Big name in talks to join “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay” Parts 1 and 2

We haven’t even released “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” but news for “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay”, which is split into two parts, is already flying. Julianne Moore is reportedly up for the role of (Big spoiler) District 13 leader Alma Coin.

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” sees Francis Lawrence take over directing duties and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones, Woody Harrelson, Jena Malone, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amanda Plummer, Lynn Cohen, Patrick St. Esprit, Meta Golding, Bruno Gunn, Alan Ritchson, E. Roger Mitchell, Maria Howell, Stephanie Leigh Schlund, Sam Claflin and Jeffrey Wright.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Trailer for “Free Birds” is here

Here’s the first trailer for the upcoming animated film “Free Birds”.

The film features the voices of Woody Harrelson, Owen Wilson, Amy Poehler, Dan Fogler, George Takai and Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Box office battle: 5/31/13

It’s a magic heist vs. a new film from M. Night Shyamalan as they try to dethrone Justin Lin’s “Fast and Furious 6”.

A decade ago, Will Smith and Shyamalan would have equaled a major blockbuster. But thanks to Shyamalan’s films like “The Village”, “Lady in the Water”, “The Happening” and “The Last Airbender”, his name hasn’t appeared in any of the marketing. Will and Jaden Smith are both stars in their own right but reviews have been terrible and nearly everyone laughs when they find out Shyamalan is involved at all, let alone directing. On the heels of film after film in May being aimed at young males, this is going to be the first film not to earn a ton of money its opening weekend and will struggle to break $40 million.

Opening weekend: $35-40 million

Part of the reason why the above movie will struggle is because “Now You See Me”, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Caine, Common, Melanie Laurent and Dave Franco is vying for the same audience. Its premise has gotten a lot of people intrigued, looking like its mixing “Ocean’s 11” and “The Prestige”. Reviews have been lukewarm, which doesn’t speak well for its potential long term legs. Plus, facing big sequels second weekends and a movie starring Will Smith means this film is likely to get lost in the shuffle.

Opening weekend: $25-30 million

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

First four minutes of “Now You See Me”

Here’s the first four minutes (technically 3:41) of “Now You See Me”.

Looks good to me! The film stars Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

First trailer for “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”

Here it is! The teaser trailer for “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, which seems pretty long for a teaser trailer. But that’s a good thing!

The film sees Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta) and Liam Hemsworth (Gale) return to the three lead roles. The film also stars Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones, Woody Harrelson, Jena Malone, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amanda Plummer, Lynn Cohen, Patrick St. Esprit, Meta Golding, Bruno Gunn, Alan Ritchson, E. Roger Mitchell, Maria Howell, Stephanie Leigh Schlund, Sam Claflin and Jeffrey Wright.

Lukas Eggen cna be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Neeson and Harrelson hunting Bonnie and Clyde?

This could be very interesting. Bonnie and Clyde have fascinated people and Hollywood for ages. In fact Emile Hirsch is set to star in a mini-series about the famous pair for the History Channel. Now director John Lee Hancock (“The Blind Side”) is developing ‘Highwaymen”. The film would focus on the rangers charged with hunting down, and eventually killing, Bonnie and Clyde. It’s reported that he is going after Woody Harrelson (“The Hunger Games”) and Liam Neeson (“Taken 2”, “The Grey”) to star in it.

Pairing these two actors gets me very excited and this would be a side of the Bonnie and Clyde story that Hollywood hasn’t really explored yet.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Leonardo DiCaprio to star in “The Road Home”

Leonardo DiCaprio, who was last seen in “Django Unchained” and has two upcoming films in “The Great Gatsby” and “The Wolf of Wall Street”. which reteams him with Martin Scorsese, is in talks to produce and star in “The Road Home”. Based on a forthcoming novel, it tells the tale of a Californian rancher who becomes wrapped up in a murder investigation that the police would rather keep quiet. Scott Cooper will write and direct the film. His first effort was “Crazy Heart” and his upcoming film, “Out of the Furnace”,
stars Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Zoe Saldana, Sam Shepard, Woody Harrelson, Forest Whitaker and Willem Dafoe, so it looks like this film could be a real winner.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” casts Beetee

Jeffrey Wright (“Casino Royale”) has been cast as Beetee in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”. There’s been so much casting news about the film, but Wright’s character is an important one. He’s a solid character actor and should make the cast even better. He joins of course Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, Liam Hemsworth as Gale, Woody Harrelson as Haymitch, Lenny Kravitz as Cinna and Stanley Tucci as Caeser. They’re joined by newcomers Jenna Malone as Johanna Mason, Sam Claflin as Finnick, Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch and more. The script is being written by Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”) and Francis Lawrence (“I Am Legend”, “Constantine”) is directing. Let’s just say if they mess the sequel up, it’s a HUGE waste of talent.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Trailer for “Seven Psychopaths”

Here’s the trailer for the upcoming film “Seven Psychopaths” from director Martin McDonagh (“In Bruges”). This film looks absolutely great.

The film stars Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Tom Waits, Abbie Cornish, Olga Kurylenko and Christopher Walken. In short, this is one heck of a cast for one of Hollywood’s best up and coming directors.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Box office battle: The fall’s most under the radar film

For the rest of the year, my most anticipated film is easily “Cloud Atlas”. Featuring the creators of “The Matrix” trilogy, the director of “Run Lola Run” and an all-star cast including Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess and more, nothing comes close. But there is one film no one is talking about, one that should be high on people’s lists as well. “Seven Psychopaths” hits theaters this November and stars Colin Farrell, Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson and Abbie Cornish. That’s a pretty strong cast right? But, it’s the talent behind the camera that should get you excited. The film follows Farrell, who plays  a struggling screenwriter, while they portray the oddball friends who get him into trouble with a ruthless gangster (Woody Harrelson) by kidnapping the thug’s beloved Shih Tzu. Sounds like it could be fun right?

I say fun because director Martin McDonagh may be Hollywood’s best unknown talent. He directed the great short “Six Shooter” and the even better film, his feature length debut, “In Bruges”, which also starred Farrell with Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes. That film was twisted and dark, but also fun, clever and entertaining. Farrell gave one of his best performances in that film and I think deserved award attention. That being said, McDonagh has shown he has an eye for funny, politically incorrect and just flat out darkly humorous and entertaining films.  It’ll probably be overshadowed coming in between higher profile projects like “Lincoln” starring Daniel Day-Lewis and “The Hobbit” in December, but check this one out. It may not make that much money and “Cloud Atlas” will continue to be my most anticipated, but “Seven Psychopaths” may just second on my list.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.