Wednesday, November 4

• Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin to Host Oscars

  Hugh Jackman, just a few days ago, refused a repeat performance as Oscar host. Yesterday, Cinema Blend reported that Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. had also been offered the job, but turned it down.

  The report closed on a positive note, citing that at least the choice indicated a push towards a younger, hipper direction. In retrospect, this statement is as funny as it is wrong. Why? Because the Academy announced a short time later that its choices for next year's hosts are ... Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.

  Scratch your head. Raise a furrowed brow. Begin discussions of all the odd-couple pairings in TV and movie history. Producer Bill Mechanic had this to say about the selections, made with co-producer Adam Shankman:

  Adam and I, from our first meeting on, knew we wanted an emphasis on comedy. If we err in any one direction, we want to take a show that can feel long and boring at times and make it feel shorter and more fun. The idea of two co-hosts who could move things along just seemed like a great idea.

  In its write-up of the story, The Hollywood Reporter cited some nifty Oscar trivia, pointing out that this would not be the first time the telecast featured multiple hosts. The very first Oscar ceremony in 1929 was hosted by Douglas Fairbanks and William C. de Mille. Jerry Lewis and Celeste Holm shared duties in 1957, although they were in different locations (Lewis in Los Angeles, Holm in New York).

  In 1972, the Academy chose the trio of Sammy Davis Jr., Helen Hayes, and Alan King, and again went for a trifecta in 1987 with Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, and Paul Hogan.

  In response to Tuesday's decision, Martin quipped, "I am happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy Alec Baldwin." Baldwin followed by saying, "I don't play the banjo, but I'm thrilled to be hosting the Oscars."

  
  

  Posted 11/04/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Adam Shankman | Alec Baldwin | Ben Stiller | Hugh Jackman | Steve Martin | Robert Downey Jr. | Bill Mechanic

Friday, October 30

• Hugh Jackman Will Not Host Oscars Next Year

  

  Disappointing news for everyone who enjoyed Hugh Jackman's performance as this past year's Oscar host: Variety confirms that the 41-year-old, Aussie star will not reprise the role next year. The upside is that even though Jackman won't be the main attraction when next year's award show broadcasts on March 7, he may host in the future.

  For now, he's concentrating on completing his role in the Broadway show A Steady Rain, in which he stars opposite Daniel Craig. The show wraps up on December 6, at which point Jackman will begin preparations for his role as a boxer and promoter in the sci-fi action thriller Real Steel. The movie is being directed by Night at the Museum's Shawn Levy and takes place in a future where human fighters have been replaced by robots.

  
  

  Posted 10/30/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Shawn Levy | Daniel Craig

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

• Robert Pattinson and Hugh Jackman Have a Karaoke Competition

  Actor Hugh Jackman's penchant for singing and dancing is well known, as is the musical side of Robert Pattinson, who recorded tracks for the Twilight and New Moon soundtracks. But singing karaoke ... to ABBA? According to what Pattinson told the Sydney Morning Herald, that's exactly what the two actors did to bond in anticipation of starring together in actress Madeleine Stowe's directorial debut, Unbound Captives.

  We met up in Japan and we went karaoke singing. We were singing ABBA songs, it was pretty funny. It was sort of an ABBA song sing-off, you know, last man standing.

  So who won the competition, Edward Cullen or Wolverine? Apparently, claws beat fangs when it comes to Swedish pop.

  I think [Hugh] won, only because he can drink more than me and still sing in tune. He's a cool guy and I'm really looking forward to that film.

  Stowe also wrote the screenplay for Unbound Captives, which is expected to begin filming before the end of the year. Rachel Weisz and Garret Dillahunt also star.

  
  

  Posted 10/12/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Madeleine Stowe | Robert Pattinson | Unbound Captives | The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Thursday, October 1

• Hugh Jackman May Join Robot Boxing Movie Real Steel

  Actor Hugh Jackman is currently in negotiations to appear in the latest movie by director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum).

  Real Steel takes place in a near-future world where human boxers have been replaced by robot fighters. Jackman would play an ex-fighter who becomes a Robot Boxing promoter and discovers a junked robot that simply can't lose in the ring. Jackman's character climbs his way to the top of the Robot Boxing circuit while getting acquainted with a 13-year-old son that he never knew he had.

  The original Dan Gilroy Real Steel script has been rewritten twice, first by Les Bohem and then by John Gatins. Levy will produce with Angry Films’ Don Murphy and Susan Montford. Steven Spielberg will executive produce, with ImageMovers' Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke, and Steve Starkey.

  
  

  Posted 10/01/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Shawn Levy

Monday, September 28

• Daniel Craig, Hugh Jackman Battle Cell Phone Rudeness During a Performance

  We'll say this about our current 007 and Wolverine: They sure know how to keep cool and remain professional, even in situations that would send the average Joe into a fit of rage.

  Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman were put into an awkward position recently during a stage performance of A Steady Rain by Keith Huff, which the two are currently starring in on Broadway. Things went awry when a cell phone went off in the middle of the performance, much to the dismay of audience and performer alike.

  It seems that rather than risk embarrassment, the perpetrator decided that he/she would let the phone continue to ring, hoping that either the caller would stop trying or the phone would divert to voicemail. Neither happened, and Jackman and Craig realized that it was, unfortunately, time to break character and address the inconsiderate patron.

  TMZ.com got ahold of the video, and we've included it below. We're amazed at how smoothly and humorously Craig and Jackman deal with the situation, tossing out improv one-liners that get the audience laughing.

