Damon Houx
‘Hercules’ Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Is Coming in 2014 From Brett Ratner
There's a number of reasons to be excited for the making of and release of Brett Ratner's 'Hercules,' which will star Dwayne Johnson and looks to be a go project. Some reasons for being excited about this might be meaner than others, but regardless the news today is that the film has a release date: August 8, 2014.
‘Hot Tub Time Machine 2′ Being Talked Up
Though the film was not the runaway hit hoped for when released in 2010, 'Hot Tub Time Machine' has proved popular enough on home video that MGM is exploring making a sequel to the time-travel comedy. And right now they're talking to everyone but star John Cusack.
del Toro’s ‘Crimson Peak’ Could Star Emma Stone
Though 'Pacific Rim' is still months from being released, director Guillermo del Toro has already lined up his next project, 'Crimson Peak,' which returns him to his more horror-centric roots. And word is that Emma Stone might be the first actor to sign up for del Toro's haunted house movie.
‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ Trailer: The Japanese Version Brings Us “Back to Revenge”
It's hard to ignore that many of 2013's biggest movies could have come out in 2012, and would have if they weren't bumped around the schedule. Though 'Gangster Squad' came first and 'Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters' will be here shortly, we're most curious about 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' which was scheduled for last June, but doesn't come out until this March. Now there's a new international TV spot, and we're still curious.
‘Ben-Hur’ Remake in the Works
By the end of the 1950's, the studio system had been rocked by television, and MGM was on the ropes fiscally. They put a lot of stock in 1959's 'Ben-Hur,' which paid off big time. 'Ben-Hur' became one of their biggest hits (adjusted for inflation it's number thirteen on the all time list), and won eleven Oscars. Now that MGM is successful after 'Skyfall,' they're going to return to 'Ben-Hur' and remake it.
‘A Good Day to Die Hard’ Will be R-Rated
Though the film isn't hitting screens during the four-quadrant friendly summer season, there was concern that 'A Good Day to Die Hard' might stay with the PG-13 rating of its predecessor. But there's no "Yipee-kay-yay, Mister Falcon" for this John McClane, as it turns out the film is R-rated.
‘Star Wars’ News: White House Nixes Death Star Plans
For whatever reason, 'Star Wars' fans petitioned the White House wanting the United States to make a Death Star. That the country our the government has no interest in making one is no surprise. But the Chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget Paul Shawcross responded to the petition in the nerdiest way possible.
‘Pirates of the Caribbean 5′ Hires a Writer, Is Inevitable
Even though the fourth film in the franchise, 'Pirates of Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,' was the lowest grossing of the franchise domestically, that film - boosted by 3D - managed to make over a billion dollars worldwide. So that a writer has been hired to write 'Pirates of the Caribbean 5' should be no surprise.
‘Jurassic Park 4′ Has a Release Date (but No Director)
With Steven Spielberg's 'Robopocalypse' put on temporary hold, perhaps Universal saw a hole in the 2014 schedule, or perhaps they're just ready to make more dinosaur movies. We say that because -- even though there's no director attached -- Universal has announced that 'Jurassic Park 4' will be hitting theaters June 13, 2014.
’21 & Over’ Trailer: Barely Legal Hijinks Abound
Often the genealogy of a movie is easy to trace. A film like '21 & Over' follows in the direct footsteps of last year's 'Project X,' which was a minor hit for Warner Brothers, which itself was done as a teenaged version of 'The Hangover.' Now there's a new trailer for '21 & Over' and it looks very familiar.