SHREK 2 Co-director Offers The Sequel's Plot
Kelly Asbury, co-director of the upcoming computer-animated sequel film Shrek 2, told SCI FI Wire that the movie will delve deeper into the characters and their relationships, while aiming its satire squarely at Hollywood. "Like with any sequel, what I like to go to a sequel for is to see the further adventures of these characters that I've fallen in love with," Asbury said in an interview after previewing the movie at DreamWorks in Glendale, Calif. "And that's what we're trying to do with this. We're not just trying to recreate the first one. We're trying to take it to the next level emotionally."
With tongue in cheek, Asbury calls the second movie Shrek Meets the Parents, because it turns on the first meeting between Shrek (voiced by Michael Myers) with the parents of his new bride, Fiona (Cameron Diaz). The parents are the King (John Cleese) and Queen (Julie Andrews) of Far Far Away, which Asbury says is the "Beverly Hills of the fairy tale world." "We like to think it's bigger, better, funnier, everything," he said. "That's always the goal when you make a sequel, especially, is to give the audience more."
While the first Shrek lampooned the conventions of typical fairy-tale movies, such as those produced by rival studio Walt Disney Co., the sequel aims a little broader, Asbury said. "I think if we're parodying anything here, we're more making fun of the Hollywood, Beverly Hills aspect of things," he said.
Conrad Vernon, who is also a co-director of the sequel, added in an interview, "Again, we're dealing with beauty and, you know, it's only skin deep and everything. And we figured where her parents live in Far Far Away is a perfect place to do that."
Shrek 2 brings back Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and adds the new characters Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas), Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) and Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders). The movie, which is currently in production, is slated for release June 18, 2004.
Reloaded Answers
Nona Gaye, who played Zee in THE MATRIX: RELOADED, says REVOLUTIONS will give some answers.
Nona Gaye, who reprises the role of Zee in the upcoming sequel film The Matrix Revolutions, told SCI FI Wire that the conclusion of the trilogy will answer all of the questions raised by The Matrix Reloaded. "People will be relieved when they see Revolutions," Gaye said in an interview. "I know a lot of people are like, 'What's going on?'"
Gaye promised that the film will still be philosophically complex and that viewers will still have to work to understand the film's answers. "I think it depends on your perception," she said. "When I read the script, it made sense to me." The actress added that she was not surprised to see so many skeptics speak out against Reloaded in reviews and Internet postings after its May release. "There are always going to be skeptics," she said. "You can't make everyone happy."
Zee was only featured in a few scenes of Reloaded, in the human city of Zion. But Gaye said that viewers will see more of her in Revolutions. "Number three is where I get down," she said. "I'm doing a lot of diving and running and jumping and stuff." The Matrix Revolutions opens Nov. 5.
'Bad Boys' of Summer Are Back in Theaters
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The bad boys of summer are back. And Sony hopes that with enough blood, guns and car chases, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence will bring some real box-office heat to a summer movie season that's been cool toward most of the sequels parading through theaters in recent weeks.
Sony Pictures' "Bad Boys II" should have little trouble beating its competition -- meaning the other new releases as well as last week's holdovers, which are sure to fall at least 35 percent.
Reteaming Smith and Lawrence with the blow-'em-up producer-director team of Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay, the R-rated 2 1/2-hour epic of destruction is banking on the success of the original 1995 film that made movie stars of the acting duo. The original reaped $65.8 million domestically after a $15.5 million opening weekend.
Considering that the stars have gained massive appeal in the eight years since "Bad Boys," industry executives are predicting that the sequel will gross $40 million to $50 million in its first weekend.
This time out, the story centers on two cops charged with breaking up a dangerous drug ring, only to find their personal issues getting in the way. "Boys II" co-stars Gabrielle Union and Joe Pantoliano and was written by Jerry Stahl, John Lee Hancock and Ron Shelton. It will bow in 3,186 theaters.
For a different take on the action hero who must solve the world's woes, Universal Pictures will release Working Title Films' "Johnny English" to U.S. audiences after scoring big with the "Bond meets Bean" film in the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy.
Star Rowan Atkinson, best known for his bumbling Mr. Bean character, has been transformed, slightly, into a bumbling secret agent thrown into a case involving Britain's queen and the potential loss of her throne.
The PG-rated film could benefit from Atkinson's growing U.S. popularity after starring in "Rat Race" and "Bean" and being featured in "Four Weddings and a Funeral," but industry executives don't expect the film to cross the $10 million mark. Co-starring Natalie Imbruglia and John Malkovich, "English" arrives in 2,236 theaters.
The third wide release in the mix is targeting the recently underserved female PG-13 audience. The New Line-distributed romantic drama "How to Deal" is looking to capitalize on the teenage appeal of its star, pop singer Mandy Moore.
Centered on a high school student who is disillusioned with love after seeing many dysfunctional relationships around her, the film co-stars Allison Janney and Trent Ford.
Adapted by screenwriter Heidi Ferrer from the Sarah Dessen novels "Someone Like You" and "That Summer," "Deal" is targeting an older audience than Buena Vista Pictures' "The Lizzie McGuire Movie," which bowed to $17 million in May.
But "Deal" stands more of a chance of getting lost in the shuffle of big-action movies that are filling theaters. Industry executives question whether the film will cross the $10 million mark.
In limited release, Miramax will bow "Dirty Pretty Things," from director Stephen Frears ("High Fidelity"), in five theaters in New York and Los Angeles. Starring Audrey Tautou ("Amelie"), "Things" is about a bizarre hotel murder that must be solved by an illegal Nigerian immigrant, a Turkish chambermaid and a Chinese prostitute. The R-rated film was nominated for three awards from the London Film Critics Circle.
Fox Searchlight's Australian film "Garage Days" debuts Friday in 23 theaters. The R-rated story of a young Sydney band trying to make it in the music business without tearing themselves apart, it is expected to find a solid audience in specialized markets.
Also arriving Friday are First Run's "The Embalmer," which centers on a woman entrenched in a doomed love triangle; Innovation Film Group's comedy "The Anarchist Cookbook," about a twentysomething slacker who starts his own anarchist group in East Dallas; and TriStar's Japanese drama "The Sea Is Watching," which features a screenplay by the late Akira Kurosawa.
ANOTHER LONG DAY
The Ford Motor Company once again sponsoring the season premiere of Fox's hit 24, meaning the first episode of the third season will be presented minus commercials when it airs October 28 at 9 p.m.
Woo Hoo!
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, actors Glenn Close and Ian McKellen and documentarian Michael Moore among the guest voices lined up for the upcoming 15th season of The Simpsons.