  
  

  Posted 09/28/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Daniel Craig | Hugh Jackman

Monday, September 14

• Hugh Jackman Announces Wolverine 2 Auditions in Japan

  

  While in Tokyo to promote the Japanese theatrical release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, actor Hugh Jackman confirmed that the planned sequel will take place in Japan, as foreshadowed at the end of the first picture. Jackman also dropped a bit of potentially interesting information for any aspiring actors in attendance.

  Hopefully, maybe a couple of years down the track, the next Wolverine movie we think will be set in Japan. I'm very excited and I'd like to invite you all to the audition. There are going to be many parts and we're writing the script right now ... and we'll let you know when we're ready to shoot.

  
  
  

  X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Trailer

  Hugh Jackman Stars - Now In Theaters

  Posted 09/14/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Wolverine 2

Thursday, August 13

• Wolverine 2 Gets Screenwriter for "Sexier" Sequel

  THR reports that Christopher McQuarrie will write the script for the upcoming sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine. McQuarrie will be responsible for adapting the storyline from the 1982 Wolverine comic book mini-series by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller that was hinted at briefly in a post-credits sequence in Wolverine. McQuarrie is no stranger to the X-Men universe, having done an uncredited re-write on 2000's X-Men.

  Hugh Jackman has been staunchly in favor of the Japan storyline since the subject of a Wolverine sequel was raised, and promises that Wolverine 2 will be "fairly faithful" to the Miller-Clarmont book, though Jackmand says they will have to "pick and choose" portions of the story to cover.

  [Wolverine 2] will be very different from the last Wolverine movie, and that's what I like about it. I didn't want it to feel like the same thing.... It's a whole new environment and the storyline is unbelievable. Like all the Wolverine and X-Men stories, they're long. If you put together all the Japan saga stories, it's so long.

  One way Wolverine 2 will be like its predeccessor is in its supporting cast. "There will be a lot of new mutants," said Jackman. However, if Wolverine 2 stays faithful to the comics, Jackman claims that it will also be a much steamier Wolverine than before.

  Parts of that story were pretty dark. I don't know if it's the darkest, but I'm going to go out on a limb right now and say I think it will be the sexiest. There's some female companionship — and not just one — for Wolverine.... My wife might have an issue with it, but I think the fans will like it.

  Jackman says that Wolverine 2 can be expected to reach theaters in 2012. "If you look at the history [of the X-Men movies], it's been every three years — three years exactly."

  
  

  Posted 08/13/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Frank Miller | Christopher McQuarrie | Wolverine 2 | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | X-Men

Tuesday, August 11

• Hugh Jackman Talks Wolverine Sequel

  After the box-office success of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a sequel was immediately put into production. Hugh Jackman spoke to MTV to briefly update the progress on the Wolverine sequel:

  Japan is where we're heading, [and] we're starting to work on it now. We're in ... the first steps of developing that story. I think the fans love that saga. It's my favorite saga of the Wolverine stories. That's a movie I've longed to make from the beginning, so that's where we're heading.

  The story Jackman is referencing is a four-issue comic book series written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Frank Miller in 1982. In it, Wolverine heads to Japan to confront a lost love and ends up battling her father and a ninja clan called The Hand.

  No director or writer details has been mentioned, nor has a release date been given.

  
  

  Posted 08/11/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Frank Miller | Wolverine 2 | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Thursday, July 16

• Wolverine Hawking Makeup Door to Door?

  Talk about your change in roles. Super-Aussie Hugh Jackman, hot off his performance as the bristling, beer-guzzling slicer-dicer Wolverine in X-Men Origins: Wolverine has signed up for a role as ... an Avon salesman.

  Jackman will play a laid-off auto salesman who reluctantly becomes an Avon representative and survives emasculating humiliation to become a top earner, saving his family from financial ruin.

  Comedy writer Kevin Bisch (Hitch) pitched Avon Man to 20th Century Fox and they acquired the rights with Bisch attached as screenwriter. Jackman and Seed Productions' John Palermo will produce with Krasnoff Foster Entertainment.

  
  

  Posted 07/16/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Avon Man

Monday, June 29

• The Boys of Summer: 11 Movie All-Stars

  Nothing says summer like blockbuster movies and baseball. We've taken the natural next step of combining them into one. Looking at the biggest names of the 2009 Summer Movies, we put together our roster of The Boys of Summer: 11 Movie All-Stars.

  Like all Dream Teams, there was a limited number of slots on ours. If your favorite didn't make the roster, he may still be playing AAA (minor league) or have been put on the DL (Disabled List) for the season. Perhaps he'll make the team next year.

  
  

  Posted 06/29/2009 by reelz

  Related: Brad Pitt | Christian Bale | Daniel Radcliffe | Denzel Washington | Hugh Jackman | Johnny Depp | Matthew McConaughey | Tom Hanks | Eric Bana | Gerard Butler | Ryan Reynolds

Wednesday, May 13

• Robert Pattinson Joins Unbound Captives

  Robert Pattinson has apparently signed on to appear in period drama Unbound Captives, alongside Hugh Jackman (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and Rachel Weisz (The Mummy).

  Production on the movie is due to start at the end of the year, which leaves just enough time for Pattinson to finish New Moon promotional duties. Rumor has it he accepted the part last fall, before he shot to instant fame with Twilight.

