This morning’s first batch of news items begins with the proposed 300 sequel and moves to more Dark Knight Rises rumors, talk of Darren Aronofsky’s Noah finding distribution, more casting in Spielberg’s Lincoln and G.I. Joe 2: Cobra Strikes adds two more. I know you can hardly wait, so let’s get to it…
The sequel to 300, which was previously expected to be titled Xerxes, is still moving forward, though under a new title. The film will now be called 300: Battle of Artemisia and with Zack Snyder busy with Man of Steel a new helmer will be taking over and apparently Noam Murro (Smart People) and Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown, House of Wax) are the two directors in contention.
If you ask me, Collet-Serra’s visual sense seems to match up with Snyder’s a bit more than Murro, though I have only seen Murro’s dramedy Smart People, which doesn’t really compare. That film, however, isn’t why Murro is in consideration. In fact it’s work such as the live-action short film he directed for the videogame “Halo” as featured just above that has his name in the door and what got him attached to direct the potential Die Hard 5 for Fox. There is no word on a start date. [Deadline]
Wu Tang Clan rapper-turned-actor, RZA, and D.J. Cotrona are the latest to join G.I. Joe 2: Cobra Strikes for director Jon Chu. Cotrona will play Flint, a Joe soldier best known in the toyline and 1980s comics for his shotgun and beret. RZA will play a martial arts master named the Blind Master who in the past trained Joe commandoes Snake-Eyes and Jinx (Elodie Yung). Channing Tatum, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Ray Park and Byung-hun Lee co-star. The sequel to 2009’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is set to hit theaters on August 10, 2012. [The Hollywood Reporter]
Another day and another rumor surrounding Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight Rises. This time an insider has given some information regarding the suit Anne Hathaway will allegedly be wearing as Catwoman in the film. Here’s what they had to say:
“Anne’s outfit is more tactical, like the comic book, than the previous Batman movies. She will definitely be wearing the goggles and it’s going to be less sexy than Halle Berry and Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman costumes. She’s going to look more like a robber.”
Adds the insider, “But fan boys shouldn’t be worried. This costume is going to be form-fitting enough to make Anne look smoking hot… Everything from the looks in her eyes, her head movements, her body–everything is so feline. The role is taking her to new places,” the insider said.
Those descriptions sound good to you? [Hollywood Life]
David Strathairn is the latest name to be added to Steven Spielberg’s sure-to-be-Oscar-contender Lincoln where he’ll play William Seward, Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of State. He joins Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln and Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln as well as fellow co-stars Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Hal Holbrook, James Spader, John Hawkes, Tim Blake Nelson, Bruce McGill, Joseph Cross, Gloria Reuben and David Warshofsky. The film is a biopic on the 16th President of the United States based on the book “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Filming is set to begin this fall in Virginia for a late 2012 release through Touchstone Pictures. [Deadline]
Darren Aronofsky‘s Noah is apparently closer to having a home as Paramount is reportedly moving closer to picking up the film for distribution in a partnership with New Regency, which has been involved all the way through the process.
When the project sparked back to life earlier this month it was said to be carrying a budget around $130 million, but that number now seems to be down to $100 million and Aronofsky has been rumored to be courting Christian Bale for the lead role. Aronofsky has been quoted talking about the film, saying, “Look… It’s the end of the world and it’s the second most famous ship after the Titanic. So I’m not sure why any studio won’t want to make it.”
I think one thing is for certain, he didn’t base it off Ricky Gervais‘ stand up routine based on the same material, which you can watch below, but be warned, it is not safe for work. [Deadline]
