-
Sunday, November 22
Producer Joel Silver has an incredible resume, including many of Hollywood's top properties — the Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Predator, and Matrix franchises. His latest film, Ninja Assassin, opens this week and Silver is in various stages of production on eight other movies, with another dozen or more in development.
With so many different projects, it's hard to keep track of the status of all of them. Thankfully, Latino Review caught up with Silver and probed him about several of the fan-favorite films he is working on. While Silver didn't mention anything about the 3-D adaptation of DC Comics' Swamp Thing that he teased back in August, he did say that he is working on Lobo, another DC adaptation.
We're working really close on that. It's close, yeah. There is a good shot we can make that happen.
While many fans have been clamoring to see Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen) in the lead role of "The Last Czarnian," Silver stated back in August that his intention for Lobo was to go full CGI with the super-ripped alien bounty hunger, a la Avatar. When asked about the possibility of Morgan playing Lobo, Silver said that he is "very talented" and mentioned that Morgan was already tapped for yet another DC Comics adaptation, The Losers, and that they're still trying to figure out what will work best for Lobo.
There's been some interesting tests. It's pretty spectacular. So that's gonna come about soon I think.
After Ninja Assassin, Silver has the Guy Ritchie-directed Sherlock Holmes hitting theaters, which Silver would "love" to see turn into a franchise.
There are plenty of Sherlock Holmes stories. But let's get the movie open, let's see how it goes and we'lll see what happens.
Silver will no longer be teaming with Ritchie on an adaptation of Sgt. Rock after Sherlock Holmes, but he said that Ritchie is "involved" with Gamekeeper, which is "in development." He is also re-teaming with his Ninja Assassin writer, J. Michael Straczynski, an another project.
[Straczynski's] writing Forbidden Planet now. We'll see a script before the end of the year and that's exciting too.
Silver also mentioned that the reason he let Sony have He-Man was because it was a "weird one" that they couldn't figure out how to adapt. And, no, there will be no sequel to Speed Racer, not that too many people will shed a tear over that news.
Next Showing: Ninja Assassin opens November 25
Posted 11/22/2009 by BrentJS
Related: Joel Silver | Guy Ritchie | J. Michael Straczynski | Sherlock Holmes | Ninja Assassin | Jeffrey Dean Morgan
-
Actor Robert Downey Jr. is on top of the world. After an incredibly successful turn as billionaire superhero Tony Stark in Jon Favreau's Iron Man, Downey, Jr. is about to star as the world's smartest detective in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes.
However, despite his recent success, Downey Jr. may be ready to walk away from it all. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Downey Jr. said that he has "no set plans" for the future.
I've never had it this good — this is my day in the sun — and I certainly don't want to look a gift horse in the molars. But [my wife] Susan and I want to begin to be in our lives as much as we are in our jobs. I'd love just to sit here and say, 'What movie's playing tonight?' I'd love to finish the new book about D-day I'm reading. I love painting, I love music.
I'm f---ing really good at what I do — and have been for a long time, so I don't waver on that. But here's the thing: I can only be a guy on a call sheet probably, I don't know, maybe a couple more times. It's something I'm so grateful to have in my palm, and yet I already see its inevitable decay.
For the fans who would be devastated by his retirement, Downey, Jr. offered some hope in a thinly veiled plug for his new movie.
If Sherlock Holmes performs well, I could be busy for the next 5 or 7 or 10 years.
Next Showing: Sherlock Holmes opens December 25
Posted 11/22/2009 by BrentJS
Related: Robert Downey Jr. | Iron Man | Sherlock Holmes | Iron Man 2
-
Thursday, November 12
A busy man after the success of Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. is currently shooting the comedy Due Date. He has plenty of upcoming projects, including a "re-imagining" of Harvey and the comic book adaptation of Cowboys and Aliens, not to mention Sherlock Holmes and Iron Man 2 awaiting theatrical release.
Yet, Downey Jr. told Esquire magazine that what he really wants for his next project is to direct.
