Was Josh Trank fired from Star Wars or did he quit?

Just a day after announcing his departure from the Star Wars franchise, there are already rumors about the reasoning behind Josh Trank's decision. Despite his statement giving the impression that the decision was his, there are many speculating that it might have been Disney that gave him the boot.

But why?

Well, the biggest theory is due to the issues behind the scenes of his adaptation of Fantastic Four with 20th Century Fox. There were some issues with Trank's adaptation of the film which, at first, caused a delay of the film's production and release. There's also the matter of the less than thrilling responses the film's trailer has received so far. Writer/Producer Simon Kinberg worked with Trank on Fantastic Four and is on board for the Star Wars spin-offs and sources are claiming that he spoke up to the Disney/Lucasfilm executives about some "unusual behavior" Trank displayed while in development and on set. Apparently he also displayed a lot of uncertainty and was indecisive causing the writers and producers to step in and help him pull his own film together, including taking the reigns for reshoots of the film alongside the film's editor, Steven Rivkin. This behavior very well might have given Disney reason enough to kick Trank to the curb.
Continuing this rumor, sources are claiming that Disney's decision came just prior to the Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim last week. Trank cited illness as reason for him not appearing, but he might have been asked by Disney not to appear. In addition to his absence, there was no mention of him or his spin-off film throughout the whole weekend. You can't use the excuse of not focusing on the spin-offs because Gareth Edwards' had his own panel for Star Wars: Rogue One, starring Felicity Jones, and we got a short teaser for the film.

So what happens now? We are still getting Star Wars: Rogue One in 2016. Trank's film was originally slated for a 2018 release just after Rian Johnson's Star Wars: Episode VIII hits in 2017, but sources are claiming that Disney might shift the second spin-off to 2019. That leaves a gap in 2018 that will have to be filled with something if they want to keep a tradition of a Star Wars film every year. 
There is also no telling what is in Josh Trank's future with 20th Century Fox. We will have the chance to see Fantastic Four in August and a sequel has been announced, but Fox has not confirmed writers or a director for it. That is leading many to believe that Trank might be getting fired or has already been fired from that franchise as well. My guess is Fox is waiting to see what the response will be from audiences before officially hiring Trank to direct the sequel, but if the reception is bad and/or the movie is horrible you can expect him to be kicked to the curb once again.

Personally, I never understood why people gave this guy such big opportunities in the first place. It was all based on his directorial debut, Chronicle, and I'm sorry to break it to you but Chronicle was horrible. It was a classic example of a film that looked great on paper but it was a jumbled mess with a lack of vision and direction. Why Fox even gave him Fantastic Four confused me from the beginning and the issues on set proves that he doesn't belong in the world of blockbusters. I'm glad Disney recognized a problem and didn't take the chance.

Poltergeist shifts release date

Not much to talk about here, but the reboot of Poltergeist has moved dates for release and will now hit two months earlier than originally expected. We will now get it on May 22nd instead of July 24th.

Also moved with Poltergeist was the upcoming Fox comedy, Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy. That will now hit theaters on June 5th instead of May 22nd.

Taking the old Poltergeist release of July 24th is Paper Towns which was originally supposed to be released on June 5th.

Another Wolverine film in the works

Well, potentially in the works.

Deadline is reporting that James Mangold and Hugh Jackman are planning a spin-off to The Wolverine and that Mangold is already in talks with 20th Century Fox to return. The Wolverine used the character's most popular solo arc, which would be him in Japan, so there is no telling which arc could be next on the list. There is 39-years worth of Wolverine stories so who knows what could be next. It is also possible that a new story could be created. The other question is, would this new Wolverine movie be centered around and/or after X-Men: Days of Future Past?
Moving forward shouldn't be difficult for 20th Century Fox seeing as The Wolverine brought in $413 million in the box office this summer. Not to mention the fact that Wolverine seems to be the backbone of every X-Men movie to date, minus First Class. Hugh Jackman seems to be content with his typecasting as well and has stated he has no plans to retire from the character at the current moment.

So, with X-Men: Days of Future Past hitting in 2014 and Fantastic Four hitting in 2015, could we see a new Wolverine by 2016? It is very possible.

I'm all for another Wolverine movie. I enjoyed The Wolverine and I am curious to see how they are going to move forward with the ending they gave us. Bring it!

SDCC: First image from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

We got our first image of Caesar from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Such a tongue twister.

Director Matt Reeves warned guests at Comic-Con that the footage of the apes was limited due to the fact that it takes 10-12 weeks to render a single ape, but we do have enough to see Caesar wearing some war paint. I still think the apes look ridiculously real. I am excited for this one.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes starts on July 18, 2014.

#SDCC #PlanetOfTheApes #20thCenturyFox

SDCC: X-Men: Days of Future Past wows at Comic-Con

Apparently this is the panel that got the first standing ovation in Hall H.

Along with The Wolverine and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, 20th Century Fox brought X-Men: Days of Future Past to Comic-Con and had a gigantic panel consisting of old and new X-Men actors. In attendance was Anna Paquin, Ellen Page, Halle Berry, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Evan Peters, Shawn Ashmore, Hugh Jackman, Peter Dinklage, Nicholas Hoult, Omar Sy, Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart, writer Simon Kinberg, and producers Lauren Shuler Donner and Hutch Parker. Also joining was director Bryan Singer.

