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FROM MTV.COM: Sony Pictures is finalizing a deal to acquire rehearsal footage from Michael Jackson's This Is It concert run, with hopes of releasing it in theaters just in time for Halloween, according to Variety.

Sony is reportedly paying close to $60 million for the 80 hours of rehearsal footage shot at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The footage is currently owned by AEG Entertainment, who were promoting Jackson's run of 50 shows at London's O2 Arena.

"High School Musical" director Kenny Ortega, who shot the rehearsal footage, will reportedly also sort through it to assemble the film, which Sony plans on having in theaters on October 30. Variety claims the film will feature "at least three" videos, including an alternative version of "Thriller," which was intended to be an interstitial video during Jackson's O2 shows.

Continue reading Michael Jackson Film To Hit Theaters This Halloween

Tags high school musical, kenny ortega, michael jackson, sony

Stephen Sommers' "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" is just a couple weeks away from release! I treasure my dusty, old memories of the toys, the 80s cartoon show, even the odd comic book (remember the one where Snakes Eyes' face was revealed?!). It is with no small amount of excitement that I anticipate "The Rise of Cobra"'s release. The gang may not be in costume in the photo gallery linked below, but seeing them all together like that makes me want to shout "Yo Joe!" at the heavens.

Tags G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Photo, Stephen Sommers

I've been buzzing a lot here on MTV Movies Blog about Shane Acker's "9." The computer animated movie's amazing visual aesthetic would be more than enough on its own, but there's also the involvement of Tim Burton and "Wanted" director Timur Bekmambetov as producers to consider. Everything I've seen of "9" -- and I've seen more than you know -- screams "see this movie, and see it right now!"

Even still, I was a bit rattled when I received these exclusive images of "9"-branded sneakers. Merchandising can be a tough game to play. There's a very fine line between what works and what doesn't. And to be frank, I didn't know what to expect when I got word that Pony created a pair of limited edition "9" sneaks, modeled after the movie's stitched-together burlap characters.

As it turns out, these things fall on the "cool" side of that aforementioned fine line. As someone with an understated fashion sense and a love for Earth tones, these really appeal to me. I would wear them, no question. Enough hype though... follow the jump for an exclusive look at the limited edition sneaks, including a close-up of the sockliner. Read more...

Tags 9, Photo, Shane Acker, tim burton, timur bekmambetov

Today the Internet is buzzing with the news that "Spider-Man" (and "Evil Dead"!!!) director Sam Raimi is taking the reins on an adaptation of the wildly popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game "World of Warcraft." The game (and presumably the movie as well) is set in Azeroth, a fictional fantasy world created by the game's developer, Blizzard Entertainment. There have been Azeroth-based games since 1994, though the MMORPG didn't launch until late 2001.

"Warcraft"'s world is a sort of Dungeons & Dragons/"Lord of the Rings"-inspired setting. There are dungeons of course, and dragons, as well as the usual helping of elves, dwarves, orcs and other non-human fantasy races. "The Lord of the Rings" did fabulously well when Peter Jackson adapted the books for an epic-length trilogy. The movie version of "Dungeons & Dragons," not so much. What might we expect from Raimi's "Warcraft"? Read more...

Tags sam raimi, spider-man, Warcraft, World of Warcraft

This bit of news falls into that murky grey area between MTV Movies Blog and Splash Page. On the one hand, it's an all-new horror property from an established gore-nography director. On the other, there's a graphic novel tie-in being produced and the studio in charge of the project is a spin-off arm of a comic book publisher. Since Splash editor Rick Marshall is out at Comic-Con right now, I'm going to take this one for Movies today. Shhhh... don't tell him.

To those of you who skimped on your high school French -- or those who took Spanish/Italian instead -- "abbatoir" translates to "slaughterhouse" in English. It is fitting then that Darren Lynn Bousman, the director of "Saw II" through "Saw IV," is set to spill blood in Radical Pictures' new property, "Abbatoir." Bousman's last project was "Repo! The Genetic Opera" and he's also signed on for a remake of the 1980 horror flick "Mother's Day." Clearly, the man has a specialty. Read more...

