Sequel Bits: ‘Jack Reacher’ Needs Asian Coin To Buy A Sequel, Plus Possible Dan Brown Movies, ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation,’ ‘Twins 2’
WhenChristopher McQuarriewas set to directOne Shot, which eventually becameJack ReacherstarringTom Cruise, the idea was to launch a franchise based on the dozen-plus Reacher books byLee Child. Turns out thatJack Reachermay be the character’s one shot at the big screen, at least in this incarnation.
The movie wasn’t all that expensive, at only $60m, butTHRreports that Pararmount doesn’t consider the $153m combined worldwide gross to be impetus enough to make another one. But the film hasn’t yet opened in Japan, China, and Korea, and so there’s a chance that it could still rake in enough to make the $250m the studio would consider to be justification for a sequel. Even if it does hit the financial goal, Paramount and David Ellison’s Skydance Productions will have to negotiate a deal to bring Cruise back, and keep the next film moving at roughly the same cost of the first.
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Although I studied ‘Dante’s Inferno’ as a student, it wasn’t until recently, while researching in Florence, that I came to appreciate the enduring influence of Dante’s work on the modern world. With this new novel, I am excited to take readers on a journey deep into this mysterious realm … a landscape of codes, symbols, and more than a few secret passageways.
We don’t know what the status of Inferno might be — the book doesn’t even hit until May, and presumably any movie deal he could have already brokered would be announced closer to that — there’s also the question of Brown’s last novel,The Lost Symbol.
That one was being developed at Imagine Entertainment, withRon Howardmoving away from directing it andDanny Strong(Game Change) adapting the script in his wake forMark Romanekto potentially direct. (Given Romanek’s tendency to fall away from big-ticket gigs like this, I can’t really see him ever making the movie.)
TheLA Timesreports that Romanek remains attached, however, and is waiting on Strong’s draft.Tom Hankscould once again play Langdon, but his schedule is uncertain, and until there’s a script to consider shooting, his participation isn’t likely to be locked.
Here’s the latestG.I. Joe: Retaliationtrailer. It comes from Japan and is nearly 100% action. Which, given that we’re really interested in the film only for action, is probably as good a sales pitch as possible. It also has a wonderful voiceover.
G.I. Joe: Retaliationhits on March 29 withDwayne Johnson, Ray Park, Adrianne PalickiandBruce Willis.Lee Byung-hun,Channing Tatum, RZA, Elodie Yung, Walton GogginsandRay Stevenson.
Finally, here’sArnold Schwarzeneggerinsisting thatTwins IIwill still happen withDanny DeVitoandEddie Murphy. This hand-written message from Arnie was posted in his AMA today onReddit:
