Underworld: Awakening Confirmed For IMAX Day-And-Date Release

Few of us probably expected to still be talking about the Underworld series nearly a decade after Len Wiseman and Kate Beckinsale collaborated on the first vampire-versus-werewolf thriller in 2003. But with subsequent sequels, the gothic action franchise has found ways to improve the presentation, even as they’ve continuously recycled story elements. And now Underworld: Awakening appears ready to take the story to yet another level.

The fourth Underworld film will be released on IMAX by Sony Picture’s Entertainment as a day-and-date release on January 20, 2012. It’s the first installment in the series to be screened in IMAX, as well as the first to screen in 3D. And as Will points out, the latest trailer appears to go out of its way to utilize the technology by throwing as much as it can off the screen at its audience.

"Underworld is one of Screen Gems' most important franchises, so it's important to us to present the movie as its fans want to see it: on the IMAX screen," Rory Bruer, president of Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures Releasing, said to the Hollywood Reporter.

Horror and IMAX appear to be going hand in hand lately, with the fifth Final Destination also looming large (and earning $41.8 million domestically in the process). Now we need to see how Awakening co-directors Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein take advantage of the silver screen real estate the IMAX format provides them. Kate Beckinsale returns as Selene, and will be paired with a daughter (India Eisley) in a mission to take down BioCom before they can manufacture a breed of super-powered Lycans.

Underworld: Awakening Confirmed For IMAX Day-And-Date Release

Few of us probably expected to still be talking about the Underworld series nearly a decade after Len Wiseman and Kate Beckinsale collaborated on the first vampire-versus-werewolf thriller in 2003. But with subsequent sequels, the gothic action franchise has found ways to improve the presentation, even as they’ve continuously recycled story elements. And now Underworld: Awakening appears ready to take the story to yet another level.

The fourth Underworld film will be released on IMAX by Sony Picture’s Entertainment as a day-and-date release on January 20, 2012. It’s the first installment in the series to be screened in IMAX, as well as the first to screen in 3D. And as Will points out, the latest trailer appears to go out of its way to utilize the technology by throwing as much as it can off the screen at its audience.

"Underworld is one of Screen Gems' most important franchises, so it's important to us to present the movie as its fans want to see it: on the IMAX screen," Rory Bruer, president of Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures Releasing, said to the Hollywood Reporter.

Horror and IMAX appear to be going hand in hand lately, with the fifth Final Destination also looming large (and earning $41.8 million domestically in the process). Now we need to see how Awakening co-directors Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein take advantage of the silver screen real estate the IMAX format provides them. Kate Beckinsale returns as Selene, and will be paired with a daughter (India Eisley) in a mission to take down BioCom before they can manufacture a breed of super-powered Lycans.

Bond 23 Will Replace India With South Africa For Railroad Stunt Sequence

The railway system in India has been made famous by movies like The Darjeeling Limited and Slumdog Millionaire, and is well known for two things: being massive, and being massively complicated and overcrowded. The production team on the upcoming James Bond movie wanted to take advantage of that icon by shooting an extended action sequences on real Indian railroads, and for a while, negotiations between a local production company, the government agencies responsible for the railroad, and the American producers of the film seemed to be going smoothly. But earlier this month we reported that the production was having trouble getting approval for one of the complicated stunts they wanted to pull off on the railways, and now the deal with the Indian railways appears to be dead entirely.

The Bond fansite MI 6 picked up on a report in The Times of India that says the deal has fallen apart between the production company and Indian Railways. The Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi told the Times, "While the Bond franchise is important for us, so is the safety of people. God forbid if something untoward happened, people would not stop blaming us." The production will now move to South Africa, which had been long considered as a potential replacement for India, to the point that publicists for the South African film industry were openly calling for the production to move over there "whenever [James Bond] decides to visit us."

