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Disney Rolls Film on Into the Woods All-Star Musical

into-the-woods-album-obcrI’ve long looked forward to a movie musical production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods;” however, I did not expect Disney to be the studio to take it on. The subject matter does feature familiar Disney territory of fairytales, but while the stories are familiar kid tales, the situations are sometimes very adult. Never-the-less, Disney’s “Into the Woods” kicked off production last week, featuring an award-winning production team and all-star ensemble cast.

Rob Marshall, the talented filmmaker behind the Academy Award®-winning musical “Chicago” and Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” will direct the film. Legendary composer Stephen Sondheim will pen an all-new song for the big-screen adaptation. I can listen to the Broadway version of Into the Woods all day.

“Into the Woods” is a modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel—all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch who has put a curse on them.

The all-star ensemble cast below the jump:Read More »Disney Rolls Film on Into the Woods All-Star Musical

Disney Gets Final Approval to Improve Golden Oak Ranch

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have given final approval for Disney to redevelop a corner of their Golden Oak Ranch near Santa Clarita into a working Television and Film Studio. This project will play an important role in helping to keep film and… Read More »Disney Gets Final Approval to Improve Golden Oak Ranch

Tomorrowland – Disney’s New Mystery Adventure Film Starts Shooting

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It’s a big day for the production team of Disney’s mystery adventure film “Tomorrowland.” Principal photography has begun up in Vancouver, BC. The much anticipated film had a big presentation at D23 Expo to excite the fans and we eagerly await the first footage from it.

Tomorrowland stars two-time Academy Award winner George Clooney (“Michael Clayton,” “Syriana”), Hugh Laurie (“Monsters vs. Aliens,” “Arthur Christmas”), Britt Robertson (“Under The Dome”), Raffey Cassidy (“Dark Shadows,” “Snow White and the Huntsman”) and Thomas Robinson (“The Switch”). The film is directed, produced and co-written by two-time Oscar winner Brad Bird (“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” “The Incredibles”). Damon Lindelof (“Star Trek Into Darkness,” “Prometheus”) and Jeffrey Chernov (“Star Trek,” “Star Trek Into Darkness,” “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”) are also producers. The screenplay is written by Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof from a story by Lindelof & Jeff Jensen and Brad Bird.

Disney also released the first synopsis for the film:

Read More »Tomorrowland – Disney’s New Mystery Adventure Film Starts Shooting

First Poster of The Fifth Estate, Distributed by Disney for Dreamworks

I’ll admit to being a bit of a fanboy for Benedict Cumberbatch. This great bit of “time travel” promotion on behalf of The Fifth Estate at Buzzfeed tapped into the fan’s desire to see Cumberbatch have a juicy role in the Doctor Who universe, even… Read More »First Poster of The Fifth Estate, Distributed by Disney for Dreamworks

Guerrilla Style Film Shot at Walt Disney World Gets Release Date

“Escape from Tomorrow” a surreal horror film shot largely in guerrilla style un-sanctioned film making inside Walt Disney World and Disneyland now has a release date. After premiering at Sundance Film Festival, the film will see limited theatrical release and Video on Demand via FilmBuff… Read More »Guerrilla Style Film Shot at Walt Disney World Gets Release Date

D23 Expo: Live Action Movies from Marvel and Disney

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Disney’s box office calendar for the next few years has already been announced, but many projects lacked details. At D23 Expo we began to get some of the important details we’ve all been waiting for. Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, and Sean Bailey, President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, presented overviews of the upcoming Marvel Studios and Disney live action slates.

A recap of the presentation follows:

ANTHONY HOPKINS, NATALIE PORTMAN, TOM HIDDLESTON, KEVIN FEIGE (PRESIDENT, MARVEL STUDIOS)

  • Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” thundered into D23 with an introduction by its producer, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, who then introduced stars Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston and Anthony Hopkins to the excited crowd.

Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself.  In the aftermath of Marvel’s “Thor” and “Marvel’s The Avengers,” Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness.  Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano and Jaimie Alexander with Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” is directed by Alan Taylor, produced by Kevin Feige, p.g.a., from a story by Don Payne and Robert Rodat and screenplay by Christopher L. Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, and is based on Marvel’s classic Super Hero Thor, who first appeared in the comic book “Journey into Mystery “ #83 in August, 1962. The film releases November 8, 2013.Read More »D23 Expo: Live Action Movies from Marvel and Disney

New Poster for Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World

Hang on to your hats and glasses everyone, there’s a new “Payoff” poster out for Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World.” It features Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins and more in what is now a standard ‘assembled cast’ motif for Marvel’s Super Hero films.

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If you missed the teaser trailer from earlier this year, you can find it here. The full boilerplate for the movie and slate of upcoming Marvel releases is below the jump:
Read More »New Poster for Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World

Walt Disney Studios Greenlights Artemis Fowl Movie, Finally

artemisfowl-coverWith a fan base that rival’s Harry Potter the Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Colfer have spent a lot of time on the best sellers list. Now Disney hopes it can weave that into box office gold as well with a franchise based on the popular children’s fiction series The Weinstein company kept some of the rights for the Artemis Fowl series as part of its divorce from Disney, so they’ll get producer rights and the screenplay is being written by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix scribe Michael Goldenberg.

If you’re like me and haven’t read the books, here’s a short introduction:

Artemis Fowl is about a 12-year-old Artemis who is a millionaire, a genius – and above all, a criminal mastermind. But Artemis doesn’t know what he’s taken on when he kidnaps a fairy (Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit) to harness her magic to save his family. These aren’t the fairies of the bedtime stories – they’re dangerous.

“With its balance of mystery, adventure and family appeal, Artemis Fowl is a natural fit for Disney,” said Sean Bailey, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production. “We’re looking forward to collaborating with Harvey on this exciting project.”
Read More »Walt Disney Studios Greenlights Artemis Fowl Movie, Finally