Stephen Chow To Play Kato and Direct GREEN HORNET

Stephen Chow, the Hong Kong comedic genius who has been making a niche for himself in America with recent films such as SHAOLIN SOCCER and KUNG FU HUSTLE, is about to get a whole lot more press. Writing team Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who are working on the script for the GREEN HORNET recently won over Chow to play Kato (a role originally made famous on television by Bruce Lee) have now just gone ahead and offered Chow the chance to direct the film... and he has said yes!

"I'm excited to be taking on THE GREEN HORNET - obviously I've been a huge fan of the show since I was a kid," Chow said. "The idea of stepping into Bruce Lee's shoes as Kato is both humbling and thrilling, and to get the chance to direct the project as my American movie debut is simply a dream come true."

Yes, with Chow making his American debut we may soon be seeing a resurgence in fanaticism for Chow. Several of his older films have been getting released here in the states, including THE ROYAL TRAMP series, and his association with THE GREEN HORNET will surely create an even greater demand for access to his impressive filmography.

Currently there is no specific word on what the storyline will involve. The film is currently scheduled to open June 25, 2010, so let the waiting begin.

Sequel to Zombie's HALLOWEEN in the Works?

French directors Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo behind the film INSIDE say they've been tapped to helm a sequel to Rob Zombie's remake/reimagining/reboot of HALLOWEEN in the latest issue of Rue Morgue.

"...it's a proposition we couldn't refuse," Maury noted and while he and Bustillo are well aware of Zombie's version of Michael Myers they are out to put their stamp on the character. Maury continues to say "Therefore, our vision will be done with utmost respect, with a continuity of Zombie's work but also a real evolution of the world he set in place."

Well, we all knew this was coming given that HALLOWEEN pulled in a decent amount of bank last August and on DVD. But with the way Zombie's movie ended, won't it be a bit difficult to let the boogie man keep doing what he does? Maybe the bullet missed?

Curious Goods is Back Open - FRIDAY THE 13th: THE SERIES on DVD

The first season of FRIDAY THE 13th: THE SERIES hits DVD on September 23d, featuring twenty-six episodes spread across six discs, and includes "Original Network Launch Promos" and "Sales Presentation" footage.

The series, which was not related to our beloved hockey mask wearing killer (despite what the DVD cover's font may have you believe), focused on an antique store where the owner and his employees would collect cursed artifacts and lock them away so they could do no harm.

Could a release for the similarly-styled NIGHTMARE CAFE or FREDDY'S NIGHTMARES be far behind?

A Teaser Poster for THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS Already?!

Is this a teaser poster for the next Batman movie THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS while THE DARK KNIGHT is still in theatres?! Absolutely not. Although as cool as can be, and proclaiming that The Riddler being the next villain, this is merely wishful thinking on some photoshop jockey's behalf.

While both director Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale are contracted for three films, there has been no confirmation thus far that they will return for a third time to the world of Batman. I'm all set for a third film, not doubt, guessing and reworking in my mind what the plot will be and what villains will appear, but for now that's all we get to do...

Magnet Releasing Has Six International Genre Films Lined Up

Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today the launch of the SIX SHOOTER FILM SERIES, a theatrical release of six films from the vanguard of quality worldwide genre cinema. With each film hailing from a different country, the series aims to bring fans of horror, sci-fi, alternative comedy and Asian cinema a mix of the most intelligent, genre-bending titles available from around the globe. The film series is a labor of love for Magnet/Magnolia, who have been committed for some time now to bringing this kind of high-quality fare to theaters, releasing such beloved titles as Bong Joon-ho’s THE HOST and ONG BAK with Tony Jaa.

