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‘In the Heights: The Movie’ is officially dead

2011/03/29 at 12:00am

‘In the Heights: The Movie’ is officially dead

03.29.2011 | By Jack Rico |

Ever since the Broadway show ‘In the Heights’ won Best Musical at the 2007 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall – historic moment which I happened to be in the auditorium for – there has been talk of a movie version being developed by Universal Studios for a couple of years now.

First, word came out that ‘In the Heights’ creator, composer, lyricist and star, Lin Manuel Miranda was starring and helping adapt his creation into a film script with the show’s book writer, Quiara Alegria Hudes, writing the script and ‘High School Musical’ helmer Kenny Ortega attached to direct. When I saw Ortega and Wilmer Valderrama chatting at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, I knew this was more than rumor. He was already recruiting and meeting potential cast members. Unfortunately, somewhere along the road, things didn’t go as planned and Lin Manuel, announced via a statement on Deadline.com, that ‘In the Heights: The Movie’ was dead.

According to sources, one of the major reasons for the movie not being greenlit was that Shakira, the ultimate crossover star, couldn’t reach a deal with Universal. She was in talks for the role of Vanessa. It would have been her first motion picture role.

Among the cast members wanting to be part of the star studded cast were Jennifer Lopez for the role of Daniela. That didn’t work out either most likely because of her new found fame with American Idol. Other considerations for her role were Real Housewives star Eva Longoria, Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara and Broadway and TV star from Grey’s Anatomy, Sara Ramirez.

In addition, the cast would have included Rita Moreno, Ruben Blades, and fresh faces like Carlos Peña Jr. from Nickelodeon’s ‘Big Time Rush’, plus Wilmer Valderrama and Gloria Estefan in cameo roles. Speaking of Estefan, iconic record producer Emilio Estefan was having initial conversations to executive produce the film’s soundtrack, a mix of Latin and Hip-Hop songs.

It’s all a shame since dancers were already auditioning, and shooting was slated to begin in August in Washington Heights, New York City with a budget of $37 million dollars. Also, Universal Studios is one of the few studios in Hollywood that has made a commitment to making films with Latino talent, including distributing ‘Savages,’ a cartel movie that will star Benicio del Toro and Salma Hayek, recently announced.

There was no doubt that ‘In the Heights: The Movie’ was going to be one of the most star studded US Hispanic movies in the history of Hollywood, but Lin Manuel Miranda is not giving up on the dream of one day making it happen. He said in a statement, “I have had nothing but a positive experience with Universal Pictures. We weren’t able to make the film version of In The Heights together, but I’m looking forward to working with them in the near future. Moving forward, I’m excited to explore other options to make the In The Heights movie a reality.”

The question now is, what studio will the movie land? My guess is Sony Pictures Classic/Columbia Pictures since they are also very committed to musicals (Burlesque) and Latino talent (Battle: Los Angeles).

Leave your thoughts and comments below.

‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2’ is #1 at the box office

By Mack Chico

2011/03/28 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2’ is #1 at the box office

03.28.2011 | By Mack Chico |

The family comedy ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules’ took this weekend’s box office contest.

The sequel to ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ (2010) from Friday to Sunday raised $24.4 million, which quickly regained its production costs of 18 million dollars.

The adventures of a student who recorded his life experiences in a journal are based on the hit book series by Jeff Kiney.

Meanwhile, the fantasy action film ‘Sucker Punch’ had to settle for second place with $19 million. The successful film director Zack Snyder (“300”, “Watchmen”), fell behind industry expectations.

‘Limitless’, the winner last week at the box office, slipped to third place. The science fiction thriller with Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro managed to generate $15.2 million, totaling $41 million dollars since its release.

1. ”Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules”, $24.4 millon
2. ”Sucker Punch”, $19 millon
3. ”Limitless”, $15.2 millon
4. ”The Lincoln Lawyer”, $11 millon
5. ”Rango”, $9.8 millon
6. ”Battle: Los Angeles”, $7.6 millon
7. ”Paul”, $7.5 millon
8. ”Red Riding Hood”, $4.3 millon
9. ”The Adjustment Bureau”, $4.2 millon
10. ”Mars Needs Moms!”, $2.2 millon

Danny Trejo to star in a movie called ‘Pendejo’

By Mack Chico

2011/03/16 at 12:00am

Movies

Danny Trejo to star in a movie called ‘Pendejo’

03.16.2011 | By Mack Chico |

Danny Trejo has joined the cast of “Pendejo,” a romantic comedy by writer/director Jairaj Walia, of Gr8 Dane Films.

Trejo (“Grindhouse,” “Machete,” “xXx”) plays the role of Pedro, the gangster father of the main character’s love interest, Jenny.

“Pendejo” which the filmmakers translate as “idiot,” but is far more vulgar, is about a spoiled party boy whose wealthy father orders to either take a low-level position at the family company or lose his inheritance.

