The Dawn Treader International Trailer

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader at more than one stage in its eventual development appeared destined to remain in stasis. But now the international trailer has arrived here courtesy of Coming Soon.

After the critical and commercial disappointment of the second chapter: Prince Caspian, Walt Disney slept on the project for a long period before passing its option to co-finance the third instalment.

The reason: budget. A Narnia film commands a high cost production tag and Walden Media assessed that a budget of $140 million and not Disney's preferred $100 million was required. Consequently, the companies went their separate ways having failed to reach a compromise, with Walden and FOX signing an agreement some weeks later.

All the principle cast return for The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the fifth book of the C.S. Lewis epic series. The film, will see Lucy and Edmund Pevensie transported back to Narnia, with their brat-of-a-cousin Eustace unsuspectingly along for the ride too. Reacquainting with the now King Caspian and reepicheep aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader, they become embroiled in a quest with the rest of the crew across the Eastern Seas in search for the Seven Lost Lords of Narnia.

Initial reactions to the trailer are positive. Director Michael Apted (The World Is Not Enough) appears to hit the right tone and visuals for a family orientated fantasy adventure with a necessary hint of edge/darkness to heighten it's urgency.

But as past experience shows with effects driven fantasy, The Golden Compass I'm looking at you, trailers have a nasty ability to showcase a film, before letting you down when you have to watch the rest of the film that goes around them.

Cameron On Avatar Sequels

With the release of Avatar James Cameron moved the bar in cinematography. Fact. Cinema has experimented with new worlds, Cameron has pushed the visual capacity to create them. The complexity and depth of Pandora has assured the future of the Avatar series; even with a story that becomes the anticlimax of the entire film. Anticipation, however, remains high for new instalments and Cameron is eager to deliver.

"Avatar 2... we're still working on deals. We don't start the movie until we get the deals worked out," he said to MTV. "I'm making notes. I'm not sitting idle...But really, what i'm working on primarily is the novel."

Cameron revealed that he had always intended to create a novelization of Avatar but there was not enough time aside from production of the film to complete it. "I didn't want to do a cheesy novelization, where some hack comes in and kind of makes it up. I wanted to do something that was a legitimate novel that as inside the characters' heads and didn't have the wrong culture stuff, the wrong language stuff, all that". Passionate, that is the only word that can be conjured from Cameron's insight; that is no bad thing leading into yet another new frontier sequel.

The reasoning behind Cameron's desire to finalize the novels before moving on to the sequel is testament to his passion. "ideally that [the novel] becomes a kind of bible for any other writers that want to come along and riff off with other Avatar-based stories, which I’m not ruling out. I don’t mind opening up the Universe I just don’t want that to happen until I’ve got more meat on the bones because the film is pretty spare when it comes to a lot of the specific details about the back story, the history, the company, what’s happening on Earth, you know, Grace’s back story, Jake’s back story, all that stuff. That all needs to be filled in before other writers can come in and run with it."

So basically Cameron does not want anybody coming treading over his vision of Avatar, nor does he want anybody coming in to this world without being able to envisage the background or 'meat' that holds it together.The irony is not lost in Cameron's words, remember when a Terminator movie could be classed as the science fiction movie around? Cameron does, we do, it was before it was interfered with by outside influences. See this novel as a counter measure.

On the movies themselves, Cameron suggested that two follow up sequels to Avatar could be shot back to back, though nothing has been decided yet. Yet, on the very nature and scale that these films are produced, if there was to be an Avatar 2 and 3, it would appear logical to tackle them together.

Tony Scott Battles Nemesis

On the back of the successes of Wanted and Kick Ass, Mark Millar's graphic novel catalogue is being rummaged through once again, with Nemesis set for adaptation to the big screen. The latest news is that Tony Scott, already reported recently to be circling John Grisham's The Associate, is attached to direct.

Nemesis, is the brain-child of writer Millar and artist Steven McNiven, the story revolves around a twist of the superhero background of 'Batman'; whereby the protagonist's parents are murdered and he becomes hell bent on revenge. The difference is that Matt Anderson/Nemesis is a villainous billionaire tycoon just like his poor old mum and dad before him. His attention therefore is not centered on the criminal underworld but turned towards those in government and the police who brought about his parents demise.

20th Century Fox have picked up the rights and are likely to co-produce with Scott Free, Tony's and his brothers (Sir Ridley Scott) own production company. As of yet there is no writer and it is unlikely that the Kick Ass double team of Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman would be available to pen a draft, what with X-Men: First Class and Kick Ass 2 on their current timetable.

