The legend of "The 47 Ronin" is widely known throughout Japanese culture, but it's a less commonly told tale in other societies -- including Hollywood. That's all going to change in light of the recent announcement of a "47 Ronin" film adaptation starring Keanu Reeves, whose half-Asian heritage will be a focal point of the movie.
"Wanted" screenwriter Chris Morgan penned the script for "47 Ronin" and went into detail with MTV News about the film's plot, specifically referring to some beloved films that are tonally similar to the upcoming movie.
"It's this great, 'Gladiator'-esque, '300'-like big action movie with samurai and ninja," Morgan said. Read more...
The war against the Locust Horde is on the not-so-distant horizon according to Chris Morgan, screenwriter for the "Gears of War" game-to-film adaptation. Morgan revealed to MTV News that the movie is now in the budgeting phase. While funds are lining up for the project, casting has yet to begin for the lead role of Marcus Fenix, a disgruntled ex-convict who takes up arms as a member of the human military's crack Delta Squad.
"Normally when I write, I think about the actor I'm writing for, but this one's been difficult," Morgan admitted when asked about casting Fenix in the film. "It is a vital casting choice. It's counter-intuitive really, because it seems like you want to get a big character -- a big tough guy who can play it stoic the whole time -- but in my experience, dealing with macho sorts of movies and dealing with Dom [Vin Diesel's character in "Fast & Furious"] and that kind of stuff, it's harder to play the tough guy than an emotional character who's all over the place." Read more...
When "Fast & Furious" raced off with an unexpectedly huge opening box office of $72.5 million, it seemed pretty much a no-brainer that the finely tuned film franchise would be back for a fifth installment. Chris Morgan, writer of "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" and its smash-hit sequel, says that a fifth movie is not only a no-brainer, but it's close to a green light.
"It seems like there will definitely be another one," Morgan told MTV News in an exclusive interview. "I just got out of a lunch with Universal, just pitching the story around. We were figuring out if we do another one, and what it would be. It has to come from the characters, so where are these characters after this film -- what are they doing?" Read more...
Strap on some body armor, rev up your chainsaw gun and get ready to slice and dice some Locust meat -- "Gears of War" is on the way and by all accounts, it's going to be massive.
Screenwriter Chris Morgan recently spoke with MTV News to give a status update on the upcoming video game adaptation, saying that things are moving along fantastically.
"A draft went in and we're talking about it now and we're budgeting it out," Morgan told MTV. "It's looking incredibly good."
The film is currently set up at New Line with "Underworld" helmer Len Wiseman attached to direct. Wiseman already has MTV's endorsement, and if Morgan's script pans out as he intends, fans of the franchise are likely to back the project as well. Read more...
Keanu Reeves knows kung-fu -- but does he know how to wield a katana? He's going to have to learn, because according to Variety, he is set to be the star of "47 Ronin" for Universal Pictures. The film lacks a director, but is being penned by Chris Morgan, who will be tailoring the story to suit Reeves' half-Asian heritage.
"47 Ronin" is based on a true story of a band of samurai swordsmen who avenged the death of their master in 18th century Japan. Their master attacked a corrupt court official, Kira, a crime that saw him forced to commit seppuku. His masterless band of samurai swore to avenge their master's death, though they knew they would be severely punished in doing so. Their successful attack on Kira has gone down into national legend, and they are still revered in Japan today. Read more...
FROM SPLASH PAGE: When "Wanted" screenwriter Chris Morgan first helped bring to life the ultra-violent story about a world where supervillains had kicked out the good guys, he had some pretty impressive source material in Mark Millar and J.G. Jones' critically praised graphic novel. While there won't be the same ready-made reference for "Wanted 2," the writer told MTV that shouldn't be cause for concern among fans. And he should know, since he's the one writing it.
"Yes, I will be writing it," confirmed Morgan. "I'm actually leaving this conversation with you to go to a meeting with the director, Timur [Bekmambetov], and we're talking about the story."
Read more about Chris Morgan's plans for "Wanted 2" at Splash Page.MTV.com.
"Gears of War" screenwriter Chris Morgan had some good news for gamers hungry for information about the upcoming live-action adaptation of the hit Microsoft game. In addition to all the details spilled today over on MTV.com, we're happy to report your favorite heavily armed, flesh-mauling bad guys from underneath the planet's surface are not only in good hands, but they're all but assured of appearing on screen.
"I don't think you would want to see a movie of this game without them in it," said Morgan of the likelihood that Corpsers, Seeders and, yes, Berserkers, would wreak on-screen havoc in the much-anticipated video game adaptation.
So what could he tell us about the creatures of the "Gears of War" movie? Read more...