  To be written and directed by Madeleine Stowe, Unbound Captives sees the widow Weisz's two children captured by a Comanche war party in 1859. Jackman plays the frontiersman who rescues her, with Pattinson taking on the role of the son.

  Things are looking good for the young British actor, who was also recently linked with 2010's Dune update. We're betting he's glad he auditioned for that little project called Twilight. Unlike co-star Kristen Stewart, he knows when he's got a good thing going.

  
  

  Posted 05/13/2009 by Jenny

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Madeleine Stowe | Robert Pattinson | Rachel Weisz | Unbound Captives

Tuesday, May 5

• Wolverine Sequel Already in the Works, and More Plans for Hugh Jackman

  Earlier today, Empire reported that plans for a sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine are already underway. The story will take place in Japan, with Wolverine learning the ways of the Samurai and falling in love with the daughter of a Yakuza family.

  Empire also reported that Hugh Jackman has a slew of projects forthcoming. These include Drive, in which he'll play a race-car driver/getaway man; Personal Security, in which he'll play a thick-skinned detective serving as a bodyguard to a spoiled teenage girl; and Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical Carousel, in which he'll play the male lead, Billy Bigelow.

  
  

  Posted 05/05/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Drive | Carousel | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Personal Security

Monday, May 4

• Other X-Men Actors Want Back in the Franchise

  After X-Men Origins: Wolverine's huge opening weekend, it's no surprise that Hugh Jackman's co-stars from the original X-Men trilogy would like to follow in Jackman's footsteps. Halle Berry told WENN would like her character Storm to have her own X-Men Origins movie:

  I think that would be great. Storm deserves her own movie -- if I can still fit into the suit.

  Shawn Ashmore, Iceman in the X-Men movies, told SciFiWire that he is "contracted" for another X-Men and would "absolutely love to play that character again." However, Ashmore hopes to break into one of the X-Men Origins movies since he doesn't believe X-Men 4 will ever happen:

  As far as an X4, that's been debated and talked about forever. I don't think an X-Men 4 will happen, and that's my opinion. That's not anything I've heard from anybody official. I just know how tough it was to get everybody together scheduling-wise for [X-Men: The Last Stand]. There's just so many major actors involved. I think that's just such a challenge.

  Ashmore feels there's little chance for Iceman in X-Men: First Class as well:

  I heard rumors about a young-X-Men movie, and then I heard it was going to be something taking place in the past. So even though Iceman and Bobby Drake are a big part storyline-wise, the way that they set up that character in the series, he's much younger than the other characters. I'm just not sure how realistic that would be. Clearly I'm getting older, so if they were to do that, I'm sure that they would cast a younger actor.

  If Wolverine keeps up its tremendous success, Fox will likely make any and all X-Men related movies.

  
  

  Posted 05/04/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Halle Berry | Hugh Jackman | Shawn Ashmore | X-Men: The Last Stand | X-Men | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | X2: X-Men United

• Hugh Jackman Will Produce and Star in Disney's Ghostopolis

  Hot off the heels of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which pulled in $87 million at the box office this past weekend, Hugh Jackman will next produce and star in Disney's adaptation of Doug TenNapel's graphic novel Ghostopolis. No writer has yet been attached to the project.

  Jackman will portray a man who works for the Supernatural Immigration Task Force, which apprehends ghosts who have escaped to the world of the living and sends them back to Ghostopolis. The story advances when a living boy mistakenly ends up in Ghostopolis, and Jackman must team up with a deceased romantic interest to get the boy back.

  According to The Hollywood Reporter, TenNapel has several other of his family-friendly works prepped for big-screen adaptation, such as Tommysaurus Rex, Creature Tech, and Monster Zoo.

  
  

  Posted 05/04/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Doug TenNapel | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Sunday, May 3

• Wolverine's Hugh Jackman Promotes Reading Comics

  Hundreds of thousands of comic book fans across the continent flocked to participating vendors yesterday in celebration of Free Comic Book Day. It didn't hurt that X-Men Origins: Wolverine star Hugh Jackman invited children to take part:

  
  

  Posted 05/03/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Thursday, April 30

• X-Men Origins: Wolverine - The Musical

  Could this be the reason why 20th Century Fox tried to keep people from seeing the leaked version of X-Men Origins: Wolverine? Maybe they hadn't yet edited out all the singing and dancing.

  
  

  Posted 04/30/2009 by Jim

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Tuesday, April 28

• 4 New Clips from Wolverine

  With the big day in sight, Fox is releasing more clips of X-Men Origins: Wolverine to excite the fans (at least those not ravenous enough to download the leaked workprint). Check them out below:

  Here's Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), pre-adamantium surgery:

  Here, Blob (Kevin Durand) gets sensitive:

  Wolverine meets Gambit (Taylor Kitsch):

  This scene follows the previously released helicopter sequence:

  
  
  Next Showing: X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens Friday

  Posted 04/28/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Danny Huston | Hugh Jackman | Taylor Kitsch | Kevin Durand | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

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

• Hugh Jackman's Wolverine Inspired by Robert De Niro

  

  Only the most jaded moviegoer wouldn't be impressed by the physical transformation Hugh Jackman underwent to portray Logan/Wolverine in the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine film. Rising at four in the morning day-in-and-day-out for months on end to harden his 40-year-old body to portray our favorite feral Canadian is the kind of dedication that only the most talented method actors have accomplished, putting him in a class with actors like Daniel Day Lewis (My Left Foot), Christian Bale (The Machinist), and Robert De Niro (Raging Bull).

