition!

Newsbites: The sequels and remakes edition!

Last updated on: July 4, 2008 at 4:54 pm by Peter T. Chattaway

Newsbites: The sequels and remakes edition! 2008-07-04T16:54:00-07:00 Peter T. Chattaway

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Glad to have these out of my system, at last!

1. MTV Movies Blog notes that Pixar may run into some difficulties on Cars 2, due to the rumoured health problems that may or may not be plaguing Paul Newman, who provided the voice of Doc Hudson in the original film.

The blog doesn’t mention it, but the series may also be affected, one way or another, by the recent death of George Carlin, who provided the voice of Fillmore, and the rumoured suicide attempt last year of Owen Wilson, who provided the voice of Lightning McQueen.

This would not be the first time a Pixar franchise has had to press on without some of its original members. Jim Varney, who provided the voice of Slinky Dog in the first two Toy Story movies (1995-1999), died eight years ago. I have no idea whether the character will appear in Toy Story 3, which is currently in production, but the actor certainly won’t.

2. The New York Times takes a look at Terminator Salvation and the producers’ determination to keep filming even though there is the possibility that an actors’ strike could start at any moment. The story includes a couple nice photos of the film’s post-apocalyptic exterior sets in New Mexico, including a ruined 7-Eleven sign.

3. The Dark Knight is such a highly anticipated film, it’s kind of nice to hear at least one person, i.e. Devin Faraci, express the view that the film isn’t as “revolutionary” as some people have been saying it is — though he says it is still very good, etc. By all means, let us keep our expectations realistic.

Meanwhile, Variety looks at the age-old issue of how the makers of the Batman films need to toe a fine line between edginess and family-friendliness, while the MTV Movies Blog asks whether any future film in the Chris Nolan – Christian Bale series of Batman films should even think about bringing Robin the Boy Wonder into the storyline. Reportedly, Bale himself has said that he will refuse to be involved with any film that features the character.

4. Cinematical reports that Mark Millar, author of the comic-book mini-series that inspired Wanted, has said that he and an anonymous “very well known American action director” are pitching a reboot of the Superman franchise to Warner Brothers. This is interesting, as Bryan Singer and Brandon Routh have both been talking as though they were still working on a sequel to Superman Returns (2006). Paul Christian Glenn ponders what should and shouldn’t be salvaged from Singer’s previous film, regardless of who makes the next one.

5. Variety reports that The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is moving from New Zealand to Mexico, to take advantage of the water tanks there that were used for Titanic (1997) and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003).

6. The Hobbit director Guillermo Del Toro tells MTV Movie News:

But it is the second movie that is the treasure trove of possibilities. I believe the second movie will be present as an opportunity of enthusiasm and creation. I frankly look forward to that one so much. I really want us to prove that we have a solid concept for that, but the promise of that land is absolutely mind-boggling! I can’t wait to mount on the horse and ride, and I hate horses!

Meanwhile, he tells Defamer:

“We believe there is a second movie,” del Toro said during a discussion at the Majestic Crest. “If there isn’t, there will not be. If we find it, we will shoot it, but by God, if we do not find it, we will not shoot it. I am anxious to shoot the book, and I’m willing and able to dedicate myself to shooting the [second film].”

Not very reassuring, we don’t think — especially for MGM, which needs the prestige and profit of a Hobbit two-fer, like, yesterday. It’s trickier than it sounds, though; the second film, which would apparently bridge the gap between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, can only draw on the novels to which Jackson holds the rights. The rest of the background or ancillary literature (and there’s a lot) is off-limits. “In the four books that are in the domain of the copyright, there are appendices and ideas and things that can be traced without risk,” del Toro said. “But I have to be careful not to overstep. We believe there is a way to create this film and make it interesting, but it’s too early.”

So, does it sound like the second film will happen, or won’t happen? Who knows. But don’t count on the Tolkien estate making it even remotely easy for the filmmakers to use any of that other ancillary literature. The Los Angeles Times has an update on the Tolkien estate’s lawsuit against the filmmakers, which isn’t scheduled to be heard in court until October 2009.

