Movie Muser

Some would suggest that it’s Tim Burton’s fault we’ve been deluged in the last couple of years with live-action versions of fairytales, due to the billion dollar success of Alice In Wonderland. Now he’s heading back into that arena, as THR reports he’s due to direct Disney’s planned live-action Dumbo movie.

Ehren Kruger is writing the script, which is believed to expand the story of the original 1941 animated movie (that film is relatively simple and only 64 minutes long). Walt Disney Pictures president of production Sean Bailey suggests the film offers “a big world,” with THR adding that the movie “will add a unique family story that parallels Dumbo’s journey.”

Even with Burton on board, a live-action/CG mix Dumbo still seems like an odd idea, but if anyone can find a way to make it work it’s Burton, especially as his often gothic style has had a bit of a circus vibe.

It’s still not known when we might see the movie though.

A couple of days ago there was buzz that Eastenders actor Sam Strike was going to be the new Spider-man. Many were sceptical, not least because Strike and his management were buzzing about ‘major news’ and a ‘big Hollywood’ film. Studios normally insist on total silence about huge casting news, so it seemed unlikely Sam was talking about Spidey (indeed he could have lost the role for having a big mouth).

Now we know what it is, and it’s far less exciting but still a big move for the young British actor. TheWrap reports that he’ll play the title role in Leatherface, a prequel to Texas Chainsaw Massacre with Strike taking us through the story of how a young man became the creepy machinery wielding maniac of Tobe Hooper’s movie (although it will presumably follow a different story to 2006’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning).

It’s not quite swinging through New York in a superhero suit, is it?

Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo will direct.

Sequels have been king in Hollywood for a long time, but that’s not enough for the studios anymore, as seeing the success Marvel has had they all want Extended Universes. So far we’ve only really seen it in the world of superhero flicks, but now Sony has revealed that they think they can do it for Ghostbusters too.

Considering getting a third film off the ground has taken years, announcing advanced plans for other films a surprise to many, but just a month after they revealed a female-led Ghostbusters movie starring Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig, Deadline reports Channing Tatum is attached to a more male-focussed Ghostbusters film, with the Russo Brothers (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) set to direct.

Sony are keen to keep a link to the original movies, as they’ve set up a new division of their company, Ghost Corps, which will be led by Dan Aykroyd and Ivan Reitman and will oversee the expansion of the Ghostbusters world.

Reitman says, “We want to expand the Ghostbusters universe in ways that will include different films, TV shows, merchandise, all things that are part of modern filmed entertainment. This is a branded entertainment, a scary supernatural premise mixed with comedy. Paul Feig’s film [with McCarthy & Wiig] will be the first version of that, shooting in June to come out in July, 2016. He’s got four of the funniest women in the world, and there will be other surprises to come. The second film has a wonderful idea that builds on that. Drew [Peirce] will start writing and the hope is to be ready for the Russo Brothers’ next window next summer to shoot, with the movie coming out the following year. It’s just the beginning of what I hope will be a lot of wonderful movies.”

It’s been known that Tatum has been interested for a while, but it had never been clear whether the idea of him joining the Ghostbusters universe would come to fruition. Now it appears it will.

If you’re British and remember the 1980s you’ll know exactly who Eddie The Eagle is, and considering its the sort of underdog tale us Brits seems to love, it’s almost surprising it’s taken this long for someone to make a biopic about him.

Now it’s happening though and we have proof, as Hugh Jackman’s Twitter has shared an image of him and Taron Egerton taken on the first day of filming.

Hugh Jackman is set to play Chuck Berghorn, a Lake Placid ski jumping expert who helps a young, unlikely Brit called Eddie train for the Calgary Olympics in 1988. Nicknamed Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, he became Britain’s first ever Olympic ski jumper in Olympic history, becoming a media sensation even though everyone knew he had no chance of winning.

Part of his appeal is that he came across as a very nerdy, normal kind of guy, who had a dream and got far further with it than anyone ever imagined.

Dexter Fletcher is directing.