Cera hopes the movie will happen 'soon' and has ideas for his character George-Michael's arc. By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Michael Cera Photo: MTV News
The news surrounding the alleged "Arrested Development" movie continues to be as back-and-forth as a Wimbledon tennis match. Despite a fanbase almost more obsessive than those at last week's Comic-Con, the movie has had its ups and downs, with the latest news announced by way of creator Mitch Hurwitz, who confirmed recently that work on the movie's script had begun.
Now, straight from the mouth of George-Michael himself, Michael Cera, who graced MTV News with his presence during our Comic-Con live stream last week, we have further confirmation that the film will indeed happen. And Cera also told us about his hopes and dreams for his character's quirky arc.
"I hope it will happen soon," he said. "I think it's going to ... soon, hopefully." But like every other cast member who has been approached about the subject, Cera didn't have much more to say about the planned production. "I know so little about it," he admitted.
Cera did briefly indulge our suggestion that he and cast members Jeffrey Tambor and Jason Bateman should just shoot the film while they're all in San Diego for the convention — he laughed and said that idea "would be great" — but referenced his character's continued awkwardness as a starting point upon which Hurwitz should focus some character evolution.
"I want to pitch Mitch Hurwitz this thing where, if we do do the movie, my character over the years has turned into kind of a creepy guy. I'm still in love with my cousin and leaving flowers on her door, and all the members of the family are like, 'What is going on? It's been years now. ...' "
Cera appears to have grown tired of playing that side of George-Michael, which leaves the field open for suggestions on what trouble he may or may not find himself in once/if the movie officially begins production.
Do you think the "Arrested Development" movie will ever happen? What should happen with Cera's character, George-Michael? Tell us in the comments!
Plus, Tortorella reveals onscreen romance with Emma Roberts' 'Scream 4' character. By Jocelyn Vena
Rory Culkin Photo: MTV News
It almost seems like when they were casting "Scream 4," they stole from the credits for the Joel Schumacher-directed gritty drug drama "Twelve." Three of the film's castmates, Emma Roberts, Rory Culkin and Nico Tortorella, will all have roles in the upcoming sequel in the "Scream" franchise. While Roberts couldn't make it to the premiere due to her "Scream 4" shooting schedule, MTV News did get some dish from Culkin and Tortorella.
"We're still shooting it. Not really allowed to talk about it. I signed a contract, seriously. I can't say anything and I'd hate to get sued," Culkin told MTV News at the New York City premiere of "Twelve." "I better keep quiet on this!"
"I was [a fan of the original]. I was the ghost-faced killer for Halloween in the third or fourth grade," he added. "Am I the killer this time around? ... I am under contract."
While Culkin decided to keep mum, his "Twelve" and "Scream 4" co-star dished a bit more, revealing that he and Roberts may get busy. "My name is Trevor, and Emma and I have a love interest throughout the whole movie, and I can't really give you too much more," Tortorella said, adding that being on-set with some of the original cast is very exciting. "I can't give you any information past that."
"Yeah, Courteney's there, Neve's there, David's there. You know, it's really like walking into a family, and they're just all accepting us with mad open arms," he explained. "They're all incredible people. It's been quite the trip. I had never seen the originals until after I auditioned for the first time. ... After watching them all, yeah, it's one of its own."
Other key players in the star-studded cast include Hayden Panettiere, who recently shared some details about the movie, Adam Brody, Anthony Anderson and Marley Shelton.
'It's great to be able to play a character in a story at any age you want now,' veteran actor says about revisiting his 1982 role. By Eric Ditzian, with additional reporting by Josh Horowitz
Jeff Bridges Photo: MTV News
In March, when the "Tron Legacy" teaser trailer dropped online and showed us our first glimpse of a reverse-aged Jeff Bridges, director Joseph Kosinski revealed to MTV News that capturing this CGI-assisted footage was his greatest challenge.
"The hardest thing to do in visual effects is pull off a realistic human face," he explained.
But that was the task filmmakers took on when they set out to make a sequel to the 1982 original, in which Bridges starred as two characters: a software designer named Kevin Flynn who's sucked into a computer-generated gaming world, and a digital villain named Clu. With Clu playing a key role in "Legacy," Kosinski had to re-create the '80s-era Bridges to step into the Clu role once again. As he revealed to us, his reference point was the Bridges of the 1984 drama, "Against All Odds."
For Bridges himself, the opportunity to play, in essence, his younger self was not one he could pass up. "It was very exciting to be a part of that," he told us recently at Comic-Con. "That was one of the reasons that got me involved in 'Tron' in the first place, was to be a part of that cutting-edge technology. This one takes it to the nth degree."
To get the visual effects right, Bridges shimmied into a motion-capture suit and set to work. "Playing the young guy, we did a lot of work in a space called the Volume — you record motion-capture work," he said. "That was a completely unique experience for me. I had never done that. It's great to be able to play a character in a story at any age you want now. I can play my character when he's 4 years old."
