Danny Huston to play King Richard in Robin Hood

Danny Huston is joining the cast of Universal and Imagine's untitled Robin Hood movie, which Ridley Scott is now directing in England.

Russell Crowe plays the legendary folk hero in the latest retelling of the Robin Hood myth being written by Ethan Reiff & Cyrus Voris and Brian Helgeland. Imagine's Brian Grazer is producing along with Scott and Crowe.

Huston will step into the shoes of the historical figure King Richard, who became known as Richard the Lionheart because of his exploits in the Third Crusade.

Huston appeared this summer on the big screen in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," playing Wolverine's nemesis William Stryker, and recently finished work on "Clash of the Titans," in which he plays Poseidon.

Source: THR

HOME

More photos of Crowe as Robin Hood

Filming is well under way for Ridley Scott's Robin Hood and here are a few more photos of Russell Crowe as Robin Hood. Just Jared had the pics along with a few others.

The photos where taken on Pembrokeshire Beach in Wales. The one below also shows Kevin Durand (Blob in Wolverine) in the back.

Robin Hood stars Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Vanessa Redgrave, Mark Strong, Scott Grimes, Kevin Durand, Alan Doyle, Oscar Isaacs, Lea Seydoux and William Hurt and will be released nationwide on 14th May 2010.

Discuss in the forum or leave a comment below.

HOME

The Random - Robin Hood, Spawn, Roger Rabbit, Red, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Shaolin Cowboy

- According to Filmstalker Tom Stoppard is rewriting the Robin Hood script that is currently being filmed by Ridley Scott, the script that Brian Helgeland had completed. It marks another rewrite of the script although the suggestion is that the rewrite is actually for Russell Crowe's dialogue which would make much more sense.

- Todd McFarlane tells IESB he has five offers on the table to do a new Spawn film. From big special effects studio budgets to a smaller indie budgets that he hopes to be able to write and direct himself. Which will he choose?

- "I'll tell you what is buzzing around in my head now that we have the ability—the digital tools, performance capture—I'm starting to think about Roger Rabbit," Zemeckis told MTV. Unfortunately, Zemeckis wouldn't say anything else - "I can't give you more details."

- Bruce Willis may star in Red. Willis would portray a former black-ops agent who has gone into retirement but is forced back into action when a high-tech assassin threatens him and his girlfriend. Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian are producing, and Erich and Jon Hoeber (Whiteout) are writing the screenplay, which is based on the WildStorm comic series. First Showing say the early word is that Richard Donner might direct.

- According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) will be making Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. The film will look at what happened to the siblings 15 years after everything went down in the original story. They are now "specialized bounty hunters" who are on the hunt for bad things. The film will be made through Gary Sanchez Productions which is owned by Adam McKay and Will Ferrell. "The idea is, they've grown up and they hunt witches," McKay states. "It's a hybrid sort of old-timey feeling, yet there's pump-action shotguns. Modern technology but in an old style. We heard it and we were just like, 'That's a freakin' franchise! You could make three of those!'
Leave a comment on this post below.

- Geoff Darrow is adapting his Shaolin Cowboy comic book into an animated feature.

HOME

Ridley Scott is toying with an Alien prequel

IESB recently spoke to Fox Co-Chairman, Tom Rothman about a whole host of things.

Regarding a possible Alien prequel, "There's been some talk. Ridley Scott, Ridley is right now working on Robin Hood, but I think he's toying with the idea and that would be great for us. I mean, it's always been a matter of, really, if you can get the originator to do it that would be the greatest thing, so I've got my fingers crossed, all of them."

Interesting indeed. How cool would that be to have Scott back on the Alien universe. Would we finally get to find out some more about the Space Jockey and how his ship crashed.

He also talked about Robert Rodriguez' Predators (and the fact that he has been given total control of the franchise), Daredevil, Avatar at Comic Con, Fan Four and the new Wolverine film.

Check out the full interview over on IESB.

Do you want another Ridley Scott Alien film? What would you like to see in a prequel? Should there be a definitive origin to the Alien?

Leave a comment on this post below.

HOME

Bioshock has run out of Adam for now

Universal Pictures has put the brakes on Bioshock, the Gore Verbinski-directed live-action adaptation of the bestselling Take-Two Interactive vidgame according to Variety.

The picture was in pre-production, but the studio has halted that effort -- and let some production staff go -- as Universal and Verbinski figure out a way to make the film on a less costly budget.