While we all know that movie magic can transform pretty much any place into something else, you have to imagine that Bond 23 will lose a little something it would have gotten from the real India locations. Then again, the action in Bond movies, especially the recent ones starring Daniel Craig, tends to move so quickly you don't really know what's happening anyway. The movie, finally going into production after a long delay, is set for a November 9 release next year.

Bond 23 Will Replace India With South Africa For Railroad Stunt Sequence

The railway system in India has been made famous by movies like The Darjeeling Limited and Slumdog Millionaire, and is well known for two things: being massive, and being massively complicated and overcrowded. The production team on the upcoming James Bond movie wanted to take advantage of that icon by shooting an extended action sequences on real Indian railroads, and for a while, negotiations between a local production company, the government agencies responsible for the railroad, and the American producers of the film seemed to be going smoothly. But earlier this month we reported that the production was having trouble getting approval for one of the complicated stunts they wanted to pull off on the railways, and now the deal with the Indian railways appears to be dead entirely.

The Bond fansite MI 6 picked up on a report in The Times of India that says the deal has fallen apart between the production company and Indian Railways. The Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi told the Times, "While the Bond franchise is important for us, so is the safety of people. God forbid if something untoward happened, people would not stop blaming us." The production will now move to South Africa, which had been long considered as a potential replacement for India, to the point that publicists for the South African film industry were openly calling for the production to move over there "whenever [James Bond] decides to visit us."

While we all know that movie magic can transform pretty much any place into something else, you have to imagine that Bond 23 will lose a little something it would have gotten from the real India locations. Then again, the action in Bond movies, especially the recent ones starring Daniel Craig, tends to move so quickly you don't really know what's happening anyway. The movie, finally going into production after a long delay, is set for a November 9 release next year.

Kevin Costner Forced To Back Out Of Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained

In July it was reported that Kevin Costner had joined the cast of Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. While Costner has always been known to play the good guy, the role would have had him exploring new territory as Ace Woody, a sadistic asshole who trains slaves to fight. Sadly it seems that it was not meant to be.

Variety reporter Justin Kroll sent out a Tweet earlier tonight reporting that Costner will no longer be starring in Tarantino's new film. While details are slim - there is a 140 character limit, after all - Kroll says that the reason behind the move is scheduling conflicts. The movie is set to star Jaimie Foxx as the titular Django, a slave who manages to escape from his evil owner, a man named Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). After making his getaway, Django teams up with a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) who agrees to help Django go back to the plantation and rescue his wife. The project also stars Samuel L. Jackson as Stephen, a house slave loyal to Candie, and Gerald McRaney, in an unspecified role. Production is scheduled to begin in November and the Weinstein Company has announced that the movie will be released on December 25, 2012.

It's a shame that Costner isn't doing this project. He has previously shown a taste for westerns (see: Wyatt Earp and Open Range) and it would have been nice to see him stretch himself as a performer. The actor does have a full upcoming slate at the moment, but it would have been great to see what Tarantino could do with him. So if Costner is no longer available, who would you like to see play the role of Ace Woody? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Kevin Costner Forced To Back Out Of Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained

In July it was reported that Kevin Costner had joined the cast of Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. While Costner has always been known to play the good guy, the role would have had him exploring new territory as Ace Woody, a sadistic asshole who trains slaves to fight. Sadly it seems that it was not meant to be.

Variety reporter Justin Kroll sent out a Tweet earlier tonight reporting that Costner will no longer be starring in Tarantino's new film. While details are slim - there is a 140 character limit, after all - Kroll says that the reason behind the move is scheduling conflicts. The movie is set to star Jaimie Foxx as the titular Django, a slave who manages to escape from his evil owner, a man named Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). After making his getaway, Django teams up with a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) who agrees to help Django go back to the plantation and rescue his wife. The project also stars Samuel L. Jackson as Stephen, a house slave loyal to Candie, and Gerald McRaney, in an unspecified role. Production is scheduled to begin in November and the Weinstein Company has announced that the movie will be released on December 25, 2012.

