Now that director Marc Forster has wrapped production on the big screen adaptation of the epic zombie novel World War Z, he's ready to jump on board his next directing adventure. He's looking to adapt a World War II novel called The War Magician, which is based on a true story that's pretty damn incredible. 

The book was written by David Fisher and it tells the story of "British magician Jasper Maskelyne, who adapted the core principles of stage magic to warfare in ways that defied the imagination: Among his achievements, Maskelyne hid the port of Alexandria Harbor, made the Suez Canal disappear and tricked Germany's Gen. Erwin Rommel with a phantom army that didn't exist, a ruse that ultimately led to Rommel's defeat and became a turning point of WWII. Many of Maskelyne's inventions are still being utilized in warfare."

Doesn't that sound like it will make for a hell of a great movie!? I love the story behind this, and I seriously cant wait to see it turned into a feature film! Tom Cruise originally acquired the rights while he was at Paramount pictures. He was attached to star in it at the time as well, but the option ran out after the studio kicked Crusie off the lot. He's no longer attached to the project, and it will be interesting to see who ends up being cast in the lead role. 

Forster also directed the James Bond film Quantum of Solace, and I think He'll do a fantastic job bringing this story to life if he ends up officially taking it. 

Here's the Book Description:

Jasper Maskelyne was a world famous magician and illusionist in the 1930s. When war broke out, he volunteered his services to the British Army and was sent to Eygpt where the desert war had just begun. He used his skills to save the vital port of Alexandria from German bombers and to 'hide' the Suez Canal from them. He invented all sorts of camouflage methods to make trucks look like tanks and vice versa. Working for military intelligence, he put on a stage show inside the Royal Palace in Cairo in order to locate an enemy spy's radio transmitter. On Malta he developed 'the world's first portable holes': fake bomb craters used to fool the Germans into thinking they had hit their targets. His war culminated in the brilliant deception plan that won the Battle of El Alamein: the creation of an entire dummy army in the middle of the desert.

Source: Variety (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118049620)

According to Deadline, Robert Zemekis' classic 1985 film Back To The Future will be adapted into a Broadway stage production. Apparently Zemeckis is in "early talks with his co-writer Bob Gale and the film’s composer Alan Silvestri to explore a stage transfer." 

I honestly can't even imagine what a Back to the Future stage musical would look like. But I bet if it happens it will end up being awesomely entertaining and something every movie geek needs to see. What are your thoughts on this movie getting a Broadway musical makeover?

Source: Deadline (http://www.deadline.com/2012/02/will-back-to-the-future-find-its-way-to-broadway-stage/)

Today's Geek Art is called Caveman Iron Man, and it comes from the mind of DeviantArt artist Manarama. What do you think of this cool piece of art?

Here's the very first image from the set of J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie featuring the whole cast and crew. The photo comes from screenwriter Robert Orci with the following Tweet... "whole family, from in front and behind the camera." I can't wait for this movie!

Source: Bob Orci Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/boborci/status/165193381125947392/photo/1)

Millennium Entertainment has released this crazy looking new movie poster for Clive Owen's next film Intruders. The horror-thriller was directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, and here's the synopsis:

Though no one can see him, Hollow Face lurks in the corners, desperately desiring love but only knowing how to spread fear and hate. He creeps into the life of John Farrow (Clive Owen) after Farrow's beloved 13-year-old daughter Mia (Ella Purnell) is assaulted in their home. The line between the real and the imaginary blurs as fissures start to open within the family unit. It seems that no security measure can keep Hollow Face out.

From visionary filmmaker Juan Carlos Fresnadillo ("28 Weeks Later," the upcoming "Highlander" reboot), "Intruders" is the chilling story of two children living in different countries, each visited nightly by a faceless being who wants to take possession of them.

Owen usually picks good film projects to do, and this sounds like it could be pretty cool. The film is set to be released on March 30th, 2012.

Check out this great collection of superhero shadow art created by Lily’s Factory. The series includes dark silhouettes of Superman, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Green Lantern, The Flash, Batman, Hulk, Captain America, and Wonder Woman. I hope you enjoy these; tell us what you think!

Source: Via: Geek-Art (http://www.geek-art.net/lilys-factory-super-hero-shadows/)

Where the Wild Things Are director Spike Jonze has written and will direct an interesting new movie about a man "who falls in love with the voice of a computer, similar to the Siri feature on the new iPhone." Amy Adams, Carey Mulligan and Samantha Morton are all currently in discussions to join Joaquin Phoenix on the project. 

I love what Jonze does with the films that he makes, and I'm excited to see where he plans on taking the audience with this one. The story seems like something from that show My Strange Addiction. I saw an episode recently that focused on a man who was having a love affair with his car. It was pretty disturbing. 

