Depending on how well Watchmen does at the box office next month, a director’s cut of the film will be getting a short theatrical release this July, according to the film’s director Zack Snyder at Warner Bros.’ Watchmen panel today at WonderCon.

Watchmen will be released on March 6 and will run about 2:40 minutes, but Snyder said that his director’s cut will run 3:10 minutes.

Regarding the eventual DVD release, Snyder said that after an initial DVD release, which will be the theatrical version along with some extra footage that had to be cut for time, this Fall there will also be a lengthier DVD that has the Tales of the Black Freighter animated tale intercut into the main film which will be 3:30 minutes long.

Snyder revealed that some of the footage he had to cut from the upcoming theatrical release includes the death of original Nite Owl Hollis Mason, as well as some brief scenes like Edward Blake raising the flag by himself at Iwo Jima and Nixon’s inauguration, both of which were originally intended to be part of the opening credits.

Good news, everyone!

Recently we shared a great little video which combined clips from Futurama and the Watchmen movie trailer. In this little gem, I made mention of someone, like maybe Comedy Central, being the ones who are smart enough to bring Futurama back to TV.

After posting this story, I checked out HippoJuice, the fine folks who lead us to the Watchmen video. On their site, they had just hit Supercon in Florida, where they had the opportunity to interview voice master Billy West of Futurama fame. Before the interview, Mr. West sat in front of a small crowd a shared a little golden nugget, explaining that because of the success of the four straight-to-DVD Futurama movies that have been made, Fox was now pondering a possible 6th season of the show!

Click over for the video of this announcement and the Billy West interview.

As we all are well-aware, Fox has a nice streak of canceling shows before anyone even sees them: Family Guy and Firefly being the main examples of this. [...]

Troy Duffy, director of king cult movie The Boondock Saints and the massively-anticipated sequel Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, was on hand at the recent New York Comic Con with star Sean Patrick Flanery to sign autographs for the brand new Blu-ray release.

While there, they also made a stop at the 12-Gauge Comics booth for a little business — the possibilities of a Boondock Saints comic book.

No word on what the comic may cover story wise. It looks as if 12-Gauge did a little concept art piece for Troy to check out, and from the sounds of it, all parties were impressed and some sort of agreement was reached.

This of course isn’t an etched in stone confirmation yet, but it does look very likely; and hell, a Boondock comic makes all the damn sense in the world. It’s the kind of movie that could have easily been a comic before it came to film, they just happened to go in reverse. [...]

Warner Brothers has set up the DC Comics property Suicide Squad for a feature length movie treatment with Dan Lin set to produce. Lin has been a producer on such films as The Departed, Terminator Salvation, and Sherlock Holmes.

Suicide Squad flips the typical comic book/super hero format inside out, using a group of super villains as the core of the story. Basically, it follows this team of prisoner super villains, who are sent out on only the most dangerous of missions. They’re contained by bracelets that are rigged to detonate and destroy whomever decides to get too far away from the designated leader of the pack.

The hopes are that using this mixture of known and unknown super villains to lead the movie, instead of just support it, will be successful. If so, Suicide Squad will look to build a franchise from the property.

Today’s hottest fanboy screenwriter, Justin Marks, will handle the script. He’s already booked as writer of this weekend’s Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, Hack/Slash, Masters of the Universe, and McG’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. [...]

Long gone were Presidents Kennedy and Nixon when Oliver Stone decided to dissect them back in the 1990s and those two films (JFK and Nixon) turned out just fine. With President George W. Bush, Stone is not only dealing with a sitting president, but is dealing with the fact that good ole W is among the most discussed presidents of all-time.

Go ahead, try and turn on a news station that isn’t discussing this man’s calamities. It’s impossible. That fact alone would dissuade most directors. But Stone handles W’s issues and dilemmas with a keen understanding and a unique freshness that results in a fascinating foray into W’s desire to break away from his family’s name, but at the same time be accepted by them. Let the debates begin.

Stone’s tactic isn’t to give the audience a lecture or a PowerPoint presentation on the 43rd President of the United States. W (Josh Brolin) isn’t like Lincoln or Washington, or, any president for that matter. Most of them are made out to be monuments, not alcoholic, spoiled, feckless men like the young W. Those prestigious presidents would fill the movie screen in searing dramas and portraits of history that would be directed by the likes of Spielberg.