The John Logan-scripted picture was gearing up to shoot in Los Angeles, but that changed when the budget rose to about $160 million. Universal and Verbinski are looking at alternatives, such as shooting in London, as a way to pare costs.

The story takes place in the underwater city Rapture, where a pilot crash-lands near a secret entrance and becomes involved in a power struggle.

“We were asked by Universal to move the film outside the U.S. to take advantage of a tax credit,” Verbinski said. “We are evaluating whether this is something we want to do. In the meantime, the film is in a holding pattern.”

Verbinski and sources at the studio say they are determined to make the pic. Indeed, Verbinski (who has also been directing the Paramount animated film “Rango”) bowed out of directing a fourth installment of “Pirates of the Caribbean” so he could direct “Bioshock” and produce under his Blind Wink banner.

Studio sources said that the budget simply became untenable, but Universal sources said the situation is no different than when the studio delayed the start of the untitled Robin Hood pic that Ridley Scott is now directing with Russell Crowe starring. Universal is making that picture for $130 million, a much smaller budget than in its first incarnation. For a number of reasons that included the need for extra script work, that picture temporarily halted, which enabled Crowe to star in “State of Play” when Brad Pitt fell out.

All parties vow that “Bioshock” will not become another “Halo,” the would-be live-action adaptation of the Microsoft game that was cancelled when U and Fox got cold feet over budget fears.

Cheers to Pam for sending me the news. I personally hope the film does get made as it is a brilliant game with a cracking story. Do you want to see a Bioshock film? Would you want Verbinski to carry on directing it if it does start up again?

Leave a comment on this post below.

HOME

Robin Hood - Our first look at Russell Crowe as the Hooded Man

USA Today had the first look at the Crowester as Sherwood Forest's most famous bandit.

Sporting a Caesar haircut and slimmed-down physique, Crowe shed the weight he gained for his portly characters in State of Play and Body of Lies. He also updated the bandit's wardrobe.

"He doesn't have the old Robin Hood tights," says producer Brian Grazer. "He's got armor. He's very medieval. He looks, if anything, more like he did in Gladiator than anything we're used to seeing with Robin Hood."

And though it won't be easy replicating the box office or Oscar success of the 2000 film —Gladiator raked in $458 million worldwide and won five Academy Awards, including best picture — Grazer says Robin Hood's story was ripe for revisiting.

"Oddly, it's a metaphor for today," Grazer says. "He's trying to create equality in a world where there are a lot of injustices. He's a crusader for the people, trying to reclaim some of the ill-gotten gains of the wealthy. That's a universal theme."

Not that the film will linger on the contemporary. "We just shot a scene where Maid Marion fires a flaming bow and arrow into the night sky. It's just a cool story."

Crowe certainly looks fighting fit in the photo, not quite as different a look as I thought it would be, but I suppose there is only so much you can do with the Hooded Man. What do you think of Crowe's look?

Leave a comment on this post below.

HOME

The Random - Dark Shadows, The Expendables, Terminator Salvation, Howl, V, Piranha 3D, Twilight: New Moon, Robin Hood, Nanny McPhee, London Boulevard

"For some reason a Japanese Warner Brothers press book for 2009-2010 releases indicates a winter 2010 release in Japan for the long in development "Dark Shadows" feature with Tim Burton and Johnny Depp..." (full details)

"Though long rumored and pretty certain, actor Terry Crews has confirmed Arnold Schwarzenegger will be cameoing in both "Terminator Salvation" and "The Expendables"..." (full details)

"Firefly's Alan Tudyk, and Smallville's Laura Vandervoort have joined the cast of the "V" mini-series remake. Morena Baccarin (Firefly), Scott Wolf (Party of Five), Morris Chestnut (Ladder 49), Elizabeth Mitchel (Lost) and Joel Gretsch (4400) also star in the pilot currently shooting in Vancouver..." (full details)

"Eric Roberts is apparently in talks to star in the Alan Ginsberg trial flick "Howl" currently in production with James Franco and Paul Rudd..." (full details)

Elisabeth Shue is coming back and has apparently joined the cast of Alexandre Aja's "Piranha 3D" according to Moviehole. Shue will play "Sheriff Julie Forester, a take-charge authority figure in the community of Lake Victoria" and the mother of one of the lead characters.

"Frost/Nixon" and "Underworld" star Michael Sheen has joined the upcoming "Twilight" sequel "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" for Summit Entertainment reports Variety. The story centers on Bella (Kristen Stewart) being drawn into the world of werewolves while threatened by the Volturi, an Italy-based coven of vampires. Sheen will play Aro, the leader of the Volturi.