  In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jackman credited De Niro's performance in another body-altering film as inspiration for his work on Origins. Jackman said:

  I wanted to look like De Niro did when he took off his shirt in Cape Fear and everyone went, "Whoa." You realized the guy was a freak.

  Of course, bulging biceps and angry screams aren't quite enough to sell a movie (any of the last dozen Van Damme movies are proof of that), or to keep the interest of an actor as talented and in-demand as Jackman:

  Wolverine's fun and cool, but I wouldn't be down for my fourth time doing it if there wasn't something more interesting to it than just slicing and dicing and smoking a cigar and saying a few cool lines.

  Despite the recent leak of an unfinished copy of the film on the Internet, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is expected to be a major hit, helping to kick off the summer blockbuster season.

  
  
  

  X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Trailer

  Hugh Jackman Stars - Releasing May 1, 2009

  Posted 04/27/2009 by BrentJS

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

Friday, April 24

• New Wolverine Clip Ruins the Sheets

  X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a week away from release, and Fox is whetting the appetite of fans by releasing short, unedited clips of the movie. The previous clip showed a longer version of the helicopter sequence featured in the trailer, while this clip shows why sharing a bed with Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) can be dangerous.

  
  

  Posted 04/24/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Wednesday, April 22

• 9 Wolverine Character Spots

  If you've been watching TV at all, you've likely been inundated with commercials for the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie. In fact, there are so many running ad nauseam that you may have tuned out the best ones: character spotlights for each of the main mutants.

  Never fear, we're watching out for you. All 9 of the Wolverine character spots have been gathered up by our friends at ComicBookMovie.com. Here is the breakout favorite, Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson, a.k.a. Deadpool.

  
  

  Posted 04/22/2009 by Jim

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Ryan Reynolds | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Tuesday, April 21

• X-Men Origins: Wolverine Roll Call

  X-Men Origins: Wolverine debuts in less than two weeks and is expected to be a big hit, helping to kick off the summer blockbuster season. To help acquaint the uninitiated with the large cast of new mutants, Fox and USA Weekend have released a new trailer spotlighting several of the main characters.

  
  
  

  

  Wolverine/Logan (Hugh Jackman): Long-living feral hero with a healing factor, indestructible bones and razor-sharp claws.

  Sabretooth/Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber): Long-living feral villain with a healing factor and razor-sharp claws.

  Col. William Stryker (Danny Huston): Career military who views mutants as a threat to be "eradicated."

  Deadpool/Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds): The "merc with a mouth" who undergoes transformations throughout the film.

  Gambit/Remy LeBeau (Taylor Kitsch): Thief and card shark who can charge items he touches with destructive power.

  Emma Frost (Tahyna Tozzi): Teenage telepath who can turn her skin to diamond.

  John Wraith (Will.I.Am): A teleporter and friend to Wolverine.

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

  Reelz Clip

  Hugh Jackman Stars - Releasing May 1, 2009

  Posted 04/21/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Danny Huston | Hugh Jackman | Liev Schreiber | Ryan Reynolds

Saturday, April 18

• New Wolverine Photos & Clip

  For those that didn't tempt an FBI investigation by downloading the X-Men Origins: Wolverine work print, it's still possible to see 20 brand new photos of the movie plus an extended scene of Wolverine in action originally posted on the Papa John's website.

  
  

  Posted 04/18/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Daniel Henney | 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 | X2: X-Men United | X-Men: The Last Stand

Tuesday, April 14

• 5 Videos Introduce X-Men Origins: Wolverine Characters

  For those remaining that haven't seen the pirated version of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, MTV has revealed 5 character clips from the upcoming movie that introduce John Wraith (Will.I.Am), Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), Gambit (Taylor Kitsch), Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber) and, of course, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). Check them out in rapid succession below:

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

  Posted 04/14/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Liev Schreiber | Taylor Kitsch | Ryan Reynolds | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

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

Tuesday, April 7

• Hugh Jackman 'Heartbroken' About Wolverine Leak

  In the wake of the April Fool's Day Internet leak of an unfinished version of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Fox called the FBI to hunt down the person responsible for the leak, sibling company Fox News fired a columnist who wrote a glowing review of the pirated movie, and now, Hugh Jackman has publicly condemned the leak.

  On a promotional tour for Wolverine in his native Australia, Jackman showed 20 minutes of footage from the movie and spoke out about the pirated version.

  It's a serious crime and there's no doubt it's very disappointing -- I was heartbroken by it. Obviously people are seeing an unfinished film. It's like a Ferrari without a paint job.

  Fox has a lot riding on Wolverine's success. Three potential movies - X-Men Origins: Magneto, X-Men: First Class and Deadpool - will live or die if Wolverine dies at the box office, not to mention other Wolverine sequels. Considering the almost one million downloads of the unfinished version, Fox is justifiably nervous.

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

  Posted 04/07/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Deadpool | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | X-Men Origins: Magneto | X-Men: First Class

Wednesday, April 1

• Win Hugh for YOUR Hometown!

  Hugh Jackman explains how you can win a premiere of X-Men Origins: Wolverine to be shown in your hometown, complete with the stars of the movie in attendance -- including the Sexiest Man Alive.

  
  

  Posted 04/01/2009 by Jim

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

• 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 | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | X2: X-Men United | X-Men: The Last Stand | X-Men

Tuesday, March 31

• A Girl's Guide to the Top 5 Comic Book Movie Hero Hotties

  

  Tory Shulman is the host of ReelzChannel TV's Movie Mob and occasionally shares her comic insights.

