Idris Elba, Johnny Whitworth board 'Ghost Rider 2'

Idris Elba and Johnny Whitworth have joined Nicolas Cage in "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance," the sequel that will kick off shooting in a month or so. Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine are directing.

Heat Vision says the film follows Johnny Blaze aka. Ghost Rider as he tries to clean up mess in Eastern Europe. He wants to get his crap together and face the devil this time. Elba plays a weird warrior monk.

Whitworth will play a criminal recruited by the devil to do nasty things, including finding a body of a kid for the devil to take over. David Goyer came up with the idea, and Neveldine/Taylor wrote the script.

Click to read more ...

Movie Review: “Gamer”

Seen on: September 4, 2009

The players: Directors: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor, Writers: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor, Cast: Gerard Butler, Amber Valletta, Michael C. Hall, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Kyra Sedgwick

Facts of interest: Mark Neveldinea and Brian Taylor also directed the "Crank" flicks.

The plot: In a future world, humans spend their time controlling other humans in a deadly online multiplayer game... until one player manages to escape.

Our thoughts: Up-and-coming filmmakers Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor delivered some highly enjoyable big-screen entertainment in “Crank” and “Crank 2: High Voltage,” but in their latest action spectacle “Gamer,” they fail to deliver the goods. This is by no means a terrible experience, but it’s just not as vibrant as their previous two efforts.

Click to read more ...

Boom! Explosive 'Gamer' TV spot hits

Sometimes, non-stop, brainless action can be fun as long as it's done right, and Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor accomplished just that with "Crank" and "Crank 2: High Voltage." Next up for them is "Gamer," which opens this week.

A very short but brand-new, action-packed TV spot for the Gerard Butler vehicle has debuted online, and you can check it out after the jump. If you're looking for a lot of boom and bang, you've got it, for sure!

Click to read more ...

Five brand-new photos from 'Gamer' debut

I just got hold of five brand-new images from Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor's upcoming explosive action extravaganza "Gamer," which will hit theaters Sept. 4, 2009. Check them out after the jump.

Set in the near future, the film centers on "Slayers," a dangerous mass-scale, multiplayer online game in which humans control other humans.

At the center is Kable (300's Gerard Butler), the superstar and cult hero of "Slayers," the savage, ultraviolent first person shooter game. Kable is controlled by Simon, a young gamer with rock star status who continues to defy all odds by guiding Kable to victory each week.

Taken from his family, imprisoned and forced to fight against his will, the modern day gladiator must survive long enough to escape the game to free his family, regain his identity and to save mankind from the game creator's ruthless technology.

Click to read more ...

Movie Review: “Crank: High Voltage”

Seen on: April 17, 2009

The players: Directors: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor, Writers: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor, Cast: Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Clifton Collins Jr, Bai Ling, Dwight Yoakam

Facts of interest: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor also directed "Crank."

The plot: Jason Statham returns as Chev Chelios, who's struggling to hunt down the man who stole his heart and replaced it with a battery-powered ticker.

Our quick thoughts: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor’s “Crank” really didn’t need a sequel, but I guess the film’s success and its increasing fan base eventually prompted the filmmakers to develop a follow-up. It’s called “Crank: High Voltage,” and it’s twice as over-the-top and brainless as its amusing predecessor.

Click to read more ...

Official 'Crank 2' trailer is flippin' crazy!

A couple of weeks ago we got a first look at some insane footage from Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor's upcoming sequel "Crank 2: High Voltage," and now the official trailer has finally debuted online.

As you can see below, the film looks totally flipping crazy, with Jason Statham doing everything in his power to keep himself alive.

In the sequel, Chev Chelios faces a Chinese mobster who has stolen his nearly indestructible heart and replaced it with a battery-powered ticker that requires regular jolts of electricity to keep working.

Wait, WHAT? Check out the fast-paced trailer after the jump, and you'll get a good look at what sorts of things Chev must engage in to keep that heart working.

"Crank 2: High Voltage" opens April 17, 2009. I agree the concept alone is insanely ridiculous, but I admit I highly enjoyed the first film and I can't wait for more brainless Chelios action. Amy Smart returns as well, and she still looks hot.

Click to read more ...

'Jonah Hex' loses its directors

Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor are no longer on board to direct the big-screen adaptation of John Albano and Tony DeZuniga’s graphic novel “Jonah Hex.”

Although Neveldine and Taylor wrote the script for the film, Variety reports they left the project due to "creative differences." Well, that happens.

Not much is known about the film's plot at this stage, but the story follows the adventures of Jonah Hex, a bounty hunter and gunslinger with a scarred face. Josh Brolin is rumored to star as the title character.

As for Neveldine and Taylor, you may know them for writing and director the recent Jason Statham action flick "Crank."

Is Josh Brolin ‘Jonah Hex’?

Alert! It’s only a big rumor at this point, but Hollywood Elsewhere says Josh Brolin may star in the big-screen version of John Albano and Tony DeZuniga’s graphic novel “Jonah Hex.”

Apparently, Brolin’s rep said the actor is not attached to the project, which is set up at Warner Bros. Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, the creators of the “Crank” flicks, are set to direct.

So, who is Jonah Hex and what is the film about? Hex is a bounty hunter and gunslinger with a scarred face who, according to Hollywood Elsewhere’s source, tracks down a voodoo practitioner.

Apparently, the film version is a sort of sci-fi western featuring plenty of CG. That’s all we know (or think we know) at this stage.

Brolin most recently starred in “American Gangster.” He will next be seen as George W. Bush in Oliver Stone’s “W.” He also stars in Gus Van Sant’s upcoming film “Milk.”