William Hurt has joined the cast of Ridley Scott's upcoming "Robin Hood" project at Universal Pictures says The Hollywood Reporter.

Maggie Gyllenhaal will join Emma Thompson in "Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang", the upcoming sequel to her family fantasy hit in 2004 says Production Weekly. Set a century after the first film, this time the magical nanny deals with city children and country children who are evacuees during World War II.

Ray Winstone (Beowulf), David Thewlis ("Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban") and Anna Friel ("Pushing Daisies") have signed onto the crime drama "London Boulevard" reports Variety. Colin Farrell plays a freshly-paroled London criminal who becomes involved with Keira Knightley's reclusive actress. Winstone will star as a former crime boss, Thewlis will play Knightley's agoraphobic business manager and Friel plays Farrell's sister.

HOME

Robin Hood - Plot Synopsis and Cast list

Universal has announced the full cast listing for Ridley Scott’s Yet-To-Be-Titled Robin Hood movie, which has begun production in the United Kingdom. Joining Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett will be:

* Vanessa Redgrave (Julia, Atonement) as John and Richard’s mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine
* Mark Strong (Body of Lies, Stardust) as King John’s vicious henchman, Sir Godfrey
* Oscar Isaac (Che, Body of Lies) as King John
* Léa Seydoux (13 French Street, Inglourious Basterds) as the woman who will become queen, French Princess Isabella

Robin’s band of men:

* Scott Grimes (ER, American Dad) as Welshman Will Scarlet
* Kevin Durand (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 3:10 to Yuma) as Robin’s right-hand, Scotsman Little John
* Alan Doyle as their troubadour, Irishman Allan Adayle

Crowe stars as the legendary figure known by generations as Robin Hood, whose exploits have endured in popular mythology and ignited the imagination of those who share his spirit of adventure and righteousness. In 13th century England, Robin and his band of marauders confront corruption in a local village and lead an uprising against the crown that will forever alter the balance of world power. And whether thief or hero, one man from humble beginnings will become an eternal symbol of freedom for his people.

The untitled Robin Hood adventure chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in self-preservation, from his service in King Richard’s army against the French. Upon Richard’s death, Robin travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marion (Blanchett), a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Hoping to earn the hand of Maid Marion and salvage the village, Robin assembles a gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by its appetite for life. Together, they begin preying on the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff.

With their country weakened from decades of war, embattled from the ineffective rule of the new king and vulnerable to insurgencies from within and threats from afar, Robin and his men heed a call to ever greater adventure. This unlikeliest of heroes and his allies set off to protect their country from slipping into bloody civil war and return glory to England once more.

That excellent picture is by Tony Lee

Source: /film

Leave a comment on this post below.

HOME - Discuss in the Forum

Ridley Scott's Robin Hood has a release date

Filming on the new Robin Hood film starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett is due to start in Spring.

There have been lots of changes to the plot and the title itself has gone from being called Nottingham to the classic Robin Hood.

Now Original Sharp has the news that the film will be due out in blockbuster season next year on 14th May.

Looks like this may be one of the big movies of next year. Are you excited to see Crowe as Robin Hood?

Leave a comment on this post below.

HOME - Discuss in the Forum

The Random - Total Recall remake, Suicide Squad, The Perfect Moment, Robin Hood, The Neverending Story, Arthur,

Eliza Dushku ("Buffy," "Dollhouse") is using her clout to bring The Perfect Moment, a biopic about iconic photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, to the big screen says Variety. The story will chronicle Mapplethorpe's career from his rise to fame in the 1970s for his portraits of socialites and rock stars until his death in 1989 at age 42 from complications arising from AIDS. Ondi Timoner ("DIG!") is to direct.

Cate Blanchett is officially onboard to play Maid Marian alongside Russell Crowe in the Ridley Scott-directed adventure feature Robin Hood (previously called Nottingham) for Universal Pictures reports the trades.

Warner Bros. Pictures, Kennedy/Marshall Co. and Leonard DiCaprio's Appian Way are all in discussions about reviving the 1980's kid fantasy classic The NeverEnding Story says The Hollywood Reporter.

Peter Baynham (Borat, Bruno, The Day Today) will pen the remake of Dudley Moore 1981 comedy Arthur for Warner Bros. Pictures reports Variety. The project is being crafted as a vehicle for Russell Brand ("Forgetting Sarah Marshall") as the boozy playboy whose plan to marry into a moneyed family goes awry when he falls in love with a working class gal.

