Chicago – We’re doing something we’ve never done before at HollywoodChicago.com — reviewing a TV show that isn’t on the air…yet. Acclaimed producer Michael Wilson, a veteran of TV comedy from years working on “Saturday Night Live,” “Politically Incorrect,” and “Burn Notice,” is shopping a pilot for a new sketch comedy series called “The Men’s Room” and was kind enough to grant us access to a copy. As I work my way through the dozens of new shows that the networks have deemed worthy of spots on their 2012-13 schedules, it’s interesting to see something at this stage of the process, before it’s been given a green light. I use the word “before” because I’m pretty confident that a network will pick it up. They’d be stupid not to given the fact that it’s better than half of the shows already...
- 7/27/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Producer/Manager Larry Thompson, who has his hands full at the moment with the Lindsay Lohan-starring telefilm Liz & Dick, produced by his company, is also about to take out a male-skewing sketch comedy pilot. Thompson has teamed with producer Michael Wilson (Saturday Night Live, Politically Incorrect) on the project. Wilson financed and produced the completed pilot, said to be in the vein of such sketch-comedy shows as The Kids in The Hall, The State and Monty Python’s Flying Circus and described by Wilson as a show “by guys, for guys who like sketch comedy.” The ensemble cast features performers from The Groundlings and the Second City and includes Robert Belushi, Scott Beehner, Cooper Barnes, Sitara Falcon, T’Shaun Barrett, Bruce Wexler, Jo Newman, Mark Gagliardi and Marta McGonagle. The pilot will be shopped shortly by the Gersh Agency.
- 6/22/2012
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
There's a new James Bond film, Skyfall, starring Daniel Craig currently filming, and if producer Michael J. Wilson has his way it won't be Craig's last. People UK is reporting Wilson has made a multi-million pound offer, and if Craig accepts at the end of his run he will have starred as Bond in 8 films. This gives him one more than current record holder Roger Moore, who played Bond in seven films.Wilson had this to say about Daniel Craig and the currently filming Skyfall: “Daniel’s been a terrific Bond, a superb actor and a terrific man. The fans love him and I don’t think there’s a better actor to play the part.“Filming has gone very well so far and I’d love Daniel to surpass Roger’s record and do eight pictures. Daniel’s been an absolute pleasure to be around because he takes the role so seriously.
- 12/19/2011
- LRMonline.com
"This is a bit of an odd press conference," director Sam Mendes admitted at this morning's swish London media gathering to cut the ribbon on production of the 23rd and latest James Bond film. "Usually at these things, you have something you can talk about." He wasn't kidding. With producers Michael J. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, plus stars Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Juli Dench, Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe, Mendes rocked up at the ballroom of Whitehall’s plush Corinthian Hotel – a venue one suspects Bond himself would choose – to tell us… well, not very much at all. Actors confirmed,...
- 11/3/2011
- by Guy Lodge
- Hitfix
I might be coming a little late to the bandwagon, but I saw Gavin O’Connor’s latest film, Warrior, last night and thought it was one of the best films of the year so far (and I can’t begin to understand why it’s not done well at the box office, in spite of great reviews).
I loved The Fighter with Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale last year, and thought Warrior might not compare that well to it being released relatively soon after it, but I was so wrong. I think I might even prefer Warrior, and it definitely had an even stronger impact whilst watching it in the cinema.
So as you can imagine, the news that Gavin O’Connor is heading back behind the camera for a new project is most definitely very welcome. The Playlist report that O’Connor and co-writer Michael J. Wilson (Ice Age...
I loved The Fighter with Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale last year, and thought Warrior might not compare that well to it being released relatively soon after it, but I was so wrong. I think I might even prefer Warrior, and it definitely had an even stronger impact whilst watching it in the cinema.
So as you can imagine, the news that Gavin O’Connor is heading back behind the camera for a new project is most definitely very welcome. The Playlist report that O’Connor and co-writer Michael J. Wilson (Ice Age...
- 10/4/2011
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
From Mma cage fighters to samurai, writer/director Gavin O'Connor must have something crazy in store for his follow-up to Warrior. Deadline reported Friday, that Warner Bros. made a hefty six figure purchase of O'Connor's next film script The Samurai.
News is the studio wants to get cracking on The Samurai, which was written by O'Connor and Michael J. Wilson (Shark Tale), A.S.A.P. Apparently, O'Connor is also working on a stage adaptation of The Hustler with Renee Zellwegger.
