Category: Rumours

Report: Guns N’ Roses announcing reunion, classic lineup to tour

These days, it’s difficult to conceive how truly enormous Guns N’ Roses was in their prime. Roaring out of Los Angeles in the late ’80s, they sold millions of albums, released one hit after another, burned bright and then flamed out. Much to the dismay of their fans, Axl Rose and Slash haven’t shared a stage since 1993.

Now, after decades of accusations and in-fighting, the impossible is happening: According to reports, Guns N’ Roses are reuniting.

The evidence seems to have begun mounting two weeks ago, when a Portuguese news outlet said that the classic Guns N’ Roses lineup had been contracted to play a two-hour show. Sometime after that, the band’s official Twitter feed posted some mysterious messages that could be interpreted as reunion buzz. “Whatever happened to no news is good news?” the account wrote on Monday (Nov. 9), before adding: “Of course today everyone is a journalist … If only they could read lips … Surely they’ll read between the lines.” Even Duff McKagan’s wife’s friend is being quoted as saying that there is an imminent return to Paradise City.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, rocker Scott Weiland — formerly of Stone Temple Pilots and Slash’s band Velvet Revolver — gave an interview to Alternative Nation where he said: “I think that Guns N’ Roses are getting back together.”

“It was probably way overdue,” he added. “But it’s very cool at this point. You know, let some of that, sort of, negative … dispel some of that negative stuff that was going on for so long.”

Now, the site Dish Nation is reporting that Guns N’ Roses are “days away” from announcing a worldwide reunion tour. “Slash has confirmed that he ​and lead singer​ Axl Rose have​​ ​reconciled after ​almost a decade of ​arguments,” reads the article. “And now Los Angeles music insiders close to the band say they ​have tentatively​ agreed to perform together again in 2016.”

The timing of the tour would coincide with the band’s 30th anniversary — although technically, GN’R took twenty-two of those years off. Quoting “a music insider,” Dish says: “Promoters are quietly working away to land opportunities. Details of the reunion are expected to leak out in the next few days. Everyone is expecting huge demand for tickets.”

If the report is true, that would likely be the result. Although grunge was signaling the end for metal circa 1993, Guns N’ Roses are one of the few bands who truly did dissolve at the top of the music heap. Their last proper albums, 1991’s “Use Your Illusion” I and II, debuted in the top two spots on the Billboard charts and each were certified 7 times platinum.

The mercurial Rose, however, soon dissolved the band and has spent the last several decades going into hiding, replacing band members and working obsessively on the long-in-development, poorly-received “Chinese Democracy” album. If he were to finally reunite with guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagen and drummer Steven Adler, the tickets would seem to sell themselves — and social media is responding to the swelling rumors as such.

Sony looks to ‘expand the Ghostbusters universe’ with new film, production company

Sony is looking to call some more Ghostbusters. The studio, along with Ivan Reitman and Dan Aykroyd, is establishing Ghostcorps, a company that will develop movies, TV, and merchandising around the Ghostbusters.

After the female-led Paul Feig movie, the first task for the company will be a film directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, who recently signed a deal with Sony. The Russos will produce along with Reitman, Reid Carolin, Peter Kiernan, and Channing Tatum, who is being eyed to star.

Deadline first reported on the company and the film. “We want to expand the Ghostbusters universe in ways that will include different films, TV shows, merchandise, all things that are part of modern filmed entertainment,” Reitman said. “This is a branded entertainment, a scary supernatural premise mixed with comedy.”

Russo described the film as “guy-themed,” but a source says that female actors are also being considered.

‘Beetlejuice 2’ is closer than ever to happening, says Tim Burton

A Beetlejuice sequel is “closer than ever” to happening, says director Tim Burton.

Burton directed the 1988 original, which starred Michael Keaton as a so-called “bio-exorcist” trying to scare away the new human inhabitants of a haunted house so that a ghost couple, played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis, can continue living there. Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones and a 17-year-old Winona Ryder co-starred as the human family members.

