There seems to have been a lot of interesting TV shows announced this week. First there was a Dracula series, then a Green Arrow series, now we've learned that the A&E network is developing a series that will play out as a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock's classic film Psycho.

The series will be called Bates Motel, and it will "delve into how Norman Bates’ dark, twisted backstory from childhood through his teen years and will chronicle how his mother, Norma, and her lover damaged Norman, helping  shape the most well-known serial killing motel owner in history."

Now this is a series I can get behind 100 percent! I love the idea of seeing Bates' backstory! There's a lot of potential for a drama series like this, and I already can't wait to see what it will bring us. 

The series is being written by Anthony Cipriano who has written a hand full of things I haven't heard of such as shows Skate and The Jersey.

What do you all think about Psycho getting its own series?

It sounds like things are actually moving forward on the live-action Deadpool movie set up over at Fox. Rob Liefeld and Scott Lobdell had a few some pretty cool information on the movie, like the fact that director Tim Miller has shot some test footage for the movie. Here's what they had to say at the Amazing Arizona Comic Con last weekend...

They've got a great director on the movie, they've got a great script. I may or may have not seen some sort of test of footage that would blow your mind if you saw it and go holy crap and that's Deadpool in costume. Katana swords, guns, shooting people’s faces off and making me laugh. And I may or may not have seen something that looks just like that. And you've got what would amount to the first R Rated X-Men movie. Because that script is R Rated.

They may or may not have wanted to shoot eight minutes to see how it would play. And all I can tell you,  it's close. It’s closer that it's even been to going, or going Naaah, that's too scary a proposition to make a R Rated Deadpool movie.

Hot damn! What I wouldn't give to see that "mind-blowing" test footage! This will be Miller's first feature film as he comes from a special effects background. I'm still not sure if he's the right choice for the movie; it's hard to tell since I haven't seen any of this footage. If we take Liefeld's word for it though, then it sounds like we can all get very excited about what is coming. 

Hopefully that footage leaks out online soon, or maybe they will share it at an upcoming geek convention! We'll eventually find out. 

Ben P and Venkman are headed out to Park City, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival next week and will be bringing tons of awesome coverage. The festival is the source of amazing feature films that we'll surely be talking about for the rest of the year. The festival also shows some cool short films and documentaries. Here is a trailer for a short called Meaning of Robots. This is one trailer that you need to see to believe.

Check it out below, beware it does contain some NSFW language:

Here is a description of the film:

The benevolent Mike Sullivan, age 65, has been shooting an epic stop-motion robot sex film in his apartment for the last 10 years. Obsessed with constructing the miniature robot porn stars, his apartment now overflows with thousands of them.

On first viewing, I thought that this trailer might be a spoof of sorts, but it is definitely real. I hope that I end up getting to see the full thing, if it is released online. If you are lucky, Ben or Venkman may be able to check this out and review it for us. 

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Elizabeth Olsen will be seen soon in Silent House and has just joined the cast of another thriller. Variety reports that Olsen, Dane Dehaan, and Jack Huston are going to star opposite Daniel Radcliffe in Kill Your Darlings for Killer Films and Benaroya Pictures. The film tells the story of how "a murder at Columbia University in 1944 brought together the young writers who would spark the Beat Revolution." John Krokidas wrote and will make his feature film directorial debut on the film. Killer Films' Christine Vachon, Michael Benaroya of Benaroya Pictures and Rose Ganguzza of Rose Pictures are producing.

Olsen will play "Edie Parker, the wealthy art-student girlfriend of Jack Kerouac (Huston). Radcliffe will play Allen Ginsberg; Dehaan plays Lucien Carr, a classmate of Ginsberg's for whom he develops feelings." Production is slated to begin March 12 in New York at Columbia University.

Martha Marcy May Marlene was a Sundance hit last year, and Olsen will return to Park City this year with the paranormal drama Red Lights. She also has Liberal Arts and Peace, Love & Misunderstanding, which she will star opposite Jane Fonda and Catherine Keener. DeHaan stars in HBO series In Treatment and will be seen in Chronicle. Huston starred in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and HBO's Boardwalk Empire.

I have yet to see Martha Marcy May Marlene and am looking forward to seeing Silent House. Olsen holds more interest than her sisters for me. This sounds like a cool thriller that I plan on seeing as a fan of Radcliffe. What are your thoughts on this news?

