Wednesday, October 28

• Seth Rogen Updates The Green Hornet

  At a recent press junket for the TV movie Monsters Vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins From Outer Space, Seth Rogen spoke about The Green Hornet, which he is currently shooting and co-wrote with Evan Goldberg (Superbad). Rogen told MovieWeb that it is a relief to finally be working on the oft-troubled movie.

  It is [a relief]. An enormous one; constantly. But we still have to make it awesome. So the true relief isn't there yet.

  With Stephen Chow dropping out as director and co-star, the release being pushed back five months, and Nicolas Cage also quitting the project, The Green Hornet has had it's share of troubles before it even started production. At one point, Rogen joked that The Green Hornet was never going to be made but would be promoted "for the next 10 years." Now that Rogen and director Michel Gondry are finally working on the movie, Rogen doesn't feel that the pressure's off.

  I will blame Gondry if it sucks though. No, I'm just joking. No we are all in it, you know. I take a huge amount of the pressure. I understand that. I understand that. I understand that it's my face on it, you know, when it literally comes out even if, you know, even if it sucks for another reason, people will blame me and that's why I have to be so involved to try to make sure that it doesn't suck. But honestly a lot of your work is done before now. It's hiring the right people and making sure all the elements are in place. And then, you know, trusting them to do what you hired them to do. But I'm there all the time so I can make sure everything is going well. There's a lot of pressure. I understand that. I've been talking about this movie for years and if it sucks then no one will be more disappointed than me, believe me.

  Rogen also revealed a new addition to the cast: Edward Furlong. "Edward Furlong is in the movie, yes," said Rogen. With his career a long way from his debut in T2, Furlong likely won't quit the project. Rogen would not reveal what role Furlong will be playing.

  
  
  Next Showing: The Green Hornet opens December 17, 2010

  Posted 10/28/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Edward Furlong | Michel Gondry | Seth Rogen | The Green Hornet

Monday, October 12

• Heavy Metal Band Anvil Gets Cameo in Green Hornet

  It seems Seth Rogen and Michel Gondry are Anvil fans. The LA Times writes that the heavy metal band, which achieved its peak popularity in the '80s, will get a cameo in The Green Hornet. The newest adaptation based on the comic-book hero is being directed by Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and stars Rogen, who also helped draft the script.

  Apparently, Anvil will make an appearance in a rock club as themselves. They'll play some songs and then ... explode? Well, that's what's written. We'll have to wait and see what that means.

  The band was the focus of a recent critically acclaimed documentary directed by Sacha Gervasi. A tragicomic then-and-now look at faded stardom, Anvil! The Story of Anvil is often times cited as a real-life counterpart to This Is Spinal Tap. The movie won an Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at the LA Film Festival. You can see the trailer below.

  
  
  

  The Story of Anvil - Trailer

  Documentary about the once-famous heavy metal band

  Posted 10/12/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Michel Gondry | Sacha Gervasi | Seth Rogen | The Green Hornet | Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Wednesday, September 9

• Nicolas Cage Will Not Star in Green Hornet

  

  It's a Nicolas Cage news spree! Just a week ago Cage jumped on-board for Patrick Lussier's revenge flick, Drive Angry. And just yesterday, he joined another revenge movie — Roger Donaldson's Hungry Rabbit Jumps.

  Now, The Hollywood Reporter writes that Cage has dropped out of the upcoming adaptation of The Green Hornet, starring Seth Rogen and directed by Michel Gondry. A few days ago, Sony announced that the movie would go forward shortly and that Cage was in negotiations to portray the villain. Apparently, the negotiations failed.

  So just one week into production, The Green Hornet hits another snag. There was no announcement regarding a replacement for Cage, although we can only hope the issue gets resolved sooner rather than later.

  
  

  Posted 09/09/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Michel Gondry | Nicolas Cage | Seth Rogen | The Green Hornet

Thursday, September 3

• Sony Confirms Green Hornet Production and Casting Decisions

  

  There are plenty of reasons for fans to be excited about the upcoming adaptation of The Green Hornet. For one, it's being helmed by Michel Gondry, who lent his visual panache to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep. So we can expect an eye-opener. Secondly, Seth Rogen has invested himself fully in the project: He will not only executive produce and write the script, but also star (in the title role, no less). But unfortunately, the big news as of late has been the movie's unstable release date. After being pushed back several times, the pic is now tentatively scheduled for a December 2010 release, much to the chagrin of rabid fans.

