Thursday, October 15

• Gavin Hood Says He Has "No Idea" if He'll Direct Wolverine Sequel

  

  Though South African director Gavin Hood's X-Men Origins: Wolverine was beset with troubles, from rumors of frequent arguments with Fox executives to the very real leak of an unfinished cut, the fourth chapter in the X-Men franchise was undoubtedly successful, grossing in excess of $370 million worldwide. Often criticized by fans for his tinkering with the origin of Logan/Wolverine (played by Hugh Jackman) and the character's relationship with Victor Creed/Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber), Hood recently told Rotten Tomatoes that changing the script was essential.

  In the original script they were not half-brothers. There was some resistance to that, because in the world of the comics there's only a small suggestion in one particular comic that Victor Creed and Wolverine may well be half-brothers. I just gravitated to that. Just having one good guy versus bad guy, with no emotional connection just felt like "Whoa — you'll have nothing but punching and kicking." That was a way to build up the emotional power of the film.

  Hood is the logical choice to direct the planned sequel, but he said that he had "no idea" if he would be asked to return.

  All that's happened at the moment is that the studio has just commissioned the script for Wolverine 2 to be written. Whether that film will ever get made will depend on many factors — whether the studio likes the script, whether they find a director who responds to the script. Might that be me? Sure, I'd be extremely interested and thrilled if they were to send it to me.

  
  
  

  X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Trailer

  Trailer for this film based on the comic book superhero

  Posted 10/15/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Liev Schreiber | Gavin Hood | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Monday, October 12

• Bryan Singer to Return to the X-Men?

  Welcome back, prodigal son.

  During a talk at South Korea's Pusan International Film Festival, X-Men and director Bryan Singer revealed that he is looking to return to the franchise he helped create.

  I'm still looking to possibly returning to the X-Men franchise. I've been talking to Fox about it. I love Hugh Jackman. I love the cast.

  Singer was set to direct X-Men: The Last Stand, but left the project to direct Superman Returns, a move Singer admitted he later regretted. Singer said he would like to return to the X-Men because of the social statements he is allowed to make while working in the world of the mutant outcasts.

  The excitement about working in science fiction and fantasy is — the stories, if they are good, are about the human condition. [I like to] trick audiences into thinking they're seeing fireworks, but they're learning about themselves and listening to what I have to say.

  With Singer negotiating with Fox, the only question remains, which X-Men movie will Singer direct? There's plenty of choices with X-Men: First Class, Deadpool, X-Men Origins: Magneto, Wolverine 2, and possibly even X-Men 4 to choose from. Singer has admitted that Magneto's concentration camp background was probably a no-go, and has been considering directing First Class since August.

  While a return for X-Men 4 makes logical sense, there's also the possibility of Wolverine 2, which is currently being written by Singer pal and The Usual Suspects screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie. Gavin Hood directed X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but, Hood told ITN, is not signed on to direct the sequel.

  I think there is a very good chance that another Wolverine movie would be made. Whether I am the director or somebody else is, and whether I'll be available, and whether they'll want me. Nothing has been decided at this point.

  No matter what movie Singer ends up directing, X-Men fans have to be celebrating.

  
  

  Posted 10/12/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Bryan Singer | Christopher McQuarrie | Gavin Hood | X-Men Origins: Magneto | X-Men: First Class | Wolverine 2 | Deadpool

Tuesday, September 29

• Ryan Reynolds Did His Own Swordplay in X-Men Origins: Wolverine

  Gavin Hood says it's no surprise that Ryan Reynolds would get his own spin-off as Deadpool. The X-Men Origins: Wolverine director told MTV that Reynolds' commitment to the role led him to do the majority of his own swordplay.

  [Reynolds spent] the Christmas and New Year's break with the stunt coordinators, because in that scene with the swordplay I think there's only one shot where we used the stuntman. You have to do a heck of a lot of work to work on that swordplay in a very compressed period of time.

  His early efforts were somewhat suspect, so we were quite worried, because those swords were twirling and I thought he was going to cut his arms off. In a matter of weeks [he] was spinning those swords like a pro.

  Hood admits he'd like to work with Reynolds again.

  He's very talented and very pleasant, which makes him a very appealing package.

  Let's hopes audiences agree since Reynolds has not just Deadpool but Green Lantern riding on his appeal for box-office success.

  
  

  Posted 09/29/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Gavin Hood | Ryan Reynolds | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Monday, September 21

• Gavin Hood to Direct X-Men Origins: Magneto?

  After directing the indie Tsotsi and thriller Rendition, Gavin Hood seemed an odd choice to direct X-Men Origins: Wolverine. But then Hood delivered the first breakout hit of the summer, instantly triggering a sequel. Hood told MTV that he wouldn't mind continuing with Marvel's world of mutant characters.

