Sequel News!

Well, as ever Hollywood is dishing up more sequels! It seems there's more of a market for sequels and remakes then there is for new ideas at the moment! In the pipeline currently is The Hangover 2, Zoolander 2 and Anchorman 2.

The wheels are in motion for a sequel to the comedy smash The Hangover. Plans for a sequel were forming before the movies actual release, however the fruition of these rumours is actually coming into shape! Director Todd Phillips has rounded up the original cast members Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Justin Bartha, and has noted that the focus of the film won't shift from it's predecessor but some new characters will be introduced.
MTV.com published an article earlier stating that Mick Tyson is also going to make an appearance somewhere in the film. 
Phillips has dismissed rumours of Zac Efron starring in the sequel, but Hollywood being Hollywood, I'd put my money on it he'll now make a cameo somewhere in the picture. Production will hopefully start before October of this year and will be in cinemas by next May!
For me the comedic value of The Hangover relied on the surprises in each scene, so the sequel will need to have these elements, as well as a strong script. The cast are all there (for $5 millions each I'd be surprised if they weren't!), so that is an advantage but what about the plot of the movie? Hopefully it will be unique and original in it's own right but still live up to the movie everyone loved.

Another comedy great - Zoolander seemed to be getting the sequel treatment, as with Anchorman.
A few weeks ago, fans were given news of an Anchorman sequel that was apparently given the green light, with filming due to start in 2011.....however a week ago, director Adam McKay tweeted his disappointment that Paramount passed on the idea of a sequel and would not fund it - even after a voluntary budget cut by cast members. This seems quite an odd move because the movie is guaranteed to make money! Anyone who is a fan of the movie (and I don't know anyone who isn't a fan), would buy to see the movie, whether it be in the cinema or DVD. The original cast were all set to go, so why the sudden stop?
A similar story with Zoolander 2. Stiller has been sparking rumours of a sequel to his 2001 male-model hit for months now, with a storyline completed and everything.
The movie is based 10 years on, where Derek and Hansel are washed up nobodies trying to get back in the modelling buzz. Jonah Hill was set to co-star, with rumours of Will Ferrell's Mugatu also starring.
However, Stiller has announced that film studios bosses at Paramount are refusing to finance the project.
Stiller wrote on his Twitter account RedHourBen "Ron Burgundy and Derek Zoolander looking to appear in sequels. Both men destitute, without means or intellect to fund their own comebacks."

It's hard to understand why they refuse to fund such projects that are guaranteed to bring in money....yet fund stupid ideas like G.I. Joe 2 and even a Paranormal Activity sequel (I'm pretty sure making a sequel defeats the purpose of the original).
Fingers crossed the execs come to their senses and fund theses projects, because as a huge fan of both movies, I'd most definitely pay to see them......so that's €20 they're guaranteed anyways!

That's all for now, next entry featuring Toy Story 3, Predators and Meet the Parents 3 - Little Fockers coming soon!
Paul

First Post!

So this is my first ever proper blog....with my first ever post!
Let's not dilly dally then, movie news I've found out today:

1. I watched the first trailer for J.J. Abrams new project Super 8. For those of you who don't know who J.J. is, he's the genius mind behind such things as Lost, Cloverfield and the latest Star Trek. He manages to build suspense and mystery behind his work until it's release which, for me, is half the appeal. And the trailer for Super 8 is of no exception! Watch it and see what you think for youself:



2. American Pie Presents: The Reboot! Yep, apparently this is happening. There was the original, then two sequels, then FOUR American Pie "presents" movies! They've decided to stop making the terrible straight-to-DVD "presents" movies and focus on a reboot of the whole franchise, which will appear in cinemas. It's rumoured that some of the original cast are interested....which isn't suprising because very few of them are up to anything today! Which begs the question, is this classified a sequel or reboot? They're getting the guys behind the Harold and Kumar movies to direct so I don't know whether to be exited or not! However, as it used to be a teen favourite, I can't help but feel slightly curious!

3. Last piece of news for today - Planet Of The Apes: Caesar! I'm a huge Planet Of The Apes fan, watching them with my Dad years ago so I'm really anticipating more news on this! This one is going to be a prequel as such....based on how Earth came to be the Planet Of The Apes, including the Ape rebellion led by Caesar (the first "intelligent" Ape). For those of you unaware of the original movies, this is based loosely on the last movie of the series, Battle For The Planet Of The Apes. And nothing to do with the Tim Burton remake in 2001, which in my opinion sucked!

So that's all the news for today, stayed tuned for more to come!
Paul