Paul Verhoeven's 1990 sci-fi modern classic Total Recall is getting a remake for Sony Pictures says The Hollywood Reporter. Neal H. Moritz and Original will develop and produce the contemporary version of the Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stoen-led actioneer based a Philip K. Dick story.

Justin Marks (Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, Greyskull, Green Arrow: Supermax) will adapt the DC Comics property Suicide Squad as a feature film for Warner Bros. Pictures and Lin Pictures says the trades. Originally a back-up feature in 1960s "The Brave and the Bold," the stories focused on a team of non-super-powered people fighting monstrous menaces. The Squad was reconceived in the 1980s as a team of supervillains given one last shot at redemption by the government by accomplishing missions that will most likely kill them. This is the setup that Warners will work from. The villains involved have yet to be determined though Deadshot, an assassin with wrist-mounted guns, is a strong candidate.

Source: Dark Horizons

HOME - Discuss in the Forum

Cate Blanchett to be Maid Marion

Speaking to The Telegraph’s Mandrake on the red carpet of the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards, Mark Strong has claimed that Cate Blanchett is likely to inherit the role of Maid Marian in Ridley Scott’s Nottingham.

“I think Cate Blanchett is set to take the Maid Marian part. She is a wonderful actress and it would make it a much classier film if she was in it.”

Strong will be in the film as Sir Guy of Gisbourne, and Russel Crowe is down to play both Robin Hood and the Sherrif of Nottingham. More on that story here.

/film have more.

Discuss in the Forum

Plot details for Ridley Scott's Nottingham.

MTV spoke to producer Brian Grazer recently and asked him about Ridley Scott's Nottingham. He not only confirmed that they're hoping to start shooting in March next year but also cleared up the confusion about Russell Crowe playing both the Sheriff and Robin Hood.

"The two role confusion is that what Robin Hood does is he sees Nottingham in battle very early in the movie and Nottingham dies. And Robin Hood takes over the identity of Nottingham. That's how it plays out." Grazer added that this is "an origin story" for those two characters. In the classic Robin Hood story, the evil Sheriff of Nottingham has taken the place of the absent King and Robin Hood must fight him to take the throne. In Ridley Scott's Nottingham, Robin Hood becomes the Sheriff, according to Grazer.

Interesting twist on the tale. Do you think it will work?

Home / Forum / Guestbook

Ridley Scott explains the magic behind Russell Crowe playing both Robin Hood and The Sheriff of Nottingham...there is no magic involved

Ridley Scott has explained how Russell Crowe will portray both Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham in his medieval epic Nottingham.

Crowe's casting in both the lead roles had led to misinterpretation, with suggestions that the arrow-wielding outlaw and his nemesis were the same person caught in a split personality battle.

Speaking to Digital Spy, Scott clarified that Crowe's Sheriff character assumes the identity of Robin Hood over the course of the movie.

"In the context of the story he starts off as one thing, becomes the guise of another and then has to retire to the forest to resume his name Robin," he explained. "So he was momentarily the Sheriff of Nottingham."

Discussing the casting of his Body Of Lies star Mark Strong as Guy of Gisborne, the filmmaker added: "He's such a good bad guy. He's going to be horrible, actually, as bad as I can make him. Mark's a very good horseman and swordsman so we'll definitely use that."

Scott also dismissed the idea that the blockbuster's delay was down to the leaves in the forest locations not being the right colour.

He said: "I really don't care! I don't give a s**t whether they're red leaves or pink leaves."

Class response from Mr Scott there! I just hope this film is better than the crappy BBC Robin Hood that was on recently.
HOME / FORUM.

Russell Crowe to play the Sheriff and Robin Hood in Nottingham

Director Ridley Scott tells MTV that not only will Russell Crowe play The Sheriff in his upcoming revisionist take on the Robin Hood story, but the actor will be doing double duty as Robin Hood in Nottingham. In the actual script, Robin and the Sheriff are the same person.

Scott did say the roles would be "a a good old clever adjustment of characters. One becomes the other. It changes." When this news first hit back in July, it was discovered that this confusing plot twist was one of the areas of the script that really needed work. Thus, Scott halted pre-production on the film to give more time for the script to be developed into something that wasn't as confusing; or at least to take the time to work this characterization more intelligently into the story. Crowe mentioned to press this weekend that Nottingham is "one of those things where we're taking our time with. You don't want to be doing Robin Hood unless you're going to be doing it really f*cking well. It's got to be the best one ever done otherwise you should do something else."

HOME / FORUM.