Author: dpugh007

It’s no secret that Sony has been struggling with its Spider-Man franchise. Anyone can see the Amazing Spider-Man movies haven’t gained much traction with fans, and plans for Venom, Sinister Six, and a female-led movie have looked more like desperate attempts at reinvention than natural progressions of a healthy franchise.

But there’s even more where that came from, apparently. In its attempts to rejuvenate the brand, Sony is also developing an animated Spider-Man comedy from Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Moreover, at various points, it’s also considered bringing back Sam Raimi or teaming up with Marvel Studios. Hit the jump for more on the Spider-Man animated comedy, the scrapped Marvel crossover, and more. 

The new information comes to us via the massive email hack Sony suffered in late November. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, messages leaked by hackers revealed conversations between execs at Sony and other studios about the future of Spidey.

As it turns out, those rumors about Sony possibly returning or lending Spider-Man to Marvel weren’t that far off. In one email, Sony’s motion picture chief Amy Pascal says Marvel Studios wanted to include Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War. In another, Sony Pictures president Doug Belgrad discusses the potential for a new Spider-Man trilogy produced by Marvel, with creative control remaining with Sony.

Although Spider-Man is one of Marvel Comics’ most iconic heroes, Marvel licensed Spider-Man rights to Sony years ago. Fans have been pushing for Sony to return those rights to Marvel in recent months — especially in light of Marvel’s plans to adapt the Civil War storyline from the comics, which features Spider-Man in a prominent role.

However, the Wall Street Journal also reports the Sony / Marvel talks eventually fell apart, so don’t count on a Spidey / Avengers crossover in the near future. Instead, their sources say Sony is plowing ahead with other attempts to rejuvenate the franchise. Among other things, the studio has tried to bring back Raimi (who directed the original Spider-Man movies) to return as a director or a producer.

But the most interesting tidbit is that Sony is considering an animated Spider-Man comedy produced by Lord and Miller. The duo have revealed a knack for turning bad-on-paper ideas into box office gold, and they already have a relationship with Sony thanks to their work on Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, 21 Jump Street, and 22 Jump Street. If nothing else, such a project would bring a lot of buzz to Sony’s Spider-Man franchise.

That project and others, including the previously announced Sinister Six, Venom, and unnamed female character spinoffs, will be discussed at a summit for executives in January.

The post Sony Leak Reveals Studio Considering Lord/Miller Spider-Man Comedy, Marvel Crossover appeared first on /Film.

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Does Idris Elba really want out of his Marvel contract? Want to see a 1989 featurette about the Tim Burton Batman movie? How about Kevin Smith interviewing Stan Lee about the history of Marvel Comics? When can you first see the Batkid documentary? Who is the latest actress to throw her hat into the ring to play a Marvel superhero? What happened to the person who was the leading candidate for Supergirl? Read about all this in today’s Superhero Bits.

Be on the lookout for this Dave Perillo Batman for the French Paper Art Club.

Idris Elba told The Daily Beast sloppy journalism is to blame for the rumors he wasn’t happy working with Marvel.

Here’s the Firestorm appearance from tonight‘s episode of The Flash, if you’d like it spoiled.

If you wanted to hear more about the big Flash vs Arrow crossover, there’s a video of the cast and crew talking about it.

Here’s a vintage video featurette about the 1989 Batman. Thanks to 1989Batman via First Showing.

Geoff Johns revealed a Teen Titans pilot will finally shoot next year.

The Batkid documentary will have its world premiere at Slamdance.

Clark Gregg told ComicBook he knows lawyers make it impossible, but he wants Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D to cross over with everything.

Continue Reading Superhero Bits >>

Due to the amount of graphics and images included in Superhero Bits, we have to split this post over THREE pages. Click the link above to continue to the second page of Superhero Bits.

The post Superhero Bits: Batman, The Flash, Guardians of the Galaxy, Stan Lee, Batkid, Deadshot appeared first on /Film.

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Page 2 is a compilation of stories and news tidbits, which for whatever reason, didn’t make the front page of /Film. After the jump we’ve included 36 different items, fun images, videos, casting tidbits, articles of interest and more. It’s like a mystery grab bag of movie web related goodness.

Header Photo: Either Bootleggers aren’t trying or they’re all in on the joke

Leaked: The Nightmare Email Drama Behind Sony’s Steve Jobs Disaster

The 20 Worst Films Of 2014

Grey Matter Art Announces Their Biggest License To Date “The Terminator” & “Terminator2: Judgement Day” By Gabz

How Fast is the Millennium Falcon? A Thought Experiment.

