The New Iron Man 3 Trailer Is Here!

And of course it's amazing. Frankly, I'm speechless! May 3rd can't arrive fast enough!  Iron Man 3, which was directed and co-written by Shane Black, stars Robert Downey Jr., Ben Kingsley, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce and Rebecca Hall.

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Zoe Saldana Wants To Be In Star Wars VII

Zoe Saldana, who will next be seen in Star Trek Into Darkness, wants to be a Jedi in Star Wars VII. Well, actually she said she wants to be a 'sexy something,  a princess from another planet.'  She sure sounds like a true fan doesn't she? Not that I can blame her for wanting to be in the new trilogy.  If successful, that's one hec' of a payday. Plus with Avatar, Star Trek and Star Wars under her belt, why Saldana would be a sci-fi queen! Even still, I don't think think it's a good idea to cross the streams.  J.J. Abrams should keep both universes separate.

He might think crossing the line is cool, but in doing so he may end up angering fans from both verses.  Of course all of this is conjecture at this point. The screenplay is yet to be finished. However, I think I'll place my bid early for female lead. If he so happens to choose a Black actress, I'd go with Naomie Harris. She is skilled and proved in Skyfall  and 28 Days Later she can play tough.

You can read more of Saldana's comments at  E! Online. Click HERE to check it out.

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Quvenzhané Wallis Is Annie!

Two years ago Overbrook Entertainment partners James Lassiter, Ken Stovitz, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith announced plans to remake the classic musical “Annie”.  Rap artist and entrepreneur, Jay Z would arrange the music and Willow Smith would portray Annie.  However, Willow Smith had a major growth spurt since the initial announcement was made and aged out of the part, leaving the role open for another child star. It didn’t take long to find a perfect replacement.  Less than a month after news broke about Willow’s departure from the project, Deadline reported Overbrook Entertainment and Sony Pictures found their Annie in Oscar nominated Quvenzhané Wallis. 

At 9-years-old Wallis is the perfect age for the part. Aileen Quinn, who starred in the 1982 film version of the classic Broadway musical, was only ten when she stole movie audience’s hearts with her portrayal and Wallis will no doubt do the same.  She already won us over with her remarkable performance in “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, which by the way is available on Blu-ray and DVD. 

“Easy A” director Will Gluck, who is helming the film, is in the process of revising the screenplay penned by Emma Thompson which was also rewritten by Aline Brosh. For the full press release, read below:

QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS TO PLAY ANNIE FOR OVERBROOK ENTERTAINMENT, MARCY MEDIA AND SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT 

CULVER CITY, Calif., February 24, 2013 – Overbrook Entertainment, Marcy Media, director Will Gluck and Sony Pictures Entertainment have cast Academy Award® nominee Quvenzhané Wallis, the star of Beasts of the Southern Wild, in the title role of Annie, it was announced today by Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures, and Hannah Minghella, president of Production for the studio. 

Commenting on the announcement, Minghella said, "With the recent Academy Award® nomination and critical acclaim, Quvenzhané Wallis is a true star and we believe her portrayal as Annie will make her a true worldwide star. She is an extraordinary young talent with an amazing range, not only as an actress but as a singer and dancer, and we can't wait for audiences to further discover her."

Annie will be released during the winter holiday season in 2014. The film is being directed by Gluck and produced by James Lassiter, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Will Smith through Overbrook Entertainment, and by Shawn "JAY Z" Carter, Jay Brown, and Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith through Marcy Media. Gluck is currently revising the film's screenplay, which was written by Emma Thompson and rewritten by Aline Brosh McKenna based on the musical stage play "Annie," book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and on "Little Orphan Annie," © and ® Tribune Media Services, Inc. The film is being overseen at the studio by Andrea Giannetti and Devon Franklin.

QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS' favorite pastimes are reading, singing, dancing, acting, and playing her iPod and Nintendo DS. Her favorite TV stars/singers are China McClain, Selena Gomez, and Miley Cyrus. Her favorite sports are basketball, volleyball, dance and cheerleading. Her upcoming films include a role in Twelve Years a Slave with Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender and director Steve McQueen.

