Source: Peter Jackson Facebook | ComingSoon.net | Posted By: Dan Geer

Well, that didn’t take long.

For the last month or so, there have been rumblings of director Peter Jackson wanting to somehow expand his two-part film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. His idea was to actually shoot more footage for the films, either for the inevitable Extended Editions, or for a trilogy.

While many dismissed this from being true at first, Jackson opened up a bit about it at San Diego Comic-Con, and then it was confirmed last week that Jackson was indeed in talks with Warner Brothers to turn The Hobbit into a trilogy. The plan was to arrange things so that Jackson and company could shoot more footage next summer, given that a financial arrangement could be agreed upon, certain rights to The Hobbit could be reinforced, and new actor deals could be secured.

Today, it was officially announced that the deal has been finalized, and The Hobbit will indeed become a trilogy. Read on for Peter Jackson’s statement, as well as the official Warner Brothers press release!

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Source: Collider | Posted By: Dan Geer

Ever since Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull came and went back in 2008, some Indy fans felt that it lacked that certain spark that the original three had, and hoped that George Lucas and Steven Spielberg would not make another. Others, like myself, rather liked the fourth installment, but felt that they could have done better, and maybe could do so if given one more chance. After all, it was the odd numbered Indiana Jones films that were the best.

We’ve been offered a number of updates in the last four years on a possible Indiana Jones 5, but nothing concrete. It was reported in 2010 that Harrison Ford said that he, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas had sort of agreed on a “germ of an idea” and that they were going to see what comes of it.  The latest update came last December, where Lucas had said that he had told Spielberg about the story idea and its genre, but that he still did not have the MacGuffin (the plot device that drives the story, such as the Ark of the Covenant).

Now, Indiana Jones producer Frank Marshall has given the latest update, basically shooting down the possibility of a fifth installment. Hit the jump to read what he had to say.

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Source: THR | Deadline | ComingSoon.net | HitFix | Variety | Posted By: Dan Geer

Just a couple of weeks ago, director Peter Jackson came to San Diego Comic-Con to give fans a glimpse of what is to come this December in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, as well as the “last days” of shooting The Hobbit films. It was there that the acclaimed director started talking about how he actually wants to shoot more footage for The Hobbit, which got everyone talking about whether this would mean more material for future Extended Editions of the two films on Blu-ray and DVD, or if he actually might somehow turn his two-part film adaptation into a trilogy.

At the time, he didn’t seem to know what form this could take on, if it were to happen at all. Most seems to think that, if it were to occur, Extended Editions would be more likely to happen than the creation of an entire third film. Well, as it turns out, The Hollywood Reporter is now reporting that talks have indeed begun between Peter Jackson and Warner Brothers to somehow turn the two Hobbit films into a trilogy. Read on for a break down of how it has come to this point, and what this could mean for the franchise.

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Source: IGN | Posted By: Dan Geer

Director Kevin Tancharoen, who directed last year’s successful Mortal Kombat: Legacy web series, announced yesterday at San Diego Comic-Con that there will be a Season 2. Based on the popular Mortal Kombat video games, Season 2 of the online series will apparently focus on the MK Tournaments, unlike Season 1, which centered primarily on setting up the tournament’s major players. Hit the jump to watch the video announcement – which, by the way is actually quite comical.

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Source: Peter Jackson Facebook | LA Times | Posted By: Dan Geer

A few months ago director Peter Jackson screened footage from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey at CinemaCon in the actual frame rate the film was shot in, which is 48 fps. For those of you not in the know, for the last 80 years or so, films have been shot at 24 fps (frames per second). At 48, things like motion blur seem to be non-existent and footage appears to be more “real” than ever before, according to those who have filmed at this frame rate, such as Jackson.

San Diego Comic-Con is happening as I write this, and yesterday Jackson commented to the LA Times that he would not be screening The Hobbit footage there at 48 fps this time around, because of all the negative responses last time around from various news outlets and bloggers who claimed that the footage looked like video, sort of like what soap operas or sporting events look like in HD. They essentially claimed the footage almost looked fake. Jackson says that, by screening the footage at 24 fps at the Con, people will report more on the film’s content, performances, etc., and not be distracted by things they may find not so appealing, such as 48 fps.

