A decade after "L.A. Confidential" snagged Curtis Hanson an Academy Award, the director tells us plans for the heavily anticipated sequel are finally underway. "Just very recently, [screenwriter] Brian Helgeland, [novelist] James Ellroy and I have been talking about it," he announced to MTV News. "Russell [Crowe] and Guy [Pearce] would love to come back and revisit those characters ten years later. But it's all about getting the story that's worth telling."
As to whether "L.A. Confidential 2" would conflict with fellow helmer Joe Carnahan's planned adaptation of Ellroy's "White Jazz" (starring George Clooney), Hanson doesn't think so. "Ellroy's written many books," he says. "'White Jazz' is very different from either 'L.A. Confidential' or what we would do as the sequel."
Carnahan recently told MTV that despite initial talks with Guy Pearce about reprising his role in "White Jazz", the director has now decided to go in another direction, eliminating the name Exley from his film. "We were basically required to change his name...as much as I wanted Guy Pearce to reprise that role, the minute it became something else it opened up casting possibilities," said Carnahan.
The madcap tale of T. Rex founder Marc Bolan is coming to the big screen, courtesy of rising Hollywood star Scoot McNairy. The actor, currently headlining the indie film "In Search of a Midnight Kiss," has nabbed the rights to the life story of the 1970's glam rock pioneer who perished in a car crash at age 29.
If Hollywood's been calling, "Sopranos" creator David Chase hasn't been picking up…until now? While rumors of a theatrical leap have persisted since the ratings juggernaut's launch nearly a decade ago, Chase has repeatedly gunned down prospects of seeing Tony's adventures on the big screen. With the series now winding down its final season however, the pressure is intense to continue the saga of the mafia don.
It's been two years since Elijah Wood first attached himself to the untitled Iggy Pop biopic, but the actor is still looking forward to playing the fabled punk rocker…if sounding somewhat doubtful of its potential to get off the ground. "I'm excited about it," he told us, "but it's independent film. It takes a long time to get things financed." While Wood has yet to speak to Pop (he confirms the musician's involvement is minimal since he signed away his life rights), the erstwhile hobbit says he would love to play the groundbreaking artist "if [the film] ultimately comes together."
With its eye already on the prize for the lucrative holiday season box office, New Line has released the first theatrical poster for "The Golden Compass" -- the kick-off film in its potential new franchise, "His Dark Materials" -- and jeez, it looks fantastic. Featuring its lead character Lyra (played by newcomer Dakota Blue Richards) alongside the king of the armored bears, this adaptation of the popular Philip Pullman fantasy novel gets a boost of deserved enthusiasm. "The Golden Compass," co-starring Nicole Kidman, Sam Elliott, Daniel Craig and a billion others, opens December 7, 2007.
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