HitFix has confirmed that Eddie Murphy will play his idol and legendary comedian Richard Pryor in an upcoming drama/biopic Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said? for Fox Searchlight.

The movie will be written and directed by Bill Condon. Condon has written the scripts for Best Picture winner Chicago and brilliant documentary The Devil and Daniel Webster. He’s also written and directed well-respected movies like Kinsey and Dreamgirls.

Richard Pryor died in 2005, but he was one of those guys that was so loved and so respected, that it still doesn’t even feel like he’s gone. It will be interesting to see how a movie about him looks. Apparently the movie will also be casting multiple female roles for the wives of Pryor, as well as the also legendary Red Foxx.

As well all know, Eddie Murphy hasn’t been on a very good streak for… well, quite a while now. Most people can’t even stand him anymore, but I’m one of those people who still remembers old school Eddie and will always love him for those movies. [...]

ScarletScribe and I landed in San Francisco last night and spent the morning at the San Francisco MoMa. Now, we’re off to WonderCon 2009 for some comics, movies, and video game goodness.

This afternoon will mostly be spent walking the Con floor and if the line isn’t too insane, maybe we’ll catch the Animated Wonder Woman movie tonight. We’ll also be attempting to find reasonable food and beverages, as well catch up with our friends Peter (/Film, Alex FS), and Mike (GWS), who will undoubtedly lead us into some kind of trouble (which Peter will surely document via video camera).

Tomorrow, we’ll definitely be at the Watchmen and Star Trek panels, so be sure to check back for news on that, and all the rest of whatever the hell we find out while we’re here. (Yeah, we’re winging it.) [...]

Although the absolute unstoppable force that is the giant man-woman-thing only known as Madea came in and obliterated Friday the 13th‘s week-two efforts, the movie did have a great opening and is making more than enough to expect a sequel. It’s being reported that Platinum Dunes has set writers Damian Shannon and Mark Swift to begin work on the second movie.

Interestingly enough, they’re not referring to the movie as a sequel, but more of a “follow-up”. Basically, this means that because this one movie used the first four Friday the 13th movies as the base, and because the basis for the next group of Jason movies weren’t as appealing — they’ll simply use Jason Voorhees and the simple ingredients we’re familiar with while creating a whole new story around it… I think.

Director Marcus Nispel and stars Jared Padalecki and Amanda Righetti are all possibilities for return, but word is that Nispel is seeing a ton of offers and the two young stars may have a lot on their own plate. [...]

Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy director Gore Verbinski has been tapped to helm a new big screen movie based on the board game Clue for Universal.

This of course isn’t the first time the game has been used to make a movie. In 1985, Tim Curry starred in Clue, which included all of our favorite characters at a mansion when naturally someone is killed. This sets off the investigation to find who did it, as well as many more murders. No word on if this new version will use the same formula, or if Verbinski and his writers will develop an entirely new murder mystery.

Along with the Ridley Scott-produced Monopoly movie, Michael Bay’s Platinum Dune’s Ouiji based movie, and the recently announced Candyland movie (also part of the same Universal/Hasbro deal as Clue), this makes for a veritable epidemic of board game/toy based movies.

As I’m sure many others agree, I’m really hoping this does not sidetrack Gore Verbinski from doing the movie based on the video game BioShock (Read: Gore Verbinski To Direct BioShock). [...]

It’s being reported that Cate Blanchett will now be playing the role of Maid Marian in director Ridley Scott‘s new telling of the tale of Robin Hood, formerly known as Nottingham. Originally set to play the role was Sienna Miller. And although she’s a talented actress, you can’t ask for a better replacement than Blanchett.

The movie stars Russell Crowe as the famed character, Robin of Loxley. Though in this version, the movie will tell an tale of origins, looking at the story from a historically accurate perspective of those times. The story will follow Robin, who as a child was abandoned. He finds a home with the lower class people, where he grows up with issues of trust, and where he develops his affinity for the movement of the wealthy folk’s property to more needful hands.

The surprising thing here, is that the project apparently is toting a $130 Million budget. While it’s obviously not an indie flick, that seems like a lot for a Robin Hood tale. [...]

Warner Brothers has acquired the rights to Wolfgang Petersen‘s 1984 fantastical nostalgia piece, The Neverending Story. The plan is to take the cherished property, and give it a modernized treatment while looking deeper into the German novel for which the original was based.

