Could Ralph Fiennes be "gunning" for an Oscar with his directorial debut?

Well, it could have potential for it, especially on the heels of The Hurt Locker. For anyone not in the know, it's a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's play Coriolanus. Well, here's some word from First Showing on the first look at the flick:

Whoa! Last year it was announced that actor Ralph Fiennes would be making his debut as a director on a contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare's play Coriolanus. At the time, we didn't actually know how contemporary it would be, but thanks to these first photos from the set in Serbia, it looks like Fiennes has actually set his film around the Iraq war. Action blog 30 Ninjas has the scoop on the photos, which come from the first week's battle scenes in the Serbian city of Pancevo. Fiennes is also starring in this as the lead along with Gerard Butler, Brian Cox, William Hurt, Eddie Marsan, Jessica Chastain & Vanessa Redgrave.

Obviously comparisons are already being made to The Hurt Locker, especially because that took home the Best Picture Oscar earlier this year, and an Iraq war movie combined with Shakespeare instantly sounds like more Oscar bait. The story in Coriolanus follows Roman military leader Caius Martius, who returns home from a war against the Volscans as a war hero with a new last name, Coriolanus, given for the city which he conquered. However, he is banished from Rome as a traitor. Coriolanus then allies with a sworn enemy to take his revenge on the city of Rome. I'm not sure how that will fit into the Iraq war, but I'm already excited.

-Sounds very interesting (and more images from the film can be found here)...thoughts?

Christoph Waltz to helm a German romantic comedy!

Here's the interesting story, from Empire Online:

Christoph Waltz, fresh from winning an Oscar for his role as Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds, has announced his intent to direct his first film, romantic comedy Up And Away.

But if you want to watch the eventual film, you’re going to have to A) brush up on your language skills, B) find a screening that’s dubbed or has subtitles or C) wait for the inevitable American remake, because the film’s being backed by Fox International Productions and will be made in German.

Up And Away will be focused on the female host/producer of a dating game, who has squirreled away her own feelings and is seriously cynical about love. But she’s forced to confront her stance on the subject through a series of events. “When you make feelings a commodity, it’s not a feeling anymore,” Waltz tells the LA Times.

It’s not his first turn behind the camera, though his experience to date is largely limited to directing German television. This time out, he’s co-written the script and might take a supporting role in the film.

Note to anyone hoping to get cast: asking your director if that take was “a bingo” is neither cute, nor funny. And if Waltz’s busy acting schedule keeps him from the director’s chair until 2011, it’ll be a very old joke.

-Thoughts?

Today's Posters (Sundance edition): Jack Goes Boating, Waiting for Superman, and 2 for High School

Thoughts?

Tom Hanks to step behind the camera again on a project he also wrote, which happens to reunite him with Julia Roberts as well!

Yes, that title is a mouthful, but it pretty sums up this news. Here's the quick story from Variety:

Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are teaming up in "Larry Crowne" with Hanks set to direct from his own script.

"Crowne" will be produced by Gary Goetzman, Hanks's producing partner at their Playtone shingle.

CAA is packaging the project, which doesn't have distribution yet.

Story centers on a middle-aged man being forced to find a new career.

Hanks and Roberts co-starred in 2007's "Charlie Wilson's War" for Universal.

Hanks last directed "That Thing You Do" in 1996.

-Thoughts on this project?

Mel Gibson's next flick behind the camera will be a film starring Leonardio DiCaprio as a Viking...

From Variety:

Mel Gibson will direct and Leonardo DiCaprio will star in an untitled period drama about Viking culture. William Monahan is writing the script.

Graham King will produce with Gibson and Tim Headington in a co-production of King’s GK Films and Gibson’s Icon Prods. Shooting is expected to begin in fall 2010, meaning that if everything falls into place, it would be the next directing effort for Gibson.

There is no distributor at the moment, but Gibson and King often make their films outside the studio system and secure distribution later.

The principals confirmed the project but would not divulge many details. DiCaprio, who has long been fascinated by Viking culture, will play one in a storyline that will be as unsparing as Gibson’s other period directing efforts, "Braveheart," "The Passion of the Christ" and "Apocalypto."

The connective tissue is King.