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I love, love, love The Walking Dead on AMC, and can not wait for the midseason premiere. Luckily, AMC released a poster today for the midseason premiere. I love the poster, which features Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) pointing his revolver straight ahead. This is a perfect reminder of how the show left off, and what is to come. 

What are your thoughts on this poster? Are you looking forward to seeing the next portion of the season?

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The long-planned adaptation of Hack/Slash has finally found a director. Heat Vision reports that Marcus Nispel (Conan the Barbarian) has signed on to direct the film. The project is based on the horror comic series created by Tim Seeley and Stefano Caselli.  

The story follows "the adventures of Hack, a young woman who travels to small towns across the country hunting slashers." Alexandra Milchan, Adrian Askarieh, and Daniel Alter are producing the Relativity project. Fredrik Bond was previously attached to direct.

Nispel is currenlty developing a horror film titled Blackmash. He is known for directing such film as, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Pathfinder, and Friday the 13th. I think Nispel is a perfect fit for this project and am interested to see what he does with it. 

What are your thoughts on this news? 

Here's an great behind-the-scenes video featurette for a great looking sci-fi film called MS One: Maximum Security. Not sure when the title was changed, but the movie was at one point called Lock Out. Whatever the title is it looks like a great flick!

The film stars Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, and Peter Stormare. It was directed by James Mather and Stephen St. Leger, and Pearce's character in the movie is awesome. The video you are about to watch below actually focuses on the character and gives us a little background information.

The story follows a man who is wrongly convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage against the U.S. He's offered his freedom if he can rescue the president's daughter from an outer-space prison taken over by violent inmates.

Check out the trailer below and tell us what you think!

Here is a new image from the upcoming horror film Silent house, which was directed by Chris Kentis and Laura Lau (Open Water). The film is an English language remake of the one-take horror flick La Casa Muda. Elizabeth Olsen stars in the film scheduled for release on March 9th, 2012.

Synopsis:

Sarah returns with her father and uncle to fix up the family’s longtime summerhouse after it was violated by squatters in the off-season. As they work in the dark, Sarah begins to hear sounds from within the walls of the boarded-up building. Although she barely remembers the place, Sarah senses the past may still haunt the home.

Filmmaking duo Chris Kentis and Laura Lau once again confront the face of fear in this enthralling psychological thriller. Impressively captured with a continuous camera shot, Silent House tracks the growing panic of its enigmatic lead, Elizabeth Olsen, who’s trapped in an unnerving nightmare. Never ones to be limited by a challenging production, Kentis and Lau mastermind a truly unique horror experience with immediate intimacy and unsettling terror.

I am interested in seeing this film when it hits theaters. What are your thoughts?

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Source: DreadCentral (http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/49817/new-image-silent-house-peers-through-darkness?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter)

Here is a look at Don Coscarelli's John Dies at the End, which is set to premiere at Sundance this year. Coscarelli directed such genre classics as Phantasm and Bubba Ho-tep. I love the poster, which shows off one of the badass weapons from the film.

Here's the official synopsis:

On the street, they call it "soy sauce." It's a paranormal, psychoactive drug that promises an out-of-body experience with each hit. Its users drift across time and dimensions, but some who come back are devoid of all humanity. While most of Earth's inhabitants remain blissfully oblivious to its threat. Make no mistake, an otherworldly invasion is under way, and mankind needs to be saved. Enter John and David, a pair of college dropouts who can barely hold down jobs. How can these guys possibly be expected to rescue mankind from certain destruction?

Originally erupting from the devilishly ingenious mind of David Wong, alter ego of Cracked.com's senior editor Jason Pargin, JOHN DIES AT THE END began as a Web serial that became an Internet phenomenon. In the highly capable hands of legendary cult horror director Don Coscarelli (Phantasm, Bubba Ho-Tep), Pargin's wildly trippy vision is forged into big-screen eye candy. The end result will take you to places in your subconscious that you shouldn't be allowed to visit.

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Source: AICN (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/52605)

Here is the international trailer for the upcoming comedy 21 Jump Street starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. 

 Synopsis:

Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum)…two guys who join the police force’s secret Jump Street unit and use their youthful appearances to go undercover in a local high school.

