Ever since Zombieland was a massive break-out hit, there has been a lot of talk about what director Ruben Fleischer will do next. A 3D sequel is in the cards, but he’s been slow to take on any of the many films that have come his way. Now there are reports that say he could well end up directing a comedy called 30 Minutes or Less, which is being developed as a star vehicle for Danny McBride. Read More »
It looks like they have begun to test screen David Gordon Green’s new comedy Your Highness, starring Danny McBride, James Franco, Natalie Portman and Zooey Deschanel. After the jump you can find a round up of comments from IMDb, Twitter and other sources, from TEN people who claim to have attended the recent test screening in Burbank on February 18th 2010.
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Now that Danny McBride and Jody Hill ostensibly have the keys to the kingdom by way of their new production company, Rough House Pictures, the world of comedy better watch its stagnant ass. Hill is attached to direct, and McBride to star as a “beaten down, hardboiled private investigator,” in a new action-comedy called L.A.P.I. Their pal and fellow North Carolina School of the Arts alum, David Gordon Green, who co-founded the company with them last year, will co-produce.
What’s intriguing is that unlike their previous collaborations The Foot Fist Way, HBO’s Eastbound & Down, and Observe & Report, the idea and pitch for L.A.P.I. originates outside the crew’s creative circle, from screenwriter team Michael Diliberti and Matthew Sullivan. The duo have two other buzzing projects in development: a comedy entitled Comic Con (one of two scripts by these guys on the 2009 Black List) and a remake of Brewster’s Millions. McBride and Hill are pretty damn selective about material, so I can’t wait to hear more and see what appealed to them. Read the official press release and additional /Film thoughts after the jump. Or just go celebrate in your backyard by waving around a machete and leaving uncool magical trails…
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In recent times, Adam Scott has sparkled in pop-culture for two masterful performances as manicured, modern cornholios in the Will Ferrell-endorsed comedies Step Brothers and Eastbound & Down. In the former, his character coached an obnoxious wife and kids in a caravan acapella of “Sweet Child of Mine,” while faithfully rocking a Bluetooth headset. In the latter, Scott was a delusional assistant to an assistant of a Major League Baseball team who brags to Kenny Powers that his black AmEx can purchase fellatio from the Jonas Brothers. Ironically, Scott’s character proceeds to offer sex—even with “the kids”—to recruit Powers, a karma-deal that snorts the iconic wind from Powers’s mulleted sails.
On Party Down, one of the strongest and most left-field cable series to debut last year, Scott has managed to be just as funny and biting as the lead amongst a stellar ensemble cast. His character, Henry Pollard, is an out-of-work actor riding out his prime and the recession as an L.A. caterer, a role fleshed out with drama, depression and romance. But I was still surprised to see Scott’s performance in the upcoming indie, The Vicious Kind, which recently earned him an Independent Spirit Awards nom for Best Male Lead. He’s in serious company with Jeff Bridges and Colin Firth for playing a construction worked named Caleb Sinclaire. A self-righteous, aimless man with an estranged father (J.K. Simmons) and a misogynistic albeit amusingly bleak worldview, Caleb sinks to new lows in making a hate-play on his innocent brother’s weary girlfriend (Brittany Snow).
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Universal Pictures has released their 2010 movie preview, which included this first official photo from David Gordon Green’s Your Highness, starring Danny McBride, James Franco, Natalie Portman and Zooey Deschanel. Check out the full photo after the jump, click to enlarge.
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In July we posted the teaser trailer for Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me. And while the computer animated film is supposedly about a trio of orphan girls cause the normally deplorable Gru to rethink his plan to steal the moon, the trailer focused on something else entirely: a world which has had famous landmarks stolen and completely replaced by giant blow-up replicas. The main character of the movie - Gru, who is voiced by Steve Carell, made a little more than a cameo appearance. It wasn’t even clear if the footage or characters from the trailer was even part of the movie at all.
Last month they released a second teaser trailer which focused more on the world’s #2 super-villain character Gru, and his attempts to break into a secret lair of the world’s #1 super-villain Vector. Today a third teaser trailer dropped, and I’m more confused than ever. What is this movie about again? A studio press release informs me that the creates in the trailer (and pictured on the movie poster, seen after the jump) are part of Gru’s army of not-so-bright Minions which help him carry out his diabolical plans… unless of course, they get their hands on a Moo Cow Toy!
Hardworking and devoted to their leader and his mad exploits, the Minions are content to serve as his crash test dummies along the way. After all, Gru is planning the biggest heist in the history of the world…to steal the moon!
The voice cast line-up is pretty impressive, with a handful of Judd Apatow regulars with a couple nice surprises: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett, Danny McBride, Jemaine Clement, Miranda Cosgrove and Julie Andrews. However, you don’t really get to hear any of these voices in action in the new trailer. Watch the trailer after the jump, and leave your thoughts in the comments below.
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Mandate Pictures have signed a two-year first-look deal with David Gordon Green, Jody Hill and Danny McBride to produce high concept comedies with their brand of humor under a new label - Rough House Pictures. The trio have been making movies together since college, where they all attended the North Carolina School of the Arts. Green says the aim is to produce a slate of comedy projects that are “a little left of center.” Read the full press release after the jump.
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Viral videos have popped up this week under the guise of scratchy infomercials for something horrendously called The American Budget Shopping Network. A few readers have emailed in to ask if these are previews for the upcoming season of Eastbound & Down, which is understandable since they are hosted by Andrew Daly, aka Principle “I’ve been goin’ a little bit of crazy” Cutler, and are faux-aired from North Carolina. Well, they aren’t for the show’s second season, but they are directed by series co-creator, Jody Hill, and tie into his native town of Concord. View all five videos and find out what they are for after the jump, or call 1-888-TAB-9373 to order a “Candy Lamp” from a distraught Daly.
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Tacked to the end of an unrelated story in the trades is first word that David Gordon Green’s remake of Suspiria will begin shooting next year. This consciousness-altering bit of movie news was discovered by The Playlist. Curtsy. Green, who has managed to maintain his indie cred (Snow Angels) and establish box office pull and mainstream cachet (Pineapple Express), is currently in Ireland helming the Danny McBride stoner fantasia Your Highness for Universal. Last summer, I covered a rumor that Natalie Portman was cast as the lead in his Suspiria flick; as with today there was never a solid follow-up. However, Portman was later cast as the warrior princess/McBride’s unlikely love interest in Your Highness and previously expressed interest in the role.
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Wizard people, dear reader. The casting director on Your Highness must really hate shitty talent. Today brings confirmation that Justin Theroux, the guy burdened with writing Iron Man 2 and hiding scythe-like eyebrows, will play a badguy wizard in the R-rated stoner fantasia due 2010 from Pineapple Express director David Gordon Green.
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