News Roundup – December 4th, 2009: No Beard! No Greengrass! More Anderson! More Diesel!

 

It’s been two weeks since I last did one of these. Primarily because there’s been bugger all in the way of news.  But I’ve managed to scrape together a few interesting developments.

 

‘Bourne 4’ get the ol’ double whammy

Thank christ for this. Now that the Michael J. Fox of directing, Paul Greengrass, has done a runner from ‘Bourne 4’, ol’ Maaaaatt Daaaaaaamon has scarpered as well.  Seeing as though the Greengrass sequels were nausea inducing rehashes of the very good original, I see this as a cause for celebration.  I’m sure someone will try to continue the franchise at some stage.  But for now, we’re safe.

‘Harvey’ loses The Beard

In yet another piece of great news stemming from what a director ISN’T doing, Steven Spielbergs planned remake of the Jimmy Stewart flick ‘Harvey’ has gone the way of the dodo.  Apparently he couldn’t get his muse, Tom Hanks, to do it, and then failed to get Robert Downey Jr to sign on the dotted line.  After this and his Old Boy remake starring the Fresh Prince falling through, it’s all good news for us.

Now, maybe The Beard can go make something more original.  At the very least, go make that Lincoln bio with Liam Neeson.

Twice upon a time in Mexico

Johnny Depp is set to return to Mexico, this time as revolutionary hero Pancho Villa in Emir Kusturicas upcoming Spanish-language biopic titled ‘Seven Friends of Pancho Villa and the Woman With Six Fingers’.  Pocket rocket Salma Hayek is also starring.  Let’s hope there’s a big ass snake involved.

Anderson and Seymour Hoffman get the faith

 

Paul Thomas Anderson’s next flick will centre around a new religion created in the 50’s which catches on in America.  This period drama will star Philip Seymour Hoffman as ‘the Master’, the man who created the religion and will involve his relationship with his ‘lieutenant’, who begins to question the faith as more and more people become followers.

I like all of Anderson’s movies, Seymour Hoffmans a great actor and Scientology is ripe for satire (see Bowfinger).  This should be good.

The Chronicles of Diesel

Now that he’s finally realised that he’s not Arnie, Vin Diesel has settled in to cashing in on his past hits.  After returning to the Fast and the Furious franchise, and those xXx 3 rumours stinking up the joint, now here he is insisting on continuing the Riddick series.  With not one flick, but two!

I’m not the greatest fan of ‘Pitch Black’ or ‘TCOR’. ‘Pitch Black’ was okay with a great ending.  Nor am I a fan of Diesel.  So this does not interest me as much as it probably does you guys.  If you want to believe Diesel, then it seems that Twohy has written the script, they’re scouting locations and it’s all systems go.  If this is true, at the very least they must feature Riddick outrunning the sun again.