Finally, someone at the Punisher: War Zone premiere asked Lexi Alexander the big question -- what the hell was all that "taking your name off the film" talk? Give a hand to SciFi Wire for doing so.

Alexander's answer managed to confirm and deny the post-ComicCon drama that surrounded Punisher: War Zone. "No, no, I never was going to take my name off the film. Let me say this. Harry Knowles [of Ain't It Cool News] is one of the greatest people I know. He's a great supporter of mine. I'm his biggest fan, not because he supports filmmakers, [but] because I think he fights for film ... I think in this case, what happened is when the first trailers came out, I think he knew and he's been told there was kind of trouble. So he wrote, "F--k, they should have just let her do it, and she was pushed aside." [That is] true. He did write the right thing, and he stood up for me and for this film. I think that each Internet site that took it on brought it to a new level ... [What Knowles wrote] really is the correct thing. I was never fired, and I never wanted to take my name off. "

What Knowles wrote (if I have the right piece) was this: "Lexi Alexander has been kicked to the curb -- part of that treatment was her "honeymoon" from Comic Con. However, there's more totally awesome wedding gifts that Lionsgate has given the blushing bride. She's off the movie and wrapped up in a non-disclosure clause - so we won't be hearing from her anytime soon, UNLESS THINGS CHANGE RADICALLY." That explains the deafening silence -- though I'm curious how one can be "pushed aside," yet remain unfired. However that works, it's clear Alexander kicked ass, made the Punisher she wanted, and is getting rave reviews from the film geeks for her trouble. There's nothing like a happy ending.

Filed under: Action, Thrillers, Lionsgate Films, Celebrities and Controversy, Fandom, DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels

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We just confirmed exclusively that the full trailer for New Line Cinema and Platinum Dunes' Friday the 13th will debut online tomorrow (Thursday) and will also play before prints of Lionsgate's PUNISHER: WAR ZONE this weekend in theaters everywhere. The trailer will include brand new footage from Jason Voorhees' return to the big screen. The film directed by Marcus Nispel follows a group of young adults that find themselves going toe-to-toe with the infamous Jason Voorhees (Derek Mears) at a cabin near Camp Crystal Lake. New Line Cinema will release the film in theaters Friday, February 13, 2009. Click the title above for stills and more info, you can watch the first teaser over at BDTV or check out our massive set visit for the inside scoop.

After blowing up baddies in this week's surprisingly entertaining Punisher: War Zone, it looks like Ray Stevenson is now taking aim at Denzel Washington's protagonist in The Book of Eli. In the near future, Washington's on a mission to deliver a book that may hold the key to nothing less than Our Salvation (not to mention so very many late fees), with Mila Kunis at his side and Gary Oldman on his tail, and now -- according to Variety -- Stevenson (HBO's "Rome") has this makeshift messiah in his sights.

The post-apocalyptic thriller marks the return of the Hughes Brothers behind the camera for the first time since 2001's From Hell, and between them and a cast of this talent (yes, that includes Kunis, stop snickering), they might manage to make this somewhat less derivative than it already sounds, to echo Monika's sentiments.

Production starts in early 2009 for a release date in early 2010.

Filed under: Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Thrillers, Casting, Mystery & Suspense, Warner Brothers

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Holiday humor proved to be what the public was looking for over Thanksgiving weekend as Four Christmases led the pack. Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman's historical epic Australia took fifth, while last week's third newbie Transporter 3 finished way down in seventh place. Here's the top five:

1. Four Christmases: $31 million
2. Bolt: $26.5 million
3. Twilight: $26.3 million
4. Quantum of Solace: $18.8 million
5. Australia: $14.8 million

We've got three new releases this week:

Cadillac Records
What's It All About: Set in the 1950s, Cadillac Records follows the lives of several music legends including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter and Howlin' Wolf and Elvis Presley.
Why It Might Do Well: A 60% fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com.
Why It Might Not Do Well: The relatively small release will keep it out of the top five.
Number of Theaters: 600
Prediction: $5 million


Punisher: War Zone
What's It All About: Ray Stevenson takes over the title role of the skull-wearing, gun-toting anti-hero and this time he's taking on a mobster called Jigsaw.
Why It Might Do Well: Who doesn't like to watch things blow up?
Why It Might Not Do Well: The Punisher is kind of the ugly stepchild of Marvel Superheroes. Despite two previous films he's not particularly well known outside of comic book circles and this film lacks the star power of Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk.
Number of Theaters: 2,400
Prediction: $9 million

Filed under: Drama, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Box Office Predictions

Continue reading Box Office: Punish This

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There are some great things to discuss, today, so let's just jump right in. But take a moment to admire the art , because I couldn't let Scott Weinberg outshine me anymore!

