The latest issue of Production Weekly, has the synopsis of the upcoming Captain America film from Marvel.  The good news - it will be a WWII movie.

“Born during the Great Depression, Steve Rogers grew up a frail youth in a poor family. Horrified by the newsreel footage of the Nazis in Europe, Rogers was inspired to enlist in the army. However, because of his frailty and sickness, he was rejected. Overhearing the boy’s earnest plea, General Chester Phillips offered Rogers the opportunity to take part in a special experiment … Operation: Rebirth. After weeks of tests, Rogers was at last administered the ‘Super-Soldier Serum’ and bombarded by ‘vita-rays.’ Steve Rogers emerged from the treatment with a body as perfect as a body can be and still be human. Rogers was then put through an intensive physical and tactical training program. Three months later, he was given his first assignment as Captain America. Armed with his indestructible shield and and battle savvy, Captain America has continued his war against evil both as a sentinel of liberty and leader of the Avengers.”

While the May 6, 2011 date has been set (with the Avengers movie coming out a month or so later), no word on who will direct this period piece, and more importantly, no word on who will play Steve Rogers.

Wouldn’t it just be 10 kinds of kick-ass if Marvel and Paramount were able to keep the lid on this movie so clamped down, that we wouldn’t find out who any of the key players were until a month or so before the films release?  No?  Ok, then. I predict we’ll have answers to these questions and more no later than CCI: San Diego 2009.

Who’s on your short list to play Captain America?

via Film School Rejects

Sad news for Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson, Universal Pictures has decided to pull out of the three picture deal for the CGI adaptation of Tintin.  The biggest reason for the break in the deal wasn’t Spielberg trying to break DreamWorks away from Paramount, but the $130 million budget.  In a day an age where $130 million seems like a drop in the bucket for a franchise that could literally net Universal ten times that in world wide distribution, something certainly seems fishy. Perhaps it was the 30% of gross Spielberg and Jackson wanted - meaning Tintin would have to gross $425 million before it broke even and Universal started seeing a profit.

But fear not Herge fans, the duo have taken their proposal to Paramount… oh, yeah, that whole split thing might be a hang up.  Paramount has had the proposal for several weeks now, so it Tintin is simply awaiting a yay or nay from the suits.

via Empire Online

It’s unfortunate it wasn’t RDJ’s Iron Man that trumped The Dark Knight this weekend, but rather Downey Jr. in blackface in Paramount’s Tropic Thunder.  The R-rated flick brought in an estimated $26 million over the weekend, while Christian Bale’s Dark Knight bringing in $16.8 million.  Coming in third was George Lucas’ Clone Wars animated flick with $15.5 million.

Don’t feel too bad about the Dark Knight, the cumulated box office is now over $470 million.

via THR

Following the demise of HD DVD, it was only a matter of time before Paramount caved in and announced plans to bring Transformers to the Blu-Ray format. When it was announced Paramount was going the HD DVD route, director Michael Bay was pretty upset about the announcement, only to change his tune a few short days later. Perhaps it had something to do with the HD DVD camp throwing a lot of money Paramount’s way.

My guess is the studio got to keep all the money even after Toshiba and others admitted defeat, so now it is full steam ahead with Blu-Ray as the preferred format.

The Blu-ray edition of “Transformers” that Par is preparing will include extensive extras and special features, including a commentary from Bay and two docus about the film’s human and robotic stars. Segments include exec producer Steven Spielberg discussing his love for the franchise and a detailed look at the casting process and real-world weapons provided by the military.

Principal photography for the Transformers 2 movie (with the return of Jazz?) is set to begin this week.

via THR

Image Comics Monster Zoo graphic novel has been snagged by Paramount Pictures to be turned into a live action feature film.

The action-adventure story is set in motion when an ancient idol is unearthed and transported to a zoo in the U.S. There, the idol’s spirit awakens and starts to mutate the caged animals. A group of teenagers must band together to try to stop the idol and the evil from destroying the world. The graphic novel will be published in May from Image Comics.

The move will be produced by Sam Raimi and Josh Donen.

What really amazes me is the huge amount of money being exchanged for a single comic property these days. Sources claim this deal is in the seven figure range. Seven figures - that’s at least a million dollars right there for a comic that won’t hit stands until May. To put things into more perspective, creator Doug TenNapel did score $1,000,000 for Tommysaurus Rex a few years ago.

via Hollywood Reporter

Variety is reporting this morning that Paramount Pictures has acquired the rights to Harbinger from Valiant Comics. The live-action adaptation may be directed by Brett Ratner.

Created by Jim Shooter, the “Harbinger” comicbook series became a hit when published in the 1990s. Harbingers are humans with powers that can be unlocked by “omega” harbingers. Teenager Pete Stanchek finds himself on a collision course with an older “omega” who used his gifts to become an evil industrialist.