The eager rookies trade in their guns and badges for backpacks and risk their lives to investigate a violent and dangerous drug ring while having to deal with all of the teenage issues they thought they left back in high school just a few years earlier.

21 Jump Street arrives in theaters on March 16. I think this looks like a solid action comedy, and definitely looks better than I initially thought. Watch the new trailer below and tell us what you think.

Source: AddictedMovie.com (http://www.addictomovie.com/)

Columbia Pictures and producer Neal Moritz have been working on getting a big screen adaptation of R.L. Stein's children's book series Goosebumps for a few years now. Last we heard, the studio hired Disturbia screenwriter Carl Ellsworth to write the screenplay. They obviously didn't like what he brought to them because they are bringing in Jack the Giant Killer screenwriter Darren Lemke to take a crack at the script.

The Goosebumps series has sold more than 300 million copies worldwide, second only to the Harry Potter series in total sales. There's a huge audience out there for this. A lot of people grew up reading this series, so I think this could end up being a very successful movie franchise. I love that it's like a Twilight Zone style series involving youth. 

I previously stated that I'd like to see director Joe Dante (The Burbs, Gremlins) develop the project. I think he has the right touch to developing great family horror films. 

The project has also gone through screenwriters Larry Karaszewski and Scott Alexander (1408). 

What do you all think about this project? Are you looking forward to it?

Source: THR (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/goosebumps-darren-lemke-281671?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Fnews+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Top+Stories%29)

The deal is finally done, Lionsgate has bought Summit Entertainment for $412.5m in cash and stock. This long-gestating deal has been the works since 2008. One of the main selling points for Lionsgate is the purchase is concluded before the Twilight series ends this fall, but it may not have to end. 

Good news Twihards, Lionsgate execs may have other plans for the Twilight franchise. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer revealed in an interview that he plans to continue Twilight in some form, either in film or television. Breaking Dawn Pt. 2 arrives in theaters on November 16 and is expected to make a ton of cash, so this makes sense from a studio perspective.

Feltheimer said in the interview, “I’m anticipating ‘Breaking Dawn Part 2′ being $700 million-plus in worldwide box office. It’s hard for me to imagine a movie that does $700 million-plus doesn’t have ongoing value. It’s an amazing franchise that they have done a great job of maintaining with absolutely no deterioration. So the simple answer is ‘Boy I hope so.’"

I can easily see a reboot of the franchise in years to come. /Film brings up a good point. Since The Amazing Spider-Man is being released ten years after Sam Raimi’s first film, the same could easily happen for Twilight. TV would also be a good fit, and could turn it into something similar to Star Trek. That is just what Feltheimer would like to have happen.

I am sure that most of you hate this idea! I am fine with it, I have read all of the books and watched the movies to-date. I personally would rather see a Twilight TV show instead of the craptastic Vampire Diaries. 

Official Press Release:

Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment today announced that Lionsgate has completed a transaction to acquire Summit for a combination of cash and stock valued at $412.5 million.

The transaction unites two leading studios with powerful brands and complementary assets, solidifying Lionsgate’s position as the world’s largest and most diversified independent entertainment company. By acquiring Summit, Lionsgate enhances its feature film and home entertainment offerings and further broadens its 13,000 title filmed entertainment library to include such titles as The Twilight Saga, The Hurt Locker and Red. The integration of both Summit’s domestic and international theatrical film operations will significantly enhance Lionsgate’s production and distribution capacity, while also extending the Company’s worldwide reach and creating a dominant international sales organization.

The transaction brings together Summit’s Twilight Saga feature film franchise, which has already grossed more than $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office, and Lionsgate’s highly anticipated Hunger Games franchise, which opens on March 23, 2012. Lionsgate will also continue to benefit from its premier television production and distribution business, its array of branded film and television properties, its suite of branded channels and its success as an innovator in creating and distributing content for digital platforms. Both the Lionsgate and Summit labels are expected to continue and be active in the production and distribution of films, although the combined company expects to realize significant synergies through the consolidation of administrative and other costs.

