(no subject)

[akashiver]

It's been a looong while since I posted anything on entertainment, so I take a break from Substantial Posts to bring you this:

In "Probably Good News" territory we learn that Guillermo del Toro is set to direct and James Cameron is negotiating to produce a 3D adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's "At the Mountains of Madness", while J.A. Abrams is developing steampunk-graphic novel "Boilerplate" as a movie. Meanwhile, although they aren't involved in the creative process, I was pleased to hear that Pixar is getting involved in the Muppet movie, which is sounding more promising by the minute.

In TV land, an Avatar: the Last Airbender" spin-off is in production, and hopefully will distract us all from that woeful Shammy-shammy-wazzisname affair that apparently convinced Universal that M. Night Shyamalan's name should no longer be used to market films. Hear that, M. Night? It's a nail in the coffin of your once promising career.


Speaking of once-good directors going crazy, Ridley Scott is still trying to develop an Alien Prequel, while Tim Burton will bring his twee-goth stylings to a film called Monsterpocalypse. Perhaps if it hadn't been for the disappointing production of Alice I'd be more interested, but "Monsterpocalypse" sounds more like Michael Bay affair.

In the "I don't know quite how I feel about this" department, an unnecessary Curious George CG movie is in the works, as is a a live-action version of Eisner's A Contract with God, which could be good if they don't decide to market it as a "Comic Book!" Meanwhile, in a move that surprises nobody, Brad Pitt will be "starring" in WWZ which he purchased the rights to shortly after its publication. I guess the big question hanging over this project is whether Pitt will keep WWZ as an ensemble project (in which case the announcement that he's "starring" in it is a smart business move to ensure that WWZ gets featured on talk shows etc.) or whether he's going to turn it into a regular zombie movie. Time will tell.

Speaking of other actors adapting their favourite books, Julia Stiles has clawed her way to the top of a pile of young actresses and will produce and star in The Bell Jar. Meanwhile, Daniel Radcliffe will star in The Woman in Black (the stage adaptation of which I saw in London), while Will Smith will star in a vampire-themed retelling of the Biblical "Cain" story. Let's hope that Smith learned from "I am Legend" and doesn't go about inserting stupid mutants or happy endings this time round.