Steven Soderbergh is a Terminator. No, that's not some tricky wordplay stating that he's directing the next "Terminator" films or anything — he's not. I'm simply hypothesizing that Soderbergh is a machine from the future sent back through time to protect us all with crazy amounts of film work. Honestly, the director goes from project to project so quickly that it's almost as second nature as breathing for the guy. So it's not much of a surprise, though still wild to hear, that he'll follow up his currently shooting ensemble action flick "Knockout" with yet another ensemble thriller, "Contagion."
The Playlist identifies Soderbergh as the director for the much buzzed action-thriller from screenwriter Scott Z. Burns. Actors Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard and frequent Soderbergh collaborator Matt Damon are all closing deals for the film, presenting an all-star cast that gives "Knockout" a run for its money. Read more...
Plans for a fourth "Bourne" movie stalled late last year when director Paul Greengrass walked away from the franchise and star Matt Damon followed, stating he wouldn't do the sequel with anybody else. But the actor remained hopeful of his participation in the series, telling MTV News in December, "I think it's going to happen someday."
Damon continues to see himself in the role, more recently telling Empire that he and Greengrass are "probably another five years away" from the next chapter. But the next installment may be another thing entirely. Damon believes Universal will keep the franchise alive in the meantime with a feature-length flashback. Read more...
FROM MTV.COM: The list of iconic film roles that almost went to other actors is a long and continuous one. O.J. Simpson as the Terminator? Kurt Russell as Han Solo? Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly?! To this bunch, add Matt Damon and Jake Gyllenhaal.
As James Cameron confirmed to MTV News, both those A-listers were being considered for the starring role of Jake Sully in "Avatar," a part that ultimately went to then-unknown Australian actor Sam Worthington.
Continue reading 'Avatar' Director James Cameron: Matt Damon, Jake Gyllenhaal Were Considered For Film
One of Friday's releases this week is "Invictus," a sports movie set against the backdrop of post-apartheid South Africa. Morgan Freeman stars as Nelson Mandela, opposite Matt Damon, as South African Rugby World Cup team captain Francois Pienaar. Mandela embarks on a campaign to bring his scattered people together when he takes an interest in Pienaar and his team.
In the exclusive clip below, you can see Mandela discussing the state of political affairs in South Africa with his chief of staff, Brenda Mazibuko, played by Adjoa Andoh.
FROM MTV.COM: As millions of moviegoers have learned over the past decade, Jason Bourne is a lethal superspy with deadly hands and an empty memory. Recruited, trained and left for dead, he has spent three hit movies searching for the answers behind his true identity. These days, fans of the "Bourne" franchise are keeping their fingers crossed for a fourth installment — but recent developments have left them nearly as confused as their hero.
In an interview with MTV News on Friday (December 4), series star Matt Damon said he has no doubt that he'll one day be killing enemies with hardcover books and ballpoint pens again soon — as long as the studio agrees to a package deal.
Continue reading Matt Damon Is Confident 'Bourne 4' Will Happen -- But Not Without Director
by Matt Thompson
When "The Bourne Ultimatum" hit theaters in 2007, it was a logical assumption that it would be the last film in the Bourne series. Then Matt Damon signed on for a fourth film last October.
We reported over the summer that Damon was stumped when it came to creating an attractive plot to the fourth installment in the series. He reached out to the audience with an open invitation to anyone who had a brilliant idea for the story.
Two months later, the problem seems to be solved. In a recent interview with Total Film, Damon revealed that he and director Paul Greengrass are working feverishly on putting together a script for "Bourne 4." Read more...
Wow. This looks awesome. I replied to one of our reader's comments earlier today, someone who expressed hesitation about Matt Damon potentially being cast in the Coen brothers' planned adaptation of "True Grit," a Western. I responded with the opinion that Damon is a fantastic talent, that he possesses the rare ability to fully inhabit the characters he portrays. I used to be iffy about the "Bourne" movies, but have since come around in a big way. So you can imagine how exciting "Green Zone" is, since it reunites Damon with "Bourne" director Paul Greengrass.
You're on board now, right? Looks like pretty compelling stuff. Action-packed, topical, Damon in action hero mode, Greengrass in blockbuster mode. March 12, 2010 is suddenly a long way away.
I almost can't take this news. The brothers Coen -- Joel and Ethan -- are among the best filmmakers out there. This isn't opinion; it is a fact, supported by such stellar efforts as "The Big Lebowski," "A Serious Man" and the Oscar-winning adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel, "No Country For Old Men." So when the news broke last month that they'd be directing a new take on Chris Portis' novel "True Grit," I was beside myself.
MTV's Josh Horowitz caught up with the duo later in September, in one of their only solo interviews of the Toronto International Film Festival. There they confirmed that Jeff Bridges, previously revealed to be playing Rooster Cogburn, would indeed be wearing his character's eyepatch, like John Wayne before him. "That'd be like doing Richard II without the limp," Joel said. He also revealed the source of the adaptation: "We’re not looking at the movie. It’s a great book. It’s a very funny book." Read more...
Philip K. Dick has blessed the world with alien conspiracies, machines and humans that can predict the future, and one iconic android bounty hunter. The latest movie based on his work, "The Adjustment Bureau," starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, might give us the first big screen Dickian love story – a tender romance hidden within a sci-fi candy shell.
"It's like a modern love story, but it's got an ominous sci-fi backdrop to it," Blunt told MTV News during a break in shooting on location in New York City. "It's going to be exciting and disconcerting and strange, which is what I like about [Dick's] work. It's very cool and clever. It's got a really tight script." Read more...
George Clooney has quite the busy year ahead of him. He stars in Up in the Air" and "Men Who Stare At Goats," two TIFF darlings which both hit theaters in a matter of weeks. Then there's the upcoming Wes Anderson stop-motion adaptation of Roald Dahl's "Fantastic Mr. Fox" -- another Toronto fave -- which the actor lends his voice to. Clooney also produced the just-released, Steven Soderbergh-directed "The Informant!," starring Matt Damon.
The star's 2010 is also shaping up, with a lead and a producer's credit for the action/thriller adaptation of Martin Booth's novel "A Very Private Gentleman." We can add one more to the list now. News emerged over the weekend Clooney is getting back together with his old "Ocean's co-star Damon, and they're bringing Emmy-winning "West Wing" writer Aaron Sorkin along for the ride. Read more...
