KillerFilm » Kenny Ortega

Lionsgate will be Dirty Dancing in July 2013

Matt Keith — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:27:38 +0000

Like it or not, Lionsgate is remaking Dirty Dancing with Kenny Ortega at the helm. The studio is wanting to move quickly into the film, and has set the remake for a July 26th, 2013 release date, according to The Hollywood Reporter. And if you thought the sequel would be using modern music such as Ke$ha or Justin Bieber, Ortega is planning on “incorporating classic songs from the 1960s, hits from the original film and new compositions”. Nothing else is known about the film.

Kenny Ortega will be Dirty Dancing for Lionsgate

Matt Keith — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 22:40:34 +0000

Another day, another classic 80s film getting a remake.

Deadline is reporting that Kenny Ortega will be directing a remake of Emile Ardolino’s Dirty Dancing. Fans are probably groaning after hearing this remake has been announced, but Kenny Ortega is reportedly the original person that came up with and choreographed the “Dirty Dancing” style that made the original popular. No idea who they have in mind for casting, but this film will likely be moving forward quickly.

Kenny Ortega gives an update on Thriller movie

Matt Keith — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 18:48:33 +0000

Last week, Michael Jackson fans were treated with news that various studios were pushing to make a film based on Michael Jackson’s hit song, Thriller (here). The film would be directed by Kenny Ortega (This Is It), with Jeremy Garelick (The Hangover) penning the script. However, the film may not be coming for a couple of years, if ever.

Ortega spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the film, and he mentioned that a deal has yet to be settled to make the film. “It is still in very, very early stages of development. The [Michael Jackson] estate would have to sign off on it,” he said. The director had a good relationship with The King of Pop, and that could help him get the rights to make the film. “ I have been a part of some early creative meetings and if all goes well, I think it could happen in the next couple of years,” he said.

One complaint fans have made is that Ortega would be simply remaking John Landis’ hit video. But that’s not something Ortega is worried about, and it’s not something he’s looking to taint Jackson’s work. “Michael used to say to me that there is nothing to be afraid of and fear just gets in the way anyway. We were very good friends. I miss him. And I would never do anything to ruin his memory or one of his creations,” he said. However, Ortega re-iterates it’s possible the film may not even happen.

Michael Jackson’s Thriller to be made into a film

Matt Keith — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 22:35:49 +0000

Micheal Jackson may be gone, but like all legends, his influence lives on. The King of Pop passed away over a year ago, but is still influencing other media. Deadline Hollywood reports that GK Films is negotiating to acquire the rights to Michael Jackson’s hit song, Thriller, and will be making a film based on the song.

The project has been in the works for several weeks now, and has Kenny Ortega, who created Jackson’s This Is It documentary last year, set to direct. Fox 2000, Mandate Pictures, Lionsgate, and Summit Entertainment are putting money down for the rights, and will be giving the film a $50 million budget. Jeremy Garelick (The Hangover) will write the screenplay. Rod Temperton, who wrote the song, is also involved in the project. The plot is being kept secret, but “has to do with the song’s folklore, involving Vincent Price and the town he grew up in.”

Paramount shifts around their releases

Melissa Molina — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:13:44 +0000

First off, don’t you worry your pretty little heads, Iron Man 2 is not one of the films that’s getting shifted around. What they are pushing is the Christmas Day release of the Coen Brothers upcoming remake of True Grit. The feature stars Jeff Bridges in the role of Marshall Reuben J. Cogburn which was made famous by John Wayne (Variety). Along with that, Paramount Pictures decided to throw the Footloose remake off of it’s summer release date due to drop out of director Kenny Ortega.

Paramount is currently set as the distributor for yet another Marvel Enterprises feature Thor, which is currently in the middle of filming. They’re also attached for distribution for the upcoming Steven Spielberg film The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn.

Ortega is In the Heights

Melissa Molina — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:05:28 +0000

Kenny Ortega is better known as the some what pushover director who was in Michael Jackson’s This Is It. Now he’s getting yet another opportunity to go behind the camera as he signs on to helm the big screen adaptation of In The Heights. This particular feature is based off of a Broadway musical and will be adapted to the big screen by creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. “Heights” explored three days in New York City’s Dominican-American neighborhood of Washington Heights and featured hip-hop, salsa, merengue and soul music (THR).

Producing the adaptation is Meryl Poster along with Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum who both participated as producers on the original Broadway show. Ortega’s latest directed work, This Is It, is no longer in theaters but did open to a strong amount of box office numbers.

No more Footloose for Ortega

Melissa Molina — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:17:31 +0000

Kenny Ortega is no longer doing a tasty tango with Paramount Pictures as he exits the “Footloose” remake. The “This Is It” director jumped ship after several negotiation problems with the studio. Here’s more exclusively from Variety:

Insiders said Ortega wanted to make a picture with elaborately staged musical numbers at a budget of $30 million or so. Par production chief Adam Goodman wanted an edgier drama with less emphasis on the musical numbers and a budget around $25 million or less.

Paramount and Ortega confirmed the split but took the high road in a statement attributed to Ortega’s camp: “Coming off the extraordinary project, Michael Jackson’s ‘This is It,’ director Kenny Ortega has decided it is premature for him to commit to his next film and will not be moving forward with ‘Footloose’ as previously reported.”

“This Is It” is expected to moonwalk into theaters on October 28th with a two week limited release date. With the over abundance of hype surrounding the rehearsal footage film on Michael Jackson, this feature could follow the same path as “Toy Story/Toy Story 2 in 3D” and possibly stay open longer. Paramount is in the middle of hunting a director for the Chase Crawford starring picture which also is a remake of the 1984 Kevin Bacon movie of the same name.

Trailer for Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’ is A-Go-Go

Michael Cook — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:42:53 +0000

This past weekend, The Kayne-crashed Video Music Awards on MTV ran a little trailer for an upcoming movie during the VMA Preshow. Here’s the trailer, the internet form.

This Is It is being pushed out by Sony, with the support of Michael Jackson’s Estate. Directed by former choreographer Kenny Ortega, director of Newsies, Disney’s Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus concert movie and all three of Disney’s High School Musical movies, his rap sheet does a great job of articulating his style for extravagant large-scale dance numbers and live concert performances.

Not completely rehearsal footage, the movie offers a “rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his concerts” and allows almost everyone to see the legendary performer rehearse his sold out show.

Keep your eyes on the official site: ThisIsIt-Movie.com

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Source: FirstShowing