Of course, there's always the chance that one day actors won't be needed at all, as filmmakers fully create their characters in a computer. "I go between worry and gratefulness. Maybe I'll be ready to do something else by that time," he laughed about the possibility. "There is going to be a time — it's probably already here — when they say, 'Let's get a combination of [co-star] Garrett [Hedlund] and Bridges and let's put a little Bela Lugosi in there. What the hell — let's see what happens!' "
'We had to go all the way around to get here, but he's the president,' 50 said about Obama's visit, which blocked traffic. By Jocelyn Vena
Chace Crawford at the "Twelve" premiere on Wednesday Photo: Dario Cantatore/Getty Images
NEW YORK — Many screaming girls thronged the Landmark Sunshine Cinema to catch a glimpse of "Gossip Girl" star Chace Crawford at the premiere of his gritty drug drama "Twelve," but it was the NYPD who stopped traffic — to make way for President Obama's motorcade during his visit to New York on Wednesday. The ensuing confusion made it difficult for the cast of the flick to show up for their own premiere.
"We shut down the street for the premiere and for me," Crawford joked to MTV News. "I didn't want any traffic on Houston [Street] and then Obama just swooped in — figures! I mean, I called and invited him and texted him and he didn't want to come. It's just a mess!"
Crawford's co-star 50 Cent was impressed by the way that Obama could just shut down the entire neighborhood.
"It's interesting — the streets are blocked off for a few avenues," he said. "We had to go all the way around to get here, but he's the president."
Zoë Kravitz not only had to battle traffic to get to the premiere, but also the heat and humidity. "We were in traffic for the longest time and I was like, 'What's going on?' " she explained. "I almost got out and took the subway, and the only reason I didn't was because it was so hot my hair would have been out to here," she gestured.
And while the cast was excited to be at the premiere for the Joel Schumacher-directed flick, they know that at the end of the day, the big headline will be Obama's trip to New York.
"It's pretty ridiculous, huh?" Nico Tortorella said. "You're expecting this big ol' premiere and the president walks by and we can't compete! But it is what it is. Welcome to New York City!"
From Chris Hemsworth's preparation for the role to Thor's costume and hammers, here are the details we've learned so far. By Eric Ditzian
"Thor" star Chris Hemsworth at Comic-Con 2010 Photo: Jerod Harris/ Getty Images
Almost a week after Marvel debuted the first footage from "Thor" at Comic-Con, the video has popped up online. Now it's not only the lucky nerds that swooped into San Diego last weekend who get to gawk over the incredibly cool footage, which includes Chris Hemsworth as Thor laying down the hurt on some S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, a close look at the mythical gods of gold-plated Asgard, and Thor swapping spit with the scientist played by Natalie Portman.
The Con simply delivered an embarrassment of "Thor" riches, and to help everyone get a handle on what was revealed, we've gathered all the available info right here. Read on for everything you need to know about "Thor" at Comic-Con.
How Hemsworth Prepared: Vikings and Mike Tyson
Early in 2009, the Australian-born Hemsworth was unknown on American shores. Then he wowed audiences with his turn as James Kirk's dad in "Star Trek" and won the hearts of Marvel execs, who gifted him with the role of Thor. How did Hemsworth prepare for the role? Not so much with comic book reading about Norse gods but with historical research about the Vikings.
"They live with this fearlessness, which for me was a lot of the angle I came at Thor with," he told us. "He does reckless sort of things, but his heart is in the right place. He believes it's right. He's not just a madman."
When it came to creating Thor's fighting style, Hemsworth at first turned to former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson. "Mike Tyson is very low to the ground, with a big open chest and big shoulder swings. Very sort of brutal but graceful at the same time," he explained. "As we shot stuff, we realized that it's virtually impossible to do that. The costume is pretty limiting with the movement, so there was a lot to work around."
Thor's Look: Armor, Hammers and Nakedness
As we saw in the Con footage, Thor is cast out of Asgard and lands on Earth, stripped of his armor and his all-powerful hammer. And without that hammer, Hemsworth admitted he felt more than a little vulnerable on set.
"You feel naked without it after holding it for a while," he laughed.
The actor went on to reveal that filmmakers employed various hammers depending on the needs of each scene. "There were a few different versions for different shots — the close-up one and the stunt one," he said. "The main one was very heavy, a beautifully polished, metal, wood, leather-looking thing. It was an impressive thing."
Equally impressive for the actor was Thor's costume, which had Hemsworth feeling nothing short of empowered. "I put the costume on for the first time and had the camera test and [co-star] Anthony Hopkins was there with me," he said. "We looked at each other and he said, 'God, there's no acting required here, is there?' "
"We had a big rehearsal process with one particular fight scene we were doing and the whole time, Tom had his staff and his Loki helmet on with the horns," Hemsworth said. "He always wore it in rehearsals while he moved, so basically he's sweating and he can't hear anything because [the helmet] is extraordinarily heavy. He had this kind of crazy look in his eyes, and the whole time I was thinking, 'He's going to kill me!' He's swinging his staff and catching me in the legs and in the fingers and I kept thinking, 'He's going to hurt somebody.' "
Cameron will produce del Toro's adaptation of story of explorers who encounter alien creatures in Antarctica. By Eric Ditzian
Guillermo Del Toro Photo: Jerod Harris/ Getty Images
When we caught up with Guillermo del Toro at Comic-Con over the weekend, he was impressively tight-lipped about his new project following his departure from "The Hobbit" in May. The Mexican-born director has long had a desire to adapt H.P. Lovecraft's "At the Mountains of Madness" for the big screen, but he declined to announce plans to direct the project at the Con.