The producer teamed with DiCaprio and Monahan in the Oscar-winning drama "The Departed" and just worked with Gibson and Monahan in the Martin Campbell-directed drama "Edge of Darkness." King also just produced Monahan’s directorial debut, "London Boulevard," the Monahan-scripted adaptation of the Ken Bruen novel, with Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley starring.

The Viking film will be DiCaprio’s first picture with Gibson.

"This will be an awe-inspiring story, created with some of the industry’s finest cinematic talent, and I am just over the moon to be making this film with Mel, Leo and Bill," King said in a statement after the principals confirmed the project to Daily Variety.

Aside from "London Boulevard," King and his GK Films just completed "The Rum Diary" with Johnny Depp and Aaron Eckhart and Emily Blunt starrer "The Young Victoria," latter of which is being released this month by Bob Berney’s Apparition.

DiCaprio will likely take a film before putting on the Viking horns. He just completed the Christopher Nolan-directed "Inception" for Warner Bros. and will next be seen in the Martin Scorsese-directed "Shutter Island," which Paramount releases Feb. 19. Gibson just completed the Jodie Foster-directed "The Beaver." Gibson and Monahan are repped by WME, DiCaprio by Rick Yorn and Jennifer Killoran.

-Thoughts?

Today's News: It's a wild rumpus of a weekend for Where the Wild Things Are, Will Ferrell goes the indie route for his next film, and more....

In the news:

'Where the Wild Things Are' was #1 at the box office this weekend, opening well above projections with almost $33 million.

The next project for Will Ferrell will be an independent film based on a Raymond Carver story, called 'Everything Must Go'.

Robert Redford continues to add some impressive cast members to his upcoming period piece about the events after Lincoln's assassination, including Tom Wilkinson, Evan Rachel Wood, and Kevin Kline.

Finally, if you're curious to compare 'Paranormal Activity' to 'The Blair Witch Project', then this article is the one for you.

-Thoughts?

Today's News: Gus Van Sant and Bret Easton Ellis to team up on a film, Chris Pine may be the next Jack Ryan, and more...

In the news:

It seems that Gus Van Sant and Bret Easton Ellis will be writing a script together about the double suicide of artists Theresa Duncan and Jeremy Blake.

The next person to play the role of Jack Ryan may in fact be 'Star Trek''s own Chris Pine, if talks go well for him and Paramount.

Robert Rodat, the writer of 'Saving Private Ryan' has been hired to write 'Warcraft', the World of Warcraft movie, for Sam Raimi to direct.

Tommy Lee Jones has joined the cast of Matthew McConaughey's next movie, based on a Michael Connelly novel, one which he also plans to direct.

Finally, actress Rashida Jones has gotten her graphic novel miniseries optioned for a film, one which she herself will co-write.

-Thoughts?

Today's Posters: Blind Date, Fuel, and Passing Strange

Thoughts?

Trailer for Brief Interviews with Hideous Man

-Could be rather interesting, but I have to see more...thoughts?

Today's News: Tarantino to be feted at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, The Oscars set a deadline for documentaries and shorts, and more...

In the news:

The Santa Barbara Film Festival will be honoring Quentin Tarantino with their Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film when the fest begins.

September 1st is the deadline for documentaries and short subjects to be submitted for Oscar consideration.

It seems Mike Leigh is hard at work on a new film, again to star Imelda Staunton and Jim Broadbent.

'The White Ribbon' is going to be Germany's entry into the Foreign Film race at the Oscars.

Ben Affleck's next directorial gig has added another cast member to its rather admirable cast.

Katherine Heigl has another romantic comedy coming out, this one with a member of 'Mad Men'.

Look for Hayden Christensen among the cast members of the new film by the director of 'The Machinist'.

Finally, don't look now but Michael Bay might have his eyes on a new franchise to helm.

-Thoughts?

Today's News: Spielberg begins to line up his next directorial project, Jeremy Renner joins Ben Affleck's 2nd outing behind the camera, and more...

In the news:

Steven Spielberg may be going the secret agent route for his next film.

The Hurt Locker's Jeremy Renner is poised to act in Ben Affleck's next directorial outing.

Paul Haggis has Russell Crowe in mind for his next film, which he is writing and directing.

