Hans Zimmer Takes over ‘Lone Ranger’ Composing

Hans Zimmer Takes over ‘Lone Ranger’ Composing
/Film

The full-length trailer for Gore Verbinski‘s The Lone Ranger released this week promised plenty of good stuff from the film: sweeping Western vistas, death-defying stunts, massive explosions, a banged-up Armie Hammer, and a weirdo Johnny Depp. One thing we won’t be getting, however, is a score from Jack White.

The former White Stripes frontman signed on this spring for what would have been his first full movie score, but has since exited the project. Stepping into White’s place now is Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer.

Who knows what happened there. Was White fired, or did he…

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‘Jack Reacher’ Postponed Due to Newtown Shooting

‘Jack Reacher’ Postponed Due to Newtown Shooting
Entertainment Weekly

Paramount Pictures announced late Friday that tomorrow’s planned world premiere of the Tom Cruise thriller Jack Reacher has been postponed “due to the terrible tragedy in Newtown Connecticut, and out of honor and respect for the families of the victims whose lives were senselessly taken.”

This is a very classy thing to do. The shooting was a heartbreaking tragedy, and a studio canceling such an event shows a surprising amount of presence of mind for the decision makers. Hats off to them.

‘The Hobbit’ Box Office Report

‘The Hobbit’ Box Office Report
Film.com

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” has only been in theaters for a few hours now, but forecasts are already predicting that the latest epic from Peter Jackson will set a new box office record for a December release.

Thanks to the $13 million “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” made in its midnight release last evening, Box Office Mojo is reporting that the film is well on its way to breaking the mark currently held by “I Am Legend.” By comparison, “I Am Legend” brought in $77.2 million in its opening weekend back in 2007, only $1.7 million of which came from its midnight…

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‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ Prologue Preview Locations

‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ Prologue Preview Locations
Entertainment Weekly

Strap on your Spock ears, and run to these theaters!

Paramount Pictures has officially announced the domestic locations previewing the first nine minutes of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness in IMAX 3-D starting Friday.

If all goes well, we’ll be talking about this with a special guest on episode 23 of The MovieByte Podcast. I don’t want to say who just yet because he hasn’t confirmed, but tentatively said yes on Twitter.

Anyway, should be fun. I’m going to see The Hobbit this afternoon with friends at a standard screening, and will see it in IMAX HFR (hopefully, as best I can…

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Sam Flynn in ‘Tron 3’

Sam Flynn in ‘Tron 3’
NextMovie

The as-yet-untitled “Tron 3” project gained a screenwriter last week, and now it has officially gained a star.

Garrett Hedlund confirmed to NextMovie exclusively that he would follow up his 2010 performance as Sam Flynn in “TRON: Legacy” by appearing in the long-rumored sequel, which may begin shooting in 2014, according to some sources.

“Yeah,” Hedlund said when we pressed him for details on his “Tron” participation while doing press in New York ahead of the U.S. release of “On the Road.” “Are we gonna break this now?”

“Disney’s very excited,” he said of the project. “That’s about…

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‘In the Queue’ Episode 1

‘In the Queue’ Episode 1
Que.am

In the first episode of In the Queue, TJ and I give a brief overview of the show’s format and talk about the shows we watch on a regular basis. Also featuring a chat about our current home theater setups.

I was asked by my friend Alex Arena to be a part of his new Podcast network, Que.am, and be co-host on a new show, In the Queue. I was glad to accept. This one is going to be a lot of fun. Check out this pilot episode in which we talk about how we connect to and watch our streaming media, talk about the shows we watch, and pick Revolution as our weekly “book club” like show to watch…

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More ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ Spoilers

More ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ Spoilers
TrekMovie.com

Today Star Trek Into Darkness producer/director JJ Abrams invited the press (including TrekMovie) to visit Bad Robot HQ in Santa Monica, CA. While there the media could chat with folks behind and in front of the camera as well as get a closer look at elements of the movie. During the day TrekMovie picked up on a number of new character and story tidbits. Find out what’s new below but beware of spoilers.

For those who aren’t big fans of Star Trek, bear with me. There’s been a lot of fun news about the upcoming film in the last couple of days.

Alice Eve’s ‘Star Trek’ Character Revealed

Alice Eve’s ‘Star Trek’ Character Revealed
TrekNews.net

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

While the movie won’t hit theaters until May, members of the press were treated to a special screening of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek sequel tonight at Bad Robot.

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During the screening, those fans were proven to be wrong as Eve’s character was revealed to be none other than Carol Marcus, the (future) mother of Kirk’s son David (as revealed in Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan).

Well that is a little surprising to me. I don’t think it was ever explicitly stated, but certainly implied that Carol Marcus was never in Starfleet. But I guess JJ can do what he wants…

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‘Alice in Wonderland’ Sequel

‘Alice in Wonderland’ Sequel
Variety

Disney wants Alice to return to Wonderland.

Mouse House stalwart Linda Woolverton is penning a sequel to Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland,” the 2010 hit that starred Mia Wasikowska as Alice and Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. The 3D film went on to earn $1 billion worldwide and scored Oscars for art direction and costume design.

Woolverton has a long history with Disney, having previously written the studio’s “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey,” and “Maleficent,” and contributed to toons “Mulan” and “Aladdin.” Sequel’s plot details are…

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‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ Sequel Casting

‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ Sequel Casting
ComingSoon.net

Casting for The Amazing Spider-Man sequel has been pretty stellar so far. Shailene Woodley was added as Mary Jane Watson, followed by Jamie Foxx as Electro and Dane DeHaan as Harry Osborn. Now, in an unexpected announcement, Martin Sheen has confirmed that he will return as Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben.

Not surprising given that there will likely be flashbacks, or things of like nature.

I still hate the first Amazing Spider-Man film and was hoping they wouldn’t continue down this road. Sigh.