The Wolfman

[cinemanarchist]

In Mac's avatar it looks like Jack just found out Ratner is directing Wolfman.


Oh fuck, why???

[Gamblour.]

"We have go back (to Romanek)!"

[MacGuffin]

Ratner among 'Wolf' men
Uni has pack of helmers in mind
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Universal is wasting no time in its search for a director for "The Wolf Man" following Mark Romanek's exit from the period horror movie.

Brett Ratner, Frank Darabont, James Mangold and Joe Johnston have either met with the studio and producers or are expected to do so in the coming days.

Bill Condon also is a helmer the studio is keen on.

The biggest challenge the studio faces is its inability to work on the script because of the writers strike. Any filmmaker coming on board takes on a locked script, overseen by Romanek over several years, and many directors want to put their stamp on it. Martin Campbell is one helmer who was interested, but he is no longer in contention.

Another potential wrinkle is star Benicio Del Toro. The actor, known to be choosy with parts and directors, might have a say in the process.

Many on the list are writer-directors, but Ratner is not. The director, who met with the studio Wednesday, is emerging as the strongest contender because of the fact that he has experience in taking over a project that has lost a director late in the game. Ratner famously took over "X-Men: The Last Stand" after Bryan Singer flew the coop to direct "Superman Returns."

The studio is expected to find its man next week for the film, which has a dedicated March start date

[w/o horse]

Ratner, Mangold, Johnston, Condon, Darabont.   Based on their list.  Honestly I'd only be a tiny bit less bummed if Mangold got it over Ratner.  And I'd be kind of excited if it went to Darabont.

[MacGuffin]

John Landis for WOLF MAN?
Written by Matt Goldberg; Collider

A trusted inside source has informed us that John Landis, the director of arguably the best werewolf movie ever made, "An American Werewolf in London", is going into Universal today to talk about directing The Wolf Man.  Now here, we come to a slight conundrum:

On the one hand, this could be fucking amazing.  Landis has a crucial understanding of horror and character and I'm not just talking about "Werewolf in London".  I'm also talking about the music video for "Thriller" which was a landmark for music videos and like "London" also playfully integrated horror elements.  He also made Michael Jackson look scary before Jackson could just do that on his own.

The problem is that we're now going all the way back into the 80s for his successes.  Yes, he's done some "Masters of Horror" episodes recently but when you do "The Stupids" and "Blues Brothers 2000" back-to-back, you've earned your long stint in director jail.

We always want the directors of the classics to reach back and attain their previous greatness, but it's rare.  We'll have more for you on this as it develops, but one thing is for certain:

He'd still be a better choice than Brett Ratner.

[72teeth]

so, AICN is reporting that Joe Johnston got the job...

I went from extremely excited to extremely disappointed and now I'm just ambivalent... which is one of the best moods to be in for a movie... so thumbs up!

[MacGuffin]

Johnston to direct 'Wolfman'
Director replaces Romanek
Source: Variety

Universal's "The Wolfman" has gotten out of a hairy situation.

The studio set Joe Johnston late Sunday night to replace Mark Romanek as helmer of the pic, keeping the $100 million thriller on course to begin production in London in March.

Romanek stepped out last week over creative differences.

Benicio Del Toro has long been attached to play the title character, but Romanek's exit comes after the studio firmed up Anthony Hopkins to play the title character's father, and for Emily Blunt ("Charlie Wilson's War") to play the female lead.

By solving the director conundrum quickly, U execs keep another of their big 2009 films together; the studio previously salvaged "State of Play" by signing Russell Crowe to replace Brad Pitt in the starring role, after Pitt bowed out weeks before filming was to begin.

"The Wolfman," one of the treasured horror properties in the studio vaults, will cost $85 million, counting about $15 million in tax breaks for shooting in the United Kingdom.

Andrew Kevin Walker wrote the script. U-based producers Scott Stuber and Mary Parent were integral in keeping the project on track.

Johnston last directed "Hidalgo" and "Jurassic Park III."

[MacGuffin]

Hugo Weaving to pursue 'Wolfman'
Actor will play detective in Johnston remake
Source: Variety

Hugo Weaving will join Benicio Del Toro and Emily Blunt in Universal's upcoming redo of "The Wolfman."

Weaving, best known for his appearances in "The Matrix" movies, will play Det. Aberline. Del Toro will play the hirsute title character and Anthony Hopkins his dad. Blunt has been cast as the female lead in the project, which Joe Johnston will direct.

Lensing begins next month in London.

David Self did a rewrite of Andrew Kevin Walker's script. Pic's produced by Scott Stuber, Mary Parent, Sean Daniel and Rick Yorn.

Remake is slated for a Feb. 13 release.

