On Box-Office-Mojo’s MPAA Ratings update we finally have official confirmation that Dexter Fletcher’s “Rocketman” will indeed be rated R. The official guideline reads as follows, “Rocketman” is Rated R For language throughout, some drug use and sexual content.”
Read moreBaz Luhrmann to Direct Tom Hanks in Upcoming Elvis Presley. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Of course, we all knew that “Bohemian Rhapsody” would just kick-start a whirlwind of Hollywood rock biopics.
Tom Hanks is in negotiations to play Elvis Presley’s manager Colonel Tom Parker. Baz Luhrmann is set to direct the biopic about Presley, which is from a script by “Fifty Shades of Grey” scribe Kelly Marcel.
Wait? What?! Baz Luhrmann? He hasn’t directed a feature-length film since 2013’s “The Great Gatsby.” Before that he had a time-capsule-worthy bomb titled “Australia”? Remember that one? Luhrmann’s claim to fame will always be 2001’s “Moulin Rouge” a frenetic and daring musical that took so many risks, but worked, for the most part. Also, to Gen X-ers at least, 1996’s “Romeo & Juliet” is some kind of classic, maybe the first time Leonardo DiCaprio was noticed by the mainstream before being catapulted to fame the following year with “Titanic.” The last we heard from Luhrmann was when he directed the two seasons from the 2016-2017 Netlfix series “The Get Down,” which was about the beginnings of disco.
According to Variety, Luhrmann wants a newcomer for the role of Presley and he has begun the casting process. The hope is for the as-of-yet-untitled film to start shooting this year.
Martin Scorsese To Release A New Bob Dylan Doc On Netflix Later This Year
Martin Scorsese will be directing another Bob Dylan documentary and he's going the Netflixagain route for its release.
Read moreMr. Rogers biopic starring Tom Hanks officially titled “A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood”
Tom Hanks' Mr. Rogers movie is now officially titled "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood." The film was originally called "You Are My Friend?" but Variety‘s Matt Donnelly is reporting on this new title.
The film will be directed by Marielle Heller ("Diary of a Teenager Girl," "Can You Ever Forgive Me?") with Universal in charge of releasing it on 10.18.19. I do wonder how this will go down as far as the dramatic potential a film about such a benign man could bring. Did Rogers have any actual drama happen in his life? He was, by all accounts, a safe, liberal-minded do-gooder that didn't have controversy surround him in his 40+ years on the air. The film will most likely tackle his fight to push for diversity and inclusivity in his show.
How 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Lied About Queen Breaking Up and Freddie Mercury's HIV diagnosis
Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” delivered great numbers at the week-end box-office with a $50M debut. The rock biopic has thus been reborn. I found the film's strongest moments to be the musical sections, which had the band putting together some of their most well-known songs in the studio and, of course, an 11 minute recreation of their legendary 1985 Live Aid performance.
Read moreJean-Marc Vallée to Direct John Lennon Bio-Pic
Jean-Marc Vallée is so busy these days that one tends to forget he hasn't directed an actual movie in 4 years, that would be 2015's "Demolition." His success in Hollywood with “Dallas Buyers Club,” and “Wild,” has led to two popular HBO shows: “Big Little Lies” and “Sharp Objects.” So what's next for him? How about tackling the John Lennon and Yoko Ono story.
According to Deadline, Vallée will direct the Ono/Lennon biopic for Universal. In fact, he wanted to make the film so badly that he took himself out of the running for "Bond 25" for which he was put on the shortlist by Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.
Luca Guadagnino Working on Film Adaptation of Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks"
In a recent New Yorker interview with director Luca Guadagnino ("Call Me by Your Name"), it was revealed that a film adaptation of Bob Dylan’s 1975 album "Blood on the Tracks" is being worked on, with Guadagnino set to direct and Richard LaGravenese writing the screenplay. Digging up for more information I stumbled upon a source telling SPIN that the film will tell “a multiyear story, set in the seventies, that [LaGravenese] and Guadagnino had invented, drawing on the album’s central themes.” LaGravenese tells the New Yorker about the characters: “When they’re repressing, we dramatize the repression, and what that does to them. And we dramatize what happens when you let your passions take over too much.”
It looks like they're going for a "I'm Not There" type of narrative. A risky endeavor, if you ask me, but well worth a shot. "Blood on the Tracks" is an incredible work of art.
Bryan Singer Denies Allegations In Upcoming Esquire Exposée
There's a lot of talk about an upcoming Esquire article which will recap all of Bryan Singer‘s sexually promiscuous misdeeds, so today Singer decided to write a scathing rebuttal on his social media.
In an Instagram post, Singer states, “I have known for some time that Esquire magazine may publish a negative article about me. They have contacted my friends, colleagues, and people I don’t even know.” He continues on by saying that the upcoming exposée is an example of a recurrent trend these days where “careers are being harmed by mere accusations.”
Read moreChristian Bale as Dick Cheney revealed in first ‘Vice’ trailer
There are only three Oscar contenders left to screen for the press; Mimi Leder's Ruth Bader Ginsberg biopic "On the Basis of Sex," Bryan Singer's Freddy Mercury biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody," and, most importantly, "The Big Short" director Adam McKay's Dick Cheney/Bush-years film "Vice."
The latter finally has a trailer.
Read moreElton John Biopic "Rocket Man" Shoots For the Stars [Trailer]
I grew up listening to Elton John on a relentless basis. I didn't get to the classic albums ("Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," and "Honky Chateau") because there were just so many songs to catch up to before I could catch up to the records. He's had 19 top ten hits on the Billboard singles chart, and if you reach forward to top 40 the count is 57. That makes him the third most successful artist in the history of the American music, behind only Elvis Presley and the Beatles.
The greatest Elton John songs, as far as I'm concerned, are
Read moreTom Hanks as Mister Rogers on the set of 'You Are My Friend'
As per press release:
"Two-time Oscar®-winner Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers in Untitled Mr. Rogers/Tom Hanks Project, a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Emmy winner Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about empathy, kindness, and decency from America’s most beloved neighbor."
The film will be directed by Marielle Heller ("Diary of a Teenager Girl," "Can You Ever Forgive Me?").
BREAKING: Steven Soderbergh has stepped in to finish "The Batman Part II" as Matt Reeves remains away due to family reasons. This is a beautiful gesture, if you ask me: a filmmaker helping out a fellow filmmaker.