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Zack Snyder in negotiations to direct 'Superman'

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Variety's Marc Graser reports:

Director Zack Snyder, fresh off directing his first animated film for Warner Bros., "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole," is in negotiations to helm the Christopher Nolan-produced "Superman" reboot.

The script is being written by David S. Goyer (“Batman Begins”) based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Producers are Nolan and Emma Thomas (“Inception”), Charles Roven (“The Dark Knight”), Deborah Snyder (“Watchmen”).

Legendary’s Thomas Tull (“Inception”) will exec produce. The film is targeted for a holiday 2012 release.

WB, M.A.C. team on Wonder Woman makeup

Wnderwoman_mac By Erin Maxwell

Warner Bros. and DC Comics have teamed with M.A.C. Cosmetics on a new line promoting the iconic superhero Wonder Woman.

Set for release in spring 2011, M.A.C. will feature a line of cosmetic colors inspired by the Golden Age Amazon princess. The set of nail polish, eye shadow and lipstick will range in price from $13.00 - $49.50.

The announcement of the merchandising tie-in with M.A.C. rides on the heels of Wonder Woman’s recently updated look, in which she traded in her skimpy one-piece for     less revealing biker ensemble.

There is no info on whether or not this will tie in with the long-awaited film version of the superhero.

TRAILER: Ben Affleck returns to Bean-'Town'

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Ben Affleck returns to the director's chair in Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' "The Town," a Boston-based cops and robbers pic that looks wicked awesome.

Town_boffo Affleck stars in the film as a bank robber who becomes smitten with the teller (Rebecca Hall) he held up.

WB is currently playing the trailer in front of "Inception."

Jeremy Renner ("The Hurt Locker"), Jon Hamm and Blake Lively also star in the film, which is based on Chuck Hogan's novel "Prince of Thieves."

"The Town" marks Affleck's second directorial effort; his first was 2007's "Gone Baby Gone."

Graham King produced the pic under his GK Films banner.

Warner Bros. opens "The Town" nationwide on September 17, 2010.

Watch trailer:

NEW 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' trailer

Potter_boffo_new The end is nigh Harry Potter fans.

Warner Bros. just debuted the first full-length trailer (see below) for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

Split into two films, J.K. Rowling's final novel in the wizard franchise features an epic showdown between Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).

"The Boy Who...comes to die!" Voldemort hisses in the new footage.

Potter_book_boffo Also reprising their roles in "Deathly Hallows" are Harry Potter vets Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

Warner Bros. will release Part I of the finale on November 19, 2010 while Part II will wrap up the series on July 15, 2011.

Watch the trailer below:



Galifianakis to swim with 'Mr. Limpet?'

Galifianakis_boffo Zach Galifianakis is reportedly in talks to star in Warner Bros.' remake of the Don Knotts live-action/animation hybrid 'The Incredible Mr. Limpet,' according to the LA Times.

Galifianakis would play a bookkeeper who experiences his fondest wish and is transformed into a fish in the pic.

Mrlimpet_boffo Last year, WB hired "Enchanted" director Kevin Lima to helm the studio's update of the 1964 fantasy comedy.

Johnny Depp had initially been rumored as a potential lead but his "Pirates of the Caribbean" schedule forced "Mr. Limpet" producers to try and bait Galifianakis instead.

"The Hangover" thesp recently wrapped "Due Date" alongside Robert Downey Jr. and can next be seen in Jay Roach's DreamWorks comedy "Dinner for Schmucks," which hits theaters July 30.

Galafanakis is repped by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.


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WB taps writers for 'Green Lantern 2,' 'Flash'

Lantern_boffo Warner Bros. apparently likes what they see on the set of "Green Lantern" as Reuters is reporting that a sequel is already in the works. The Ryan Reynolds-starrer, which is currently shooting in Louisiana, will gear up for a second feature with DC Entertainment tapping "Lantern" scribes Greg Berlanti, Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim to pen the treatment.

"Green Lantern," directed by Martin Campbell and starring Reynolds, Blake Lively and Peter Sarsgaard, will hit theaters on June 17, 2011.

Flash_boffo Meanwhile, DC Ent. has commissioned Berlanti, Green and Guggenheim to write the upcoming "Flash" pic, which Warner Bros. will also distribute. No word yet on who will direct "Flash."

Back in September, Warner Bros. announced the creation of DC Entertainment after purchasing comicbook publisher DC Comics. The company, which holds rights to such characters as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash and Green Lantern, is run by WB vet Diane Nelson. 

"Jonah Hex," another WB/DC outfit, will be released on June 18.


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Nolan: No Joker in next 'Batman'

Nolan_boffo The Joker will not be appearing in Christopher Nolan's third "Batman" film, according to the 39 year-old director.

In a recent interview with Empire Magazine, Nolan said the idea of re-casting Ledger's role was something he didn't "feel comfortable with."