Walia said that the movie addresses both the Indian and Latin cultures.

The cast includes Raja Fenske (Nickelodeon’s “Unfabulous”), Fernanda Romero (“The Eye”), Laksh Singh (“Little Fockers”), Marissa Caprielian (“Entourage”), Darlene Vazquetelles (“Kings of South Beach”) and Sevier Crespo (“Fast Lane”).

Bob Walia and Kim Walia are producing through Gr8 Dane. Crespo is producing through New Slant Productions.

Brody, Cruz get ‘A Matador’s Mistress’ June release

By Jack Rico

2011/03/14 at 12:00am

Movies

Brody, Cruz get ‘A Matador’s Mistress’ June release

03.14.2011 | By Jack Rico |

Austin, TX (March 14, 2011)- Nolan A. Gallagher, Founder and CEO of Gravitas Ventures, announced today the acquisition of Video On Demand (VOD) and digital rights to A Matador’s Mistress, formally known as Manolete, starring Academy Award winning actors Adrien Brody and Penelope Cruz. Gravitas Ventures is licensing the film from Viva Pictures and it will be available On Demand through cable, satellite, telco and online providers in June 2011.

“We are thrilled that A Matador’s Mistress will be available nation-wide this summer so that film lovers will have the opportunity to appreciate the fine performances of Adrien Brody and Penelope Cruz” remarked Nolan Gallagher Founder and CEO of Gravitas Ventures. “Video on Demand is increasingly allowing larger audiences the opportunity to enjoy wider access to well regarded independent films.”

A Matador’s Mistress tells the story of Manuel Rodriguez Sanchez (Adrien Brody) – famously known as “Manolete” – the most celebrated matador in Spain. Finding himself always on the road, Manolete spends his life between solitary hotel rooms and the arena. Despite his fame, Manolete is a quiet and reserved man – all of which changes when he meets Lupe Sino (Penelope Cruz), a beautiful and mysterious woman. Directed by Academy Award nominee Menno Meyjes (The Color Purple), the film tells the tale of a tragic romance between a man who flirts with death and a woman in love with life.

“We are confident that no one is better positioned to exploit this epic high-value production on a digital platform. We look forward to not only this film getting released through Gravitas, but many more star driven films later this year.” Said Victor Elizalde, President Viva Pictures LLC.

‘El méxicano’ Guillermo Del Toro to do ‘Pinocchio 3D’

By Jack Rico

2011/02/17 at 12:00am

Movies

‘El méxicano’ Guillermo Del Toro to do ‘Pinocchio 3D’

02.17.2011 | By Jack Rico |

'El mÃ©xicano' Guillermo Del Toro to do 'Pinocchio 3D'

2011 seems to be the year of Hispanics in Hollywood. With so many new Spaniard and Latin American directors, actors and screenwriters getting play in Hollywood, it’s a good time to speak Spanish in the movie business.

One of the first, and perhaps most revered Mexican directors in the US movie space, Guillermo del Toro, is teaming up with The Jim Henson Company and Pathe to do a 3D stop motion animated adaptation of Pinocchio, according to Deadline.com.

Gris Grimly is set to co-direct with Mark Gustafson, and production will begin later this year. The concept was conceived by Del Toro, but Matthew Robbins wrote the script.

According to the site, this new version of Pinocchio, made famous by Disney, is aimed at an audience 10 years and up, though it will be a bit scarier.

“There has to be darkness in any fairy tale or children’s narrative work, something the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson and Walt Disney understood,” del Toro said. “We tend to call something Disney-fied, but a lot of people forget how powerfully disturbing the best animated Disney movies are, including those kids being turned into donkeys in Pinocchio. What we’re trying to do is present a Pinocchio that is more faithful to the take that Colodi wrote. That is more surreal and slightly darker than what we’ve seen before.”

For instance: “the Blue Fairy is really a dead girl’s spirit,” del Toro said. “Pinocchio has strange moments of lucid dreaming bordering on hallucinations, with black rabbits. The sperm whale that swallows Pinocchio was actually a giant dogfish, which allows for more classical scale and design. The many mishaps Pinocchio goes through include several near-death close calls, a lot more harrowing moments. The key with this is not making any of it feel gratuitous, because the story is integrated with moments of comedy and beauty. He’s one of the great characters, whose purity and innocence allows him to survive in this bleak landscape of robbers and thugs, emerging from the darkness with his soul intact.”

This isn’t the only thing the gifted Mexican director/producer is working on. Del Toro is about to embark on a project with James Cameron called At the Mountains of Madness, the R-rated $125 million 3D live action adaptation of the HP Lovecraft tale about the discovery by scientists of horrific aliens thawing in Antarctica. The film has Tom Cruise as the star and Del Toro expects to start this by May.

Del Toro has long been a stop motion fan. “I’ve had a special effects house for a decade in Mexico, and we were one of the first stop motion animated houses where a lot of influential animators trained,” he said.

