We have certain expectations from different genres. Crime movies are rather versatile, leaning either into serious drama/thriller territory or comedy, and yet, there are rules here. A bank heist film is often more humorous, whereas a murder mystery tends to have those Agatha Christie vibes and be an intellectual challenge for its audience. But sometimes, these rules are deliberately thrown out of the window.
Welcome to Shimmer Lake, Enjoy the Pursuit
Directed and written by Oren Uziel, 2017’s Shimmer Lake doesn’t choose between the two popular crime movie subgenres: it decides to be both at the same time. When your average bank heist in a small town goes wrong, three unfortunate robbers need to lay low as the local Sheriff is desperately trying to catch up to them.
Understaffed and lacking actual resources, the detectives can barely put two and two together despite the Sheriff being one of the robbers’ brother.
Welcome to Shimmer Lake, Enjoy the Pursuit
Directed and written by Oren Uziel, 2017’s Shimmer Lake doesn’t choose between the two popular crime movie subgenres: it decides to be both at the same time. When your average bank heist in a small town goes wrong, three unfortunate robbers need to lay low as the local Sheriff is desperately trying to catch up to them.
Understaffed and lacking actual resources, the detectives can barely put two and two together despite the Sheriff being one of the robbers’ brother.
- 5/29/2024
- by dean-black@startefacts.com (Dean Black)
- STartefacts.com
Christina Hodson and Oren Uziel will co-write the next “Fast and Furious” movie with “Fast X” helmer Louis Leterrier returning to direct.
Last week, Variety exclusively revealed that Leterrier would direct the next installment of “Fast and Furious,” which serves as a companion film to “Fast X,” opening May 19. The 11th film in the Vin Diesel-starring franchise will mark Hodson and Uziel’s first official collaboration.
While news of the team up might come as a surprise to some, the two in-demand creatives are friends and share office space, which made the decision to work together practically inevitable.
Hodson is a British-born, Los Angeles-based, writer and producer, who is best known for writing Paramount’s 2018 “Transformers” prequel “Bumblebee” and writing and co-producing 2020’s “Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey” for Warner Bros. and DC Comics. Her next project is the highly anticipated “The Flash” movie, also for Warner Bros. and DC Comics.
Last week, Variety exclusively revealed that Leterrier would direct the next installment of “Fast and Furious,” which serves as a companion film to “Fast X,” opening May 19. The 11th film in the Vin Diesel-starring franchise will mark Hodson and Uziel’s first official collaboration.
While news of the team up might come as a surprise to some, the two in-demand creatives are friends and share office space, which made the decision to work together practically inevitable.
Hodson is a British-born, Los Angeles-based, writer and producer, who is best known for writing Paramount’s 2018 “Transformers” prequel “Bumblebee” and writing and co-producing 2020’s “Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey” for Warner Bros. and DC Comics. Her next project is the highly anticipated “The Flash” movie, also for Warner Bros. and DC Comics.
- 4/24/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Although we are still weeks away from the premiere of Fast X, things are in motion for the Fast & Furious finale that will follow. Universal has set The Flash screenwriter Christina Hodson and Cloverfield screenwriter Oren Uziel to pen next installment, following news last week that Fast X director Louis Leterrier will return for the next film, which is being described as a companion to Fast X.
For some time, Universal has envisioned that the finale of the studio’s biggest franchise this century would play out over two films. While a lot the same pieces from Fast X will return — including Leterrier, who impressed execs so much on his first outing they made his return official before the film’s premiere — they still wanted some new voices. Although Hodson and Uziel have never wrote a movie together, they have a close relationship and share office space, and...
For some time, Universal has envisioned that the finale of the studio’s biggest franchise this century would play out over two films. While a lot the same pieces from Fast X will return — including Leterrier, who impressed execs so much on his first outing they made his return official before the film’s premiere — they still wanted some new voices. Although Hodson and Uziel have never wrote a movie together, they have a close relationship and share office space, and...
- 4/24/2023
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: A+E Studios is getting into business with Curate Management and its founder Britton Rizzio. The studio has signed a first-look deal with the company to develop scripted series for broadcast and streaming in the U.S. and international space. Curate says the deal reinforces the company’s commitment to producing content that reflects unique perspectives and stories.
Curate, one of the few female-led-and-run literary management companies in town, was founded by film and TV literary manager Rizzio in 2021 with a focus on creators in film, television and books. The company has seen significant growth with Literary Manager Courtney Conwell joining as Partner and the hire of Becca Rodriguez as Book and IP Manager. In addition, Curate acquired Zipa Entertainment bringing Partner Sofia Escallon into the fold. The acquisition expanded Curate’s reach to Mexico where Escallon is based, with a focus on bilingual and bi-cultural showrunners, writers and directors in Latin America.
Curate, one of the few female-led-and-run literary management companies in town, was founded by film and TV literary manager Rizzio in 2021 with a focus on creators in film, television and books. The company has seen significant growth with Literary Manager Courtney Conwell joining as Partner and the hire of Becca Rodriguez as Book and IP Manager. In addition, Curate acquired Zipa Entertainment bringing Partner Sofia Escallon into the fold. The acquisition expanded Curate’s reach to Mexico where Escallon is based, with a focus on bilingual and bi-cultural showrunners, writers and directors in Latin America.
- 4/7/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
A live-action Spider-Man Noir series based on the Marvel comic is in development at Amazon, Deadline has learned.
Written and executive produced by Oren Uziel (The Lost City) the as-yet untitled series follows an older, grizzled superhero in 1930s New York City. A source close to the project tells Deadline the show is set in its own universe that involves an alternate Spider-Man character who is not Peter Parker.
Uziel developed the series with Academy Award winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and Amy Pascal who will serve as executive producers. Sony Pictures Television, where Lord and Miller are under an overall deal, is the studio.
The Amazon project would be the first live-action depiction of Spider-Man Noir. The alternate version of Spider-Man emerges in a version of New York during the Great Depression. In the comics, Peter Parker is bitten by a spider housed inside a spider-god idol,...
Written and executive produced by Oren Uziel (The Lost City) the as-yet untitled series follows an older, grizzled superhero in 1930s New York City. A source close to the project tells Deadline the show is set in its own universe that involves an alternate Spider-Man character who is not Peter Parker.
Uziel developed the series with Academy Award winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and Amy Pascal who will serve as executive producers. Sony Pictures Television, where Lord and Miller are under an overall deal, is the studio.
The Amazon project would be the first live-action depiction of Spider-Man Noir. The alternate version of Spider-Man emerges in a version of New York during the Great Depression. In the comics, Peter Parker is bitten by a spider housed inside a spider-god idol,...
- 2/9/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The co-screenwriter of Paramount’s spring hit, The Lost City, Oren Uziel, is giving 20th Century Studios’ Clue movie a big reworking.
The first draft for the Ryan Reynolds movie based on the popular whodunnit Hasbro game was by Rheet Reese and Paul Wernick. James Bobin is attached to direct.
The first feature take of Clue back in 1985 turned into a cult classic during the video era, the pic’s theatrical run stateside grossing just under 15M and featuring all-star cast of Tim Curry, Eileen Brennan, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Madeline Kahn and Lesley Ann Warren. Johnathan Lynn directed. Cute piece of distribution with that first movie is that various prints within certain metro areas like LA and NYC played different endings with different murderers (just like the board game).
The Lost City is one of the few original, non-franchise movies to bring older moviegoers back to the cinema during the pandemic,...