  I think the character of Magneto is still a phenomenally interesting character ... one rooted in childhood trauma and psychologically complex — and one that was superbly played by Ian McKellen. There are certain characters in the X-Men universe whose psychological life is strong and fascinating and complex. I think that's why they're appealing to audiences.

  Magneto screenwriter David Goyer says the movie will start production next year, and with producer Lauren Shuler Donner unable to confirm Hood's involvement with Wolverine 2, Hood may be available to work on Magneto should it start as Goyer predicts. All Fox would have to do is ask.

  Absolutely, if I was asked I'd take an interest. But the truth is I haven't been asked and I think that the studio right now is waiting to see how we do with the [X-Men Origins: Wolverine] DVDs, and who knows where we'll all be if and when a [Wolverine 2] script is ready.

  
  

  Posted 09/21/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Gavin Hood | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | X-Men Origins: Magneto

Sunday, September 13

• X-Men Producer Updates X-Men: First Class, Deadpool and More

  At a promotional event for the Blu-Ray release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, producer Lauren Shuler Donner gave out a few details regarding other X-Men-related movies. Donner has quite a few or them on her plate, including Wolverine 2, Deadpool, X-Men: First Class, and possibly, Donner told IGN, another X-Men:

  I think there are some wonderful storylines I'd like to pursue in X-Men 4 and 5, but who knows? Obviously Fox is my partner, so we're in discussions about what will be next

  As forDeadpool, Shuler sees that spin-off as a reboot, disregarding what happened to the character in Wolverine and instead making "it the Deadpool that's in the comics." Ryan Reynolds is set to play Deadpool again, even after Reynolds was cast in Green Lantern, but Shuler sees no problem with Reynolds playing both roles:

  Not on my end, personally, not on my end, no. I think you can do different characters. We've had different Bonds right, and I think if Harrison Ford can be in Indiana Jones and he can be in the Tom Clancy movies, I think if you are a good actor you become the character and it's alright.

  With X-Men: First Class, Donner would only say that the movie will concern "the X-Men's first class," set " way back when," implying that it would star Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, and Jean Grey, the first X-Men class in the comics, though Donner would not reveal which characters will be included. Bryan Singer has been mentioned as a likely director for First Class, to which Donner would only admit that "there's a possibility" and that Singer would not be too busy with other projects.

  Donner also said Gavin Hood may return to direct Wolverine 2, and that her husband, Richard Donner, director of Superman and Superman II, could return to the comic book world one day:

  He kind of feels like he did, he was very helpful, as you know he came and helped me on [Wolverine] but, look, I would never rule anything out but I don't know. He might, he might go back into the comic world, he might.

  Whatever X-Men movie is next to go into production, shooting will begin next year.

  
  

  Posted 09/13/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Bryan Singer | Lauren Shuler Donner | Richard Donner | Gavin Hood | X-Men: First Class | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Deadpool | X-Men Origins: Deadpool

Monday, April 27

• CLIP: Wolverine's Night Sweats

  A new bit of video from X-Men Origins: Wolverine shows our beloved berserker's dangerous nocturnal habits. While he's not a bed wetter, it would seem that frequent sheet changes are in order.

  
  

  Posted 04/27/2009 by Jim

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Gavin Hood | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Friday, April 17

• Gavin Hood's Origins Inspired by Source Material

  When it comes to movies based on comic books, fans of the original source material are typically the most critical audience and have been very vocal about errors or perceived "continuity flaws" in the adapted works in the past. Gavin Hood, director of the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie from 20th Century Fox, was all-too-aware of this going into the project. To the delight of fans, the comic books that provided inspiration for the film are two of the most acclaimed stories in Marvel Comics' Wolverine mythos. In a recent interview with Wizard magazine, Hood director said:

  The two [comics] that most inform our movie are the Origin story and the Weapon X [story]. But I think we [could have spent] and entire movie just on that first Origin series, so I think that it would be fair to say that our movie's inspired by those two series rather than absolutely true to them.

  When dealing with a character that has lived an exceedingly long life, the healthy use of flashback sequences is essential. When asked what criteria was used to select the important moments in Wolverine's development, Hood said:

  We needed to move [Wolverine] through from about 1860 when he's born as James Howlett through the late '70s, early '80s, when our story principally takes place. So it's certainly not an endless "Logan Through Time" story by no means. We had a story set in the not too distant past...so the bulk of our story...happens between him and his brother and Striker. But we do meet him in the original moment of getting his claws, which I thought was exciting.

  X-Men Origins: Wolverine stars Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine, Liev Schreiber as Victor Creed/Sabretooth, Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson/Deadpool and Taylor Kitsch as Remy LeBeau/Gambit.