The inaugural film in the series will be Tomas Alfredson’s critically acclaimed LET THE RIGHT ONE IN from Sweden, winner of such film festival honors as “Best Narrative Feature” at the Tribeca Film Festival, the “Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus Award” at Edinburgh, “Best Film and Best Cinematography” at Göteborg, and “Best Film, Best Director, Best Photography, Best European, North or South American Film” at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN will open in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, October 24th with a regional expansion the following week. The film, based on a internationally bestselling Swedish novel, tells the story of an introverted and bullied 12-year-old boy whose wish for a friend is answered when a young girl moves into the apartment next door. However, the girl’s arrival coincides with a series of grisly murders, and their relationship is understandably complicated when the boy learns that his new friend is a vampire. Alfredson weaves friendship, rejection and loyalty into a haunting and darkly atmospheric, yet poetic and unexpectedly tender tableau of adolescence which manages to breath fresh life into the vampire genre.

“Some of the most exciting, forward-thinking cinema today falls under the genre label and deserves a showcase,” said Magnolia Pictures President Eamonn Bowles. “In the tradition of ‘The Shooting Gallery Film Series,’ we're putting together a group of films whose quality far outweighs most of what’s on offer from Hollywood. And what better way to kick things off than with LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, which is one of the best films of the year—period.”

"It's hard enough finding one film, let alone two that are benchmarks within any genre,” added Tom Quinn, SVP at Magnolia/Magnet. “We're extremely fortunate to have six stellar films—future classics, in my opinion—that will appeal to critics and audiences alike, and make great additions to discerning DVD collections."

The SIX SHOOTER FILM SERIES will continue the following month with Hal Halberman and Jeremy Passmore’s SPECIAL (U.S.A.), opening theatrically on November 21st after premiering earlier in month on November 7th as a VOD title as part of HDNet’s ULTRA VOD program. SPECIAL is an offbeat and lovable action/comedy starring Michael Rapaport as a meter-maid whose psychotic reaction to medication given to him at a clinical trial convinces him that he has super powers.

Next up in December is Nacho Vigalondo’s TIMECRIMES (Spain), a mind-bending time-travel caper, Sundance Film Festival favorite and Austin Fantastic Fest winner that has already been optioned by United Artists for an English-language remake with David Cronenberg slated to direct. In January is Franck Vestiel’s EDEN LOG (France), a dark and visually stunning sci-fi thriller which will be featured in the “Midnight Madness” section of the Toronto Film Festival next month. Ollie Blackburn’s gleefully twisted and sexually charged Sundance thriller DONKEY PUNCH (UK) with Jaime Winstone will bow in February, riding the wave of notoriety that it generated from its UK release last month. Wrapping up the series in March is Hitoshi Matsumoto’s wonderfully bizarre superhero/mockumentary hybrid, BIG MAN JAPAN (Japan), another Toronto “Midnight Madness” and Cannes Director’s Fortnight alum that re-imagines the iconic giant defender of Tokyo as a 40 year old loser who manages to incur the population’s wrath as he battles some of the strangest monsters ever committed to celluloid.

Has Bigfoot Been Found In Georgia

While I freely admit that this has nothing to do with movies, and is just a futile attempt at getting some new traffic to this site, the notion that a real life "monster" has been found has honestly piqued my interest.

Here is the press release relating to this amazing discovery:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2008
BIGFOOT BODY FOUND
DNA evidence and photo evidence to be presented at a
PRESS CONFERENCE
to be held on
Date: Friday, August 15, 2008
Time: From 12Noon-1:00pm
Place: Cabana Hotel-Palo Alto (A Crown Plaza Resort) 4290 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, California 94306

Searching for Bigfoot, Inc. Menlo Park, California
Tom Biscardi, CEO

BIGFOOT BODY FOUND - EVIDENCE AND DNA DETAILS TO BE PRESENTED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 15th

FROM 12 N00N TO 1:00PM AT THE CABANA HOTEL-PALO ALTO IN PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA

A body that may very well be the body of the creature commonly known as “Bigfoot” has been found in the woods in northern Georgia.

