Latest Movie News From Moviefone |
- Lawrence Kasdan Reveals What it Takes to Write a Good 'Star Wars' Movie
- 'Dirty Dancing' Musical Starring Abigail Breslin Coming to ABC
- Netflix Plans to Double Its Original Series in 2016
- Here's How 'Fuller House' Will Explain the Olsens' Absence
- Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood Sets April Opening Date
- A Fan Bit 'Walking Dead' Star Norman Reedus at Convention
- Now You Can Get Showtime and Starz Through Amazon Prime
- 10 Hot Actors Who Practically Disappeared Off the Face of the Earth
- 'Brokeback Mountain': 10 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About the Oscar-Winning Film
- 'The Matrix' Cast: Where Are They Now?
- Best of Late Night TV: Channing Tatum's Hateful Kitten Rant and The Victoria's Secret Angels' Buffalo Wing Eating Session
| Lawrence Kasdan Reveals What it Takes to Write a Good 'Star Wars' Movie Posted:  Writer-director Lawrence Kasdan might not be as well-known as George Lucas, but he's vitally important to the architecture of "Star Wars." He wrote "The Empire Strikes Back" and co-wrote "Return of the Jedi," and now he's returned to the franchise to write "The Force Awakens."While his "Force Awakens" co-writer and director J.J. Abrams (pictured below) has admitted to being under "an insane amount of pressure" to deliver something the fans will love, Kasdan is remarkably calm about this year's most anticipated movie. As he told Moviefone at a recent press event for the film, he was only concerned with pleasing the people making the film. He also sang the praises of Harrison Ford, whom he calls "an actual superhero" for bouncing back from his on-set accident and for his input into where his cinematic alter ego should be 32 years after "Return of the Jedi."  Moviefone: Did you feel a lot of pressure when you're writing this?Lawrence Kasdan: Not really. I thought it was a great opportunity and it's very rare that you get to work on a movie that you know people are going to go to see. And that the world is receptive to it. You don't ever think, "Can we please everybody," but "Can we please ourselves?" -- and hopefully it'll be good. It's not really that much pressure. The pressure is when you start with an original screenplay. No one wants to make it and you don't know if anyone will ever see it. That's pressure. What about when you were writing "Empire Strikes Back"? No. It just happened so quickly. I had just finished writing "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and when George asked me to write "Empire," it was a total surprise. It was a bonus for me. I didn't feel any pressure because it was the sequel to the most popular movie ever made and, again, the pressure is when you start from nothing and you're not sure if your labors will amount to anything. When you do a sequel to such a popular movie, you know people will see it. But whether they like it is a different story. That's true. You can't control that. That doesn't keep you awake at night? No. What did keep me awake was, "Would we like it?" And I really do like it. I've seen it a lot and I really, really like it. What was it like returning to these characters? Had you given them any thought over the years? They're always with you, sort of, when you're associated with two movies that are so gigantic. They never left the culture. I did a lot of other things in that time and I was thinking a lot about people my age going through those 30 years and I tried to make movies about that. It wasn't a big leap to come back and say, "Well, what happened to Han Solo during that time? What happened to Princess Leia? What about Luke -- where would he be 30 years later? And what would have happened in the galaxy?" You didn't create Han Solo, but he wouldn't be who he is without you, or without Harrison Ford playing him. So does Harrison have a say in what happens to Han? Harrison definitely has input. He is so amazing in this movie. And his history during the movie, what he went through. He's an actual superhero! He's not a fake superhero. I've never seen him better, more generous, or more sweet and giving with everyone and with me. He contributed enormously, as he always did. Did he do that on the set or in the scriptwriting process? On the set. A lot of the writing happened while we were shooting. We had a first draft in six weeks, but then we've writing for another two years. It's really changed a lot over that time. Harrison had a big impact.  You're also writing the Han Solo movie.Yes, we just finished the second draft. Everybody's excited about it. It is exciting! You've said you're not sure what the movie will end up being, once it's in the directors' hands. Yes, it's a year before Chris Miller and Phil Lord start on it. They have their own process and their own method, which I don't fully understand. You don't understand anyone else's process. They've done these extraordinary things -- "The Lego Movie" was a one-off, and I think this is going to be like no other "Star Wars" movie ever. I think from now, until when they start shooting, it's going to go through a lot of changes. But it'll all be in the mode of Lord and Miller. That's what happens when you bring singular talents like that to the saga. Do you have someone in mind who should play young Han Solo? I wish I did, because everybody's looking. It's the biggest decision that will be made on the movie. It's really hard to step in. Harrison Ford has become like Spencer Tracy. Do you think it has to be an unknown? No, I