A Film Affair

Really? Why did Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock change from wrestling to acting? In his past films, he has smashed and crashed his way in WWE style.

Firstly, there was his tiny role in The Mummy Returns and Johnson began his light-hearted action hero career as the ruler of Egypt. And even though there was no body slam, his jilted acting suited the part fairly well.

Then came his very own ‘feature film’ with The Scorpion King where he played the frowning, sexy, bronzed character Mathayus. Another fairly fluffy film for the wrestling heavyweight.

The last film that has hit the Hollywood radar to include Johnson, was Get Smart – another corny, silly yet pretty funny flick. Johnson played the big, sexy and capable Agent 23. So when will Johnson break out of the ring (excuse the pun) and find a serious role?

Right now it seems.

After child and family friendly movies, Johnson is in talks will the producers of Faster, an edgier action movie, to star in the lead role. Here he will play an ex-con, hell bent on avenging the death of his brother. Lets just wait and see whether this action movie will need a Running Powerslam or not.

Dwayne Johnson: will he ever step out of the ring?

James McAvoy is breaking out of the serious movie mould and has just signed on to the lead role in the black comedy, The Details.

After appearing in historically dark flicks such as the Last King of Scotland and alongside Kiera Knightley in Atonement, a film about a raccoon invasion in his backyard may not be the change that McAvoy is looking for.

In his recent film career, the closest thing James McAvoy has gotten to a comedy is during his role in Wanted, as a gun toting assassin prodigy. Not planned as a comedy, Wanted was more hilarious for its overcooked story line and overtly sexual characters. Wanted was as corny as a backyard full of vermin.

James McAvoy, sticking to what he does best, drama.

McAvoy will work alongside Laura Linney, Elizabeth Banks and Anna Friel in The Details, which will start filming in Summer in Seattle.

The UK’s comedic phenomenon Russell Brand is set to take the lead role in a remake of the 1991 film, Drop Dead Fred. Brand is said to play Rik Mayall’s old role as the imaginary friend of Phoebe Cates, a wallflower who has recently lost her job.  

Rik Mayall as Drop Dead Fred

The original Drop Dead Fred, produced by PolyGram and Working Title was heavily criticised by the media and financially unsuccessful. Empire magazine described the film as “Awful in a way that only Tom Green fans could begin to recognise and appreciate.”

Despite it’s down falls, the early 90s flick developed its own cult following, something that Universal pictures may be banking on in the remake.  

The newest version is rumoured to be similar to Beetlejuice, with this version written by Dennis McNicholas whose recent works include Land of the Lost with Will Ferrell. 

This will be Brand’s second Hollywood flick after his success with Forgetting Sarah Marshell, with more films including Get him to the Greek and Arthur coming up on his schedule.  

Russell Brand as the latest Fred

Universal pictures has released the poster for Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest comedy flick, Bruno, coming to cinemas on July 10th. Cohen is bringing his gay, Austrian supermodel character to the big screen after the success of his first mockumentary, Borat.  

During Bruno, Cohen openly challenges social stereotypes like  homophobia and racism in the most outrageous way. Bruno has already been slammed by the American media for having gay sex scenes, including a scene where Cohen appears to have anal sex with a man on camera. 

Once again, Cohen has drawn in the unsuspecting bystander and caught them on camera with his crazy character, which proves to be a winning combination for the audience. 

Sacha Baron Cohen in Bruno

Warner Bros has just released its international trailer to the sixth instalment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The wizarding phenomenom that has created a generation of readers, now is only one movie away from completly the increasingly dark series.

The all star cast for the film, to be released July 17th 2010, includes Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as well as Helena Bonham Carter and Robbie Coltrane.

The stunning effects during the preview are sure to impress all Harry Potter fans.

Exciting film news has hit the ground running; Sex and the City 2 has a confirmed release date of May 28th 2010!

Warner Bros has signed on the romantic-comedy, which will star all original cast members: Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie), Kim Cattrall (Samantha), Cynthia Nixon (Miranda) and Kristin Davis (Charlotte). 

The SATC girls don their shoes for another film!

Very little information has surfaced surrounding the second instalment into the TV series that shot to mega status in the US in the 1990’s and 2000’s. The first SATC film made a whopping $412.6 million at the  worldwide Box Office in 2008 – pretty fabulous for a film rated R in the US.

This sequel is being released at the same time as Jake Gyllenhaal’s new flick, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time which also stars Gemma Arterton. 

Questions are now circulating the internet as to what the possible plot could be for the next SATC movie. Some include the film entirely set in London and the death of Carrie’s beloved husband.

We won’t possibly know for another year.