Looking back at the news of note from past week, we have updates on the Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises, news on ABC’s S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show, a confirmation for a harder edged Die Hard just in time for Valentine’s Day, confirmation of five of the Classic Doctors teaming up for Doctor Who‘s 50th Anniversary, plus new rumors regarding the Muppets sequel and Michael Bay’s dreaded big screen reboot of our beloved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Collider got the early word that the Die Hard franchise would return to it edgier roots in an R-rated installment with A Good Day To Die Hard. The last film in the series released in 2007 was PG-13 and had toned action and a forced a quick edit before John McClane could finish his catchphrase “Yippee Ki Yay Motherfucker.” As confirmed by this TV spot that debuted last night, we can look forward to more violence and full foul mouthery as John McClane hits Moscow with his grown up son played by Jai Courtney. (SOURCE: Collider)
The fifth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series has nabbed a screenwriter. Disney announced that Jeff Nathanson, who penned Catch Me if You Can, will write the next high seas adventure for Captain Jack Sparrow. Jerry Bruckheimer is returning as uber-producer and Johnny Depp is expected to to set sail again in the lead role. They would have to put in a conscious effort to turn out anything worse than 2011’s On Strange Tides. (SOURCE: Variety)
Jurassic Park‘s 20th Anniversary will be commemorated with a one week re-release in April on IMAX 3D screens. In addition, following years of script delays Universal Pictures announced they are finally moving forward on Jurassic Park 4, which is set to be shot in 3D with a June 13, 2014 release. Steven Spielberg, who helmed the first two films, will once again produce, but a new director has yet to be announced. The updated screenplay comes from Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who wrote 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes. (SOURCE: Entertainment Weekly)
While the fanboy ire regarding Michael Bay’s upcoming big screen reboot of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles may have subsided over the last few months, it may be ready to explode once again. Since it seems the intention of the latest version of the iconic superheroes is to excise the Mutant and Teenage aspects of the characters and in fact make them aliens, fans have not been singing its praises. You can read up on that controversy here. The latest word points to principal photography on the film commencing in New York City in April. (SOURCE: Bleeding Cool)
According to ABC’s President Paul Lee, the network’s upcoming Joss Whedon penned & produced S.H.I.E.L.D TV show will indeed be set after the events of The Avengers. “There is no question that it is part of the Marvel Universe. In fact, the story takes place after the battle for New York,” he told IGN. Exactly how Clark Gregg, returning as the popular Agent Coulson, fits into this timeline has yet to be revealed. The pilot starts shooting next week, and has not been confirmed for a series pick-up for next fall, though who are we kidding how that is going to turn out? (SOURCE: IGN)
Although just about everything regarding the big Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special set to air on November 23rd is being kept under the heaviest of lock and key, there has been confirmation this week that five of the Doctors will indeed team up for an adventure. Doctors Four through Eight, portrayed by the five remaining living actors who played iconic Time Lord during the series’ Classic run (Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann), will team up for The Light at the End, a tow-hour 50th Anniversary radio play. Companions and other special guests are also expected to appear. (SOURCE: Blastr)
In casting news that few would argue about if it comes true, Tina Fey is in talks to join Ricky Gervais and Ty Burrell on the human side of the cast of the sequel to 2011’s hit revival The Muppets. (SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter)
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