I will not be able to remain happy and sedate being whatever — being an increasingly hirable actor type. I think the best thing I could do for my soul and my own development would be to direct.
I'm not sure exactly how things are going to shake out, because it's really easy for me to do landgrabs with my day job, and I still have a lot of passion for it. But if I had to guess, that would probably be my next move.
Downey Jr. claims that directing is "in his blood" from his dad and that getting behind the camera is one of those things that remains "very, very much unrequited." With so many projects lined up, it's anyone's guess when Downey Jr. will take a break from acting and start directing, though Downey Jr. may skip out on Cowboys and Aliens.
Posted 11/12/2009 by Ryan
Related: Robert Downey Jr. | Sherlock Holmes | Iron Man 2 | Cowboys and Aliens | Due Date
-
Tuesday, October 20
Award-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind) has thrown off the shackles of his comic book movie mistake, Batman & Robin, and is forging ahead with multiple comic adaptations. One he's especially excited about is a live-action version of DC Comics' Lobo, a nearly-immortal alien bounty hunter with a penchant for heavy metal, loose women, and extreme violence.
Guy Ritchie (RocknRolla) is attached to direct, and Goldsman told the LA Times that he is excited to see what Ritchie can do with the character.
There's something hyperbolic and authentic about a Guy Ritchie movie. His best movie are deeply, deeply stylized yet they are all grounded; there's a grit of stylization, which sounds like an oxymoron but it makes perfect sense when you've seen his films.
We've never seen Guy's sensibility married to a project with such a large special effects budget.
While no plot details have been released and no casting decisions have been made yet, Goldsman said that at least one phase of pre-production is nearly done.
We've got the character design pretty much done and the test will get us moving forward to the next step.
Next up for Ritchie is Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. Watson.
Posted 10/20/2009 by BrentJS
Related: Akiva Goldsman | Guy Ritchie | Batman & Robin | Sherlock Holmes | Lobo
-
Friday, October 9
From all indications, director Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes is not going to feature the contemplative detective that we have come to know through countless films and TV shows, but rather a more visceral version of the character. Actor Robert Downey Jr., who will portray Holmes to Jude Law's Dr. Watson, said that portraying the character was very demanding.
I am kicking ass for two-and-a-half hours, and all this stuff I've been learning for five years [is applied]. Suddenly, I'm co-choreographing with these veteran stunt guys and bad-asses. And I'm in there, having this meat-eating, man-slaughtering competition with these guys, and then, at the same time, playing a very reserved Brit. And that, to me, was a massive education and just a process.
While Downey Jr. said that his role in Holmes was "technically really difficult," it was his Oscar-nominated role as black-faced Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder that really took its toll on him.
Whatever it was, it was just this massive catharsis for some reason. And then, after that, I was like, "Oh well, now that space is empty." All this kind of venom, rage, discomfort, and hiding behind things stuff kind of went away.
Next Showing: Sherlock Holmes opens December 25
Posted 10/9/2009 by BrentJS
Related: Jude Law | Guy Ritchie | Robert Downey Jr. | Tropic Thunder | Sherlock Holmes
-
Thursday, October 8
Believe it or not, winter is almost here, and along with it comes the studios' typical slate of prestige pictures hoping to garner Awards Season success — but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of surprises. The Box, The Men Who Stare at Goats, and Ninja Assassin promise some fun thrills for the season. Nine, The Road, and Sherlock Holmes look to duke it out for critical accolades. Above all, though, may be the fight between The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Avatar to break box-office records.
Want to know get the full rundown? Check out ReelzChannel's Winter Movie Preview for trailers and info on the movies we'll be talking about for months to come.
Posted 10/8/2009 by reelz
Related: Nine | Avatar | The Road | Sherlock Holmes | Ninja Assassin | The Box | The Twilight Saga: New Moon | The Men Who Stare at Goats
-
Tuesday, September 22
While Sherlock Holmes won't appear in theaters for another three months, Warner Bros. is counting on it to be a hit — so much so that the studio is already moving ahead with plans for a sequel. Word coming from The Hollywood Reporter says they've already hired writers Kieran and Michele Mulroney, and get this: "Brad Pitt has had discussions with producers to star as Holmes' nemesis Moriarty."
