Will Smith Wanted For Tarantino's Django

I've had sadly little exposure to the Western genre, having not even seen The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. One film I have seen, however, is Django, which makes me all kinds of excited for Quentin Tarantino's upcoming tribute Django Unchained. In the film, Django is a freed slave who seeks out his wife, who's still a slave. Along the way he meets up with a German bounty hunter who gives him the training he needs to take on an evil plantation owner.

While the offer is yet to be extended, Tarantino wants Will Smith for the lead role. I imagine that would Smith - or any actor, for that matter - would love the chance to work with the co-writer and director of Pulp Fiction. One possible obstacle could be Smith's payout, which is usually pretty high. He is one the biggest - quite possibly the biggest - box office draw in the world.

As for the rest of the casting, I would personally love to see Christoph Waltz play the German, but to be fair, I would like to see Waltz play every German, ever. Samuel L. Jackson will likely have a role as Monsieur Calvin Candie, the plantation owner's right-hand man (and slave).
 

Emma Watson: 'Harry Potter filming made me cry'

Emma Watson has admitted that filming the final Harry Potter movie was "decidedly unglamorous" at times.

The actress - who has played Hermione Granger in the eight films based on J.K. Rowling's books - told TV Times that shooting Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two had been physically demanding for her and co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint.

"There were days when I was in tears," she confessed. "I was begging David [Yates, director] but he just said, 'It looks so much better that you guys seem more vulnerable'. And he's right, it does look great on screen.

"We're kind of like bedraggled, unlikely heroes. It works, but there were times when I just wanted to kill him!"

She continued: "People who are close to me know, they so know, that there were days when it was decidedly unglamorous. And I was so tired, I would fall asleep anywhere.

"They'll never be released, but the on-set photographer has pictures of me falling asleep everywhere - on chairs, on the floor, in the middle of the set, all curled up."

However, Watson went on to add that Hermione is now closer to her "own personality" after playing her for over a decade.

"David wanted a really honest performance, she said. "It was lovely to play - I feel like earlier on I played a parody of myself. She was kind of this big personality and she's developed into someone much more human."

Watson recently insisted that there is no truth to reports that she took time out from Brown University due to bullying from fellow students.

'Human Centipede' planned as a trilogy

Horror director Tom Six has said that he plans to make a trilogy out of his Human Centipede series.

The first film was released last year and has gone on to achieve cult status because of its extreme content.

Six, who is currently developing a sequel, has admitted that after work on The Human Centipede II: Full Sequence has ended, he plans to finish off the series with a third film.

"Three films makes a Human Centipede for me," Six revealed to EW. "Three can be the combination."

He explained: "What I want to do is make Human Centipede III: Final Sequence. And then I don't want to make any Human Centipedes again."

The director said that he already has an idea in mind for a potential third film, and claimed that it will make the upcoming sequel "look like a Disney film".

When asked about how work on The Human Centipede II: Full Sequence is progressing, Six revealed that a number of people at the film's distribution company walked out of a screening because they couldn't handle it.

Six admitted to receiving death threats after the release of the first film, but claimed that he doesn't take them too seriously.

The Human Centipede II: Full Sequence is due out in cinemas later this year.

'Home Alone' house on sale for $2.4m

The iconic house from Chris Columbus's 1990 classic Home Alone has been put up for sale.

The Chicago Tribune confirms that the property has been put on the market for $2.4 million (£1.5m), after owners Cynthia and John Abendshien decided to move after 23 years.

"We just decided we wouldn't wait any longer," Cynthia said of the couple's decision to sell despite the economic downturn.

The couple's estate agent claimed that the high asking price isn't simply because of the house's cinematic significance, but because it is a "residential masterpiece".

The 4,250-square foot property featured heavily in the Jon Hughes-produced family film, as well as its 1990 sequel Home Alone 2.

Home Alone starred child actor Macaulay Culkin as 8-year-old Kevin McAllister, who is forced to fend off two relentless burglars after being accidentally abandoned by his parents.

Visitation to the property is by appointment only, in an effort by the home-owners to avoid time-wasters who simply want to see a piece of Hollywood history.

Warner Bros buys Rotten Tomatoes owner

Warner Bros Home Entertainment has announced the acquisition of Flixster, the online movie discovery company that owns the popular Rotten Tomatoes film review site.

Founded in 2006, Flixster operates an online movie community attracting around 25 million people every month. The Flixster movie discovery app has been downloaded more than 35m times on mobile platforms, including Android, Blackberry and iPad, and the Rotten Tomatoes site attracts around 12m unique visitors per month.