Ron Howard may next be tackling a movie based on a book by the author of the Jason Bourne books.

Next year's romantic comedy to be released on Valentine's Day (aptly titled, you guessed it, Valentine's Day) adds some new names to its star studded cast.

Matthew McConaughey might be going the indie route for his next film.

Another romantic comedy seems to be in the works for Jennifer Aniston.

Aaron Eckhart gets a crew for his alien invasion film 'Battle: L.A.'.

-Thoughts?

Today's News: Ben Affleck's next directorial project gets a cast, Richard Linklater picks his next movie, and more...

In the news:

Ben Affleck has John Hamm and Rebecca Hall set up to be his costars in his next movie, which he will also be writing and directing.

Richard Linklater has a new project in mind.

A big time spec script has been fast tracked, but without its original A list stars.

The director of P.S. I Love You (among other, much better, things) has a new gig set up.

Hollywood may make the movies, but the state of California will now be getting involved as well, to some degree.

-Thoughts?

Today's Trailers: Whip It, Despicable Me, and World's Greatest Dad

First up is the promising trailer for Drew Barrymore's directorial debut Whip It:

Next we have the trailer for the animated flick Despicable Me:

Finally, we have a second trailer for the black comedy World's Greatest Dad, which is slightly cleaner than the last one:

Thoughts?

Justin Theroux gets a new directing gig

Variety has the details:
Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment have set Justin Theroux to direct "Chief Ron."
The Jordan Roberts-scripted comedy concerns a conman who claims Mohegan ancestry in an attempt to open a casino.
Brian Grazer is producing.
The comedy's inspiration is the true story of Chief Ron Roberts. His blonde hair and blue eyes raised skepticism over his ancestral claims but he prevailed in court and is now building a casino in upstate New York.
Theroux takes the directing job after completing the script for "Iron Man 2" for Marvel Entertainment and Paramount. Before that, he co-wrote and was an exec producer of "Tropic Thunder."
Grant Morris, David Gordon Green and Imagine's Erica Huggins are exec producers.
Project reps the first major studio directing gig for Theroux, who made his helming debut on "Dedication," a film that made its debut at 2007 Sundance before being released through the Weinstein Co.
-Could be good, and Theroux is a talent, so we'll see...thoughts?

Zach Braff to step behind the camera again!

As someone tremendously in love with his directorial debut (Garden State), this piece in Variety excites me quite a bit:
Zach Braff is in negotiations to direct, rewrite and co-star in the comedy "Swingles" for Paramount Pictures.
Cameron Diaz has already signed on to star.
Story, which is based on a Duncan Birmingham spec, centers on a bachelor who is dumped by his wingman and teams up with a sharp-tongued woman he can't stand in order to meet singles. Jeff Roda penned a draft as well.
Kevin Misher, whose credits include the upcoming Michael Mann-helmed "Public Enemies," is producing.
Project will mark Braff's second feature helming effort; he also directed the 2004 indie "Garden State."
Braff, who just inked a deal for his final six episodes of ABC laffer "Scrubs," also directed a chapter of the upcoming film "New York, I Love You."
-I'm still waiting for his remake of the Dogme film Open Hearts, but until then, this will do nicely...what do you think?

Ralph Fiennes gathers a cast for his directorial debut

Variety has the details:
William Hurt, Vanessa Redgrave and Jessica Chastain have boarded Ralph Fiennes' directorial debut "Coriolanus."
Pic is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's study of the way power corrupts, set in the early years of the Roman Republic.
Fiennes will also play the title role.
Lensing will begin in Serbia in early 2010. John Logan ("The Aviator") is writing the script. Artemis Films' Julia Taylor-Stanley and Magnolia Mae Films' Gabrielle Tana are producing. Icon Entertainment Intl. is handling worldwide sales.
Icon has also closed a number of sales for Jim Loach's "Oranges and Sunshine."
Diaphana has picked up all rights for France. Other territories sold include Odeon for Greece and Lusomundo for Portugal. Pic, which stars Emily Watson, Hugo Weaving and David Wenham, looks at the forced migration of children from the U.K. to Australia into hard labor camps.
-Thoughts?