A Little Push Movie News Report 06.20.09

Posted by Rick Tym on 06.20.2009

411's Rick Tym discusses Nolan not returning to the Batman franchise, the delay of World War Z, new trailers for Zombieland and 2012, John Carpenter's latest film The Ward and more!

Say It Ain't So, Chris!

This week the Push saw rumors circulating the web about Christopher Nolan possibly not returning to helm the next Batman film. How could I not comment on them? That's how I got this gig in the first place—my sample column was all things Batman, and it even included the mantra "In Nolan we trust." Don't make me rue the day, Mr. Nolan!

Ah, just kidding. You gave us The Dark Knight, and I for one am really looking forward to Inception. You can do whatever the hell you want to do. Not like you need the Push to validate that. Still…COME BACK!!!


Was this the beginning of the premature end?
And that's the whole problem with internet rumors, isn't it? Here we are talking about this bullpucky and his next non-Batman flick is still in pre-production. Everybody knows the drill; Nolan does the BatFlick, then he does the non-blockbustery movie. Wash, rinse, repeat. That's how he is. So while I won't get too worried just yet, I will share a blurb or two from earlier this week that caused all the hubbub (which, admittedly, seems to exist largely in my head). Taken straight from the movie news section right here at 411mania.com, not doubt lifted from other internet sources, here's the first:

According to Batman on Film, it will apparently take a lot of effort for Warner Bros. to get Christopher Nolan to do a third Batman film. The site reports that the death of Heath Ledger rocked Nolan, and since the Joker was to be the villain in the third film as well, Nolan felt that The Dark Knight would be all for himself and Batman on film. Warner Bros. has apparently already put together a list of possible replacements for Nolan just in case Nolan doesn't return. Some have reported that Nolan, along with Jonathan Nolan and David Goyer, are currently developing ideas for another film, but if that even if that were to happen, it would not hit the big screen until 2012 at the earliest, with 2013 being more realistic.

And then there's this one, which involved writer David S. Goyer:

IGN.com recently spoke with David Goyer about his new TV series FlashForward, and discussion of Batman 3 came up. Here is what he had to say about Christopher Nolan possibly returning…

"Well, I believe he said if we can find the story that he's happy with, that he would return. And unfortunately, respecting Chris… You know, talk to him after he finishes Inception, which he's shooting right now. That just started shooting."

And exactly how much thought has been given to the story? Goyer responded…

"You know, we've been talking."

That second one is a bit too ominous to be taken seriously. In fact one of the commenters here at 411 called it "non-news" and I think that's pretty apt. So why am I mentioning it? Because I have to admit the "And unfortunately, respecting Chris…" part peaked my curiosity. Does "unfortunately" mean that come hell or high water, the powers that be will be moving forward regardless of Nolan's involvement? Well, duh. Of course they would if they had to—they'll pump that cash cow until there's nothing but dust coming out of its udders and you can bet your sweet ass that Goyer will be in tow. Still, I have faith (but will not say "I trust") that Warner Bros. realizes the success of The Dark Knight was directly related to the story told onscreen as well as the great turn by Heath Ledger as the Joker. It was quality, folks, and for that reason alone I'd be willing to be my sweet ass that Warner will wait, even if it takes until 2012 or 2013 for the film to see the dark of theaters. I don't think we're headed for nipples on suits and bad Freezie Pop jokes just yet.


Here's an idea…
In Nolan, I trust. The Push thinks that the director will put his time and thoughts into Inception as a way to recharge his Batman batteries. Perhaps working on a non-DC film will be just what he needs to make peace with the unfortunate passing of Ledger and then he can come back to the Dark Knight round table prepared to give it a go. The picture above represents what I think would be a good way to go about reintroducing the Joker to the masses, because I don't think that recasting the role is the travesty many have made it out to be.