DNA evidence and photo evidence of the creature will be presented in a press conference on Friday, August 15th from 12 Noon to 1:00pm at the Cabana Hotel-Palo Alto at 4290 El Camino Real in Palo Alto, California, 94306. The press conference will not be open to the public. It will only be open to credentialed members of the press.
Here are some of the vital statistics on the “Bigfoot” body:
*The creature is seven feet seven inches tall.
*It weighs over five hundred pounds.
*The creature looks like it is part human and part ape-like.
*It is male.
*It has reddish hair and blackish-grey eyes.
*It has two arms and two legs, and five fingers on each hand and
five toes on each foot.
*The feet are flat and similar to human feet.
*Its footprint is sixteen and three-quarters inches long and five and three-quarters inches wide at the heel.
*From the palm of the hand to the tip of the middle finger, its hands are
eleven and three-quarters inches long and six and one-quarter inches wide.
*The creatures walk upright. (Several of them were sighted on the same day that the body was found.)
*The teeth are more human-like than ape-like.
*DNA tests are currently being done and the current DNA and photo evidence will be presented at the press conference on Friday, August 15th.

Is this anything more than an attempt to drum up an "alien autopsy" type documentary to debut on the Sci-Fi or Discovery channel, or is this the build-up to a worldwide candid camera punchline? Or do these folks truly believe they've found the missing link? I guess we'll all find out on Friday. Stay tuned!

SAW V Teaser Trailer Released

If its Halloween, it must be SAW. If you are still on board with the series (I bailed after III) here is the first teaser trailer for SAW V to get the blood pumping with a brief peek at one of what will surely be a great many nasty traps.

The plot revolves around Hoffman who is seemingly the last person alive to carry on the Jigsaw legacy. But when his secret is threatened, Hoffman must go on the hunt to eliminate all loose ends.

Just for kicks, here's the original teaser poster as well.

MST3K 20th Anniversary DVD Boxset Specs Released!

Shout! Factory has released the final specs for their upcoming box set celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 that will hit DVD players on October 28th.

The set will feature four never-before-released episodes that fans have been clamoring for including:

- First Spaceship to Venus
- Laserblast
- Werewolf
- Future War

Extras includes featurettes covering the entire lifespan of MST3K and interviews with all the key players that made the series the classic it is. The set will also include lobby cards and a Crow T Robot figurine.

Shout! Factory, which now owns the entire run of the show, promises that this is merely the first of many sets that fans will surely go nuts over. Could we be seeing a Godzilla / Giant Monster themed set in the near future?

Ladies and Gentlemen... I Present You Jason Vorhees!

And with this first still, the world now knows what our masked killer Jason Vorhees will look like in the remaking/reimagining/relaunching and condensing of the first few FRIDAY THE 13th films will look like.

Continue for a more detailed close-up, courtesy of STYD!

HALLOWEEN Unrated 3-Disc DVD Set Specs and Cover

If you're a fan of Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN re-imagining, get ready for a deluxe DVD treatment (see cover art above) coming down the pipeline. This three-disc set includes the unrated version of the film (running eleven minutes longer than the theatrical release) as well as a MASSIVE four and a half hour documentary the covers *everything* related to making the film. This set wil also include:

- Audio commentary by writer/director Zombie
- 17 deleted scenes with optional director’s commentary
- Alternate ending with optional commentary
- Bloopers
- Casting sessions
- The Many Masks of Michael Myers featurette
- Re-Imagining HALLOWEEN featurette
- Meet the Cast featurette
- Scout Taylor-Compton screen test

At $24.95 ($34.95 for the Blu-ray version) this is a truly a bargain. The standard DVD version hits shelves on October 7th, while the Blu-ray set slashes the competition on Octber 21st.

4/16 NEWS BITES - Jess Franco Cover Art, New Horror Toys, Vinnie Jones' Victim & More

Here is the cover art for BLOODY MOON (1981) and DEVIL HUNTER (1980), both from director Jess Franco and both making their U.S. DVDebut on 7/29 from Severin Films. Both will include anamorphic widescreen transfers, trailers, and newly shot interviews with Franco.




Mezco is bringing your favorite modern icons of horror back to your toy shelves and desktops with their Screen Grabs (see NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET above) and 7" Cinema Of Fear (see JASON VOORHEES above) lines. Check out Mezco.com for more photos and details.