  Not to worry, though, because Rogen, Gondry, and company are moving forward anyway. Screen Rant reports that Sony released an official statement saying that the movie is a go. We can thus assume that production will begin shortly, and we will undoubtedly see oodles of production photos, stills, maybe even the odd interview or two.

  Sony also commented on the movie's cast, possibly to dispel any ongoing rumors:

  In addition to Rogen, the film also stars Taiwanese actor-pop star JayChou as Kato, Cameron Diaz (Charlie's Angels, What Happens in Vegas), Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica), David Harbour (Revolutionary Road), and Tom Wilkinson (Valkyrie). Nicolas Cage is also in negotiations to appear in the film.

  So, it appears Nicolas Cage is indeed still in the running to play the criminal mastermind Mr. X. We'll keep you updated as we hear more.

  
  

  Posted 09/03/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Cameron Diaz | Michel Gondry | Nicolas Cage | Edward James Olmos | David Harbour | Tom Wilkinson | Seth Rogen | Jay Chou | The Green Hornet

Wednesday, July 22

• Nicolas Cage and Cameron Diaz in Talks to Star in Green Hornet

  

  Variety reports that Nicolas Cage and Cameron Diaz are both in negotiations with Columbia Pictures to star in Michel Gondry's upcoming adaptation of The Green Hornet.

  The movie already has Seth Rogen on board in the title role. If cast, Cage would play the villain, most likely the gangster Mr. X, and Diaz would portray the love interest of the Hornet's alter ego, newspaper publisher Britt Reid.

  Rogen wrote the screenplay for the movie along with Evan Goldberg and the two are also executive producing. Production begins this fall, with a release scheduled for July 9, 2010.

  
  

  Posted 07/22/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Cameron Diaz | Michel Gondry | Nicolas Cage | Seth Rogen | Evan Goldberg | The Green Hornet

Wednesday, July 15

• Stephen Chow Hustles Out of The Green Hornet, Cameron Diaz May Jump in at Full Throttle

  Stephen Chow's role in The Green Hornet has been slowly disintegrating over the past year. First, Chow was to direct and co-star, then just co-star, and now Chow is entirely removed from the project due to "scheduling conflicts."

  Columbia pictures called Chow's exit "a mutual and amicable decision by both sides to move on," with the studio already "out to cast a new Kato." Director Michel Gondry and star Seth Rogen won't be left entirely stranded, though, as Cameron Diaz is in negotiations to join the movie, possibly as Rogen's love interest.

  Production on The Green Hornet begins in September. Rogen and Evan Goldberg wrote the script, which is an adaptation loosely based on the advntures of the masked hero from radio, a 60's TV show, and comic books.

  
  
  Next Showing: The Green Hornet opens July 9, 2010.

  Posted 07/15/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Michel Gondry | Seth Rogen | Stephen Chow | The Green Hornet

Monday, July 6

• The Green Hornet Gets a New Release Date

  Considering how long The Green Hornet has been in development, two more weeks isn't that long to wait. Sony has announced that it is moving the comedic action movie from its June 25, 2010 opening to make room for Adam Sandler's Grown Ups. The Green Hornet will instead arrive July 9, 2010.

  Initially written and directed by Kevin Smith, who eventually left the project, Green Hornet is now a vehicle for Seth Rogen, who co-wrote the script with Superbad writing partner Evan Goldberg. Stephen Chow was then going to direct, but also dropped out, leaving directing duties to Michael Gondry. Chow may still be involved with the movie, though, possibly playing the Green Hornet's partner Kato. Whew.

  
  

  Posted 07/06/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Michel Gondry | Seth Rogen | Evan Goldberg | The Green Hornet

Wednesday, February 25

• Gondry's A Go On The Green Hornet

  Columbia has hired Michel Gondry to direct The Green Hornet, a big-screen version of the 1930s radio show and 1960s TV show. Seth Rogen, who wrote the script with Evan Goldberg, is set to star as the Green Hornet, and Stephen Chow will play his sidekick, Kato.

  Chow (Kung Fu Hustle) was originally set to direct the movie himself, but he had some "creative differences" with Columbia suits. Gondry apparently wowed studio execs with his vision for the film, and it will be interesting to see how the kooky French director tackles such commercial fare. Let's just hope everyone knows what they're getting into and it doesn't turn into another Where the Wild Things Are, if and when the studio doesn't get a super-commercial picture out of indie director.

  
  
  Next Showing: The Green Hornet opens June 25, 2010

  Posted 02/25/2009 by Hailey

  Related: Michel Gondry | Seth Rogen | Stephen Chow | The Green Hornet | Where the Wild Things Are