Under the acquisition deal, Flixster will continue to operate independently and serve as a "consumer-facing platform for Warner Bros' initiatives to drive digital content ownership". The Flixster team will stay in San Francisco and Rotten Tomatoes will continue to operate in Los Angeles.

Warner Bros will utilise the Flixster brand and technology to launch "a number of initiatives designed to grow digital content ownership", including its new 'Digital Everywhere' content app, which enables users to organise and access their digital entertainment libraries.

"Driving the growth of digital ownership is a central, strategic focus for Warner Bros," said Kevin Tsujihara, Warner Bros Home Entertainment group president.

"The acquisition of Flixster will allow us to advance that strategy and promote initiatives that will help grow digital ownership."

Joe Greenstein, co-founder and chief executive of Flixster, added: "We're thrilled that Warner Bros Home Entertainment Group shares our vision for how 'anytime, anywhere' digital entertainment can become an amazing user experience.

"We're excited that Warner was willing to make this kind of commitment to a leading independent consumer platform. We look forward to working with Warner as well as each of the other studios to innovate and build products that users will love."

'Superman' actor Jackie Cooper dies

Actor Jackie Cooper, best known for his role as Perry White in the Superman films, has died at the age of 88.

The Academy Award-nominated actor played the role of the Daily Planet editor in the four films released in the '70s and '80s.

According to TMZ, Cooper passed away in a hospital in Beverly Hills on Tuesday following a sudden illness.

Born in 1922, Cooper became a child star when still a toddler. He became a regular on the 'Our Gang' comedy short films in 1929 and the early 1930s.

In 1931 he was nominated for the Academy Award for 'Best Actor in a Leading Role' for his appearance in the comic strip movie adaptation Skippy, and remains the youngest performer ever to have been shortlisted in that category.

In the 1970s he made guest appearances on television shows including M*A*S*H, The Rockford Files and Black Sheep Squadron before landing the role of the gruff newspaper editor in 1978's Superman alongside Christopher Reeve.

The Superman movie franchise is currently being rebooted by director Zack Snyder, with Henry Cavill taking on the role of the Man of Steel.

'Thor' hammers home UK box office victory

Marvel's latest superhero movie Thor has topped the UK box office on its debut weekend on release.

The blockbuster, starring Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman, outmuscles Fast & Furious 5 to take in £5.4 million and secure first place.

Kenneth Branagh's movie was aided by 3 days of previews and the extended Bank Holiday thanks to the royal wedding.

The only other new release to chart in the top ten, Insidious from Saw creators James Wan and Leigh Wannell, bows at number three with £1.4 million.

Rio and Arthur complete the top five, while fantasies Beastly and Red Riding Hood are the biggest fallers as they slip three spots apiece to occupy positions eight and ten.

The UK box office top ten in full:

1. (-) Thor - £5,449,300
2. (1) Fast & Furious 5 - £2,609,244
3. (-) Insidious - £1,441,292
4. (2) Rio - £801,102
5. (3) Arthur - £682,187
6. (4) Scream 4 - £396,190
7. (6) Hop - £314,829
8. (5) Beastly - £210,974
9. (8) Source Code - £196,978
10. (7) Red Riding Hood - £169,325

'Star Wars' Blu-ray to release in September

Full details of the Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray release have been unveiled.

Lucasfilm and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment have confirmed a nine-disc Blu-ray collection in widescreen with 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. It will be released on September 12 internationally and September 16 in North America.

The collection includes the following:
Disc One - Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
Disc Two - Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
Disc Three - Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
Disc Four - Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
Disc Five - Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
Disc Six - Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
(Discs one to six feature audio commentaries)
Disc Seven - New - Star Wars Archives: Episodes I-III
Disc Eight - New - Star Wars Archives: Episodes IV-VI
(Discs seven and eight include deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew a flythrough of the Lucasfilm Archives and more)

Disc Nine - The Star Wars Documentaries
Including:
New - Star Warriors (2007, Colour, Apx. 84 Minutes)
New - A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later (2010, Colour, Apx. 25 Minutes)
New - Star Wars Spoofs (2011, Colour, Apx. 91 Minutes)
The Making of Star Wars (1977, Colour, Apx. 49 Minutes)
The Empire Strikes Back: SPFX (1980, Colour, Apx. 48 Minutes)
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983, Colour, Apx. 48 Minutes)
Anatomy of a Dewback (1997, Colour, Apx. 26 Minutes)
Star Wars Tech (2007, Colour, Apx. 46 Minutes)

Today's announcement was timed to coincide with 'Star Wars Day', with fans of the series posting the movie pun "May The 4th Be With You" on Twitter throughout the day.

