Source: Sci-Fi Wire
There are some interesting (and maybe, not so interesting) movies on the horizon for 2005 and early 2006.
Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins” explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight’s emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parent’s murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.
Batman Begins stars:
Morgan Freeman
Michael Caine
Liam Neeson
Gary Oldman
Christian Bale (Wayne/Batman)
Rutger Hauer
Ken Watanabe
Katie Holmes
Warner Brothers scheduled Release Date is June 15, 2005
The spring of 2005 blockbuster is no doubt going to be Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith by director George Lucas. Not to be out-done, George’s old partner and collaborator plans his own blockbuster this summer. Director Steven Spielberg will be releasing his vision of the H.G. Wells novel War of the Worlds. It is a remake of the classic 1953 film version that starred Gene Barry. In this updated version the Gene Barry role of Ray Ferrier is played by award-winning actor Tom Cruise. He is a working class man living in New Jersey. Ferrier is estranged from his family, his life isn’t in order, and he’s too caught up in himself. But the unthinkable and, ultimately, the unexpected happens to him in an extraordinary sense. His small town life, is shaken violently by the arrival of destructive intruders: Martians which have come en masse to destroy Earth. As they plow through the country in a wave of mass destruction and violence, Ray must come to the defense of his children. As the world must fend for itself by a new and very advanced enemy not of this world, it’s inhabitants must save humanity from a far greater force that threatens to destroy it.
War of the World stars:
Tom Cruise
Tim Robbins
Dakota Fanning
The Paramount/Dreamworks Pictures Release Date is June 29, 2005
The Wachowski Brothers are at the helm on this futuristic film and have assigned James McTeigue (Matrix assistant director) to make his directorial debut on V for Vendetta.
This film is set against the futuristic landscape of totalitarian Britain. The movies tells the story of a mild-mannered young woman named Evey who is rescued from a life-and-death situation by a masked vigilante known only as “V.” Incomparably charismatic and ferociously skilled in the art of combat and deception, V ignites a revolution when he detonates two London landmarks and takes over the government-controlled airwaves, urging his fellow citizens to rise up against tyranny and oppression. As Every uncovers the truth about V’s mysterious background, she also discovers the truth about herself – and emerges as his unlikely ally in the culmination of his plot to bring freedom and justice back to a society fraught with cruelty and corruption.
V for Vendetta stars:
Natalie Portman (Evey)
Hugo Weaving (V)
Stephen Rea
Rupert Graves
Stephen Fry
Warner Brothers scheduled Release Date is November 4, 2005
OTHER MOVIE NEWS:
David Duchovny of X-Files fame will return to the world of the paranormal in The Secret. Based on the 1999 Japanese film Himitsu, is set against an emotional triangle among a 16-year old girl, her mother and her father. After the mother is killed in an accident, her spirit inhabits the daughter’s body. Principal photography began this week in Montreal. Starring with Duchovny will be Lili Taylor and Olivia Thirlby. The release date is scheduled for sometime in 2006.
Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Stracznyski has announced that the proposed B5 movie entitled “The Memory of Shadows” has been put on indefinite hold and Straczynski stated that he has no idea when the film might happen.
Famke Janssen is reportedly returning to X-Men 3. She is expected to be back as Dark Phoenix following the storyline from the long-running comic book. Joss Whedon (of Serenity) is scheduled to take over the helm as director of this project.
Joss Whedon has been quite a busy man lately. He is reported to also be heading up the directing duties of the new Wonder Woman feature film. Joel Silver, the producer of Wonder Woman stated, “Joss has a fantastic take on the story, and if it works the way I think it’s going to work, it’s going to be fantastic.”
The great Alfred Hitchcock film The Birds is set for a remake. Universal Pictures, Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes Productions, Madalay Pictures, and producer Peter Gruber are in cooperation to film this classic. Like the original, the new version would be based on a short story by Daphne du Maurier about a series of mysterious bird attacks which terroize the inhabitants of a small seaside town. This film is in production and scheduled for release sometime in 2006. I highly recommend renting or buying the original Alfred Hithcock film that starred Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren and watch a master director at work.
Award-winning actor and director Denzel Washington has signed on to star in the time-travel thriller Deja Vu for director Tony Scott and producer Jerry Bruckeimer. The story centers around an FBI agent with the ability to travel back in time. Washington will play the agent, who falls in love with a woman destined to be murdered. No release date has been announced at this time.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire will be released on November 18, 2005 to both conventional and giant screen Imax theaters.