Fox Exec's Go Commando

Somewhere...Somehow...Someone's Going to Pay! Our thought's exactly. Short of using every conceivable explosive against the Fox network, without out a scratch to ourselves, what can one say to this news? Let of some steam? So I shall. Have you run out of ideas Hollywood? Is it a mandate for studio’s to trample on every god given classic you can get your hands on? What on earth would possess twentieth century Fox to remake 8O’s gun toting action fest Commando.

Don’t get us wrong; this is not like retreading a classic in the sense of Halloween like Rob Zombie; still Commando is a film that is so ridiculous its  finds itself in the niche ‘guilty pleasure’ market. But honestly, a remake, reboot, re-imaging… however each way you put it…it is just plain wrong.

David Ayer notable for his writing credit for Training Day; and behind the lens with Street Kings has been recruited to bring this nightmare to the screens. No confirmed details surrounding the plot have been released; in honesty was there one in the original?

As the news comes will keep you posted. Still, surely studio’s can do better than this

MATT RICHARDSON

Paul Greengrass Set For A Fantastic Voyage

Known for his visceral immediacy and hand-held majesty, Paul Greengrass is not the first name that would be drawn out if you were thinking about recreating a 1966’s classic Sci-Fi romp Fantastic Voyage, yet he is circling the job that is being produced by James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment.

According to Variety, the film is being treated as a big event movie by 2Oth Century Fox. It will be shot in the Cameron patented 3d technology used on the ground-breaking Avatar, in other words it will be properly shot in 3d, and not converted in the editing process of post-production like many new releases under the guise of 3d.

The script penned by Shane Salerno sees a scientist who is gravely ill, with no conventional help available, his colleagues are miniaturized and injected into the bloodstream so they can battle his medical issues with the help of a high-tech sub.

After the political yarns of the Bourne franchise and Green Zone dominating Greengrass’ work plate of late, it would indeed be a step in a different direction, but that just may be the point. There is a time when undeniable talent becomes tired and flat carving the same ornament each time, and this would provide a completely fresh challenge to his trademark style, there is no doubt that this project would deliver a very different Greengrass film, and we for one would love to see it. 

MATT RICHARDSON

Well Earth is just plain unlucky. After surviving total destruction from those cheeky little green blighter's from outer space, it appears they could be coming back for more. Fourteen years after the original rumour’s are rife that Independence Day II is been circled for production.

IESB have reported that Fox, recently plush thanks to the astronomical box office receipts gained with Avatar, are seriously considering the idea of a sequel. The production is being rumoured even though Emmerich and Dean Devlin have not hard-lined any particular story lines or direction to which to take from the original. Sounds good so far.

Will Smith is the other consideration, with him, the project is a money spinner, in all its 3d, Imax glory. Without him, its surely a non starter. Would Big Willie return? Well he is eyeing up his next project, both of which are fantasy, and one of which is a franchise in Men in Black. If he is considering a return to black, surely he is open to anything.

Whether this rumour manifests into reality, is anyone’s guess. But we want first dibs on the sequels title, here is some of our favourites: ID2: Fresh Justice. ID2: We have a stick with a nail in it and we're not afraid to use it. Or the abbreviated ID2: FFS.

MATT RICHARDSON

Chipmunk 'Threequel' to go 3D

Twentieth Century Fox have announced that Alvin and his chipmunk pals will return for a third outing; and in move that is fast becoming mandatory it will be 3D. 


No details have surfaced about script development, casting or directors, however the marketing strategy for its release is clear.


The release date has been set to Dec. 16, 2O11 for Alvin and the Chipmunks 3D; with one eye firmly on the festive market, and the other on Steven Spielberg's 3D "Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of Unicorn" released a week later on Dec. 23.


Despite critical response to the films being poor; the announced 'threequel' is no surprise. The little jumper wearing fur-balls have provided a lucrative franchise for Fox, New Regency and Bagdasarian Pictures. The first film, released in 2OO7 grossed $361.3 million worldwide. Last year's 'squeakquel' brought in $429.8 million. If this trend continues, be ready for more. 
 MATT RICHARDSON

In Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps... but it can be delayed

Fox have announced that upcoming Oliver Stone film 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' is to have its release date moved back from April 23rd to September 24th.


Deadline Hollywood report; both Fox and Oliver Stone decided to postpone releasing Stone's sequel to 8O's classic Wall Street, in a gamble to launch on the world stage at the Cannes Film Festival.


But, with publicity already completed with director Stone, and main stars Michael Douglas, Shia Le Beouf, Carey Mulligan and Josh Brolin; suggestions are that all is not right with the film in its current state.


This view is compounded by reports stating that Fox's announced move; just happened to coincide with Stone presenting the film to its executives.


The released trailers have offered very little; at best it can be likened to Michael Douglas on screen saying 'remember me'. So, any rumour that the film is not ready does not come as a surprise. But, with a five month extension granted by Fox; Stone has some time to tweak before it's eventual release.
MATT RICHARDSON