Friday, July 31, 2009

Will Marshall Captain A New Pirates' Ship...


Now this is interesting...

I don't know what to think, good or bad, but Variety's BFDealmemo blog is reporting that Rob Marshall ("Chicago") is in talks to come aboard as director of "Pirates of the Caribbean 4: Subtitle Here" at any moment.

Take it for what it's worth (keep in mind they were originally reporting Spielberg directing "Matt Helm") and go over to the site to read the rest.

Prepping The Landing...


I love how as time goes by Disney is adding more and more content to the website...

The Walt Disney Animation Studios website, I mean. You remember when they published a lot of concept artwork for "The Princess and the Frog" and before that there were the video interviews and slowly they've added little bits and pieces. Then yesterday, the "Rapunzel" artwork was added. Now we've got "Prep & Landing" artwork. Two new pieces that you see here. If you want to enjoy bigger versions then click HERE and HERE.

The holidays should be quite jolly with this on the air...

Where To Begin, More Flynn...


A much more detailed and elaborate video of the viral campaign that resulted in an actual Flynn Arcade down in San Diego.

DEPOSIT MORE COINS

Hat Tip to Ain't It Cool News.

Disney Buys War...


As in with robots...

According to Variety, Walt Disney Pictures based Jerry Bruckheimer has aquired the film rights to Ashley Wood's graphic novel "World War Robot" from IDW Publishing. The story focuses on a small band of humans that battle robots in a world where humanity's fate lies in the balance. Yep, sounds like something that would have Bruckheimer's name on it.

Who's that knocking? Michael Bay? Don't you already have your own robot film, Michael? Get outta here! McG? No, he screwed up his robot war movie. Thanks, we'll pass. The deal was sealed during Comic-Con last week. That place is becoming like the Cannes Film Festival for Geeks with all the film showings and deal making.

Geeks rule...

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Copy Right...


Guess what website Disney just copyrighted/registered?

Can't think of anything? You're trying too hard.

Back in February, we were the first to report about the coming sequel that is deep in story development right now in the halls of Emeryville's Little Fortress. Now the Mouse has bought the domain name:"MONSTERS2.com" for future use in some movie they're making. Question is, which one?

Hmmm...

Stan Lee's Work With Disney Goes Backwards...


The first collaboration between Stan "The Man" Lee and the Walt Disney is out...

And it's a subtle attempt at producing one of those "Motion-Comics" like we saw with Watchmen. It's a fairly simplistic tale of a guy that can ride the timestream and go back into the past or future called "Time Jumper." The first episode is free, everything else will cost you.

Go have a look...

Going Back Before It All Began...


Whoa...

Ridley Scott, the amazing director of such films as "Alien," "Blade Runner," "Black Hawk Down," and "Gladiator" has committed to direct a prequel to the original Alien with a script by Jon Spaihts ("Passengers,") from his own original pitch. This is big, big news. Alien is one of those films that set a standard and created a cultural phenomenon that other sci-fi films would have to follow. The story will supposedly tell the story of the ship that first landed on the planet and had the original encounter with... the eggs.

Cooly developing...

Hat Tip to /Film.

Rapunzel Begins To Let Down Her Hair...


Now this IS beautiful, isn't it...

Walt Disney Animation Studios has updated their "Rapunzel" page with a new logo and a sampling of the conceptual art for the film.




Lovely, no?







And to think, we'll get to see this and "Tron Legacy" weeks apart, holidays 2010 is starting to sound really, really cool...

All Tron, All The Time...

So, the guy likes science fiction.


Or at least tangentially related to it...

It seems everywhere I turn I keep stepping on new Tron news. If this keeps up, I'll have to change the name of the blog. Remember when we reported that Joseph Kosinski was working on a graphic novel titled: "Oblivion" in addition to his directing duties on "Tron Legacy" earlier this year? Well, it now appears that according to the Hollywood Reporter, that may be his next film after the sequel to the classic 80's film. Radical Publishing, who are producing the graphic novel are also planning on producing the film with David Fincher. Yes, that Fincher.

Intriguing...

Epic Disney...



It seems that Warren Spector's Junction Point is at work on a large Disney fantasy game code named: "Epic Mickey" that appears to be in the vein of the "Kingdom Hearts" style of fantasy gaming. Go take a look at some of the incredibly strange and beautiful artwork over at 1Up's article.

Developing, literally...


Hat Tip to Cartoon Brew.

Give Me A Villain...


