UPDATE: A Warner Bros. exec told Entertainment Weekly Ritchie will not be directing Xerxes.
I’ll begin with a small news blurb from E!, reporting the title for Warner Bros.’ Sherlock Holmes sequel will be Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Directed by Guy Ritchie and once again starring Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role, the film is set to hit theaters on December 16.
And speaking of Guy Ritchie, Vulture is reporting Ritchie may be stepping in for Zack Snyder to direct Xerxes, the planned sequel to Snyder’s 2007 breakout hit 300. The film is based on a forthcoming Frank Miller graphic novel, assumed to be picking up where Miller’s original novel left off. But why is WB looking elsewhere rather than at the director that brought the pages to life and turned 300 into a $210+ million domestic earner? Well, there are theories.
The first theory is that WB wants Snyder focusing his attention on Superman: Man of Steel, a film already eying a December 2012 release. Rumor has it the script, written by David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Christopher Nolan has some major third act problems and WB has to get this thing into production before 2013 or else risk losing the rights to the Superman character.
The other theory is Snyder’s Sucker Punch, due out on March 25, is testing poorly and becoming a cause for concern. An insider tells Vulture, “It was bad; like, really bad. They’re really not happy with it over there.” With Watchmen and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole not living up to expectation, it wouldn’t be good for Snyder to deliver three underperformers in a row, especially for a studio that has shown, and continues to show, a lot of faith in the helmer as he prepares to take over the Superman franchise.
I don’t see this as much of a problem for fans of 300, Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes was filled with Snyder’s signature slow-mo moves and plenty of green screen. It’s almost like Ritchie was auditioning for the film the entire time.
Continuing on the “script troubles” angle for a second, The Los Angeles Times reports Men in Black III is on a continued production hiatus that started two months ago as the third film in the franchise is apparently without a script at the moment. The production has already shot half the picture, with filming taking place back in November 2010 to shoot scenes taking place in present day, and a hiatus was built into the production with plans to shoot the half that takes place in 1969 right now, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Columbia Pictures, however, tells the “Los Angeles Times” the production delay will not delay the May 2012 release date.
Before I get to any real casting news, here’s a short blurb from Deadline that seems almost unbelievable as they report interest is being kicked back up over the Terminator franchise now that Arnold Schwarzenegger is on the prowl for a movie gig. Universal is apparently looking for a big budget vehicle for Fast Five helmer Justin Lin with Wanted scripter Chris Morgan being eyed for the screenplay. I have no real dog in this fight as the Terminator franchise has never been something I’ve truly loved, but I will say Terminator Salvation was terrible and where the franchise goes from here I couldn’t much care.
Finally, some casting news as THR reports Ray Liotta has joined the cast of Andrew Dominik’s Cogan’s Trade, the first film for Dominik since directing The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
Liotta joins a cast already made up of Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Javier Bardem, Sam Rockwell, Casey Affleck, Mark Ruffalo, Vincent Curatola and Richard Jenkins in an adaptation of the 1974 George V. Higgins novel. The story centers on Jackie Cogan (Pitt), a professional enforcer who investigates a heist that takes place during a high stakes poker game held under the protection of the mob. Liotta will play Mark “Markie” Trattman, the unfortunate hustler who runs the game in a motel room and finds things only going downhill from there.
Lastly, Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is attached to star in The Amateur Photographer, an indie comedy for writer/director Christopher Monger based on his novel of the same name. The story is set in 1970 and follows a young man who discovers his artistic calling after being drafted by the denizens of a sleepy little New England mill town to serve as photographer of their most intimate moments. He battles local authorities while bringing a bit of a velvet revolution to the community. Radcliffe will next be seen for the last time as the titular character in Harry Potter and the Dealthy Hallows: Part 2 on July 15.