  
  
  Next Showing: X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens May 1
  

  Reelz Clip

  Hugh Jackman Stars - Releasing May 1, 2009

  Posted 04/17/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Gavin Hood | X-Men: The Last Stand | X-Men | X2: X-Men United

Monday, April 13

• Gavin Hood Promises Surprises in Origins

  When the news that an unfinished copy of the final cut of X-Men Origins: Wolverine had hit the Internet, 20th Century Fox scrambled to remove the copies from file sharing sites and track down the source of the leak, even involving the FBI in the process. A spokesman for Fox stated:

  The source of the initial leak and any subsequent postings will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

  However, despite the fact that an estimated half-million copies of the film were downloaded, there are still plenty of surprises in store for fans. In a recent interview with Wizard magazine, director Gavin Hood promised that even those who had seen the unfinished pirated version hadn't seen everything:

  Don't leave before the credits are over. Now I say that and I better not be in trouble, because you do realize that I'm not done with the editing process and the studio still has to sign off on everything. But, yes, Hugh [Jackman] and I have a couple Easter egss somewhere in there.

  X-Men Origins: Wolverine stars Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine, Liev Schreiber as Victor Creed/Sabretooth, Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson/Deadpool and Taylor Kitsch as Remy LeBeau/Gambit.

  
  
  Next Showing: X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens May 1

  Posted 04/13/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Liev Schreiber | Gavin Hood | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Wednesday, April 1

• Jessica Biel to Play Wolverina in X-Men Origins: Wolverine Sequel

  Last night's announcement by director Gavin Hood that a deal had been penned to secure him for a follow-up to his upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine film was met with equal parts enthusiasm and confusion by fans and critics alike.

  Genre movie aficionados and comic book purists were ecstatic when it was first announced that Hugh Jackman would be reprising his role as Wolverine in an X-Men spin-off film, and critics praised the project when the award-winning director of Tsotsi (2005) was attached to direct.

  However, Hood's recent statements have put support of his vision for the franchise into question. Hood said:

  I want to explore the legacy of this man, of a man who lives forever. We (all) leave something behind.

  So, this character, this feral girl, is something that Logan left behind ... that's come back to haunt him. (For) the choices he's made.

  When asked about the character further, Hood called her "Wolverina" and said that he was currently in talks with Jessica Biel (The Illusionist) to play the role:

  Jessica's delightful. She's got great instincts and would really be able to flesh out the character.

  There is no such character as "Wolverina" in the original Marvel Comics source material, which has left many fans scratching their heads.

  Happy April Fool's Day!

  
  
  Next Showing: X-Men Origins: Wolverine slashes into theaters May 1, 2009

  Posted 04/01/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Jessica Biel | Gavin Hood | X2: X-Men United | X-Men: The Last Stand | X-Men | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Friday, January 16

• Wolverine Reshoots Update

  X-Men Origins: Wolverine reshoots have been planned since December, but details about the reshoots were minimal, raising speculation that the movie was in trouble. Rumors that Superman director Richard Donner was brought in as a "directing consultant" for Gavin Hood didn't help. Donner quickly debunked the rumor, saying "I was there to do nothing but help Gavin anyway I could, as a producer and never as a director. I would never step on another director, and I didn't go until Gavin asked me to come over and help him. He called me in L.A. and I said, 'Hey, pal, I'm on my way.' He's a good buddy of mine right now."

  Still, with 10 days of filming starting on January 12 in Vancouver, speculation abounds. Collider called the reshoots "extensive," while FOX downplayed them, saying that the reshoots were always planned and telling Collider they are "intended to capture specific weather conditions." But what exactly are they shooting?

  PopWrapBlog spoke to cast member Dominic Monaghan and asked whether the ten days were just for reshoots or new scenes. Monaghan responded: "We're doing a bit of both, more than anything else, it's an additional scene which I would get shot in the head if I told you anything about. But my character features in a huge set piece with Hugh [Jackman] and Liev [Schreiber]. I think the best thing I can tell you is that it's a flashback scene."

  With other X-Men movies dependent on Wolverine's success, let's hope whatever they're doing works.

  
  
  Next Showing: X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens May 1, 2009

  Posted 01/16/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Richard Donner | Dominic Monaghan | Gavin Hood | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Superman

Tuesday, February 19

• Wolverine's cast expands yet again

  Methinks things are starting to get a bit nutty down Wolverine Way. The already robust cast of X-Men Origins: Wolverine is swelling to Altman-like proportions with today's news, courtesy of Variety, that Friday Night Lights' Taylor Kitsch and the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am have joined Gavin Hood's X-Men spinoff, in the roles of Gambit and Wraith, respectively.

  The logic behind Marvel attaching the prefix "X-Men Origins" to the title is starting to emerge. Rather than a full-fledged spinoff, Wolverine is looking more and more like just another ensemble X-Men flick.