It was previously believed that Charlie Kaufman had written the script for the film, but that turned out to be wrong. It was also previously described as being "a satire about how world leaders gather to figure out all the seismic events that will take place in the worlds, from oil prices to wars that will be waged." But I'm not sure how that fits in with a guy who falls in love with the voice of a computer. I guess we'll find out.

Thoughts?

Source: Deadline (http://www.deadline.com/2012/02/samantha-morton-amy-adams-and-carey-mulligan-circle-spike-jonze-film/)

Artist Alex Tuis has designed some sweet art that reimagines a number of famous actors as Marvel superheroes. Here is a description from his Blog:

I had always dreamed that one day we could see a Marvel Super Hero movie. 

Now we have the Spider-Man movies, the X-Men movies, Thor and now the Avengers. But they don't have my dream cast. 

I hope you will enjoy this original take on these famous characters.

My personal favorites are Rutger Hauer as Thor and Bruce Lee as Spidey. Check out the images below thanks to CBM.

Which is your favorite?

Follow @Jim_Napier

Are any of you looking forward to seeing McG's new action comedy romance This Means War? The film stars Tom Hardy and Chris Pine as two CIA agents who wage an epic battle against each another after they discover they have been seeing the same woman, played by Reese Witherspoon. 

I'm willing to give this movie a shot regardless of the fact it was directed by McG. I think these are the kinds of films he's actually meant to make. There's really nothing to them, but they provide fun entertainment. Here's a video that shows off about 9-minutes of film clips from the the movie. Check it out, and let us know what you think! The movie is set to be released on February 17th, 2012.

Open Road Films and Liddell Entertainment have released the official poster for Silent House, which was supposedly shot in "real-time." The supernatural thriller arrives in theaters on March 9, and stars Elizabeth Olsen (Martha, Marcy, May Marlene). Chris Kentis and Laura Lau (Open Water) co-directed the film, which claims the "silence will kill you." Lau wrote the screenplay based on the Uruguayan film La Casa Muda, written by Oscar Estevez.

Here is a description:

Silent House' is a uniquely unsettling horror thriller starring Elizabeth Olsen as Sarah, a young woman who finds herself sealed inside her family's secluded lake house. With no contact to the outside world, and no way out, panic turns to terror as events become increasingly ominous in and around the house.

I love the tagline - "Experience 88 minutes of real fear captured in real time." Check out the poster thanks to Bloody Disgusting.

Watch the trailer here, and visit the Facebook to become a fan.

Follow @Jim_Napier

Warner Bros. has released some new hi-resolution stills for Wrath of the Titans. Jonathan Liebesman (Battle Los Angeles) directed the sequel to the abysmally bad Clash of the Titans. From what I have seen of the trailer, this does not look too much better. The sequel opens on March 30th.

Synopsis:

A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus (Worthington) --the demigod son of Zeus (Neeson)--is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius. Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity's lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades (Fiennes) and Poseidon (Danny Huston). The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld. Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus' godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramirez), switch loyalties and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans' strength grows stronger as Zeus' remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth. Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike),Poseidon's demigod son, Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind. 

Check out the new stills that give us our first look at Perseus and Andromeda thanks to Kino Gallery via CBM:

Are you looking forward to seeing this movie?

Follow @Jim_Napier

Here is a new still for the the highly-anticipated sequel Riddick, which shows Vin Diesel looking bad ass.  The image was posted on Diesel's Facebook page and it came along with this note:

First time I posted about Riddick was back in 2009, Facebook was fresh... 
They were asking me to come to the headquarters to talk about this new concept of communicating with fans. I was proud to lead that wave, yet all I was doing, was opening up about my passion - film.

So this picture of Our 2012 production of Riddick, is a cool victory for all of us... it shows that studios can be influenced by your voice.

P.s. Proud of Our Riddick team.

David Twohy wrote and directed this sci-fi sequel. Check out some another recent image from the film HERE.

Here's some previously released information on the film:

Betrayed by his own kind and left for dead on a desolate planet, Riddick (Diesel) fights for survival against alien predators and becomes more powerful and dangerous than ever before. Soon bounty hunters from throughout the galaxy descend on Riddick only to find themselves pawns in his greater scheme for revenge. With his enemies right where he wants them, Riddick unleashes a vicious attack of vengeance before returning to his home planet of Furya to save it from destruction.

Riddick is a direct sequel to Pitch Black – the events tie into that film. In much the same way the upcoming Dark Knight Rises will tie up any loose threads and plot points from Batman Begins, Riddick will return to the mystery and monsters at the centre of Pitch Black.

Are you looking forward to seeing this movie?

Follow @Jim_Napier

I loved last year's horror film Insidious! I thought it was one of the best horror films I've seen in a long time. It both entertained the hell out of me and kind of scared me. I just loved the story. It's no surprise that this sequel is happening. Not only was it a great movie, but it was also a box office success, pulling in more than $100 million world wide, which is a great profit for a movie budgeted around $1.5 million. 

