Father Geek here with the 37th edition of our report from that film world downunder. Now here's a bit of rumor from the land beyond beyond that surfaced on ol' Father Geek's PC today...
I thought that the Sentinels plotline was in the X-Men 2 script that was rejected? Confused? Because I heard from a longtime trusted friend connected to the Art Dept. on that project that there is a scene which has Wolverine in a lab standing on a platform in front of a giant sentinel head. My friend says that The Sentinels are not the main badie in this film, but are being set up to be such in the 3rd film. We are to believe that the robots are non-functional in this film, but as Wolverine's back is turned the Sentinel's metal eyelids open.
I'm not sure about the rest of the plot, but as my 'friend' has also worked on some sketches of melted robots my guess is the 'research' get torched at some point in the flick - or merely postponed.
Call me GeneralZoddd!
Very interesting... That seems to possibily backup a bit that appeared on on DarkHorizons.com saying...
An official release has been sent out to various
casting agencies with a short synopsis: "The X-Men
reunite again as Magneto breaks from jail, and Henry
Gyrich is revealed to be alive working with Military
Officer Agent Stryker to build Sentinels. The X-Men
also recruit 2 new team members, Gambit and
Nightcrawler"
Hmmmmm... As I said very interesting. We'll have to see how it all turns out. Now on with our regular column...
The AICN DOWNUNDER REPORT #37
by Tamsin
MULLET
Australian film, MULLET has been presented with the top prize at the Shanghai International Film Festival and Director David Caesar was named Best Director.
LEUNIG
The short animated series, LEUNIG, created by Australian director/animator Andrew Horne, has been awarded the best animated program Rockie award at the Banff Television Festival.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
Adopted Aussie (born in England moved here when she was two) Frances O'Connor is in high demand at the moment with a number of films to be released this year. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, directed by Oliver Parker, opens in Australia next month. She has also just finished five-months in the West End in Tennessee Williams' CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF opposite Brendan Fraser and is starring as a nurse in John Woo's WINDTALKERS, opposite Nic Cage. She is currently based in Montreal shooting TIMELINE, directed by Richard Donner.
LA BOHEME
Rumours abound that pop princess Kylie Minogue is on the top of the list to play the lead role of Mimi in Baz Luhrmann's production of Puccini's LA BOHEME. She can certainly pull off the tiny frozen-hand waif look but she hasn't had much success in her past attempts at feature filmdom (BIODOME, STREETFIGHTER, SAMPLE PEOPLE) but maybe she just hasn't found the right director. If anyone can do it, Baz can.
NIGHTMARCHERS
A new film from writer/director Brett Leonard (THE LAWNMOWER MAN, VIRTUOSITY) is about to commence production in northern NSW. NIGHTMARCHERS has been described as a story about "surf Nazis" and will be produced by local Sydney-based production company DSTV.
THE HARD WORD
Even with heavy competition from Hollywood blockbusters SPIDERMAN and STAR WARS: ATTACK OF THE CLONES, the Aussie film, THE HARD WORD, starring Guy Pearce, Rachel Griffiths, Joel Edgerton and Damien Richardson, has grossed over AUD$2 million in two weeks in Australia.
ROUNDABOUT
There were extremely positive responses from a recent cast and crew screening of the Rachel Griffiths' directed short film ROUNDABOUT which examines a man who suffers a nervous breakdown. Looking forward to seeing this one.
A Brief OBITUARY
Sadly, Australian actor, Paul Chubb, has died. Paul was a highly respected character actor with extensive film, television and theatre credits. His films credits include THE WELL, COSI, and the soon to be released DIRTY DEEDS. He was still young and had many more performances to give. He will be missed.
NED KELLY
Welsh-born, Australian educated Naomi Watts has flown into Melbourne to star in NED KELLY, playing "the love interest." Watts has described her role as that of "a highly spirited, independent woman who's married into quite a wealthy family". "And she is very intrigued by Ned Kelly because they both have a free spirit and feel like their destiny is being controlled by others." Since MULHOLLAND DRIVE, Watts has been in hot demand and has many films in the can including LE DIVORCE, opposite Kate Hudson, THE RING (the remake of the Japanese film), and PLOTS WITH A VIEW, starring Christopher Walken and Brenda Blethyn.
VAN HELSING
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Hugh Jackman is in negotiations to star in the title role of Universal Pictures' action-adventure feature VAN HELSING for writer-director Stephen Sommers (THE MUMMY). Sommers' screenplay, set in the late 19th century, finds Bram Stoker's fabled monster hunter Van Helsing summoned to a distant Eastern European land to vanquish evil. The project will feature classic Universal monsters, including Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolf Man, as reimagined by Sommers.
THE LAST MAN
The Darren Aronofsky-directed/Brad Pitt, CateBlanchett-starring, THE LAST MAN (possibly to be re-named THE FOUNTAIN) may no longer be shooting in Australia. Village Roadshow is no longer involved and has been replaced by New Regency.
PERFECT PARTNERS
New Zealand former supermodel has signed on to star in the American romantic comedy PERFECT PARTNERS, opposite former Gladiator Ralph Moeller. They recently paired up in the New-Zealand-made film OZZIE, alongside Hollywood legend Joan Collins about a talking Koala.