Currently, parties interested in teaming with WB to bring the re-imagining to life include: Leonard DiCaprio‘s Appian Way Productions and The Kennedy/Marshall Co. — who showed their immense talent with the recent Best Picture nominee, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

The Neverending Story follows a young boy named Bastian, your average, everyday kid who doesn’t really fit in and gets picked on a lot. One day Bastian finds a very special book called The Neverending Story which follows the hero Atreyu and his adventures through the land of Fantasia. Shockingly, while being swept away into this amazing world, Bastian realizes he himself is greatly intertwined in the story and that only he can save Fantasia and its people from complete devastation. [...]

On YouTube, the possibilities are endless. Any one day, you can go off on a quest and find some fantastic videos. Sometimes it’s just people being retarded, other times it’s people showing their true genius.

A Huge thank you to HippoJuice, who pointed us in the direction of this incredibly amusing bit of solid human genius. It’s the Watchmen trailer we’ve all seen a thousand times (hell, we’ve probably even seen a thousand mash-ups of it as well!), but this time, it’s coated over with clips from the late, great, and hopefully soon-to-be re-great (that was a hint, Comedy Central) show, Futurama.

The priceless part of it all, is how it’s not just giggle-worthy Futurama clips, but most of the clips they used actually match up with hilarious accuracy to the Watchmen trailer.

That is about as best I can describe it. You just have to go forth and watch it yourself. You will not regret it.

Click over for the video! [...]

We’ve tried to cover as much of The Boondock Saints and its sequel Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day as humanly possible. While director Troy Duffy and his team are busy in post production and we haven’t heard anything in a while, that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little news for you.

For you mega fans with a Blu-ray player, we wanted to remind you that there is now a sweet copy of The Boondock Saints available. You can head over to Amazon and check it out here: The Boondock Saints on Blu-ray.

Some of the bonus features included on the disk are: Commentary by Troy Duffy, commentary with Billy Connolly (which may be worth the price alone!), deleted scenes, outtakes, a look at the script, and the theatrical trailer.

The release comes at the decade mark of the original film’s release. It’s pretty mind-blowing to think it came out that long ago, as it is still gaining a fan base as the sequel moves closer and closer. [...]

It’s official, Samuel L. Jackson will indeed be returning as Nick Fury in Iron Man 2, as well as oh, so much more. Reports are that Jackson has inked a NINE picture deal with Marvel Entertainment — an unheard of deal.

Along with Iron Man 2, Jackson is expected to appear as Nick Fury in Kenneth Branagh‘s Thor, The Avengers, Captain America, and possibly a S.H.I.E.L.D. movie. The deal would also include the all-but-guaranteed sequels for some of them.

Marvel obviously really wanted to solidify someone as Fury, and thankfully, they got the man they first chose for the job.

Naturally, Mr. Jackson’s age of 60 is cause for minor concern, knowing how long it takes to make movies these days. While it is a valid concern, most of these movies (if not all of them), are in some form of production and set for 2010-2011 release dates. When it comes to sequels, which are obviously a hell of a lot further down the road, this question may become stronger. [...]

Another cherished science fiction movie is heading in for a makeover. The popular Arnold Schwarzenegger Mars movie we all know as Total Recall is being remade at Columbia Pictures with producer Neil H. Moritz in final negotiations to help bring the project to life.

The original movie followed Schwarzenegger’s character as he jumped between dream and reality after he sets off on a virtual vacation to Mars, even though he was warned of the possible negative effects. He eventually finds out that his brain had already been messed with and his whole life was fake. This sends him off to Mars for real to try and find out the truth about who he was, and to fight an evil dictator of sorts who controls the low air flow of a city filled with poor, deformed mutant folk.

Seeing this movie for the first time as a child… on Thanksgiving — I was pretty much scarred for life. [...]

Family Guy has always been very much fanboy-driven, which reached new heights when the show was giving the blessing of George Lucas himself to spoof Star Wars. Following the very funny spoof, called Blue Harvest, it is expected that both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi will also be coming, starting next season with the Empire parody.

Now comes word that their fanboy love affair won’t be stopping there. The popular animated Fox series will also be branching out into the world of Star Trek with an episode called “Not All Dogs Go To Heaven,” set to air on March 29.

