Up With Pixar

So what's next for Pixar after the critical and financial success of WALL-E? Well, things are looking Up.

The computer animation giant was at Comic-Con today to preview their next feature (directed by Monsters, Inc.'s Pete Doctor) and it sounds like they have another winner on their hands.

Click here for a charming sneak peek of the film, in theaters May 29, 2009.

That Galaxy Far, Far Away Will Now Be Really, Really Close

Leave it to George Lucas to figure out a way to get Star Wars fans to pay to see his movies all over again ... again. Plans are underway to re-release not one, not two, but all six Star Wars movies using state-of-the-art 3-D technology. So now moviegoers will get to experience the thrill of dodging light sabres, laser beams and Jabba the Hut drool sometime in the future, as no exact schedule has been set at this time.

Lucas had mentioned his intentions for this 3-D bonanza at least three years ago, where the plan was to re-release one movie a year. I have to imagine that interest would die down about half way through that scenario though. I remember when the much-ballyhooed "special editions" of the original trilogy came out back in 1997 and everyone was pretty much over it by the time Return of the Jedi (I refuse to call it Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi) came out.

Let's Do the Time Warp Again

With a jump to the left and a step to the right, MTV has announced they are remaking the movie that defines the terms "cult film", "audience participation" and "midnight movie classic", The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Original RHPS producer Lou Adler is heading up the remake, which will use the original story and score by Richard O'Brien, plus possibly a few songs from the original stage production ("Superheroes", "Once in a While") that were cut from the final 1975 movie. No director has been attached as of yet.

As expected, die-hard Rocky fans are up in arms (there is already an online petition protesting the new film), but I'm curious to see how they would do it ... and with a budget this time. Casting would be key, most especially for the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania immortalized on stage and screen by Tim Curry.

If I were making the decisions, I'd pick Alan Cumming for Frank; anyone who has seen his Cabaret Emcee would agree. For Brad and Janet, how about the Enchanted couple themselves, James Marsden and Amy Adams. O'Brien could be Riff Raff again if he's up to it; if not, perhaps Raúl Esparza from the 2000 Broadway revival. His co-star, Dick Cavett, would return as the Criminologist, while Magenta and Columbia could be the totally Wicked pairing of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. As in the stage RHS, Eddie and Dr. Scott would be played by the same person: Jack Black. And as for Frank's ultimate creation, Rocky himself? Why, Cheyenne Jackson of course; he is the perfect man and, as luck would have it, he has played the role before.

Hopes are for a Halloween 2009 release, so we'll likely hear more soon.

UPDATE: In a curious development, Richard O'Brien claims no connection to -- or support of -- this remake. Additionally, although it at first appeared to be a theatrical release, new reports are indicating that it will be aired on television, which may effect the casting (in other words, strike out Marsden, Adams and Black from my dream cast ... sigh).

Doing the New Tron Dance*

In this day and age of instant information via the internet, where every minute detail of motion picture productions are broadcast worldwide in the time it takes to click a mouse, you got to give Disney props for what they pulled off yesterday at Comic-Con.

At the tail end of a presentation for the upcoming "re-imagining" of Escape to Witch Mountain titled Race to Witch Mountain, the Mouse House dropped a bomb that must have had the fanboys wetting their Underoos with glee. Not only did they confirm without a doubt that the long rumored sequel to Tron was being made, they actually showed footage from it. And not just any footage, but footage featuring The Dude himself, Jeff Bridges. Both the MTV Movies Blog and ComingSoon.net have play-by-plays of the clip, which will likely not be seen by we the masses anytime soon.

No other details of Tron 2 (or, annoyingly, Tr2n) were given, but Imdb lists a 2010 release date.

* Anyone else remember when the Pointer Sisters performed their hit "The Neutron Dance" on some Disney TV special back in the early 80's? There were actually dancers, clad in the familiar Tron costumes, dancing the, well, neutron dance. I tried in vain to find a video of it online, to no avail. So much for the internet ...

UPDATE: See it while you can: cam footage of the Comic-Con trailer.