Jason Blum is back on board as the producer of the sequel, and he's currently in talks with the original team, director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell, to return and develop the new horror film. I'll be a bit more excited about this movie if this original creative team officially jumps back on board. As much as I enjoyed the first movie, I don't think it really needs a sequel. But since they are moving forward with it anyway, let's hope it turns out as good as or better than the first. 

Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne starred in the first installment as parents who think their house is haunted, but come to realize that one of their sons' spirit has left his body and a horde of spirits is trying to posses it. If you haven't seen the first movie you, you need to watch it now! It's currently available on Instant Netflix. There's no word on if any members of the orignal cast will return. 

What are your thoughts on Insidious getting a sequel?

Groundhog Day is my favorite Bill Murray movie, hands down. There are certain movies that I can just put on and play over-and-over - Groundhog Day is one of them. Murray plays newscaster Phil Connors, who is forced to live the same day over and over again, until he finally starts living his life the right way. Up until now, we have not had any clue as to why Connors had to repeat Groundhog Day.

Voiceover artist and ’80s character actor Eddie Deezen wrote an in-depth article on this very subject at Neatorama via /Film:

The second draft of Groundhog Day says, actually, it was caused by Phil’s scorned ex-girlfriend Stephanie. The second draft of Groundhog Day is pretty close to what we all see in the film. There is a bit more of Phil in the studio at the beginning, but nothing major. But also in the second draft, Stephanie, Phil’s ex-girlfriend, puts a curse on him. Literally, she opens a book of magic spells and does a little ritual that causes him to get stuck in time.

Near the beginning of this script, we meet Phil’s girlfriend, Stephanie, who Phil coldly and unceremoniously dumps. Later, as Phil is going to bed in Punxsutawney, we see Stephanie in her room, using Phil’s business cards and broken watch (conveniently set at 5:59) to perform a magic spell from a book titled 101 Curses, Spells, and Enchantments You Can Do At Home. This sets the theme of Groundhog Day in motion. There is no “higher purpose” given, just an angry, embittered ex-girlfriend with a little book.

For more inside information about the film, including how long Connors was actually stuck re-living that day (10,000 years), head over to Neatorama. I am glad that I am not the only one who loves this movie. What are your thoughts? Do you think that Groundhog Day is worth obsessing over?

Follow @Jim_Napier

Here's a awesomely simple design for a fan-made Raiders of the Lost Ark poster. It was created by Ridd Sorensen, and I absolutely love it. 

Shiloh Fernandez (Red Riding Hood) is set to star in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead remake, which is being directed by Fede Alvarez. He will take on the male lead in the film. Lily Collins recently dropped out of the lead female role, so the hunt is on to replace her. 

I'm not really familiar with anything Fernandez has done, as I haven't watched Red Riding Hood, and I don't really plan to. He's also been cast in another movie called Deep Powder for Killer films. Do any of you think he will make for a good addition to this highly anticipated horror reboot?

I'll be honest, I don't like him. He's got this look that makes me want him to die in the movie, and who knows... maybe he will. 

Catherine Keener (Being John Malkovich, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) has been cast in Captain Phillips, alongside Tom Hanks. She will play his wife in the film that tells the true story of the man taken hostage by Somali pirates.

Captain Richard Phillips captained the MV Maersk Alabama which was hijacked by Somali pirates in April of 2009. Phillips bravely offered himself as a hostage to protect his crew and spent three days as a prisoner before being rescued by a team of U.S. Navy SEALS. It's based on Phillip's memoir, A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea.

Dimension Films has found a writer for its reboot of Short Circuit. Variety reports that Matt Lieberman has been hired to write a script that will be directed by Tim Hill (Hop). All details are being kept under wrap, but the film will be a reimagining of the 1986 family film.

The original film followed "Johnny Five, an experimental military robot that develops intelligence and self-awareness after being struck by lightning. With the help of a troubled young boy, the robot tries to evade capture and convince his creator that he's truly alive."

The project has been in the works since 2009, when Dimension optioned remake rights. When Hill signed on to direct in August, the project gained momentum. David Foster, who produced the original, is producing along with Ryan E. Heppe, John Hyde, and Brian Manis. Production is slated to begin at the end of the year, for a scheduled release next summer.

Here is what Bob Weinstein had to say about the project:

Dimension has had great success with the 'Spy Kids' family series which grossed over $500 million worldwide. We are looking for 'Short Circuit' to be our next family franchise.

Lieberman worked on such Disney projects as The Muppets and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. I personally see no need for this reboot to happen. What are your thoughts?

Follow @Jim_Napier

Jon Favreau tweeted a link to a cool new commercial he directed for 5 Gum. I actually saw this commercial recently but had no idea Favreau directed it until his tweet went out to the world. The commercial turned out to be pretty bad ass. It features Daniel Ilabaca doing what's called parkour, which is that crazy cool sport of running, jumping, and flipping through city obsticles. Check it out below, and tell us what you think!