Now Deadline.com has the news that del Toro will in fact helm "Mountains of Madness," that James Cameron has come on-board as a producer and that they'll shoot the film with 3-D cameras. Cameron's presence on the project apparently convinced Universal to give del Toro a thumbs-up, and preproduction is expected to begin in the next few weeks, with an eye on a summer 2011 shoot.
Lovecraft's story follows a group of explorers who set off for Antarctica and discover alien creatures, mythical cities and a host of bizarre dangers. While del Toro wouldn't confirm his plans to direct at Comic-Con, he did go into detail about his work on the script with Matthew Robbins ("Mimic").
"We are rewriting slightly the screenplay we've had for 12 years," he told MTV News. "Matthew and I believe that a screenplay like that you have to tackle again every so often. We tackled it last about two years ago, [when] Matt and I felt like we needed to rewrite some stuff. Matt is my greatest writing partner because we keep updating anything we haven't shot, we keep saying, 'Let's do another rewrite.' So we're going to do another rewrite in the next couple months.'
"There [are] movies that have come out that have done things that are similar to some of the stuff we were trying," he further explained. "Thirteen years ago it was a big challenge, but right now what we're doing is keeping it alive."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
'The Cullen family is large, the wolf family is large, you have three leads,' Melissa Rosenberg tells MTV News of her challenging writing process. By Kara Warner
Melissa Rosenberg Photo: MTV News
As all die-hard "Twilight" fans know, screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg is still hard at work on finalizing the scripts for the two-part "Breaking Dawn" finale, the first of which is scheduled to begin shooting in November. MTV News was lucky enough to catch up with the "Dexter" and "Twilight" screenwriter at San Diego Comic-Con, where she held court on a "Girls Gone Genre" panel. And while she still won't reveal where the two films will break, she did give us a few details about the birthing scene and the "Book of Jacob," as well as some dish on how she plans to handle all of the new characters Stephenie Meyer introduces in "Dawn."
"It's extremely challenging to introduce those new characters because you already have quite a slew of characters to service," Rosenberg admitted of Meyer's final book. "The Cullen family is large, the wolf family is large, you have three leads ... finding room for all of them is a challenge. For me, it is about pulling forward the ones that are essential and really making sure they have a presence."
Naturally, Rosenberg didn't say specifically which characters would or would not appear in the films, but simply that she hopes "all of them will be there in one shape or another."
Fans interested in checking in more frequently with Rosenberg's "Dawn" progress can check out her Facebook page, which Rosenberg told us she checks regularly to see what Twi-hards are saying and involve them in plotline discussions.
"I ask people to really weigh in with what are their favorite scenes in the books, what's important to them," Rosenberg said. "And there generally seems to be a consensus about one scene or another. It's really helpful for me and I'll interact with them sometimes."
She added that the fan interaction has helped her to squash any out-of-control Internet-generated rumors about her "Dawn" scripts. "At one point, [the fans] were upset because they had gotten the impression that I was choosing not to put the birthing scene in the script, and I was able to go online and say, 'I don't know where that idea came from, but of course the birthing scene is going to be in.' " Another Net-generated rumor, according to Rosenberg, is that she won't include the Book of Jacob in the final film. "I don't know where that idea came from, but that is not true," she confirmed. "We are going to see Jacob's perspective equally, so don't worry."
Are you concerned about how Melissa Rosenberg will handle the birthing scene or the Book of Jacob? Tell us in the comments.
With regard to that extensive training, one big question on fans' minds is: Will Thor and his ever-envious adopted brother Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston, come to blows in the film? Hemsworth spoke to that issue, and the short answer is "yes." But the long answer includes Hemsworth's playful retelling of shooting one of Thor and Loki's pivotal action scenes.
"We did [come to blows] actually," Hemsworth told MTV News. "It's funny, we had this big rehearsal process of this one particular fight scene we were doing, and the whole time Tom has his staff and he has his Loki helmet on with the horns — he wanted to wear it in rehearsal so he knew how to move.
"Basically he's sweating and he can't hear anything, the thing is extraordinarily heavy, he had this kind of crazy look in his eye, and the whole time I'm like, 'He's going to kill me, poke my eye out,' " Hemsworth continued. "He's swinging the staff and catching me in the leg and fingers, [I'm thinking,] 'What's going on?' I kept thinking, 'He's going to hurt someone.' "
Hemsworth then revealed that with all his anxiety about getting injured by Hiddleston, when it came time to shoot the big scene, the roles were reversed.
