Wednesday, September 30

• Three Additions to Cast of Pixar's John Carter of Mars

  The Hollywood Reporter writes that three more actors will star in Pixar's first live-action movie, John Carter of Mars. Thomas Haden Church, James Purefoy, and Mark Strong have joined a cast that already includes Willem Dafoe, Samantha Morton, Taylor Kitsch, and Lynn Collins.

  The story involves John Carter (Kitsch), a Civil War veteran who is transported to Mars. But this isn't the barren red planet we know; this Mars is a violent society involving "12-foot-tall green barbarians," according to IMDb.

  Church will portray a warrior with a desire for power, Purefoy a captain, and Strong the ruler of a people called the Thems. Directing the movie is Andrew Stanton, who also co-wrote the script. Stanton has already helmed several Pixar features, including Wall-E, Finding Nemo, and A Bug's Life.

  The movie is still in pre-production and is scheduled for a 2012 release.

  
  

  Posted 09/30/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Samantha Morton | Taylor Kitsch | Willem Dafoe | Andrew Stanton | Lynn Collins | James Purefoy | Thomas Haden Church | Mark Strong | John Carter of Mars

Tuesday, September 1

• More Cast Additions to John Carter of Mars

  More Hollywood talent has been added to Disney's live-action John Carter of Mars movie, joining X-Men Origins: Wolverine's Taylor Kitsch in the title role. Previous cast announcements have included Academy Award-nominated actor Willem Dafoe as Carter's Martian (Barsoomian) ally Tars Tarkas, and Lynn Collins as Carter's love interest and martian princess Dejoh Thoris. Now it's been reported that Samantha Morton, Dominic West, and Polly Walker will "go Martian" in the movie.

  John Carter of Mars is based on the classic Edgar Rice Burroughs character who appeared in the 11-volume Barsoom series of books. The movie is planned as the first installment of a Mars trilogy and is based on the first novel, A Princess of Mars, which was first published in 1912. In the novel, Captain John Carter, a Confederate Civil War veteran, is mysteriously transported to Mars (Barsoom), where he finds that the lesser gravity gives him super-human strength and agility. Carter becomes embroiled in the conflict between the Red and Green Martians and falls in love with Dejoh Thoris, a Red Martian.

  Principal photography is expected to begin this November in Utah and continue through July 2010.

  
  

  Posted 09/01/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Samantha Morton | Taylor Kitsch | Willem Dafoe | Polly Walker | Dominic West | Lynn Collins | John Carter of Mars