While the previous rumors were the Untitled Star Trek Sequel would begin filming in January, it looks like that’s not going to be the case. Zachary Quinto, who played Spock in the 2009 feature, tells MTV, “it probably won’t be until next year at this time.” Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman are still working on the story and J.J. Abrams is not yet confirmed to be directing the sequel, but Quinto explains that he would still be on board even if J.J. Abrams isn’t directing.
With Cop Out thankfully behind us, we can begin looking forward to Kevin Smith’s next original work, Red State. Eric Eisenberg over at Cinema Blend has the news that Michael Parks has been cast in the horror film that will be loosely based on the Westboro Baptist Church. Parks, who you probably recognize as Texas Ranger Earl McGraw in a number of Tarantino and Rodriguez films, will play the founder of the church.
Speaking of Cop Out, MTV has an exclusive video of Bruce Willis hinting that a fifth Die Hard movie is on the way. “Imminent” is the word he uses to describe the project, going on to say “the coin is about to drop.” Willis also mentioned that he would like an Unbreakable sequel to be made.
Warner Brothers affiliate Legendary Pictures has released this teaser image from their upcoming Godzilla movie. Not a lot can be inferred from the image, but Ken Hulsey at Monster Island News suggests that the studio is going with a more “old school” approach and taking on the classic Godzilla look as opposed to reinventing the monster like Roland Emmerich did in his 1998 version.
There are also a couple of Robert Rodriguez news items. The first comes courtesy of Josh Tyler at Cinema Blend, who reports that Rodriguez told folks at Comic Con a Predators sequel is likely. I don’t see how the quality of that film or the mediocre box-office take could justify such a thing, but we’ll see what happens.
More interestingly, Rodriguez has confirmed with MTV that he has read the script for Deadpool. While he said the script was “really good”, he hasn’t decided if he will direct the Ryan Reynolds led Wolverine spin-off. Any project he takes on at this point would have to come after Spy Kids 4. I guess that’s what everyone is most excited about anyway, right?
Frank DiGiacomo of the New York Daily News reports that Scarlett Johansson has taken a role that was originally intended for Angelina Jolie in Gravity, a 3D sci-fi movie directed by Alfonso Cauron (Children of Men). Robert Downey Jr. is rumored to co-star in the film that Cuaron is supposedly touting as “the most ambitious film, technology-wise, since Avatar.” That would be quite an evolution from Cauron’s breakout film, the intimate road-tripper Y tu mama tambien.
According to The Playlist, Fox has narrowed it down to a two-horse race for the duties of directing Wolverine 2. The final two candidates are Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In – did you check out the new posters and trailer?) and big-budget regular Tony Scott. My guess would be that Scott’s decision hedges on whether or not the script leaves room for Denzel Washington to co-star with Hugh Jackman.
The Orlando Sentinel has an article up on Jennifer Lawrence, where the Winter’s Bone star talks about the fanfare she has received since landing the role of Mystique in X-Men: First Class, as well as some of her preparations for taking on the role.
Lastly, from the Film Music Reporter, composer James Newton Howard is set to re-team with I Am Legend director Francis Lawrence in the new drama Water for Elephants. The film, whose cast includes Robert Patinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz and Hal Holbrook, tells the story of a veterinary student who joins the circus as their vet after the death of his parents. It should be released sometime in 2011.