  You men. You love watching those thinly clad Super Heroines kick, twirl, and punch the bad guys, don't you? The less pleather, the better. Am I right? So I'm here to tell you to enjoy your slinky Catwoman and your rugged Lara Crofts. We ladies (and some men) are perfectly content to watch these five hero hotties for as long as it takes for you to realize that Halle Berry is never going to call you.

  
  

  Posted 03/31/2009 by reelz

  Related: Christian Bale | Hugh Jackman | Christopher Reeve | Robert Downey Jr. | Gerard Butler | Tory Shulman | The Dark Knight | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Iron Man | Superman | 300

Monday, March 30

• 8 New Pics from X-Men Origins: Wolverine

  Get ready for a promotional push from 20th Century Fox as they ramp up for the newest X-Men flick, which will be slashing its way into theaters at the end of April.

  We've been seeing a slew of new TV spots for X-Men Origins: Wolverine on the boob tube lately, and now eight new pics have appeared online.

  If you've been an avid hunter of Wolverine media, you'll notice that we've seen these scenes before in previous pics and commercials, but they are indeed newish angles of the actors.

  
  

  Posted 03/30/2009 by Jim

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Ryan Reynolds | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Thursday, March 26

• Newest Wolverine TV Spot Reveals Online Video Game

  20th Century Fox has started the familiar viral marketing campaign for X-Men Origins: Wolverine with the latest TV spot which leads fans to X-MenOrigins.com/TimeWarrior, where you can play an online video game.

  
  

  Posted 03/26/2009 by Jim

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Monday, March 16

• X-Men Origins: Wolverine Reshoots Explained

  When word first got out about the reshoots for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, rumors started flying that the movie was in trouble, prompting Hugh Jackman to issue a message defending the reshoots. Ryan Reynolds has set the record straight, telling LatinoReview that while the reshoots did involve Reynolds' character Deadpool, they had been planned from the beginning:

  When they approached me to play Deadpool, I was committed to doing two other movies. So the idea was to shoot the Deadpool stuff after principal photography had finished. So in effect, they weren't really reshoots, they were just additional shots. Scenes we needed to pick up. They didn't add really anything beyond the script.

  Deadpool fans will also be glad to hear that, while promotional photos depict a clean-faced Reynolds, Deadpool's signature scars will make it into the movie. "Ya, he's scarred up," said Reynolds. "You're gonna see the scars. That's all in there."

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

  Posted 03/16/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Ryan Reynolds | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Friday, March 13

• 3 New X-Men Origins: Wolverine Photos

  Marvel has revealed three new photos for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, including pics of William Stryker (Danny Huston, Gambit (Taylor Kitsch), and Agent Zero (Daniel Henney).

  With a new trailer already released, these photos plus the ones of Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), Silver Fox (Lynn Collins), Wraith (Will. I. Am.), Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber), and Wolverine himself (Hugh Jackman), may be all we get for a while.

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

  Posted 03/13/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Danny Huston | Hugh Jackman | Liev Schreiber | Taylor Kitsch | Lynn Collins | Ryan Reynolds | Daniel Henney | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Thursday, March 5

• New Wolverine Trailer Spoils Cyclops

  The newest trailer for X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a showcase for the mutants in the movie, and spoils some big plot details -- namely, that a young Cyclops plays heavily in the flick.

  Comic book movie fans know the character of Cyclops as a founding member of the X-Men, and Logan's rival for the love of telekinetic team member Jean Grey.

  
  

  Posted 03/05/2009 by Jim

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Monday, March 2

• Robert Pattinson Sings with the Wolverine

  While, thankfully, Robert Pattison wasn't involved with any of the Oscars' scary musical numbers, he did sing with Hugh Jackman last week. While in Tokyo to promote Twilight with Kristen Stewart, Pattison ran into Hugh Jackman at a karaoke bar and sang a tune.
  

  Jackman was there with Nicole Kidman for the Australia premiere. He was doing some post-premiere karaoke at a bar, when the Twilight cast rolled in at 1 a.m. and joined in. No word on what they sang.

  
  

  Posted 03/02/2009 by Hailey

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Robert Pattinson | Kristen Stewart | The Twilight Saga: New Moon | Australia

• How Does Hugh Jackman Get So Ripped?

  Hugh Jackman is looking dangerous in these three new pics for the X-spin-off Wolverine movie.

  It is clear from the buff photos that Jackman has earned his title as People's Sexiest Man Alive through blood, sweat and tears.

  Want to know what he does to get his buff bod? Here's the Wolverine diet and exercise plan:

  I get up at 4am and eat egg whites, then every three hours after that. I have a combination of protein or steamed vegetables and brown rice. Then after midday, no rice or carbohydrates. It's just vegetables and meat or fish... I train for an hour and a half a day, five days a week - weights, treadmill, rowing, everything. Then I do what my trainer calls 'a play session' on the sixth, which previously would have killed me in itself.

  If you've already blown our new year's resolution for fitness, print out these pics and let Hugh be your inspiration.