A slow-moving sequel has been in the works at Warner Bros since September 2011 with Burton interested in returning as director. Asked for an update on the sequel’s progress, Burton told ComingSoon: “It’s a character that I love and I miss and I miss actually working with Michael. There’s only one Betelgeuse. We’re working on a script and I think it’s probably closer than ever and I’d love to work with him again.”

Earlier this year, Keaton said he would be “more than interested” in returning for a sequel provided Burton is involved. The actor, 62, is currently enjoying something of a career revival and is considered frontrunner for next year’s Best Actor Oscar for his performance in forthcoming black comedy film Birdman.

At one point the mooted Beetlejuice sequel had a script by Seth Grahame-Smith, who also co-wrote the screenplay for Burton’s 2012 film Dark Shadows. Speaking back in May 2012, Grahame Smith said the new Beetlejuice movie would not be a “remake” or “reboot”, but “a true sequel with Michael Keaton as the title character”.

Zoolander 2 Is Happening With These Huge Stars

There are few things that Hollywood does better and more often than capitalizing on trends, and a brand new one has just entered the arena. Thanks to the success of Dumb and Dumber To at the box office this past weekend, there’s a scent in the air that long-overdue comedy sequels are in, and now Paramount Pictures is looking to take advantage of it quickly by starting to move Zoolander 2 through development.

Not only are the gears starting to turn on the follow-up to Ben Stiller’s 2001 comedy, but casting is already underway as well. Deadline has word that Penelope Cruz has signed a deal that will see her star alongside Stiller, who will be reprising his role as model Derek Zoolander. There have also been rumors swirling around that Zoolander 2 will feature the return of fan favorite characters from the first movie, including Will Ferrell’s villainous Mugatu and Owen Wilson’s Hansel. At this point there’s no word on what character Cruz will be playing, but given that she’s devastatingly beautiful, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if she wound up playing a fellow supermodel.

This is easily the most promising news about Zoolander 2 that we’ve heard in a long time, but the truth is that we’ve been getting strung along for years and years. The movie’s less than stellar box office performance back in 2001 didn’t help the case for an immediate sequel, but Ben Stiller has been teasing the project since 2006. In that time the project has made some progress – including hiring Justin Theroux to make his directorial debut – but the process has been moving at the speed of molasses.

Thanks to the cult culture that has grown around the original in the years since its release, Zoolander 2 has long seemed like a good idea, and it’s not hard to link it’s new progress with the success of Dumb and Dumber To. Topping both Interstellar and Big Hero 6 is their second weeks, the 20-years-later sequel roped in a solid $36 million in its opening – which is enough to call it a success. It certainly wouldn’t cost much to make a Zoolander 2, the original only sporting a $28 million budget, so it seems like a winning scenario for Paramount.

But, of course, there is the looming question of whether or not we actually want to see a Zoolander sequel. The number of good comedy sequels we’ve seen over the years is a disturbingly low figure – and in this area, Dumb and Dumber To serves as an effective negative example. I’m not saying it’s impossible for Zoolander 2 to be good, as it has a great group of smart people behind it, and just this year we saw a great comedy sequel in 22 Jump Street. But the question still looms.

Benedict Cumberbatch to Star in Marvel’s ‘Doctor Strange’

Marvel Studios has found its Doctor Strange.

Benedict Cumberbatch is in talks to play the doctor-turned-sorcerer-supreme in the newest superhero film from Marvel that Scott Derrickson will direct, sources tell Variety.

The film has not yet been officially dated, but Marvel is said to be eyeing a 2016 release. Cumberbatch’s role could be made official at a Marvel Studios presentation to media and fans at Disney’s El Capitan Theater.

Cumberbatch would play Stephen Vincent Strange, a former neurosurgeon who becomes the next Sorcerer Supreme and primary protector of Earth against magical and mystical threats. Marvel Comics vets Stan Lee and Steve Ditko co-created the character in 1963.