It's a shame that Costner isn't doing this project. He has previously shown a taste for westerns (see: Wyatt Earp and Open Range) and it would have been nice to see him stretch himself as a performer. The actor does have a full upcoming slate at the moment, but it would have been great to see what Tarantino could do with him. So if Costner is no longer available, who would you like to see play the role of Ace Woody? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Ashley Bell Says She's Signed On For The Last Exorcism Sequel

This is why horror producers should avoid adjectives like “last” or “final” in the titles of their films. While promoting the post-apocalyptic thriller The Day at the Toronto International Film Festival, Ashley Bell, star of last summer’s The Last Exorcism, told Bloody Disgusting that she just agreed to return for a sequel.

"It's The Last Exorcism For Realsies You Guys. That's the full title," Bell said to the site, beating all of us to the obvious (yet still funny) joke.

It’s hard to discuss where a Last Exorcism sequel could go without spoiling the end of the first one, so let’s just keep it to this. Bell will return as Nell Sweetzer, naïve daughter of a Louisiana country man who may be possessed by the Devil. It’s unclear whether original director Daniel Stamm will return, or if they’ll invite the charismatic Patrick Fabian back. (His skeptical preacher, Cotton Marcus, was a highlight of the first film.) We first learned of the sequel last month, but Bell was short on specifics, telling BD that she hasn’t seen or heard any details, and even if she knew, she’s "sworn to secrecy."

Stamm’s original Exorcism was a late-summer hit, earning $41 million against an estimated $1.8M production budget. Where do you think a new Exorcism could go? There’s always the prequel route, though given Nell’s age in the story, it would be hard for Bell to play much younger. Other found-footage movies like The Blair Witch Project have tried to extend their one-trick premise for the benefit of a sequel. We can only hope a second Last Exorcism (for realsies this time) has better luck.

Ashley Bell Says She's Signed On For The Last Exorcism Sequel

This is why horror producers should avoid adjectives like “last” or “final” in the titles of their films. While promoting the post-apocalyptic thriller The Day at the Toronto International Film Festival, Ashley Bell, star of last summer’s The Last Exorcism, told Bloody Disgusting that she just agreed to return for a sequel.

"It's The Last Exorcism For Realsies You Guys. That's the full title," Bell said to the site, beating all of us to the obvious (yet still funny) joke.

It’s hard to discuss where a Last Exorcism sequel could go without spoiling the end of the first one, so let’s just keep it to this. Bell will return as Nell Sweetzer, naïve daughter of a Louisiana country man who may be possessed by the Devil. It’s unclear whether original director Daniel Stamm will return, or if they’ll invite the charismatic Patrick Fabian back. (His skeptical preacher, Cotton Marcus, was a highlight of the first film.) We first learned of the sequel last month, but Bell was short on specifics, telling BD that she hasn’t seen or heard any details, and even if she knew, she’s "sworn to secrecy."

Stamm’s original Exorcism was a late-summer hit, earning $41 million against an estimated $1.8M production budget. Where do you think a new Exorcism could go? There’s always the prequel route, though given Nell’s age in the story, it would be hard for Bell to play much younger. Other found-footage movies like The Blair Witch Project have tried to extend their one-trick premise for the benefit of a sequel. We can only hope a second Last Exorcism (for realsies this time) has better luck.

Christian Bale Chinese Epic Retitled The Flowers of War

Clearly not satisfied just being in American films that dominate the box office, Christian Bale is now working to secure huge U.S. returns for a Chinese production. The L.A. Times is reporting that attendees of the Toronto International Film Festival were given a 20-minute glimpse of The Flowers of War (formerly called Heroes of Nanking), a historical Chinese epic starring Bale and directed by Zhang Yimou (Hero, House of Flying Daggers). The reason for the name change is not disclosed, but perhaps the hope was the more violent-sounding title would attract American audiences. I have to say if there is one director who may be able to pull off a financial win stateside for a Chinese film, it would be Yimou. Hero managed an impressive $53 million at the box office here in the U.S., and deservedly so.

