Movies
Movies
James Wan is returning to direct 'The Conjuring 2'.
The director has signed a first-look deal with film studio New Line, while it's also been confirmed that the release date has been pushed back from October 2015 to 2016.
Toby Emmerich, the President of New Line, said: "We had a great experience with James on 'The Conjuring', and we give him a lot of credit for that movie working so well.
"He worked on the screenplay and came to the table with very inventive things that were not in the script and cast it fantastically well.
"Add to that his work in producing 'Annabelle', and he is one of the masters of the genre and we're happy to have him. You go through the list of possible directors of 'The Conjuring' sequel, and his is the name you stop at, which is why we tried so hard to make this work."
The original movie, which starred Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, proved to be a huge hit at the box office, raking in more than $300 million worldwide, and has led to a demand for a second instalment.
The move comes hot on the heels of the prequel 'Annabelle', which was directed by Wan, 37, and features Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton, and Alfre Woodard.
James Wan to direct The Conjuring 2
James Wan is returning to direct 'The Conjuring 2'.
The director has signed a first-look deal with film studio New Line, while it's also been confirmed that the release date has been pushed back from October 2015 to 2016.
Toby Emmerich, the President of New Line, said: "We had a great experience with James on 'The Conjuring', and we give him a lot of credit for that movie working so well.
"He worked on the screenplay and came to the table with very inventive things that were not in the script and cast it fantastically well.
"Add to that his work in producing 'Annabelle', and he is one of the masters of the genre and we're happy to have him. You go through the list of possible directors of 'The Conjuring' sequel, and his is the name you stop at, which is why we tried so hard to make this work."
The original movie, which starred Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, proved to be a huge hit at the box office, raking in more than $300 million worldwide, and has led to a demand for a second instalment.
The move comes hot on the heels of the prequel 'Annabelle', which was directed by Wan, 37, and features Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton, and Alfre Woodard.
Movies
Billy Bob Thornton insists 'Bad Santa 2' will not be as good as the original film.
The 59-year-old actor played an alcoholic thief who worked as a department store Santa Claus to steal from shops in the 2003 movie, and while he is still waiting to see a script for the follow up film, he has already conceded it will never be able to better the first motion picture.
He said: "We're just waiting for a script, you know. I mean we're never going to beat the first one but you got to get as close as you can.
"I mean, you know you just can't go out there and do it halfway. So we're waiting for something that's close enough. And you know it will do real well, I would imagine.
"And then you know people will say, 'Well, it wasn't as good as the first one.' And we'll say, 'Yeah, we knew it wouldn't be.' But I think it should be fun. I think people who like this one will enjoy it. And hopefully we'll get it off, yeah."
Thornton joked he was drinking from 7am on the set of the original movie and insists acting in a comedy film can be a lot harder than starring in a drama because the audience are expecting a laugh.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he joked: "I prepared for this one by drinking from 7:00 o'clock in the morning."
He then added: "But yeah, I mean comedy is different. There's no doubt about it. And when they say comedy is harder than drama, in some ways it is because with comedy you're expecting a result, you know, from the audience."
Billy Bob Thornton: Bad Santa 2 won’t be as good
Billy Bob Thornton insists 'Bad Santa 2' will not be as good as the original film.
The 59-year-old actor played an alcoholic thief who worked as a department store Santa Claus to steal from shops in the 2003 movie, and while he is still waiting to see a script for the follow up film, he has already conceded it will never be able to better the first motion picture.
He said: "We're just waiting for a script, you know. I mean we're never going to beat the first one but you got to get as close as you can.
"I mean, you know you just can't go out there and do it halfway. So we're waiting for something that's close enough. And you know it will do real well, I would imagine.
"And then you know people will say, 'Well, it wasn't as good as the first one.' And we'll say, 'Yeah, we knew it wouldn't be.' But I think it should be fun. I think people who like this one will enjoy it. And hopefully we'll get it off, yeah."
Thornton joked he was drinking from 7am on the set of the original movie and insists acting in a comedy film can be a lot harder than starring in a drama because the audience are expecting a laugh.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he joked: "I prepared for this one by drinking from 7:00 o'clock in the morning."
He then added: "But yeah, I mean comedy is different. There's no doubt about it. And when they say comedy is harder than drama, in some ways it is because with comedy you're expecting a result, you know, from the audience."
Movies
The character Steve Carell plays in 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' is similar to his real-life self.