Marvel already has teased Strange in several films, including “Thor” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” The character fits in with the cinematic universe Marvel is building, with Strange having paired up with Thor and the Avengers, along with Spider-Man, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four to battle enemies in its comicbooks.

Marvel has long wanted to launch a film franchise around the character and eventually integrate him in one of its “Avengers” sequels.

Still Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has long wanted the Doctor Strange character to star in his own solo film as a way to make a movie about magic the way “Guardians of the Galaxy” pushes it into the sci-fi and space genre and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” into political thrillers.Marvel had been in negotiations with Joaquin Phoenix to take the role, but couldn’t reach a deal because of the number of films the thesp would have to agree to make.

Cumberbatch’s deal is contingent upon his schedule, which includes the “Sherlock Holmes” series for BBC and commitments to star in theater productions.

He will next be seen in “The Imitation Game” and voices characters in “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” “The Penguins of Madagascar” and WB’s “The Jungle Book.”

Marvel has not commented on the deal.

No Adele Album Coming in 2014: Report

Rumour has it Adele’s new album won’t be released in 2014.

In a filing reported in The New York Times, the singer’s label, XL Recordings, said, “There will not be a further new release by Adele during 2014 and consequently there will be a fall in XL’s turnover and profits.”

Reports of a 2014 release had been swirling since Adele’s 26th birthday in May, when the singer cryptically tweeted, “Bye bye 25…See you again later in the year,” which some assumed continued the trend set by previous releases 19 and 21, with the album’s title referring to Adele’s age when she recorded the tracks.

Whenever the follow-up recording arrives, it will have massive shoes to fill. Adele’s sophomore album, 21, sold more than 10 million copies and broke several Billboard chart records in the process. The set logged 24 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — the longest command ever for a female artist — and was named the top-selling album of both 2011 and 2012. Three singles from the album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100: “Someone Like You,” “Set Fire to the Rain” and “Rolling in the Deep,” which was named the year-end Hot 100 No. 1 single for 2011.

The album proved a critical favorite as well, scoring the singer six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.

With no music on the horizon, Adele’s latest release remains 2012’s “Skyfall,” the theme to the James Bond film of the same name. The soundtrack single reached No. 8 on the Hot 100 and won the Academy Award for Best Song.

Katy Perry Performing at Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show

Katy Perry will perform at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, sources have confirmed with Billboard.

Perry’s performance has been speculated since August after the National Football League had reportedly shortlisted her along with Coldplay and Rihanna, who saw the use of her song “Run This Town” with Jay-Z axed in a segment during the wake of the Ray Rice scandal.

The news of those three contenders also came with word the league was asking those artists under consideration to pay to play, since last year’s broadcast drew a record-setting 111.5 million viewers and previous performers have all seen significant boosts in sales, touring and public profile.

In response, appearing on ESPN’s College Game Day this past Saturday, Perry said, “I’m not the kind of girl who would pay to play the Super Bowl.”

With previous speculation, Billboard reported a number of good reasons for Perry to play the big stage, including her current hits, her (mostly) family-friendly catalog, and her international popularity (her 58.1 million Twitter followers make her the most popular presence on the social site).

The NFL has declined to comment.

Colin Farrell confirms: I’m starring in ‘True Detective’ Season 2

Colin Farrell is your new “True Detective.”

After weeks of speculation, the “Saving Mr. Banks” actor has confirmed he’ll be starring in Season 2 of the HBO crime drama, telling the Sunday World: “I’m doing the second series. I’m so excited.” He then added: “I know it will be eight episodes and take around four or five months to shoot. I know very little about it, but we’re shooting in the environs of Los Angeles which is great. It means I get to stay at home and see the kids.”

The network still hasn’t confirmed Farrell’s casting.

“True Detective” Season 1 starred Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey and was directed by Cary Fukunaga, who won an Emmy for his work on the show. It was additionally nominated for four more Emmys including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Harrelson and McConaughey.