It's quite simple, really. Bring in Harley Quinn as a nemesis, perhaps someone who is in a sick way vying for Batman's affections opposite Catwoman while continuing the Joker's work. All three characters can operate on the fringes of Gotham in the darkness, Catwoman using the chaos of a city without its protector to practice her thievery, while Harley helps the chaos erupt at the behest of her mentor who is serving time in Arkham Asylum. The Joker can taunt the Bat through his protégé and even lure him into Arkham, where he would unwittingly cause the pandemonium that would lead to the Joker's escape. The first half of the film would only show glimpses of the Clown Prince of Crime in the shadows, revealing himself ever so slowly in bits and pieces that would allow the audience to get used to the idea of someone else inhabiting his purple shoes. There's no real need (at least, not yet) to bring Two-Face back from the dead, except maybe as a cliffhanger to the third film.

A full-on psychotic female villain. A Joker looming in the darkness until he reveals the strings that he pulls via his apprentice, laughing all the while. A forbidden love with a thief in the night, and Batman's eventual tired rejection of the possibility of any romantic relationship as he ascends back into the good graces of the very city that had once rejected its savior. This is a tale worth telling, and the best part is that it's only one of many that can be told. The Joker has had many transformations over the years, and as long as it's done right, I don't think audiences would be opposed to seeing another.

And you wouldn't even need Eddie Murphy as the Riddler.


Imagine that!

Z (Not to Be Confused With V) Delayed

World War Z, that is. Director Marc Foster (Quantum of Solace, Monster's Ball) has indicated that the adaptation is still a bit of a ways off, citing the need for "a lot" of script development before production can begin. In the meantime he had his sights set on Disconnect, a film about new technologies and how they affect personal relationships, which is further along in the development process and ready to begin filming.


Don't worry. It'll be worth the wait—hopefully.
At first the Push was ready to spout nothing but optimism concerning this blurb. It'll be worth the wait, I thought to myself. They're doing the right thing; instead of rushing the production, they're actually trying to treat the property with some respect, I mused. But something about this news makes me slightly uneasy. A quick IMDB search tells me that J. Michael Straczynski is the writer on the project. The guy wrote Changeling, so he's okay in my book. He has also written a lot for television on shows like Babylon 5, Murder She Wrote, and…wait for it…He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and freakin' She-Ra: Princess of Power! If you think I'm being sarcastic, I'm not. Those two cartoons hold a special place in my childhood memories. Bring it on, Mr. Straczynski!

Still, the book by Max Brooks can be a difficult thing to adapt…except when you consider the fact that the entire novel consists of interviews with various people who survived the zombie semi-apocalypse. You know, interviews. Where they spoke in their own words. Unless they're really monkeying with this thing, it shouldn't be that hard to put the pen to the paper (or the fingers to the keyboard) to get a decent script hammered out. As I read this excellent novel (and really, you don't need to be a gore hound or anything to give it a whirl—sure, it's about a zombie pandemic but it's not so much blood and guts as it is imaginative and compelling) I could see the way a film would play out, people being interviewed on camera and their visage slowly dissolving into the scenarios they described while their voiceovers continued to narrate and share their personal take on the land of the undead. Is that really so hard to figure out? Give me a crack at it—I'll do ya proud, Mr. Foster.

Barring that, perhaps they should ask Max Brooks to help out with the screenplay. After all, he wrote the book. Would it be so hard for him to translate it to film? Most of the action is already there in various first person descriptions. Just chance a few pronouns and verbs and voila! Presto! Insta-script.

Zombieland Trailer

Here's a little continuity with the previous section. Behold the glory of Woody Harrelson + zombies + amusement parks!



This looks like some plain old fun with the undead. Seems as though Woody is having a blast, which translates to a decent performance and a great time at the movies. Meet you at the Ferris Wheel!

New (In)Glorious Poster

Don't know if you've seen it yet, so here's the latest international poster for Quentin Tarantino's upcoming Inglourious Basterds.