The 52-year-old actor said the part he performs in the new film is that of a 'fommy', a father whole also performs the function of a mother.
Asked to describe his on-screen character, Carell told the Guardian: "It's very complicated, but he's a father-mommy. It's basically a stay-at-home dad. It's a guy who hasn't accepted the reigns of father-motherhood, and parenthood. In the movie, I'm a fommy... in real life I'm kind of a fommy, too.
"The character is conflicted. He wants to be working again, and he also loves his family and enjoys taking care of his kids. So, there is the purity of that enjoyment coupled with that sense of ... him still striving to have a career. You know, that's something a lot of parents struggle with."
The new movie - which also features Jennifer Garner, Ed Oxenbould and Dylan Minnette - caused Carell, who has a daughter Elizabeth, 13, and a son John, 10, to dwell on his own experiences of fatherhood.
He reflected: "I got so much advice before I became a dad. Everyone was saying that I should read this book and you have to do this. You don't know until you become a dad and then you learn the role."
Steve Carell says he’s a ‘fommy’
The character Steve Carell plays in 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' is similar to his real-life self.
The 52-year-old actor said the part he performs in the new film is that of a 'fommy', a father whole also performs the function of a mother.
Asked to describe his on-screen character, Carell told the Guardian: "It's very complicated, but he's a father-mommy. It's basically a stay-at-home dad. It's a guy who hasn't accepted the reigns of father-motherhood, and parenthood. In the movie, I'm a fommy... in real life I'm kind of a fommy, too.
"The character is conflicted. He wants to be working again, and he also loves his family and enjoys taking care of his kids. So, there is the purity of that enjoyment coupled with that sense of ... him still striving to have a career. You know, that's something a lot of parents struggle with."
The new movie - which also features Jennifer Garner, Ed Oxenbould and Dylan Minnette - caused Carell, who has a daughter Elizabeth, 13, and a son John, 10, to dwell on his own experiences of fatherhood.
He reflected: "I got so much advice before I became a dad. Everyone was saying that I should read this book and you have to do this. You don't know until you become a dad and then you learn the role."
Movies
George Lucas believes movie studios lack "talent" and "imagination".
The 'Star Wars' creator claims people who are not passionate about films have too much influence in the industry and Lucas feels it's a counter-productive situation.
Assessing the current state of the industry, the 70-year-old director told the US TV network CBS: "The problem has always been the studios.
"Although the beginning of the studios, the entrepreneurs who ran the studios were sort of creative guys. They would just take books and turn them into movies and do things like that."
He continued: "Suddenly all these corporations were coming in. They didn't know anything about the movie business.
"The studios went back to saying, 'Well we don't trust you people and we think we know how to make movies. The studios change everything all the time. And, unfortunately, they don't have any imagination and they don't have any talent."
Lucas sold his own production company, Lucasfilm, to Disney in 2012.
Meanwhile, it was announced recently that Warwick Davis is to appear in 'Star Wars Episode VII'.
The Brit is to appear in the much-hyped sequel alongside returning actors Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher as well as new faces John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Oscar Isaac.
George Lucas blasts ‘unimaginative’ movie studios
George Lucas believes movie studios lack "talent" and "imagination".
The 'Star Wars' creator claims people who are not passionate about films have too much influence in the industry and Lucas feels it's a counter-productive situation.
Assessing the current state of the industry, the 70-year-old director told the US TV network CBS: "The problem has always been the studios.
"Although the beginning of the studios, the entrepreneurs who ran the studios were sort of creative guys. They would just take books and turn them into movies and do things like that."
He continued: "Suddenly all these corporations were coming in. They didn't know anything about the movie business.
"The studios went back to saying, 'Well we don't trust you people and we think we know how to make movies. The studios change everything all the time. And, unfortunately, they don't have any imagination and they don't have any talent."
Lucas sold his own production company, Lucasfilm, to Disney in 2012.
Meanwhile, it was announced recently that Warwick Davis is to appear in 'Star Wars Episode VII'.
The Brit is to appear in the much-hyped sequel alongside returning actors Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher as well as new faces John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Oscar Isaac.
Movies
David Ayer says new movie 'Suicide Squad' is like 'The Dirty Dozen'.
The 'Fury' director has spoken about his vision for the eagerly-awaited movie based on the DC comic and revealed he's excited by the prospect of working in the genre.
Asked to explain the plot of the new film, he told Empire: "I can say that it's a Dirty Dozen with supervillains. Then I can ask the question, 'Does a movie really need good guys?'"