The first draft for the Ryan Reynolds movie based on the popular whodunnit Hasbro game was by Rheet Reese and Paul Wernick. James Bobin is attached to direct.
The first feature take of Clue back in 1985 turned into a cult classic during the video era, the pic’s theatrical run stateside grossing just under 15M and featuring all-star cast of Tim Curry, Eileen Brennan, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Madeline Kahn and Lesley Ann Warren. Johnathan Lynn directed. Cute piece of distribution with that first movie is that various prints within certain metro areas like LA and NYC played different endings with different murderers (just like the board game).
The Lost City is one of the few original, non-franchise movies to bring older moviegoers back to the cinema during the pandemic,...
- 8/23/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Comedy currently in production in US.
Brian O’Shea’s The Exchange has acquired worldwide sales rights for the comedy Dotty And Soul on the eve of the virtual EFM and will jointly represent US rights with Endeavor Content.
Adam Saunders of Footprint features is currently directing the feature in Oklahoma City and New York (with pick-ups in Dallas and Los Angeles) from his screenplay about an entrepreneur who must step down after becoming embroiled in a social media scandal. Looking for a person of colour to take over he enlists the only possible candidate he knows – a 71-year-old snack cart...
Brian O’Shea’s The Exchange has acquired worldwide sales rights for the comedy Dotty And Soul on the eve of the virtual EFM and will jointly represent US rights with Endeavor Content.
Adam Saunders of Footprint features is currently directing the feature in Oklahoma City and New York (with pick-ups in Dallas and Los Angeles) from his screenplay about an entrepreneur who must step down after becoming embroiled in a social media scandal. Looking for a person of colour to take over he enlists the only possible candidate he knows – a 71-year-old snack cart...
- 2/7/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Amazon Studios is developing a series adaptation of Margarita Montimore’s bestselling novel Oona Out of Order, from Spyglass Media Group. Australian screenwriter Alice Bell (The Beautiful Lie) is attached to adapt and executive produce, with Amazon-based Patrick Moran also executive producing.
Oona Out of Order is described as a sophisticated love story that chronicles a romance interrupted and a lifetime rearranged. It revolves round Oona Lockhart, who at the strike of midnight on her nineteenth birthday wakes to find she is the surprise new inhabitant of her 55-year-old body. Where did her life disappear to? Stunned and terrified, Oona grapples with what feels like a catastrophic universal mistake until her following birthday when it happens again – then again and again, without explanation. As Oona leaps from year to year, living her life out of order, she strives to find her way back to her youth and her first boyfriend.
Oona Out of Order is described as a sophisticated love story that chronicles a romance interrupted and a lifetime rearranged. It revolves round Oona Lockhart, who at the strike of midnight on her nineteenth birthday wakes to find she is the surprise new inhabitant of her 55-year-old body. Where did her life disappear to? Stunned and terrified, Oona grapples with what feels like a catastrophic universal mistake until her following birthday when it happens again – then again and again, without explanation. As Oona leaps from year to year, living her life out of order, she strives to find her way back to her youth and her first boyfriend.
- 2/9/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna has signed a three-year-old overall pod deal with ABC Studios. Under the pact, Brosh McKenna will develop projects across all platforms for ABC Studios, part of Disney Television Studios, through her newly launched company, Lean Machine.
The first project Brosh McKenna has set under the deal is comedy Hit, which is in development at Hulu with director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson attached. Like the praised Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which ran on the CW for four seasons, Hit has music elements.
At Lean Machine, Brosh McKenna will work on her own material as well as providing a home for other creators. Emily Rasenick has been tapped as Lean Machine’s director of development.
Co-written by Brosh McKenna and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend alum Alden Derck, Hit tells the story of a young pop star who struggling to write her debut album and gets stuck in a songwriting boot camp...
The first project Brosh McKenna has set under the deal is comedy Hit, which is in development at Hulu with director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson attached. Like the praised Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which ran on the CW for four seasons, Hit has music elements.
At Lean Machine, Brosh McKenna will work on her own material as well as providing a home for other creators. Emily Rasenick has been tapped as Lean Machine’s director of development.
Co-written by Brosh McKenna and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend alum Alden Derck, Hit tells the story of a young pop star who struggling to write her debut album and gets stuck in a songwriting boot camp...
- 1/27/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Ryan Reynolds’ “Detective Pikachu” is already getting a sequel.
Oren Uziel will write the script for the second installment to the upcoming live-action movie “Detective Pikachu.”
Uziel most recently worked on the screenplay for Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog.” His past credits include writing and directing “Shimmer Lake,” and penning “The Cloverfield Paradox” and “22 Jump Street.”
“Detective Pikachu” is directed by Rob Letterman, and stars Reynolds, Ken Watanabe, Justice Smith, and Kathryn Newton. It’s being released by Warner Bros. on May 10. Toho will distribute the pic in Japan, as it has done in its partnership with Legendary Entertainment on the “Godzilla” reboot.
The story involves the father of Smith’s teenage character being kidnapped, forcing him to team up with Pikachu in order to find him. Newton will portray a journalist.
Pikachu are creatures who are part of the Pokemon universe. First introduced in Japan in 1996, Pokemon has...
Oren Uziel will write the script for the second installment to the upcoming live-action movie “Detective Pikachu.”
Uziel most recently worked on the screenplay for Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog.” His past credits include writing and directing “Shimmer Lake,” and penning “The Cloverfield Paradox” and “22 Jump Street.”
“Detective Pikachu” is directed by Rob Letterman, and stars Reynolds, Ken Watanabe, Justice Smith, and Kathryn Newton. It’s being released by Warner Bros. on May 10. Toho will distribute the pic in Japan, as it has done in its partnership with Legendary Entertainment on the “Godzilla” reboot.
The story involves the father of Smith’s teenage character being kidnapped, forcing him to team up with Pikachu in order to find him. Newton will portray a journalist.
Pikachu are creatures who are part of the Pokemon universe. First introduced in Japan in 1996, Pokemon has...
- 1/25/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Supergirl is flying to the big screen again.
Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment are in the early stages of a “Supergirl” film. They have hired Oren Uziel to write the script, but have not found a producer yet.
The character has been played by Melissa Benoist in the titular CW series that’s heading into its fourth season and is overseen by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, and Allison Adler.
The “Supergirl” character first appeared in “Action Comics #252” from writer Otto Binder and illustrator Al Plastino. It followed Kara Zor-El, who was born and raised in Argo City, a fragment of Krypton that survived destruction. When the city is doomed, Kara is sent to Earth by her parents to be raised by her cousin Kal-El, known as Superman. Supergirl adopted the secret identity of orphan Linda Lee and made Midvale Orphanage her home.
After the first three Christopher Reeve “Superman” movies,...
Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment are in the early stages of a “Supergirl” film. They have hired Oren Uziel to write the script, but have not found a producer yet.
The character has been played by Melissa Benoist in the titular CW series that’s heading into its fourth season and is overseen by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, and Allison Adler.
The “Supergirl” character first appeared in “Action Comics #252” from writer Otto Binder and illustrator Al Plastino. It followed Kara Zor-El, who was born and raised in Argo City, a fragment of Krypton that survived destruction. When the city is doomed, Kara is sent to Earth by her parents to be raised by her cousin Kal-El, known as Superman. Supergirl adopted the secret identity of orphan Linda Lee and made Midvale Orphanage her home.