Did you know that SATAN HATES YOU? Read this soul-saving tract now!


Vinnie Jones is about to collect another victim in MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN. Click the image for the all the gruesome fun.

4/12 NEWS BITES - Neil Marshall's Dream Project, ROGUE Gets Limited Release, MOTHER OF TEARS Trailer & More

Neil Marshall's dream project...


If you live in San Francisco, Dallas, Detroit, Atlanta, Houston, Tampa, Miami, Phoenix, Denver or San Diego, you could get a chance to see ROGUE on the big screen. The giant alligator monster flick, from the director of WOLF CREEK, will begin showing on limited screens April 25th.


The film adaptation of the comic book Hack/Slash has found a writer! Justin Marks will write the script, with Todd Lincoln currently on board to direct.


Dario Argento's MOTHER OF TEARS will begin a limited theatrical run in the United States starting June 6th. Bloody-Disgusting.com has all the theatre details.


Media Blasters has released the final DVD cover art for THE MACHINE GIRL (streeting June 3rd) and LOVE ME DEADLY (streeting May 20th).

Working Title Films To Reunite Wright & Pegg

I'm a little late to the party, but here is a press release from Working Title Films announcing their two picture deal that will reunite director Edgar Wright with long time pal/actor/co-writer Simon Pegg (and presumably Nick Frost) along with producer Nira Park.

London. March 31. In an announcement today, Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner unveiled details of a new two picture deal they have signed with British filmmaker Edgar Wright, with whom they worked on the hit films “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz.” Wright has agreed to write and direct two projects for the London based production company, the first project being “Baby Driver”, a wild spin on the action and crime genre which will be set in the US. This will be followed by a project with the working title of “The World’s End” which will complete a trilogy of comedy films co-written with Simon Pegg in which they unite again to pen valentines to some of their favourite genres. The pair previously co-wrote “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz”.

Both films will be produced by Working Title in association with Big Talk Productions with Big Talk’s Nira Park producing with Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.

“We are delighted to continue to be in business with Edgar. We see him as one of the most gifted writers and directors in the industry today, and we are very much looking forward to having the chance to have even more successes with him in the future, “ said Fellner.

Edgar Wright commented "Working Title have been fantastic to work with and hugely instrumental in bringing the work of myself, Simon and Nira to the screen. We've had a lot of fun with them so far and it delights me to continue the partnership in the future with new material and bold directions.”

Working Title Films has been co-chaired by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner since 1992. Between them, they have produced over 90 feature films, which have amassed more than $4 billion worldwide. The company’s commercial and critical hits include The Interpreter; About a Boy; Notting Hill; Elizabeth; Fargo; Dead Man Walking; Bean; High Fidelity; Johnny English; Billy Elliot; Four Weddings and a Funeral; Bridget Jones’s Diary; Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason; O Brother, Where Art Thou?; Love Actually; Shaun of the Dead; Pride & Prejudice; Nanny McPhee; United 93; Mr Bean's Holiday; Hot Fuzz, Atonement and The Golden Age.

This sounds like more must-see goodness from the other side of the pond. I'm quite interested in how Wright will deal with an American cast with BABY DRIVER, but my thoughts are squarely on what THE WORLD'S END will be. Could this be a love letter to all things post-nuke? Recently released DOOMSDAY did a mighty fine job at that, but I doubt even the excellence of Neil Marshall could stand up to a proper ribbing by Wright and Pegg. We shall have to wait and see...

4/3 NEWS BITES - FEAR ITSELF On Demand, DIARY OF THE DEAD DVD Specs, and More!

- By now you've heard that Showtime's MASTERS OF HORROR has been transformed into NBC's FEAR ITSELF. Now word is coming from the FEARnet.com camp that the thirteen new episodes will also be available online and on demand! "We'll be teaming up with Lionsgate and NBC to bring you all 13 episodes of the show, with director commentary, on and following Labor Day 2008—both On Demand and right here on FEARnet.com! The series will hit NBC on Thursday, May 29th at 10pm, and after all episodes air on that network, we’ll bring you the entire show with added content, like behind-the-scenes features and in-depth shot breakdowns from the directors."

