‘Predator’ reboot to begin filming – ‘Affleck becomes exec producer of Justice League’

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LOS ANGELES, May 7, (Agencies): Filming on the hotly-anticipated “Predator” reboot is set to begin by October, Director Shane Black revealed Friday, describing the latest in the action horror franchise as an “event” movie. “The Predator” due for release through 20th Century Fox in March 2018, has been shrouded in secrecy, but Black said it would be a significantly “bigger” film than its three predecessors.

“To the best of my knowledge, the train is rolling. It took some convincing because they’ve been putting out these movies all along with a $50-60 million budget, and they all had a guaranteed return,” he told AFP.

“But there was never the sense that it was an event picture. It was more like ‘I understand another Predator is coming out — maybe we’ll see it maybe we won’t.’”

The original “Predator” about a US special forces unit in Central America that encounter an alien who hunts them for sport, was a box office hit, although its sequels enjoyed less success. It didn’t make a huge impression among critics on its 1987 release but it has since become a cult hit, frequently placed on best horror and sci-fi lists, ensuring global attention for the reboot.

Revealed

Black, who played radioman Rick Hawkins in the original, has revealed it will be set in the present day — meaning events will take place 31 years after the original film. The 54-year-old director has said bringing back Arnold Schwarzenegger to reprise his starring role as Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer is “something we’re looking into.” Black, who directed 2013 Marvel blockbuster “Iron Man 3” confirmed shooting on “The Predator” would begin “in the latter part of the fall — September, October.”

Black made the announcement as he was promoting his latest film “The Nice Guys” a private eye comedy-thriller starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, which opens May 20. Veteran producer Joel Silver, who worked with Black on “The Nice Guys” also produced and was largely responsible for editing the original “Predator.” “This is the tone we want. This is the tone he established for the first ‘Predator.’ Now, make it bigger, but keep that tone,” Black said.

Ben Affleck has expanded his role in the DC universe by taking on the duties of executive producer on Warner Bros’ “Justice League: Part One” in addition to starring as Batman. Affleck will work with director Zack Snyder and screenwriter Chris Terrio on the script and weigh in on post-production.

Affleck has directing credits on “Gone Baby Gone” and “The Town.” He also produced, directed and starred in “Argo,” which won him a best picture Oscar. Terrio won the best original screenplay Academy Award for the same film. Affleck also nabbed a screenplay Oscar with Matt Damon for “Good Will Hunting.”

Snyder began shooting “Justice League: Part One” in April with Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Amy Adams, Amber Heard, Jeremy Irons, J. K. Simmons and Willem Dafoe. The film is scheduled to be released on Nov 17, 2017, with “Justice League: Part Two” set for June 14, 2019.

Affleck also announced in April at Cinemacon that he would direct and star in a standalone Batman movie. Warner Bros has already planned a sprawling slate of movies in the DC universe through 2020, with “Suicide Squad” slated for Aug 5, the two “Justice League” pics, “Aquaman”, “Cyborg” and “The Flash.”

“Batman v Superman” starring Affleck and Cavill, turned out to be mildly disappointing for Warner Bros with worldwide grosses hitting $865 million. Snyder directed from Terrio’s script.

Idris Elba is in talks to star alongside Jessica Chastain in Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut “Molly’s Game.” Chastain is in negotiations for the lead role of Molly Bloom. Stung after failing to make the Olympic team, Bloom decided to take a year off before law school and get a job as a waitress in Los Angeles. Through a bizarre set of circumstances as well as untapped entrepreneurial skills, she ended up making millions by running, for eight years, the most exclusive high-stakes poker game in the world. Her life came crashing down when 17 FBI agents armed with automatic weapons rang her doorbell.

Sorkin is also penning the script, based on Bloom’s memoir. Mark Gordon will produce with Amy Pascal. “The casting of Jessica and Idris in the two lead roles is any filmmaker’s dream come true,” Sorkin said. “They’re two of the greatest actors of their generation, paired for the first time, and their chemistry will be electric.”

Elba starred in Netflix’s critically acclaimed “Beasts of No Nation” which earned him the SAG Award for best supporting actor. Since then, Elba has landed the lead role opposite Matthew McConaughey in Sony’s “The Dark Tower” as well the Fox 2000 pic “The Mountains Between Us.” Elba was most recently seen in “The Jungle Book” where he voiced the villain Shere Khan. He’ll play another baddie in “Star Trek Beyond.”

Chastain most recently starred in “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” and is currently filming the gun-control thriller “Miss Sloane.” Bron Studios has come on board to co-produce and finance Charlize Theron’s comedy “Tully” with Jason Reitman directing from Diablo Cody’s script. Aaron L. Gilbert, Bron’s managing director, announced Friday that the film will start production in late summer in Vancouver.

Sierra/Affinity has also come on board and will launch international sales of the movie at this year’s Cannes Film Market. WME Global brokered the deal and will represent domestic rights. News broke last month that Theron, Reitman and Cody were teaming on the then-untitled project. The trio last worked together on 2011’s “Young Adult.”

The new comedy tells the story of Theron’s character — a mother of three, including a newborn — who is gifted a night nanny by her brother. Hesitant to the extravagance at first, she comes to form a unique bond with the thoughtful, surprising and sometimes challenging young nanny named Tully.

Producers are Gilbert; Reitman and Helen Estabrook through their Right of Way Productions; Cody and Mason Novick; and Theron, AJ Dix and Beth Kono through Denver & Delilah Productions. “Tully” is produced in association with Creative Wealth Media Finance, where Jason Cloth serves as executive producer.

The film marks a reunion for Reitman, Estabrook, Cody, Novick and Theron, who previously collaborated on “Young Adult.” Theron recently appeared in “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” and “Mad Max: Fury Road.” Gilbert’s recent credits include “The Birth of a Nation”,  “Special Correspondents” and “Welcome to Me.”

“Young Adult” starred Theron as an alcoholic ghost writer who returned to her Minnesota hometown to restart her life, leading mostly to a series of embarrassments for all involved. “Young Adult” carried a $12 million budget and grossed $22 million at the worldwide box office for Paramount. Reitman and Cody worked together on 2007’s “Juno” with Cody winning an Oscar for best original screenplay. Reitman was nominated for a best director Academy Award for “Juno” and “Up in the Air.” Reitman produced 2009’s “Jennifer’s Body” which was written by Cody. He also directed “Thank You for Smoking”, “Labor Day” and “Men, Women and Children.”

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