After the first three Christopher Reeve “Superman” movies,...
- 8/6/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Ryan Lambie Feb 7, 2018
With spoilers, we look at how The God Particle became The Cloverfield Paradox - and changed almost beyond recognition in the process...
Nb: Your final warning for major Cloverfield Paradox spoilers from the outset.
See related 35 must-watch movies in 2017
It says a great deal about our topsy-turvy, lightning-paced cultural landscape that we can now watch a trailer for a (fairly) major film release one minute and be watching it on Netflix the next. In the case of The Cloverfield Paradox, that's exactly what happened: the secretive movie once known as The God Particle got its first trailer during the Super Bowl on the 4th February, and within hours, had made its debut on the streaming platform.
Then again, secrecy and strange surprises are written into the Cloverfield franchise's DNA. A found-footage take on the giant monster genre, the original film's viral marketing turned it into a major...
With spoilers, we look at how The God Particle became The Cloverfield Paradox - and changed almost beyond recognition in the process...
Nb: Your final warning for major Cloverfield Paradox spoilers from the outset.
See related 35 must-watch movies in 2017
It says a great deal about our topsy-turvy, lightning-paced cultural landscape that we can now watch a trailer for a (fairly) major film release one minute and be watching it on Netflix the next. In the case of The Cloverfield Paradox, that's exactly what happened: the secretive movie once known as The God Particle got its first trailer during the Super Bowl on the 4th February, and within hours, had made its debut on the streaming platform.
Then again, secrecy and strange surprises are written into the Cloverfield franchise's DNA. A found-footage take on the giant monster genre, the original film's viral marketing turned it into a major...
- 2/6/2018
- Den of Geek
It looks like Cloverfield universe fans are going to have to wait longer for the next installment in the franchise. That's because the release date for the untitled third film has been pushed back from February 24 to April 20. For now, the working title of the film is God Particle, but no official title has been revealed yet.
One thing that isn't clear is why the sudden change of release date, especially now that it will go up against Rampage starring Dwayne Johnson and the long-awaited Super Troopers sequel.
The film was directed by Julius Onah and stars David Oyelowo, John Krasinski, Elizabeth Debicki, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Chris O’Dowd, Ziyi Zhang and Daniel Bruhl.
The plot of the film is being kept under wraps, but one Reddit user claims to have come across the plot while taking an online survey about upcoming films that line up with hints of the plot revealed last year.
One thing that isn't clear is why the sudden change of release date, especially now that it will go up against Rampage starring Dwayne Johnson and the long-awaited Super Troopers sequel.
The film was directed by Julius Onah and stars David Oyelowo, John Krasinski, Elizabeth Debicki, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Chris O’Dowd, Ziyi Zhang and Daniel Bruhl.
The plot of the film is being kept under wraps, but one Reddit user claims to have come across the plot while taking an online survey about upcoming films that line up with hints of the plot revealed last year.
- 1/3/2018
- by Kristian Odland
- GeekTyrant
It looks like the 3rd Cloverfield movie, once called God Particle, is getting pushed back again, but this delay won't be as long as the last one. More info below.
Very recently, our editor, Jordan asked us to come up with the movies we were most excited for in 2018. It ended up culminating into this nifty Most Anticipated Films of 2018 article, you can read by clicking the link. However, when I was putting together my list I was shocked to find that Cloverfield 3 was set for a February release. Without any promotion, trailer, or even a title, I was floored that one of Paramount Pictures' big box office hits would be released so quietly. Heck, even 10 Cloverfield Lane had, at least, 2 months of advertising before it came out. Well, it turns out that Paramount realized the error of their ways and have pushed back the once-entitled God Particle...
Very recently, our editor, Jordan asked us to come up with the movies we were most excited for in 2018. It ended up culminating into this nifty Most Anticipated Films of 2018 article, you can read by clicking the link. However, when I was putting together my list I was shocked to find that Cloverfield 3 was set for a February release. Without any promotion, trailer, or even a title, I was floored that one of Paramount Pictures' big box office hits would be released so quietly. Heck, even 10 Cloverfield Lane had, at least, 2 months of advertising before it came out. Well, it turns out that Paramount realized the error of their ways and have pushed back the once-entitled God Particle...
- 1/3/2018
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Matt Malliaros)
- Cinelinx
The small, friendly town of Shimmer Lake isn’t as innocent as it looks. Neither are some of the characters in writer-director Oren Uziel‘s crafty crime thriller, which shows a crime gone wrong in reverse time. The robbery involves a moralistic Sherrif (Benjamin Walker), a desperate lawyer on the run (Rainn Wilson), two D-list FBI agents (Ron Livingston and Rob Corddry), […]
The post Director Oren Uziel Plays With Expectations With ‘Shimmer Lake’ [Interview] appeared first on /Film.
The post Director Oren Uziel Plays With Expectations With ‘Shimmer Lake’ [Interview] appeared first on /Film.
- 6/21/2017
- by Jack Giroux
- Slash Film
After popping up on our list of Best Undistributed Movies way back in 2015, Santiago Mitre’s “Paulina” is finally bound for a theatrical release. The winner of the Nespresso Grand Prix Award and the Fipresci Award at Cannes Critics’ Week in 2015, as well as eight Best Actress awards given to star Dolores Fonzi, the film is a timely social thriller with massive implications.
A bit of a remake of Daniel Tinayre’s “La Patota” (1960) and is billed as “a complex exploration of the ethics of political action and a provocative character study of a social justice activist – and her unsettling choices in the face of violence and social discrimination. Set in a racially and politically marginalized community in Argentina’s Northeast, the film tackles the moral ambiguities of those who seek to aid and ally themselves with the disadvantaged from their positions of privilege.”
Read More: The 10 Best Undistributed Movies...
A bit of a remake of Daniel Tinayre’s “La Patota” (1960) and is billed as “a complex exploration of the ethics of political action and a provocative character study of a social justice activist – and her unsettling choices in the face of violence and social discrimination. Set in a racially and politically marginalized community in Argentina’s Northeast, the film tackles the moral ambiguities of those who seek to aid and ally themselves with the disadvantaged from their positions of privilege.”
Read More: The 10 Best Undistributed Movies...
- 6/7/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Eddie Rosenstein’s latest, “The Freedom to Marry” follows one of the greatest civil rights stories of our time as it chronicles the marriage equality movement throughout its ongoing campaign to win the right to same-sex marriage in the United States.
The film picks up with a number of key figures, including Evan Wolfson (known to many as the architect of the marriage movement) attorney Mary Bonauto, and other members of their team as they make their way through a decades-long battle. It all ends with a dramatic turn at the United States Supreme Court, capping off an inspiring and insightful look at one of history’s most important fights for justice.
Read More: ‘Night School’: Andrew Cohn’s Timely Documentary Explores Americans Pushing for Better Lives — Watch
On the heels of its spring theatrical run, the film will now be available digitally this month, all timed to national Lgbt pride celebrations this summer.
The film picks up with a number of key figures, including Evan Wolfson (known to many as the architect of the marriage movement) attorney Mary Bonauto, and other members of their team as they make their way through a decades-long battle. It all ends with a dramatic turn at the United States Supreme Court, capping off an inspiring and insightful look at one of history’s most important fights for justice.
Read More: ‘Night School’: Andrew Cohn’s Timely Documentary Explores Americans Pushing for Better Lives — Watch
On the heels of its spring theatrical run, the film will now be available digitally this month, all timed to national Lgbt pride celebrations this summer.
