Well, Sony is wanting to shoot the sequel by the end of this year/beginning of next. However, sources have told The Playlist that Fincher is looking to begin production of his adaptation of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea this Fall, or by the end of the year. Obviously that would interfer with Sony’s plan to have The Girl Who Played With Fire in theaters by Christmas 2013. Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig are contracted to return for both films, but Fincher isn’t. And there were also some reports that Fincher and Sony clashed over the running time of Dragon Tattoo. And since this film wasn’t a big success, Sony could want to make more demands that could sway Fincher to not return. Hopefully that doesn’t happen, but it’s a good possibility.

“We’re working!” says the director. “You know, the idea of doing a gigantic steampunk science fiction movie from 1873, [is] kinda cool.”

Not that big of an update, but it appears it is still moving forward, unlike the Disney film that has stalled and died.

Source: MTV

The story has the animals join forces to save their land from a sinister plot that threatens to destroy the uneasy truce between the peaceful animals of the Willows and what remains of Mankind. Story begins when Mole ventures out of his lonely home for the first time and finds a world of new friendships, wonders and adventure waiting for him in the land of the Willows.(Variety).

Initial filming is scheduled to start this fall in New Zealand. Peter Jackson’s visual effects company, Weta Workshop, is attached to the production. Marsilii, who’s previous credits include Deja Vu, is currently signed on to write 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Not only is Beacham busy at work with writing 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, but the scribe is attached to put together a script for The Black Hole remake. Legendary Pictures has quite a few films on it’s slate for release, especially for this summer. Inception and Jonah Hex are both under their belt, which can lead for a very fruitful revenue summer at least for one of them.

“The project came together after Fincher approached Disney’s new production head Sean Bailey a few weeks into his job this winter. The Oscar-nominated helmer wanted to tackle a four-quadrant tentpole movie, somewhat of a departure from the dark, R-rated dramas such as “Fight Club” and “Zodiac” (or even “Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) that he’s done in the past.”

The project was under-wraps as Sean Baily settled into his new position as President of Production at Disney, but over the past few days has been talking to Fincher and Burns for movie deals. The plot is currently being kept secret, but Burns’ take on the classic story is said to be vizually dazzling. Production isn’t expected to begin soon as Fincher is currently in post-production with The Social Network.

Revolutionary Road

Since Depp is already attached to another Jerry Bruckheimer film, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, it could be easy to say that they put The Lone Ranger on the back burner for now just to keep Depp on board with both features. Either that or it took them awhile to wrangle up Haythe after the 20,000 League Under the Sea project fell through.

Disney has several films lined up on their slate, some of their more recent projects to be released this year being Alice in Wonderland, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Toy Story 3 and the highly anticipated Tron Legacy.

The studio confirmed that it won’t proceed with the film for now, and reps for the director confirmed he has withdrawn. While names like Will Smith were rumored as possible stars, no cast was ever set. The project had been on a fast track under the Dick Cook regime. Studio sez event pics like “20,000 Leagues,” “John Carter of Mars” and “Tron” are still priority under new chief Rich Ross.

The Terminator Salvation director is currently in the middle of pre-production of the big screen version of the hit Broadway musical Spring Awakening and is rumored to be attached to the fifth movie in the Terminator franchise. Since the film is, at the moment, on the auction block, it is completely indefinite when that particular project will go under production.

He pushed sci-fi and horror to the mainstream aiming it to be appreciated as an art form. For most of you, you know the importance of his life and to those who don’t, please read up on him. I wanted to take a minute to share a quick story of mine about Forry. They say a life is best remembered from how it has touched us and not how it passed.

Jon: My uncle was a huge fan of ‘50s sci-fi and the older horror films. His love and appreciation of those films was passed onto me, obviously. My uncle collected each issue of Famous Monsters of Filmland, a prized area of his collection. I looked through them too as a kid in awe of the cool pictures of monsters. My uncle learned of new films he hadn’t heard of and sought them out from the magazine. If anything, Forry made it easier for us to be fans.

About 1998 in Omaha, Nebraska, the original King Kong was playing for a one night appreciation of the film, and in attendance were Ray Bradbury and Forrest Ackerman. The theatre was the famous Indian Hills (now demolished) which featured a really cool screen which was huge at the time, almost circling around us. Of course the main attraction was seeing the immortal classic on the big screen, but seeing Forry signing autographs, bouncing around, and proudly displaying one of the Pterodactyls from the film was a great moment. My uncle said it best, “He was like a little boy with a brand new fire truck, holding it up with a huge smile and eyes wide open” referring to Forry and the rare piece of movie memorabilia.

My uncle would meet him once more at another screening, this time for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea before the city tore down the theatre despite Bradbury, Leonard Maltin, Charles Heston, and Janet Leigh trying to save it. Despite that, now in hindsight, it was amazing to see Forry and his love for the genre. If anything, while I don’t have direct influence from him like others do, I hope to take that moment and be like Forry when I talk about film. May he rest in peace.

Donny: When I was a kid I loved the old black and white Universal monster movies.  I couldn’t get enough of them, I’d stay up as late as I could trying to catch whatever creature feature was on.  Then one day I was at the video store with my Mom, it was a small town place called Movie Mart, and they had a huge magazine rack that ran almost the entire length of the store, and I stumbled upon Famous Monsters of Filmland.  I couldn’t believe my eyes.  This magazine contained monsters that I’d never heard of, monsters that must have only invaded the airwaves later than I was allowed to stay awake.  

After that I was a regular reader of this wonderful magazine and the man behind the wonderful stories contained within.  Forry and his magazine introduced me to the horror and science fiction genres, and fostered my love for writing.  After reading Forry’s awesome tribute to the genre I decided to embark on my own publishing career, and Last Rites my very own horror fanzine was born.  My first venture into genre writing didn’t last long, but I never stopped loving Forry’s work, and I never gave up on writing.  I continued to pump out different fanzines and continued to devour whatever genre materials I could get my hands on.  I wouldn’t be the person I am today without having picked up Forry’s Famous Monsters of Filmland, and even though I didn’t know him personally it is with great admiration that I say I’m going to miss Forry and his work very much.  

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