He continued: "I love the passion [comic book fans] have for these characters and these worlds.
"I think there's something incredible about the comic genre and technology has finally caught up with pen and ink to render these fantastic worlds in a way that feels believable and visceral to audiences."
The 46 year old is keen to explore the comic book genre, saying: "It's a secular religion in that regards. The mythology that these characters represent - the idea of them as fallen gods on Earth - is intriguing to me. I can't wait to start exploring those corridors."
The plot of 'Suicide Watch', which is set for release in 2016, concerns a team of villains employed by the US government to undertake black ops missions.
Meanwhile, 'The Dirty Dozen' - which was released in 1967 - concerns a World War II commando squad featuring a group of convicts.
David Ayer compares Suicide Squad to The Dirty Dozen
David Ayer says new movie 'Suicide Squad' is like 'The Dirty Dozen'.
The 'Fury' director has spoken about his vision for the eagerly-awaited movie based on the DC comic and revealed he's excited by the prospect of working in the genre.
Asked to explain the plot of the new film, he told Empire: "I can say that it's a Dirty Dozen with supervillains. Then I can ask the question, 'Does a movie really need good guys?'"
He continued: "I love the passion [comic book fans] have for these characters and these worlds.
"I think there's something incredible about the comic genre and technology has finally caught up with pen and ink to render these fantastic worlds in a way that feels believable and visceral to audiences."
The 46 year old is keen to explore the comic book genre, saying: "It's a secular religion in that regards. The mythology that these characters represent - the idea of them as fallen gods on Earth - is intriguing to me. I can't wait to start exploring those corridors."
The plot of 'Suicide Watch', which is set for release in 2016, concerns a team of villains employed by the US government to undertake black ops missions.
Meanwhile, 'The Dirty Dozen' - which was released in 1967 - concerns a World War II commando squad featuring a group of convicts.
Movies
Daniel Radcliffe plans to "mix" his career up.
The 25-year-old 'Horns' actor has revealed that he wants his resume to be filled with variety.
Speaking at the 'Horns' London première in Leicester Square last night (20.10.14), Daniel - who plays the accused rapist and murderer Ig Perrish - told BANG Showbiz: "I don't know if I'll be looking for darkness every time, I think it's nice to mix it up.
"It's getting opportunities to show what I can do and hopefully people will keep presenting that to me."
After playing the title role in the 'Harry Potter' film franchise for ten years, fans might expect Daniel to be used to having magical powers, but the actor admitted that he wouldn't be keen to share his 'Horns' character's superhuman skill of mind reading.
He joked: "I don't think I'd want any of [Ig's powers] to be honest. I don't think I'd want to be able to hear what other people are thinking - that would be terrible!
"Maybe drawing confessions out of people might be useful sometimes. But if it's a choice between having no powers or having them, I'll go with having none. It's actually more of a curse in the end."
Daniel also revealed that the fake horns that were attached to his forehead throughout the majority of the film weren't as annoying as he expected them to be.
He said: "The horns were very easy to take on and off. The prosthetics were very, much better than they could have been in terms of how easy they were."
Daniel Radcliffe’s career ‘mix up’
Daniel Radcliffe plans to "mix" his career up.
The 25-year-old 'Horns' actor has revealed that he wants his resume to be filled with variety.
Speaking at the 'Horns' London première in Leicester Square last night (20.10.14), Daniel - who plays the accused rapist and murderer Ig Perrish - told BANG Showbiz: "I don't know if I'll be looking for darkness every time, I think it's nice to mix it up.
"It's getting opportunities to show what I can do and hopefully people will keep presenting that to me."
After playing the title role in the 'Harry Potter' film franchise for ten years, fans might expect Daniel to be used to having magical powers, but the actor admitted that he wouldn't be keen to share his 'Horns' character's superhuman skill of mind reading.
He joked: "I don't think I'd want any of [Ig's powers] to be honest. I don't think I'd want to be able to hear what other people are thinking - that would be terrible!
"Maybe drawing confessions out of people might be useful sometimes. But if it's a choice between having no powers or having them, I'll go with having none. It's actually more of a curse in the end."
Daniel also revealed that the fake horns that were attached to his forehead throughout the majority of the film weren't as annoying as he expected them to be.
He said: "The horns were very easy to take on and off. The prosthetics were very, much better than they could have been in terms of how easy they were."
Movies
Disney movie 'Moana' is set to be released in late 2016.