  
  

  Posted 03/02/2009 by Jim

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Thursday, February 26

• 8 Whole Seconds of Terminator Salvation

  It seems like only days ago that Hugh Jackman was wrapping up the Oscars with a montage of upcoming movies of 2009. Included in it was Terminator Salvation with a exciting 8 seconds of new footage. Check it out:

  A thrilling 8 seconds! It's a good thing that Terminator Salvation will arrive in theaters a day early, May 21 instead of 22. If only the negotiations with Linda Hamilton to record voiceovers as Sarah Connor could have been sped up in time to be included! Hamilton already told MTV, "I would probably be very happy to loan my voice depending on what the material is." Uh, Linda? The material is Terminator. Remember? Cyborgs trying to kill you or your son? Oh, just say yes, Linda!

  
  

  Posted 02/26/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Linda Hamilton | Terminator Salvation

Sunday, February 22

• The Academy Awards: Live Blogging Part 1

  

  4:58PM Hey, Ryan here live in the press room at the Academy Awards. The show has yet to officially start, with a half hour of red carpet interviews left before the show begins, plenty of time to get your Oscar Bingo Cards ready.

  5:39 With the red carpet portion of the show done, it's time to see what Hugh Jackman can do as host of the Academy Awards. Plenty of jokes about his home country, and the usual host opening number. He might not be a comedian, but I can't imagine Billy Crystal pulling off the dancing so well.

  5:43 Now that Jackman's obligatory Wolverine plug is over , it's time to see an Award, starting with Actress in a Supporting Role. And the award goes to...Penelope Cruz for Vicky Christina Barcelona.

  5:52 Time to award the writers. Dustin Lance Black wins for Original Screenplay for Milk with an emotional and politically-minded speech. The Oscar for Adapted Screenplay is next, with Simon Beaufoy's script winning for Slumdog Millionaire, in what could be the first of many Slumdog Oscars.

  6:05 The fairly new catagory of Best Animated Feature Film is next, with three whole movies nominated: WALL-E, Bolt and Kung Fu Panda. And the winner, no surprise to anyone, is...Bolt. I'm kidding! Of course, it's WALL-E.

  6:10 An early favorite for best speech of the night goes to Japan's Kunio Kato, winner for Animated Short Film, who thanked a variety of people including "Mr. Roboto." Cue the band with STYX! No? Oh, ok. Well, anyway, great speech, Kunio.

  6:24 With 10 nominations for Slumdog Millionaire and 13 for Benjamin Button, the running tally for the two most nominated movies stands as 1 for Slumdog to 2 for Button after Button wins for both Achievement in Art Direction and Makeup.

  6:25 Twilight sighting! I couldn't tell what was happening when Robert Pattinson was on stage due to all the high-pitched screaming in the press room.

  6:30 Emotions still run high backstage for Dustin Lance Black. "Harvey gave me his story and it saved my life," he said. The same could be said for Penelope Cruz, however, she continued where she left off at the end of her acceptance speech, speaking mostly in Spanish. If she had said "The library is green" I definitely would have understood it, but I'm pretty sure she didn't. Wait, she spoke in English!  Cruz mentions that she wondered about the "tone" of Vicky Christina Barcelona, but "never doubted the genius of Woody Allen."

  6:34 Make that 2 to 2! Slumdog wins another, this time for Cinematography.

  
  

  Posted 02/22/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Simon Beaufoy | Penelope Cruz | Dustin Lance Black | Wall-E | Vicky Cristina Barcelona | Milk | Slumdog Millionaire

Thursday, February 19

• It's Oscar Time, Can You Say B-I-N-G-O?

  Whether you're watching the Academy Awards at home or at a party, we've got just the item to make the event all the more entertaining. Or is that entertaining? Hugh Jackman may be People's "Sexiest Man Alive" but he isn't exactly known for his killer wit.

  So print our set of Oscars Bingo cards -- then play along to stay awake.

  
  
  Next Showing: The 81st Annual Academy Awards air Feb. 22 at 5 PM PT/8 PM ET

  Posted 02/19/2009 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman

Monday, February 16

• First of Three X-Men Origins: Wolverine TV Spots Airs

  Outcasts, the first of three "featurette" TV commercials promoting the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie, aired on Sunday. It focuses on a young boy who tramatically discovers he has bone claws.

   

  The next two featurettes will be shown on FOX this week. Watch for the second one during Monday's episode of House and the final featurette during Tuesday's American Idol.

  
  

  Posted 02/16/2009 by Jim

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Friday, February 13

• 3 New Wolverine Spots Start This Weekend

  While Hugh Jackman prepares himself to host the Oscars, Fox is prepping three, sixty-second X-Men Origins: Wolverine spots to air on their network starting this Sunday. The three spots together will comprise a storyline from the movie, though, despite a previous appearance, probably won't highlight fellow X-Man Storm. A small, white-haired girl appeared in the Wolverine trailer, but producer Lauren Shuler Donner told WidescreenVision that the brief encounter Wolverine has with the young Storm has been cut out.

  "She was a little part of the movie," said Shuler Donner. "She was in a village where they visited. The movie is edited, and that particular character did not make that scene." She will however, make the DVD, Shuler Donner confirmed.

  The first of the three spots will air this Sunday, February 15, during The Family Guy, with the second airing during Monday's episode of House, and the last airing during Tuesday's American Idol. What, the Hell's Kitchen audience doesn't like Wolverine?

  
  
  

  Reelz Clip

  Hugh Jackman Stars - Releasing May 1, 2009

  Posted 02/13/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Lauren Shuler Donner | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Friday, January 30

• New Wolverine Poster Definitely Qualifies as 'Badass'

  Starting at Comic-Con last summer Hugh Jackman has several times said that X-Men Origins: Wolverine would be "badass." Though there are some troubling reports about extensive reshoots, the new poster is certainly on brand.

