Sequel Bits: WB Explains Limited HFR Rollout For ‘The Hobbit’, Plus: ‘Jack Ryan’, ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn’, ‘Transformers 4’, ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’
As you head into the weekend, we’ve got a few last sequel-related tidbits to chew on. After the jump:
Of the 10,000+ screens that’ll be playingThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journeynext month, just a few hundred will be showing them atPeter Jackson’s preferred 48 FPS rate. Some speculated that WB feared negative audience reaction, especially after the negative buzz at CinemaCon. But the studio, for its part, insists that it’s all part of an effort to give the unusual presentation its proper due.
“This is a technology that is going to change the way people see movies,” saidDan Fellman, president of WB domestic distribution. “You have to do it right.” Fellman pointed out that “equipment is being tested” now, and that they’ve already caught a few glitches that need correcting.
Fellman also explained that WB knew even at CinemaCon that 48 FPS, which the studio calls HFR, was unlikely to take over the industry right away. “We had no idea how fast or slow the equipment would be developed,” he said. “We never expected to go 100%. At the time not one manufacturer was ready to do this. It was all in development.” [Deadline]
J.R.R. Tolkien’s dwarves don’t generally answer to the British monarchy, but on the occasion of Prince Charles' 64th birthday, one pledged to do just that. During a visit to New Zealand, the prince took a tour ofPeter Jackson’s WETA workshop. At one point,Mark Hadlow, who plays Dori, dropped to his knees and proclaimed himself to be Charles' servant. Mostly because Jackson might’ve beat him bloody if he hadn’t.
Head toNerd Bastardsto see more of Charles' visit, including a video of Charles chatting with actor Peter Hambleton (Gloin).
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawnmay have been released in two parts, but since they’re based on a single book, they only tell a single story. And directorBill Condonrevealed during a press tour that he wants to eventually present them that way. In fact, he’s working on the single extra-long cut ofBreaking Dawnright now.
“Ultimately they are going to be one movie,” Condon revealed. “And that’s going to be an interesting thing, I haven’t even actually looked at it that way yet. In fact, we’re just starting to put that together.” It’s unclear whether the cut will be released on home video, or whether it’ll actually make it into theaters — in which case fans will get to shell out a total ofthreetimes for the story. Hooray. [Movies.com]
Transformers 4may or may not travel to Bangkok or the moon, but Paramount really hopes it’ll set up shop in mainland China. TheMichael Baysequel is “likely” to be set in the country for the same reason every other movie seems to be headed there nowadays: Money.
As China becomes an ever more important part of the global box offices, studios are clamoring to get their films in wide release there. Shooting in China ups the odds, especially if a local production partner is involved. At this point, Paramount isn’t confirming anything, and a spokesperson will say only thatTransformers 4"is not a Chinese co-production." Just don’t be surprised if that changes in the near future. [Vulture]
After some setbacks and delays, Paramount’sJack Ryanreboot/prequel finally entered production this fall under the direction ofKenneth Branagh. Shooting commenced in Moscow in September, and according to starKeira Knightleyit’ll wrap up next month in London.
“I’m nearly at the end of it,” Knightley said in a recent interview. “I think we finish early December.” It’ll be another year before we get to see the fruits of that labor, however.Jack Ryanis penciled in for aChristmas Day 2013release. [Collider]
Thanks toJ.J. Abrams' famous secretiveness, we still don’t know a whole lot about what happens inStar Trek Into Darkness. While doing press rounds for his new filmRise of the Guardians, starChris Pineoffered a few more vague soundbites about what we might see in the next movie.
Like some leadership from Captain Kirk, perhaps:
Kirk is fun because he is a brash, cocky, bull-headed kind of guy. I think the journey he goes on in this new film is a lot about – the first one was about getting the chair and the second one is about earning it. And I think that is a big part of his journey.
And some exposition from the bad guy, played byBenedict Cumberbatch:
There’s one scene in [Star Trek Into Darkness] that’s like, you know… in all kinds of heavy science fiction there’s got to be the exposition scene where it’s like, what the hell’s going on? It’s a really, really, really hard scene. Not for me, for Benedict – and watching him handle that and to make something that I think, on paper, could have been a death trap for an actor and to see how he [deals with it]…
And yes, in case you were wondering, Abrams is a perfectionist:
JJ will be constantly tinkering with [Star Trek] until the last minute.
