Imagi International, the same folks behind the production of “TMNT,” will bring “Tusker” to the big screen. “Tusker” is an animated tale about a young elephant’s journey of discovery, heroism and redemption, which intersects with and renews the life of a reclusive old elephant who has always been an outsider. Imagi will also be spearheading the release of “Astro Boy,” “Cat Tale” and “Gatchaman.”
Director Steven Spielberg is nearing the closing point for his deal between his DreamWorks and India’s Reliance ADA Group. It’s not yet clear if he will be able to retain the name DreamWorks, but that seems likely. Spielberg is currently still under contract with Paramount. He has several unfinished products with them and Universal Pictures, but it looks like he will be moving his offices over to Reliance, possibly by the end of 2008 or early 2009. At the moment, he is leaving Paramount dangling in the wind and hinting that he may stay with the company that Star Trek built. However, according to a piece in The Wall Street Journal, Spielberg’s Reliance deal could be completed by as early as this week.
Ben Stiller reveals some of the plot for his second Museum flick. “It’s a new museum,” Stiller said. “It’s the Smithsonian, so there are a bunch of different museums, which is cool. We get to go to the Air and Space Museum. There’s the National Art Gallery, so there are paintings and photographs that we go into. Amy Adams is playing a statue of Amelia Earhart that comes to life, so she’s running around with me the whole time,” Stiller added. “There’s a bad guy that Hank Azaria plays, an Egyptian pharaoh. Christopher Guest is playing Ivan the Terrible, which has been really fun.”
“Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian,” which opens in theaters across the globe on May 22, 2009, will also see a return of Ricky Gervais and Owen Wilson reprising their roles from the first film.
Production for “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” may be placed in a holding pattern for at least four weeks due to the injury the film’s lead star suffered during an automobile accident, according to TFW2005. Shia LaBeouf injured his left hand in the accident back on July 27 and had to undergo surgery. This delay isn’t expected to prevent the film opening for its regularly scheduled premiere set on June 26, 2009.
A one euro coin has turned up in Spain bearing the face of cartoon couch potato Homer Simpson instead of that of the country’s king, a sweetshop owner told Reuters.
Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto shared the stage at this years Star Trek Vegas CON 08 and talked a great deal about their roles as the iconic Mr. Spock, however, without giving any of the plot for the film away. Nimoy reprises the role he has made famous for over 40 years for the original television series and in six Star Trek motion pictures for the new J.J. Abrams reboot based on that original cast of characters. Quinto joined the cast as the young Mr. Spock. Nimoy stated that he has already seen a portion of the film and it is “looking quite wonderful.” Nimoy went on to say that Abrams “…can do the very very big stuff–ships, planets, and so forth–and and he can also very well do the personal stuff between people, and that is why I think this movie will do well. And that is why I think this movie is so special. A lot of directors can do one or the other, the big stuff or the personal stuff, he has done both in this movie.” Of the writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman Nimoy added, “The writing on this film is so human, so rich, and fun! A lot of humor in the movie.”
Quinto stated that he had many favorite moments during the filming. But mostly it was the realization that they were all involved in something very special and unique. “There are so many moments in this movie that I think hard-core fans are just going to love,” Quinto said. “If it is done the way I think it will be done, I think hearts will be in stomachs–it is this idea of seeing these characters in a different light. I have seen some of the movie. I have seen very rough sequences that J.J. showed me. The one where you first sort of see Enterprise and you first sort of see the convergence of the crew of the Enterprise is a pretty profound moment for me.”
To catch more comments from the stage of the CON between Leonard and Zachary go to TrekMovie.com.
Bernie Brillstein, pioneering manager and producer whose keen eye for talent led him to steer the careers of such stars and creatives as John Belushi and Jim Henson, died Thursday night of chronic pulmonary disease. He was 77. Brillstein also served as consultant for the early days of Saturday Night Live and was an executive producer for “Ghost Busters I & II.”
Execs for the ABC drama “Lost,” have quietly started renegotiations with stars Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly to beef up their paychecks, currently at about $150,000 per episode. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, word of the talks leaked out on Friday, prompting agents for some of the other regulars to call the studio to open their own renegotiations. The majority of the “Lost” supporting players are in the $80,000-90,000 per episode range.