There’s a lot of breaking news in Hollywood happening every minute. In the age of the blockbuster, it’s easy for some smaller movie and television news to slip through the crack. Last Week in Hollywood is our new weekly series highlighting all the interesting news from the last week that we thought didn’t warrant its own post, but was still worth mentioning. It’s less personal opinions and more a hearty roundup of what you might have missed.
Kevin Hart, Will Smith Remaking Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Kevin Hart, who has remakes of The Great Outdoors and Scrooged in the works, has decided to ruin another beloved ’80s classic. Deadline reports Paramount is developing a Planes, Trains and Automobiles remake and Will Smith is attached to star alongside Hart. Aeysha Carr (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) is writing the script. The original 1987 comedy starred Steve Martin and John Candy.
Honestly, how about Paramount just develops a wholly original comedy road trip film starring Hart and Smith instead of trying to cash in on name recognition? There’s no way Hart and Smith will top Martin and Candy.
Peninsula Animated Prequel in the Works
Animator Yeon Sang-ho‘s live-action directorial debut Train to Busan was a global sensation, and he followed that up with a standalone sequel Peninsula. Now Yeon is developing an animated film which will act as a sequel to Train to Busan and a prequel to Peninsula.
Yeon has already directed one animated prequel in this universe, Seoul Station, which chronicled the beginning of the zombie plague that devastates South Korea. The filmmaker revealed the following to Polygon:
“A prequel to Peninsula: we are currently in talks about making a cartoon about the relationship between Unit 631 and Min-jung. I am hopeful that the story can be further expanded upon through the less inhibited cartoon medium.”
Melissa Barrera to star in Scream 5
Melissa Barrera will star in a key role in Scream 5. The actress is set to make her Hollywood feature film debut with Jon M. Chu’s Broadway musical adaptation In The Heights. Barerra joins returning favorites Courtney Cox and David Arquette. Barrera is the first new face to join the Scream 5 cast, and could potentially lead the franchise if the upcoming sequel is a success and reinvigorates the popular horror series Wes Craven helped create in the late ’90s.
The Beastmaster Negative is Missing
Don Coscarelli, the director and co-writer of the 1982 sword-and-sorcery movie The Beastmaster about a warrior who can telepathically communicate with animals, recently discovered that the original negative for Beastmaster has been lost and is asking the public to try and help him find it.
Coscarelli revealed:
“The rights holder sent [someone] to pick up the negative and the guy put it in his vault in the San Fernando valley. Then he sold the house and now he [doesn’t] know where it is. As they used to say in the labs, when we were making Phantasm, nothing’s ever lost, it’s just misplaced. We have this fervent hope that maybe we can reinvigorate this fan base of ours to go out and help find it.”
Coscarelli has set up the website whereisthebeastermaster.com for the hunt. Will you join the director in finding the original negative? Coscarelli hopes to find the original negative so that a planned restoration of the film can feature the best image possible.
Amanda Stenberg Cast in Dear Evan Hansen Adaptation
Amanda Stenberg (The Hate U Give) has been cast as Alana Beck in the upcoming film adaptation of Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen. Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) is set to direct. She joins Kaitlyn Denver who was previously cast as Zoe Murphy.
Jamie Foxx Talks Spawn Movie
Yup that Spawn movie from Todd McFarlane is still in the works. And apparently it still even has Jamie Foxx attached to star as the titular hero. During a recent interview with Yahoo, Foxx said this about the movie:
“I surprised Todd McFarlane. I said, ‘Bro, I know that one day you will do this movie, and I hope you will keep me in mind.’ What Black Panther did was let us know that it’s so necessary, and it’s the time. And Spawn is just an interesting character in itself. The heads that are being put together to bring you something special – look out.”
Producer Jason Blum has recently been quoted saying production has made some big strides, so there’s a chance we could see Spawn hit screens within a couple of years.
The Exorcist Reboot in the Works
Deadline has seemingly revealed that a reboot of The Exorcist is in the works at Morgan Creek. The reboot of the 1973 horror classic is stated to be in the works for a planned theatrical release in 2021. No cast or director has been announced, and Morgan Creek has yet to confirm the news is true. Back in 2017, Morgan Creek Entertainment Group said that ideally, the company would get the blessings of their library titles’ original creators before they move forward with new entries.
J.C. Chandor to Direct Kraven the Hunter
J.C. Chandor (Triple Frontier) has been hired to direct Sony‘s Kraven the Hunter film. Yes, you heard correctly, Sony is developing a Kraven solo film. Why? Who wants this? I don’t know. Honestly, I’d rather Kraven be used as the main villain in the upcoming Spider-Man sequel, but I guess Sony has bigger plans for the character.
Voice Cast Announced for del Toro’s Pinocchio
Ridley Scott’s Gucci Secures A-List Cast
Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Jack Huston, and Reeve Carney are all in talks to join Ridley Scott‘s Gucci biopic. Lady Gaga is already on board as Patrizia Reggiani, “the ex-wife of Maurizio Gucci, who was tried and convicted of orchestrating her ex-husband’s assassination on the steps of his office in 1995.”
Björk Joins Robert Eggers’ Next Film
Björk is set to play a Slav witch in Robert Eggers‘ next film, the Viking revenge movie The Northman. She joins a cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Alexander Skarsgård, Anya Taylor-Joy, Kate Dickie, Bill Skarsgård and Willem Dafoe.
Pedro Pascal to Join Nicolas Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) is in talks to join Nicolas Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent at Lionsgate. Pascal would play Javi, “a Nic Cage superfan who is not all that he appears to be.” Cage would star as himself who “creatively unfulfilled and facing financial ruin must accept a $1 million offer to attend the birthday of a super fan.” However, “when things take a wildly dangerous turn, Cage is forced to live up to his own legend, channeling his most iconic and beloved on-screen characters in order to save himself and his loved ones. With a career built for this very moment, the Academy Award winning iconic actor must take on the role of a lifetime: himself.”
That’s exactly the type of bizarre film Cage loves to find himself in these days. The film will be directed by Tom Gormican from a screenplay by Gormican & Kevin Etten. The film is expected to go into production this fall.
That’s it for last week. What projects mentioned are you interested in seeing once completed? Tell us down in the comments!