The plot of The Flowers of War will center on a foreign mortician who comes to China in 1937 to bury a priest. He has the misfortune of being there just as Japanese forces are taking over the capital and epic battles rage all around him. The late priest’s cathedral was also a school for girls in which the mortician must now pose as a priest to avoid incarceration by the advancing Japanese army. But he is forced to take a more active role in the conflict when the soldiers demand the use of the young female students as “entertainment” for their troops. There seem to be familiar Chinese themes at play within this plot, namely the demonizing of the Japanese. Other recent films such as Legend of the Fist and the Ip Man, films, all starring Donnie Yen, have also examined this volatile historical relationship.

But let’s face it; it’s not going to be the historical context of the film that wins over blockbuster-addicted American audiences. Luckily, The Flowers of War has a budget close to $100 million dollars and is said to feature some truly stunning battle sequences. I for one hope these sequences are more akin to high-octane, unhinged battles in Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins than the more colorful metaphoric ballets of Yimou’s House of Flying Daggers. Granted, I understand we’re talking about vastly different time periods than the 20th century setting of The Flowers of War, but I’m referring more to tone than anything else.

The L.A. Times article notes that the reaction to the film’s footage was enthusiastic, but not overwhelming. As a result, many questions will arise as to whether this risky undertaking will bear fruit. But again, I believe that if Yimou can produce box office triumph selling Jet Li to American audiences in Hero, he should have no trouble drawing Batman fans to theaters to watch Christian Bale in a new adventure film regardless of its nationality.

Christian Bale Chinese Epic Retitled The Flowers of War

Clearly not satisfied just being in American films that dominate the box office, Christian Bale is now working to secure huge U.S. returns for a Chinese production. The L.A. Times is reporting that attendees of the Toronto International Film Festival were given a 20-minute glimpse of The Flowers of War (formerly called Heroes of Nanking), a historical Chinese epic starring Bale and directed by Zhang Yimou (Hero, House of Flying Daggers). The reason for the name change is not disclosed, but perhaps the hope was the more violent-sounding title would attract American audiences. I have to say if there is one director who may be able to pull off a financial win stateside for a Chinese film, it would be Yimou. Hero managed an impressive $53 million at the box office here in the U.S., and deservedly so.

The plot of The Flowers of War will center on a foreign mortician who comes to China in 1937 to bury a priest. He has the misfortune of being there just as Japanese forces are taking over the capital and epic battles rage all around him. The late priest’s cathedral was also a school for girls in which the mortician must now pose as a priest to avoid incarceration by the advancing Japanese army. But he is forced to take a more active role in the conflict when the soldiers demand the use of the young female students as “entertainment” for their troops. There seem to be familiar Chinese themes at play within this plot, namely the demonizing of the Japanese. Other recent films such as Legend of the Fist and the Ip Man, films, all starring Donnie Yen, have also examined this volatile historical relationship.

But let’s face it; it’s not going to be the historical context of the film that wins over blockbuster-addicted American audiences. Luckily, The Flowers of War has a budget close to $100 million dollars and is said to feature some truly stunning battle sequences. I for one hope these sequences are more akin to high-octane, unhinged battles in Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins than the more colorful metaphoric ballets of Yimou’s House of Flying Daggers. Granted, I understand we’re talking about vastly different time periods than the 20th century setting of The Flowers of War, but I’m referring more to tone than anything else.

The L.A. Times article notes that the reaction to the film’s footage was enthusiastic, but not overwhelming. As a result, many questions will arise as to whether this risky undertaking will bear fruit. But again, I believe that if Yimou can produce box office triumph selling Jet Li to American audiences in Hero, he should have no trouble drawing Batman fans to theaters to watch Christian Bale in a new adventure film regardless of its nationality.