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

  Reelz Clip

  Hugh Jackman gives the scoop on the new Wolverine movie.

  Posted 01/30/2009 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Friday, January 23

• Wolverine Reshoots Add More Deadpool

  Some news has come in about what exactly is being reshot for Hugh Jackman's X-Men spin-off Wolverine. Spys at IESB.net report that it is mainly extra scenes for Ryan Reynolds' character Deadpool.

  Earlier speculation had the movie in trouble over the massive reshoots, which prompted Hugh himself to respond directly to the fanboys in order to quash any negative buzz. But we've heard that they're reshooting a little less than half of the film, which is actually quite a bit, and doesn't exactly build confidence in a movie.

  Still, some extra scenes with comic book fan favorites like Deadpool and Gambit should actually help pack theater seats with super movie fans -- their core audience. And more humor by way of Reynolds can't hurt either. Both Reynolds and Deadpool are known for their constant wise-crackery.

  Alterior movie motives might also be the reasoning behind these reshoots. Rumors of yet another spin-off featuring the quippy super-soldier have been hitting the web for awhile now. New scenes may in fact be setting up a sequel starring Deadpool.

  
  

  Posted 01/23/2009 by Jim

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Ryan Reynolds | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Monday, January 19

• New X-Men Origins: Wolverine Cast Pic

  AICN received word from Hugh Jackman himself concerning recent reshoots being done on X-Men Origins: Wolverine along with an awesome cast pic. Here's what Hugh had to say...

  Hey everyone! It's Hugh Jackman, sending this note from freezing Vancouver. I have read a lot of your online comments regarding the footage that we are currently shooting and I share your passion for the Wolverine character and the movie - I owe it all to you guys!

  I wanted to reach out and let you know that due to scheduling conflicts with certain cast members and location/weather considerations, we had to wait until now to shoot a couple of scenes. Please rest assured that WOLVERINE will be badass and hopefully meet all of your expectations. I am stoked by the positive response to the teaser, which clearly reflects the tone and scope of the film. If you like that, we've got much more in store!

  In the meantime, here's an exclusive shot of some characters you may recognize...

  Cheers, Hugh

  
  

  Posted 01/19/2009 by Jim

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Liev Schreiber | Taylor Kitsch | Lynn Collins | Ryan Reynolds | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Monday, December 15

• X-Men Origins: Wolverine Trailer Now Showing

  After debuting before showings of the The Day the Earth Stood Still, bootleg copies of the Wolverine trailer were all over the internet. Now, courtesy of the Wolverine MySpace page, the trailer is officially online:

  
  

  Posted 12/15/2008 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Friday, December 12

• Hugh Jackman to Host Oscars. Seriously.

  No Billy Crystal one-liners, no Steve Martin or Jon Stewart wittiness, no Whoopi Goldberg schtick... Not even any Oprah/Uma at this year's Oscars. No, this year's choice for the host of the 81st annual ceremony is none other than... Hugh Jackman? That's right, the man best known as Wolverine in the X-Men series and the romantic lead opposite Nicole Kidman in this year's epic flop, Australia, will be changing things up a bit to host Hollywood's big night.

  Producer Laurence Mark told Variety that they are "trying to turn a corner and give the evening more of a nightclub party feel."

  It's certainly a big switch for a show that is traditionally hosted by comedians such as the aforementioned Martin, Goldberg and Chris Rock. Should be interesting to see what happens.

  Source: Variety

  
  

  Posted 12/12/2008 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman

Monday, December 8

• Shrieber Says Wolverine Nemesis Sabretooth Has "Bloodlust"

  Liev Shreiber will get the chance to vent his bad boy tendencies this May when he portrays the deadly arch-nemesis to Hugh Jackman in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The actor told SCI FI Wire that his character is "incredibly brutal and feral and has a bloodlust unlike any other character I've ever played," adding that he and Jackman have some "remarkable fight scenes together."

  The actor went on to say that he is a fan of the Wolverine comic books and that he thinks the movie will do justice to the series for fans.

  So far trailers and photos from the flick have been met with enthusiastic approval. Let's hope the finished film lives up to the hype.
  

  
  

  Posted 12/08/2008 by reelz

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

Tuesday, December 2

• Even More Wolverine Photos!

  With new photos of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Taylor Kitsch as Gambit appearing yesterday, even more photos appeared today, this time of the actual movie.

  Check out all five at Superhero Hype, and get an advance look at the movie Hugh Jackman hopes will be successful, or he will "walk away" from the Wolverine character for good.

  Be there May 1, 2009 or you'll have a very unhappy Jackman and even more unhappy fanboys!

  
  

  Posted 12/02/2008 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Monday, December 1

• New Origins Images of Wolverine and Gambit Surface

  X-Men Origins: Wolverine was the talk of Comic-Con this summer after an impressive promo reel wowed the San Diego crowd. Expectations are high for the X-Men spin-off's release on May 1, 2009 and Hugh Jackman already hinted at the possibilities of a Wolverine sequel. He's currently on the road doing press for his romantic turn opposite Nicole Kidman in Australia, so we can probably expect some more Wolverine news to surface in the coming months.

  The new issue of British Movie Mag Empire has two new photos from the film featuring Wolverine in the midst of a primal roar (popping veins and all) and Taylor Kitsch as Gambit playing a little cards. MTV has the Empire pics on their Splash Page. The images don't tell you a whole lot more about the movie, but they do look pretty cool.

