Editorial Staff
Universal Soldier
Despite being successfully rebooted already (by the talented John Hyams a couple of years back), another relaunch of the popular Van Damme-Lundgren franchise (likely without those guys) is in the works. “Equalizer” screenwriter Richard Wenk tells Discussing Film, “I will say that I’m just finishing up a re-imagining — let’s be clear about this it’s not a remake and it is not a redo — but it is a re-imagining of a movie called Universal Soldier…very much like The Equalizer, it’s the title that inspired me and not the movies…I’m just about to finish (the script) and turn it in this week.”
Black Panther 2
As expected Ryan Coogler has signed on to resume his position as head helmer on the sequel to the 2017 comic book movie hit. The deal, which will also see Coogler back on scripting duty, reportedly took some time to come together, but the filmmaker will begin penning the script next year with production expected to start in late 2019 or early 2020. (THR)
The Wild Bunch
At a screening for his new movie “Dragged Across Concrete”, Mel Gibson spoke briefly about how his upcoming remake of western classic “The Wild Bunch” came about.
“I thought it was a bad idea at first. Why make ‘The Wild Bunch’ again? Who would do that? I thought about it and I thought about it some more, and then I thought of a way. A way to tell the story. So I’ve been sitting in a room with a writer and its been a blast. So it started as a bad idea, but it’s heading toward something that could be special. It’s about last chances and guys with lives of accrued violence…Those guys [in the original film]? They laugh a lot, but it isn’t funny.”
Rambo 5 : Last Blood
“Snowfall” and “Life Itself” actor Sergio Peris-Mencheta will play a vicious crime lord in the latest “Rambo” sequel, “Rambo 5: Last Blood” which is currently filming in Bulgaria and Spain under the direction of Adrian Grunberg. Sylvester Stallone and Paz Vega are also onboard.(Deadline)
Fantastic Beasts 3
Despite suggestions he mightn’t be wanted, Johnny Depp will be back for the next “Fantastic Beasts” film. The actor tells Collider, “I loved it because that’s really an arena where you can fly around and try different things and approach a character with a lot more…um…to take someone who is teetering on being a fascist, yeah he’s a fascist, he’s one of those, but to play him as a sensitive, concerned yet manipulative and powerful wizard. The possibilities in that world are wide open, so you can really try anything. So it was a gas and I look forward to the next installment, which I think we start the middle of next year.”
Black Widow
The “Avengers” standlone will snag star Scarlett Johansson $15 million dollars, says THR. A Marvel spokesperson, in response to this story, said in a statement: “Marvel Studios disputes the accuracy of these numbers, and as a matter of policy, we never publicly disclose salaries or deal terms.” (THR)
Mr.Mom
Michael Keaton classic “Mr. Mom” will be revived as a digital series by its home studio, MGM, as part of a new partnership with Walmart-owned streaming platform Vudu. Vudu made the announcement Wednesday at the NewFronts West just days after revealing its partnership with MGM, which is intended to create a slate of short-form scripted content adapted from a library of classic intellectual property that offers the opportunity to serialize everything from James Bond to “The Pink Panther.” “As parents, we want to share with kids the TV shows and movies that we grew up with,” said Julian Franco, head of AVOD content and advertising. at Vudu. “They made us feel something. the Reality is we want our kids to feel the same thing too.” (Variety)
Abraham Lincoln : Vampire Hunter
NBC is developing a series based on a character from the popular novel “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”. Titled “The Last American Vampire,” the potential series is described as a supernatural thriller that follows Abby, a young analyst, as she’s recruited into a special division of the FBI that investigates unique and mysterious cases. While working on her first case tracking a string of bizarre murders she discovers her new enigmatic partner also happens to be a 500-year-old vampire. (Variety)
