Jurassic Park 4 dead?

By Erik Davis,Cinematical
December 8,2008

While doing press for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy talked up a couple sequels that have nothing to do with one another other than the fact that they probably don't need to be made. One of those sequels is the long-rumored Jurassic Park 4, which is a project that seemed to be permanently stuck in development hell. Finally, Kennedy admitted that we've probably seen the last of those dinosaurs: "No... I don't know. You know, when Crichton passed away, I sorta felt maybe that's it. Maybe that's a sign that we don't mess with it." Read more!

Captain America Has a Director

Filmmaker Joe Johnston will take the helm of the eagerly anticipated Captain America movie.

The Jurassic Park III director has signed a deal with Marvel Studios to bring the comic book superhero to the big screen in 2011.

It is the third Marvel film in the pipeline, including Thor and the Avengers, after Robert Downey Jr.'s turn as Iron Man earlier in the year proved a huge success with superhero fans.

Although Johnston has signed the deal, it is unknown who will take on the patriotic U.S. role.

Comic book creator Stan Lee has given his backing to Will Smith to wear the red, white and blue suit, although other insiders have suggested Matthew McConaughey may land the part.(IMDB)

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Michael Crichton Passes Away at 66

By William Goss,Cinematical

Leave off Congo, forget Timeline, and don't even start on Sphere. The positive impact of prolific author Michael Crichton on the worlds of television and film with Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, and "ER", and it's a shame to see him pass away yesterday from cancer at the age of 66, according to CNN.

His medical background helped lend credibility to his work, especially Andromeda, Coma (which he directed) and The Terminal Man. Of course there's also the overriding elements of sci-fi, ranging from Jurassic to Westworld (which he also directed and is tentatively awaiting a remake). Corporate scandals were also a topic of interest in the early '90s with Rising Sun and Disclosure, and The 13th Warrior offered his own take on the Beowulf tale.

I remember his Prey, about nano-technology gone awry (but of course), making for a fun enough read and relatively ripe for a film adaptation (one that, as far as I know, has yet to be considered). Regardless, the man's works on-screen and off were entertaining and influential more often than not, and it's a pity to see him go. Read more!