"Raiders of the Lost Ark" Revives Adventure at the Academy

Beverly Hills, CA (May 31, 2011) - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present a 30th anniversary digital screening of “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” with a special onstage discussion featuring key members of the film’s crew, on Friday, June 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2011/20110531.html

Academy to Premiere 40th Anniversary Restoration of Foreign Language Film Winner “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis"

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will premiere a restored print of “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis” in celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary on Thursday, May 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.  The evening will feature an onstage discussion with the film’s producer, Arthur Cohn, following the screening.

http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2011/20110504.html

Race for an Osama Bin Laden Movie

No surprise here, in keeping with films love of imitating life or in this case reenacting it.   Hollywood is a buzz and the race is on for the first post Osama Bin Laden raid project.

The Hollywood Reporter examines which project will be first and why movie makers might have an edge over TV.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/inside-hollywood-s-race-an-185319?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Fnews+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Top+Stories%29

Harry Potter Deathly Hallows: Part 2' -- New Trailer Released

Warner Bros. has just released a trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which hits theaters this summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mObK5XD8udk

Hailee Steinfeld Indie Romeo & Juliet

Hailee Steinfeld,  who was Oscar-nominated for True Grit, is in negotiations to star as Juliet in a new Romeo and Juliet movie.  Carlo Carlie,  an Italian director  best known for the 1992 film Flight of the Innocent, is said to be the director  for the adaptation of the William Shakespeare classic.  Shooting is scheduled to begin in Italy later in the spring.

Wild Guns Western Project

A new project being picked up by Warner Bros. is described as having elements of Tombstone and Sherlock Holmes, the story is built around legendary lawman Wyatt Earp and companion Doc Holliday. Earp and Holliday team-up to rescue the daughter of Sitting Bull, who has been kidnapped by a  Shaman with mysterious powers who is terrorizing the Western plains.  John Ridley will be overseeing the project in the role as a producer.

Theater Owners Upset Over Studios Video On Demand Plan

LAS VEGAS  CinemaCon, the annual convention of theater owners left them feeling blindsided, and furious Thursday that four Hollywood studios didn't brief them on plans to launch a new premium VOD service on DirecTV late next month, followed swiftly by Comcast and VUDU. Exhibitors could respond by changing how they book films and play trailers.

Whole Story at Hollywood Reporter.com

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/theater-owners-fuming-studios-vod-173560

Natalie Portman's Black Swan Scandal

The ballerina who doubled for Natalie Portman caused an upheaval when she claimed Portman did only five percent of the dancing in the film.  Sarah Lane who performs with the American Ballet Theater, became upset when she noticed that she was only credited as a "hand model" and 'stunt double".  Lane is claiming she was told to keep quiet about how much of the movie she participated in. 

The filmmakers behind Black Swan are refuting the dancer’s allegation that she performed almost all of the ballet attributed to Natalie Portman.  Fox Searchlight and filmmakers released a joint statement: “We were fortunate to have Sarah there to cover the more complicated dance sequences and we have nothing but praise for the hard work she did.”“However, Natalie herself did most of the dancing featured in the final film.”

Megan Angelo of the Business Insider summed it up best, "So anyone who wants to take a hard second look at Portman's performance -- and to slow-mo search for Lane's contributions -- is nothing but good for "Black Swan."

James Cameron reveals intention for visually improved Avatar 2

James Cameron at CinemaCon today indicated he would be making Avatar 2 and 3.  The director revealed that he was considering shooting the films at a higher frame per second.  Standard films are shot a 24 frames per second, Cameron is looking to shoot at 48 to 60 frames per second.  Cameron said, "The 3D shows you a window into reality; the higher frame rate takes the glass out of the window. In fact, it is just reality. It isreally stunning." A demonstration of the visual results are planned for demonstration during confab in Las Vegas. 

Disney Unveils Title for New Monsters Inc

Tuesday at CinemaCon Disney/Pixar announced the title for the sequel to Monsters Inc. will be Monsters University.  Monsters Inc released in 2001 was one of the early hits of Pixar which grossed $525 million in the worldwide box office. 

The movies premise is a closely guarded secret however indication from Disney is the film will be a prequel.  The scheduled release of the film is 2012.

Kevin Grevioux's "I Frankenstein" Coming to the Big Screen

Writer Stuart Beattie is collaborating with Lakeshore Entertainment to bring I, Frankenstein to the big screen as  the writer/director. Work on film is set to begin this fall according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Kevin Grevioux's Darkstorm Studios novel is set in the modern day where supernatural creatures looking to take over only have classic literary monsters standing between them and the human race.  Grevioux other projects include the Underworld series.

The poster for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Released

Deathly Hallows Opens July 15, 2011

Disney Caputres Righs to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple

Miss Marple the detective character created by Agatha Christie will be coming to a theater near you.
Disney completed negotiations securing a deal to the movie rights of the character.  Previous film works in which the character appeared was in 1961's "Murder, She Said" with Margaret Rutherford, and in 1980's "The Mirror Crack'd" with Angela Lansbury. . Miss Marple one of Christies most famous characters, is an elderly spinster who lives in the village of St. Mary Mead and acts as an amateur detective. Disney plans to make a contemporary version of the film. Mark Frost will write the screenplay according the the Hollywood Reporter.

Amy Adams to Play Lois Lane in Warner Bros Remake of Superman

Amy Adams has been cast in the iconic role of journalist Lois Lane in the upcoming Superman remake from Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures.

Adams will join co-stars Henry Cavill, Diane Lane and Kevin Costner on the production, which will be directed by Zack Snyder. Henry Cavill was announced to play the role of Superman in January.  Costner is slated in the role as Superman's father Jonathan "pa" Kent.

“Second only to Superman himself, the question of who will play Lois Lane is arguably what fans have been most curious about," Snyder said in a statement Sunday. "So we are excited to announce the casting of Amy Adams, one of the most versatile and respected actresses in films today. Amy has the talent to capture all of the qualities we love about Lois: smart, tough, funny, warm, ambitious and, of course, beautiful."