In addition to Steve McQueen’s “Twelve Years a Slave” Wallis can also be seen in “Boneshaker”, which debuted last month at Sundance and screens at this year’s New York African Film Festival in April.

I have to say, having grown up with the 1982 film, I wasn’t at all excited about this update, but with cutie pie Wallis starring in it, I’m totally sold.   Come December 25^th, 2014, when Sony and Overbrook Entertainment’s re-imagining hits the theater, I’ll be there.  Will you? 

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Guardians of the Galaxy: Jason Momoa is Out

Two weeks ago, Latino Review reported that Jason Momoa flew to London for a screen test with the folks at Marvel. Apparently, they were so impressed with his Dothraki skills, Momoa was offered the part of Drax the Destroyer for the upcoming “Guardians of the Galaxy” feature.

Well, as of Feb. 21, the same source tweeted Momoa stepped down from the project — quite possibly over money.

Marvel is back to screen testing actors for Drax. Somebody needs to remind Momoa that nobody saw his last 2 films & take Marvel's offer.
— Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe) February 21, 2013

I, for one, am very disappointed by this news. Momoa as Drax was spot on casting. But I can’t say I’m surprised about money being the issue. Marvel is known for low-salary offers, which may have ruined their relationship with Jon Favreau.

As for who Marvel could choose now? Perhaps they’ll look back at Isaiah Mustafa, Dave Bautista and Brian Patrick, who also auditioned for the part.

Shooting for “Guardians of the Galaxy” is slated to begin sometime this year to make the Aug. 1 release date.

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Review: Somewhere

Sofia Coppola returns to familiar territory with her latest film, “Somewhere.” More rewarding than the somewhat disappointing “Marie Antoinette,” “Somewhere’s” simplistic and intimate storyline about a lost A-list actor is very refreshing. While some may not enjoy the movie’s unhurried pace, I found the film fascinating. Sofia Coppola’s long and intrusive shots made “Somewhere” feel like a case study — the subject, a man who has everything yet is seemingly unhappy.

Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) is a Farrari-driving playboy who lives in the Chateau Marmont where he is often entertained by twin pole dancers.

An action star, Marco is a part of a big franchise, yet his status doesn’t impress his co-star Rebecca (Michelle Monaghan), who can’t stand him. Similar to the films he makes, one would think a man of his status lead an exciting life. We soon discover his world is pretty mundane.

He spends hours sitting on the ledge of his balcony looking nowhere. Sexual liaisons with beautiful young women, although fun, are not as exciting as they once were. Enter Johnny’s daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning), whose very presence shakes things up a bit. Out of nowhere, Cleo’s mother informs Johnny she needs a break, dropping their daughter on him for a few weeks before she goes off to summer camp.

Due to Marco’s film schedule and lifestyle, father and daughter barely know each other. Yet through video game tournaments, ice-skating practice and a trip to Milan, they grow close and Johnny begins to realize how much of Cleo’s life he missed out on. A bittersweet moment happens right as the 11-year-old heads off to camp. Another follows once Marco is forced to face his loneliness.

“Somewhere” was brilliantly shot. By choosing to capture Marco’s everyday routine through lengthy close-ups, the viewer becomes completely engaged. I know I was. An unconventional way to tell a narrative, this proves challenging for the actor. In Stephen Dorff’s case, since most of his scenes are solo, he is forced to draw entirely upon himself. If he mugged for the camera, his performance would have read insincere, hokey even. Thankfully, Dorff’s portrayal of a 30-something celebrity searching for a sense of direction was authentic and not artificial.

Elle Fanning was simply radiant. She conveyed the light Marco lacked in his lowly life perfectly and the pair’s chemistry was just right. Much of the perfect cohesion can be attributed to the fact that Coppola, with permission from Fanning’s parents, had Dorff pick Fanning up from school daily before the project began, creating a bond between the two.

Similar to “Lost in Translation,” “Somewhere” is character driven. Minimalism is Sofia Coppola’s forte. She also has the uncanny knack of leaving the viewer wanting for more. In the film’s opening scene, Johnny Marco races his Ferrari in circles, obviously headed nowhere. But by the time the credits roll, it’s made very clear he’s headed somewhere. Where to exactly? That’s up to the viewer to decide.

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