Film News (15/08/09)

Four new rumours piquing my interesting this week, and a couple of castings that I felt it prudent to mention. I'd even go as far to say that the news has been more interesting this week than the actual films released.

Battlestar Galactica

The Battlestar Galactica TV series has recently ended, worshiped by many for it's clever and insightful reworking of the original and the quality thesping from the international cast. What pleased many is that over the five series there was a clear definable storyline which (lasting an impressive 70 hours altogether) tied everything up in the end. So, with the cans still warm, Universal have decided to use their film rights to the property to reimagine the series once more.

It all seems a little soon and a little dangerous. The sci-fi fans, who lets face it are the audience for this, will not want to see such a successful programme trampled into the mud so soon. Also lets not forget that Battlestar was popular with the critics who normally sneer at sci-fi as well as the public. These are big shoes to fill.

Bryan Singer is working on the project as producer and possibly director, which makes sense as he first planned to make a film based on the concept back in 2001, and if he brings the X-Men skills he has to the table it may be worth seeing. But I still have my doubts.



What will the next cast photo look like?



The Descendants

Alexander Payne has realised that his plan to minaturise Paul Giamatti in Downsizing may take more pre productions than he's used to, as well as more financing, so whilst he's planning that The Decendants has moved up the priority list. Based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings it concerns a Hawaiian father who tries to find his wife's lover after she falls into a coma. Sounds like a perfect fit for the man behind Sideways and About Schmidt.

The Green Hornet

You can breathe agian, the comic book adaptation with revolving casting couches has turned up another Cato - this time in the form of Taiwanese actor-singer Jay Chou. There have also been some internet gossipings that Edward james Olmos (Adama in the Battlestar series - I do like it when coincidence strikes) is joining the cast - but no official confirmations yet. Filmings due to start soon, so hopefully there won't be many more changes to the line-up.

Paprika

Paprika is a 2006 anime about a machine that can manipulate dreams which falls into the wrong hands leading to bizarre episodes where the line between reality and imagination are blurred. Only a girl called Paprika can stop it. Sounds like barmy fun to me.

Secret River/A Walk on the Beach

The IFP this week annouced it's line-up at the Independent Film Week exhibition in New York. The event is essentially a chance for part funded projects to tap investors. Previous alumni include Cheri, Frozen River, Half Nelson and Maria Full of Grace - not an insignificant set of independent films, I'm sure you'll agree. The biggest profile film this year is Jodie Foster's Cockeyed, but for me it's the two I've plonked in the title that I'll be following. Directed respectively by Fred Schepisi and Luis Mandoki, lets wait to see if either go any further .

Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps

Frank Langella and the ever-so-hot-right-now Carey Mulligan (below) have both signed up to Oliver Stone's Wall Street follow-up as a old school mentor for Shia Labeouf and Michael Douglas' estranged daughter (respectively). Stone's due to pick up the camera any day now in preparation for a spring release.