7. The New York Times takes a look at Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the seventh big-screen Star Wars movie and the first to be completely animated, and the upcoming TV series to which it is connected.

Speaking of George Lucas’s ongoing milking of this franchise, a few weeks ago my priest referred me to Michael Kaminski’s The Secret History of Star Wars, an in-depth, 532-page PDF file on the creation of the franchise and Lucas’s almost Stalinist efforts to revise the history of how the franchise came to be.

Example: Lucas likes to give the impression nowadays that he had the prequels in mind all along, but Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker’s father were two different people until Lucas wrote the second draft of The Empire Strikes Back, which was then known as Episode II and not as Episode V, in March or April 1978.

I’ve only had time to read bits and pieces of Kaminski’s book, so far, but much of it seems plausible and fits with my own memory of how the original trilogy was promoted back in the day. Check it out.

8. Eddie Murphy tells the MTV Movies Blog that Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) was “a crock of sh-t” and he wants the currently-in-development Beverly Hills Cop IV to be “special”. Meanwhile, director Brett Ratner tells Latino Review that the rumours of the new film being PG-13 are false: “Believe me, this is going to be a hard core ‘R’ Beverly Hills Cop.”

9. Variety reported last week that Robert Rodriguez was going to remake Red Sonja (1985) with his current main squeeze Rose McGowan, who he met on the set of Grindhouse (2007). Then reports surfaced that they had broken up. Now People assures us that they are still together and their plans for making this movie are ticking along just nicely. Thank goodness for that.

10. Variety says Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) star Ian McKellen will play Number Two and Passion of the Christ (2004) star Jim Caviezel will play Number Six in a new series based on The Prisoner (1967-1968).

Number Six was originally played by Patrick McGoohan, who reportedly turned down the part of James Bond for moral reasons related to his Catholicism, and Caviezel is a well-known Catholic who has also refused to do love scenes — coincidence?

McGoohan was also reportedly offered the part of Gandalf, but turned it down for health reasons; in the end it went to McKellen, of course.

McKellen, for his part, is an atheist, so I wonder what kind of conversations he and Caviezel might have on the set? Could be interesting. At any rate, they have both played prophetic wonder-workers who died and came back to life!

Uncategorized

Previous Post

July 4, 2008

Newsbites: The heretics! heretics! edition!

Next Post

July 4, 2008 The day MTV interviewed Scott Derrickson.

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Anglican Planet Articles BC Christian News BC Report Bible Movies Bible Review Blog Books & Culture Campus Times CBC Radio Christianity Today ChristianWeek Essays Faith Today Festival Cinemas Guide Film Journals Georgia Straight Interviews MB Herald National Catholic Register Salvationist Today's Christian Two Chairs Ubyssey Uncategorized Vancouver Courier Vancouver Sun

Select a Month August 2025 April 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 May 2024 February 2024 December 2023 May 2023 March 2023 November 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 September 2019 July 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 January 2012 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 November 2003 October 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 March 2002 January 2002 December 2001 November 2001 September 2001 August 2001 July 2001 June 2001 April 2001 March 2001 February 2001 December 2000 November 2000 October 2000 September 2000 August 2000 July 2000 June 2000 May 2000 April 2000 March 2000 January 2000 October 1999 August 1999 May 1999 April 1999 February 1999 January 1999 December 1998 November 1998 October 1998 August 1998 July 1998 June 1998 April 1998 March 1998 January 1998 November 1997 September 1997 July 1997 June 1997 April 1997 March 1997 February 1997 January 1997 December 1996 October 1996 September 1996 June 1996 March 1996 February 1996 January 1996 April 1995 November 1994 September 1994 September 1991

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am a day when tongues of fire appeared and people spoke in languages they had never learned. Three thousand believed that day. What am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Day of Atonement Pentecost Passover Easter