We reported at some length back in September of last year on the audacious plans being hatched by Ron Howard, Akiva Goldsmith and Brian Grazer to turn Stephen King’s 7-novel Dark Tower series into a trilogy of feature films, interspersed with two seasons of a television series. Universal were considering funding the project, mindful of their relatively straightforward links with television (NBC/Universal), even though it was already looking to be an enormous and expensive undertaking.

Since then, there has been casting news aplenty, including Javier Bardem as the lead character of Roland Deschain. What there wasn’t and apparently what there will never now be, was a firm commitment from Universal, who have now backed out. What seems to have been at issue is firstly (inevitably) the budget for three films and two (albeit brief) seasons of a TV show and secondly the general upfront commitment to such a long-term project, when the likely success or failure of it would  not become apparent until much of the money had been committed. Of course Peter Jackson was able to persuade New Line to take a punt on a similarly audacious project with LOTR, but it seems Universal are unconvinced that they have a product of similar commercial viability on their hands.

It may be, as Deadline suggest, that Universal are over-committed on tent-pole releases, with Peter Berg’s Battleship and Keanu Reeves 47 Ronin both apparently clocking in with budgets in the region of $200m. In these constrained times, perhaps Universal cannot justify the risk of too many big-budget projects on their books. Universal, with its NBC partnership, seemed an obvious home for the project and its TV cross-over elements, but they are far from the only possibility available. WB, 20th Century Fox and Paramount all have ties to the small screen and so perhaps Howard et al will head out into the market place and see what support they can drum up.

For the time being though, this one is regrettably on hold.

Source: Deadline

To celebrate the release of Henry’s Crime released on DVD and Bu-ray 6th June, Entertainment Film have given us five copies of the movie to give away on Blu-ray.

Henry (Keanu Reeves) gets an unexpected wakeup call when he becomes an unwitting participant in a bank heist. Rather than give up the names of the real culprits, he takes the fall and discovers his true calling. Having done the time, Henry reasons he may as well do the crime. Discovering a forgotten tunnel connecting the bank to a nearby theater, he recruits his old cellmate Max (James Caan) to aid in the robbery, all the while playing the lead in the theatre’s current production where he finds himself falling for his leading lady, Julie (Vera Farmiga).

If you missed our interview with Keanu Reeves for the movie during it’s theatrical run, you can check it out here. To be in with a chance of winning the movie on Blu-ray, simply answer the foll0wing question using the form below:

Who plays the character Max Saltzman in Henry’s Crime?

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED

The small print:

• Open to UK residents only
• Only one entry per household will be counted
• The competition will close 6th June 23.59 GMT
• The winner will be picked at random from entries received

The usual T&Cs can be found here. Good Luck!

© 2010 Mimran Schur Pictures, LLC

Some most excellent news (thanks for the heads-up Movie Web) has been delivered by Bill S. Preston, Enquire (aka Alex Winter) via his Twitter account.

Seems that the long-mooted script for the third instalment of those heavy metal-obsessed time travelling world saviours, Bill & Ted, is now with Winter! Penned by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon (who wrote the previous films) there’s no date as yet for production, but both the actor/filmmaker (currently at work on a remake of 80’s horror favorite The Gate) and his co-star Keanu Reeves, are said to very much up for it.

Reeves is currently filming samurai epic 47 Ronin, so let’s hope that this script is good enough to ensure he keeps his slate clear and pre-production can begin soon.

Back in mid-January, Dave met with Keanu Reeves to discuss Henry’s Crime and also got an update from him on “47 Ronin”, which was known to be in development. You can refresh your memory on what Keanu said by clicking here.

We now have news from Universal Pictures that shooting is set to kick off very soon, on 14th March, for this Carl Rinsch-directed epic tale of a group of Ronin who seek revenge on the overlord who killed their master and banished them, while also looking to restore honor to their country.

Alongside Keanu as Kai, the cast includes Hiroyuki Sanada (Sunshine, The Last Samurai) as Oishi, the leader of the Ronin, Kou Shibasaki (Battle Royale, Go) as the daughter of their master, Tadanobu Asano (Ichi the Killer, Mongol, the upcoming Thor and Battleship) as the overlord Kira and Rinko Kikuchi (Babel, The Brothers Bloom) as Mizuki.

With shooting underway in little more than a week, hopefully we’ll get some on set shots before too long.

Source: Latino Review.

Earlier this week I got to speak to Hollywood legend, Keanu Reeves about his new movie, Henry’s Crime which is released in the UK tomorrow, 14th January and co-stars James Caan and Vera Farmiga. In the interview I asked him about how the project came about and how he found working on the screenplay as well as acting within it. I also asked him about distribution in the US & mainland Europe which seems to be sorted and it should be moving Stateside in April and over to Europe in the coming months.

Towards the end of the interview I was running low on time and I know hundreds of you had sent in questions for me to ask Mr Reeves. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to ask most of them but I did get updates on where we are with all the projects at the moment including 47 Ronin, Ode to Happiness & Bill & Ted 3.

Reeves is currently in London preparing for his new role in 47 Ronin which he mentions in this interview too.

Enjoy!

News comes in from Coming Soon that action period adventure 47 Ronin will now be produced and released in 3D.

Keanu Reeves (who must be hoping for a Matrix-style career revival here) stars in the 18th century Japanese tale of a band of samurai swordsmen who set out on an epic journey to avenge the death of their master.

The film’s director is award-winning commercial Carl Rinsch (who was the original choice to helm the new Alien prequel) and judging by his previous work, from a visual point-of-view, this conversion should only help to enhance the work of this young, exciting visualist.

Deadline have announced multiple release the dates on behalf of Universal Studios this afternoon which tell us when some of their biggest movies will be released. Now that we know the Tony Gilroy directed Bourne: Legacy is on the way, and now we know when  - August 3rd 2012.

Other movies announced include:

• Larry Crowne which is not only directed by but also star Tom Hanks alongside Julia Roberts – July 1st 2012
• Safe House which stars Denzel Washington (who we’re interviewing for Unstoppable next week), Ryan Reynolds, and directed by Daniel Espinosa – February 10, 2012
• Contraband starring Mark Wahlberg and Kate Beckinsale -  directed by Baltasar Kormakur – March 16, 2012
• Judd Apatow’s new movie (No title as yet) which he has written, and will produce , direct – June 1, 2012
• 47 Ronin which stars Keanu Reeves and directed by Carl Rinsch – November 21, 2012
• Ouija, a Hasbro Entertainment and Platinum Dunes production - November 9, 2012
• Snow White And The Huntsman, produced by Joe Roth and directed by Rupert Sanders - December 21, 2012
• The Dark Tower, an Imagine Entertainment and Weed Road  production to be directed – May 17, 2013

Which ones are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below.

Variety is reporting today that Universal Pictures are close to naming Carl Erik Rinsch as director for the forthcoming 47 Ronin movie. It will be Rinsch’s first feature, he is best known for being a director of commercials. The movie is set to be a big budget action movie along the lines of 300, so it is somewhat surprising they have chosen a first time director to helm the project. Rinsch was however in talks with the Scotts earlier this year about the possibility of directing the proposed Alien prequel, until Ridley relented and took up the reigns himself. You can read Variety’s story here.

 The 47 Ronin is a true story of masterless samurai that hatched a plot to avenge their master’s death in feudal Japan. Having read the story myself, i would be excited about the movie if it was’nt for the presence of Keanu Reeves in a lead role. The idea of Reeves as an 18th century samurai warrior is somewhat ludicrous, but i’ll attempt to keep an open mind.

 Bazmann.