New Trailer For Vampire Film Byzantium

Interview with the Vampire director Neil Jordan has returned to familiar territory with new film Byzantium. Starring Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan as a vampire mother and daughter, the film has its first official trailer below. It makes it pretty clear that these vampires are much more likely to be True Blood than Twilight fans. The trailer oozes with blood and sex, see for yourself below.

Benedict Cumberbatch Joins The Imitation Game

Benedict Cumberbatch looks set to play British mathematician and computer genius Alan Turing in a new biopic directed by Mortem Tyldum.

The Imitation Game will explore the life and tragic fate of the celebrated code-breaker who was credited with breaking the Nazi’s Enigma Code during World War 2. However despite becoming a national hero for his pivotal role in the Allied war effort Turing faced criminal charges after the war when British authorities discovered that he was secretly gay.

Faced with a horrific choice between prison time and chemical castration, within several years Turing had taken his own life. Leonardo DiCaprio was previously actively chasing the demanding lead role, before he announced his extended break from acting to concentrate on environmentalist campaigning.

It’s now expected that Sherlock star Cumberbatch will officially sign on to play the troubled English genius. At least it should be familiar territory for him…

Sam Worthington Goes For The Dogs

Sam Worthington has officially signed on to star in the new film from Salt director Philip Noyce. Based on a novel by Kevin Wignall the new action thriller is called For the Dogs and will see the rugged Avatar star playing an assassin who helps a college girl take revenge against the people responsible for the murder of her parent and brother.

The film will be a co-production between FilmEngine Entertanemnt and Worthington’s own production company Full Clip Productions. Worthington will also take on a producing role for the film.

Speaking about the project, fellow Producer Navid McIlharey  said :

“I have been friends with Sam, John, Mike and Paul for some time now and watched them grow their production company. They are very talented producers with commercial instincts who led us to this terrific thriller, with a character that seems to be tailor made for Sam. With a brilliant director like Phillip, we are very excited to have a team like this come together.”

Sony Plans Dragon Tattoo Sequel Without Daniel Craig

Sony is reportedly considering cutting Daniel Craig’s character Mikael Blomkvist out of their Girl with the Dragon Tattoo sequel as a way of reducing the budget. Although the first film managed to take $223 million at the box office alone from a $90 million budget, it was less than the studio had hoped for.

Feeling cautious about audience appetites for The Girl Who Played with Fire, the studio is unsurprisingly keen to keep costs low this time around. Although given the record breaking success of Skyfall it’s doubtful that they’ll be getting Bond on a budget anytime soon.

Some cynical commentators are already suggesting these recent rumours could just be a ploy by the studio to encourage a cheap deal with the British star before negotiations have even officially started.

Kenneth Branagh Directing Live Action Cinderella

Kenneth Branagh looks set to  replace Mark Romanek in directing duties for Disney’s forthcoming live action Cinderella project.

Cate Blanchet who was previously attached to play the wicked stepmother remains in place, with the rest of casting for the re-imagined fairytale set to begin once negotiations with Branagh have reached a seemingly inevitable successful conclusion.

Disney parted company with their last director as they were reportedly unhappy with Romanek’s uncompromisingly dark vision of the familiar fairy tale. So it’s likely that Branagh  will likely be encouraged to focus more on the feel-good whimsy of glass slippers, fairy godmothers and charming Princes. Although presumably he’ll be working form the same script , courtesy of Chris Weitz and Aline Brosh McKenna.

It’s probably far to early to speculate but it wouldn’t be such a surprise to see Branagh turn to his Thor & Wallander star Tom Hiddleston as obvious casting for Prince Charming…