After his comments to the LA Times were made public yesterday, some bloggers made the accusation that Jackson is trying to cover up how “bad” the footage looks at 48 fps, as if Jackson got cold feet. However, the acclaimed film director has released a more detailed response via his Facebook page addressing in full his decision to screen the footage at 24 fps. Read on to see what he had to say!

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Source: Collider | Posted By: Dan Geer

Tidbits for Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful have been scarce as of late, but things are now starting to kick into gear for The Wizard of Oz prequel, due to the film’s upcoming preview panel at San Diego Comic-Con. While we can be quite confident that a teaser trailer for the Sam Raimi-directed film will hit theaters some time in the near future, today Disney has debuted the first teaser poster for the film to hold us over until then.

Most of the time, teaser posters really aren’t anything special, but this particular one actually stands out and is quite artistic to say the least. It really gives us a good glimpse into the eye-popping fantasy world we have yet to fully experience in the film – just enough to keep us intrigued. Hit the jump to read the official synopsis of the film and to see the teaser poster in full!

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Source: Universal Pictures | Posted By: Dan Geer

Universal Pictures has finally released the full details regarding the release of eight classic Universal Monster movies in one Blu-ray set in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the company. Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection marks the first time each of these films have been “digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound,” according to the press release. The Blu-ray set will be released on October 2nd.

The films included in the set are Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), The Wolf Man (1941), The Mummy (1932), The Invisible Man (1933), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), and Phantom of the Opera (1943). Bonus features include previously released documentaries and commentaries from The Legacy DVD Collections, plus all-new features never before released. Not only that, but the original 3D version of Creature from the Black Lagoon will be included, marking the first time this particular version has been made available to the public. Read on for the full press release for all the fang-tastic details!

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Source: Deadline | Posted By: Dan Geer

Now we’re talking! Jurassic Park IV has been talked about for over a decade, but nothing has really been done about it until more recently. Last year, Steven Spielberg was toying around ideas for a fourth film, and claimed that we might see it in a few years time. Now, Deadline is reporting that Universal has hired Rise of the Planet of the Apes scribes Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver to pen the script for a fourth film.

This is the biggest step toward another Jurassic Park sequel that we have seen, and a smart one, since Rise of the Planet of the Apes was a very well-written film that went on to become quite successful. Spielberg will reportedly not direct, but will be on board as producer, along with long-time producing partners Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy. Rumors have been floating around for a while that the movie will reboot the franchise in a sense, essentially setting up for more potential sequels, but no plot details have been confirmed. More as we hear it!

Source: Tumbler Tour | Posted By: Dan Geer

For those of you not in the know, a life-size, drivable replica of “The Tumbler” Batmobile is on the road touring America right now, along with a replica of the Batpod (which apparently does not drive). Being a huge Batman fan, this is one of those things that I just can’t stop smiling about.

The Batmobile. Right in front of me. Just awesome.

Today, the Tumbler and Batpod arrived in Michigan, my home state. It has already made its way to a Walmart in Lansing, and should now be in Detroit somewhere in front of The Tigers’ Comerica Park as I type this. Hit the jump to check out pictures and video I shot (the video actually shows the Tumbler driving back into the moving truck!). [Update: All videos are now online]

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Source: Shock ’till You Drop | Posted By: Dan Geer

Last February, Hammer Pictures released The Woman in Black, starring Daniel Radcliffe, which ended up being quite a great addition to the Gothic horror genre. It also did fairly well at the box office, both domestically and overseas.

Needless to say, Hammer saw fit to green-light a sequel last April, but nothing was revealed about the picture except that Jon Croker (story editor for The Woman in Black) would be writing the sequel, titled The Woman in Black: Angels of Death. Today, Shock ’till You Drop got a hold of a plot synopsis for the film, which you can read below.

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