“This transaction continues Lionsgate’s long-term growth strategy of building a diversified worldwide media company through a combination of disciplined, accretive strategic acquisitions and organic growth while maintaining a solid balance sheet,” said Lionsgate Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer and Vice Chairman Michael Burns. “We are uniting two powerful entertainment brands, bringing together two world-class feature film franchises to establish a commanding position in the young adult market, strengthening our global distribution infrastructure and creating a scalable platform that will result in significant and accretive financial benefits to Lionsgate shareholders. Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger have built a remarkable organization, and we’re pleased to welcome Summit’s talented team to the Lionsgate family. Lionsgate’s growth has been built over the years in part by the successful acquisition and integration of companies like Trimark, Artisan, Redbus, Debmar-Mercury, Mandate and TV Guide Network and, in each case, Lionsgate has emerged stronger and the Company’s brand has become more resonant.”

“Jon Feltheimer, Michael Burns and the rest of the Lionsgate team have built an exciting and entrepreneurial content leader over the past 12 years, and we’re delighted to join together these two great companies,” said Summit Entertainment’s Co-Chairmen Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger. “We believe that the combined entity will be even greater than the sum of its parts and our dramatically enlarged media platform will create tremendous opportunities for all of us within the Summit and Lionsgate families. We want to thank our employees, whose hard work and creativity have led to the successful evolution of Summit into a leading worldwide studio, and the combination of Lionsgate and Summit will be the next chapter in creating a true global media powerhouse.”

“As demonstrated by this acquisition, Lionsgate remains focused on preserving a strong balance sheet while pursuing its long-term growth strategy,” said Dr. Mark H. Rachesky, Co-Chairman of the Lionsgate Board of Directors. “We are big believers in the increasing value of content and this transaction strengthens Lionsgate’s asset base while providing significant financial benefits, including highly visible cash flow and revenue. We are looking forward to realizing the value of a Lionsgate-Summit combination for all Lionsgate shareholders.”

The majority of the purchase price was funded with cash on the balance sheet at Summit. The remainder was funded with $55 million of existing Lionsgate cash, $45 million of cash received from a newly issued series of Lionsgate convertible notes, $50 million of Lionsgate common stock and an additional $20 million of cash or stock to be issued at Lionsgate’s option within 60 days. At closing, Summit’s existing term loan was refinanced with a $500 million debt facility, secured by the collateral of the Summit assets. Although the term loan matures in 2016, the Company anticipates repaying the loan well before the maturity date, due to the significant cash flow the business is expected to generate. In addition, this expected cash flow will facilitate the Company’s financial objective of further deleveraging Lionsgate’s balance sheet. The transaction is expected to be significantly accretive in Lionsgate’s 2013 fiscal year beginning April 1, 2012.

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Source: /Film (http://www.slashfilm.com/lionsgate-buys-summit-studio-head-suggests-twilight-continue-breaking-dawn-part-ii/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+slashfilm+%28%2FFilm%29)
Source: LA Times (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/01/twilight-may-continue-after-fifth-film-lions-gate-ceo-says.html)

Here is a featurette from upcoming horror film The Woman in Black. The video features exclusive interviews from cast and filmmakers and gives a behind-the-scenes look at what makes a classic, atmospheric ghost tale. It also shows how writer Jane Goldman alongside production company Hammer Films drew inspiration from Susan Hill's acclaimed novel and theater versions to create the film.

The period ghost story was directed by James Watkins and stars Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds, Liz White, Janet McTeer, Alisa Khazanova, Tim McMullan, Roger Allam, Daniel Cerqueira, Shaun Dooley, Mary Stockley, Cathy Sara, David Burke, Victor McGuire, and Lucy May Barker.

I am looking forward to seeing this in theaters. The film looks super creepy, and a thousand times better than The Devil Inside.

Here's the synopsis:

The story follows a young lawyer, Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe), who is ordered to travel to a remote village and sort out a recently deceased client's papers. As he works alone in the client's isolated house, Kipps begins to uncover tragic secrets, his unease growing when he glimpses a mysterious woman dressed only in black. Receiving only silence from the locals, Kipps is forced to uncover the true identity of the Woman in Black on his own, leading to a desperate race against time when he discovers her true intent.

The movie hits theaters on February 10th, 2012. Watch the featurette below and share your thoughts! 

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Source: Trailer Addict (http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/the-woman-in-black/featurette-creating-classic-ghost-story)

It looks as if 20th Century Fox has found the person to reboot Fantastic Four, and yes, in case you didn't already know, it is going to get the remake treatment. 

