First 'Adventures of Tintin' teaser lands!

Paramount has released the first teaser trailer for Steven Spielberg's upcoming 3D motion-capture adventure "The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn," and you can count me among those getting even more excited about the flick after seeing this footage.

As you can see clearly, this is a only a teaser, which is why I understand many folks out there seem to be a bit underwhelmed. That said, I strongly believe Spielberg has everything it takes to turn this into a memorable ride, and I can't wait to see more of this thing.

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Movie Review: "The Eagle"

Seen on: February 11, 2011

The players: Director: Kevin Macdonald, Writer: Jeremy Brock, Cast: Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Mark Strong, Donal Sutherland

Facts of interest: Formerly titled "The Eagle of the Ninth." The film is based on the novel by Rosemary Sutcliff.

The plot: A young Roman soldier (Tatum) heads to Britain to retrieve the emblem of a missing legion.

Our thoughts: Channing Tatum goes all Roman on us in Kevin Macdonald’s “The Eagle,” a decent action adventure that follows an ambitious solider on his quest to restore his family’s damaged honor. “The Eagle” isn’t exactly Oscar material, but the film’s fast-paced battles, stunning locations and satisfying cast successfully turn it into a gritty, entertaining big-screen spectacle you can’t help but enjoy.

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First pictures from Steven Spielberg's 'Tintin'

Tintin really takes me back to my childhood, and I'm super excited about Steven Spielberg's upcoming 3D motion capture film "The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn," which opens Dec. 28, 2011.

The folks at Empire received the very first stills from the movie, and you can check them out above and below. I've also included the magazine's new cover, which shows the famous Tintin running pose.

Captain Haddock is also featured in the stills below. The cast includes Jamie Bell (Tintin), Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis (Haddock) and Cary Elwes. Peter Jackson is producing...

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Jaime Bell heads to 'The Retreat'

Jamie Bell is the latest to join Cillian Murphy and Thandie Newton in Carl Tibbets' directorial debut "The Retreat," a new thriller shooting this month, according to Deadline. Tibbets wrote the script.

The story follows a couple heading to an island to enjoy a vacation and work on their broken relationship. Alas, when they find a dead soldier, they soon realize everyone has been killed by a airborne virus.

Cool concept for sure. Think of it as a more serious "Couples Retreat." Anyway, Bell scored the lead in "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn." He'll also show up in "The Eagle" and "Jane Eyre."

Daily news dose: Apparition picks up 'Black Dynamite;' Cast updates for 'Eagle of the Ninth'

Here is your dose of film news from the Web and trades for Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009:

• Distribution house Apparition has aquired rights to bring "Black Dynamite" to theaters this fall. Scott Sanders' blaxploitation spoof screened at Sundance earlier this year. Apparition also recently acquired distribution rights to "Bright Star," "The Tree of Life" and "The Young Victoria." (More @Variety)

• Jet Li will return to China for the upcoming Xue Xiao-lu-directed Chinese flick "Ocean Paradise." At this stage, details about the project are kept under wraps. Li, who recently starred in "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," will soon be seen in Sylvester Stallone's "The Expendables."

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Daily news dose: 'Tintin' gets release date; 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' gets remade

Here's your daily dose of film news for May 29, 2009:

• Chevy Chase has joined the cast of Steve Pink's upcoming comedy "Hot Tub Time Machine," about a group of adults who visit a hot tub they once used and realize it can transport them back in time, to their younger selves. Chase is set to play a repairman, says the Hollywood Reporter. John Cusack, Rob Corddry and Craig Robinson co-star.

• Paramount and Sony just announced Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn" will open in theaters Dec. 23, 2011. The film will also be released in 3D. Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook star in the motion capture film based on the books by Herge. (Variety)

• Michelle Morgan is set to write 20th Century Fox's remake of the 1985 comedy "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," which starred Helen Hunt and Sarah Jessica Parker. The original flick was directed by Alan Metter and follows two girls going nuts over a dance who titled "Dance TV." (Variety)

• Paul Verhoeven ("Black Book") is gearing up to direct "The Surrogate," a thriller based on the book by Kathryn Mackel. The story follows a couple who discovers the surrogate they hired to carry their baby is completely nuts. Roderick Taylor and Bruce Taylor wrote a first draft. This film is not to be confused with the Bruce Willis vehicle "Surrogates." (THR)

Kevin Macdonald catches 'Eagle of the Ninth'

Filmmaker Kevin Macdonald, whose crime thriller "State of Play" is set to open April 17, 2009, is set to direct "The Eagle of the Ninth" for Focus Features.

Variety says the story is set in the 2nd century and follows a wounded Roman solider and his Celtic slave who investigate the mysterious disappearance of a brigade of Roman soldiers 15 years earlier.

Jamie Bell is on-board to play the slave, while Channing Tatum is apparently in talks for the lead role. Jeremy Brock, who also penned Macdonald's "The Last King of Scotland," wrote the script.

Macdonald also directed the intriguing documentary "Touching the Void." His "State of Play" featues a top-notch cast including Russell Crow, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams and Helen Mirren.

Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig board 'Tintin' adaptation

Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced Jamie Bell will play Tintin in Steven Spielberg's upcoming 3D motion capture film "The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn," which has officially started production.

Also joining the cast is Daniel Craig, who will portray Red Rackham. Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook are already on board.

Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish wrote the script for this first film, which Spielberg is directing and Peter Jackson is co-producing. Jackson is set to direct the second flick in the upcoming series.

Bell's credits include "Billy Elliot," "King Kong" and "Jumper." He is currently onscreen alongside Craig in "Defiance." The guy's got talent, and I'm sure he'll do just fine portraying the famous young reporter created by Herge.

If you have no clue who popular Tintin really is, here is some extra info from the official press release:

"The Adventures of Tintin - a series of 24 books, the final unfinished adventure was published after Herge's death - became Herge's life's work. The first adventure was published in 1929. Over 200 million copies have been sold worldwide. The popular series has been translated into 70 languages and still attracts thousands of new fans each year."

Yep, I always adored "Tintin," and I'm certainly looking forward to this flick, which is currently scheduled to open in 2011.

New 'Defiance' trailer invades web

Besides keeping the world safe as James Bond in "Quantum of Solace" this November, Daniel Craig is also set to play a Jew who joins the Russian resistance to battle the Nazis in Edward Zwick's "Defiance." The latest full trailer for the war drama just popped up on the Web, and you can check it out below. Looks darn good!

Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell and George MacKay co-star. Zwick also directed "The Last Samurai" and "Blood Diamond." "Defiance" opens Dec. 12, 2008.

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