Walt Disney Pictures confirmed via their Twitter page that Michael Sheen will indeed be playing a part in "Tron Legacy" next year. From all accounts it appears that he's playing the main villain in the film. So I guess you could say that he's this film's David Warner/Sark.

Still computing...

The Seeds Of Disneyland...


Take a look at this amazing footage if you haven't seen it yet...

Most of you don't know about the big strike against the Disney Studios back in 1941. But if you love Disneyland, you should. Because that strike was a pivotal moment for Walt Disney. After it, he and the animators didn't have a cordial or friendly a relationship. Events would start to happen like World War II, which redirected his focus on not just sustaining his company, but his country. After the war he moved more and more into live-action as well as animation. And his thoughts turned to another project he had. Something that involved a theme park. He had once been just an animator, then a producer of animation. Walt moved in many different arenas, but that strike back then made him realize that there was more out there than animation and it also helped him take his other passions to another level.

History moves in leaps and small steps but where it goes isn't always clear until the passage of time makes it appear clear...

Hat Tip to Cartoon Brew.

Quality Is In the Ingredients From New Chef...


My good friend Alain over at Disney and More has some important news for you...



It appears that during the 20th Anniversary of the Disneyland Paris Resort, Walt Disney Studios, Paris' Second Gate will receive a new attraction. Not just any attraction but an E-Ticket. What ride will it be? Well, being this is France and it's a theme park about films coming from the Mouse, what attraction would you think it would be about?



That's right, it's an attraction based on that lovable rodent in Brad Bird's "Ratatouille" from Pixar. And it's going to be a very detailed, layered in theming attraction. It's going to use that trackless system that we've seen in Tokyo on "Pooh's Hunny Hunt" and in the coming "Mystic Manor" in Hong Kong. I've heard bits and pieces about this attraction since it was in early blue sky over a year ago, but my Bothan connections regarding Disney's European adventures now works for someone else. Rats. Uh, oh, I didn't mean it like that. Wanna know more? Go over and check out Alain's great article.



Finally a Tokyo Disney Resort quality attraction coming for a park that really needs it to stand out. Now maybe they can redo that front entrance like their redoing DCA's...

A Lost Secret Agent For The Mouse...

I'll have a Martini like the gentleman over there with the broad.



Sometimes things are unlikely to happen and then sometimes they are...

And then there are times when the improbable becomes not only possible, but reality. And in Hollywood reality is something rarely seen. Remember all that talk about Disney getting a distribution deal with DreamWorks? How it was in the running for it along with Steven Spielberg's old home Universal Studios? And naturally Universal won out... but then didn't. At the last moment the deal fell through and the Mouse was there to take on a roll that was thought impossible.

Here is another such case. Just as improbable, but possible. I've been a fan of the old Dean Martin "Matt Helm" films since I was a kid. Sure, they're cheesy, guilty pleasures, but in a world filled with the negativity we find rampant, it was a refreshingly silly break from the environment outside your window. Good was good and bad was bad. And when it was all over there was a fresh martini to drink and a beautiful woman to love. Of course, the Matt Helm of those films bears almost no resemblance to the one you find in Donald Hamilton's novels. No one has ever really explored what an adventure with the real Helm would be like. Variety is reporting that Spielberg is interested in turning that into a reality. Until a year or so ago we got word that DreamWorks had hired Paul Attanasio to do a rewrite on a new film version of the American spy. It has now been confirmed that Spielberg will produce the project. Were he to direct it, he and his DW partners would likely co-produce the film with Disney. The Helm project is one of many that Paramount Pictures retained ownership of in the divorce between the two companies last year. Spielberg and company would have to convince the studio to give up a hefty percentage of the production, something not likely unless Paramount finds themselves in a severe cash crunch. So, with Sony having James Bond, Universal has Jason Bourne and Disney could have had Matt Helm. And they may still have.

Remember, this is Hollywood and things can change on a dime. After all, that Universal deal with DreamWorks is doing swell, ain't it?

Developing...

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Hearing The Legacy...


Even though it's only a year and a half away, there are things you wonder...

Like, what does it sound like to be trapped inside a computer world?

Want to hear what "Tron Legacy" will sound like? Give a listen HERE.

Interesting...

Judge Me By My Second Season, Do You...


If you remember my comments about Star Wars "The Clone Wars" television series, I was pretty critical of it...

But slowly, after a few episodes I actually warmed to it... mostly. I still can't stand "Hannah Montana in Space," but otherwise it's been a surprisingly good series. I can only hope that the second season is even better.

