Film News Roundup

I've read one or two bits of forthcoming film news recently, here's a brief roundup.

Iron Man 2
The forthcoming Iron Man sequel is featured on the cover of the current issue of Entertainment Weekly magazine. Pictured alongside Robert Downey Jr (Tony Stark/Iron Man) are Mickey Rourke who plays Ivan Vanko/Whiplash and Scarlett Johansson who plays Natasha Romanoff/the Black Widow.

Directed once again by Jon Favreau, Iron Man 2 is scheduled for release late April/early May 20010.


Blade Prequel
Stephen Norrington, director of the 1998 Blade film, has confirmed that planning for a prequel - or trilogy of prequels - is underway.

A prequel would focus on Deacon Frost, the character played by Stephen Dorff in the original film.

Norrington, who's currently involved in a remake of The Crow, who says he was left feeling 'demoralised' by his experiences working on the 2003 film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, has spent the last five years writing and working as a sculptor. He did some illustration work on Blade: Trinity and some creature effects work on the 2005 film Feast.


Green Lantern
It's reported that Ryan Reynolds has been cast as Hal Jordan in the upcoming Green Lantern film.

Production for the film - planned for a summer 2011 release - is expected to begin in January 2010 and will reportedly be based on a screenplay by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Michael Green, with direction from Martin Campbell, who previously worked on Goldeneye and Casino Royale.

Reynolds, of course, played Wade Wilson in this years X-Men Origins: Wolverine film and his role in the Green Lantern project could potentially impact on his involvement in any forthcoming Deadpool film.

I think Ryan Reynolds is a decent actor and he did a good job in 'Wolverine' and, despite the material he had to work with, Blade Trinity. Apparently Justin Timberlake was also considered for the role of Hal Jordan so we should be glad it went to Reynolds who is at least an actor.


and finally ... District 9
Over at The Furnace Damien unearthed the second trailer for Peter Jackson’s District 9 which is due out August/September this year.

I'm encouraged just how low-key the promotion for the film has been - hopefully the film is going to be strong enough to speak for itself.

Here's the trailer