Here is a nice group shot of everyone:

What we learned from the panel is limited but enough:

1. Days of Future Past is in 3D.
2. A majority of the effects are still unfinished, but there was some footage screened. A description is listed below.
3. Omar Sy is indeed playing Bishop.
4. Deadpool is not in Days of Future Past at all, so we can all hang our heads in disappointment.


Here is a description of the footage screened from Collider:

"So many mutants but the core is that we see Xavier, Magneto, Storm, and Wolverine in the future.  Xavier says they need to send Logan’s mind back to his younger body and convince young Xavier and young Magneto to avert the disastrous future.  In the future, we see the cast members from the first three movies in dark, futuristic-looking clothing but not cheesy.  It’s austere, and so is the landscape, not the ragged, post-apocalypse from the comics.

When Wolverine goes back, we see the First Class members, and young Xavier looks absolutely beaten and tired.  We then go through a big montage of almost all the characters.  Memorable moments include Beast trying to drown young Magneto, and a young Magneto using his power to drag a helpless Mystique towards him.  The trailer finishes out with young Xavier shouting, 'I don’t want your future!'  We then go to a two-shot with young Xavier and old Xavier facing each other.  Old Xavier tells his younger self, 'Please.  We need you to hope again.'"



In other words... X-Men: Days of Future Past looks like it will surpass First Class and be pretty damn cool. 

Hugh Jackman wants to bring Wolverine to The Avengers and Spider-Man

As you may or may not know, the studios aren't able to freely use characters as they please because certain studios own the rights to specific characters. Despite the fact that in the comic books The Avengers collaborate and appear next to Spider-Man and the X-Men, including them in the same movie is... well, it's complicated.

Hugh Jackman, who is probably most famous for his role as Wolverine, has stated that he would love to appear as Wolverine in The Avengers and/or a Spider-Man film and basically said the studios should suck it up and split the cost. As it currently stands Fox owns X-Men and Fantastic Four, Sony owns Spider-Man, and Marvel (aka, Disney) owns Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Avengers, Hulk, etc.. When Collider asked what it would take to get all these heroes on the same film Jackman responded with:

“Mate, I ask the same question.  I literally asked the same question the other day to Tom from Marvel who works with all the other studios, he works with Sony and Fox, that’s his job to liaise.  I said, ‘Man, can this happen?’ and he goes ‘Look, it’s not gonna be easy because you’re working with different studios and they’re their properties.’  But I believe—maybe I’m optimistic, I understand at Marvel they’ve got The Avengers, they’ve got a lot of big things going on, but at some point I just find it almost impossible that there’s not a way to bring Iron Man, all the Avengers characters, Wolverine, the X-Men characters, Spider-Man, and somehow get them in together.

I don’t see the impediment!  I’m like, okay you’ve got three studios, just split it three ways in terms of the cost, and happy days it’s all coming together!  I would love to… I’m in for it, I’m totally up for it because I think that would be really exciting for fans across the board.”

I would love for this to happen but it isn't likely. The studios are greedy and they don't want to pay the money involved in bringing the heroes together. This shouldn't be the case, though. After seeing the villains announced for Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers 2 (specific villains that involve Fantastic Four and the X-Men), I think it could be possible for at least Fox and Marvel to partner up and share a few characters. Even if it isn't all of them. When you have Hugh Jackman on board it's something to at least be considered, I think.

You can see Jackman as Wolverine once again in The Wolverine which comes out on July 26th.

20 films to appear at Comic-Con 2013

Here is a list of all the movies that will be at San Diego Comic-Con this year:

Confirmed:
Europa Report
Ender's Game
Divergent
The World's End
Veronica Mars
Kick-Ass 2
Riddick
Wolves
Seventh Son
The LEGO Movie
Godzilla
300: Rise of an Empire
Gravity
I, Frankenstein
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Thor: The Dark World

Rumored:
The Wolverine
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters


The "rumored" section is just that. Fox has yet to announce their panels or previews, but the best bets on what will be featured are the three movies listed. If I'm wrong I will correct it once Fox catches up with everyone else and announces their panels.

Casting news for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Not only will Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (damn that is a tongue twister) take place 15 years after the first film, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but it now has its first star. Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty, Lawless, Public Enemies) has been cast in a lead role in what has said to be a story about human scientists struggling to survive alone in San Francisco. The plot is unconfirmed as director Matt Reeves is keeping it tightly under wraps, but either way it should be interesting. Especially since it seems like James Franco will not be returning to star in the sequel.

Look forward to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes which is set for release on May 23, 2014 in 3D.

X-Men: First Class sequel pushed to January 2013

Due to scheduling conflicts with the upcoming "it" girl Jennifer Lawrence, filming of the sequel to X-Men: First Class has been pushed to January 2013 as she will be filming the sequel to The Hunger Games this fall. Lawrence is reprising her role as Mystique in the X-Men film and is also reprising the role of Katniss Everdeen in Catching Fire. After much speculation it was also confirmed that Matthew Vaughn will return to direct the X-Men sequel.

Along with filming approaching for both of these films she is also busy with promo for The Hunger Games along with upcoming promo for a new film, The House at the End of the Street. Jennifer Lawrence is indeed a busy gal.



http://collider.com/x-men-first-class-sequel-jennifer-lawrence/157567/