My Best Films

You’re over the midweek slump, you’re probably delirious with fatigue and desperate for the weekend.

But don’t worry, you’re not quite seeing things. Yet. Because yes, the above actually is true.

The Hollywood Reporter has, well, reported that George Lucas is currently spending his time up at the Skywalker Ranch masterminding his next project.

It’s “super secret”. It hasn’t got a title. It’s a CGI musical.

Director Kevin Munroe, of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Heroes CGI update a few years back, is apparently set to direct. All that we know is that the film will somehow feature fairies.

That, and the script’s by Spiderwick Chronicles’ David Berenbaum.

So, after completing his Star Wars prequels, it seems Lucas is ready to get the cogs cranking on something entirely new.

But has the old boy cracked? Or are you interested to see what he can come up with post-Wars?

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Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, had a yack with our friends over at SFX magazine this month and addressed a number of the studio’s projects.

Discussing the upcoming Avengers movie, he said that he hoped it would be more than just a "team superhero movie with a bunch of characters with powers".

Not only that, but he confirmed that Hulk will be making an appearance in the film, despite the character not being linked to the project before.

Could that also mean Edward Norton will be getting very angry in another Incredible Hulk movie? Sounds like it, with Feig saying that  it "would be post-Avengers, if it happened… I think there’s a chance. It’s certainly our intention to use the same actors from film to film where we can."

Finally, the pres allayed fears of how the mighty Thor is going to be interpreted for the big screen.

He said:

“We’re doing the Jack Kirby/Stan Lee/Walt Simonson/J. Michael Straczynski Thor. We’re not doing the blow-the-dust-off-of-the-old-Norse-book-in-your-library Thor.

“In the Thor of the Marvel Universe, there’s a race called the Asgardians and we’re linked through this Tree of Life that we’re unaware of.

“It’s real science, but we don’t know about it yet. The Thor movie is about teaching people that.”

Excited for The Avengers? Or would you prefer to see the Justice League instead?

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You’re over the midweek slump, you’re probably delirious with fatigue and desperate for the weekend.

But don’t worry, you’re not quite seeing things. Yet. Because yes, the above actually is true.

The Hollywood Reporter has, well, reported that George Lucas is currently spending his time up at the Skywalker Ranch masterminding his next project.

It’s “super secret”. It hasn’t got a title. It’s a CGI musical.

Director Kevin Munroe, of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Heroes CGI update a few years back, is apparently set to direct. All that we know is that the film will somehow feature fairies.

That, and the script’s by Spiderwick Chronicles’ David Berenbaum.

So, after completing his Star Wars prequels, it seems Lucas is ready to get the cogs cranking on something entirely new.

But has the old boy cracked? Or are you interested to see what he can come up with post-Wars?

Total Film on Facebook

Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, had a yack with our friends over at SFX magazine this month and addressed a number of the studio’s projects.

Discussing the upcoming Avengers movie, he said that he hoped it would be more than just a "team superhero movie with a bunch of characters with powers".

Not only that, but he confirmed that Hulk will be making an appearance in the film, despite the character not being linked to the project before.

Could that also mean Edward Norton will be getting very angry in another Incredible Hulk movie? Sounds like it, with Feig saying that  it "would be post-Avengers, if it happened… I think there’s a chance. It’s certainly our intention to use the same actors from film to film where we can."

Finally, the pres allayed fears of how the mighty Thor is going to be interpreted for the big screen.

He said:

“We’re doing the Jack Kirby/Stan Lee/Walt Simonson/J. Michael Straczynski Thor. We’re not doing the blow-the-dust-off-of-the-old-Norse-book-in-your-library Thor.

“In the Thor of the Marvel Universe, there’s a race called the Asgardians and we’re linked through this Tree of Life that we’re unaware of.

“It’s real science, but we don’t know about it yet. The Thor movie is about teaching people that.”

Excited for The Avengers? Or would you prefer to see the Justice League instead?

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Tom Hanks loves his comedy.

You just have to glance at his CV to realise that. Well, now the funnyman is looking to channel that love into a film that traces the roots of Los Angeles’ famed Comedy Store.

Developing the project at his Playtone Productions offices, the flick will revolve around the life of Comedy Store founder Mitzi Shore. It’s based on the novel I’m Dying Up Here: Heartbreak and High Times in Stand-up Comedy’s Golden Era/.

Over the years, Mitzi’s venue hosted the likes of Woody Allen, Eddie Murphy and Jim Carrey.

The book is a factual account written by journalist William Knoedelseder. Back in the ’70s, he followed the comedians working at that time who were trying to make it in the industry, and who were outraged when the Store decided not to pay them.

No word yet if any of the above will be making an appearance, or if younger actors will be cast to play their roles (if they appear at all, that is).

But if anybody can twist an arm or two and make old animosities fade into the background, it’s Tom Hanks.

Reminded of Funny People at all? Or intrigued by the premise? Give us a shout…

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Chances are if you’re a fan of Poltergeist, you love a woman called Zelda Rubinstein.

Sadly, it falls to us to report that the scene-stealing psychic from Steven Spielberg’s seminal ‘80s classic has passed away.

Despite reports that she was on the mend earlier this month after a battle with ill health, Rubinstein was taken off life support and died naturally in her sleep at Barlow Respiratory Hospital, Los Angeles.

The diminutive actress’ agent Eric Stevens told  RadarOnline.com: "She had ongoing health issues and unfortunately they finally overtook her."

Meanwhile, a friend said: “She was very much at peace when she finally rested… The world has definitely lost someone very special.”

Rubinstein became a cult favourite among horror and sci-fi fans alike after her appearance in Poltergeist as psychic ghost whisperer Tangina. She went on to star in the film’s first sequel, as well as Sixteen Candles and National Lampoon’s Last Resort among others.

Here’s a little something in her honour:

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It’s been quite a few years since Mel Gibson and writer Shane Black worked together.

Their Lethal Weapon 5 never materialised, and Gibson went off for a few years to try out that directing thing.

But now that Gibson has officially put his acting hat back on after a break from standing in front of the camera (reportedly because he was “bored”), the pair are set to tackle a new spy thriller called Cold Warrior.

Black’s script follows a Cold War spy (Gibson) who forgoes his retirement to battle those evil Russians, who are up to no good.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was Black’s last gig, and that proved the guy still has an ear for dialogue and an eye for clever plotting. This sounds like a dream project to us.

Welcome back, guys.

Spies? Guns? Russians? How can you not be amped up for this? Explain below…

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Bill Paxton is in talks to replace Dennis Quaid in Steven Soderbergh’s Knockout, which starts shooting next week in Dublin.

Earlier this month, we raved about the cast list for Soderbergh’s espionage thriller.

"Michael Douglass!" we cried. "Ewan McGregor!" we yelped. "Michael Fassenbender!" we exclaimed. "…Gina Carano?" we wondered.

For what seems like his fifteenth film project in as many months, Soderbergh has gone scoured his phone book and gone for his usual blend of A-list and No-list.

The arrival of Paxton adds a certain gravitas to a film, the likes of which even a Dennis Quaid can’t muster - sure, he doesn’t bring in the housewives like Quaid, but the geek quotient in Paxton’s fanbase is not to be misunderestimated - nobody panics, plays the coward or pisses his pants like Paxton, and he can double cross the doublest of crosses.

Rounding out Soderbergh’s cast is Antonio Banderas as an International Agent caught up in Carano’s conspiracy.

All we need now is a random Matt Damon cameo, and this baby is ready to cook.

Looking forward to some Paxton pant-pissing action? Or yearning for Quaid? Let us know!