- 6/6/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
For his first time behind the camera, seasoned screenwriter Oren Uziel (who has penned scripts as diverse as “22 Jump Street” and the recently announced “Mortal Kombat” reboot) went for the chills, with an inventive twist.
His new Netflix crime thriller, “Shimmer Lake,” follows a motley crew of small town citizens and one preternaturally calm local sheriff as they attempt to untangle the mystery of a bank robbery gone terribly wrong. Told backwards, with each day ticking back through a particularly eventful week to reveal not just whodunit, but whytheywould, the film packs some big twists and some well-earned reveals.
Read More: ‘Shimmer Lake’ Trailer: Rainn Wilson Turns Into a Clueless Criminal in New Netflix Comic Crime Thriller
In our star-packed exclusive featurette, stars like Rainn Wilson, Rob Corddry, Ron Livingston, Adam Pally, John Michael Higgins, Wyatt Russell, Stephanie Sigman, and Benjamin Walker, along with director Uziel and producer Adam Saunders,...
His new Netflix crime thriller, “Shimmer Lake,” follows a motley crew of small town citizens and one preternaturally calm local sheriff as they attempt to untangle the mystery of a bank robbery gone terribly wrong. Told backwards, with each day ticking back through a particularly eventful week to reveal not just whodunit, but whytheywould, the film packs some big twists and some well-earned reveals.
Read More: ‘Shimmer Lake’ Trailer: Rainn Wilson Turns Into a Clueless Criminal in New Netflix Comic Crime Thriller
In our star-packed exclusive featurette, stars like Rainn Wilson, Rob Corddry, Ron Livingston, Adam Pally, John Michael Higgins, Wyatt Russell, Stephanie Sigman, and Benjamin Walker, along with director Uziel and producer Adam Saunders,...
- 6/6/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
“Dear White People” has garnered a lot of praise for its stellar first season, and each episode is deserving of its own time in the spotlight. Part of what makes all 10 individual half-hours stand out is how creator, writer, and director Justin Simien collaborated with everyone involved — including Episode 5 director Barry Jenkins.
In a Facebook Live chat with IndieWire, Simien explained how his relationship with the Oscar-winning “Moonlight” director moved from “Twitter friends” to professional collaborators. And, further still, how that friendship helped him get the most out of the talented director.
Read More: ‘Dear White People’ Review: Justin Simien’s Netflix Series Sets the Standard for Movie-to-tv Adaptations
“My job was to free up Barry Jenkins to be Barry Jenkins,” Simien said. “A lot of it was messing with him because he was so respectful, and it wasn’t even necessary at times. He’d be like, ‘Justin, is...
In a Facebook Live chat with IndieWire, Simien explained how his relationship with the Oscar-winning “Moonlight” director moved from “Twitter friends” to professional collaborators. And, further still, how that friendship helped him get the most out of the talented director.
Read More: ‘Dear White People’ Review: Justin Simien’s Netflix Series Sets the Standard for Movie-to-tv Adaptations
“My job was to free up Barry Jenkins to be Barry Jenkins,” Simien said. “A lot of it was messing with him because he was so respectful, and it wasn’t even necessary at times. He’d be like, ‘Justin, is...
- 6/6/2017
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
The filmmaking Duplass brothers were already making some big life changes when the election of Donald Trump uprooted everything.
“When Trump got elected, almost all of the ideas that Mark and I had immediately dropped off the table,” Jay Duplass told IndieWire recently at a SAG-aftra Foundation panel. “We were like, ‘everything has changed.’ Humor has changed. Impulse has changed.”
The Duplasses have changed. Once upon a time, Jay was known as the behind-the-lens guy, while Mark was seen more often on screen. But then “Transparent” gave Jay the acting bug, and he now sees himself as a thesp as much as a filmmaker. Mark, on the other hand, has been focusing his efforts lately on production.
“He’s really the leader in terms of how he’s built out our company as almost like a mini independent film studio, like a tiny Annapurna,” Jay Duplass said of Mark. The...
“When Trump got elected, almost all of the ideas that Mark and I had immediately dropped off the table,” Jay Duplass told IndieWire recently at a SAG-aftra Foundation panel. “We were like, ‘everything has changed.’ Humor has changed. Impulse has changed.”
The Duplasses have changed. Once upon a time, Jay was known as the behind-the-lens guy, while Mark was seen more often on screen. But then “Transparent” gave Jay the acting bug, and he now sees himself as a thesp as much as a filmmaker. Mark, on the other hand, has been focusing his efforts lately on production.
“He’s really the leader in terms of how he’s built out our company as almost like a mini independent film studio, like a tiny Annapurna,” Jay Duplass said of Mark. The...
- 6/6/2017
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
Tell your mom to maker her calendar, because Stephen Frears and Dame Judi Dench are coming in hot with another highbrow tearjerker, “Victoria and Abdul,” which released its first trailer today. Based on a true story, the film chronicles the unlikely friendship between Queen Victoria (Dench) and an Indian clerk named Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal) during the later years of her reign.
Read More: ‘Twin Peaks’: Naomi Watts Reunited With David Lynch After 15 Years, And It Was An Acting Powerhouse
A powerhouse team, the “Philomena” director and star team up with “Billy Elliot” screenwriter Lee Hall, who adapts from the novel by Shrabani Basu. Set in the twilight of her life, the Queen meets Abdul when he travels to London for her jubilee celebration. The unlikely duo form a convivial bond, much to the dismay of her protective and power hungry inner circle. As the friendship deepens, she begins...
Read More: ‘Twin Peaks’: Naomi Watts Reunited With David Lynch After 15 Years, And It Was An Acting Powerhouse
A powerhouse team, the “Philomena” director and star team up with “Billy Elliot” screenwriter Lee Hall, who adapts from the novel by Shrabani Basu. Set in the twilight of her life, the Queen meets Abdul when he travels to London for her jubilee celebration. The unlikely duo form a convivial bond, much to the dismay of her protective and power hungry inner circle. As the friendship deepens, she begins...
- 5/30/2017
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
When dark comedy is done right, it makes for some of the best films. Now Netflix is adding the dark comedy Shimmer Lake to its original movie lineup and it looks pretty good.
Shimmer Lake was directed and written by Oren Uziel, screenwriter of 22 Jump Street and Mortal Kombat, and it stars Rainn Wilson, Wyatt Russell, and Benjamin Walker. Here's the brief synopsis that was released:
Unfolding in reverse time, this darkly comic crime thriller follows a local sheriff hunting three bank robbery suspects, one of whom is his brother.
The movie will be available to stream on June 9th, 2017. ...
Shimmer Lake was directed and written by Oren Uziel, screenwriter of 22 Jump Street and Mortal Kombat, and it stars Rainn Wilson, Wyatt Russell, and Benjamin Walker. Here's the brief synopsis that was released:
Unfolding in reverse time, this darkly comic crime thriller follows a local sheriff hunting three bank robbery suspects, one of whom is his brother.
The movie will be available to stream on June 9th, 2017. ...
- 5/29/2017
- by Kristian Odland
- GeekTyrant
Shimmer Lake is one of the funniest thrillers in recent memory. Oren Uziel‘s directorial debut, which plays out in reverse time, has a ton of laugh-out-loud moments to go along with some bloodshed and betrayal. It’s a story of a heist gone wrong in a small town where everybody knows everybody and, from beginning to end, it […]
The post ‘Shimmer Lake’ Trailer: Another Heist Gone Wrong You’ll Want to See appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Shimmer Lake’ Trailer: Another Heist Gone Wrong You’ll Want to See appeared first on /Film.
