Let's get mathematical. The Purge, which opened this past May, made $87 million on a budget which could barely sustain a seasonal latte habit ($3 million.) Mere moments after it drew in the crowds and a huge return of $34 million in its opening weekend, Universal gave a sequel the green light. Of course they did! 87 minus 3 equals... a phenomenal profit margin. The only question for fans was; would the original team behind it return?
Oh those clever folks at Paramount think of everything! In a spot of deft timing with this nation's favourite holiday celebrating the dead, Halloween, the studio have announced that they're dragging classic resurrection flick, Pet Sematary, from the dusty closet of 80s horror and back to our cinema screens with a newly-announced director, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.
Returning home after years spent ploughing away in the rat race, you expect to be welcomed home with open arms. The final chapter in the Blood and Ice Cream sort-of trilogy, The World’s End IS that homecoming, tinged with the bittersweet aftertaste of youth gone by. Joining Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright for the big sendoff to their decade-spanning comedy mashup series is a return marked by many quirky parallels
With Comic-Con 2013 imminent, now is the time for studios to bring out the big guns and show us what they've got in store for this year. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is a high priority for Lionsgate. The sequel in the middle of a trilogy which looks set to make everyone involved extremely wealthy, is gearing up to wow with a range of new character posters to whet your appetite.
Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, has made no bones about the fact that he wants nothing to do with a film based on his life. When director Bill Condon (Gods And Monsters) took up the challenge to adapt the book Inside Wikileaks by its spokesman Daniel Domscheit-Berg, he knew he'd struggle to get Assange's blessing. He still hasn't, but does this matter when it boils down to the success of the flick? Apparently not, as the first trailer for The Fifth Estate has landed and it looks pretty dang compelling.
Hearing news of an unreleased film being spun into a franchise could easily halt the gong of your little cinema heart. How can a title which has yet to even be seen by audiences be worthy of a franchise? Keep your eye rolls at bay, because The Conjuring has already received phenomenal word of mouth, based on a handful of screenings. Yes, this means that New Line, the studio behind the flick are developing a sequel.
Guillermo Del Toro is a filmmaker with vision. In fact, he's probably got a drool-inducing vision board in his office, he's so focused on his future projects. There's nary a day goes by without a tidbit of info about one of his potential franchises leaking out, sending geeks into a frenzy. His proposed Frankenstein outing is at the receiving end today, as the director spoke with The Daily Telegraph mentioning Mr. Cumberbatch in connection with the flick.
James Badge Dale is certainly an actor on the way up. Since his onscreen career began, he's made appearances in TV hits CSI and 24, through to big screen hits Flight and The Departed. Keeping his slate full, he's now signed on to appear in Joe Carnahan's Stretch.
The show which fuelled a lot of childhood daydreams, Knight Rider, is one step closer to a big screen outing. While there's been a threat of a new take on the hit show, it looks like now there's traction to the rumours. The Los Angeles Times reports that The Weinstein Company have brought writer Brad Copeland onto the project to pen the script.
In case you hadn't noticed, Hollywood's got a big bump in its shorts over the apocalypse. The last few years have proven that Tinseltown's macabre fascination with our planet's demise is not diminishing. We all figured Lars Von Trier's Melancholia would be enough. Enough! But no, that misery fest has only spurred on other filmmakers to make their thoughts known on the good old End Of The World. The release of This Is The End has got us lot thinking; if the apocalypse does happen, which celebrity's house would we want to hide out in? You'd need shelter, food and obviously a wide array of entertainment. Read on for our top pads for riding out the rapture...