There Will Be Blood

With all the booty that the Pirates of the Caribbean movies hauled in, it's a wonder that we aren't knee deep in pirate movies by now. That's about to change though with an upcoming remake of the classic swashbuckler Captain Blood. Apparently, this redo has been in the works for over a decade, but the ship will now set sail shortly with director Phillip Noyce (The Quiet American) at the helm.

As for who will play the good captain and his lady fair, perhaps they'll go for a pair of unknowns like they did the first time: the 1935 Academy Award nominated original (itself a remake of a 1924 silent) did make stars out of Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland after all. On second thought, take a look at Flynny above, and maybe you'll agree with me that Christian Bale could fill his shoes.

Say Hello to Ciao

On the heels of its Best Feature win at this year's Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, the critically acclaimed Ciao has been picked up for distribution by here! Films/Regent Releasing.

Dubbed the "best gay movie of the year" by AfterElton.com, Ciao will be released in select theaters this fall.

You Really Can't Stop the Beat

Talk about your pleasant surprises: New Line Cinema wants John Waters to write a sequel to Hairspray, the hit movie musical based on the stage version of his original film (did you follow that?). All the original creative team will be onboard as well, including director/choreographer Adam Shankman, producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan and songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who will pen new tunes for the sequel.

No further details or casting has been announced at this time, although it is hoped that as much of the original cast (including Golden Globe nominees John Travolta and Nikki Blonsky) will return.

As longtime readers of Movie Dearest know, we will certainly be following this project as it develops.

UPDATE: Adam Shankman doesn't know what John Waters has cooked up for the sequel yet, but he has some ideas of his own.

Canvas to Remain Blank

In a MySpace bulletin posted by film director/ screenwriter Chuck Griffith this morning, he states that the production of his Shifting the Canvas that we reported on previously has been halted due to financing problems. He writes, in a post titled "We Are Dead":

"So, with the economy the way it is, it appears that this film may not get made ... We have a letter of intent to distribute the film from over three distributors ... Cheyenne Jackson as the lead, Scott Thompson, Margaret Cho and Alan Cumming, and it wasn't enough."

In hopes of raising more financing, he has posted the script on the website of his production company, Roaring Leo Productions. Let's hope some luck comes his way, as this sounds like a worthwhile story to tell.

In addition to the actors mentioned, Christian Campbell (Trick), Matthew Montgomery (Socket), Will Wikle (Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild) and Gedde Watanabe (Sixteen Candles) were cast in the drama, described as a story "about art, family, longing, failure, and renewal".

Poster Post: Yes, This is a Real Movie

In the revered tradition of Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! comes Bitch Slap. The flick is breathlessly described as "a modern throwback to the B-Movie/exploitation films of the 1950's-70's, mixing hot girls, fast cars, big guns, nasty tongues, outrageous action and jaw-dropping eye candy with a message ... don't be naughty."

Former Hercules/Xena stars Lucy Lawless, Renée O'Connor and Kevin Sorbo headline the cast. Visit the official website for more fun (including sections labeled "Bitches and Boners", "Gang Bang" and "Peep Shows") and watch the outrageous, boobalicious trailer.

Tru Gets Some Love

Congratulations to Stewart Wade and the cast of crew of Tru Loved: the recent Outfest fave has been picked up for distribution by here! Films/Regent Releasing for theatrical release this fall.

The comedy/drama, about a high school girl setting up her school's first Gay-Straight Alliance, stars Jasmine Guy, Jane Lynch, Alec Mapa, Nichelle Nichols, Bruce Vilanch and Marcia Wallace.

Nine Gets Fergalicious

Pop chanteuse Fergie (nee Stacy Ann Ferguson) has joined the cast of Rob Marshall's film version of the Tony Award winning musical Nine.

Fergie, who has also appeared in the movies Poseidon and Grindhouse, will play Saraghina, the lusty woman who introduces a young Guido to the world of sexuality through the showstopper "Be Italian".

Hangin' Ten With a Six Pack

Matthew McConaughey, in the role he was born to play: Surfer, Dude. So nice to know that we won't have to wait too long for him to take off his shirt in this one ...

The comedy, which also stars Woody Harrelson and Willie Nelson (dude, they must have had one helluva wrap party) will sail into theaters in September. Watch the trailer here.