News is the studio wants to get cracking on The Samurai, which was written by O'Connor and Michael J. Wilson (Shark Tale), A.S.A.P. Apparently, O'Connor is also working on a stage adaptation of The Hustler with Renee Zellwegger.
- 10/1/2011
- by Get The Big Picture
- GetTheBigPicture.net
If I told you a couple years ago that a movie about two Mma-fighting, down-on-their-luck brothers who inexplicably enter into a professional fighting tournament and subsequently beat all of the best in the world to face each other in the finals was really good and you should check it out, you probably would have looked at me like I was stupid. But then Warrior came out, and it had Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton in it, so we checked it out despite the ridiculous premise, and it actually turned out to be a fine little film. It’s funny how the world works. While the performances were definitely my favorite part of Warrior, I must admit that the movie had a subtle touch when dealing with potentially cheesy material, and that went a long way toward keeping me along for the ride. Credit for that, and the casting for that matter, has...
- 9/30/2011
- by Nathan Adams
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Warner Bros seems to be everywhere in the news of late! According to Deadline, the studio has ponied up something in the high six-figures for spec script The Samurai, the follow-up film by Warrior helmer Gavin O'Connor. Written by O'Connor and Michael J. Wilson (Shark Tale, The Tuxedo), The Samurai "is about a rogue assassin named Townes Joyce, who breaks out of a Texas jail that puts him on the run from an international manhunt. Along the way, he gets involved with a woman and her...
- 9/30/2011
- by George Merchan
- JoBlo.com
Gavin O’Connor’s Mma fighting drama Fighter starring Tom Hardy and Joel Edgarton has had a mild run at the box office, but it did gain some substantial awards buzz for Hardy, Edgarton, and Nick Notle. Now the director is getting ready for his next project. O’Connor and Michael J. Wilson have sold their script for The Samurai to Warner Brothers Studios. This was an interesting pair actually because, Wilson’s name is attached to family fan-fare films like The Odd Life of Timothy Green (co-written by Ahmet Zappa) and two family animated films, Ice Age and Shark’s Tale.
Details for The Samurai are limited, but The Playlist describes it as a film that contains international locations and an integral love story. I am very interested to see Wilson’s new script come to life, mostly because he has written something audiences wouldn’t normally associate him with.
Details for The Samurai are limited, but The Playlist describes it as a film that contains international locations and an integral love story. I am very interested to see Wilson’s new script come to life, mostly because he has written something audiences wouldn’t normally associate him with.
- 9/30/2011
- by Mike Lee
- FusedFilm
"Warrior" helmer Gavin O’Connor and "Ice Age" writer Michael J. Wilson have sold their action adventure spec script "The Samurai" to Warner Bros. Pictures says The Playlist.
The story follows an assassin who breaks out of a Texas jail. While international authorities pursue him, he becomes involved with a woman and her kid with the trio taking a globe-hopping adventure between Colombia, Costa Rica, Paris and the United States.
O’Connor is said to be making this his next directorial effort. The helmer is also working on a stage play adaptation of "The Hustler" with his "Warrior" co-writer Anthony Tambackis.
The story follows an assassin who breaks out of a Texas jail. While international authorities pursue him, he becomes involved with a woman and her kid with the trio taking a globe-hopping adventure between Colombia, Costa Rica, Paris and the United States.
O’Connor is said to be making this his next directorial effort. The helmer is also working on a stage play adaptation of "The Hustler" with his "Warrior" co-writer Anthony Tambackis.
- 9/30/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Although it may have not pulled in as much as hoped for, the reaction to Warrior has been very good for Gavin O’Connor — especially when his last movie, Pride and Glory, came and went. Flexing some of his newfound freedoms, ThePlaylist has learned of Michael J. Wilson and he selling their spec script, The Samurai, to Warner Bros. Being described as a “‘brutal’ lightning fast thriller, with international locations,” it “also features a love story as part of the plot”; Deadline was able to uncover some additional plot details.
Turns out that the story follows “a rogue assassin named Townes Joyce, who breaks out of a Texas jail that puts him on the run from an international manhunt”; he soon “gets involved with a woman and her child, and they go along for a ride that spans Costa Rica, Colombia, Paris and back to the U.S.” Sounds like...