"The day we shoot the scene, I ended up elbowing him in the nose," Hemsworth admitted sheepishly. "And [there were] rivers of blood on the set — by accident. Subconsciously, maybe it was on purpose, but consciously I didn't mean it," he swore.
Hopefully we'll hear Hiddleston's side to that story soon.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
'Dinner for Schmucks' and 'Hangover' star's new film purchased by DreamWorks. By Adam Rosenberg
Zach Galifianakis Photo: Dave Hogan/ Getty
Zach Galifianakis stars as the titular schmuck opposite Steve Carell in the summer comedy "Dinner for Schmucks," which comes out Friday. So now's a perfect time to line up another one, right?
Deadline.com reported that DreamWorks purchased "Reply All," a Galifianakis vehicle with a yet-to-be-written script coming from Phil Johnston. The writer also has a credit on the 2011 comedy "Cedar Rapids," which features Zach G's "The Hangover" cohort Ed Helms among its stars.
From the sound of things, "Reply All" will riff on that most dreaded faux pas, in which you accidentally send a private e-mail to a large group of unintended recipients. Galifianakis will play the hapless sender; expect hilarity to ensue as he deals with the consequences of his error. No other casting has been made public yet, but expect some familiar names, since Galifianakis tends to draw a crowd.
In addition to "Schmucks" this Friday, Galifianakis has two more comedies still to come this year. First up, in September, is "It's a Funny Kind of Story" from "Half Nelson" writer/directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. He's back again in November starring opposite Robert Downey Jr. in "Due Date," a road movie from "Hangover" director Todd Phillips that's drawn comparisons to the John Candy/Steve Martin classic, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles."
Of course, Galifianakis will also be re-teaming again with Phillips next year for "The Hangover 2." Also expected to return for the sequel are stars Ed Helms, Justin Bartha and Bradley Cooper; rumors also suggest that supporting stars Heather Graham and Ken Jeong will be back. ComingSoon.net reported via a source last week that the sequel will be set (and shot on location) in Thailand.
'We're not cracking jokes, but they did find a way to add humor,' film's star says. By Kara Warner
Chris Evans Photo: Jerod Harris/ Getty Images
Ever since the big announcement that "Captain America: The First Avenger" was in motion and its star, Chris Evans, was in place, movie and comic book fans alike have been chomping at the bit for as much information about the movie as they can get their eyes and ears on.
When the soon-to-be star-spangled superhero himself stopped by our Comic-Con live stream recently, we not only learned about his costumes, his reservations about taking on the role and the relationship between Cap and Bucky, but also what tone the film will have compared with previous comic book adaptations, like Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" and Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight."
Evans promised fans that "America" will be in line with both the comic and recent comic book movies. "The nature of comic book movies in general — look at ['X-Men Origins:] Wolverine,' you have swords coming out of a guy's knuckles, it's all a bit fantastical," he said. "It's about a good script, a good director, finding a way to ground it in reality, even if it is a bit dreamlike."
Evans added that consistency is key in keeping fans invested. "As long as you stay consistent, you can get the audience to commit in the beginning and go for the ride, I think they'll jump onboard and not try and burn holes in our consistency."
Regarding the definitive tone of "America," Evans said there is a healthy combination of comedy and drama, and that it will have a distinctive "shine" to it.
"They did mix in some good comedy," Evans revealed. "It's not comedy on the nose, we're not cracking jokes, but they did find a way to add humor." As far as the look of the film is concerned, however, Evans referred to a conversation he had about it with director Joe Johnston.
"I definitely asked Joe, what kind of gloss are we going for here? Is this going to have the kind of 'Spider-Man,' 'Fantastic Four' shine? He said it's not going to be that glossy, not that colorful, but we're not going as dark as something like 'Batman.' "
"I think it will be a nice happy medium," Evans added. "I think the world of 'Iron Man' was done really well. It stayed grounded in reality and yet still stayed true to the fact that it's a comic book movie, so it does have to have some life to it."
'Not a chance,' a source close to DiCaprio reportedly says. By Gil Kaufman
Leonardo DiCaprio Photo: Sean Gallup/GettyImages
As the controversy over Mel Gibson's rage-fueled rant tapes and domestic violence probe continue to unfold, the site that has leaked those shocking recordings, RadarOnline.com reported that one of the "Lethal Weapon" actor's upcoming projects has lost its leading man.
"Inception" star Leonardo DiCaprio has reportedly withdrawn from a planned movie chronicling the exploits of Viking warriors that Gibson was slated to direct. "Not a chance," said an unnamed source close to DiCaprio.
The site claimed that the latest setback to Gibson's once-blockbuster Hollywood career — he was dropped by his longtime talent agency in the wake of the tape scandal — is another signal that the actor/director may have difficulty bouncing back from his latest scandal and regain his once high-flying star status.
The Viking film would have been DiCaprio's first project with Gibson, but the unnamed source said that the meticulous actor — who has avoided a major public scandal during his nearly 20-year long career in movies — did not want to risk his reputation by being associated with Gibson.