The Push knows that a poster does not a movie make, but I like what I see. (Except for Eli Roth's creepy face. Maybe he's thinking about the possibility of Hostel Part III.) It just seems a bit old school, and that's quite alright. It really could have only been more old school had it been painted rather than photoshopped. Of course, certain folks going to see the film may be disappointed when they find out that the Basterds are not the sole focus of the proceedings, but that's a tale for another time. The Push was going to see the movie regardless because it cannot resist the tractor beam pull of Tarantino on the big screen. Hopefully they just change the wording and this is the same poster hanging on the wall adjacent to the theater entrance in August.

Bonus Trailer! (Okay, That's Totally Up to Interpretation.) Roland Emmerich's Latest Absurdity!

You can deny it all you want, but you know it's true: only Michael Bay can blow stuff up better than Roland Emmerich. Here's the latest and greatest, based on the Mayan end of the world thing that's sure to be all the rage in a few short years…



Like I said, the boy knows how to blow up stuff real good. Actually, based on Emmerich's previous efforts I should say he knows how the end the world darned good. Just look at the trailer above! You don't even need to have the sound turned up to experience the zaniness, and all those airplanes escaping falling structures, fiery explosions and what not make me giddy. The Push is also a big fan of John Cusack (High Fidelity remains one of my favorite all-time top five movies, regardless of Jack Black's inclusion—because he was actually, you know, funny in that film) and it's nice to see him in a big production. Come November, it'll be extra fake buttery popcorn and Cherry Pepsi time to the nth degree, because there's just no way I am missing 2012 on the big screen.

Sometimes it's okay to just accept who you are, y'know?

The Return of J.C.!

A long time ago the Push talked about John Carpenter's then-supposed return to the big screen with a mob tale entitled The Prince. Well, before that happens, the man behind such classics as Halloween, The Thing and They Live has begun pre-production on The Ward. Ain't It Cool News reports that the director is roughly a month away from shooting his first theatrical feature in eight years. Ghost of Mars notwithstanding, it's been too long, Mr. Carpenter.


Don't worry, man. I'll be going back to lower budget flicks soon enough.
Danielle Panabaker (last seen in the geek world polarizing Friday the 13th remake), Amber Heard (Pineapple Express, The Informers—where is that movie, anyway?) and Mamie Gummer (Meryl Streep's daughter! There's some credibility for ya) will star in the 61 year-old's upcoming project. The film takes place in a psychiatric ward where there are, natch, some supernatural occurrences plaguing patients and staff.

I was watching John Carpenter's Halloween on IFC the other night and lamented a world in which there were no movies forthcoming with the John Carpenter's salutation attached to them. Well rest easy, Carpenter fans. In a few weeks the man will be back behind the camera and soon enough his low-budget greatness—the film is an independent production for Echo Lake Entertainment and A Bigger Boat—will adorn your cinema screens once more.

Outtro

I still haven't seen The Hangover but will now probably wait for rental and Drag Me to Hell is no longer playing my neck of the woods. What to do for entertainment this weekend? After the Yankees dropped two out of three to the Washington Nationals, I don't even want to tune into the YES Network anytime soon. (But I will, I will. Gotta justify that cable bill somehow.)

Ah, yes. One of the great works of cinema, Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal, was released on DVD this week in all its Criterion Collection glory. The weather here has been dull and rainy these past few days, providing the perfect atmosphere for watching a chess match between Death and Max von Sydow. Of course there's much more to it than that, and the Push encourages you all to seek out a copy if you've not yet added it to your shelf.


Until next time, enjoy the weekend and the days beyond until we meet again for another Little Push. Thanks as always for tuning in.

And to all you dads out there, Happy Father's Day!

***Like A Little Push? Love 411mania.com? Then bookmark us—or better yet, make the site your homepage!***
I don't tweet, but I hear it's popular. If you're so inclined, follow 411mania at:

TWITTER

http://www.twitter.com/411mania
http://www.twitter.com/411wrestling
http://www.twitter.com/411moviestv
http://www.twitter.com/411music
http://www.twitter.com/411games
http://www.twitter.com/411mma