We figure this must be more than a rumor because, truth be told, this isn't the first report that Pitt has been connected to the movie. There is some evidence that Brad may actually have a small cameo in this first film to set up the next. It wouldn't surprise us, as that's the way they are doing it in Hollywood these days.
In any case, we hope this one is true because we are intrigued by the thought of a battle of wits between Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock and Brad Pitt as Moriarty.
Next Showing: Sherlock Holmes December 25, 2009
Posted 9/22/2009 by Jim
Related: Brad Pitt | Robert Downey Jr. | Sherlock Holmes
-
Sunday, August 23
Viral marketing has become the best way for studios to tease potential audiences about movies that might otherwise be overlooked. A perfect example is the immersive MNU site that heralded the coming of District 9. Now, director Guy Ritchie's latest film, Sherlock Holmes, has gone viral.
When you enter the site, you are shown five blank boxes and left to figure out the password. (Since there are no clues, we don't feel guility telling you that the password is I-R-E-N-E for Irene Adler, Rachel McAdams' character.) A short video plays, a mysterious hooded man explains the "four indispensable conditions" of the magus (which we won't spoil for you), and then you are asked to enter your age and email address. Doing so rewards you with a crypric message.
Well, what else would you expect from the worlds' greatest detective?
Next Showing: Sherlock Holmes opens December 25
Posted 8/23/2009 by BrentJS
Related: Guy Ritchie | Rachel McAdams | Sherlock Holmes
-
Tuesday, August 18
Despite the recent rumors that the first edit of Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes was so lacking a strong antagonist that Brad Pitt would be brought in to play Holmes' nemesis, Moriarty, a studio spokesman said that the movie is coming along just fine without Pitt.
Brad Pitt is not joining the cast of Sherlock Holmes and we're extremely pleased with the production of the film.
The stars of the movie, Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes), Jude Law (Dr. Watson), and Rachel McAdams (Irene Adler) were recently called back to the Holmes set, but the studio insists that this is not a sign of trouble.
In order to complete the movie, we've scheduled a few days on set to shoot a couple of additional scenes, obtain pick-up shots, and perfect some of the visual effects elements, all of which is standard film-making practice.
Posted 8/18/2009 by BrentJS
Related: Brad Pitt | Jude Law | Robert Downey Jr. | Sherlock Holmes
-
Saturday, August 1
Sadly, it took a divorce from Madonna to get Guy Ritchie to return to feature filmmaking full-force (we're not counting Swept Away). After the Snatch-esque RocknRolla proved he still had the right stuff, Ritchie jumped right into the director's chair on the big-budget period film, Sherlock Holmes.
The thinking-man's detective might seem like an odd fit for Ritchie, the king of hip, modern gangster movies, but Robert Downey Jr. (Holmes) thinks Ritchie was a perfect choice to direct:
I've been around and Guy really knows how to tell a story. He's done complex storytelling very well, and he's got a great visual sense. And, I think that between that stuff and Jude Law and I really, really becoming very close-knit in our preparation for this, and we've got Rachel McAdams playing the diva adventuress. We just had a great cast and we had a fantastic time shooting it.
McAdams plays the love interest in the movie, but at a recent press event she said that the real romance was between Holmes and Watson. Downey Jr. joked along, saying that Holmes and Watson shared "circumstantial homosexuality." He went on to say:
Before Jude said he was going to do the movie, before he said that he was available, before he said that he either did or didn't want to be courted, we just started talking like two serious actors about what would need to happen to make this work as a piece of straight drama.
We just became really close, really quickly, because we just rolled up our sleeves and started working from jump.
Next Showing: Sherlock Holmes opens December 25
Posted 8/1/2009 by BrentJS
Related: Jude Law | Guy Ritchie | Rachel McAdams | Robert Downey Jr. | Sherlock Holmes