"Leo has earned the right to pick and choose who he works with, and Mel Gibson is not one of them," the source reportedly said. A spokesperson for DiCaprio could not be reached for comment at press time. The untitled Viking movie was being co-produced by Gibson's Icon Productions and was slated to begin shooting in the fall.
DiCaprio recently spoke to MTV News about his desire to make a Viking epic with Gibson saying, "I've always wanted to do Viking Story. I'm a big history buff and I don't think there's been a really fantastic Viking film ever made. Those were some of the most barbaric people ever in history. I'd love to see Mel Gibson's version of that. Certainly with 'Apocalypto' and some of the other films he's made he's been able to transport me back in time unlike very many filmmakers have been able to ... I'd love to see what he does with that subject matter."
In addition to the embarrassment over the racist, sexist and violent language on the tapes, Gibson is being investigated for alleged domestic violence and child endangerment over claims that he struck ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva while she was holding the couple's then two-month old baby. Detectives from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department are also looking into claims that Grigorieva attempted to extort money from Gibson by threatening to release the tapes.
Gibson's spokesperson could not be reached for comment on the DiCaprio news; the spokesperson also has not denied that the breathless, rage-fueled voice on the tapes is Gibson.
The meltdown of Gibson's personal life has had a major impact on his public one as well, putting his upcoming projects into limbo. Among the movies currently in a holding pattern is the Jodie Foster-directed "The Beaver," a $20 million PG-13 dramedy in which Gibson plays a depressed CEO who can only communicate with his family through a beaver hand puppet. According to E! Online, the film just recently got a rating from the MPAA, but the studio behind it has not yet decided on a release date.
Also unknown is the fate of "How I Spent My Summer Vacation," which his still in production and features Gibson portraying a career criminal who survives in a Mexican prison thanks to the help of a young boy. Gibson is credited as the script author and producer on "Summer," which reportedly began filming in April, but has not gotten a release date yet.
Do you think Gibson's career can survive this scandal? Would you go see a new movie from Mel? Leave your comments below.
'[Director Burr Steers] doesn't do sappy, you know what I mean? Burr is very grounded,' actor says of his new movie. By Kara Warner
Zac Efron as Charlie St. Cloud Photo: Universal Pictures
Zac Efron's new movie "Charlie St. Cloud," out Friday, is certainly a far cry from his shiny, sugar-coated "High School Musical" trilogy. But judging from the film's trailers, there are some similarities to a few other recent films with an emotional/romantic theme, namely "Dear John," "Remember Me" and "The Last Song." When MTV News spoke with Efron, we asked him why this film is different, and how the story toes the line between sappy and sentimental.
"I didn't think it was going to be sappy," Efron said. "Because [director Burr Steers] doesn't do sappy, you know what I mean? Burr is very grounded. He is all about story and dialogue and plot and all about real."
Efron added that Steers, whom he also worked with on "17 Again," will quickly put the kibosh on superficiality if he sees it in an actor's performance. "If he sees [superficial] acting, he would come in and just, psshhhhh [He pantomimes an explosion with his hands]. So I've really had to trust him with that. And we all do, we all did. And you know, it turned out right."
The 22-year-old went on to say that he doesn't think "Charlie St. Cloud" gets too sentimental. "But at the same time, I wanted to make sure the audience got what they needed from it," he said. "Hopefully they are fulfilled and leave asking some cool questions."
It will be interesting to see how well fans receive Efron in his "St. Cloud" role, especially since it was recently announced that Efron has been pegged to star in "The Lucky One," the film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' novel about an American marine who credits his survival in the Iraq War to a photograph of a woman he's never met. "Lucky One" adds to the already lengthy list of projects to which Efron is reportedly attached.
What do you think of Efron taking on different, more grown-up roles? Will you go to see "Charlie St. Cloud" and "The Lucky One"? Tell us in the comments.
Experts weigh in on how well-suited Fincher is for the project as well as the challenges he faces. By Kara Warner
David Fincher Photo: MTV News
David Fincher is one of the few bigtime Hollywood directors who, by simply including his name in a sentence, automatically adds an air of credibility and intelligence to whatever subject is being discussed. With such challenging, thought-provoking films as "Seven," "Fight Club," and "Zodiac" on his résumé, Fincher has established himself as one of the most exceptional and incendiary directors in the business. Now, as he tackles the U.S. version of one of the most popular books in recent publishing history, Stieg Larsson's "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," we consult two industry-savvy experts on why he is the perfect choice to tackle the project.
"I cannot think of a better person to direct this movie than David Fincher," Entertainment Weekly senior editor Rob Brunner told MTV News. "First of all, nobody does creepy like he does. Anyone who has ever seen 'Seven' knows that he is a master of making you uncomfortable," he said.
MTV's own Kurt Loder wholeheartedly agrees. "David Fincher's an ideal director for this movie because he has a talent for handling violence and perversity with a controlling intelligence," Loder said in an email to MTV News. "As he demonstrated in 'Zodiac' — his most unjustly under-heralded film — he's not just a simple-minded sensationalist and it will be interesting to see what he does with the astonishing revenge scene in the original picture."
