Are we getting a Batman movie in 2011?

Well if you believe Gary Oldman and I guess, the people at Warner Bros., then this is likely.

They (Gary Oldman and the fine folks at Warner Bros.) just announced at Comic Con that Batman 3 will begin shooting in 2010. We don't know who will be behind the lens (Nolan's looking pretty booked), who the villain will be, what the title will be. or if it'll be the further evolution of a smarter look at Batman or if dollar signs rule the day.

"I think the next Batman is next year," he told a fan who asked when the long-awaited "Dark Knight" follow-up would hit, "We start shooting next year for a release in two years. You didn't hear that from me." [Chud]

Okay, so nothing concrete except for the fact that we're getting a Dark Knight sequel (no shit, we've seen the box office numbers), and Nolan's involvement is up in the air. I'm wondering how the folks over at Chud are so sure Christopher Nolan is booked. Inception should be wrapping either in December of this year, or by the latest January of 2010. And his stats over at IMDb show that he has The Prisoner and a Batman movie in development, so I'm not sure what he could be booked with in 2010 other than The Prisoner or a Dark Knight sequel.

Personally, I don't totally buy the 2010 shooting schedule not because Nolan is booked, but because there has been no word on a script. I can't imagine Nolan coming off Inception, going into the film's post-production, finalizing a direction for the script with the higher ups, cranking out a script, getting the script approved, casting the villain, and then shooting the thing within a year.

And this is considering that Nolan is even back on, because some people seem to think that he isn't. Which is even worse. Who wants to watch a Dark Knight sequel directed by someone else?

Heath Ledger tried to sabotage 'The Dark Knight'?

There is a whole lot of WTF? in this story, but it's too bizarre not to share. There has been some speculation that Heath Ledger attempted to play the Joker character as over the top and silly in order to get fired from the project. Ledger's contract stated that he would earn a pretty big salary for The Dark Knight, even if he got fired. WorstPreviews (via The Movie Blog) got this from Vanity Fair:

According to Ledger's agent Steven Alexander and cinematographer/friend Nicola Pecorini, the actor had a pay-or-play deal on "Knight," which means that he would be compensated no matter how terrible he ends up being. This gave Ledger the freedom to do what he wanted with The Joker.

But the real decision to take the role was because of the film's unusually long shoot, which would give Ledger an excuse to turn down other offers. And since he was guaranteed to collect a paycheck, Ledger was hoping that his performance would be so "far-out" that he would end up being fired and become the beneficiary of a lengthy, paid vacation.

His agent added that while Ledger wanted to get paid, he didn't want to be part of the massive blockbuster that "The Dark Knight" turned out to be. "[Ledger] was always hesitant to be in a summer blockbuster, with the dolls and action figures and everything else that comes with one of those movies," Alexander explained. "He was afraid it would define him and limit his choices."

Huh? All those widespread reports about Ledger locking himself in a hotel room for weeks to work on the Joker make this all sound like total crap. Why would Ledger work so hard on the Joker if he wanted to present a ridiculous performance? Maybe Vanity Fair misinterpreted what Ledger's agent meant - the direct quote only hints at Heath Ledger having doubts about being in a summer blockbuster. Either way, this whole story is just weird.

Links for you: Russell Brand sort of shoots down 'Pirates' rumors, our beloved Penelope might take over the 'World', and much more...

Photo source

Comingsoon.net - There were rumors back in November that Russell Brand would play Jack Sparrow's brother in the upcoming fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie. He did a recent interview with Access Hollywood and had this to say:
"There's been some talk of doing a 'Pirates' movie, but I've got eight other things to do [including] 'Get Him to the Greek' with Judd Apatow...So I don't know if there'll be time to be a pirate, I've got enough of that in me private life."
I know Russell Brand is the sort of performer, one either loves or loathes (I usually love), but I would feel sort of crushed if he didn't do it. Hey, casting him beats the hell out of those horrific Zac Efron rumors.

Variety - Sergio Castellitto is trying to cast his Don't Move co-star Penelope Cruz in Venuto al mondo (Into the World) - a drama set in present-day, post-war Sarajevo.



indieWIRE - The Tribeca Film Festival reveals its lineup. Playlist points out that there are 26% fewer films that last year, and other than Woody Allen's Whatever Works, there aren't any big names attached to the festival. No worries though, Playlist gives us Karina Lonworth's list of the smaller films to get excited about.