Kenneth Branagh "not done" with 'Thor'

Director Kenneth Branagh has said that he is not yet finished with the Thor series.

Marvel's president of production Kevin Feige recently said that a sequel to the mythological action film is already planned.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Branagh said: "I am not sure I am done with Thor's universe, or if it is done with me."

The helmer also denied that he had saved up any ideas for a second film.

He added: "You can think of stuff for two or three later, if you get the chance to do them. But you won't if one isn't good enough."

Ewan McGregor 'will never forget Moulin Rouge'

Ewan McGregor has revealed that there was a lot of pressure to sing on Moulin Rouge.

He opened up about the intense expectations for the film on MTV's special Moulin Rouge At 10, a tribute to the ten year anniversary of the popular movie.

"There was a real buzz about it. Everyone knew about Moulin Rouge before I met with [director] Baz [Luhrmann]," the actor said. "I had never sung like I was expected to sing for Moulin Rouge, where the singing was a part of the storytelling and not just part of the character."

McGregor went on to reveal that his favourite musical number was 'The Tango of Roxanne'.

He added: "There's something really desperate and fantastic about the tango. And I'll never forget walking down through the rows of dancers really upset and singing. That was fantastic."

Quentin Tarantino to direct 'Django' remake

Quentin Tarantino's next film project will allegedly be a remake of the 1966 Sergio Corbucci film Django.

Thompson on Hollywood confirmed that Tarantino has already handed a first draft of the screenplay to The Weinstein Company, and has renamed the film Django Unchained.

The project will see Tarantino reunited with Pulp Fiction collaborator Stacey Sher, as well as his Inglourious Basterds star Christoph Waltz, who won an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Colonel Hans Landa.

Hollywood Elsewhere, who claim to have acquired a copy of the draft, have revealed that the film will follow the story of a freed slave called Django who joins up with a German mercenary, played by Waltz, in order to free his wife from a plantation slaver.

Other actors rumoured to be under consideration for parts in the film include the likes of Keith Carradine, Treat Williams and Franco Nero.

Uma Thurman recently confirmed that Tarantino was working on a Western - called The Southern at the time - that had pushed back work on their proposed follow-up to Kill Bill Vol. 2.

Django Unchained is set to enter production later this year.

Peter Jackson recasts Fili in 'The Hobbit'

Peter Jackson has confirmed that Dean O'Gorman will replace Rob Kazinsky in his forthcoming adaptation of The Hobbit.

The Oscar-winning director announced via Facebook that the coveted role of Fili had been awarded to O'Gorman, a relative unknown recently seen in comedy drama series The Almighty Johnsons, following Kazinsky's departure earlier this month.

The ex-Eastenders actor cited a "health issue" as the reason behind his exit from the J.R.R. Tolkien epic, which had already started production in New Zealand.

Further elaborating on the casting news, Jackson stated in his online message: "Dean's a terrific Kiwi actor, who I am thrilled to be working with. He's recently been in an excellent TV series down here called The Almighty Johnsons, and I should let fans of that show know that our shooting schedule allows Dean to continue with a second series next year. Dean will be joining us next week."

He also revealed that Pushing Daisies actor Lee Pace had been cast as Elven King Thranduil, adding: "Casting these Tolkien stories is very difficult, especially the Elven characters, and Lee has always been our first choice for Thranduil.

"He's going to be great. We loved his performance in a movie called The Fall a few years ago, and have been hoping to work with him since. When we were first discussing who would be right for Thranduil, Lee came into mind almost immediately."

Part One of The Hobbit is due to hit cinemas in December 2012

Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess in 'One Day' trailer

One Day, based on the best-selling novel from David Nicholls, revisits Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess on July 15 each year after the pair spend the night together at graduation. The romantic drama spans the course of 20 years, showing Emma and Dexter as their lives take drastic turns. He becomes a TV presenter, while she falls into teaching and eventually becomes a successful writer.

An Education's Lone Scherfig directs One Day, which also stars Patricia Clarkson, Romola Garai, Jodie Whittaker, Georgia King and Rafe Spall. One Day opens in the US on July 8 and September 30 in the UK.

Watch the trailer for One Day below:

Seven Best Horror Films of the Past Decade

With Insidious opening recently (April 1, 2011), I think it might be time to take a bit of a horror inventory. Sure, Insidious might be getting fine reviews, and in this age of shoot and print films it’s a welcome reprieve. But, lets pay homage to the films that allowed this young blood to shed its ominous shadows upon our ghostly gourds. Here it is… the top seven horror films of the past decade. Turn on your Netflix, run to your nearest video store, or illegally download (not recommended) some of these cinematic creepies… just don’t blame me if you have to sleep with the lights on.

