Robert Rodriguez to co-direct 'Machete' and produce 'Predators'

'Machete' was one of the fake trailers in Grindhouse (2007).According to Variety, Robert Rodriguez has written a script for a 'Machete' feature.Danny Trejo will play (again) the blade- wielding antihero.Rodriguez will direct the film (his first non-studio film since 'El Mariachi' (1992)) with Ethan Maniquis, his longtime editor.Production is expected to start this June in Austin.

'Machete' isn't the only Robert Rodriguez is working on.He's also writing a scipt for 'Predators', a reboot to the well-known series, which started in 1987 (with the original movie, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger).He'll produce but he'll not direct.20th Century Fox has set a July 7, 2010 release date for 'Predators.' Rodriguez said (to aintitcool.com) that the name Predators was an homage to James Cameron's Aliens -- which he felt was a "worthy follow-up to a classic."

He's also directing his script 'Nerveracker' (a futuristic action thriller) for Dimension Films,set to be released in 2010.The 'Barbarella' remake, the new 'Red Sonja' are not scheduled to be produced and the status of 'Sin City 2' is unclear.

[via Cinematical]

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'Sin City' for sale?

According to Hollywood Reporter, Weinstein Company / Dimension had lost the rights to Sin City and that the franchise is being quietly shopped around Hollywood.The Weinstein Co./Dimension continue to maintain that they hold the rights to any sequel for the film, although producers are saying that Frank Miller's estate has been shopping around those same rights. It's unclear if they have lapsed due to the failure to renew or move on the property, and it's also unclear if Robert Rodriguez will be involved in a possible sequel.Recently, it was reported that talks with Angelina Jolie (to play Ava Lord) had resumed, although these reports weren't confirmed.

[via Hollywood Reporter and Cinematical] Read more!

Angelina Jolie in "Serious Talks" for 'Sin City 2'?

By Clint Morris,Moviehole
April 10, 2009

According to a rather high-profile producer friend, Angelina Jolie is now in “serious talks” – as opposed to merely being mentioned as a possibility, or having a casual coffee with the filmmakers to suss out her interest – to star in director Robert Rodriguez's “Sin City 2”.

Jolie first spoke to Rodriguez and writer/co-director Frank Miller about the film in 2006. All went quiet on the project though, largely because the producers weren't ready to pull the trigger on the production, and all converse ceased. Now, according to my mole, the project has gathered steam and the filmmakers are trying to get Jolie to officially commit to playing the female lead.

Jolie would play the iniquitous Ava, the lead character in Miller's "A Dame to Kill For" story. She’s the former flame of clean-living photographer Dwight McCarthy, and shows up and professes her love for him. When he finds out she's in way over her head, it looks as though trouble has found him. And he’d be right.

The project would reunite Jolie with her “Beyond Borders” co-star Clive Owen, who’s loosely attached to reprise his role as McCarthy.

We’re told that the long-gestating sequel is inching forward a little faster than it was, say, six months ago. Wonder if it's the Weinstein’s who are suddenly raring to go? Word is, they haven’t lost the rights to the film, but could if the project doesn't transition from a simmer to a boil pretty soon.

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The Spirit Review

Let's clear something from the start:this is not a second Sin City (or 300).Despite the similar visual style,it's not,because the source material is different,Frank Miller is the only director and because it's not as good as Sin City.I did not expect a second Sin City.What i expected was (at least) a decent movie.The Spirit was not one.

Frank Miller tries to combine a serious tone (in some scenes) with over-the-top humour (in other scenes).Either he was confused or he knew what he was doing,he fails in what he tries to do.At some scenes (most of the scenes with Samuel Jackson) the movie is close to becoming ridiculous.The direction and some of the perfomances don't help either.Samuel Jackson (although he seems to enjoy his role) and Scarlett Johansson (who is one of my favorite actresses,but..),clearly participated for an easy paycheck.I can't say how faithful to the source material The Spirit is,but the first reactions on that subject are probably negative.

However,the movie has some nice sequences,(at times) a nice visual style.But this is not enough.Evidently,Frank Miller can't direct a movie by himself (Sin City was co-directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez).
The Spirit is a wasted opportunity,a movie with potential,which was wasted.It could be better,but..
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Sin City 2 in 2009?

