1.) Nicolas Winding Refn‘s adaptation of the ultra-violent graphic novel “Button Man: The Killing Game” has found a new scribe in Matt Cook. The film is set up at Dreamworks and the story centers on Harry Exton, a hired gun who decides to abandon the death match that gambling millionaires have set up to amuse themselves. In the process of opting out, he finds he might not only have to kill his fellow contestants but also the guys pulling the strings. Hilary Seitz (Insomnia) and Barry Levy (Paranoia) penned the first draft.
SIDE NOTE: Is it just me or does the guy on the cover of that graphic novel look exactly like Brian Dennehy? [Deadline]
2.) Tom Hardy is set to play an SAS veteran returning from the Middle East in Samarkand for first time feature director Greg Williams. Hardy’s character suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as he tries to reintegrate into society. [Screen Daily]
3.) Writer/director Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, Footloose) is set for Gangster Princess of Beverly Hills, which he will, naturally, adapt and direct for Paramount. The story comes from Rubin Erdely’s 2012 Rolling Stone story centered on Lisette Lee, who portrayed herself to be an heiress to the Samsung fortune, as well as an actress, singer and model. She faked all of that, and beneath the bling were secrets, lies and private jets filled with weed. She was a drug mule, caught trafficking 500 pounds of pot into Ohio, for which she drew a six-year sentence. [Deadline]
4.) A JoBlo.com reader caught an advance screening of Zack Snyder‘s Superman movie Man of Steel (6/14) and wrote in with a bullet point list of thoughts on the film. Of course, it’s going to be AMAZING!
- Imagine a Nolan story with Snyder effects/action.
- There’s TONS of action with Superman kicking all kinds of ass in his suit.
- The cape is CG’d most of the time so it can look awesome.
- They have intentionally left out most of the the Super action in trailers to save it.
- It’s not nearly as dour and serious as the trailers suggest.
It’s funny to read JoBlo’s Paul Shirey write how these notes address “many of the common concerns that we’ve all had from the beginning”. Hmmmm, then maybe if this scooper is merely setting your mind at ease we shouldn’t necessarily consider this anonymous source all that reliable? Just a thought.
5.) In other superhero news, there were rumors floating around that after The Avengers 2, Marvel’s Phase Two and Three would eventually lead to a standalone Hulk movie focused on the “Planet Hulk” storyline (whatever that means). Now, a source at Ain’t It Cool News who is “extremely well-connected” (I’d guess just as connected as the source that leaked the previous rumor) says the idea of a “Planet Hulk” adaptation is “1,000% inaccurate.” Now, I checked my accuracy level meter and that is really inaccurate, like ten times more inaccurate than being 100% inaccurate. Yeah, mind blown!
Apparently the “Planet Hulk” storyline doesn’t feature Mark Ruffalo‘s Bruce Banner character at all, but the AICN source does say that a Hulk film is in the works, only “Ruffalo-as-Banner will be an integral part of that film.” If you ask me, leave the Hulk as a supporting character. I got the feeling while watching The Avengers it’s the best way to deal with him as his character just might not work as well on the big screen as it does in the comics.
