As reported last week, MGM was facing dire concerns on funding its production slate basically waiting on a forbearance to pay off some its debt. New CEO Steve Cooper was able to negotiate enough support with lenders to delay interest payments until December which allows the studio to move forward with its participation on The Hobbit. Read the rest of this entry »
Guy Ritchie and Robert Downey Jr.’s take on Sherlock Holmes hasn’t even hit theaters yet but Warner Bros. is already gearing up for a sequel. According to Variety, the writing duo of Kieran and Michele Mulroney (Paper Man) have been tapped to work on a second film based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic character. Read the rest of this entry »
As we reported last month, Warner Home Video is planning to release “Ultimate Edition” extended versions of their Harry Potter series on DVD and Blu-ray. The official announcement has finally been made with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets to be available December 8th. Watch Warner Bros. trailer for the packages and full release details after the break. Read the rest of this entry »
Variety is reporting that Warner Bros. and Mattel have parted ways over the idea of making another He-Man/Masters of the Universe film. May the people of Eternia rejoice and not spend $10 on bad movies!
Mattel and WB didn’t see eye to eye over the direction of the project and made a mutual decision to let the option lapse this month. Story revolves around He-Man, a prince who becomes a warrior battling the evil Skeletor for control of his magical homeland.
Mattel will take back the property and set it up elsewhere. The expectation is that director John Stevenson (“Kung Fu Panda”) will remain with the project, but not Silver, who is exclusive to WB.
As Disney’s Marvel Entertainment acquisition and WB’s overhaul of DC Comics and its movie output shows, branded properties are important commodities. The owners of those brands now have more direct involvement — and higher expectations.
Leave it to comic-books to disrupt the toy movie business. Obviously, this isn’t a total win as the project is not dead, just without a backing company. I’ll be sure to be crushed and feign surprise when another company buys the rights and pumps $200 million into it.
Those that haven’t had a labotomy to remove the images may remember that there was a Masters of the Universe film back in 1987 starring super genius (not sarcastic) Dolph Lundgren and Frank Langella. As I am sure you can guess, the film went on to win seven Oscars that year, including Best Rubber-Masked Villain and Most Homosexual Costume.
Let’s jog some memories, shall we?:
It seems like it’s been a comic-centric week here at Geek on Film, but fresh off a record breaking summer at the box office largely fueled by comic properties, studio heads are making them a top priority.
Deadline.com is reporting that Warner Bros Pictures Group president Jeff Robinov fresh off having his contract re-upped, will be taking direct control of D.C. comics along with Diane Nelson, who runs the management of the Harry Potter film franchise. Read the rest of this entry »
Guy Ritchie still putting the finishing touches on Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr., has been tapped to direct the movie version of D.C.’s comic Lobo. Joel Silver, Akiva Goldsman and Andrew Rona will produce the project which is expected to begin shooting next year according to Variety.
Get ready for even more Harry Potter on your DVD. Despite it’s widespread popularity, the Harry Potter franchise like any film adaptation, has been criticized for its choices of which scenes it takes out. Warner Bros. is looking to remedy some of those concerns by releasing extended editions cuts of every film in the Potter Franchise. Read the rest of this entry »
Eric Eisenberg
Amani
Geek on Film 