Brunner, author of the recent EW cover story chronicling the popularity of the book series, pointed out that the book's dark and freaky elements, and the detective procedural aspects, are two areas of Fincher's expertise.
"[He] has done both those things extremely well — with 'Seven' and with 'Zodiac,' which is more of a police procedural kind of movie," said Brunner. "The 'Dragon Tattoo' books have some very creepy and uncomfortable parts to them that I am both very eager and fairly sort of dreading seeing how he handles them, because I have no doubt that he will make it even more over-the-top and extreme than what's in the book."
Brunner went on to say that one point of contention in regard to Fincher's adaptation is: Why remake it at all? "When I wrote the story, a lot of the reaction online and from people I knew was, 'Why would they remake this movie? There are already these great Swedish versions of these movies, they should let them speak for themselves.' On one hand I understand that way of thinking, I like those movies quite a bit, but the reason to remake them is David Fincher."
Another prickly element in making the film is the casting. It was already announced that current "James Bond" star Daniel Craig will step into the role of Mikael Blomkvist, but Fincher's next hurdle is the impending and precarious job of casting the appropriate actress to portray celebrated protagonist Lisbeth Salander. On this subject, both Brunner and Loder sided with the rumors that Fincher is leaning toward casting a lesser-known actress in the role. "Honestly, I hope they get it right," Brunner said. "If you get it wrong, it doesn't matter what Fincher does, the movie is dead, that's the whole game right there, casting that character."
Loder added that the current names being thrown around do not do the role justice. "Natalie Portman? Carey Mulligan? [They] couldn't be more wrong for the part," Loder said. "And I can't imagine Fincher going with them. Rooney Mara could be good — she had a distinctively sour presence as the slutty roommate in 'Youth in Revolt.' In the end, though, I'd bet Fincher would go with an unknown."
'I read De Niro's interviews during 'Raging Bull,' Christian Bale's during 'The Machinist,' the rapper reveals on 'The View' of preparing for movie role. By Jayson Rodriguez
50 Cent appears on "The View" on Wednesday Photo: ABC
Much was made about 50 Cent's dramatic weight loss earlier this year for an acting role that required the muscle-bound rap star to lose more than 50 pounds. But there's been little information about how the fit G-Unit head managed to put the weight back on.
Fif sat down with the women of "The View" on Tuesday and revealed to the hosts what his very first meal was post-production.
"I remember specifically what the first thing was, because I was starving," he laughed. "I had a steak. It was 12 ounces, but I got about four ounces in before I started getting sleepy."
The rapper shocked his fans and followers when Us Weekly got a hold of a still image from the upcoming movie "Things Fall Apart," featuring 50 Cent, Mario Van Peebles, Lynn Whitfield and Ray Liotta. Fif appeared gaunt and sickly in the picture. On the chat show, he drew comparisons to famous method actors who embraced almost tortuous acts to delve deeper into character.
The rapper also revealed he'd studied interviews of actors who attempted similar transformations. "I read [Robert] De Niro's interviews during 'Raging Bull,' Christian Bale's during 'The Machinist,' and Tom Hanks with 'Philadelphia,' " 50 said.
"It's a project that I wrote, produced and financed myself," he said of the film. "It's about a Heisman hopeful who could possibly be going to the league and everyone is assuming he's gonna make it, and then he's hit with an illness. I had a friend of mine who actually experienced cancer, and it's what motivated me to write this screenplay. You don't have to make everything personal, but that project was. That's why I committed to playing a role where I lost 54 pounds. I had to discipline myself enough until I achieved it but ... I got it."
Do you think you could go to the same extremes 50 Cent did to get what you want? Talk about it in the comments.
'The comic books have been fantastic,' star says. By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Chris Evans Photo: Jerod Harris/ Getty Images
Chris Evans has made no secret of his unfamiliarity with "Captain America" lore — a fictional history
that dates back to World War II and continues to this day. And some of the more huffy Marvel aficionados on the Web have made no secret of their displeasure with this gap in Evans' pop-culture knowledge.
Leaving aside the rather curious notion that an actor needs to be an expert on a given subject before he takes on a role, fans will be pleased to know that Evans has plunged into the Captain's past since he signed on for the big-screen adaptation in April.
"Absolutely, the comic books have been fantastic," he told MTV News at San Diego Comic-Con last week. "Personally, when I was going through the comic books, the ones that were most intriguing were the origin stories. I just wanted to get as many different takes on how this guy started out."
Evans has concentrated on the origin stories — which follow Steve Rogers' transformation, via the army's Super-Solider serum, from average Joe to American superhero — because that is the tale Marvel is set to establish with "Captain America: The First Avenger."
"That's the story we're telling," Evans explained. "I want to know who he was prior to this happening to him, and I think if that character is someone the audience can relate to, we win."
Evans also confirmed that Peggy Carter, the Captain's love interest to be played by Hayley Atwell (AMC's "The Prisoner"), will have a meaty part in the new flick, which hits theaters on July 22, 2011.