[MacGuffin]

First Look: Benicio Del Toro as the Wolfman
See the Oscar-winning actor in full makeup for the horror movie remake. Plus: Rick Baker on the process of making him into a monster
Source: Entertainment Weekly

It's been 67 years since the Wolfman first attacked the box office, but he'll be making a comeback next year in a remake by Joe Johnston (Hidalgo, Jurassic Park III). Fortunately for all you lycanthrope fans out there who just can't wait that long, EW caught up with the horror flick's makeup artist, six-time Oscar winner Rick Baker, for an exclusive First Look at how he's transformed star Benicio Del Toro into the famed beastly creature.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How many different components go into putting the face of the Wolfman together?
RICK BAKER: The part that covers his nose and his brow is what we call an appliance. It's made up of a foam, latex piece with tissue-thin edges that covers part of Benicio's face and blends into his own skin. Then we have a wig and dentures that change his teeth into the giant Wolfman teeth. Most of the hair on his face is what we call ''laid.'' It's actually loose hair that we apply little bits at a time with glue to his face. It's very much the way the Wolfman was done in the [1941] original [starring Lon Chaney].

How long does it take to apply all of this makeup?
Typically about three hours — it's a pretty average time. I've done makeup that's taken close to eight hours before, though.

How much use can you get out of the appliance, dentures, and hair? Do you have to use new sets for each day of shooting?
It's mainly new latex pieces and new facial hair that's reapplied every day. The teeth are the same and the wig is the same, but we have several of those because they tend to get screwed up. The adhesives we use now stay on pretty well. Many times it takes about an hour to remove the makeup. In the old days, back when we used to use spirit gum, at the end of the day you could just kind of pull the stuff off and not harm the person's skin, but now you can't do that — you'll pull skin off.

Benicio Del Toro already has some wolf-like features — does that make it easier or harder for you?
In a way, it almost makes it harder. Where do you go from there? He's practically there as it is! [Laughs] I think what's going to make it be harder is when we get into the transformation scenes; going from Benicio to Benicio as the Wolfman isn't a really extreme difference. Like when I did American Werewolf in London, we went from this naked man to a four-legged hound from hell, and we had a lot of room to go from the transformation and do a lot of really extreme things. Here we have Benicio Del Toro, who's practically the Wolfman already, to Benicio Del Toro with more hair and bigger teeth.

What was everyone's reaction on set the first time he came out in makeup?
People seem to be getting really excited about it. These pictures are the first time we put him in makeup, and this was just last week!

What can fans of The Wolfman look forward to the most?
You never know how the movie's going to be, but from what we've done so far, which, mind you, hasn't been very much, what I would say to fans is that at least you know that the guy who's doing the makeup in the movie is coming from the same place they are — as a fan. I have a real appreciation for the old Universal classics. The old fanboy in me is jumping up and down here!

How much did you update the makeup from the original?
It's actually more frightening. But I still wanted to be true to the original and show respect for it. What's interesting about those two pictures is that there's one that he's kind of facing forward and you see a little more of his body — that's very much more of a classic Wolfman shot; it looks more like the Chaney version. The close-up one is a more frightening and dynamic version. Even though it's the same makeup [as the first picture], he can do a lot more than Lon Chaney could do with the makeup. It's cool that there's something for the old-school guys, and the other picture is more for the guys who don't even know what the Wolfman is but can see that picture and still go, ''Oh, that's cool!''

How does Wolfman rank next to the rest of the films on your extensive résumé?
It's funny: I've been very successful and done a lot of films, and I don't really have an agent — I don't really pursue jobs, I let people come to me. I'm not really listed anywhere; I don't know how people find me! It's easier now that I'm more established, but in the earlier days when I first started out, it's actually amazing that I was successful. But with this film, when I first found out they were going to do it, I went and talked to somebody I know at Universal. I said, ''You know what? I have to do The Wolfman! You've got to let me do this! I'll do some really cool stuff.'' The Wolfman and Frankenstein were probably the two most important films in my childhood that made me want to become a makeup artist. I pursued this job. Fortunately they said okay! It's been really fun. We've been filming at night, and were filming in this gypsy camp. It was like being in an old Universal film. We were in this forest with these cool gypsy wagons and these gypsies sitting all around, and people on horseback, and fog — I was just going, Yeah! The Wolfman!

How hard has this project been to work on compared to your others?
The ones that are harder are actually the ones that people tend to think are easier. The harder ones are really the human kind of makeup. Like Norbit, which I was nominated for this year [at the Oscars]: I had to turn Eddie Murphy into a believable old Chinese man, which is actually a lot more difficult, because people are more critical of that kind of makeup — because you see [humans] every day. So you have kind of a frame of reference of what you are looking at. You don't necessarily see werewolves or aliens every day, so you can accept those kinds of things.

[MacGuffin]

Exclusive: New Image From Wolfman
First look at Hopkins and Blunt
Source: Empire Online

Universal has provided us with an exclusive new image from The Wolfman. The image gives the first look at Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt in character, as well as the first official non-lupine look at Benicio Del Toro.