- Horror comic book series Last Blood is heading for the cinema! Originally created by brothers Bobby and Chris Crosby and published by Blatant Comics, the story revolves around a zombie apocalypse and the last humans on earth who are protected by vampires so that they may feed!


ZombieFriends.com got their rotten hands on the cover art for DIARY OF THE DEAD, which streets May 20th. Here are the confirmed specs so far:
- Audio Commentary with George A. Romero, Director of Photography Adam Swica, and Editor Michael Doherty
- "For The Record: The Making of Diary of the Dead" – A ninety-minute, five-part look into the creation of the film including interviews with the cast & crew.
- "Character Confessionals" – A series of “in-character” confessionals from the cast that were not seen in the final film
- "Familiar Voices" – A look at some of the original recording sessions of three of the famous voices used in the background of the film.
- "MySpace Short Contest Winners" – The Best of the MySpace DIARY OF THE DEAD contest winners

3/31 NEWS BITES - BANGKOK DANGEROUS (2008) Trailer, PATHOLOGY Trailer, No 4th RE-ANIMATOR, and More

Here is the theatrical trailer for the 2008 remake of BANGKOK DANGEROUS, directed by the Pang Brothers (who created the 1999 original) and starring Nicolas Cage.

- The newest actor to don the hockey mask has been named! Derek Mears, who was the Chameleon in THE HILLS HAVE EYES 2 is currently dotting the I's and crossing the T's to make it all official.


- George W. Bush stops the dead from re-animating! According to Stuart Gordon, the reason we won't be seeing HOUSE OF RE-ANIMATOR is because he "could not find funding for it; I think people are still too afraid of offending the Bush administration. I mean, here’s Re-Animator, which is a very successful franchise, but nobody wanted to do that story. People are definitely afraid. These guys are known for payback. Everyone is just counting the days until they’re out of office." Wait, what?


Trailer for the upcoming PATHOLOGY.

- Enemies of Asian horror remakes get ready be confused. Universal's remake of A TALE OF TWO SISTERS (get the original one *now*) has been retitled to THE UNINVITED. As any well-versed K-horror fan knows, there is a similar ghosty movie already named that. Just remember when Universal's cash-in eventually pops up to point people to the correct source material!

- Speaking of remakes, Platinum Dunes is actually planning something *original* (kind of). They will be teaming up with Paramount to adapt the stageplay "The Butcherhouse Chronicles" for the screen, which focuses on four teens who explore a haunted house and in the process uncover their town's dark secrets.

News Bites 3/25 - TRAIN Trailer, SHAOLIN GIRL Trailer, JONAH HEX Green Lit & More

- Pisser! Ryuhei Kitamura's MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN, based on a Clive Barker short story and starring Vinnie Jones, has been pulled from its slated May 16th theatrical date and no new one has been established.


- DC Comics' psychotic cowboy Jonah Hex is coming to the big screen! Warner Bros. has green lit a script from the writing/directing team of Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor.


- Trailer for TRAIN, which is a kind-of-but-not-really remake of TERROR TRAIN. Didja see what they did with the "R"? Didja, didja? That's a clever bit of marketing that is.


- SHAOLIN GIRL trailer, the Stephen Chow produced sequel to SHAOLIN SOCCER. The film hits theaters in Japan April 26th.

3/21 NEWS BITES - Super Freddy Is Jason?, GRINDHOUSE In The UK, WOLFMAN Pics & More!

Super Freddy to play Jason? Michael Bailey Smith, who briefly donned the striped sweater (see above) in NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 5 says he has been in talks with Platinum Dunes about donning the hockey mask in the FRIDAY THE 13th reboot/redux/reimaging/sequel. Smith, who also played Pluto in THE HILLS HAVE EYES remake, says "I can tell you that their interest in me is pretty strong. It all boils down to the way the producers ultimately want to go with Jason."