think it has to be someone great. You're cowriting with your son... Was "Star Wars" a big deal in your household when he grew up? Well, I was involved with it. He was on my sets from the beginning, from "The Big Chill" and "Silverado," so he's grown up on movie sets. Certainly the "Star Wars" movies were big in our family history. What does "Star Wars" mean to you, personally? The basic theme of "Star Wars" is realizing our potential. It's not always a positive thing and it's not an easy journey. It's not always easy to throw off what you've inherited from your mother or father. How does that change your life and direct your life? The "Star Wars" saga is really about finding out "What am I capable of?" Is there a chance for change? And is it too late? No matter what your age, can I still change my life? What's your personal favorite of the ones you've written? I don't have one. Although this one is pretty amazing. I can't wait for people to see it. Will you go see it again opening night? Oh yeah, absolutely. It'll be fun. "The Force Awakens" (finally) hits theaters Dec. 18 %Slideshow-345253% This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Dirty Dancing' Musical Starring Abigail Breslin Coming to ABC Posted:  Beloved '80s flick "Dirty Dancing" is about to get a TV movie musical update, starring an Oscar nominee.Multiple outlets are reporting that Abigail Breslin ("Little Miss Sunshine," "Scream Queens") has been tapped to play the female lead in ABC's version of what's being dubbed "a reimagining" of the 1987 film, which starred Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze. "Dirty Dancing" featured the sheltered Frances "Baby" Houseman (Grey) meeting bad boy dance instructor Johnny Castle (Swayze) at a resort in the Catskills in the 1960s. The unlikely duo fall hard for each other while Baby learns some killer dance moves -- and also learns how to stand up to her strict parents. According to Variety, ABC has been working on adapting the film "for quite some time," and began casting a year ago, searching for the perfect leads. Swayze's part has yet to be filled, though Variety notes that "there is a wish list of high-profile talent." This will be ABC's first foray into the lucrative TV musical game, though unlike competitors NBC ("The Sound of Music Live!," "Peter Pan Live!," "The Wiz Live!") and Fox (January's "Grease Live"), this program will not be live, but rather a pre-taped movie musical. (Fox will also attempt a similar strategy when it airs a "Rocky Horror Picture Show" remake starring Laverne Cox sometime in 2016.) There's some big talent behind the scenes of ABC's adaptation, including Jessica Sharzer ("American Horror Story," "The L Word"), who will write the screenplay, and Wayne Blair ("The Sapphires"), who will direct. Allison Shearmur ("The Hunger Games," "Cinderella"), who wrote a 2004 stage musical based on "Dirty Dancing," will executive produce alongside Eleanor Bergstein, who penned the original film's screenplay. "Hamilton" choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler will serve in that role again on this project, and Adam Anders and Peer Astrom ("Glee") are writing the music. We're looking forward to seeing how this all comes together. Stay tuned for more. [via: Variety] Photo credit: Getty Images %Slideshow-201932% This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Netflix Plans to Double Its Original Series in 2016 Posted:  Netflix subscribers may have faced rising prices in recent years, but it seems that that increase is coming with a bonus: Lots more original content is on the way from the streaming service.Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix, announced this week at the UBS Media Conference that 2016 would see 31 original scripted series under the Netflix banner, up from 16 in 2015. In addition to that lofty goal, the streaming service is also planning to release 10 feature films, 12 documentaries, and 10 stand-up comedy specials next year, and is expanding into the children's programming market in a big way: Netflix plans to soon offer 30 different series for kids. "It's not just a lot of volume," Sarandos told the UBS crowd of the expansion plan. "This is quality stuff." That's certainly proven true in recent months, with an Emmy win for "Orange Is the New Black" star Uzo Aduba, critical praise for new series "Jessica Jones" and "Master of None," and Oscar buzz -- and lots of Independent Spirit Awards nominations -- for Netflix's first feature film, "Beasts of No Nation." It's also announced partnerships with big-name talent including Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Adam Sandler, who are all bringing exclusive films to the service, as well as serving as the the next home of comedian Chelsea Handler. And with plans to expand its reach from more than 80 countries to at least 200 by the end of 2016, having lots of original content will certainly help when tricky rights management issues for non-Netflix series arise. Netflix hopes to create a global audience for its service, Sarandos said, and if it can't do that with shows from other networks, then it hopes its own series can stand in for -- and stand up to -- that content. Sounds like there will be lots to explore next year when we're in the middle of a weekend binge-watching session. Bring it on. [via: Business Insider, Wired] Photo credit: JoJo Whilden for Netflix %Slideshow-266955% This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Here's How 'Fuller House' Will