- 5/26/2017
- by Jack Giroux
- Slash Film
Pedro Almodóvar may have closed a deal to direct a television series for Netflix, Fotogramas reports. The project would be Almodóvar’s first experience directing a television series, though the filmmaker told Fotogramas he has previously been approached by several TV companies about projects for the small screen. No details about the project have been disclosed.
The news comes shortly after a short-lived controversy involving Almodovar and Netflix erupted at the Cannes Film Festival, where Almodovar presided over the jury. At the festival’s opening press conference, parts of a statement Almodovar gave in Spanish were lost in translation, leading some to believe that the filmmaker would not consider the two Netflix films (Noah Baumbach’s “The Meyerowitz Stories” and Bong Joon Ho’s “Okja”) for the Palme d’Or because they would not be screening in theaters in France.
“There’s nothing worse than being misunderstood or poorly translated,...
The news comes shortly after a short-lived controversy involving Almodovar and Netflix erupted at the Cannes Film Festival, where Almodovar presided over the jury. At the festival’s opening press conference, parts of a statement Almodovar gave in Spanish were lost in translation, leading some to believe that the filmmaker would not consider the two Netflix films (Noah Baumbach’s “The Meyerowitz Stories” and Bong Joon Ho’s “Okja”) for the Palme d’Or because they would not be screening in theaters in France.
“There’s nothing worse than being misunderstood or poorly translated,...
- 5/26/2017
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
"Once you open that door there's no going back!" Netflix has unveiled an official trailer for a new film titled Shimmer Lake, the feature directorial debut of screenwriter Oren Uziel. This small-town crime mystery is told in reverse, going backwards day-by-day, telling the story of the local sheriff's attempt to solve a bank robbery and find the criminals. Benjamin Walker (from Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) stars as the sheriff, with an eclectic cast of indie actors including Rainn Wilson, Stephanie Sigman, Rob Corddry, Wyatt Russell, Ron Livingston, Adam Pally, and John Michael Higgins. This seems like it's riding the coattails of all the buzz about small-town crime TV shows and films, but I'm still curious to check it out. Here's the official trailer for Oren Uziel's Shimmer Lake, direct from Netflix's YouTube: An inventive crime thriller told backwards -- reversing day by day through a week -- following a...
- 5/25/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Netflix has released the trailer for its original comic crime thriller “Shimmer Lake,” starring Rainn Wilson, Benjamin Walker and Wyatt Russell. The film marks the directorial debut of “22 Jump Street” and “Mortal Kombat: Rebirth” writer Oren Uziel.
Read More: Netflix: Full List of Movies Arriving in June 2017 Includes ‘Okja’ and ‘The Sixth Sense’
Written by Uziel, “Shimmer Lake” follows local sheriff Zeke Sikes (Walker) as he attempts to untangle the mystery of three small-town criminals and a bank robbery gone wrong. Wilson plays Andy, the sheriff’s brother who recklessly attempts to rob a bank, and the two unknowingly embark on a game of cat-and-mouse. The story, which involves many shady characters, is told backwards, reversing day by day through a week. The film also stars Rob Corddry, Ron Livingston, Stephanie Sigman, Adam Pally, John Michael Higgins, Mark Rendall, Angela Vint and Isabelle Dove as Andy’s daughter Sally.
Read...
Read More: Netflix: Full List of Movies Arriving in June 2017 Includes ‘Okja’ and ‘The Sixth Sense’
Written by Uziel, “Shimmer Lake” follows local sheriff Zeke Sikes (Walker) as he attempts to untangle the mystery of three small-town criminals and a bank robbery gone wrong. Wilson plays Andy, the sheriff’s brother who recklessly attempts to rob a bank, and the two unknowingly embark on a game of cat-and-mouse. The story, which involves many shady characters, is told backwards, reversing day by day through a week. The film also stars Rob Corddry, Ron Livingston, Stephanie Sigman, Adam Pally, John Michael Higgins, Mark Rendall, Angela Vint and Isabelle Dove as Andy’s daughter Sally.
Read...
- 5/25/2017
- by Yoselin Acevedo
- Indiewire
Set in the American South, Daniel Peddle’s Los Angeles Film Festival premiere “Moss” finds former Ck model Mitchell Slaggert taking on a tricky role. As the eponymous Moss, Slaggert is tasked with playing an isolated young man grappling with a legacy he doesn’t fully understand. Motherless since birth, Moss is eager to break away from his resentful father, and he thinks his 18th birthday is the perfect time for such a life change.
Moss unexpectedly meets someone new during his chosen day of busting loose, a mysterious hiker who opens his eyes to the possibilities of the world — at least partially aided by psychedelics. What follows looks to be a lush, lyrical look at life in Southern Gothic America and the people who are tied to it forever.
Read More: ‘Thank You For Coming’ Trailer: Sara Lamm’s Documentary Goes Inside Unexpected Consequences of Sperm Donorship
The film...
Moss unexpectedly meets someone new during his chosen day of busting loose, a mysterious hiker who opens his eyes to the possibilities of the world — at least partially aided by psychedelics. What follows looks to be a lush, lyrical look at life in Southern Gothic America and the people who are tied to it forever.
Read More: ‘Thank You For Coming’ Trailer: Sara Lamm’s Documentary Goes Inside Unexpected Consequences of Sperm Donorship
The film...
- 5/25/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Crime Goes Backwards In Trailer For Netflix’s ‘Shimmer Lake’ Starring Rainn Wilson & Benjamin Walker
Whichever side of the Netflix debate you’re on, there’s no arguing that sometimes they’re not the greatest advocates of their own original programming. Case in point: “Shimmer Lake.” The movie drops on the service in two weeks, and it’s only now getting a trailer, and something you might’ve only noticed if you were paying attention to YouTube.
Rainn Wilson and Benjamin Walker star in the directorial debut of screenwriter Oren Uziel (“22 Jump Street“), which tells a crime story with a narrative twist.
Continue reading Crime Goes Backwards In Trailer For Netflix’s ‘Shimmer Lake’ Starring Rainn Wilson & Benjamin Walker at The Playlist.
Rainn Wilson and Benjamin Walker star in the directorial debut of screenwriter Oren Uziel (“22 Jump Street“), which tells a crime story with a narrative twist.
Continue reading Crime Goes Backwards In Trailer For Netflix’s ‘Shimmer Lake’ Starring Rainn Wilson & Benjamin Walker at The Playlist.
- 5/24/2017
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Netflix has announced the list of films that will be available to stream in June. The list includes new never-before-seen original films, as well as documentaries, comedies, animated titles and some classic movies.
1. “The Sixth Sense” (available June 1)
M. Night Shyamalan’s 1999 classic tells the story of a boy who communicates with spirits and the psychologist who tries to help him. The film stars Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment.
2. “Saving Banksy” (available June 2)
The documentary follows a New York-based art collector as he attempts to save the street work of graffiti artist Banksy. The film features interviews with some of the top names in the street art and graffiti world, including Ben Eine, Risk, Revok, Niels “Shoe” Meulman, Blek Le Rat, Anthony Lister, Doze Green, Hera, and Glen E. Friedman.
3. “Shimmer Lake” (available June 9)
The Netflix original drama follows a local sheriff as he attempts to solve the mystery...