The studio has expressed interest in hiring Josh Trank to direct the movie, this is the same guy who directed the upcoming low-budget superhero film Chronicle. According to Variety, the studio has had several meetings with the director, but they are waiting to see how well Chronicle does at the box office before offering him the gig. I bet he's hoping like hell that Chronicle does well! Even if it doesn't, I'm sure he'll end up getting more offers. Not sure why he would ant to take the new Fantastic Four reboot anyway, I don't know if he's prepared to feel the wrath of the fanboys and fangirls. 

Chronicle looks like it will be an awesome movie worth seeing. I'm excited for it, and I think it will end up doing well. I think Trank will most likely be the man to take on Fantastic Four, and if that happens there's no way it could be any worse than the first two films that were made. What do you think about all this?

Source: Variety (http://www.showblitz.com/2012/01/chronicle-director-trank-rolling-toward-fantastic-four-reboot.html)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is my number one most anticipated film of 2012, and today I bring you a fantastic new image featuring Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins with his sword Sting. This is the most badass image of Bilbo that we've seen so far. Damn, I cant wait to see this movie! 

Screenwriter Philippa Boyens had this to say in a recent interview about what kind of movie this will be,

The story is very much a children’s story so deciding how to tell this was one of the first things we had to do. Who is the audience? It is very distinctly different, tonally, to ‘Lord of the Rings’ until the very end and then you begin to see the world of Middle-earth opening up… but, having said that, we felt that it is the same audience [who will come to see the films] and then you start to worry because it is easy to repeat yourself. It is quite a similar journey, you’re going from the Shire to a large, dangerous mountain.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released beginning December 14, 2012. The second film, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, is set for release the following year, on December 13, 2013. Watch the new trailer again below.

Check out the synopsis below:

The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, the character he played in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins. Also reprising their roles from The Lord of the Rings movies are: Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Ian Holm as the elder Bilbo; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Elijah Wood as Frodo; Orlando Bloom as Legolas; and Andy Serkis as Gollum.

The ensemble cast also includes (in alphabetical order) Richard Armitage, John Bell, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen,Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Barry Humphries, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher,Evangeline Lilly, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, Mike Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Lee Pace,Mikael Persbrandt, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott, Jeffrey Thomas, and Aidan Turner.

The screenplays for both The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again are by Fran Walsh,Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson. Jackson is also producing the films, together with Fran Walsh andCarolynne Cunningham. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Ken Kamins, Toby Emmerich and Zane Weiner, with Boyens serving as co-producer.

Source: LA Times (http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/01/14/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-new-photo-peter-jackson-martin-freeman/)

Production has finally begun on the long awaited sequel to J.J. Abrams' Star Trek! There's hardly any information of what this sequel will be about, but it's got a hell of a great cast, writers, and director so I have no doubt that most of us will end up being happy with the outcome. I'm excited to see the next chapter in this franchise. 

Here's the full press release with the announcement: 

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14, 2012 – Paramount Pictures announced that principal photography has commenced in Los Angeles, CA on the sequel to STAR TREK from director J.J. Abrams. The film will be released on May 17, 2013 in 3D. The 2009 re-launch of the “Star Trek” franchise by Abrams was met with critical acclaim and a worldwide gross of over $385 million at the box office.

Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions present a Bad Robot Production of a J.J. Abrams Film. Returning to their posts on the Enterprise are John Cho, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, and Anton Yelchin. They are joined by new cast members Benedict Cumberbatch, Alice Eve and Peter Weller.

Based upon “Star Trek” created by Gene Roddenberry, the film is produced by J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Damon Lindelof, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The script was written by Alex Kurtzman & Robert Orci & Damon Lindelof.

Jeffrey Chernov, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Paul Schwake are the executive producers. The director of photography is Dan Mindel, ASC, BSC. The production designer is Scott Chambliss. The film is edited by Maryann Brandon, A.C.E. and Mary Jo Markey, A.C.E. The costume designer is Michael Kaplan. The music is by Michael Giacchino.

This photo mashup was just too awesome not to share with you all! As you can see it features Adam West's Batman about to drop a bomb on Heath Ledger's Joker. This might be a little old, so sorry if you've already seen it, but it was in my inbox this morning and it's the first time I've seen it. 

Thanks to GT reader Keri for the tip! 

Source: I Run The Internet (http://iruntheinternet.com/0676)