The guys over at G4 have released a trailer Lucasfilm put together for the Second Season of The Clone Wars. Check it out and feel the power of the Dark Side. Now where's the news about the live-action series, Lucas?

May the Force be with you, later this year...

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

1 And 2 In 3D...


They've finally released the "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" 3D trailer on the web at Yahoo Movies...

Although they're not in 3D, they're still pretty funny. And over the next year we're going to have a lot of publicity for this franchise till it culminates in the release of "Toy Story 3" next summer. This film is supposed to be the conclusion of these characters and their story. If Lasseter and company live up to their word, there won't be a film in this series with a four or anything after it. This will be it.

Awaiting the fall and everything after...

The Empire Has More From Persia...



Over at Empire Magazine they have some exclusive pics from the set of Walt Disney Pictures "Prince of Persia" for all to see...

Go over and take a look at hunky Jake Gyllenhaal, who looks like he's walked out of the sequel to "300" with that new buff look of his. I want to see a trailer for this film to get the tone. The Mouse is certainly planning on this new Bruckheimer production to be its next trilogy.

Next summer, we'll see...

It Had To Happen...

Oh, boy...


You knew it was going to be...

When something makes money, it makes sequels.

Until there is no more money to be made. Because in Hollywood, for the Mouse and everyone else.

Story is king, but money is god...

More Chuck For Your Buck...

Watch Chuck. Watch Chuck. Watch Chuck. Watch Chuck. Watch Chuck.


In addition to the other poster that NBC released, here's the official poster for the third season of "Chuck" that premiered at Comic-Con...

I don't know who did this poster, but it sure looks like Drew Struzan with the style of the painting. And that is a very, geeky, cool thing.

Hopefully the series will continue to gain viewers because it deserves them...

Monday, July 27, 2009

Time Lapse...


Sometimes the passage of times can reveal buried treasure; right before your very eyes...

I know a lot of people talk about how long it takes for an attraction to get built by Disney and everyone else, actually. The difference between Walt Disney building Disneyland for 17 million dollars (1950's value) in a year and the Walt Disney Company building a billion dollar park in two or three years can be pretty clear.

There were fewer building codes and regulations back in 1954, there was much less bureaucratic red tape, environmental codes and the technology of the attractions was much less complicated.

Now, let me direct your attention to some priceless footage of Disneyland being built back in 1954. Much of it is time lapse photography that was set up to capture the construction of this amazing destination. Walt himself planned for this filming to historically document it, but most of what you see has not been seen by human eyes in almost half a century.

Enjoy...

Hat Tip to the Disney Blog.

iGo Down The Rabbit Hole...


This is going to be the first of many...

It was announced late last week that Disney Interactive was going to release a game version of Walt Disney Pictures "Alice in Wonderland" for the iPhone. I mentioned a while back that there were plans to tap this growing market with games. Can you imagine the swanky new mobile game of "Tron Legacy" that's being developed? In addition to the iPhone, the Alice game would be available for Wii, Windows and the Nintendo DS. No plans as of yet for a Mac version were announce. Not a smart move for the platform of your biggest stockholder.

Developing, literally...

Sunday, July 26, 2009

World Upside Down...


Number. One.

Need I say more?

I can hear the Suits thinking about a new rodent franchise already...

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Beauty And The Release...


While the Disney Animation Panel was a smashing success, it did contain what I consider one beautiful jewel...

And no, I'm not talking about the two great scenes from Walt Disney Animation Studios "The Princess and the Frog" which were amazing throwbacks to the early 90's from what everyone is telling me.

I'm talking about the official announcement of the Valentine's Day release in 2010 of "Beauty and the Beast" in 3D. If you've been reading this blog for long, then you know it's my favorite Disney animated film. And although I have still to be convinced of the lasting presence of 3D, I am glad I'll get to see it on the big screen again. Also, it'll be interesting to see how young kids react to this film that they've seen only on the home screen.

I'll be there with Belle's on...

Interview With A Cult Survivor...


That lucky bum, 'El Guapo' over at Latino Review got to interview the director Joe Kosinski and producer Sean Bailey of "Tron Legacy," and fawned all over them and the director's shirt like such a geek. If it had been me, I wouldn't have fa... ok yeah, I would have. That shirt really was sweet, George.

Click over and watch the director and producer tease him about what's coming next years sequel to the cult classic (can you believe it's next year?). Again, I wish I could have been there. I hate missing Comic-Con since I've been going for a decade. But this year I had something come up. Now, I do have my tickets already to the D23 Expo in Anaheim so I'm going to try and make up for missing all the nerdiness that happened this weekend, that weekend. But I can't wait till 2010 to get to see the legacy.

