'Cabin in the Woods' gets an image

Chances are we will at one point be able to see Drew Goddard's horror film "The Cabin in the Woods," because the film is not dead yet. To prove it, Bloody-Disgusting posted the first image from the flick, which stars Chris Hemsworth and Bradley Whitford.

"Cabin in the Woods" was supposed to hit theaters a while ago, but MGM's recent financial trouble caused major delays. Not much is known about the plot, but it's described as "a twisted and unusual take on the familiar "cabin in the woods" formula."

Kristen Connolly, Richard Jenkins, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams and Brian White star. Looking at this still above, I keep wondering: what the hell are they all looking at? A dead monster of some sorts? A spider crawling around? A dent in the floor?

Vin Diesel produces, stars in 'The Machine'

"Fast Five" proved Vin Diesel can still bring in a lot of money at the box office, and the actor is already planning this next project: an action comedy titled "The Machine" for MGM. Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant wrote the flick. The duo also penned "Night at the Museum."

Heat Vision says Diesel will star as a machine built by the Pentagon to act as the ultimate weapon. The project is soon abandoned though, and many years later, a kid finds the machine and starts to befriend it. When the government finds out about this, they intend to shut it down. Yawn...

To tell you the truth, Diesel is better off driving hot cars and stuff. Let's just hope this isn't going to be another "The Pacifier." That was torture enough, don't you think?

What the what? 'Bond 23' put on hold

James Bond won't be coming to a theater near you anytime soon, and that really sucks. Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli announced Monday that plans for "Bond 23" are on hold... indefinitely. Well, MGM is broke, and now we have to suffer, but that's how it works. No one knows when 007 will return.

Variety quoted Wilson and Broccoli from a statement: "Due to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the future of MGM and the failure to close a sale of the studio, we have suspended development on 'Bond 23' indefinitely." So at this stage, the future of 007 is indeed up in the air. Sad.

Sweet! Sam Mendes will direct next Bond film!

Despite rumors of Bond 23 being put on hold, the project is moving forward... with a director!

Oscar winner Sam Mendes will take on the next James Bond film, as the director is now in talks to helm the next installment in the popular spy series. That's good news, because Mendes is one of my favorite directors.

The decision to move ahead with the project comes as a surprise to me, especially considering MGM planned to put the project on hold until the company's financial struggles would be resolved. The plans have changed, however, and Bond 23 could be released 2011.

In fact, the Hollywood Reporter says production on the flick could kick off as early as June. Daniel Craig will return to reprise his role as James Bond, and Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and the great Peter Morgan are working on the script right now.

I love Mendes' stuff, and I can't say I've seen a film of his I didn't fully enjoy. His most recent efforts include "Away We Go" and "Revolutionary Road." "Road to Perdition" is still my favorite, and I'm sure he will bring even more freshness to the Bond franchise.

Click to read more ...

'Fame' helmer Kevin Tancharoen to direct 'Arcana'

Kevin Tancharoen (pictured on the far right), who just directed the "Fame" remake for MGM, is set to helm Universal Pictures' upcoming sci-fi action flick "Arcana," which Brett Ratner will produce.

John Ridley ("Red Tails") wrote the script, and as much as I would love to give you more information about the project, that's all I know about it at this point. Plot details are being kept under wraps.

Click to read more ...

This and that in film news: 'Poltergeist' release set?; 'Avatar Day' trailer ticket details

Here's a selection of film news you shouldn't miss on this August 13, 2009:

• I know it sucks a "Poltergeist" remake is heading our way, and now MGM has apparently set a release for Nov. 24, 2010, this according to ShockTillYouDrop. Vadim Perelman is supposed to direct the project, but that's pretty much all we know at this point.

• As you may have heard already, the trailer for James Cameron's next 'masterpiece' will be launched on "Avatar Day" Aug. 21, 2009. Visit AvatarMovie.com starting Monday to find out how to get tickets for the screenings of his extended trailer and additional footage. More info here.

• Risky Biz Blog reports Catalina Sandino Moreno, who starred in the powerful "Maria Full of Grace," will star in David Slade's "The Twilight Saga: New Moon." She's supposed to play Maria, a woman who tries to "create a newborn army of vampires, recruiting the Confederate soldier Jasper to her cause."

Click to read more ...

Farrelly bros. to direct ‘Three Stooges’ flick

MGM is currently trying to acquire a Three Stooges project from Warner Bros. for Peter and Bobby Farrelly to direct.

According to THR, the studio is planning to develop the “The Three Stooges” as soon as possible, eyeing a Nov. 20, 2009 release.

The trade also says the script breaks the feature into four 20-minute shorts, in an approximation of the vaudeville and slapstick pioneers' most common format in the 1920s and '30s.

So, what have the Farrellys been up to lately? The last project they directed was 2007’s “The Heartbreak Kid,” a comedy I didn’t think was that funny.

Currently, the two helmers are also attached to direct “Walter the Farting Dog,” which will mark the big-screen debut of the Jonas Brothers. Jeez!

‘Fame’ remake finds cast

The cast is quickly growing for MGM’s remake of Alan Parker’s 1980 musical “Fame,” and here are the latest additions, according to the Hollywood Reporter:

Kristy Flores, Paul Iacono, Paul McGill, Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabaker, Kherington Payne, Collins Pennie, Walter Perez and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle.

Don’t worry if you’ve never heard any of these names. Also on board is Thomas Dekker of television’s “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.” Debbie Allen, who starred in the original, is rumored to take on a cameo.

Just like the first film, the remake will focus on young performers trying either to get in or survive the school year at the prestigious High School for the Performing Arts in New York.

Kevin Tancharoen is directing the film, which was written by Allison Burnett and Aline Brosh McKenna. The trade says the project will start shooting later this year on a budget of $25 million.

Parker’s original musical won two Academy Awards in 1981: best original score and best original song.

Perelman in talks to helm ‘Poltergeist’ remake

Nothing is confirmed at this point, but Vadim Perelman is in negotiations to direct MGM’s remake of “Poltergeist,” according to Blood-Disgusting.com.

A couple of weeks ago, it was announced that Stiles White and Juliet Snowden would pen the script for the new version of Tobe Hooper’s 1982 horror classic.

Ukraine-born Perelman previously directed the Oscar-nominated “House of Sand and Fog” and “The Life Before Her Eyes.”

I know this is unforgivable, but I have yet to watch “Fog.” It’s been sitting on my DVD shelf forever, and I’ve heard great things about it. Considering the limited number of new releases this week, I may get a chance to finally check it out.

What do you guys think of this? Would Perelman be an adequate pick to handle such a remake? Let me know. 

Sony pushes back 'Quantum of Solace' release

Now that David Yates' "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and Catherine Hardwicke's "Twilight" have been moved to a new release date, it's time for James Bond to join the club.

According to Variety, Sony and MGM have decided to push back Marc Forster's "Quantum of Solace" to Nov. 14, 2008.

The story of “Solace” is strongly tied to “Casino Royale” and follows James Bond (Daniel Craig) on his quest to uncover the truth behind the betrayal of Vesper.

Bond's competitors on this new release date are Baz Luhrmann's "Australia," David Wain's "Role Models" and Malcolm D. Lee's "Soul Men."

Waiting one more week for the return of Bond? What did we do to deserve that?