By Chris Tilly,IGN UK
December 4,2008

We spoke to Frank Miller this morning at The Spirit junket, and couldn't resist asking him about the sequel to one of our favourite films of the last five years, Sin City.

Much to our delight, the response was encouraging, with the writer-turned-director saying that Sin City 2 might be ready to shoot early next year.

"Sin City 2 is written," he proclaimed. "It's mainly a matter of working out the details of the production. I'm hoping to do it with Robert Rodriguez again in the same circumstances that we did the first one, and we could be shooting as soon as April."

He wouldn't be drawn on the nature of the plot or which A-listers would return for the shoot, but the thought of Sin City 2 hitting cinemas before the end of next year makes us all tingly in our special place.


Cinematical adds that Mickey Rourke merely told MTV that he was ready (to shoot the sequel). Way back in July, Robert Rodriguez smiled coyly and said he was "reassessing," being focused on a fall project that never was revealed.

UPDATE:Rosario Dawson confirmed to IESB.net the April start date talked about for SIN CITY 2. She said that the script is done and they are all set to go. She will reprise her role of Gail.

However,at the junket for Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler,Mickey Rourke told ComingSoon.net/Superhero Hype that he's not interested in reprising his role.

"No, I'm not interested in that right now. That's not a reality right now. It's pissing in the wind," Rourke admitted. "There's different factions going different directions there. I don't know. That's three hours of make up and I'm claustrophobic, so I'm going to have to work something out."
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The Spirit Trailer 3

Tags: 300, comics, entertaiment, film, frank miller, movies, sin city, spirit, trailer, will eisner

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The Spirit Trailer 2

Tags: 300, comics, entertaiment, film, frank miller, sin city, spirit, movies, film, trailer, will eisner

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Spirit moves up release

By Carolyn Giardina (Hollywood Reporter)

May 6, 2008

Lionsgate has moved up the nationwide release of its comic adaptation "The Spirit" -- written and directed by Frank Miller -- to Dec. 25.

The film, based on the comic book series created by the late Will Eisner, was originally slated to open Jan. 16, 2009.

Also slated to open on Dec. 25 are Disney's "Bedtime Stories" and Fox 2000 Pictures' "Marley & Me."

Of the move, Lionsgate president of theatrical films Tom Ortenberg said: "Comic-Con fans (in New York in March) resoundingly confirmed what we felt in our bones about 'The Spirit': this is a great film and an irresistible piece of entertainment. ... For all of us, it was an easy decision."

"The Spirit" stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Stana Katic, Dan Lauria, Jaime King, Paz Vega and Louis Lombardi. Odd Lot Entertainment and Lionsgate are production partners.

International release dates have not yet been announced. Sony Pictures Releasing International is handling distribution in many European territories and Latin America. Odd Lot International is distributing to the rest of the world, except for the U.K. and Australia, where the film is being released by Lionsgate.

Tags: spirit, frank miller, 300, sin city, comics, movies, film, entertaiment

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The Spirit - Trailer 1 TRUE-HD

Adapted from the legendary comic book series created by Will Eisner, "The Spirit" is a classic action-adventure-romance written for the screen and directed by genre-twister Frank Miller (creator of "300" and "Sin City"). It is the story of a former rookie cop who returns mysteriously from the dead as the Spirit (Gabriel Macht) to fight crime from the shadows of Central City. His arch-enemy, the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson) has a different mission: he's going to wipe out Spirit's beloved city as he pursues his own version of immortality. The Spirit tracks this cold-hearted killer from Central City's rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront... all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill our masked crusader. Surrounding him at every turn are Ellen Dolan (Sarah Paulson), the whip-smart girl-next-door; Silken Floss (Scarlett Johansson), a punk secretary and frigid vixen; Plaster of Paris (Paz Vega), a murderous French nightclub dancer; Lorelei (Jaime King), a phantom siren; and Morgenstern (Stana Katic), a sexy young cop. Then of course, there's Sand Saref (Eva Mendes), the jewel thief with dangerous curves. She's the love of his life turned bad. Will he save her or will she kill him? In the vein of "Batman Begins" and "Sin City," "The Spirit" takes us on a sinister, gut-wrenching ride with a hero who is born, murdered and born again.

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Tags: 300, comics, entertaiment, film, frank miller, hd, sin city, spirit, teaser, trailer, will eisner

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