Did You Know: Eli Roth claims he turned down The Hulk, Halo, and Live Free or Die Hard to instead make Hostel: Part II?

On March 25th, we had the opportunity to talk with most of the stars of Grindhouse. We will be posting the interviews leading up until the film’s release on April 6th 2007.
First up, we sat down with Josh Brolin (The Goonies, Hallow Man) and Marley Shelton (Pleasentville, Sin City) to talk about their dysfunctional doctor/nurse relationship in Robert Rodriguez’ Planet Terror. Shelton’s character was also featured in Tarantino’s Death Proof.

At SXSW, Robert Rodriguez announced a feature length Machete movie, based on the popular fake Grindhouse trailer. At this weekend’s Grindhouse junket we were able to grill Robert for more details on this new project.
“When I started doing the trailer and as soon as we started showing it to people they said we want to see this movie. Bob Weinstein even said that ‘I want to see that movie.’ So I thought we would probably make it then.  If audiences respond to it the way I think they might then I think we’ll make it.”
Quentin Tarantino jumped in:
“Robert pretty much has about 40 minutes of it anyway just from the [...]

Yesterday we reported that Grindhouse earned an R-Rating, days after Page Six suggested the film would be stuck with an NC-17 without massive cuts. We speculated that some of the more controversial sequences were probably cut for the theatrical release. Now co-director Robert Rodriguez checks in with an update.

Did You Know: Dreamgirls star and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson auditioned for Quentin Tarantino Death Proof segment of the Grindhouse exploitation double feature.
“Jennifer auditioned for my movie GRINDHOUSE, and it didn’t work out. But I love her,” admits Tarantino.
I bet Tarantino is regretting his casting decision now. I’m guessing that Hudson was probably gunning for the role that eventually went to either Rosario Dawson or Tracie Thoms.

PageSix is reporting that Grindhouse is headed for an NC-17 Rating.
“Some of it is so graphic and outrageous for a major Hollywood studio, there’s no question it’s headed for an NC-17 without big cuts,” says Page Six.

Some new photos from Planet Terror, Robert Rodriguez’ zombie horror segment of the much hyped double feature have turned up online. Check out the images below (after the jump). As always, left click for higher res.

F/X recently aired a 30 minute Grindhouse making of special, and Rose-McGowan has uploaded the footage for your enjoyment. Be warned however that the special includes a lot of new footage from the films and attached faux trailers, and is sure to spoil some plot points. So watch it quickly at your own risk as I’m not sure how long the footage will be available for download.
I want to go into the film fresh, so I can have ultimate enjoyment. But please, tell me how it looks.
Grindhouse hits theaters on April 6th 2007.

As you probably know by now, Grindhouse consists of two exploitation films, each with its own trailers for non existent b-movies. When the first trailer was unveiled, fans went crazy over a clip from the fake movie titled They Call Him Machete starring Rodriguez regular Danny Trejo. Well the response to the trailer footage was so great, that Rodriguez has decided to make the movie.
“I’ve got a direct-to-video in the States Machete movie, and internationally it could go out as a feature. We’ve got a script already and Danny Trejo says, ‘I’m in the best shape of my life, bro. I am so ready to do this movie!’ So it’s [...]

Looks like Bruce Willis will return to the series with yet another cameo.
“Bruce Willis is in this one too,” Bernie Mac revealed to MTV.
In Ocean’s Twelve, Willis made a cameo appearance as himself. It has not been revealed if he will be playing himself again, or a new character. I would assume that he will be back in the same role as a reoccurring joke.
Willis has been making a lot of cameos as of late. Most recently he was featured in The Astronaut Farmer in a multi-scene uncredited role. Willis will also make an uncredited appearance as Lt. Muldoon on the Planet Terror segment of Grindhouse.

Ocean’s Thirteen hits theaters on [...]

Janet Jackson has been cast opposite Tyler Perry in his next film, Why Did I Get Married, based on the filmmaker’s stage play. Does anyone like these Tyler Perry movies? Anyone?
Harry Potter’s Dumbledore, Sir Michael Gambon, is expecting to become a father at age 66.
Photos of Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore in Bikinis smoking a joint? No way.
Dreamgirls star Eddie Murphy stormed out of the Academy Awards after losing the Best Supporting Actor Oscar to Alan Arkin. May-be you shouldn’t have made Norbit!
Grab yourself a Grindhouse desktop wallpaper.
Academy Awards viewership went up 3%, but still didn’t crack the 40 million-viewer mark as it has three of the past six years. [...]

Last week a new Grindhouse movie trailer and Theatrical Poster hit the web. Now we bring you the new Theatrical Banner, which should be hitting your local multi-plex this week. Click on the picture above to see the banner at a higher resolution.

The new movie trailer hit on Thursday, and today we bring you the New Theatrical Poster.

With Sony’s Ghost Rider hitting theaters on Friday, expect new trailers for Resident Evil: Extinction and Grindhouse to be attached.