The Flickcast’s ‘On The Radar’

It’s a grab bag of items on the radar this week. Wolverine and Sabretooth have dinner together, Bruno himself could be the next Man in Black, and in honor of The Flickcast crew attending SXSW some Predators love (of which they may get a taste).

Predators get dark and scary…finally!

Robert Rodriquez‘s Predator reboot, Predators, is starting to get some buzz.  While the first film of the series was a great sci-fi/action hybrid subsequent films have been less than stellar.  Predators star, Alice Braga talked a little about the new film and what we can expect:

“The new Predators are dark. They are really, really scary. So I think the fans are really going to be happy with it. I hope so. The director Nimród Antal, he’s a fan of the Predator films. So it’s like a fan directing this, [it was] like a kid on set, and having that energy was very special. I wish I could tell you more.”

Here’s hoping “dark” and “scary” means an R-rated film and not a watered down PG-13 movie.

Conan will square off against Avatar villain

As an update to our last ‘On The Radar’ article, it has now been confirmed that actor Stephen Lang will indeed play Conan’s villain, Khalar Singh.  Speaking with MTV, Lang stated:

“I have no idea how I’m going to do it,” Lang laughed. “First I’m going to find out how I’m going to sound. I’m going to get back on a Mongolian pony and ride like the wind. I’m going to flash my scimitar. I’m going to cut the nuts off Conan and his father.”

That last threat may seem really out there, but after seeing Lang’s bad ass side in Avatar I have no doubt he can make good on it.

Is time up for 24?

Getting ready for a slew of time related headlines if this story gets confirmed. Fox is apparently unlikely to renew hit TV series 24 staring Keifer Sutherland as super agent Jack Bauer.  While the show is still a strong performer for the network ratings have gone down while production costs have gone up.

As Fox remains on the fence about what to do there has been some indication that NBC may be interested in picking the series up.  Personally, I think this is unlikely and a more plausible future for Bauer will be on the big screen.

Paramount to promote indie film-making with Insurge Pictures

There’s no better equation in economics than to buy low and sell high. Paramount Pictures is looking to do that for movies in a new initiative to promote low budget films which will hopefully turn a healthy profit:

“Paramount Pictures is expected to officially unveil a new division for micro-budget movies today. Dubbed Insurge Pictures, the unit has one million dollars fueling its films. 10 movies are on tap in the first year at a budget of just $100,000 each.”

If you think this won’t get anywhere consider this; Paranormal Activity was made for only $15, 000 and went onto generate over $150 million at the box office.  Moreover, leading Insurge is Amy Powell, who championed Paranormal Activity‘s release and ultimate success.

Betty White to host Saturday Night Live

Proving once more that grassroots Internet movements can get things done, Betty White will indeed be hosting Saturday Night Live.  While the show is typically hosted by more…how can I put this…contemporary hosts, White’s appearance will certainly be something to watch.

Fans of White started petitioning for her hosting duties after she appeared in a Snickers ad during the Superbowl.  SNL’s Lorne Michael’s said, “I can’t think of a better way to spend Mother’s Day weekend than with Betty White,”. We would have to agree!  White will be joined by the likes of Tina Fey and Molly Shannon for the Mother’s Day special.

Jesse Ventura joins Wachowski brothers secret film project

The minds behind hits such as The Matrix series and V for Vendetta are taking on a new project, and it’s shaping up to be something surreal indeed.  The Wachowski’s unknown film has already included the likes of Huffington Post’s co-founder Arianna Huffington and know former governor Jesse Ventura has been added to the mix.  Speaking to Howard Stern, Ventura said:

“Do you remember what John Travolta looked like in that horrible film Battlefield Earth? They put multicolored dreadlocks on me all the way to here. They gave me this crazy beard that was hanging down pointed, looked like Travolta, right? And they put a third eye in the middle of my forehead. Because what this is, is this is a hundred years in the future, and they wanted me to talk about the current war in Iraq and how I felt about it. And so I got to vent, looking like this maniac in this whole outfit.”

Future? Iraq? Third eye? At this point all I can say is C for Confused.

Will Bruno be in Men in Black 3?

As news continues to trickle out about the next Men in Black film it sounds like the man behind Bruno, comedian/actor Sacha Baron Cohen, may come aboard.  Producers are looking to have Cohen play a new character in a film that would see Will Smith’s Agent J sent back in time to team up with a younger version of his partner, Agent K (originally played by Tommy Lee Jones and rumored to be taken over by Josh Brolin).  Given the controversial nature of Cohen’s other work, however, it will be interesting to see just how well he could transition into a more light-hearted role.

Quarantine 2 gets a writer/director

Screen Gems is looking to get quarantined again and has found a writer/director.  John Pogue, who penned U.S. Marshals and all three The Skulls films, will write the script and direct.  The story is said to take place immediately following the events of the first and take place in an airport. While the original Quarantine opened in theaters, pulling in $41 million, the sequel is scheduled for a direct-to-DVD release.

Liev Schreiber talks Wolverine 2 but may not be in it

So Wolverine and Sabretooth go into a bar…no, seriously they did! Actors Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber had dinner together and Schreiber talked about it while promoting his new film Repo Men:

“I just had dinner with [Hugh Jackman] last night and [he] read the first draft of the script and was really excited about it.  In the Japan storyline as I remember it from the Wolverine comics, Victor wasn’t there. So I don’t know, of course I’ve got my fingers crossed because I love the character so much, to have the chance to do it again would be a lot of fun, but I’m not sure.”

So it doesn’t sound like Sabretooth will be back (mind you, that could change).  I’m all good with that because there’s only one thing I want more of in a Wolvie sequel set in Japan: Ninjas!

Gary Oldman takes on a Criminal Empire for Dummys

Gangster movies never get old, especially when they star guys like Gary Oldman.  Well known for his often villainous characters, Oldman will be joining Malin Akerman, Harvey Keitel and Milo Ventimiglia in Cliff Dorfman’s Criminal Empire for Dummys.  Dorfman, who has written for Entourage, “has a new spin on the old ‘tragic, poor boy rises up from the ghetto to run a multinational drug and crime empire.” Shooting (not literally) starts later this month and this will definitely be one to look out for.