1. “The Sixth Sense” (available June 1)
M. Night Shyamalan’s 1999 classic tells the story of a boy who communicates with spirits and the psychologist who tries to help him. The film stars Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment.
2. “Saving Banksy” (available June 2)
The documentary follows a New York-based art collector as he attempts to save the street work of graffiti artist Banksy. The film features interviews with some of the top names in the street art and graffiti world, including Ben Eine, Risk, Revok, Niels “Shoe” Meulman, Blek Le Rat, Anthony Lister, Doze Green, Hera, and Glen E. Friedman.
3. “Shimmer Lake” (available June 9)
The Netflix original drama follows a local sheriff as he attempts to solve the mystery...
- 5/23/2017
- by Yoselin Acevedo
- Indiewire
Though he acknowledges that his original spec script has likely been tinkered with ever since it was first turned in to Warner Bros., God Particle scribe Oren Uziel has shed new light on his proposal for the Mortal Kombat movie, which he compares to an R-rated version of The Avengers.
Per Collider, Uziel began by detailing his long history with the video game adaptation, which tapped Simon McQuoid to direct almost six months ago – for what it’s worth, Aquaman helmer James Wan is also attached to produce. Oren Uziel was actually one of the first writers to take a crack at the live-action Mortal Kombat reboot, but an internal changeover at Warner resulted in his pitch sitting on the shelf for years, eventually leading to Uziel becoming involved in the online short film, Mortal Kombat: Rebirth.
I have a long history with that Mortal Kombat project. It was kind...
Per Collider, Uziel began by detailing his long history with the video game adaptation, which tapped Simon McQuoid to direct almost six months ago – for what it’s worth, Aquaman helmer James Wan is also attached to produce. Oren Uziel was actually one of the first writers to take a crack at the live-action Mortal Kombat reboot, but an internal changeover at Warner resulted in his pitch sitting on the shelf for years, eventually leading to Uziel becoming involved in the online short film, Mortal Kombat: Rebirth.
I have a long history with that Mortal Kombat project. It was kind...
- 5/18/2017
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Soon after the credits rolled on Cloverfield, Matt Reeves’ found footage monster movie that stomped into theaters almost a decade ago, moviegoers were left to mull over a whole host of mind-boggling questions. Where did the alien creature come from? Did it survive the Hammer Down protocol? And just what on Earth does all this have to do with sushi?
And though many of those questions and queries remain unanswered to this day, director Dan Trachtenberg and J.J. Abrams crafted a peculiar, yet fiercely compelling extension of the Cloverfield universe last year in the form of 10 Cloverfield Lane. For a movie that entered production under the codename Valencia, with a minute budget of $15 million, Paramount’s standalone pic proved to be a runaway success, and it’s given the studio the impetus to craft a full-blown universe of loosely connected anthology movies.
Next up is Cloverfield 3, the star-studded space movie...
And though many of those questions and queries remain unanswered to this day, director Dan Trachtenberg and J.J. Abrams crafted a peculiar, yet fiercely compelling extension of the Cloverfield universe last year in the form of 10 Cloverfield Lane. For a movie that entered production under the codename Valencia, with a minute budget of $15 million, Paramount’s standalone pic proved to be a runaway success, and it’s given the studio the impetus to craft a full-blown universe of loosely connected anthology movies.
Next up is Cloverfield 3, the star-studded space movie...
- 5/17/2017
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
“Tracking Shot” is a top of month featurette here on Ioncinema.com that looks at the projects that are moments away from lensing. This November, we’ve got a fivesome of projects that we feel are worth signaling out, but before we put the focus on those, the previous month was a rather fruitful one for mostly indiewood film productions. Films that we’ll be seeing in 2016 and which are for the most part still filming include: Mark Williams‘ workplace drama The Headhunter’s Calling (with Alison Brie, Gretchen Mol, Gerard Butler, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina), Philippe Falardeau‘s bio boxing drama The Bleeder (with Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Elisabeth Moss), Taron Lexton’s coming-of-ager In Search of Fellini (with Ksenia Solo, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Maria Bello), Kevin Tent‘s Black List scripted rom-com (with Domhnall Gleeson, Christina Applegate, Thomas Haden Church, Nina Dobrev), Sophie Brooks‘ NYC set Euro-fizzled comedy,...
- 11/2/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
22 Jump Street co-scripter Oren Uziel is making his feature directing debut with Shimmer Lake, a script he wrote that made the 2009 Black List. Benjamin Walker stars in the crime thriller told backwards — reversing day by day through a week as it follows a local sheriff’s quest to unlock the mystery of three small-town criminals (Rainn Wilson, Wyatt Russell, Mark Rendall) and a bank heist gone wrong. Stephanie Sigman, Rob Corddry, Ron Livingston, Wyatt Russell, John…...
- 10/23/2015
- Deadline
So it looks like Kevin Tancharoen is going to get his chance to bring the fighting video game Mortal Kombat franchise back to the big screen. This is the guy who directed the Fame remake and the Glee 3D concert movie but none of those failures won him this gig. It was instead the virals that got fanboys tongues wagging last summer when he self-financed a promo trailer for what he could do if he was even given the chance to bring the world’s greatest fighting tournament back into theatres.
Titled Mortal Kombat: Rebirth, the original 8 minute viral was of surprisingly high production value and included some recognisable faces, including Michael Jai White as the character Jax, Jeri Ryan as Sonya Blade and explained in length the back-stories for Reptile, Baraka, Scorpion and a really well put together fight scene involving Johnny Cage.
Kombat geeks loved it and despite...
Titled Mortal Kombat: Rebirth, the original 8 minute viral was of surprisingly high production value and included some recognisable faces, including Michael Jai White as the character Jax, Jeri Ryan as Sonya Blade and explained in length the back-stories for Reptile, Baraka, Scorpion and a really well put together fight scene involving Johnny Cage.
Kombat geeks loved it and despite...
- 10/2/2011
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
Mandate Pictures has hired writer Oren Uziel to adapt their remake of Ole Bornedal's 2007 Danish thriller "Just Another Love Story." According to Variety, Marc Webb ("500 Days of Summer") will direct, following his work on Sony's "Spiderman" reboot.Story centers on a photographer who masquerades as the boyfriend of a woman with amnesia and then must elude the woman's real boyfriend who is set on revenge.Bornedal is best known for his 1994 Danish horror thriller "Nightwatch," which he would direct the Hollywood remake of in 1997 with Ewan McGregor, Nick Nolte and Patricia Arquette.Uziel previously wrote "Shimmer Lake," which Fox Atomic bought. He also wrote the script for Kevin Tancharoen's "Mortal Kombat" online short.
- 6/15/2010
- by Adnan Tezer
- Monsters and Critics
Oren Uziel will adapt Mandate Pictures "Just Another Love Story" which is a remake of the Danish thriller helmed by Ole Bornedal. Marc Webb ("500 Days of Summer") was attached last fall to helm the project after he is done with directing the new "Spider-Man" flick. The story tells of a photographer who pretends to be the boyfriend of a woman with amnesia. He is left to elude the real boyfriend who is out to get some revenge. Uziel wrote "Shimmer Lake" which went to Fox Atomic. Barry Josephson produces that film. Additionally, he wrote the screenplay for Kevin Tancharoen's "Mortal Kombat" short which recently debuited online.