The difference here is that the episode will be a Family Guy episode with the integration of the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation into that particular episodes storyline, which follows the Griffin family to Quahog’s annual Star Trek convention.

It also helps that Patrick Stewart has voiced the show before and he’s an actual cast member of show creator Seth MacFarlane‘s other show, American Dad.

Click over for a full episode description, expected names involved, and even a little taste of what this might be like via video clip of a previous Family Guy episode. [...]

Ben X
DVD
Directed by Nic Balthazar
Starring Greg Timmermans, Laura Verlinden, Marijke Pinoy
Film Movement
Released date: March 10, 2009

In the online role-playing game world of ArchLord, Ben (Greg Timmermans) is a warrior, a dedicated level-80 hero. For the past year he has developed a flirtatious friendship with beautiful fellow gamer, Scarlite (Laura Verlinden), and together they have conquered worlds. Online, in this vast fantasy universe, Ben is alive and free.

Despite his efforts to transfer the interaction and communication skills he so easily uses online, Ben’s autism means he faces a daily struggle in the real world. Singled out by his classmates he is relentlessly bullied and Ben soon reaches the point where he can take no more. To get revenge, Ben calls on Scarlite to help him initiate the ‘endgame.’

Even though Ben X won awards at various film festivals and was nominated for even more, this kind of came from nowhere. The more cynical part of my brain suggested that a (relatively) low-budget movie from Belgium which was ‘inspired’ by true events about a bullied autistic kid would never go home empty handed from such a ceremony [...]

Friday the 13th Uncut, Friday the 13th Part 2, Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3-D
Deluxe Editions
Directors: Sean S. Cunnigham, Steve Miner
Starring Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Kevin Bacon, Amy Steel, John Furey, Dana Kimmell, Richard Brooker
Paramount Home Entertainment
Released Date: February 3, 2009

Right in time for the release of the brand new Friday the 13th, I was given the great honor of reviewing the movies that set this unstoppable ball of masked murdering mayhem in motion: Friday the 13th Parts 1, 2, and 3.

It’s been nearly three decades since Jason Voorhees was born, so there’s little I can say about the movies that people aren’t well-aware of already. The most impressive thing is that even after three decades, the man won’t stop and he doesn’t want to slow down. Personally, I see absolutely no reason for him to.

We live in a time where movies get sequels and remakes without a second thought, which is really a bad thing. Almost to an epidemic to a degree. But certain genres don’t need to worry about that, because they’re built to be done numerous times, and one of these genres is the slasher horror. [...]

As we are all aware, there’s been some drama in regards to Seth Rogen‘s attempt at bringing The Green Hornet to the big screen. Stephen Chow was tapped to direct the movie and star as Kato, but things didn’t go so smoothly and he stepped down from the chair.

Now it’s being reported that a new director is in negotiations: Michel Gondry.

Gondry is best known for his brilliant Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, as well as The Science of Sleep and Be Kind Rewind. A superhero movie seems a little odd for Gondry’s style, but hell, Tsotsi director Gavin Hood is doing X-Men Origins: Wolverine, so have at it, sir.

Stephen Chow is still expected to star as Kato alongside Seth Rogen’s Hornet. Rogen is also writing the script with pal Evan Goldberg.

Hopefully this follows through so this movie can escape the evil clutches of development hell for once and for all and get itself rolling with pre-production [...]

It’s only been a couple of days since the Academy Awards, and returns are coming in positive for Hugh Jackman’s job as Oscar host. Seeing as how they like new hosts each year, though, who will get the job next year? Could it possibly be the best man of them all, and the ultimate master of ceremonies, Billy Crystal?

Being so early, and being as unlikely as it is (not to mention it’s Fox), this is to be taken with an entire salt mine but — Roger Friedman of Fox News is reporting that he has heard from multiple sources that Mr. Crystal might just be willing to talk about making a glorious return.

Crystal hasn’t hosted since 2004 and was seemingly done with the show that hadn’t been faring so well. Apparently Jackman’s positive performance may have just given it the boost that Crystal needed to consider.

Personally, I thought this past show was one of, if not the worst shows I’ve ever seen. While most of the awards worked out alright, the actual show was 90% unwatchable, with only three or four memorable, entertaining, and positive points in the broadcast. [...]