Turns out that the story follows “a rogue assassin named Townes Joyce, who breaks out of a Texas jail that puts him on the run from an international manhunt”; he soon “gets involved with a woman and her child, and they go along for a ride that spans Costa Rica, Colombia, Paris and back to the U.S.” Sounds like...
- 9/30/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
[1] Despite a very positive critical reception and the considerable talents of cast members Nick Nolte, Tom Hardy, and Joel Edgerton, Gavin O'Connor's Mma drama Warrior didn't exactly set the box office on fire when it opened earlier this month. But the director doesn't seem too concerned with dwelling on the commercial disappointment. He's already moved on to his next two projects, and they both sound pretty interesting. The writer/director is reportedly working on a film project titled The Samurai for Warner Bros., as well as a stage adaptation of The Hustler. More details after the jump. Deadline [2] writes that O'Connor co-wrote the spec script for The Samurai with Ice Age scribe Michael J. Wilson, and that the two sold it to Warner Bros. earlier this week for an amount in the high six figures. The action flick centers around a rogue assassin named Townes Joyce, whose escape from...
- 9/30/2011
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
In a move that will require some haste due to another pending project, Warner Bros. has signed "The Warrior" director Gavin O'Connor to direct the screenplay he co-wrote with Michael J. Wilson (of "Ice Age" and "Shark Tale"). The project must move towards production rapidly, because O'Connor is also teed up to direct a stage play adaptation of "The Hustler," a co-writing effort with his "Warrior" writing partner Anthony Tambackis. Proceeding from the 1961 pool hustler drama that starred Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason, the stage play is aiming for a...
- 9/30/2011
- by Fred Schruers
- The Wrap
Gavin O.Connor has made some fine films over the course of his relatively short career, from the inspirational Olympic hockey drama Miracle to the vastly underrated cops-and-family thriller Pride & Glory. But he has never been hotter than right now thanks to his outstanding work on the critically acclaimed Mma drama, Warrior. O.Connor, wisely, is using some of this clout to get his next picture made. He and co-writer Michael J. Wilson have sold a script to Warner Bros. titled The Samurai, according to The Playlist, and O.Connor is setting it up as his next directing gig. Details on the project are relatively vague at this point, with the source saying this would be a quick-moving thriller set in international locales and featuring a love interest. That describes 75% of the films released in Hollywood a year. Wilson, meanwhile, is a wild-card collaborator. His credits include the script for...
- 9/30/2011
- cinemablend.com
Breaking: In a high-six-figure deal, Warner Bros has acquired The Samurai, a spec script that will be the next film directed by Warrior helmer Gavin O’Connor. The intention is to get it into production quickly, because O’Connor is also working on a stage play adaptation of The Hustler, the Walter Tevis novel that was turned into the 1961 pool hustler film that starred Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason. O’Connor secured the rights from the author’s estate and Fox and is writing the stage play with his Warrior co-writer Anthony Tambackis. They are deep into it, and while they’ve not yet taken the play out for financing, O’Connor is eyeing a Broadway bow and said he’s got a commitment from Renee Zellweger to play Sarah Packard, the companion of Fast Eddie Felson who was played in the film by Piper Laurie. As for The Samurai,...
- 9/30/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
The Mma fighting drama Warrior may not have made a big splash at the box office, but the powerful family drama within a rather formulaic sports story worked surprisingly well on nearly every level and will likely have some Oscar nominations in order for Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte for their fantastic performances, and maybe the film itself. Now director Gavin O'Connor is in the midst if getting his next project together as The Playlist has learned O'Connor and writer Michael J. Wilson (Ice Age, Shark Tale) have sold their spec script The Samurai to Warner Bros. That's a strange pairing of talent. More below! Of course, besides writing the aforementioned family friendly animated films, Wilson also had his had in co-writing The Odd Life of Timothy Green with Ahmet Zappa, so he's not just fit for animated kiddie fare. As for the project, details are sparse, but...
- 9/30/2011
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
Have you seen Gavin O’Connor‘s Mma film Warrior yet? If not, you're really missing out. This is one of the best movies of the year, and I suggest you go watch it if you haven't already. Unfortunately the film hasn't done too well at the box office. Thankfully that isn't stopping Warner Bros. from working with the talented director.
