Robopocalypse...Spielberg...Awesome.

A storm of anticipation is brewing at DreamWorks, the cause? Steven Spielberg's interest in developing Robopocalypse, a novel by Daniel H. Wilson, which was recently optioned by the studio.

The background to the story will focus on an robot uprising on mankind, remember War of The Worlds? Yes it could be a better end of the world with giant robots and that's a good thing.

Now, while this may all seem slightly premature, one need consider that this is a novel that is not even released until next June, yet has already had it's rights snapped up and Drew Goddard, the co writer of Cloverfield has already adapted a first draft script. Add to this Spielberg himself spoke of directing the adaptation in March and voila, buzz.

Vulture has gained a quote that pretty much sums up the state of affairs, "With DreamWorks, everything is potentially a Steven project until it's not,". "That's why everyone's in a frenzy trying to read it." One really cannot begrudge Spielberg first refusal on anything that drifts through, after all, if he makes it, it is usually a hit.

More as it arrives

Daniel Craig Attached To The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

According to a Deadline Exclusive Daniel Craig is attached to star as disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. It is understood that the deal signed by Craig, factors in options for the two further sequels that comprise the best-selling Millennium Trilogy novels written by Stieg Larsson: The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest.

It was back in June when Craig was first rumoured to be contention for a role in David Fincher's American adaptation of Larsson's opener. However, it took a juggling of his commitments to both Cowboys and Aliens and the James Bond franchise to eradicate any doubts.

After a series of negotiations with the studio's with Sony Pictures Entertainment, DreamWorks and MGM, it appears that Craig will now shoot the first film in Sweden immediately after wrapping up on Jon Faveraus' Cowboys and Aliens. Where this puts the next instalment of James Bond nobody can tell. But, MGM certainly have not found a pot of gold under the rainbow yet and remain firmly paralysed in the red of uncertainty.

It is now a waiting game to see where the eye of David Fincher and producer Scott Rudin will land to cast the role of Lisbeth Salander. It is a certainty that this role has the potential to define a career; it has everything imaginable for character portrayal and it will be hotly contested for.

Sony have dated the film for a December 21, 2011 release.

How To Train Your Dragon Franchise

The soaring popularity of How To Train Your Dragon which climbed back on top of he summit of the US box office charts has seen a future franchise being set up by Dreamworks, who want to get a sequel in the production.


Yesterday DreamWorks boss Jeffrey Katzenberg announced the studio's plans amid a financial report. "2010 is off to a strong start, thanks in large part to the performance of How To Train Your Dragon, which – having grossed nearly $375 million to date in worldwide box office – has become DreamWorks Animation's next franchise. We plan to release the sequel theatrically in 2013."


So there you have it, three years will allow a very short and strict timeline for a CGI picture like this one, but if everyone is in place it is not an impossible task.A plus point is that the original film acts as a prequel of sorts to Cressidad Cowell's original novel and she has a written a subsequent series of source material for future films.


MATT RICHARDSON