Fox Cancels Independence Day 3D Release
20th Century Fox has officially cancelled plans to re-release a converted 3D version of Roland Emmerich’s alien invasion blockbuster Independence Day. Starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum and Randy Quaid the 1996 original version hauled in over $800 million at the box office alone, catapulting Will Smith to global superstardom in the process.
The 3D re-release seemed to be an obvious first step for the studio in reviving the franchise, with Roland Emmerich apparently still battling to secure a deal with the actors and studio to do a pair of sequels, tentatively tiled ID Forever Part 1 and Part 2.
News that Fox has pulled the plug on the previously announced plans to push the original film back into cinemas would obviously suggest that their enthusiasm for the franchise is dwindling as hopes of the long delayed sequels continues to fade.
TMNT Creators Praise Ninja Turtles Reboot
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creators Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman have both spoken out in support of saving the latest big screen version of the half-shell heroes, praising the script that the studio indefinitely abandoned production of five months ago.
Widely reported concerns about the script and the direction Michael Bay’s alien themed Ninja Turtles would take, seemed to have convinced the studio to take the unlikely decision of abandoning the potentially lucrative franchise altogether.
Although Peter Laird had been previously cynical about the ill-favoured reboot, speaking to NBC he seems to have had a change of heart.
“From what I’ve seen of the script, it’s fantastic… (its) like The Avengers for scope and roots origin and The Raid: Redemption for fight scenes and Rise for the Apes as far as computer-quality style.”
Namedropping some of the most commercially and critically successful action blockbusters of the past year may seem a little over the top. Laird’s newfound optimism may also have been further undermined by the fact he also boldly asserted during the same interview
“Michael Bay has made some great … movies.”
While fans were busy fiercely debating Michael Bay’s alleged ‘greatness’ , Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman was busy leaping on The Avengers reference for his own interviews. Adding his own splash of eager enthusiasm for the project:
“If we learned nothing else from one of my favorite Comic Book Based Films, The Avengers, it’s that there’s a lot to be said about never forgetting that core concept and core fan-base.”
Again it’s a statement that is a little contradicted by plans for Ninja Turtles to largely ignore the Turtles traditional back-story and completely reboot the franchise with a mystical alien warrior theme.
Wayne’s World 3 Is NOT Happening
After a brief flurry of slightly excited internet buzz that Mike Myers had written a script for Wayne’s World 3, it seems that Wayne and Garth won’t in fact be partying on for a third installment after all.
Serious doubt has now been cast on some of the original sources for the story, making it suddenly far less likely that Mike Myers will be returning to the popular Saturday Night Live character as he searches for a much needed career boost.
Instead it looks like a largely unwelcome 4th Austin Powers film is still sadly your only hope for seeing funnyman Myers actually being funny on screen anytime soon.
Disney Plan Several Star Wars Films A Year
Disney’s multibillion dollar acquisition of Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise was followed swiftly by news that the first of a new trilogy of space adventures would be in cinemas by summer 2015. But as the hunt intensifies for a director for Episode VII news is emerging that Disney already has even more ambitious plans in store.
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has reportedly confirmed that Disney plans to eventually producer several Star Was movies every year exploring the wider Star Wars universe as fully as possible.
The studios could follow a similar approach to Marvel’s successful strategy for The Avengers by developing individual characters in their own films before ultimately bringing them together for further adventures.
Given the billions the studio spent acquiring the lucrative Star Wars franchise rights it probably shouldn’t be so surprising that Disney are clearly eager to take full advantage and develop as many projects as possible as quickly as possible.
Sam Mendes Has Idea For Bond Sequel
It’s still unconfirmed that Sam Mendes will be directing another Bond film, but according to departing screenwriting team Neal Purivs and Robert Wade, he already has an idea in place for a potential sequel.
Leaving the franchise after having co-written the past five Bond films Robert Wade dropped the following information into an official statement.
“We’re very happy to have done five Bond movies. I think we’ve gotten it to a good place. I know that John Logan and Sam Mendes have come up with a plot for another one, which takes the pressure off because these films take up a lot of time.”
Sam Mendes has been hesitant to confirm he’ll direct the next 007 adventure but given the sensational box office success of Skyfall it’s likely that Sony will be keen for him to continue to guide the franchise.