Dreamworks Animations has unveiled information regarding its slate to 2012. 2010 will see “How To Train Your Dragon,” “Shrek Forever After” (yes, they’re rolling out that dog and pony show one more time) and “Oobermind,” a film superhero film featuring the voices of Robert Downey Jr. and Tina Fey. The studio will also release “Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom Of Doom” and “The Guardians” in 2011 and “Puss In Boots,” a “Madagascar” sequel and an unknown original project (the first of three) in 2012. These films are practically licenses to make money with kids and their audiences and perhaps the only truly recession-proof pictures out there.[THR]
Chevy Chase has joined the ever-growing cast of “The Hot Tub Time Machine,” the story of a bunch of unsatisfied guys who get thrown back to their younger days in 1987 via their old hot tub hang out. The film stars, among others, John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Lizzy Caplan, Crispin Glover and Craig Robinson. Chase will play a mysterious repairman who may or may not be behind the metaphysical road trip. [THR]
Kieran and Michele Mulroney’s indie-dramedy “Paper Man” is set to open the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 18th. Starring Jeff Daniels, Ryan Reynolds, Lisa Kudrow and Emma Stone, the film is described as a coming-of-middle-age story of a writer (Daniels) caught between the pressures of deadlines, the expectations of his wife (Kudrow), and the constant presence of the superhero (Reynolds) who’s lived inside his head since 2nd Grade. [IndieWire]
Concept art for James Cameron’s “Avatar” has leaked, showing the previously mentioned powersuits and the alien planet of Pandora. The pics should be exciting to those that like pre-historical jungle swamps and art that looks slightly more dialed down then Roger Dean work. [MarketSaw]
The German Federal Supreme Court has lifted it’s ban for Martin Weisz’s controversial cannibals film, “Butterfly – A Grimm Story (Rohtenburg),” a film based on the true story of the “Cannibal of Rotenburg” who was sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2006 for killing and eating a man he had met over the internet in 2001. Helllo, romantic comedy remake anyone? [Screen Daily]
Pixar’s “Up” looks like its set to dominate the box-office weekend. Why are you not remotely surprised? [Reuters]
“The Yellow Handkerchief” has been picked up by Samuel Goldwyn and will star William Hurt, Kristen Stewart, Maria Bello and Eddie Redmayne. It’s a three-strangers-on-a-road-trip film through post-Katrina, New Orleans. You remember that winning genre. [Variety]
The 1985 teen comedy “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” starring Helen Hunt and Sarah Jessica Parker is going to be remade at Fox. Considering those of us who grew up in the ’80s barely remember it, its actually a good sign as it’s the bad films that should be remade, not the good ones. Bad ones, people. How many times do we need to tell you? [Variety]
Those of us who were 7 year old girls in the 80s regard Girls Just Wanna Have Fun as a classic that should NOT be destroyed!