RANDOM BITS

Check out this incredible trailer for MAN ON WIRE:

http://www.substance001.net/man_on_wire_trailer/man_on_wire_trailer_850k.mov


Peter Berg (HANCOCK, THE KINGDOM) has signed on to produce and potentially direct HERCULES: THE THRACIAN WARS, based on a new graphic novel series. Sounds pretty cool to me. Berg is also working on a remake of the cult sci-fi classic DUNE.

THE DARK KINIGHT grossed nearly $25 million this past Monday, taking it's four day cume to roughly $182 million, which is about $20 million less than what BATMAN BEGINS did in its entire theatrical run. Warner's execs are apparently expecting at least $400 million in domestic theatrical ticket sales, making it one of the top 10 grossing pictures in history. And it couldn't have happened to a more amazing film, and a truly talented filmmaker (Christopher Nolan). I am hoping to catch THE DARK KNIGHT again in the next few days, this time, in IMAX format.

Jon Favreau's excellent summer blockbuster IRON MAN, which has grossed over $300 million domestic, hits DVD on September 30th in all formats.

The rumored (though not yet confirmed) DVD street date for INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTALL SKULL is apparently October 14. Indy's latest exploits racked up more than $300 million domestic this summer as well.

There is a rumor, though I think it's all BS, that TOP GUN 2 is in active development, and Tom Cruise is being courted to return to the role of Maverick. Nothing has been in Variety, no comments made from Jerry Bruckheimer or Tony Scott, and nothing from Cruise. I highly doubt this film would ever get made, but if it did, Bruckheimer and Scott would certainly have to return for me to have any possible interest in the project.

Gary Ross (SEABISCUIT, PLEASANTVILLE) will be directing THE CRUSADERS, starring Tobey Maguire, which will revolve around the historic Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court case. Danny Strong, who just wrote the first-rate HBO film RECOUNT, has written the script, and Universal will be distributing. Ross is a quality filmmaker, old-school in style, and classical in approach. PLEASANTVILLE is one of my favorite fantasy movies of all time, and his scripts for DAVE and BIG remain classics.

STEP BROTHERS and THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE hit theaters this weekend. I plan on seeing them both.