- 6/15/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
A few weeks back we broke the news that Warner Brtos. Pictures was moving forward on a remake of Mortal Kombat with Oren Uziel (who saw his Shimmer Lake screenplay made the 2009 black list) in talks to write. It looks like Threshold Entertainment just landed a fatality on Warner Bros. as they've opened a suit alleging breach of contract over development. The suit was filed Tuesday in state court in Los Angeles, accusing Warners of "failing to cooperate and respond to Threshold and seeking to cut out Threshold." Reps for Warner Bros. had no comment. It's the third "Kombat" suit filed by Threshold over "Mortal Kombat," according to Threshold attorney Peter C. Bierne. The first two actions were filed in 2008 and 2009 against Warner and subsidiary New Line over accounting from the first "Mortal Kombat" film, released in 1995. More...
- 2/18/2010
- bloody-disgusting.com
We've been hearing for a while now that a new Mortal Kombat feature film was in the works, be it a new sequel directed by Christopher 'mink' Morrison or a reboot written by screenwriter Oren Uziel, author of the Black List 2009 entry Shimmer Lake. But a pesky reoccurring lawsuit might keep the video game franchise from returning to the big screen. Filed by film producer Larry Kasanoff (Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation) and his production company Threshold Entertainment against Warner Bros/Midway Games, the suit alleges intellectual property claims to the Mortal Kombat franchise. The action was filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles, and states that Warner Bros has "failed to work with Threshold in the development and production of the third 'Mortal Kombat' film," and has avoided communication with the company, even though there have been recent reports that a new screenwriter has been hired to develop a Mk reboot.
- 2/17/2010
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
New banner art for The Last Airbender, concept art from Cars 2, and photos from Iron Man 2, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, The Runaways, Remmeber Me and I Love You Phillip Morris.
A quite brilliantly cut together fan video shows the "Lost" plane crash in "24" style real-time, including scenes of what's happening in various places all over the island (and plane) at the time. Click Here to see that.
"Director Kevin Greutert has commented on the "Saw 7 3D" and "Paranormal Activity 2" debacle, saying "Hopefully we will all arrive at an amicable solution. Thank you to everyone who is working with me on this"..." (full details)
"The British tabloids are reporting that Dame Helen Mirren has reportedly been approached by Quentin Tarantino to appear in his next film project. She would play a foul-mouthed monarch in the project to be set in England's Middle Ages..." (full details)
"The Sundance/YouTube...
A quite brilliantly cut together fan video shows the "Lost" plane crash in "24" style real-time, including scenes of what's happening in various places all over the island (and plane) at the time. Click Here to see that.
"Director Kevin Greutert has commented on the "Saw 7 3D" and "Paranormal Activity 2" debacle, saying "Hopefully we will all arrive at an amicable solution. Thank you to everyone who is working with me on this"..." (full details)
"The British tabloids are reporting that Dame Helen Mirren has reportedly been approached by Quentin Tarantino to appear in his next film project. She would play a foul-mouthed monarch in the project to be set in England's Middle Ages..." (full details)
"The Sundance/YouTube...
- 1/27/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Last summer we heard from Scorpion actor Chris Casamassa that another return to video game adaptation "Mortal Kombat" was being planned. At the time -- early July -- he said that the plan was to start shooting in September. We reached out to Warner Bros for confirmation, and never heard back.
It seems that the September shoot Casamassa referenced didn't come to pass. In fact, if the latest news is accurate, he might not even be involved in the next "Mortal Kombat." WB is apparently interested in rebooting the franchise, and they're talking to Oren Uziel about writing it, Bloody-Disgusting reports. Uziel doesn't have a feature credit yet, but his script for "Shimmer Lake" was marked as one of last year's Black List titles, a round-up of the most bafflingly unproduced pitches of the year.
I certainly wouldn't be averse to seeing more "Mortal Kombat" on the big screen. The originals were astoundingly cheesy,...
It seems that the September shoot Casamassa referenced didn't come to pass. In fact, if the latest news is accurate, he might not even be involved in the next "Mortal Kombat." WB is apparently interested in rebooting the franchise, and they're talking to Oren Uziel about writing it, Bloody-Disgusting reports. Uziel doesn't have a feature credit yet, but his script for "Shimmer Lake" was marked as one of last year's Black List titles, a round-up of the most bafflingly unproduced pitches of the year.
I certainly wouldn't be averse to seeing more "Mortal Kombat" on the big screen. The originals were astoundingly cheesy,...
- 1/27/2010
- by Adam Rosenberg
- MTV Movies Blog
Just as one video game-to-movie adaptation bites the dust, news of another video game making the transition to the big screen (again) pops up. Recently, producer Michael de Luca said that the long-planned adaptation of Konami's Metal Gear Solid video game was not going to happen because it was "impossible to get the agendas" of the movie studio and Konami "to match up." Now, BloodyDisgusting reports that Warner Bros. is interested in rebooting the Mortal Kombat franchise that spawned out of the Midway Games video game series, but stalled out after only two movies.
The Mortal Kombat video games from Midway were a series of popular "fighting games" that were big on "special moves," but very light on story. The first Mortal Kombat game, which debuted in 1992, followed seven warriors as they fought in a gladiatorial tournament to secure the freedom of the "Earthrealm." Midway Games was sold to Warner Bros.
The Mortal Kombat video games from Midway were a series of popular "fighting games" that were big on "special moves," but very light on story. The first Mortal Kombat game, which debuted in 1992, followed seven warriors as they fought in a gladiatorial tournament to secure the freedom of the "Earthrealm." Midway Games was sold to Warner Bros.
- 1/27/2010
- by BrentJS Sprecher
- Reelzchannel.com
Warner Bros is working on a reboot of the Mortal Kombat franchise, and has hired Oren Uziel to write a new take on the video game property. Uziel is a new screenwriter in Hollywood, but his Shimmer Lake made the 2009 Black List.
Bloody-Disgusting learned the studio is moving ahead with a remake rather than a third installment that would follow 1997’s Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Warner Bros purchased Kombat creator Midway Games in May 2009 after the company filed for bankruptcy, thus absorbing their list of titles. Maybe this means we’ll also get that NBA Jam movie we’ve all been waiting for.
The original Mortal Kombat from director Paul W.S. Anderson in 1995 was like a combo punch to the brain, but it managed to make $70 million in the U.S. ($122M worldwide). There’s always a silver lining, though. Christopher Lambert was so bad as Rayden, it still makes...
Bloody-Disgusting learned the studio is moving ahead with a remake rather than a third installment that would follow 1997’s Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Warner Bros purchased Kombat creator Midway Games in May 2009 after the company filed for bankruptcy, thus absorbing their list of titles. Maybe this means we’ll also get that NBA Jam movie we’ve all been waiting for.
The original Mortal Kombat from director Paul W.S. Anderson in 1995 was like a combo punch to the brain, but it managed to make $70 million in the U.S. ($122M worldwide). There’s always a silver lining, though. Christopher Lambert was so bad as Rayden, it still makes...
- 1/27/2010
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
Stop it. Just stop it, Ok? Stop making Mortal Kombat movies. Stop making movies about fighting games, period. They're never good. They can't be good. It's hard enough to make a decent video game even when there's a compelling story in the game -- Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Hitman, Max Payne -- all games with actual stories that were actually interesting... all ranging from decent to downright terrible. Fighting games though? Allow me to take you on a quick tour back in time:
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li -- Chris Klein in what will likely be remembered as a career-killing performance (for the best, really).
