Fox Makes Commissioner Gordon TV Series
The Fox television network is making a Batman spin-off TV series based on the origin story of Police Commissioner Gordon. Written by Bruno Heller (Rome & The Mentalist) the new show will feature Gordon as a young detective, squaring off against some of Batman’s best known foes without the help of the dark knight. Gary Oldman played Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy but is almost certain to be replaced with a younger actor for the new series.
The news came just hours before the American television debut of Marvel’s new Avengers spin-off series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Fox’s new Batman inspired series will go under the title Gotham and the network has already commissioned a full series. Fox are also developing comic book adaptations for both Unthinkable and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
BFI London Film Festival 2013 Top 10 Must See Films
This year’s official line up for the BFI London Film Festival 2013 boasts over 230 features, many of which will be receiving world premieres on the red carpet in Leicester Square in the Heart of London. Here’s our top pick for the top 10 films you should be sure not to miss at this year’s public screenings:
1). Don Jon
Don Jon marks the bold directing debut of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, based on his own provocative screenplay. The versatile rising superstar takes the lead, directing himself as walking Jersey Shore stereotype Jon Martello. The typically boyish actor transforms himself into a swaggering gym buff meathead, struggling to choose between his unashamed porn addiction and his real life Jersey dream girl, played by a smouldering Scarlett Johansson. Looking beyond easy laughs and lazy stereotypes, Don Jon promises to serve as both a brash love story and a timely comment on the perils of pervasive internet pornography.
2). 12 Years A Slave
Festival favourite Director Steve McQueen adds to his impressive resume (Hunger, Shame) with easily his most ambitious and large scale production to date; boasting an all-star cast which includes Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch and a career defining turn from Chiwetel Ejiofor. Based on the poignant real life memoirs of Solomon Northup, it’s the story of a free man kidnapped and forced into over a decade of brutal plantation slavery prior to the American Civil War. Expect it to a more searing psychological exploration of the true horrors of slavery than either Django Unchained or Lincoln.
3). Only Lovers Left Alive
Director Jim Jarmusch recaptures the aching gothic romance of vampirism with a sweeping tale of lust and longing between two centuries old vampires. The mesmeric Tom Hiddleston plays reclusive undead rock star Adam, while Tilda Swinton plays his former flame Eve. Their passionate reunion after many years of lustful separation is disrupted by Eve’s precocious sister Ava, in the tempting shape of Mia Wasikowska. The enviable cast is capable of providing the perfect mix of poised composure and barely restrained rampant passions needed.
*Tom Hiddleston fans should also make sure to check out short film Out of Darkness, with the compassionate star helping to deliver a very important message.
4). Nebraska
Distinguished actor Bruce Dern grabbed the Best Actor award in Cannes for his turn in Nebraska. He plays a cantankerous father taking an ill-advised road trip across the American Midwest with his son, on a doomed quest to claim some obviously fictitious lottery winnings. Director Alexander Payne (The Descendants) spins a sincere tale of sweet and sour self-discovery, balancing biting humour and genuine sadness. Nebraska promises to provide a deeply ambivalent portrait of small-town America that digs beneath sentimental stereotypes but stops short of uncomfortable total despair. It’s also worth watching to assess Dern’s prospects as an early Oscars candidate.
5). Gavity
A painstaking five year labour of love for Director Alfonso Cuaron, Gavity is an equally beautiful and terrifying space adventure that sees two astronauts stranded in orbit after satellite debris obliterates their shuttle. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney tackle the human drama whilst VFX supervisor Tim Webber gives audiences an immersive 3D vision of space unlike anything they’ll have seen before.
6). Inside LLewyn Davis
The Coen Brothers bring their unique cinematic melancholy to 1960s folk music, with a predictably stellar cast that includes Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaacs, Justin Timberlake and frequent collaborator John Goodman. Expect a rambling homage to the sounds and self-indulgent sullen whimsy of the era. Oscar Issacs tackles lead role duties in a career launching turn as a shambolic musician struggling to pay his way whilst outstaying his welcome with increasingly frustrated friends. A lost marmalade cat and an inconvenient pregnancy help ramp up the drama.
7). Blue Is The Warmest Colour
Headline grabbing Cannes Palme d’Or winner Blue Is The Warmest Colour is a provocative tale of love between two young women. Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux give bravely uninhibited performances that sizzle with messy passion and sensuous lust. Director Abdellatif Kechiche stimulated controversy with his intimate taboo busting portrayal of lesbian romance. Going beyond simple voyeurism, the film offers delicate social observation and mesmerizingly intimate moments of sincere turbulent love.
