Public Enemies - What Did You Think?
Last Airbender Trilogy Not Being Filmed Back-to-back, May Take Over 6 Years to Complete
Posted on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 by Devindra Hardawar
Last Airbender producer Frank Marshall recently confirmed that the trilogy of films will not be filmed back-to-back (Lord of the Rings style), but will instead be shot one at a time. M. Night Shyamalan is still working on the script for the second film, while also sketching out the trilogy’s greater mythology. Marshall notes that they still plan to take advantage of the sets and other elements from the first film in the sequels:
One of the things we’ll be doing is using the sets, ships and elements for each different nation in this film and incorporating them into movies two and three. We’re not waiting. There just isn’t enough time. Night will finish this movie, then the script and then we’ll prepare for the next one. I think it’ll probably happen over six years.
He also confirmed on Twitter that fan-favorite animal characters Appa (a flying bison, think Neverending Story), and Momo will be in the film.
M Night Shyamalan Launches Official Website/Interactive Experience
Posted on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 by Peter Sciretta
Director M Night Shyamalan has finally launched his official website. And as you might expect, its far from traditional. MNightShyamalan.com transports you into a dark mansion (possibly haunted) where you walk around and uncover clues which grant you access to rooms/locations from Shyamalan’s film history. I know this probably sounds like one of those annoying flash sites, where you’d rather just have easy access to a menu. And yes, it is that, but Night makes it worth your time by providing some extremely honest thoughts about his past films.
The official teaser trailer for M Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender is now online. On display are M Night’s signature extended seamless single takes (which I’ve always loved), ILM’s amazing air-bending effects and a logo that looks very similar to the Harry Potter series. Overall, it does a great job at teasing the big picture. I’m suddenly excited to see if this is the film that all the Avatar fans believe it can be. Paramount believes they have the first part of a trilogy. But who knows? Don’t call it a comeback just yet, but I think M Night will have the interest of his harshest critics after this teaser debuts in front of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Thanks to /Film reader Thurston for the tip. Watch the trailer now after the jump. As always, leave your thoughts in the comments below.
A Brief First Look at The Last Airbender Teaser Trailer
Posted on Saturday, June 20th, 2009 by Peter Sciretta
On Monday, Entertainment Tonight will have an early premiere of the teaser trailer for M Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender (likely complete with the annoying announcer talking over everything… ugh). The trailer officially premieres with Transformers on Tuesday night. /Film reader Diego V sent over a promo they ran on Friday’s show which shows a few select moments of The Last Airbender trailer along with a promo for their visit to the set of the Beauty and the Beast redo Beastly starring Vanessa Hudgens, Mary-Kate Olsen and Alex Pettyfer. Check out the promo after the jump.
New Last Airbender Casting Stays On Right Side Of Racebending Debate?
Posted on Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 by Brendon Connelly
Some more casting for M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender has been confirmed by the fansite Last Airbender Film, and it would seem, for once, to be an example of the filmmakers sidestepping controversy. Please welcome Isaac Jin Solstein, 10 year old Korean-American actor and black belt in Tang Soo Do and Soo Bahk Do. His role has been officially identified as “Earthbending Boy”, though fans of the show will probably already have inferred from this that he’s most very likely playing the character of Haru. After the break, a video example of Isaac doing his stuff and more on the casting controversy.
Three High Resolution Photos From The Last Airbender
Posted on Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 by Peter Sciretta
Paramount Pictures has sent over high resolution versions of the two photos released last week for M Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender. They have also been nice enough to send us the official release of the Dev Patel snow photo, which somehow leaked online last week.
A Better Look at Dev Patel in The Last Airbender
Posted on Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 by Brendon Connelly
The first official images from M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender appeared yesterday when US Today presented stills of Noah Ringer as Aang and Dev Patel as the ‘evil’ Zuko . I think that the first unofficial image of Zuko is much better however. I’ve presented a little of it above, with the whole thing lurking below the break.
I had the picture e-mailed to me overnight, without any explanation or fanfare. I’d reckon that it’s a screen capture from the teaser trailer. That teaser is due to unspool before Transformers 2 so the encode for online has doubtlessly already been done and I’d eat my shoe if that wasn’t the source of this image.
First Look: M Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender
Posted on Thursday, May 21st, 2009 by Peter Sciretta
Paramount Pictures has released the first photos from M Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender in Friday’s issue of USA Today. Above is the first photo of Aang (Noah Ringer), the “Last Airbender,” a 12-year-old regional karate star was who discovered in a Texas open casting call. After the jump we’ve also included a tv to film comparison of Dev Patel as Prince Zuko.
The Last Airbender Teaser Trailer Attached to Transformers 2
Posted on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 by Peter Sciretta
Producer Frank Marshall has confirmed that the teaser trailer M Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender, the big screen live action adaptation of Avatar, will be attached to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which hits theaters on June 24th 2009. ‘m sure the final trailer for G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra will also be attached, especially considering the the movie is also a Paramount release. It is possible that another high profile trailer might also be attached, although I haven’t heard any rumblings yet.
Airbender Set Pics Appear - From Philadelphia and Greenland
Posted on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 by Brendon Connelly
M. Night Shyamalan, cast and crew have rolled up in Reading, Pennsylvania to film some scenes for The Last Airbender. The principal location appears to be the Pagoda atop Penn Mountain, probably the most appropriate piece of architecture in Shyamalan’s beloved home state for the Eastern-ised aesthetic of the original cartoons, and apparently now the movie adaptation.
The Reading Eagle report that the location was dressed to represent a village destroyed by the “evil Fire nation”. Villains. More details and pictures below this virtual crease - some of which you might consider mild spoilers.
Slumdog Millionaire Star Joins The Last Airbender
Posted on Sunday, February 1st, 2009 by Peter Sciretta
M. Night Shyamalan is making some last minute casting changes on his live-action big screen adaptation of The Last Airbender, and the changes apparently have nothing to do with the intense criticism over the choice of hiring a mostly non-Asian cast (you didn’t expect him to right those wrong, did you?).
Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel will be replacing Jesse McCartney, who supposedly had schedule conflicts due to his music career. Night tells Variety that McCartney couldn’t make the martial arts boot camp that was set up for the cast of the film, and Patel was available to take his place.
Patel will play the Fire Nation’s evil prince Zuko. Exiled from the Fire Nation by his father, Zuko is sent to capture the Avatar in order to restore his honor and right to the throne. The film, which is the planned first in a trilogy, tells the story of Aang, the successor to a long line of Avatars who must put aside his irresponsible ways and stop the Fire Nation from enslaving the Water, Earth and Air nations. The Last Airbender is being targeted for a July 2nd 2010 release.
Curious Open Casting Call for The Last Airbender
Posted on Friday, January 23rd, 2009 by Peter Sciretta
/Film reader McGruff sends in this update on the casting of M Night Shyamalan’s big screen live action adaptation of Avatar, The Last Airbender.