Game on, holidays next year...

We're Here To Kick Dat Little Wizard's Butt...


Whoa...

I don't believe it, but "G-Force" beat "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" on Friday night. Now that is something I thought I'd never say or see. I figured the family film would do nicely with the "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" crowd, but I never thought it would beat the Trio of Hogwarts. While it's not my cup of tea, this shows that there is a family audience out there that is hungry to be entertained.

I didn't know they were this hungry...

Thoughts On 3...


One of the great things about Comic-Con is that fans get to interact with their idols and sometimes even get to ask them questions...

And then there are those that get to do full on interviews.

The guys over at /Film interviewed Lee Unkrich and John Lasseter regarding "Toy Story 3" along with a lot of other things all Pixar/all Disney.

Take a look at the video interviews: Unkrich here. Lasseter here.

Interesting...

Geeky Cool...

Chuck is cool. Chuck is the everyman that geeks want to be. Right?


Very nice...

I don't get to watch this show as much as I used to, but NBC's "Chuck" is a fun, well written show that has characters any pop-culture lovin' Geek will get into. And he gets the girl... that's always important.

But this poster is just sweet. It makes me laugh.

In a good way...

Friday, July 24, 2009

From Conception To Birth...


Last year in San Diego, fans got to see what Walt Disney Pictures had been working on for the proposed "Tron" sequel and now you can see it too...

DEPOSIT COINS.

The Mouse has released the concept trailer that Joseph Kosinski filmed to show the Suits what he was aiming for. It appears they liked it, but were a little nervous about committing to a budget this big without knowing there was enough demand for this film. That screening last year convinced them to greenlight the pic and, well, here we are.



Apparently they're going to try and screen the film at Comic-Con next year, even though it will be in unfinished form and not released until later that year. That's right, as you can tell by the trailer, the film will be in selected theaters in 2010. This more than likely means that it'll be a holiday release. But what about those down in San Diego? I'm sure fans of this cult classic are going to be very happy to hear this as they book their hotel rooms for next year. I know how they feel.



Now where is that credit card, this hotel receptionist is getting a little impatient...

Sighting Pirates...


As in 2011...

Walt Disney Pictures Oren Aviv talked to Coming Soon about the coming fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" film and gave some firm dates for a change.

They're going to be shooting in May and June of 2010 for a summer 2011 release. At least tentatively. You know how release dates can change. I take it from this that "The Lone Ranger" film will not be out till 2012 as Mr. Depp is going to be pretty busy. Aviv also mentioned that should the project be successful it will lead to another trilogy.

And the tone will be smaller, as the scale of the last trilogy would be pretty difficult to top. Or is that code for "please keep the budgets under control" maybe? Interesting stuff. More to follow in the months ahead.

Developing...

In Like Flynn At Comic-Con...


Oh, the power of YouTube...

The events at Comic-Con that the Mouse have been sponsoring for "TRON: Legacy" are ho so cool.

Check out these videos right here, here and here.

Of all the years I had to miss...

Jonah Hex Redux...

Hope this is going to be good.

The teaser poster for Warn Bros. "Jonah Hex" has been released...



Man, I hope this is good.
Behold the power of looking pretty and uhm, ugly...

Thursday, July 23, 2009

The Art The World Of TRON: Legacy...


TRON is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (GARRETT HEDLUND), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (JEFF BRIDGES), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant (OLIVIA WILDE), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.


So we're finally getting to see what the new world of TRON is going to look like...

And it looks incredible. This really adds salt to the wound that I didn't get to attend this years Comic-Con. Almost all the e-mails I'm getting are talking about how great it was. I wish I could have seen the clip. I guess next year we'll actually get to see a trailer for it.

So without further ado, here are some pics I've been sent:



A 21st Century version of the Recognizer.



Here we have the evolution of the Light Cycle.



This is the new version we saw in last years test trailer.



The top two images are of an updated version of the original Light Cycle that Flynn is supposedly riding around on in the world of Tron: Legacy.





Here are a couple shots of a Solar Sailer.




Here is a Light Runner; kind of like a four wheeled Light Cycle, but it can hold two passengers.




The Disc games which have developed into the Disc Wars.







Concepts of what walking around in the world of Tron will now look like.

I can't till we get a teaser trailer and more of that cool viral marketing.

Developing...