It's no secret that Jason Blum and his production outlet, Blumhouse Productions, dig low budgets. It's their nature - they're primarily interested in horror. This is why today's unveiling is a pivotal moment for the little-genre-that-could. Blumhouse Productions have launched a new label, BH Tilt, with the sole purpose of enabling Blumhouse filmmakers (and whoever else wants to come and play) the potential to release their movies through a multi-platform model. This in essence, means a change to the distribution framework, allowing fans multiple options to access the latest horror smashes. Snuck into the announcement over at Deadline was one word that'll no doubt bring much joy to Joe Carnahan: Stretch.
There's been little uproar about Keanu Reeves' next action outing, John Wick. The first, and only announcement came way back in October 2013 when his involvement in the movie was made public. Since then, Liongate have chosen to cool off, instead focusing on bigger hits. You know, like The Hunger Games series. That is, until the last couple of weeks when the studio announced plans to release John Wick this fall.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier surfaced as one of the biggest blockbusters of 2014. Comic giants Marvel enlisted fresh blood in the form of directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who knocked the sequel out of the park. As newbies to the six-year-strong cinematic universe, they had to not only contend with crafting a worthy follow-up to the original movie, but slot it into the mythology of Marvel's entire movie back catalogue. They absolutely killed it. The stakes were undoubtedly raised for Steve Rogers. Poor old Cap had to adjust to modern life and the realisation that he'd bypassed those he cared about - namely, his lady love, Peggy Carter. Then came the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. Just what else can we expect to happen in the follow-up, Captain America 3?
The success of the Channing Tatum-Jonah Hill buddy cop sequel, 22 Jump Street, made another outing inevitable. Who's gonna argue with a box office return that'd lift most countries out of debt? On a teeny-tiny $50 million budget, it grossed almost $320 million worldwide. That's not to be sniffed at. Sony Pictures and Original Film, the labels behind the franchise, clearly agree, as development on a third entry, 23 Jump Street progressed a millimetre further today.
Martin Scorsese's got to be juicing. Or implementing a strict fitness regimen followed by bathing in the tears of virgins. This wiseguy is showing no signs of reducing his already prolific output, as it's been pretty much confirmed that he'll be tackling Silence as his next film, and after that, it looks like it could be the long-gestating mobster-epic The Irishman.
Joe Carnahan's Stretch has been in the can for awhile now and has been pulled through the ringer by Universal. After the studio snatched away a $40 million marketing budget, the flick has languished in post-production. It's even getting re-cut. The story of a “a down-on-his-luck chauffeur looking to relieve his debt by driving around a mysterious billionaire who drags him to hell and back" doubles as a brief summary for the film's production woes.
Orlando Bloom's star was on the rise in the early 2000s. Becoming a household name following his swashbuckling antics in the first three Pirates flicks, his next move should have secured him in the Hollywood elite - buddying up with Peter Jackson. As fan fave Legolas, surely being a part of one of the most treasured fantasy adaptations would have confirmed his pulling power? His forays into smaller character pieces, Cameron Crowe's Elizabethtown, Brit dramedy The Calcium Kid, showcased his abilities without the use of a codpiece - and sadly, that was that. After re-joining Peter Jackson's Middle Earth universe for The Hobbit, he now looks set to dip his toes back into the azure blue waters of the caribbean. Yep - Bloom is in talks to reprise his role as Will Turner for Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
News of Maverick's return to the skies has dried up in the last year. Since the unfortunate passing of Tony Scott, the man responsible for making Tom Cruise look convincing as a pilot, motion on the project had stalled. Nearly an entire 365 passed between updates, the last of which came from Jerry Bruckheimer and fleshed out some of the scant plot details. Now, THR is reporting that Top Gun 2, the sequel to the 80s cheesefest, has finally landed a writer, as Justin Marks has signed on to pen the script.
Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead mean business when it comes to horror. Their 2012 cabin-set Resolution was mould breaker. A claustrophobic headscratcher, the tale of a man who heads to a shack to help his friend sober up before rehab, it was one of the year's most imaginative moody scarefests. This year's efforts include a segment in the V/H/S: Viral anthology and Italy-based horror, Spring, which has a new trailer to ensure you never travel alone again.
Think about it: this is one piece of merch that truly ties-in to the movie. In a meta sort of way. Kevin Smith smokes weed, and makes no bones about it. It features in most of his movies and now the medicinal bud is being used a promotional tool for his horror flick, Tusk.