  
  

  Posted 12/01/2008 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Taylor Kitsch | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Wednesday, November 26

• Everyone on Message with Wolverine: It's Definitely 'Bad-Ass'

  Jeff Katz, a comic book writer and former executive at Fox, came back from the set of X-Men Origins: Wolverine and says: "I think it delivers."

  The movie, opening May 1, 2009, will feature some characters familiar to comic fans but new to theater screens in Gambit and Deadpool (who just might get his own spin-off if Wolverine does well), and will feature a much darker Wolverine than he was portrayed in the previous X-Men movies.

  Ultimately though, there's one main reason why Katz was so impressed: "I'm of the belief that you can boil down these characters to a couple of key words, phrases or images that sum up the tone and tenor of what they should be. And to me and [Hugh] Jackman, our mantra for 'Wolverine' has really been one term: 'bad-ass.' As long as 'Wolverine' is consistently bad-ass, people are generally going to go with you. That's what they want from that character." Indeed.

  Jackman initiated the "bad-ass" talking point at Comic-Con this summer.

  The X-Men Origins: Wolverine trailer premieres exclusively in theaters December 12 before The Day the Earth Stood Still.

  
  

  Posted 11/26/2008 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Deadpool

Friday, October 24

• Zeta-Jones in 3-D Cleopatra Musical from Soderbergh?

  In a piece of truly bizarre news out of Variety, director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's Eleven, Out of Sight) is apparently set to direct a "3-D live-action rock 'n' roll musical" about Egyptian Goddess Cleopatra. And he wants Catherine Zeta-Jones to don the golden tiara.

  Jones hasn't signed on for the out there idea just yet, nor have other rumored players Hugh Jackman or Marc Anthony. Considering Soderbergh's strong reputation, however, most actors are more than happy to lay their trust in the auteur.
  

  The idea is admittedly strange, but if anyone has a penchant for delivering the unexpected, it's Soderbergh, who has effortlessly bounced between blockbuster efforts like the Ocean series and indies such as The Limey and Full Frontal with few missteps.

  Music for the rock opera will be provided by indie rockers Guided by Light while James Greer (Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, Just My Luck) will pen the script.

  But don't expect the tentatively titled Cleo to hit screens for a few years. The busy director is expected to release Che later this year, starring Benicio Del Toro as Che Guevara. Soderbergh also recently wrapped The Informant starring Matt Damon.
  

  Soberbergh's next effort is The Girlfriend Experience, in which porn star Sasha Grey portrays a $10,000-a-night call girl. And if that weren't enough, he may also polish off his biopic before tackling Cleo. Liberace will star Michael Douglas as the flamboyant entertainer and Matt Damon as his longtime partner.
  

  Source: Variety

  
  

  Posted 10/24/2008 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Catherine Zeta-Jones

Friday, July 25

• Comic-Con Interview with Wolverine Star Hugh Jackman

  

  We caught up with Hugh Jackman during his inaugural appearance at Comic-Con to discuss the upcoming X-Men spin-off Wolverine. Jackman compares Wolverine to Mad Max and Dirty Harry, the kinds of characters he grew up with and loved.

  
  

  Posted 07/25/2008 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Tuesday, March 25

• Nowhere Man comic in development for Jackman

  Hugh Jackman and Marc Guggenheim (Eli Stone) are in the process of creating a new comic series, to be entitled Nowhere Man, with the ultimate goal of it being a movie vehicle for Jackman.

  The comic, which will be published under the Virgin Comics shingle, is about a futuristic world with a protagonist similar to the one in I Am Legend, say Nowhere Man brass. The story is being developed first as a comic book, with hopes it will make the leap to video game and movie, in which Jackman would star.

  Source: Variety.

  
  

  Posted 03/25/2008 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman

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

Friday, February 15

• Wolverine casting news

  The cast of the upcoming Wolverine prequel (officially -- and ponerously -- titled X-Men Origins: Wolverine) appears to be filling out quite nicely. In addition to Hugh Jackman reprising his signature role and Liev Schreiber playing Wolverine nemesis Sabretooth, JoBlo.com is reporting that it appears 30 Days of Night villain Danny Huston has been cast as young William Stryker, the renegade army colonel responsible for the gruesome experiments that gave Wolvie his adamantium skeleton.

  We loved Huston in 30 Days of Night. Then again, most of his dialogue in that flick consisted of high-pitched shreaks and the occasional command, spoken in his bizarre vampire language, so we're not entirely sure what to expect.

  Source: JoBlo.com

  
  

  Posted 02/15/2008 by reelz

  Related: Danny Huston | Hugh Jackman | 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

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

Friday, April 27

• Goyer on board for Magneto spin-off

  Variety reports that Fox has finally given the go-ahead to the long-awaited X-Men spinoff Magneto, with David Goyer attached to direct. The movie will be a prequel of sorts, dealing with the origins of villain depicted in the X-Men films by Ian McKellen.

  One of the industry's most sought-after screenwriters, Goyer's directorial efforts to date have underwhelmed critics. His latest film, The Invisible, opens today.

  Things are mighty busy over at Marvel these days. Another X-Men spin-off, Wolverine, is also moving forward, with Hugh Jackman set to star.

  
  

  Posted 04/27/2007 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Ian McKellen | David S. Goyer | X-Men: The Last Stand | X2: X-Men United | X-Men