11 Actors Who’ve Played Santa Claus Like a Pro

“Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” By Berkay Daglar

12 TV Shows We Gave Up On In 2014

The Valley Plays Itself Paul Thomas Anderson’s Los Angeles

Star Wars Awakening T-Shirt

WHEN AXEL ROSE: “BEVERLY HILLS COP” AT 30

This Vintage Paramount Pictures Promo Video Teases ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ and ‘Hook’ Before They Even Had Titles

Timeline: How Sony’s Two Weeks of Hacker Hell Unfolded

‘Hall of Heroes’, Illustrations of 80 Famous Female Characters From Films and Television

The Top 10 Christmas Movies as voted for by the UK public. Do you agree?

Watch: Thelma Schoonmaker Talks Editing ‘Goodfellas‘ And More In Vintage 17-Minute Interview

7 Times Great Trailers Tricked Us Into Watching Terrible Movies

Continue Reading Page 2 >>

The post Page 2: Breaking Bad, Terminator, Star Wars, Bond, Alien, Haunted Mansion, RoboCop, LotR appeared first on /Film.

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Sony Pictures has acquired an untitled top secret project from JJ Abrams‘ Bad Robot and director Chris Alender. Lionsgate and STX Entertainment were bidding for the rights but Sony ended up as the winner. Deadline reports that Sony production president Michael De Luca won the bidding war with “aggressive progress to production language” written in as part of the deal — meaning it will probably happen, and quickly.

You might not recognize the name Chris Alender, because the Florida State University Film School graduate has not yet directed a feature. While this will be his feature film debut, Alender is very accomplished. The Atlanta native founded Soapbox Films, a full-service production facility specializing in original content and marketing — the company was notably responsible for relaunching The Muppets on the internet with a series of viral YouTube videos.

After the jump, you can find out more about the Chris Alender Mystery Bad Robot Project and watch a five minute short film/music video titled Eye Of The Storm which Alender directed a few years back and got him meetings for features all around Hollywood.

Fleming claims that the mystery Bad Robot project will have a “Cloverfield feel and a contained budget and that it involves aliens. Cloverfield launched Matt Reeves and Abrams is hoping to do the same with Alender.”

The project was developed in house at Bad Robot, with several drafts written, the latest by Justin Doble (who served as Matt Reeves assistant on Cloverfield, become a script coordinator on Fringe and a writer on the short lived Bad Robot tv series Almost Human). Bad Robot has a production deal with Paramount, but the studio wasn’t moving fast enough on the project so Abrams went elsewhere. In addition to a first draft, Alender cut together a sizzle reel and digital look book and even created a five-minute teaser scene that “was an action-heavy precursor to this film.”

Here is Chris Alender’s short film/music video Eye of the Storm:

EYE OF THE STORM by Lovett

EYE OF THE STORM by Lovett
Directed by Christopher Alender
Produced by Kris Eber for Soapbox Films
Cinematography by Craig Kief
Visual Effects by Wes Ball
From the album HIGHWAY COLLECTION by Lovett

The post Sony Buys Chris Alender’s Mystery Bad Robot Project, Watch His Short Film appeared first on /Film.

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Even before a single image is captured, the Aaron Sorkin-written, Danny Boyle-directed Steve Jobs biopic has featured plenty of drama. It changed studios, had a leading man exit, and several A-list actresses pass on some choice roles. As it stands now, Universal has the rights to the film, Michael Fassbender will play Jobs and Seth Rogen is his Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak.

The latest actor to potentially join the mix is Jeff Daniels. He’s being tapped to play former Apple CEO John Sculley and being as he’s already in good with Sorkin having starred on three seasons of The Newsroom, he certainly seems like a good fit. Read more about Jeff Daniels joining the Aaron Sorkin Steve Jobs movie cast

The Wrap broke the news of this potential casting. “While Daniels does not have an official offer yet,” they write, “one is expected to materialize soon, as he’s considered Boyle’s top choice for the key supporting role.”

Sculley was the CEO of Apple from 1983 to 1993 and, in that time, sales at the company increased from $800 million to $8 billion. He and Jobs were a perfect one-two punch, with Jobs providing the products and Sculley marketing them to the masses. Eventually, that lead to a power struggle for the company, which you’d think would be part of the movie.

In the other Jobs movie, Matthew Modine played Sculley and his and Jobs’ differences were definitely more on display than their friendship. With Sorkin’s unique structure in this film, it could go either way though as he’d probably be more on the sidelines than in the boardrooms.

Though this film has gone through some very public behind the scenes issues, I’m still very curious and excited about it. Sorkin’s words, Boyle’s visuals and the tale of a technology titan? It’s a great, great mix and every actor they’re courting – Daniels included – will just make the movie better.

What do you think about Jeff Daniels joining the film?

The post Aaron Sorkin Alum Jeff Daniels Up for Role in Steve Jobs Biopic appeared first on /Film.

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