The Hollywood Reporter - The Dark Knight leads the Saturn Awards nominations with 11 nods (I'm still glaring at you Academy). Its biggest competition is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with 9 nominations and Iron Man with 8.

NYPost via ONTD! - My childhood is officially over. After 17 long years, Disney will stop making news episides of The Power Rangers.

Empire - Robin Hood's Merry Men have been cast in Ridley Scott's Robin Hood project. Scott Grimes will play Will Scarlet, Kevin Duran will play Little John, while Alan Doyle will play minstrel Alan A Dayle (a character rarely seen in previous versions of Robin Hood).

2009 Oscar highlights

I can't believe there are Oscar highlights. I fully expected to be miserable and bitchy over the lack of Dark Knight and Revolutionary Road love, but this has been one of the most fun ceremonies I've seen in a long time. I'm glad I watched.

Hugh Jackman hosting
He's great at hosting the Tony Awards and I thought he was great tonight. He was charming and spontaneous. He sang beautifully, the bit he did with Anne Hathaway was hilarious. I hope they have him host again.

The speeches

• Penelope Cruz's speech was touching and I'm not ashamed to admit that she made me cry.
• Dustin Lance Black looked gorgeous and his speech was incredible. I hope one day soon, his dream and Harvey Milk's dream comes true.
• Heath Ledger's family accepting for him was so moving. It's heartbreaking he didn't live to see this day, but his family has decided to celebrate his life. I hope his movies live on for a very long time.
• Kate Winslet won with a gorgeous speech. All the critics who have been hating on her for giving speeches without a script can rant all they want over her win. She won and she deserved it.
• Sean Penn's win was my favorite of the night. Mickey Rourke was the favorite but I thought Sean would win, and he deserved it. You can watch his speech below before it's pulled from youtube:
  
  
  
  

Red carpet highlight
All the young actors from Slumdog Millionaire arrived and they were adorable. They looked so excited to be there.

Random highlight
Chris Nolan looked really hot tonight.

What's your opinion on the ceremony? I can't tell if I'm too giddy about the whole thing because Sean Penn won, so I'd love to get other perspectives.

An Oscar plea to Dark Knight fans

Today is Oscar day. Most years I wake up with butterflies in my stomach and I watch the mindless cooing over free diamonds on the E! network. Right now I'm watching Debbie Snuffleupagus help a bag of bones model (dressed in some neon pink nightmare) put on lipgloss.

There are no butterflies this year. There is no Dark Knight best picture nomination. No Christopher Nolan or Jonathan Nolan nod. It's enough to make you want to boycott. I understand the anger, bitterness, and feeling of betrayal. It's enough to make you understand how Harvey Dent went batshit crazy.


Within the first hour of the ceremony, Heath Ledger will win the Oscar he also deserved three years ago. If you love the Joker, and if you respect Heath Ledger's work, then you know that this is bigger than hurt feelings. Five years from now nobody will remember or care what was nominated for best picture, or what picture won. Heath Ledger's Joker, however, can't be forgotten; the maniacal laugh, the leering at a panicked Rachel Dawes, that magic trick. Watch the Oscars for that.

Watch it to support the crew that created Chris Nolan's masterpiece. Watch it because Jonah Nolan is a classier man than any member of the Academy could hope to be. Watch it because even though in your heart of hearts you want to watch the Oscars burn, you also want to honor the people who gave us one of the most memorable crime dramas in recent memory. Keep watching even as the nominees lose to someone else. Making a film takes blood sweat and tears, and two people involved with The Dark Knight did not live long enough to see this moment. Watch the Oscars for all of them.

These movies do not direct themselves

Ben Lyons points out the obvious charade that is this year's directing Oscar nominations. The Dark Knight has 8 Oscar nominations - among them are nods for Special Effects, Editing, Cinematography, and Sound Mixing. The film's Best Picture snub at the Oscars is easily explained, but the nominees did not direct themselves. Christopher Nolan deserved a nomination.


Ben Lyons might be a hack and a tool, but even a broken clock is right twice a day. It's a crying shame that the only thing that interests me about this year's Oscars are seeing Heath Ledger win and swooning over Hugh Jackman. I'd upload the rest of Lyons' mindless ramblings, but I don't want to make your ears bleed.