8). The Double
The IT Crowd star Richard Ayoade follows up his impressive directorial debut Submarine with a quirky re-telling of Fydor Dostoevsky’s acclaimed novella. It’s a strange tale of an unappreciated office worker who finds himself pushed to the brink of madness when a charismatic man who looks exactly like him unexpectedly arrives. Expect a film laced with wry dark humour complimented by the ensemble talents of Jesse Eisenberg, Noah Taylor, Wallace Shawn and Mia Wasikowska.
9). Under The Skin
Sexy Beast director Jonathan Glazer transforms Scarlett Johnasson into a predatory (occasionally naked) alien femme fatale, stalking the men of Glasgow and the desolate Scottish highways. It’s a jarring mix of warped psychosexual fantasy and gritty realism. Filmed on location in Scotland and accompanied by an ominous synth soundtrack expect this to be one of those weird gems that you encounter at the festival and lingers long in your memory after the closing night gala is all done and dusted.
10). Afternoon Delight
In this titillating comedy treat a wealthy LA housewife takes the unlikely step of inviting an alluring sex worker to stay at her home in the hopes of reigniting the passion in her sexually dysfunctional marriage. Rising Star Juno Temple plays the provocative stripper, whilst Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother) and Kathry Hahn play the confused couple. Writer Director Jill Soloway made her name as one of the creative forces behind superb black comedy drama Six Feet Under so carries credible expectation. Expect Afternoon Delight to witty gritty weird and perhaps brilliant.
Grace Of Monaco Release Delayed
The Weinsteinn Co. are reportedly pushing back the release date of Grace of Monaco, the film which sees Nicole Kidman play silver screen legend Grace Kelly. The story focuses on a turbulent time in Kelly’s marriage to Prince Rainier III.
The film had already premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, but has drawn criticism from the current Monaco Royal family, with Prince Albert II attacking the film for being ‘historically inaccurate’. In an official statement the Prince and his sisters alleged the film contains “Major historical untruths and a series of purely fictional scenes… The Prince and his family wish to emphasize that this film is by no mean a biopic”.
The news comes in the shadow of the recent public and critical backlash against Diana, the romantic melodrama that saw Naomi Watts play the Princess of Wales.
Grace of Monaco will now reportedly not arrive in cinemas until next year, in a move presumably designed to distance the film from the recent attacks and avoid unwelcome comparisons with the much derided Diana biopic.
Marvel Making Peggy Carter TV Series
Hayley Atwell recently reprized her role as Captain America’s love interest Peggy Carter for a new short film included on the Iron Man 3 Blu-ray/dvd release. She’s also going to be featuring at least briefly in big screen sequel Captain America The Winter Soldier, playing a older Agent Carter, reunited with a youthful Steve Rogers in the present day. However Marvel now also reportedly plans to launch a spin off TV series based around the character.
The new show in the early stages of development would go by the obvious title Agent Carter, following the adventures of the beautiful British agent introduced in Captain America The First Avenger. It’s expected that Network ABC might take responsibility for the show in line with their recent handling of Avengers spin-off show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
It’s unclear whether or not Hayley Atwell would be playing Carter in the new series or whether she’d be willing to commit herself to an entire series. The beautiful British actress is currently on stage in London’s West End in The Pride and about to stat working with Tom Hiddleston on Close Enough a biopic of war photographer Robert Capa.
Our recent video interview with Atwell below talking about Peggy Carter, working with Tom Hiddleston and her new play:
Disney & Jerry Bruckheimer Part Ways
Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer have officially parted ways. Despite a long history of collaboration and the vast box office success of Bruckheimer’s Pirates of The Caribbean franchise, it seems that the studio and the popular producer have lost enthusiasm for the relationship.
Many will be quick to point to the recent highly publicized box office catastrophe of Bruckheimer’s latest Disney Johnny Depp vehicle The Lone Ranger as the reason for the sudden split. The costly cowboy project had a bloated budget in excess of $200 million dollars, but only managed to haul back $29 million during it’s ominous opening weekend. Some analysts have estimated the flop may ultimately end up costing the studio about $190 million dollars.
In the official statement confirming the split with Bruckheimer, the studio was quick to try and assert that the colossal box office misfire wasn’t necessarily the reason for the break down of the relationship
“This is about a long-term relationship with lots of pluses and minuses. The Lone Ranger certainly didn’t help things, but we all have our wins and our losses, and this is an overall thing related to the company’s supply of projects from all these other places.”
Jerry Bruckheimer likewise has been quick to try and assert that:
“It’s not about Lone Ranger”.
The axed producer also confirmed that he won’t be producing any more films for Disney subsidiary Touchstone Pictures either:
“Films that fall into [Touchstone's] wheelhouse are supplied by DreamWorks.”
Apparently the end of the ongoing partnership with Disney won’t prevent Bruckheimer continuing to help develop the next Pirates of the Caribbean adventure and another possible National Treasure sequel.