  Source: Variety

  
  

  Posted 02/19/2008 by reelz

  Related: Taylor Kitsch | Gavin Hood | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Monday, February 18

• Will Wolverine battle The Blob?

  It seems that X-Men Origins: Wolverine news is emanating from all over the web these days. The latest scoop comes from filmschoolrejects.com, which is reporting that B-list Marvel villain The Blob will likely make a cameo in Gavin Hood's Wolverine prequel.

  From what we could gather from Marvel's official site, The Blob's "super powers" essentially consist of tough skin and morbid obesity -- the former presumably developed in response to the ridicule he received as a result of the latter.

  According to filmschoolrejects, footage has already been shot of a guy wearing a fat suit tailored to make him appear to be in the 800 lb. range., with producers reportedly looking at (presumably digital) ways to bump him up to a full metric ton. Never mind CGI -- a few trips to KFC should do the trick.

  
  

  Posted 02/18/2008 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Gavin Hood | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Wednesday, October 24

• Hood aiming for a "grand and operatic" Wolverine flick

  If director Gavin Hood gets his way, expect the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine to differ dramatically in tone from 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand.

  Speaking last week to Secret's Out guest host Aisha Tyler, Hood described his Wolverine as "a person who's really suffering from a great deal of existential angst, who wants to lash out and yet hates himself for doing so...his battle is within his own nature."

  Referencing ancient Greek lore, the Rendition director laid out his ambitious plan for the highly anticipated X-Men prequel, in which Hugh Jackman will reprise his trademark role. "These characters are modern mythological characters that represent human emotion in a grand and somewhat operatic way," Hood said of the inhabitants of Wolverine's comic book universe. "And if we can access that and combine it with some good action and some great cinematography and music and sound and so on, then we could have an exciting, emotional movie."

  "Exciting and emotional" sounds pretty good, especially when contrasted with Brett Ratner's controversial "shallow and bombastic" approach toward X-Men 3.

  
  
  Next Showing: X-Men Origins: Wolverine is set for a May 2009 release.
  

  A Chat with the Director of Wolverine

  Gavin Hood gives Aisha Tyler an exclusive update.

  Posted 10/24/2007 by reelz

  Related: Leonard Maltin's Secret's Out | Hugh Jackman | Gavin Hood | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Rendition

Friday, October 19

• Secret's Out with guest host Aisha Tyler and her special guest, director Gavin Hood!

  On today's episode of Secret's Out, guest host Aisha Tyler talks with the director of Rendition, Gavin Hood.

  He talks about what it was like directing Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal and Meryl Streep, as well as his previous directing effort, the Oscar winning Tsotsi.

  
  
  Next Showing: A new Secret's Out airs every Friday @ 5PM PT, 8PM ET.
  

  Rendition - Trailer

  What if someone you knew just... "disappeared?"

  Posted 10/19/2007 by

  Related: Leonard Maltin's Secret's Out | Gavin Hood | Aisha Tyler | Rendition

Thursday, October 18

• Movie news: X-Men Origins and The Burning Plain

  It's true, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is getting off the ground. Gavin Hood, who headed up this weekend's political thriller, Rendition, is the unlikely choice to direct this fanboy prequel that will explore the 'violent and romantic' early years of Wolverine. 

  Hugh Jackman will be reprising his role and Liev Schreiber is close to nailing down a deal to play a young William Stryker. Shooting is scheduled for Australia, New Zealand, and New Orleans, which is leading some to speculate that the character of Gambit might be making an appearance.

  In other news, Kim Basinger has signed on to join Charlize Theron in Guillermo Arriaga's directorial premiere, The Burning Plain. Arriaga, who wrote Babel, also wrote The Burning Plain, which follows a womaon who tries to repair her relationship with her parents after a troubling childhood. Basinger will play Theron's mother.

  Source: Variety.

  
  
  Next Showing: X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens May 1, 2009.
  

  In the Valley of Elah trailer

  Charlize Theron currently stars in this movie.

  Posted 10/18/2007 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Liev Schreiber | Guillermo Arriaga | Charlize Theron | Kim Basinger | Gavin Hood | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | The Burning Plain

Friday, July 20

• Wolverine gets a director

  Looks like Wolverine, the upcoming X-Men spin-off exploring the origins of Hugh Jackman's character, finally has director. Variety reports that South African director Gavin Hood, whose 2005 flick Tsotsi won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, snagged the prized gig after Fox execs caught a glimpse of his latest film, Rendition, a political thriller set to open in October.

  Fox must have really liked what they saw in Rendition. Hood's a newcomer to the comic book world with no previous genre experience. It'll be interesting to see how he approaches the Wolverine character.

  Wolverine is currently slated for a November 2008 release.

  
  

  Posted 07/20/2007 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Gavin Hood | X-Men: The Last Stand | X2: X-Men United | X-Men