This can't come as much of a surprise, even if the Joker was originally part of the next chapter. Ledger's absence undoubtedly casts a shadow on the character and Nolan is too classy a fellow to find a replacement this soon.

Meanwhile, Nolan's brother, Jonathan, is currently finishing the next Batman script, which Nolan admits he is "very excited about. We particularly like where we are taking the characters and what the ending is."

Dc_boffo The "Dark Knight" director wouldn't elaborate on any further "Batman" details, including who the next villain(s) will be, but he did talk about another Warner Bros./DC Comics project, "Superman," which he's producing. David Goyer, Nolan's writing partner on "Batman Begins," is penning the script.

Superman_boffo "While David Goyer and myself were putting together the story for another Batman film a few years ago — you know, thrashing out where we might move on from 'The Dark Knight' — we got stuck," Nolan said of the project's origin. "We were just sitting there idly chatting and he said, 'By the way, I think I know how you approach Superman,' and he told me his take on it. I thought it was really tremendous. It was the first time I had been able to conceive of how you would address Superman in a modern context. I thought it was a very exciting idea."

Warner Bros. will release "Batman 3" on July 20, 2012. "Superman's" domestic release is still TBD.


Follow Stuart Oldham on Twitter. TwitterT_boffo

Village Roadshow secures $1 billion in funds

Villageroadshow_boffo MAY 27, 2010—Village Roadshow Pictures Group ("VRPG") today closed a $1 billion film finance credit facility to finance its current and future slate of motion pictures.


 JPMorgan Chase and Rabobank acted as joint syndication agents and, with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, are co-bookrunners and co-lead arrangers.


Said Greg Basser, Chief Executive Officer of Village Roadshow Entertainment Group ("VREG"), the parent of VRPG and Concord Music Group, "At a time when capital is at a premium, we’ve managed to attract the confidence of a diverse group of investors and secure significant financing. We are grateful to all involved with the close of this deal and to our unwavering partners at Warner Bros."


Since its formation in 1997, VRPG has been one of the industry’s leading financiers and producers of studio released motion pictures, amassing a library of 65 films, 61 of which have been released in partnership with Warner Bros. – representing the studio’s longest continuous relationship with an independent film financing and production company.


Said Bruce Berman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VRP: "We are in the business of making movies. This new financing enables us to expand upon the solid foundation we’ve established within the industry and grow our slate of tentpole and star-driven films."


"We have had a long, successful relationship with Village Roadshow, and are very pleased they will continue to be our partners in making great movies," added Barry Meyer, Chairman and CEO and Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. Entertainment.


As it has throughout its partnership with Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures will continue to co-finance and co-produce high caliber, star driven films such as today’s release of Sex And The City 2 and recent blockbuster hits Sherlock Holmes, and Gran Torino and the Academy Award animated picture winner, Happy Feet. Village Roadshow Limited Chief Executive Officer, Graham Burke said, "VRL is committed to VREG and our joint ventures with Warner Bros.


This is a unique partnership established in 1971 and marked by success in distribution, theme parks, and a pictures group that has released 65 films and grossed $10 billion in box office results to date. It is a great alliance and our best years are ahead." The facility, first established in 1997, is earmarked, among other projects, for the financing and production of Sex and the City 2, Cats and Dogs 2 in 3D, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’hoole, in 3D, and Life As We Know It starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel slated for 2010 as well as Happy Feet 2 in 3D slated for 2011.

SNEAK PREVIEW: "Going the Distance"

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Warner Bros. has released the first trailer for New Line's romantic comedy "Going the Distance," starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long.
 
Directed by Nanette Burnstein ("American Teen"), pic tells the story of a couple who find their long-distance relationship wearing thin. Charlie Day ("It's Always Sunny...") and "SNL" thesp Jason Sudeikis also star.

Judging from Geoff LaTulippe's smart and funny script, "Distance" could be this year's "500 Days of Summer," albeit on a larger budget. The Barrymore-Long romancer could also cap off what is expected to be a very strong female-driven box office this summer with "Sex and the City 2" and "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" bowing in the next month.
 
"Going the Distance" hits theaters August 27, 2010.

Buzz builds for "Sex and the City 2"

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BY ANDREW STEWART

With "Sex and the City 2" set to launch nationwide a week from Thursday, Warner Bros. and New Line's femme-driven romp is seeing high advance ticket sales, especially from upscale multiplexes. Pic will benefit from an early Memorial Day weekend opening, making it a five-day weekend.
As with the first installment, femmes are turning the opening into an event, planning Cosmo-soaked escapades for opening weekend.

Gold Class Cinemas has pre-sold approximately 8,000 tickets in the past two months, with some 2,700 tickets for private events. Gold Class is one of several circuits, including ArcLight Cinemas, that will cater (literally) to femme auds when the comedy sequel opens wide May 27.

Continue reading " Buzz builds for "Sex and the City 2" " »


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