Farrell is the first actor to be cast in “True Detective” Season 2. Contenders for the role opposite him including “Mad Men’s” Elisabeth Moss and Rachel McAdams. Creator Nic Pizzolatto is once again writing all eight episodes, though Fukunaga will not be returning.

Do you think Farrell is a good choice for the role? Let us know in the comments.

“True Detective” Season 2 is slated to premiere next summer.

Matt Damon to Return to Jason Bourne Franchise

Sources tell Variety the the studio is in the early stages of bringing back Damon and Greengrass for an untitled “Jason Bourne” feature, marking the revival of one of Hollywood’s biggest action franchises.

Over the years Greengrass and Damon and have stood their ground about not returning to the CIA property, based on the Robert Ludlum novels, after working together on “The Bourne Supremacy” and “The Bourne Ultimatum.”

But sources now say both Greengrass and Damon are changing their tune and are in early talks to return to the franchise.

Universal is already developing an untitled film set in the Bourne world with Justin Lin directing and Jeremy Renner returning to play Aaron Cross. That film was slotted to bow on July 16, 2016 and its unknown if that film will stay there or if the new “Bourne” film will take it place.

Damon’s three Bourne movies, which began in 2002 and ended in 2007, grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide at the box office.

Marvel’s Black Panther Movie Confirmed By Stan Lee

How much does Stan “The Man” Lee know about Marvel’s pending film slate? I mean, Stan Lee IS Marvel. Without him, there would be no Cinematic Universe, no characters on which to base these amazing Marvel films that audiences are flocking to (in record-setting fashion). But is the 91-year-old comic-book legend up to date on all of Marvel’s moving pieces? Because if he is, then he just confirmed a Black Panther movie.

Stan Lee was speaking at the Fan Expo Canada on Friday (via Comic Book Resources), and let it slip that the Black Panther movie indeed was happening (instead of being this juicy rumor that no one at Marvel will confirm just yet). When addressing the question of whether or not Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow character soon will get her own solo movie, Lee explained:

“The chances are she will have her own movie because eventually all the superheroes are going to have their own movies. They are already working on Ant-Man, Doctor Strange and the Black Panther, and there are others I am not allowed to talk about.”

Oh Stan, you tease. Let’s talk about his comments. Obviously, we know all about Ant-Man. After a director shuffle, that movie recently began filming in San Francisco with Peyton Reed at the helm, and a cast that includes Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lilly (to name just a few).

The other two titles that Stan Lee dropped, however, are eye-catching… if only because Marvel hasn’t solidified anything on its Cinematic Universe schedule beyond Joss Whedon’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron (May 1, 2015), Captain America 3 (May 6, 2016) and James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (July 28, 2017). There has been a lot of movement surrounding Doctor Strange. Scott Derrickson (Sinister, Deliver Us From Evil) has been tapped to helm the movie, with Jon Spaihts hired to work on the screenplay. There have been rumors that Strange will land in the July 8, 2016 date circled by Marvel, but nothing has been announced… and likely won’t until Marvel locks up its leading man for Doctor Strange.

What about Black Panther? Does Stan Lee know for sure that Black Panther is next? It’s highly likely that he’s at least aware of the characters that are capable of carrying their own film, and are part of Marvel’s Phase Three. We have been hearing that the menacing Ultron will have to travel to Black Panther’s home land of Wakanda to pick up valuable resources in Joss Whedon’s sequel. But it’s unclear if an actor will have been cast to play the hero T’Challa in a Marvel movie for this potential cameo. Get On Up and 42 standout Chadwick Boseman has dropped hints that he’d like to play the character on screen, but has he met with Marvel? Right now, it’s all a big smoke screen.

Stan Lee’s comments piqued our interests. Given the expanding slate of the Marvel universe, there has been so much speculation. Will Ms. Marvel finally get a movie? Will Black Widow or Hawkeye graduate to starring status? Could a player from the burgeoning Marvel/Netflix universe leap to the big screen? Based on what Lee has said, Black Panther is coming sooner than the rest, and one more of Marvel’s vacant release slots will be filled before we know it.