The studio has confirmed that the release date for the new animated feature - the 56th in its history - has been brought forward by two years, and the film concerning the Polynesian sea-voyager, navigator and chief's daughter will be directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, who were responsible for 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Aladdin'.
Looking forward to the film, Musker explained: "Moana is indomitable, passionate and a dreamer with a unique connection to the ocean itself.
"She's the kind of character we all root for, and we can't wait to introduce her to audiences."
During the course of the film, Moana Waialiki, the central character, heads off on a journey to help her family.
The plot features spirits and mythological figures from history.
This comes shortly after Disney announced plans to make a short film follow-up to 'Frozen'.
The new film is set to premiere in 2015 and will see the return of all the main original characters.
The log line for the film explains: "In 'Frozen Fever', it's Anna's birthday and Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever, but Elsa's icy powers may put more than just the party at risk."
The movie will feature a song from Oscar winners Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, while Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck are to return to directing duties.
Moana to open in 2016
Disney movie 'Moana' is set to be released in late 2016.
The studio has confirmed that the release date for the new animated feature - the 56th in its history - has been brought forward by two years, and the film concerning the Polynesian sea-voyager, navigator and chief's daughter will be directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, who were responsible for 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Aladdin'.
Looking forward to the film, Musker explained: "Moana is indomitable, passionate and a dreamer with a unique connection to the ocean itself.
"She's the kind of character we all root for, and we can't wait to introduce her to audiences."
During the course of the film, Moana Waialiki, the central character, heads off on a journey to help her family.
The plot features spirits and mythological figures from history.
This comes shortly after Disney announced plans to make a short film follow-up to 'Frozen'.
The new film is set to premiere in 2015 and will see the return of all the main original characters.
The log line for the film explains: "In 'Frozen Fever', it's Anna's birthday and Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever, but Elsa's icy powers may put more than just the party at risk."
The movie will feature a song from Oscar winners Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, while Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck are to return to directing duties.
Movies
Sean Bean is set to star in 'The Martian'.
The 55-year-old actor will join forces with Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain and Jeff Daniels for director Ridley Scott's sci-fi movie in which he will portray a NASA flight director, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The motion picture, based on the novel by Andy Weir, will see Damon play Mark Watney, a US astronaut who becomes stranded on Mars and tries to survive long enough for NASA to rescue him.
Kate Mara, Michael Pena and Kristen Wiig have also joined the cast of the film, which Scott is set to produce alongside Simon Kinberg and Aditya Sood.
The movie, which has been described as "'Apollo 13' meets 'Cast Away'", is slated for a November 2015 release.
It could be busy year of film premieres for Bean in 2015 as he is also starring in eagerly-anticipated sci-fi flick 'Jupiter Ascending', which was recently pushed back to February next year.
The movie sees Mila Kunis play a house cleaner who discovers she is a princess and embarks on a whirlwind journey with an elf-eared alien warrior (Channing Tatum), who is tasked to protect her.
Other stars include Eddie Redmayne and Douglas Booth, while Bean will portray Han Solo-type character Stinger, who has been spliced with bee DNA meaning he has extremely good vision, super speed and a sense of loyalty as well as wings.
Sean Bean joins The Martian
Sean Bean is set to star in 'The Martian'.
The 55-year-old actor will join forces with Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain and Jeff Daniels for director Ridley Scott's sci-fi movie in which he will portray a NASA flight director, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The motion picture, based on the novel by Andy Weir, will see Damon play Mark Watney, a US astronaut who becomes stranded on Mars and tries to survive long enough for NASA to rescue him.
Kate Mara, Michael Pena and Kristen Wiig have also joined the cast of the film, which Scott is set to produce alongside Simon Kinberg and Aditya Sood.
The movie, which has been described as "'Apollo 13' meets 'Cast Away'", is slated for a November 2015 release.
It could be busy year of film premieres for Bean in 2015 as he is also starring in eagerly-anticipated sci-fi flick 'Jupiter Ascending', which was recently pushed back to February next year.
The movie sees Mila Kunis play a house cleaner who discovers she is a princess and embarks on a whirlwind journey with an elf-eared alien warrior (Channing Tatum), who is tasked to protect her.
Other stars include Eddie Redmayne and Douglas Booth, while Bean will portray Han Solo-type character Stinger, who has been spliced with bee DNA meaning he has extremely good vision, super speed and a sense of loyalty as well as wings.