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Originally posted on www.thefancarpet.com

Hellraiser Back Burned

It looks as though the remake of cult horror film Hellraiser has been put on the back burner once again.

The news comes after the creative team behind the remake, Patrick Lussier and Todd Farmer announced that their re-envisioned Hellraiser would probably never see the light of day.

The film remake has had numerous ups and downs over the last few year, dating back to 2007 when Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo were attached to the project to direct a screenplay written by Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton, who wrote the one of the many Saw sequels. After these two left Pascal Laughier was in for a while and then he left and was replaced by Christian E Christiansen, but he too has since left the project. Things aren’t looking good for this remake.

Well, it has to be said that maybe this is a blessing in disguise that the studio have decided to back burn this, I mean isn’t it about time people started making original films once again?

Olivia Wilde To Star In The Longest Walk

It has been reported that Olivia Wilde has been cast in the lead female role in new film The Longest Walk.

The film which is based on a script written by Peter Glanz, who will also be making his directing debut with the film will see a man named Conrad Valmont, who has spent his entire life sponging off his parents have his life completely fall apart during the course of a week. Things don’t sound so good for the life long sponger do they?

The movie is an adaptation of the short film A Relationship In Four Days, which was also created by Glanz and was screened at Cannes and the Sundance Film Festival back in 2008.

The short film version features a girl who comes along and manages to turn around the life of the parent sponger, I’m guessing that’s where Wilde comes in.

There is no news at the moment about shooting or who any of the other cast members are so watch this space.

Contagion Tops Box Office

After spending just over three weeks at the top of the box office The Help has been knocked off its poll position by new film Contagion.

The film, staring Gwyneth Paltrow, took $23 million at the box office, and is also the first film to break the $20 million threshold since The Help opened up a month ago.

However although it has debuted at number one, the film’s producers may have been hoping for a little bit of a better opening to re-coup even more of the movies $60 million budget, although considering it was the 10^thanniversary on 9/11, it may have had a little bit of an impact of people visiting their local cinemas.

Coming in third this week was Warrior, but despite the buzz and hype surrounding the new feature it only managed to take $5, despite estimates being closer to $10 million. Ouch.

It looks as though the box office took a big hit in terms of taking this week, considering movies from the likes of Adam Sandler only came in at number 15, but maybe that’s because he didn’t star in it.

Maybe next week may see a surge in cinema going after this weekends mourning for 9/11.  

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Originally posted on www.thefancarpet.com

Sandler to become Dracula

Adam Sandler is set to join a long list of stars to portray the count in Sony’s Hotel Transylvania.

The comedy star however will only be lending his voice to the role, as Hotel Transylvania becomes the latest in a list of 3D cartoons.

The film will see Sandler play the iconic vampire, who was first introduced by Bram Stoker, as an overprotective father who wants to ensure the safety of his daughter Mavis. After warning her of the terrible dangers that exist beyond the borders of his property, which he has turned into a luxury resort where monsters can live without fear of humans. That is until an ordinary boy checks in a takes a liking to the counts daughter.

Sandler will be joined by an all star cast which features the talents of Kevin James as Frankenstein’s monster, James Spade as Quasimodo, Steve Buscemi and Molly Shannon as werewolves an finally Adam Samberg as Jonathan, the human who arrives at Dracula’s hotel.

Sony’s Michelle Raimo-Kouyate comment on the casting of Sandler saying, “We're thrilled to be working with Adam to create a comedic Dracula for a new generation.”

She later added, "We have a unique story about that iconic character, starring a phenomenal cast directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, that re-imagines Transylvania and its legendary monsters in the way that only animation can.

Danny Boyle wants Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson

Director Danny Boyle is reportedly looking to cast Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson in the lead roles of his new thriller Trance.

After Michael Fassbender dropped out due to scheduling issues, Boyles top choice for Fassbender vacated role is Academy Award winner Firth, whilst Johansson is leading in the short list for the films female lead.

The film which is based on the 2001 British TV film will see, an assistant at an auction house mastermind an art heist and team up with a gang of thieves, before suffering a blow to the head and waking up with amnesia. As the only one who knows where the painting’s are located and after his continued failure to remember, the gang begins to suspect duplicity on his part and hire a female hypnotist to get into his brain.

At this point in time neither Firth nor Johansson have received a solid offer to star in the film.

If the pair join the film, Firth will be playing Aidan, the leader of the thieves, while Johansson is presumably up for the role of the female hypnotist.

James McAvoy has already been picked up for the role of Simon, the amnesiac.

Trance will begin shooting before Boyle begins work at the 2012 Olympics, as art-director. Due to this high profile gig the film is expected to see a release in early 2013.