Ratner was last seen directing Rush Hour 3, and has at least three other films he is working on before Harbinger.

via Variety

The writer’s strike may be over, but the effects are still be felt through the industry. While Warner Bros. is pushing ahead with the Justice League movie, other features could be delayed as the industry scrambles to regroup following the settlement, and await the next big walk out.

The next walk out? The Screen Actor’s Guild is next up to the table to negotiate contracts, and even the slightest hint of a strike is causing the studios to hold off on any new productions that can’t wrap shooting by June 30.

“Transformers 2″ director Michael Bay said the labor cloud has made the process harder, but not impossible as he tries to keep the film on track for its June 26, 2009 release.

“If there is a strike, we shut down, but shutting down isn’t that big a deal,” Bay said. “You make accommodations, you make a deal with vending houses on equipment and on the stages where you are shooting. You hope for the best, but you can’t be incapacitated by the possibility that there will be a strike. We’ve got to get this town back to work. I can’t imagine anyone wants another strike, we’re all tired. Hopefully clearer heads will prevail.”

Bay said that the sequel is still recovering from the writer’s strike, and that he’s playing catch-up after getting back his trio of writers, Ehren Kruger, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.

If Miller can’t get his JLA movie done in time, we could hear word in the next couple of months that the film has been delayed again. The new Terminator movie begins shooting May 5, while Transformers begins shooting in early June. If the actors strike, look for all sort of shuffling as the studios scramble to fill the summer 2009 schedule.

Paramount may have anticipated the delay when the studio announced it was moving the J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie from a December 2008 release to the now scheduled May 2009 date.

via Variety

For those of you who already asked Santa for tickets to the new Star Trek that was scheduled to open December 25, 2008, you’re going to be pretty disappointed when your stocking comes up empty Christmas morning.

Variety is reporting the J.J. Abrams’ film has been pushed back to May 2009, which might make the studio more money as a summer run could draw a larger audience than the holiday.

Move was part of a major reshuffling to the studio’s release calendar, as well as to DreamWorks’ release sked. Like Par, many of the majors are likely to revisit their release skeds in the wake of the writers’ strike as they try to balance out their 2008 and 2009 calendars.

“Star Trek” has no competition in its new slot — at least not so far, although it opens one week after 20th Century Fox bows “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and one week before Sony is slated to bow sequel “Angels and Demons.”

Well this is sad news for the Trekkers and the Trekies whom I’m sure were eagerly awaiting a time travel story featuring a young and old Spock, the Kobayashi maneuver, and yet another interpretation of the Enterprise. Don’t worry fans, an additional six months won’t kill you.

via Variety�

To help kick off the DVD release of the Transformers, Paramount is rolling out the life sized model of Bumblebee and erecting him in the courtyard of the West Hollywood Gateway shopping center at the corner of La Brea and Santa Monica Blvd. Stop by and get your picture taken, or just marvel at what someone can do with a bunch of car parts, a forklift, a 10-ton crane and lots of money.

Bumblebee will be on location from today (October 16) until Sunday October 21st.

via Superhero Hype

While Box Office Mojo isn’t the official source for all things related to movie releases, it does have a listing for Transformers 2. It also lists the release date as June 26, 2009. Other than saying it is a Sci-Fi Action flick no other info is provided.

via Box Office Mojo

Just doesn’t have the same ring to it that Go Joe! does, but I’m sure we’ll get over that once Stuart Beattie turns in his script for Paramount Pictures G.I. Joe flick.

Studio has fast-tracked the Stephen Sommers-helmed “G.I. Joe” in the wake of the success of Paramount/DreamWorks’ “Transformers,” which is also based on a Hasbro toy line.

Great, just what we need, a huge phenomenon of rushed films based on Hasbo toys. What’s next, Candy Land: The Movie? The Magical Adventures of Furby? Go Go Gloworm?

Story is set at Brussels-based G.I.J.O.E., an acronym for the Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity, and revolves around an international co-ed force of operatives who use high-tech equipment to battle Cobra, an evil org headed by a double-crossing Scottish arms dealer.

I really hope we get to see some Cobra Commandos bite the dust in this flick, instead of parachuting to safety all the time. The movie is expected to go into prepro this fall, with a summer 2009 release date.

Geeeee Eyeeee Joooooooooooeeeeee!

via Variety

ComingSoon.net has obtained an exclusive clip to Paramount’s Stardust.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn and based on the best-selling graphic novel by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess, the fantasy-adventure stars Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Jason Flemyng, Peter O’Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro. Ian McKellen narrates the film.

I’ll admit I know absolutely nothing about the Gaiman book, but a lot of people have been hyping the heck out of it. After watching the clip, I was intrigued enough to at least look up the full synopsis from IMDb.

Take the jump for the links, more info, and the new trailer!

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