Here are some concept pictures from the new Pinocchio film that Del Toro submitted to the site.

Spider Man gets new title: ‘The Amazing Spider Man’!

By Jack Rico

2011/02/14 at 12:00am

Movies

Spider Man gets new title: ‘The Amazing Spider Man’!

02.14.2011 | By Jack Rico |

CULVER CITY, Calif., February 14, 2011 – Columbia Pictures announced today that the title of the next Spider-Man film will be The Amazing Spider-Man.

The studio simultaneously released a photo of Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man, the first shot of Garfield in the famous full mask and suit.

The film, which is now in production and is being shot entirely in 3D, will be released on July 3, 2012. The film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen, and Sally Field. The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt and Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach are producing the Marvel Entertainment production for Columbia Pictures. The executive producers are Stan Lee, Kevin Feige, and Michael Grillo. The film’s official website is http://www.TheAmazingSpiderMan-movie.com.

Alexa and Wilmer talk ‘From Prada to Nada’

By Jack Rico

2011/02/09 at 12:00am

Interviews

Alexa and Wilmer talk ‘From Prada to Nada’

02.9.2011 | By Jack Rico |

‘From Prada to Nada,’ the first film from Pantalion, has the objective of creating films for the Hispanic American moviegoer. Colombian actress Alexa Vega and Venezuelan actor Wilmer Valderrama talk about the project and their own futures as Hispanic actors.

Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra to direct ‘Harker’

By Mack Chico

2011/02/08 at 12:00am

Movies

Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra to direct ‘Harker’

02.8.2011 | By Mack Chico |

After a few films in Hollywood, Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan) will now direct a new movie based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Warner Bros. is close to getting the rights to ‘Harker,’ which will focus on the story of the character of Jonathan Harker, now a Scotland Yard detective.

The Spanish filmmaker could be joining Appian Way, Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company to direct ‘Harker’. The premise of the movie follows Harker, hot on the trail of Dracula.

Warner Bros. seems to have already shown interest in the project which has many rooting for it to become a franchise.

The screenplay was written by Brian McGreevy and Lee Shipman, two screenwriting neophytes.

Collet-Serra is waiting February 18th to release ‘Unknown,’ where Liam Neeson plays a doctor who awakens from a coma, only to discover that someone has taken on his identity and that no one, (not even his wife), believes him. With the help of a young woman, he sets out to prove who he is.

By Jack Rico

2011/02/07 at 12:00am

Movies

Ed Helms: “Hosting SNL would be epic!”

02.7.2011 | By Jack Rico |

Comic actor Ed Helms, known mostly for his work in 2009’s super hit ‘The Hangover’ and NBC’s The Office, was in New York to promote his new, very funny comedy, ‘Cedar Rapids’, coming out this Friday, and I caught up with him to ask him about his days living in New York trying to make it on the sketch comedy show, Saturday Night Live. Helms, who grew up in Atlanta, always dreamed of being discovered and landing a spot in the cast of SNL.

ShowBizCafe.com: Your dream has always been to be a part of SNL, but you are now achieving enough celebrity status to possibly host the show one of these days. Where would that moment rank amongst all your achievements?

Ed Helms: (Chuckle) Well, ah, I’d rather not, it’d be you know, that would just be epic. That would be really, really exciting and awesome. Hasn’t happened… yet and if it and when it does, I would be over the moon.

ShowBizCafe.com: If you had to pick a musical guest to accompany you on that special night, who would it be?

Ed Helms: (12 second pause) Hmmmm…. Paul Simon is inextricably linked with that show. He has such a history with Lorne Michaels, that would be… his music was such an important part of my adolescence. That might actually take the cake.

Here’s to you Ed. I hope your dreams come true very soon. Helms will next be seen on the sequel of The Hangover and The Muppets this year.

By Jack Rico

2011/01/30 at 12:00am

Movies

Henry Cavill is the new Superman!

01.30.2011 | By Jack Rico |

The torch has been officially been passed from Brandon Routh to the brit Henry Cavill as he becomes the most recognizable superhero of all time – Superman. According to Deadline.com, Cavill will don the cape and the red and blue tights under director Zack Snyder and producer Christopher Nolan and writer David S. Goyer. Those three sound like they’ll be making magic together with their newly minted thespian.

Cavill, 27, is currently working on Immortals where he plays the he-man Greek warrior Theseus who battles mythological gods. He’s mostly known for his TV work in Showtime’s The Tudors and Cavill.

Zack Snyder, released this statement: “In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am honored to be a part of his return to the big screen. I also join Warner Bros., Legendary and the producers in saying how excited we are about the casting of Henry. He is the perfect choice to don the cape and S shield.”

According to some sources, The Social Network’s Armie Hammer, who played Tyler Winklevoss, along with True Blood’s Joe Manganiello, were strong candidates.

The new Superman is targeted for release in December 2012.