• Rendering my Tuesday column somewhat obsolete, George Miller has informed the world that he is still attached to Justice League Mortal, and that the film is still very much alive. Apparently, he was never even on the Australian television show to make such fatal statements. Oh well. We can still talk about whether or not you can ever make a Justice League movie, right? [via SuperheroHype]

• Kevin McKidd told IGN that he is in the running for Thor -- and not for a secondary character, as he previously said, but as the god himself. Nothing is definite, there's just a lot of talk back and forth, but he's very excited that Kenneth Branagh is on board. It's a deal I'd like to see done, as the combo of McKidd and Branagh seems like a winner to me. (I particularly like that IGN caught McKidd at the Punisher: War Zone premiere -- Titus Pollo and Lucius Vorenus, together again!)

• Lexi Alexander might replace Neveldine and Taylor as the director of Jonah Hex. She told Latino Review that she had been sent the script, and really liked it. "I like it even more that Mr. Josh Brolin is still attached. Who knows if he'll stay, but it's more exciting than I thought. You get a story like this you think, 'Oh God, I'm going to be doing the same thing over and over again.' but it's really, really interesting." I haven't seen Punisher: War Zone yet, but all the reviews are positive, and indicate she'd have a similar take to Neveldine and Taylor. Go for it, Alexander!

• Also wanted -- one director for Magdalena. Gale Anne Hurd is looking. She has her cast lined up, and now she just needs a director. They'll have a very prepared star in Jenna Dewan, who Hurd says has "steeped herself" in the character. [via ShockTillYouDrop]

• The running time for Watchmen currently clocks at 2 hours, 35 minutes. Zack Snyder envisions the director's cut to be 3 hours and 10 minutes. And he's putting Tales of the Black Freighter together as you read this. [SciFi Wire]

Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, Lionsgate Films, Warner Brothers, RumorMonger, Scripts, Newsstand, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Religious, Western

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Il y a quelques semaines, vous pouviez lire notre enthousiasme pour le Cathy’s book, ce roman atypique, farci de fac-similés et de numéros de téléphone à appeler. Dans la même catégorie d’ouvrages ambitieux, Sherlock Holmes : Les Crimes du docteur Watson vient de paraître aux éditions Tornade. À l’italienne, ce livre de Duane Swierczynski, auteur multicarte ayant participé à Punisher ou Immortal Iron Fist, est une véritable enquête interactive, aux pages remplies de preuves et de reproductions en tous genres. Après les deux superbes Holmes de Brunschwig et Cecil, les fans du détective sont servis.

Concrètement, l’auteur, dans la peau d’un journaliste, propose à ses lecteurs de découvrir une liasse de documents ayant appartenu à Watson, recueillis durant son incarcération pendant le grand hiatus – période où Holmes est présumé mort, disparu dans les chutes de Reichenbach. La longue lettre de Watson est adressée au colonel Resmo, seul personnage à même de le sortir du bourbier dans lequel il s’est fourré, sombre histoire de mutilation et d’incendie volontaire au 221 B Baker Street.

Si l’aspect ludique permet de découvrir le fond du mystère par soi-même, à l’aide des indices et preuves cachées dans des enveloppes, des reproductions de journaux ou de L’Ultime problème, récit de la mort présumée de Holmes, un cahier scellé en fin d’ouvrage contient la réponse du colonel, qui décrypte toute l’enquête. Bien écrit et original, le récit s’accompagne de nombreuses illustrations de Clint Hansen. En toute logique Batman : murder at Wayne manor, l’autre livre-enquête de Swierczynski qui vient de sortir aux USA, devrait arriver chez nous l’année prochaine. À moins que Piques assassines au PS n’envahisse les têtes de gondole d’ici là.

At the press junket for Lionsgate's forthcoming PUNISHER: WAR ZONE, director Lexi Alexander revealed to Latino Review that she was recently sent this script to Jonah Hex, which recently was left without a director when Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor left the project last month citing creative differences. The article is clear that she is by no means the new director, but a potential option for Warner Bros., who is still looking to get the project off the ground with Josh Brolin. Hex, known for having the right side of his face disfigured and wearing a Confederate army uniform, was a rough-and-tumble gunslinger and part-time bounty hunter whose adventures always ended in blood.