Tags Abbatoir, Darren Lynn Bousman, repo the genetic opera, Saw II, Saw III, saw iv

Editor's note: A tech SNAFU left Twitter-Wood unpublished last night, so you all get TWO helpings today.

Emmy Rossum tweeted a pic from her seat at the Blink-182 concert last night in Los Angeles, which seems to have worn out her eardrums judging by her morning-after posts. The show was a popular topic for her and other celebs, like "The Hills" star Lauren Conrad who also managed to get in.

Elsewhere in the Twitter-Wood feed, folks are still talking about the moon landing anniversary. Kevin Nealon pondered the topic with some thoughtful space-travel insight. As for everyone else, the topic of the week is San Diego Comic-Con, starting tomorrow, which Richard Kelly is preparing for and Lloyd Kaufman will be roasted at without James Gunn in attendance. Check out details on all of these developments, as well as production updates on "Eclipse" from David Slade and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" from Tom Felton. It's all below in the Twitter-Wood report for July 21, 2009. Read more...

Tags David Slade, eclipse, emmy rossum, ethan suplee, harry potter and the deathly hallows, james gunn, jeremy piven, kevin nealon, richard kelly, russell brand, tom felton, Twilight

FROM HOLLYWOOD CRUSH: If you live in the San Diego area, we suggest you buy some ear plugs, stat. Variety is reporting that "New Moon" stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner will appear at Comic-Con 2009 this week to promote the "Twilight" sequel. Cue the squealing teens!

Fans have been speculating for months whether the Saga's stars would turn up for the event, with keen interest focused on RPattz who is in the middle of filming "Remember Me" in New York City. According to the report, Robert, Kristen and Taylor will participate in an off-site press conference Thursday morning and will attend a Hall H panel later in the afternoon at the San Diego Convention Center. (View an entire Comic-Con schedule of events here.)

Continue reading 'New Moon' Comic-Con Update: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart And Taylor Lautner Will Appear

Tags Kristen-Stewart, New Moon, robert pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Twilight

With just a single announcement, a "World of Warcraft" movie went from an eye-rolling geek joke to something any film fan wants to see. What was that stroke of greatness? Sam Raimi!

According to Variety and Ain't It Cool News, the director of a thousand genres has signed on to helm "Warcraft," a live action adaptation of the wildly popular online role-playing game for Warner Bros. The project has been in limbo since Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures teamed up with Blizzard to develop the game into a big screen adventure. Things have gotten serious now, with Raimi and Charles Roven, producer of "The Dark Knight," both confirmed to be on board. Read more...

Tags Blizzard, charles roven, sam raimi, spider-man 4, Warcraft, World of Warcraft

Today's Dailies brings with it a truly random sampling of news. There's a bit of Disney, a bit of Ayn Rand, some "Lesbian Vampire Killers" and even a touch of Bruce Lee. And yes, there's "Tron" viral goodness as well. Can you handle it all?

-- Two stages of Bruce Lee news from Variety. The late martial arts master's family is currently getting nunchuks spinning for a three-part Lee biopic. The role of the "Enter the Dragon" star has not yet been cast, but Lee's father will be played by Tony Leung Ka-fai. Also confirmed is director Manfred Wong and producer Li Chen. Plans call for the movie to be released on November 27, 2010, which would be Lee's 70th birthday. In related news, the Hong Kong government has launched a design competition for a planned Lee museum. (Variety) Read more...

Tags atlas shrugged, Bruce Lee, Dan Mintner: Badass for Hire, Rapunzel, Sacred Prey, The Colony, The Low Dweller, tron

As Tim Burton told us last week, he’s spending “every waking moment” on his Johnny Depp-led adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland.” The movie will serve up an ambitious melding of live-action, motion-capture and computer animated element. As soon as he’s finished with that mammoth undertaking—the film is due in theaters early next year—he’ll begin work on another Depp-focused project, one that has teased and tantalized movie nerds for years but which, finally, finally, is going to get underway in 2010: “Dark Shadows.”

“That’s something that [Depp and I] both love and are excited about,” the director told MTV News. “When I’m done with this I’ll definitely focus on that.”

Burton's comments jibe with what Depp said during the “Public Enemies” junket a few weeks ago. Read more...

Tags dark shadows, johnny depp, tim burton