"Oh yeah, she's got a lot to do in this one, absolutely," he said.
'I just wanted to get as many different takes on how this guy started out,' Evans says of his preparation for the role. By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Chris Evans Photo: Jerod Harris/ Getty Images
Chris Evans has made no secret of his unfamiliarity with "Captain America" lore — a fictional history that dates back to World War II and continues to this day. And some of the more huffy Marvel aficionados on the Web have made no secret of their displeasure with this gap in Evans' pop-culture knowledge.
Leaving aside the rather curious notion that an actor needs to be an expert on a given subject before he takes on a role, fans will be delighted to know Evans has dived into the captain's past since he signed on to the big-screen adaptation in April.
"Absolutely, the comic books have been fantastic," he told MTV News at San Diego Comic-Con. "Personally, when I was going through the comic books, the ones that were most intriguing were the origin stories. I just wanted to get as many different takes on how this guy started out."
Evans has concentrated on the origin stories — which follow Steve Rogers' transformation, via the army's Super-Solider serum, from average Joe to American superhero — because that is the tale Marvel is set to establish with "Captain America: The First Avenger."
"That's the story we're telling," Evans explained. "I want to know who he was prior to this happening to him, and I think if that character is someone the audience can relate to, we win."
Evans also confirmed that Peggy Carter, the Captain's love interest, to be played by Hayley Atwell (AMC's "The Prisoner"), will have a meaty part in the new flick, which hits theaters on July 22, 2011.
"Oh yeah, she's got a lot to do in this one, absolutely," he said.
Gathegi set to play 'X-Men's' first biracial mutant, Darwin. By Jocelyn Vena
Edi Gathegi Photo: Jean Baptiste Lacroix/ WireImage
"Twilight Saga: New Moon" actor Edi Gathegi has found his next role in another fanatically loved franchise. Gathegi will play Darwin in the upcoming "X-Men: First Class," Deadline Hollywood reports.
Darwin is the first biracial mutant in the comic series, and he has the power of "reactive evolution," meaning that his body can adapt to any situation. For instance, his skin can become flame retardant in a fire, he can grow gills when submerged in water or he can see in the dark.
"First Class" is to center on the early years of the mutants made famous by the Marvel comic series. James McAvoy will star as a young Charles Xavier, better known by his superhero name, Professor X. "Kick-Ass" director Matthew Vaughn is to helm the film, which has been given a June 3, 2011, release date. Production is expected to begin this summer, with "X-Men" and "X2: X-Men United" director Bryan Singer producing, alongside Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg.
But "First Class" won't reunite Gathegi with "Twilight" co-star Taylor Lautner, despite earlier rumors. Lautner, who was said to be in talks to play a young Wolverine, was attached to the project for quite some time, but later decided to pass.
And it's not just "Twilight" junkies who are sad that Lautner's out. "I wanted Taylor to do it, I really did," Singer said. "He's doing a movie in Pittsburgh called 'Abduction,' and then he's got the next 'Twilight' movie. We talked about it a lot, he is a friend, and I really wanted to make it work. It just doesn't look like it's possible to do it."
Singer did, however, confirm some other big names for the film. "Kevin Bacon I do believe is going to happen," he said, noting that he'd likely become the central villain. "James McAvoy is definitely cast as a young Charles Xavier, Mike Fassbender is in the movie, Nick Hoult. Those are for sure."
Do you think that Gathegi is the right actor to play Darwin? Tell us in the comments!
'I think she needs to be less mythical and more real and go for the fighting,' actress says about her character Io's role in next installment. By Eric Ditzian
Gemma Arterton Photo: MTV News
"Clash of the Titans" fought its way through withering critical reviews and a ho-hum domestic box office this spring to become a worldwide hit with almost $500 million in ticket sales. For the upcoming sequel, Warner Bros. is changing up key pieces of the franchise — from bringing in a new director to shooting the movie in 3-D rather than converting it in post-production — in a quest to make the next "Clash" even more successful.
Other aspects of the swords-and-sandals epic will remain the same, including the return of Sam Worthington and, as MTV News has now learned, Gemma Arterton.
"I think I am doing the second 'Clash,' " the 24-year-old actress told us while promoting "The Disappearance of Alice Creed." "I don't know anything about it yet though. It's one of those things."
Arterton went on to give the standard line about how actors that sign on to franchises are optioned for further installments, but in previous interviews, she has indicated that no such deal was in place. In any case, now we know: Arterton will return as Worthington's love interest Io. What's more, she's hoping her character gets to kick a little more ass in the sequel.
"I think she needs to be less mythical and more real and go for the fighting," she said. "It's fun, as well, doing all that stuff."