Based on the 1941 classic of the same name, The Wolfman tells of Lawrence Talbot, an actor (Del Toro) who returns to the home of his estranged father (Hopkins) after the death of his brother. Familial awkwardness becomes the least of his problems when he is attacked and bitten by a wolf and quickly takes on hairy, toothy qualities whenever the moon rises. Emily Blunt plays Gwen Conliffe, a woman for whom Lawrence develops an affection and who, to further complicate matters, was the fiancee of his brother. All is not chirpy in the Talbot household.

The Wolfman, directed by Joe Johnston, is released in April 2009.

[MacGuffin]

'Wolfman,' 'Nottingham' delayed
'Fast and Furious 4' to open April 3

Marking major changes to next year's slate, Universal Pictures has pushed back the release of horror franchise hopeful "The Wolfman" from April 3 to Nov. 6 and taken Ridley Scott's "Nottingham" out of 2009 entirely.

Also, U's "The Fast and the Furious 4" will now open on April 3, instead of June 12.

"Nottingham," toplining Russell Crowe, will open in 2010, but U did not set a specific date.

U said the reshuffling was the sensible thing to do, considering that "Fast 4" is completed, while the Brian Grazer-produced "Nottingham" won't start lensing until February or March.

And moving "Wolfman" -- a reboot toplining Benicio Del Toro -- to Nov. 6 gives the film more of a high-profile release, as well as ample time for post-production. Pic is directed by Joe Johnston.

Even with "Fast 4" opening in April, Universal still has one June 2009 release, the Will Ferrell adventure-comedy "The Land of the Lost," which opens June 5.

With "Fast 4" gone, the June 12-14 weekend now sports two comedies, giving other studios a chance to slot in counterprogramming.

[Stefen]

All three films will suck. I had high hopes for Wolfman when Romanek was attached, but not anymore.

[MacGuffin]

Benicio Del Toro Goes Old School For 'Wolf Man,' Declares No Monster Cameos
Published by MTV

Earlier this year, Emily Blunt insisted that the Joe Johnston-helmed, "The Wolf Man," would not be your average campy monster movie. "It's a period gothic Werewolf story," she told MTV. "It's really good, it's really smart."

Now we've heard from the monster himself, star Benicio Del Toro, and he echoes this authenticity sentiment. The actor who will play Lawrence Talbot (the man who eventually turns into a wolf) and says the production is kicking it old school, vintage style.

"[When I did my research], I definitely looked at what Lon Chaney Jr. did in the original 'Wolf Man' and the movie," Del Toro told MTV News. "I also looked at the 'Werewolf of London,' the Henry Hull movie, which was made maybe 6 years before in 1935, and looked 'Curse of the Werewolf' with Oliver Reed."

While they are staying faithful to the aforementioned 1941 Chaney Jr. version (generally accepted as the "classic" Wolf man movie), he notes that there will be some minor deviations from the story that center around actor Sir Anthony Hopkins who plays his father in the film. He spills some background details on the characters and notes that he and the legendary thespian won't be playing very nice together either.

"Anthony Hopkins' role was [originally] played by Claude Rains and the relationship between Rains and Lon Chaney Jr was a good father and son [relationship]. In [our version], its definitely fractured, I'm like the prodigal son, I've been gone, he sent me away when I was a child and I haven't seen him in twenty six years and I can home again to visit my brother who's missing, but I [also play an] actor too which is also different."

Don't expect other monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein or the Mummy to walk into the frame either.

" You mean, the guy named Dracula waiting in the taxi outside?," Del Toro cracked? "No, there's no other monsters coming into play, that's maybe down the line."

[MacGuffin]

U sets new date for 'Wolfman'
Reboot of monster franchise moves to 2010
Source: Variety

"The Wolfman" won't howl this year as planned. Universal Pictures is moving the reboot of its classic monster franchise to early next year.

The horror pic, which stars Benicio Del Toro as the hairy shape-shifter, will now be released Feb. 12 and serve as counterprogramming to New Line's romantic comedy "Valentine's Day," the Summit drama "Remember Me," with "Twilight's" Robert Pattinson toplining, and Disney's 3-D re-release of "Beauty and the Beast."

It's the fourth date for "Wolfman" after roaming from Feb. 13 to April 3 and then Nov. 6 this year.

Despite the change, studio's theme park still plans to heavily hype the property at its annual Halloween Horror Nights event.

"We have seen just how enormous first quarter movies can be," said Adam Fogelson, president of marketing and distribution for U, citing the $215 million that studios generated on the February weekend this year, versus the $136 million that pics earned on the November date last year.

Marketers believe next year could become "a perfect storm" for distribs, considering Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday and will be closely followed by the President's Day holiday, the next day.

The November slot will be taken by U's alien-abduction drama "The Fourth Kind," starring Milla Jovovich. It had previously not had a home on the release schedule. Studio picked it up from Gold Circle Films.

[Stefen]

haha. bomb!