Big Screen Roundup: 1/25/08 Edition

The official website for The Dark Knight has been updated with a memorial for Heath Ledger. In addition, the Why So Serious promotional site now features a black ribbon in remembrance of the deceased actor.

The title of the latest entry in the James Bond franchise has been revealed: Quantum of Solace. As explained by The Associated Foreign Press, the name is taken from the title of a short story in Bond creator Ian Fleming’s 1960 anthology For Your Eyes Only. Latino Review has a video and poster for the announcement.

Moviehole broadcasts that the next movie for director David Zucker will be a comedic take on A Christmas Carol, set at Independence Day rather than Christmas.

Variety notifies that Sam Mendes is preparing to direct an untitled contemporary comedy, previously known as This Must Be the Place, for Focus Features. The screenplay for the film was written by the husband-and-wife team of Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida.

Ain’t It Cool News clears up the rumor that the next project from Paul Thomas Anderson will be a horror film. When asked by the site’s owner, Harry Knowles, about the speculation, the director commented, “News to me. I thought I just made a horror film… Wish I had something to report, but I’m dry as a bone…”

Laurence Fishburne, Jean Reno and Milo Ventimiglia have joined Screen Gems’ heist action flick Armored, indicates Variety. The movie centers on “a young armored car guard who is persuaded by his veteran cohorts to empty a truck of its $10 million cargo.”

The Writers Guild of America has reached an interim agreement with Marvel Studios and Lionsgate. The two companies are the latest to reach such an agreement, following WGA deals with The Weinstein Company, United Artists, Worldwide Pants, Spyglass Entertainment, MRC, Jackson Bites, Mandate Films and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.

A possible early description of the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull trailer has been posted at Ain’t It Cool News.

TheBadandUgly.com spreads the word of a film adaptation for the 1934 comic strip Mandrake the Magician, directed by Chuck Russel and to be released this year. Apparently, UFC fighter Randy Couture will appear in the motion picture.

The Boston Herald notes that the title of director Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of Shutter Island is now Ashecliffe, inspired by the name of the mental institution where much of the story’s action takes place.

The London Times devotes a piece to the creation of the Oscar-nominated The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Screenwriter Ronald Harwood and Janusz Kaminski, director of cinematography, provide their thoughts on the film’s making for the article.

In a report containing spoilers, JoBlo summarizes possible hints found in Cloverfield that suggest a sequel to the hit monster movie is being considered.

Ain’t It Cool News speaks with Colin Hanks about The Great Buck Howard as well as a documentary Hanks will be directing that spotlights “the demise of the music industry.”

Coming Soon presents six TV spots for Warner Bros. Pictures’ epic adventure 10,000 B.C.

The Digital Bits offers the newest info on home entertainment releases for No Country for Old Men (3/11), The Wiz: 30th Anniversary Edition (2/12), Moondance Alexander (4/29) and Radiant City (3/4). Meanwhile, Sony is planning a Blu-ray debut for The 6th Day (4/8), as Paramount is bringing back its Jack Ryan Collection HD-DVD box set (3/25).

Trademork.com writes that Hasbro, Inc. have filed to protect the trademark Stretch Armstrong in relation to “production and distribution of motion pictures, television programs, television games shows and cartoon series; on-going television programs in the nature of children’s game shows and animated television cartoon series[…]” This development has fueled speculation that a Stretch Armstrong film or television project could be on the way.

25Jan2008 | Josh E Armstrong | Continued