Thursday, October 29

• Peter Berg Out of Dune

  In September, actor-director Peter Berg revealed to MTV that Josh Zetumer's script for Dune was "a massive epic" with "franchise potential" and that all Berg had to do next was "figure out how we can beat [the script] into something manageable without offending the purists." It certainly didn't sound like Berg was about to leave project, but a few weeks ago, he did. Apparently, his time will be occupied instead by the Hancock sequel and Battleship, Berg's upcoming adaptation of the popular board game.

  Paramount is now hunting for a new director who can make the movie for a modest budget of a mere $175 million and two of their potential candidates are Neill Blomkamp (District 9) and Neil Marshall (The Descent). Zetumer's script is based on author Frank Herbert's popular sci-fi novel series, which has been adapted twice already — David Lynch's 1984 movie and a 2000 mini-series on the SciFi Channel.

  
  

  Posted 10/29/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Peter Berg | Neill Blomkamp | Dune

Thursday, September 24

• No Jason Bateman in Hancock 2

  Hancock director Peter Berg has said that "everybody's going to come back for a sequel," but apparently that message never made its way to Jason Bateman. Bateman told Collider that he has "not been contacted" and doubts he will be a part of the proposed sequel.

  I cannot imagine I'd be a part of that. [Will Smith and Charlize Theron are] both immortal, and so they can kind of live in any time period, and they don't age, but I do, so why would they include me? I don't know.

  So despite a mention of Bateman's return in a recent Variety article about the Hancock sequel, Bateman reiterated that he is not involved.

  I don't know where that writer gets their information from as I haven't been contacted, nor have my representatives.

  The return of Smith and Theron still seems probable, and necessary since the sequel will focus on the home planet of the two immortals. Shield writers Adam Fierro and Glen Mazzara have been hired to pen the screenplay.

  
  

  Posted 09/24/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Jason Bateman | Peter Berg | Glen Mazzara | Hancock 2 | Hancock

Thursday, September 10

• Will Smith and Charlize Theron to Return in Hancock 2 - Plus a Third "All-Powerful" Actor

  "Everybody's going to come back for a sequel," said director Peter Berg in an interview with MTV about Hancock 2. Berg's confirmation validates what Charlize Theron said last September when she said she'd happily return to "ride the Will Smith train" if the rest of the key players returned too.

  Both Smith and Theron's characters were revealed at the end of Hancock to be immortal gods who become vulnerable when near each other for any length of time. For the sequel, Berg said we can expect the appearance of at least one more all-powerful god. What's more, he's got his eye on a well-known actor to play the third superhero.

  We have someone in mind. I'm not gonna tell you who, but we have!"

  Given that Will and Charlize are about as big as stars come, this means that he's clearly got another A-lister in mind for the movie. What a tease!

  
  

  Posted 09/10/2009 by Jim

  Related: Will Smith | Peter Berg | Charlize Theron | Hancock | Hancock 2

Tuesday, August 25

• Hancock Sequel on Way; Writers Hired

  When a movie makes $624 million dollars, as Hancock did, a sequel is guaranteed. Hancock 2 is taking shape, starting with the hiring of screenwriters Adam Fierro and Glen Mazzara. Both writers worked previously on FX's The Shield.

  Plot details are being kept secret, but director Peter Berg, who will return for the sequel, gave some spoilers to SciFiWire. In Hancock, Will Smith is an immortal god whose invulnerability disappears when in the presence of his immortal goddess, Charlize Theron. Berg expects the sequel to introduce more immortals.

  There might be another god out there. Might be another one.

  Hancock took 12 years to make it to the big screen. Berg says the sequel will arrive faster, but won't be rushed.

  They like to fast-track it, but Will's busy, I'm pretty busy. We're excited to do one, but we want the script to be right and the movie to be right. We don't feel a burning imperative to go right back into it.

  In other words: Get it "right," Fierro and Mazzara, or more writers will be hired.

  
  
  

  Hancock Interview

  Director Peter Berg talks about a possible sequel.

  Posted 08/25/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Will Smith | Peter Berg | Glen Mazzara | Hancock 2 | Hancock

Monday, May 18

• Peter Berg in Talks to Direct Universal's Battleship, Many More Board-Game Adaptations in the Works

  Any '80s children out there still experience nostalgia at the phrase, "You have sunk my battleship?"

  Get ready to take another trip down memory lane: Empire reports that Universal is in talks with Peter Berg (Hancock) to direct a movie version of the popular board game Battleship. Not familiar? Check out this online version. Or watch the game's first (and most likely only) appearance in a movie, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey.