- Hong Kong is always a good place to turn for anthology horror movies and now Cub Chien, the former assistant director for the Pang Brothers, is set to make his debut with a new anthology of terror called SCARE 2 DIE. The new trailer is now available online. Check it out on Yahoo now.

- For those in the UK who have been wondering if you'll ever get to see the GRINDHOUSE experience as it was originally intended, your prayers to the dark lord have been answered. The Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez double-bill, complete with fake trailers by Eli Roth, Edgar Wright and Rob Zombie, is going on a limited run from the end of this month. Find out what theatres will be playing the movie now!


The first official pics for Universal's WOLFMAN remake are here!



Trailer for YAMA NO ANATA, the next project from Katsuhito Ishii, of SHARK SKIN MAN AND PEACH HIP GIRL and animation from KILL BILL fame.


Mother Russia goes for a mother load of gore in SSD!

3/19 News Bites - CLOVERFIELD on DVD, final LOST BOYS 2 Trailer, Neil Marshall's SACRILEGE and More!

The final trailer for LOST BOYS 2: THE TRIBE


Trailer for the korean military-horror film GP506, from the director of R-POINT.


CLOVERFIELD storms onto DVD April 22nd. Extras include:
- Commentary by director Matt Reeves
- “The Making of Cloverfield” featurette
- “Cloverfield Visual Effects” featurette
- “I Saw It! It's Alive! It's Huge” featurette
- “Clover Fun” featurette
- Six deleted scenes
- Multiple easter eggs
Pre-Order on Amazon now!


Official artwork for the Grindhouse Releasings DVD of PIECES! When additional information is available, we'll let you know, and if it is anything like their CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST release, we are in for a treat!


Awful US DVD cover for the black comedy tinged British horror film THE COTTAGE

- Hong Kong director Fruit Chan, who gave us the DUMPLINGS segment of THREE: EXTREMES, is set to direct the U.S. remake of Hideo Nakata's DON'T LOOK UP. Henry Thomas, Kevin Corrigan, Lothaire Bluteau, Carmen Chaplin and Reshad Strik are set to star in the film, which begins shooting April 14th.

- Now that DOOMSDAY is out, director Neil Marshall is about to set his sights on the old west for a horror film called SACRILEGE. Marshall told Variety Magazine "it is set during the Gold Rush, a time remembered for incidents like the Donner Party. It is meant to be a pitch-black, gritty, period horror movie. This is UNFORGIVEN by way of H.P. Lovecraft, with that grim, gritty setting and a horror element nobody has seen before."

- Kent Nichols and Douglas Sarine, creators of the web series ASK A NINJA, will be writing a remake to one of the "worst" movies of all time ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES. Nichols is currently set to direct. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

3/9 NEWS BITES - Trailers A Plenty with FRONTIER(S), SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN 2, and RED CLIFF

FRONTIER(S) will get a May 13th DVD release under the "8 Films To Die For Banner".


The first trailer for SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN 2 is now out! Get caught up in series and check out my review of the original film.


The newly released "grindhouse" style poster for ZOMBIE STRIPPERS. Why do I have the sneaking suspicion the poster is the best thing about the movie?


John Woo's latest film BATTLE OF RED CLIFF is also China's most expensive film ever!

3/6 NEWS BITES - DEXTER Toys, FEAR ITSELF Debut, WATCHMEN Characters & More

Michael C. Hall, aka everyone's favorite serial killer Dexter, is about to get immortalized in plastic! Bif Bang Pow has grabbed the rights to make figures and bobbleheads, with plans for the first toys to hit shelves in the fall.


FEAR ITSELF, the horror anthology that mutated out of the now defunct MASTERS OF HORROR, will hit NBC on May 29th at 10pm.


With exactly one year until WATCHMEN opens, Zack Snyder released stills of some of his titular characters. Above is Rorschach, who gets the most faithful page to screen adaptation. Check out the rest right here!