Explain the Olsens' Absence Posted:  Now that it's one hundred percent official that the Olsen twins won't be appearing in the upcoming "Full House" revival, "Fuller House," the rest of the reunited Tanner clan will need to explain away their absence -- and it looks like we already know how that will play out.According to Us Weekly, the twins' character, Michelle, will be mentioned as living in New York City -- far away from the show's San Francisco setting -- and "working on creating her fashion empire." That's a nod to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's real life foray into fashion with their lines The Row and Elizabeth and James (they famously "retired" from acting to focus on those brands), and their current NYC residence. And that's not all the series has planned for the youngest Tanner. Us Weekly reports that "one 'Fuller House' episode features the series' characters prank-calling Michelle by saying, 'You got it, dude!,'" Michelle's catchphrase from the original series. It all sounds a bit meta, but the Olsens' omission will be a glaring one, and it seems smart to acknowledge it in some way. We'll see how successful this plan turns out to be soon. "Fuller House" will debut on Netflix sometime in 2016. [via: Us Weekly] Photo credit: Getty Images %Slideshow-296535% This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood Sets April Opening Date Posted:  Muggles were overjoyed this summer when a new location for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was announced at Universal Studios Hollywood. Now, that expansion project officially has an opening date -- and it's coming up a lot sooner than we thought.USA Today reports that the new attraction, which will recreate the village of Hogsmeade and Hogwarts Castle, is set to open on April 17, 2016. Construction crews must have been using some serious magic, since the project will have been completed less than a year after it was first announced back in June. But the condensed timeline doesn't mean that the park has skimped on the details. According to USA Today, there will be plenty of eye-popping "Potter" goodies throughout the attraction, including eight fully-functioning shops in the Hogsmeade attraction alone. Memorable magical businesses including Honeydukes candy store, Ollivanders Wand Shop, and Zonko's Joke Shop will all make an appearance, as will the Hog's Head Pub, where guests can imbibe on Butterbeer (and real beer, too, for adult patrons). The attraction will also include the Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster on the outskirts of Hogsmeade, as well as the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride (presented for the first time in 3D HD), which will sit inside Hogwarts Castle. "It's a spectacle, iconic," said Alan Gilmore, supervising art director for the "Harry Potter" film series, of the castle, telling USA Today, "the main storytelling location in 'Harry Potter' is now the most amazing castle in Los Angeles." Judging by what we've seen so far, we're inclined to agree. Accio yourself a plane ticket -- or a Nimbus 2000 -- and book your spot in line soon. [via: USA Today] Photo credit: Getty Images %Slideshow-322797% This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| A Fan Bit 'Walking Dead' Star Norman Reedus at Convention Posted:  One "Walking Dead" fan took the whole zombie thing too literally last weekend.According to fan reports, a woman bit star Norman Reedus in the chest while taking a photo with him and fellow cast member Michael Rooker at the Walker Stalker Con in New Jersey. The incident started out normally, with the fan telling Reedus she liked to imagine being married to him. Then, when the photo was about to be taken, she leaned over and bit him. Security escorted the woman out of the convention, and Reedus reportedly declined to press charges. He even joked about the incident on Instagram: The fan also posted about the bite affair on Instagram, saying "Finally meet the love of my life, and get banned from the rest of the CON and lose two more $100 photo ops with him because I lost my mind...got so excited standing beside him... & just turned my head and bit him! I don't know what came over me. It wasn't my intention to hurt him. I'm sorry Norman!" Let's keep the zombies on screen and not in real life, people. Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. %Slideshow-327630% This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Now You Can Get Showtime and Starz Through Amazon Prime Posted:  Don't have Starz and want to watch "Outlander"? Or wish you could see the new season of "Homeland" on Showtime? Now, you can subscribe to those and other networks' streaming services through Amazon Prime.The Streaming Partners Program allows Amazon Prime members to subscribe to 30 streaming services, some at a discount and some that aren't available elsewhere. Showtime, for example, costs $8.99 a month, a discount from iTunes, which sells a season for $10.99. Some of the networks, like Showtime, already have standalone streaming sites, but this new feature makes it easier to pay for and manage multiple subscriptions. Amazon also plans to bundle different networks at a discount. This is the first time that Starz will be available to stream online, which means you can go from watching "Man in the HIgh Castle" to "Outlander" without switching apps. Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 10 Hot Actors Who Practically Disappeared Off the Face of the Earth Posted: %Slideshow-345246% There is no shortage of hot guys in Hollywood. Maybe that's why so many come onto the scene, make us swoon for a couple of movies, and then vanish into a well-paid dust. We never know when a hot guy comes These are the 10 actors who were big names, but now... not so much.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Brokeback Mountain': 10 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About the Oscar-Winning Film Posted:  When "Brokeback Mountain" opened 10 years ago (on December 9, 2005), Hollywood's first mainstream gay love story was expected to change everything.After all, it was a huge hit, won three Oscars, made serious adult thespians out of its young cast, and turned "I wish I knew how to quit you" into a catchphrase. In the decade since, however, Hollywood hasn't really followed up on the film's example, so fans hungry for such fare can only watch "Brokeback" over and over. In honor of the movie's tenth anniversary, here are 10 things you probably didn't know about this landmark film.  1. Co-screenwriter Diana Ossana (pictured left) optioned the movie rights to Annie Proulx's short story right after it was published in The New Yorker in 1997. Of course, it would take eight years for her and her co-writer Larry McMurtry to find financing, much less get a director and a cast to commit to a film with such tricky subject matter.2. Director Gus Van Sant was once attached to the project, and he wanted his "Good Will Hunting" star Matt Damon and Joaquin Phoenix to play the leads. Damon said no, arguing that it would be redundant to play a gay cowboy so soon after having starred in "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "All the Pretty Horses." Jake Gyllenhaal has said he lobbied for the role of Jack Twist around that time, but he was still just 19 and largely unknown then. It would be another four years before he finally landed the role. 3. In an interview with Gawker, director Ang Lee revealed that the movie's poster was inspired by another romantic film, "Titanic."  4. When she arrived for her audition, Anne Hathaway was in full regal make-up and hair for "The Princess Diaries 2."5. Director Ang Lee won Proulx over during a visit to Wyoming, where the author lived. There, the Taiwan-born filmmaker dined at a restaurant with her and ordered an unfamiliar item off the menu: Rocky Mountain oysters. He had no idea what the regional delicacy was, much less that it came from a bull and not a mollusc. Proulx took a bite and quipped, "Women are not supposed to eat this." From then on, they were at ease with each other. 6. On the first day of shooting, Ossana recalled, Michelle Williams injured her knee during the sledding scene. Ossana watched as Heath Ledger brushed Williams' hair out of her face and accompanied her to the hospital. It was then, the screenwriter said, that she knew she had witnessed love at first sight, the beginning of the actors' real-life romance.  7. Ever notice Ledger's distinct way of talking in the film, by keeping his lips pursed? Well, that wasn't an acting choice. According to Hathaway, it was because the late actor was worried that flies might get into his mouth.8. One reason the filmmakers were finally able to finance the movie: they got the budget down to a spare $14 million. The film ended up grossing $83 million in North America and a total of $178 million worldwide. 9. "Brokeback" was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Ledger), Best Supporting Actor (Gyllenhaal), Best Supporting Actress (Williams), and Best Cinematography. 10. The movie won three: Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Score. It lost Best Picture to "Crash," in what is still one of the most bitterly argued-about Oscar contests in recent memory. %Slideshow-318509% This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'The Matrix' Cast: Where Are They Now? Posted:  It's hard to believe that it has been 16 years since "The Matrix" blew audiences minds everywhere. Take a look at what the cast has been up to since the movie came out. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted:  If you're like us and value your sleep, you probably nodded off into your Ambien dreamland before the party started on post-prime time TV. Don't worry; we've got you covered. Here's the best of what happened last night on late night.Beyonce makes an appearance on Coldplay's new album (we are not worthy!), and Chris Martin discussed their collaboration on "The Late Late Show." So, how do you get Queen Bey to sing mere backup on your song? You wander over to her castle, wait for a week, get fed "minimally," and are forced to interact with Destiny's Child. This, from Chris Martin. Over on "The Tonight Show," Claire Danes played Pictionary with Ron Howard and Jimmy Fallon, and it was hilarious. Mostly because Ron Howard seemed epically confused, bless him. So, um, Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell reunited on "The Late Show," and they broke into a full-blown song and dance routine. (Dance = swaying weirdly at a desk). Their bromance is real, guys. More importantly, a bunch of Victoria's Secret Angels (Adriana Lima included) showed up on "The Late Show" and ate a giant plate of buffalo wings. And yes, they used their actual wings as napkins. Finally, Channing Tatum said eight hateful things to an innocent kitten. That is all. %Slideshow-346407% This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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