According to a recent report O'Connor and co-writer Michael J. Wilson went out and sold a screenplay to Warner Bros. called The Samurai, and O'Connor is planning to direct it. Wilson is best know for his work on family films such as The Tuxedo, Shark Tale and Ice Age.
There aren't any big story details yet, but according to Indiewire "it’s said to be a brutal lightning fast thriller, with international locations, and also features a love story as part of the plot." It would be great if...
According to a recent report O'Connor and co-writer Michael J. Wilson went out and sold a screenplay to Warner Bros. called The Samurai, and O'Connor is planning to direct it. Wilson is best know for his work on family films such as The Tuxedo, Shark Tale and Ice Age.
There aren't any big story details yet, but according to Indiewire "it’s said to be a brutal lightning fast thriller, with international locations, and also features a love story as part of the plot." It would be great if...
- 9/30/2011
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
With his rather good Mma fighting drama Warrior currently in cinema’s (our review Here) but struggling to make it’s money back with $15 million worldwide returned to date on a $25 million budget and this week the film dropping out of the U.S. Top 10; and his previous film, 2008′s Edward Norton & Colin Farrell led cop drama Pride and Glory bringing in no returns, it’s good to see that Hollywood is still in the Gavin O’Connor game, deeming his financial failures to be down to unpopular subject matters, rather than on films that were badly made (as they certainly weren’t).
Often directors struggle to find work having cost studio’s money but according to The Playlist, Warner Bros haven’t been put off and have just bought a spec script co-authored by the director. Titled The Samurai, the movie is promised to be a “brutal lightning fast thriller,...
Often directors struggle to find work having cost studio’s money but according to The Playlist, Warner Bros haven’t been put off and have just bought a spec script co-authored by the director. Titled The Samurai, the movie is promised to be a “brutal lightning fast thriller,...
- 9/30/2011
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
It appears that Warrior director Gavin O'Connor has his next project in his sights. The Playlist reports that O'Connor (and co-writer Michael J. Wilson) have sold a screenplay to Warner Bros. entitled The Samurai with O'Connor planning to direct the project. Plot details are few, but The Samurai is said to be a thriller that spans international locales. Wilson is best known for for his family-friendly fare, having contributed to the Jackie Chan vehicle The Tuxedo and the animated films Shark Tale and the original Ice Age . Outside of Warrior , O'Connor is known for films like Miracle and Pride and Glory .
- 9/30/2011
- Comingsoon.net
Disney Pictures is in early negotiations to pick up Ahmet Zappa and Michael Wilson's spec script "Tiki" for Monsterfoot Productions and Scott Sanders Productions reports Heat Vision.
Though said to be inspired by Disneyland's Enchanted Tiki Room, the film is Not an adaptation of the attraction ala "Pirates of the Caribbean". Rather it is an action-adventure set against the backdrop of Polynesian mythology.
The script is set in Hawaii and "takes in the culture’s rich reserve of unique gods and ghost stories". Zappa and Wilson previously sold their script "Monster Witness Relocation Program" to Disney.
Though said to be inspired by Disneyland's Enchanted Tiki Room, the film is Not an adaptation of the attraction ala "Pirates of the Caribbean". Rather it is an action-adventure set against the backdrop of Polynesian mythology.
The script is set in Hawaii and "takes in the culture’s rich reserve of unique gods and ghost stories". Zappa and Wilson previously sold their script "Monster Witness Relocation Program" to Disney.
- 11/9/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Jaden Smith may only be, I dunno, six or seven years old, but he's already a bankable star. Maybe a lot of that has to do with his dad, but The Karate Kid made a lot more money than anybody thought it would. So now he's setting himself up for his next gigs, assuming he gets his chores done.
Ahmet Zappa and Michael Wilson worked on something called Monster Witness Relocation Program, Disney sniffed it out, and Jaden is set to star, according to Latino Review. We'll have to assume the title tells the story here, because details are scant at best as to exactly what this movie will be.
We do not, however, have to assume that there might be another Ahmet Zappa in the world. Nope, this is the same dude. Frank's son, but not Dweezil.
Ahmet Zappa and Michael Wilson worked on something called Monster Witness Relocation Program, Disney sniffed it out, and Jaden is set to star, according to Latino Review. We'll have to assume the title tells the story here, because details are scant at best as to exactly what this movie will be.
We do not, however, have to assume that there might be another Ahmet Zappa in the world. Nope, this is the same dude. Frank's son, but not Dweezil.