  Clue (1985) was probably the only movie ever based on a board game. That's about to change ... big time. Universal's also working on adaptations of Candy Land, with Kevin Lima directing; Monopoly, from Ridley Scott; and Ouija Board, from Michael Bay's production company, Platinum Dunes.

  We've got some ideas to add to the mix. How about Uno? Stratego? All right ... Minesweeper? Solitaire? How about a rousing action-movie version of Sudoku?

  Crazy you say? Maybe, but did you think there'd be a movie of Battleship?

  
  

  Posted 05/18/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Kevin Lima | Ridley Scott | Peter Berg | Michael Bay | Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey | Clue

Tuesday, May 12

• Robert Pattinson to Star in New Dune Movie?

  Robert Pattinson has sparked more rumors about his upcoming movie roles, after he was spotted leaving director Peter Berg's Beverly Hills pad.

  Berg, who directed 2008's hit Hancock, is set to helm the 2010 update of Frank Herbert's Dune. A cast list is yet to be announced, but the inclusion of Hollywood's hottest heartthrob would be sure to put the movie on the money-making map.

  What do you think, Twilighters? Would this be a good move for Pattinson? There's no doubt he can draw an audience, though we're not sure Dune would be the right role to please fans. Still, as long as there was a slew of new pictures of the messy-haired actor, we're sure complaints would be the last thing on everyone's mind.

  
  

  Posted 05/12/2009 by Jenny

  Related: Peter Berg | Robert Pattinson | Dune

Sunday, February 22

• Jeffrey Dean Morgan Becomes a Loser

  When Watchmen opens March 6, Jeffrey Dean Morgan will be far from done playing comic book characters. The Hollywood Reporter says Morgan, who plays The Comedian in Watchmen, will play the leader of a special forces unit that seeks revenge on the CIA after being betrayed and left for dead in the movie adaptation of the Vertigo/DC comic book The Losers. James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) and Peter Berg (Hancock) wrote the script, with Berg being one of 4 directors attached to the project at some point. McG and Tim Story were also slated to direct, though the directing duties are now in the hands of Sylvain White (Stomp the Yard). (Stomp the Yard? Should audiences expect some street dancing in The Losers?)

  While Morgan may have a lock on playing tough, government agent characters with both Watchmen and The Losers, he may have to find a new kind of role. Morgan is yet another cast member to deny a Watchmen sequel will ever happen. Morgan told Moviehole:

  We are all signed for sequels, but, ya know, there'd be no Rorschach, there'd be no Comedian -- it'd be sorta useless. It'd have to be a prequel. But I'd say unless Alan Moore says he's gonna write something, we'll never see 'Watchmen 2.' There may be someone sitting in a room somewhere at Warner Bros waiting to see if this does OK, and ready to pitch another -- but I doubt Zack [Syder] would do another, and without him, I wouldn't go back, and I can't imagine any of the other actors would want to either.

  The whole cast "signed for sequels?" Snyder has already said no to a sequel, and co-star Malin Akerman downplayed another Watchmen, but if Watchmen is successful, who can say?

  
  

  Posted 02/22/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Malin Akerman | McG | Peter Berg | Tim Story | Sylvain White | James Vanderbilt | Zack Snyder | Jeffrey Dean Morgan | Watchmen

Wednesday, July 23

• Peter Berg Takes on Hercules
  

  Variety reports that Hancock director Peter Berg will follow his superhero comedy with a retelling of the original chemically-enhanced muscle man, Hercules.
  
  Based on the five-part by Steve Moore from Radical Publishing, the Universal pic plans to stay very true to the comic.
  
  After Hancock's success, Berg is a busy man. He's also been signed to direct a new take on Frank Herbert's classic sci-fi novel, Dune.
  
  
  
  

  Posted 07/23/2008 by reelz

  Related: Peter Berg

Tuesday, March 18

• Dune Remake Moves Forward

  Paramount has announced that Peter Berg (The Kingdom, Friday Night Lights and the upcoming Hancock) will direct a new version of Frank Herbert's classic novel.

  The 1984 version of the story, starring Kyle MacLachlan and Sting was directed by auteur David Lynch. Reactions to that film were split down the middle.

  The project is now looking for writers to pen a faithful adaptation of the Herbert novel.

  Source: Variety

   

  
  

  Posted 03/18/2008 by reelz

  Related: Peter Berg | Dune