Dan Mazeau ("The Flash") and David Leslie Johnson ("Orphan") are developing the story with Greg Berlanti ("Green Lantern"), and then Mazeau and Johnson will pen the script. Louis Leterrier is out as director, and the top name mentioned to take over helming duties is Jonathan Liebesman ("Battle: Los Angeles"). The film will be shot with 3-D cameras and is being developed for a release as early as spring 2012.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Movie has 'this intergalactic romance, but it's still a very universal love story,' director tells MTV News. By Adam Rosenberg
DJ Caruso Photo: AFP/Getty Images
In this age of "Twilight" and "Harry Potter" mega-success, Hollywood has taken a keen interest in the young adult literary world in search of the next big thing. One of the likeliest contenders out there is "I Am Number Four," a book that arrives in stores on August 3 and is credited to a writer with the distinctly alien name Pittacus Lore. The story follows a group of human-looking aliens who take refuge on Earth after their home planet of Lorien is destroyed by a marauding race of invaders known as Mogadorians.
DreamWorks picked up the rights to the book, the first in a planned series of six, last summer. "Eagle Eye" and "Disturbia" director D.J. Caruso signed on to helm it several months later. Then the cast started to come together, including relative newcomer Alex Pettyfer as the titular Number Four, Timothy Olyphant as the boy's guardian, Teresa Palmer as fellow alien refugee Number Six and "Glee" star Dianna Agron as high school sweetheart Sarah.
The cast and crew are now assembled to shoot in Pittsburgh, with a February 2011 release planned for the film. Caruso was deep in the process of staging one of the story's climactic scenes when he took some time out of his busy schedule Tuesday for an exclusive chat with MTV about how "Number Four" will appeal to audiences who have spent the past decade steeped in the lore of "Potter" and "Twilight."
"['I Am Number Four' has] this intergalactic romance, but it's still a very universal love story," Caruso said. "And at the same time when you see this fighting and these Mogadorian blasters and people on cables and people transporting ... there are these bizarre and cool sci-fi elements that have a real sort of 'Kick-Ass' quality."
It is for this reason that the director sees his film, as well as the book, as having very broad appeal. The science fiction, the action, the PG-13 rating will bring in the young boys, but the high school love story, along with a pair of strong — and very different — female characters ought to appeal to young girls.
First there's Teresa Palmer, "who's this hot, sexy chick on her Ducati [motorcycle] who can fight with swords and kill f---in' aliens," Caruso said. "And at the same time you have Dianna, who ... totally against what she does on 'Glee,' is playing this sweet all-American girl who's a photographer in a small Midwestern town."
At the center of the story is Pettyfer, a relatively untested young actor who would have next been seen in the "Beauty and the Beast"-inspired drama "Beastly" until a scheduling change pushed that one's release out after "Number Four."
"I'd be lying to you if I didn't tell you I was more excited that we were coming out first," Caruso admitted. "The thing I like about Alex is that, first of all, he's this really dynamic, interesting, good-looking kid. But the most important element for me is that there's this real vulnerability. It's rare; you can see that, though there's a confidence there, there's a little bit of a pain that we can [relate to].
"I think that's important in a hero," Caruso continued. "There's a real sort of melancholy sad side to him and to the character; it really is someone who just wants to hunker down. I think Alex really portrayed that — he's very, very compelling in the part." Caruso compares the actor to old-school action star Steve McQueen. "There's a real kind of hip coolness and at the same time ... [he's got that] vulnerability."
Tying all of these characters together is a gripping story that is equal parts personal discovery and spectacle-driven action. "We're trying to do a lot of things as practical and physical as we can," Caruso said of the movie's special effects, though he admits that there will of course be some digitally created elements as well.
"You ultimately have [these massive creatures] that we're working with [visual-effects company] ILM on," he said. "The older I get, the more I learn, you have to combine all of these elements, you can't be going all digital. We're not a big-budget movie, so we're lacking some of the big toys that some of the other movies have, but we're trying to make up for that with a lot of flair."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
'Captain America just changes things, and there's really no off switch once you walk down that road,' actor says of his most high-profile role. By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Chris Evans Photo: Jerod Harris/ Getty Images
For most actors, one would think the idea of tackling the role of a famed superhero like Captain America would be the opportunity of a lifetime. An "easy yes," as they say in the biz. However, for the newly anointed star-spangled-superhero Chris Evans, the decision to take on the iconic character was a lot more complicated than simply saying yes or no to the part.
"No, it wasn't an easy yes," Evans told MTV News when he stopped by the MTV News/ MySpace Comic-Con livestream. "I get nervous. I get nervous in things like this [referring to interviews and public appearances]. Captain America means a lot of this."
Evans admitted that the decision was a particularly tough one because he was in a really happy place in his life and his career, and wasn't sure if he was ready to be catapulted into such a specific, fans-obsessing-over-every-detail-type spotlight. "[Playing] Captain America just changes things, and there's really no off switch once you walk down that road."
Evans went on to say, however, that his reservations don't in any way damper his excitement for making the film.
"There's nothing wrong with the project," Evans explained. "I love the people involved, the character, the script, Hugo [Weaving]. There was nothing wrong there, it was just about the lifestyle change and whether or not I was willing to do it."
Evans acknowledges the work he has cut out for him, but he's trying to get to a place where he can just enjoy himself.
"There's no turning back now," he said. "I'm just trying to make all the negatives positives and just enjoy the ride."