Dead Or Alive -- Ass. Lots of ass. That's about it.
Double Dragon -- Scott Wolf embarassing himself on a level previously unheard of, except for...
Street Fighter -- Oh, Raul Julia. What a tragic way to end a phenomenal career.
Tekken...
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li -- Chris Klein in what will likely be remembered as a career-killing performance (for the best, really).
Dead Or Alive -- Ass. Lots of ass. That's about it.
Double Dragon -- Scott Wolf embarassing himself on a level previously unheard of, except for...
Street Fighter -- Oh, Raul Julia. What a tragic way to end a phenomenal career.
Tekken...
- 1/27/2010
- by TK
Prepare for the return of Johnny Cage and Liu Kang, Raiden and Subzero and Scorpion and Baraka: Warners are looking to resurrect the moribund Mortal Kombat franchise. Bloody Disgusting are reporting that Oren Uziel, whose script for Shimmer Lake made the prestigious Hollywood Blacklist of buzzy screenplays (despite remaining unmade) has been brought in to prepare a draft of what would appear to be a reboot, and not the previously mooted MK3: Devastation.While the games remain popular, the same can't be said for the film franchise to date. Paul Ws Anderson's 1995 original bashed some of the right buttons and did decent business. But any goodwill it generated among the fanbase was undone two years later by Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, which replaced Christopher Lambert with James Remar in the silver Raiden wig, giving the most embarrassed-looking performance in the history of anyone ever.If this new one happens, we...
- 1/27/2010
- EmpireOnline
There's a surprising little story at Bloody Disgusting which reveals Warner Bros. are in early development of a new Mortal Kombat movie. They've already selected a writer in Oren Uziel, author of the Black List 2009 entry Shimmer Lake. That script was a twisty, suspenseful thriller that combined murder mystery with a bank heist plotline, so it would seem Uziel has a smarter way with narrative than is strictly necessary for a beat 'em up tournament film. Earlier Kombat pictures were depressingly linear and short on ambition. The game's selling point was gory 'fatalities', finishing moves that saw the little digital fighters turned into ripped up messes of red pixels. To render these money shots faithfully on the big screen would require an R rated picture - at least! - though I'm not sure that will be the plan. Surely Warners can see how the target audience for the film is...
- 1/26/2010
- by Brendon Connelly
- Slash Film
Hollywood loves its reboots, and the Mortal Kombat series is the latest to get the greenlight to reinvent itself. Warner Bros. Pictures is in talks with Oren Uziel (whose script Shimmer Lake made the 2009 Black List of great unproduced screenplays) to pen the new installment. If you were a kid (especially a boy) growing up in the '90s, I have no doubt that you saw both the 1995 film and its sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. While the first one was halfway decent, the second one was such a disaster both box office-wise and creatively that the third film was never produced, despite rumors over the past decade of its existence. This new installment could in fact bring some legitimacy to the franchise and start it off on the right foot, or it could be another Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. Time will tell; at the very least, let's hope...
- 1/26/2010
- by Jonathan
- FilmJunk
Has it really been 15 years since Mortal Kombat graced movie theaters? From what I’ve heard, the sequel was far from a flawless victory, and maybe that’s why Warner Brothers is planning a revisit of the beat-'em-up franchise.
According to Bloody Disgusting, the studio is handing the reins to 'Mortal Kombat' to screenwriter Oren Uziel, whose script Shimmer Lake is considered among the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood. Here’s hoping he comes up with a unique take on the Kombat world that pleases somebody—unlike the 1997 film sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.
For those in stasis during the '90s, the 'Mortal Kombat' video game series centered around a tournament between fighters of various shapes and sizes, although the real draw was the amount of graphic violence, which was considered unprecedented at the time. Paul W.S. Anderson, who would later helm Resident Evil, directed...
According to Bloody Disgusting, the studio is handing the reins to 'Mortal Kombat' to screenwriter Oren Uziel, whose script Shimmer Lake is considered among the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood. Here’s hoping he comes up with a unique take on the Kombat world that pleases somebody—unlike the 1997 film sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.
For those in stasis during the '90s, the 'Mortal Kombat' video game series centered around a tournament between fighters of various shapes and sizes, although the real draw was the amount of graphic violence, which was considered unprecedented at the time. Paul W.S. Anderson, who would later helm Resident Evil, directed...
- 1/26/2010
- CinemaSpy
First off, let us say we love ourselves some Mortal Kombat! Anyone old enough to have experienced the first truly mature rated game to push the fine line between taste and tasteless must appreciates the series. Lets face it, what self respecting horror fan doesn't enjoy seeing a masked fighter tear another person's head off with their spine dangling down, blood squirting everywhere? For gawd's sake Finish Him! Sorry, got a little excited there....
So when we heard this news we were not surprised. After all Hollywood has been going back to the well again and again with adaptations/remakes galore, however their focus has mostly been in film and books/graphic novels. But don't think for one second that the industry has forgotten about video games passed as Warner Bros is apparently keen on the idea of remaking our beloved Mortal Kombat, the fighting/action film based on the popular 1992 video game.
So when we heard this news we were not surprised. After all Hollywood has been going back to the well again and again with adaptations/remakes galore, however their focus has mostly been in film and books/graphic novels. But don't think for one second that the industry has forgotten about video games passed as Warner Bros is apparently keen on the idea of remaking our beloved Mortal Kombat, the fighting/action film based on the popular 1992 video game.
- 1/26/2010
- by admin
- Horrorbid
Warner Bros. Pictures is reportedly moving forward with their plan to make a reboot of "Mortal Kombat" film franchise. Bloody Digusting has just learned that the studio has been in talks with Oren Uziel to pen the script of the forthcoming movie. Uziel's screenplay called "Shimmer Lake" once appeared on the 2009 black list, which is a compendium of the year's best unproduced scripts.
There has no been further information on the progress of the remake. However, back in 2007, there were words that a reboot treatment is planned for "Mortal Kombat" under the title of "Mortal Kombat: Devastation". At the time, it was stressed that the new movie won't be "a prequel, sequel, or in any form be related to the previous 2 movie", but will be made in the vein of "Batman Begins".
Based on Midway's popular 1992 video game, "Mortal Kombat" tells the story of the best fighters from around the...
There has no been further information on the progress of the remake. However, back in 2007, there were words that a reboot treatment is planned for "Mortal Kombat" under the title of "Mortal Kombat: Devastation". At the time, it was stressed that the new movie won't be "a prequel, sequel, or in any form be related to the previous 2 movie", but will be made in the vein of "Batman Begins".
Based on Midway's popular 1992 video game, "Mortal Kombat" tells the story of the best fighters from around the...
- 1/26/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Hollywood has been going back to the well again and again with adaptations/remakes galore, however their focus has mostly been in film and books/graphic novels. But don't think for one second that the industry has forgotten about video games passed as Bloody-Disgusting is reporting that Warner Bros is apparently keen on the idea of remaking Mortal Kombat, the fighting/action film based on the popular 1992 video game. Writer Oren Uziel (whose script Shimmer Lake appeared on the lower portion of the 2009 Black List) is in talks to write. And if we have to endure it again, then there better be some damn bloody fatalities this time. The video game franchise focused on a global event bringing together an international selection of the best fighters to compete in the tournament known as Mortal Kombat. Unlike any other tournament though, magical powers and sorcery faced off against brute strength in...
- 1/26/2010
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
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