7.) Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

Premise: A quiet and studious church-girl goes away to college and meets that one guy her mother always warned her about: Satan!
 
Why I chose it: Besides the fact that it’s based on a true story and Satan stalks just about, um, everyone in the film? This one actually gave me trouble sleeping. Best exorcism film since, well…The Exorcist.
Co-signer, Richard Roeper (Ebert and Roeper): “Very scary stuff. “

6.) Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Premise: A group of zombie holocaust survivors find solace in a rather large shopping mall where they proceed to live the American Dream. That is until the zombies find out there’s a sale at Macy’s on Jesus slippers.

Why I chose it: Remaking George Romero’s horror classic is risky business but this one stands the test of time five years later (which is important for a horror film because very few actually do). Zack Snyder’s (300 and Watchmen) slick direction coupled with a built-in can’t miss concept makes for a good ol’ gory screamfest.

5.) Bug (2006)

Premise: An unhinged woman begins a strange relationship with a man who enters a descent of madness that includes an imaginary infestation (or is it?) of insects and government conspirators.

Why I chose it: Based on an off-Broadway play, this film, directed by The Exorcist helmer William Friedkin, is basically about two people going crazy inside of a motel room. Expect a lot of self-mutilation and hyper-paranoid visuals; this is the kind of film that makes you feel crazy after watching it. Oh yea, and Ashley Judd is up to her usual MILF-y antics.

4.) Midnight Meat Train (2008)

Premise: A photographer’s quest to capture the “essence” of New York City nightlife leads him to a peculiar train whose most frequent passenger is a mallet wielding madman with a knack for making mince meat out of the paying public.

Why I chose it: This is the sleeper film on my list. The cinematography is about as good as it gets for a direct to DVD horror flick, or for that matter, any horror film that has been released in the last five years (the same cinematographer was used on Max Payne). The story, which is based on a Clive Barker tale, is fantastically drawn out, the arc building from noir to pure horror seamlessly. Also, be on the lookout for a surprising Quentin “Rampage” Jackson cameo and an up and coming Bradley Cooper.

3.) Let the Right One In (2008)

Premise: You know, it’s the same ol’ boy meets girl, girl reveals thirst for blood, girl shows scar where her vagina should be type of story you’ve seen a million times.

Why I chose it: I hate to echo the sentiments of every critic that has reviewed this film, but sometimes conformity is best served with a slice of humble pie: this film is outstanding. Possessing the most beautiful cinematography on this list, see it even though Hollywood has cut up its own version.

2.) 28 Days Later (2002)

Premise: We see the zombie apocalypse through the eyes of a schmo who just woke up out of a London hospital to find the city vacant.

Why I chose it: This film effectively (but maybe not for good) revitalized the zombie genre and for good reason: it was made by one of the finest filmmakers on the planet, Mr. Danny Boyle. Although he and Alex Garland (writer and frequent collaborator) decided on making their creatures of the running sort, this film is an exercise in the art of fear inducement.

1.) High Tension (2003)

Premise: Two girlfriends take a weekend getaway to one girls secluded family home. Cue homoeroticism, a masturbation scene, and the most brutal killer on film since Argento was Argento.

Why I chose it: Many people will cite the ending as flawed and reason to exclude this film from the list much less make it the best of the past decade. To them I say this: show me a horror film with a more shocking home invasion scene in the past ten years (or perhaps ever for that matter). Show me a horror film in the past ten years that has had the guts to be not only shocking, but also well-acted, well shot, and tightly (albeit simply) scripted. This is true horror, people; no longhaired Japanese ghosts and wily demons running amuck. Don’t believe me still? Ask Wes Craven, who saw this film then promptly asked Alexander Aja to remake his beloved The Hills Have Eyes.

Ben Kinglsey signs up for 'The Dictator'

Sir Ben Kingsley has reportedly joined the cast of Larry Charles's latest comedy, also starring Sacha Baron Cohen.

The Dictator sees Charles and Cohen reunite after the success of Borat and Brüno, and according to Variety, Kingsley is believed to be the latest casting addition to the film.

Kingsley has already worked with Cohen on Martin Scorsese's new movie Hugo Cabret.

The Dictator tells the stories of both a lowly goat herder and a deposed foreign dictator who risks his life to stop his Middle Eastern country becoming a democracy.

Kingsley will portray one of Cohen's subjects, and may also be joined by The League star Jason Mantzoukas, who is said to be in talks for the project.

Earlier this week it was revealed that the likes of Anna Faris, Gillian Jacobs and Kristen Wiig are all under consideration for the film's female supporting role.