Robert Zemeckis to do live-action 'Timeless'

It looks like filmmaker Robert Zemeckis is heading back to live-action for an upcoming time travel project. The film is titled "Timeless," and Mike Thompson wrote the script. Warner Bros. is developing the feature.

Not much is known about the story, but if Zemeckis seals a deal, it will be his first live-action flick since "Cast Away." He's been busy with animation in "The Polar Express," "Beowulf" and "A Christmas Carol."

Some of his other credits include "Contact," "Forrest Gump," and of course, the classic "Back to the Future" flicks. So yeah, I would love for him to return to live-action filmmaking! (Source: Deadline)

'Yellow Submarine' cast coming together

Robert Zemeckis is gearing up for his next 3D motion-capture flick, and this time, he's tackling the Beatles. The cast is coming together as well, with Cary Elwes, Dean Lennox Kelly, Peter Serafinowicz and Adam Campbell in talks to join the flick. 

Heat Vision reports Elwes ("Twister") will play George Harrison, while Kelly ("The Secret Life of Words") will play John Lennon. Serafinowicz ("Couples Retreat") will be Paul McCartney and Campbell ("Epic Movie") will portray Ringo Starr.

The film is a remake of 1968's animated movie "Yellow Submarine." In the flick, the Beatles team up with a solider to bring peace to Pepperland, where they clash with the Blue Meanies. Zemeckis wrote the screenplay for the remake.

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'A Christmas Carol' easily tops Friday box office

Robert Zemeckis' 3D motion-capture version of "A Christmas Carol" topped the North American box office Friday with a solid $8.9 million in ticket sales. Opening at 3,683 locations, the Walt Disney release scored an average of $2,433 per theater.

New entry "The Fourth Kind" also delivered a decent start at the box office, pulling in $5 million from ticket sales at 2,527 locations. Based on actual case studies, the film stars Milla Jovovich as a psychologist investigating unstable patients in Alaska.

At No. 3, Grant Heslov's comedy "The Men Who Stare at Goats" brought in $4.6 million. The film started its theatrical run at 2,443 locations and stars George Clooney as an eccentric solider who claims he's a psychic spy with paranormal powers.

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Movie Review: "A Christmas Carol"

Seen on: November 2, 2009

The players: Director: Robert Zemeckis, Writer: Robert Zemeckis, Cast: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Bob Hoskins, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn

Facts of interest: Based on the story by Charles Dickens, obviously.

The plot: The classic tale is back on the big screen, and Scrooge is still hating Christmas, until three spirits pay him an important visit...

Our thoughts: Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday story “A Christmas Carol” gets the 3D treatment, and the result is a visually stunning big-screen experience I’m sure many cinemagoers out there will enjoy to the fullest extent. As far as I’m concerned, my feelings about this one are mixed.

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This week's new movie releases - Nov. 6, 2009

Opening this week are Richard Kelly's "The Box" with Cameron Diaz; "A Christmas Carol" with Jim Carrey; "The Men Who Stare at Goats" with George Clooney; and "The Fourth Kind" with Milla Jovovich.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (with JIM CARREY)

Synopsis: Ebenezer Scrooge begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk and his cheery nephew. But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it's too late.

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New 'A Christmas Carol' trailer is here

It's been a while since we last got to see a new trailer for Robert Zemeckis' upcoming 3D motion-capture adventure "A Christmas Carol," but a new preview has landed online, and you can see it after the jump.

In the new version of the classic tale, Ebenezer Scrooge begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, until the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey.

Jim Carrey is the real star of the film, stepping into the roles of Scrooge and the three ghosts. This new trailer contains new action-packed footage we haven't previously seen, and it promises quite a fun ride in 3D.

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Robert Zemeckis boards 3D Submarine' for Disney

Filmmaker Robert Zemeckis is teaming up with Walt Disney to develop a new "Yellow Submarine," a 3D movie paying tribute to The Beatles. The film is an updated version of George Dunning's 1968 movie of the same title, and Disney apparently wants to have it ready by summer 2012.

Variety says the studio has been working to seal the deal for quite some time, considering the whole rights thing has been quite messy. In the end, everything went well enough, and Zemeckis now has access to 16 Beatles songs, including "Baby You’re a Rich Man," "All You Need Is Love," "When I’m 64" and "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds."

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Disney releases official image from 'A Christmas Carol'

Walt Disney just released a first official image from Robert Zemeckis' upcoming 3D motion capture adventure "A Christmas Carol." Check out Ebenezer Scrooge in the image above. Scrooge, however, is not the only character Carrey is playing. You'll also see him as Ghost of Christmas Past, Ghost of Christmas Present and Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come.

Also starring in the film are Gary Oldman (he plays Bob Cratchit, Marley and Tiny Tim), Robin Wright Penn and Colin Firth. "Carol" opens in theaters Nov. 6, 2009, and early footage from the film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2009. Stay tuned for a coming post with pics from the Cannes event.

Daily news dose: David Slade to direct horror thriller; 'Terminator Salvation' delayed in Mexico

Here's your dose of film news for April 30, 2009:

• David Slade, who directed "Hard Candy" and "30 Days of Night," and who recently signed on to helm “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” is also in talks to direct “Cold Skin,” a horror thriller based on Albert Sanchez Pinol’s Spanish novel. Jesus Olmo wrote the screenplay for the project, which is scheduled to shoot in March. (Variety)

• The swine flu continues the delay of major blockbusters in Mexico, and the latest film to fall victim to the outbreak is "Terminator Salvation," which Sony has now postponed to July 31, 2009. The film was originally expected to open in Mexico June 5. Other delayed releases include "Angels & Demons" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." (Variety)

• Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Rainn Wilson have signed on to star alongside Natalie Portman in Spencer Susser's indie flick "Hesher." Gordon-Levitt plays a young loser who collides with a 13-year-old who lives with his dad (Wilson) and grandmother. Portman plays a supermarket worker. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Robert Zemeckis may be thinking about developing a second “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” flick, he recently told MTV. “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,’” he said. I'm sure we;ll hear more about this soon.

Daily news dose: Dan Fogler joins 'Mars Needs Moms,' Wheeler set for 'Puss in Boots'

Here's your daily dose of movie news for Jan. 31, 2009:

• Dan Fogler has officially joined Robert Zemeckis' "Mars Needs Moms!," which the director will shoot using the motion-capture technique he used in "The Polar Express," "Beowulf" and his upcoming "A Christmas Carol." As for the story, it follows a young boy who must help his mother when she is abducted by martians. (ComingSoon)

• Tom Wheeler is set to write "Puss in Boots," DreamWorks Animation's upcoming "Shrek" spinoff. Chris Miller worked on an earlier draft. Antonio Banderas voiced the feline swordsman in "Shrek 2" and "Shrek the Third." By the way, "Shrek Goes Fourth" is set for release May 21, 2010. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Jeffrey Dean Morgan has joined Hilary Swank in Antti J. Jokinen's thriller "The Resident," about a doctor (Swank) who moves into a new Brooklyn loft and quickly discovers her landlord is a stalker. Jokinen wrote the script with Robert Orr, and Erin Cressida Wilson recently completed a rewrite. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Clifton Collins Jr., Josh Lawson, Kevin Sussman, Zoe Boyle, Nat Faxon, Warren Hutchinson, Jane Seymour, Olivia Munn and Dave Foley are set to star in Broken Lizard's comedy "Freeloaders," which focuses on five dudes and a girl who live in a rock star’s mansion until he decides to sell his crib. (Variety)