- 8/29/2010
- by Colin
- GetTheBigPicture.net
Not much is known about the Monster Witness Relocation Program project yet, but at least we know that new monster is in town, because Disney has picked up Ahmet Zappa and Michael Wilson’s (Ice Age (2002), Shark Tale) script.
This isn’t the first Disney/Zappa collaboration.
Actually, in 2005, Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films acquired Zappa’s young adult novel Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless and paid $1.5 million for film rights.
Here’s Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless plot:
“When 11-year-old Minerva McFearless and her younger brother, Max, discover that they are the latest generation in a family of monster-hunters, their widowed father forbids them to learn anything about his dangerous occupation.
Nonetheless, the siblings soon come upon Ms. Monstranomicon, a monster-hunter’s manual that is a monster herself, and find themselves pursued by the minions of the vile Zarmaglorg, king of the monsters, who kidnaps their father.
This isn’t the first Disney/Zappa collaboration.
Actually, in 2005, Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films acquired Zappa’s young adult novel Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless and paid $1.5 million for film rights.
Here’s Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless plot:
“When 11-year-old Minerva McFearless and her younger brother, Max, discover that they are the latest generation in a family of monster-hunters, their widowed father forbids them to learn anything about his dangerous occupation.
Nonetheless, the siblings soon come upon Ms. Monstranomicon, a monster-hunter’s manual that is a monster herself, and find themselves pursued by the minions of the vile Zarmaglorg, king of the monsters, who kidnaps their father.
- 8/29/2010
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
After nearly two months of speculation, Daniel Craig is now officially confirmed to play the male lead, Mikael Blomkvist, in David Fincher’s English language take on The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Craig has been attached to the project since June, and though there were few other names tossed into the ring once Craig’s possible involvement with the adaptation was reported, it’s apparently been a long road to get the actor situated on the project. He is currently filming Jon Favreau’s Cowboys & Aliens, and will jump right from that project to Dragon Tattoo, which is filming this autumn in Sweden. And, despite the myriad issues facing the James Bond franchise, Craig also reportedly had to obtain permission from Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson before going ahead with Fincher’s film.
Read more on Daniel Craig confirmed as lead of David Fincher’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo…...
Read more on Daniel Craig confirmed as lead of David Fincher’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo…...
- 7/27/2010
- by Kate Erbland
- GordonandtheWhale
Exclusive: Daniel Craig has closed his deal to play journalist Mikael Blomkvist in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and two sequels based on the bestselling phenomenon novel series by the late Stieg Larsson. I'm told that with a whole lot of juggling between three studios, Craig will be able to make the movies. Essentially, he will begin work on the first film in Sweden, as soon as he removes his cowboy hat from shooting Cowboys and Aliens in the early fall. Scheduling was coordinated between Dragon's Sony Pictures Entertainment, DreamWorks partners Stacey Snider and Steven Spielberg--who were flexible on the Cowboys and Aliens schedule,--and James Bond rights holders Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson. CAA made Craig's deal. This puts Craig in a position no previous James Bond ever was in. He's got two certain franchises between Bond and the Larsson books, and possibly another in Cowboys and Aliens,...
- 7/26/2010
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Hey Gang! The full schedule for Comic-Con 2010 has been unleashed on the world today and boy, oh boy does it have a lot of great stuff! We have the full list for you below to check out. I've highlighted all of the events that we are excited about seeing. Check out the list below and start planning out your Comic-Con adventure now!
We will be doing a meet-up at the Con this year, we will fill you in on all the details once we have it all planned out. See ya there!
Special Preview Night Programming
Wednesday, July 21
Attendees at Comic-Con's Preview Night can also experience special programming, games, and Anime and Film screenings in addition to the giant Exhibit Hall! Here's a rundown of the Wednesday night fun, including the chance to get a first look at the new homes for Anime and Films in the Marriott Hotel and Marina.
We will be doing a meet-up at the Con this year, we will fill you in on all the details once we have it all planned out. See ya there!
Special Preview Night Programming
Wednesday, July 21
Attendees at Comic-Con's Preview Night can also experience special programming, games, and Anime and Film screenings in addition to the giant Exhibit Hall! Here's a rundown of the Wednesday night fun, including the chance to get a first look at the new homes for Anime and Films in the Marriott Hotel and Marina.
- 7/8/2010
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
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