Terminator's Salvation

If you were wondering (hoping) that some good ol' fashioned beefcake would be injected into the fourth installment of the Terminator series, Terminator Salvation, then your prayers have been answered (although it does seem a bit odd that we are still hearing about cast additions to the film when we've already seen a teaser trailer).

Nevertheless, Austrian bodybuilder-turned actor Roland Kickinger has been tapped to play a "younger" version of the cyborg assassin immortalized in the first movie by Arnold Schwarzenegger. This is not the first time Kickinger (who some may recognize from the Baywatch spoof Son of the Beach from a few years back) has followed in Arnie's footsteps; he played the Pumping Iron era Schwarzenegger in the TV movie biopic See Arnold Run.

Terminator Salvation, which stars Christian Bale, Helena Bonham Carter, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anton Yelchin under the direction of Charlie's Angels' McG, is scheduled to open May 22.

Watch the Watchmen

With The Dark Knight down, time for the next comic geek sensation: Watchmen.

Although the eagerly awaited big screen adaptation of the landmark graphic novel series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons won't hit theaters until March 6 of next year, fanboys everywhere are chomping at the bit for every bit of information. And this week's two big offerings -- the first trailer (attached to the Bat-flick) and an extensive Entertainment Weekly cover story -- are now online.

That should keep us ... I mean them ... happy for a while. Seriously though, this one looks awesome. And if you really want to geek out, head over to Rope of Silicon for a series of screen cap-to-original-comic-panel comparisons.

Like, Totally Fer Sure

While we're still waiting for that Footloose musical remake (not to mention the Fame re-do), another 80's favorite with an iconic soundtrack album-- or two -- is returning to the screen: Valley Girl. However, this time, instead of just listening to the likes of Men at Work, Modern English, and the Psychedelic Furs, the cast of valley gals and guys will be singing them.

Producer Sean Bailey is currently prepping the musicalized remake, along with the long-in-the-works sequel to another retro fave, Tron. No word yet if the digitalized denizens of that computer world will be singing "Pac-Man Fever" though.

Poster Post: All Part of the Plan

Yes, there has already been about a gajillion posters for The Dark Knight, but this one more then any other captures the dark dichotomy between its two leading adversaries.

Oh, and in case you didn't know, it opens this Friday.

Don't get sold out. Buy Dark Knight tickets now!

Bring Him On

If you, like me (and everyone I know), were smitten by the boy cheerleaders of the seminal Bring It On (just, like, the best cheerleading movie ever) but felt that they needed more screen time, then here's the movie for you: Matadors (olé!).

Adam Shankman is producing the big screen comedy, based on the true story of the Chicago Bulls' 14-member troupe of male cheerleaders, which will be directed by his Hairspray associate choreographer Anne Fletcher, who also helmed Step Up and 27 Dresses.

And if the thought of a bunch of guys jumping around on dry land gets your blood pumping (in a good way), then how about a bunch of guys jumping into the water. Yup, Synchronicity, a comedy about male synchronized swimming, is in the works, from Oscar winning producer Scott Rudin. Coincidentally, both of these films will be produced by Disney.

Who says we don't like sports movies?

HSM 3: Senior Cheer

Tweens (and those of us who think like them) rejoice: the official trailer for High School Musical 3: Senior Year is now available online.

Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale and all the HSM gang are back, in what looks to be a decidedly big budget affair. In addition to the expected scenes at the prom, graduation and the "big game", there also appears to be a Footloose-style dance off in a junk yard between Zac and Corbin Bleu, plus the promise of ten new original songs.

HSM3 opens in theaters October 24.

Costume Dramas: Spectrespecs!

About a year ago, I had this to say about Evanna Lynch's Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: "Luna is very loopy and kinda spacey, but she sure holds her own with a wand".

Well, she'll be back in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (in theaters November 21) and, as you can see here, she's as fabulous as ever, sporting some magical eyewear called "Spectrespecs". I have no idea what they do, but if anyone can pull them off, Luna can.

Poster Post: Mission Improbable

An all-star cast of Oscar winners and nominees head up Burn After Reading, a goofy caper comedy from the Coen Brothers, who have a few little gold men of their own. Watch the trailer here, and the movie in theaters September 12.