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]]> Copyright 2013, Manny Manny en-US SPHPBLOG 0.5.1 Who Got Cast in "Transformers 4?" http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130520-150742

Michael Bay and Paramount Pictures have announced that Chinese actress, Li Bingbing ("Resident Evil: Retribution") has been cast in "Transformers 4." The actress joins Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Jack Reynor, Nicola Peltz and Sophia Myles in the fourth installment in the hit series of movies based on the best-selling Hasbro toyline. Paramount Pictures will release the film on June 27th, 2014.

“I am excited to have Li Bingbing join our cast and to be shooting portions of the movie in her native China. I have always aspired to work with the best actors and this cast is especially exciting now with the addition of Li,” said Michael Bay.

In her native country of China, Li has many hits including the Tsui Hark-directed "Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame" and "1911." In America, Li has starred in "Resident Evil: Retribution," "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan," and "Forbidden Kingdom." She was recently named Variety's "Asian Star of the Year."

Here's the rest of the press release:

“I am thrilled to get to work with Michael Bay. ‘TRANSFORMERS’ has influenced generations in China and the movie franchise has a massive fan base. I am very happy to be able to join this international production. Thank you Paramount for the invitation! Looking forward to it!” said Li Bingbing.

Paramount, China Movie Channel and Jiaflix Enterprises announced this past April a Cooperation Agreement regarding the production of “TRANSFORMERS 4” in China. Under the agreement, China Movie Channel, under the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT), will cooperate with Paramount in broad-based support of the production of the film in China. “TRANSFORMERS 4” is expected to be released in China on or about June 27, 2014. The parties also intend to cooperate in a number of other areas related to “TRANSFORMERS 4,” including the selection of filming sites within China, theatrical promotion, and possible post-production activities in China as well as casting of Chinese actors and actresses in the film.

This agreement represents the first time that China Movie Channel will work with a western studio in the production of a major motion picture.

“We are delighted to see Ms. Li Bingbing being selected for a major role in ‘TRANSFORMERS 4,’ a very successful global film franchise,” said Yan Xiaoming, Chairman of China Movie Channel. “Ms. Li is an excellent and famous Chinese actress with many fans in China. She has had many successful projects with China Movie Channel and M1905.com in the past. We wish her every success in ‘TRANSFORMERS 4’ and with the worldwide audience that will enjoy her great talent.”

Said Sid Ganis, Chairman of Jiaflix, “Li Bingbing is an enormously talented Chinese artist who is fast becoming a worldwide movie star and is a great addition to a stellar cast.”

Shooting this summer in multiple locations in the U.S. and China, the film is directed by Bay and re-unites the filmmaking team from the hit franchise, including producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Don Murphy & Tom DeSanto and Ian Bryce; and executive producers Steven Spielberg, Bay, Brian Goldner and Mark Vahradian. “TRANSFORMERS 4” is written by Ehren Kruger, based on Hasbro’s Transformers™ Action Figures.

The third, and most recent installment of the franchise, “TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON,” is the fifth highest global grossing film of all time with $1.124 billion dollars of worldwide box office success. The “TRANSFORMERS” movies are among the most popular films ever released in China, and Michael Bay is among the most popular directors with Chinese audiences. “TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON,” released theatrically in 2011, grossed $165 million in China and more than $1.1 billion worldwide.

]]> http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130520-150742 Manny Mon, 20 May 2013 19:07:42 GMT http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/comments.php?y=13&m=05&entry=entry130520-150742 Who's In Talks for "Star Wars 7?" http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130520-150210

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is supposedly in talks to star in "Star Wars: Episode VII" according to our friends at Latino Review. Meyers could be the first actor to join the cast alongside, possibly, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher. J.J. Abrams is directing the new "Star Wars" sequel, fresh from creating "Star Trek Into Darkness."

Meyers has worked with Abrams before in "Mission: Impossible III." And lest you doubt Latino Review, the site has a pretty good track record for breaking movie news, like how they revealed the real identity of the "Star Trek Into Darkness" villain, long before it was revealed. ]]> http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130520-150210 Manny Mon, 20 May 2013 19:02:10 GMT http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/comments.php?y=13&m=05&entry=entry130520-150210 "Star Trek" On Top...But Not That Much, And Yes Old Sport, "The Great Gatsby" Beat "Star Trek" and "Iron Man 3" Overseas! http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130520-145055

So the biggest question this past weekend in Hollywood -- what happened to "Star Trek Into Darkness?" Paramount, the studio behind the latest "Star Trek" saga, predicted, really hoped, that "Star Trek Into Darkness" would open at $100 million. But alas, the latest J.J. Abrams film under-performed at just $84.1 million, and that's including the Wednesday midnight screenings and the hefty IMAX price-tag. Without those, "Star Trek Into Darkness" $70.6 million domestic and $40 million international.

That was well below the first J.J. Abrams-directed "Star Trek" released in 2009 which opened with $75.2 million. Still, it's enough to bring down "Iron Man 3" which fell to No. 2 with $35.2 million domestic and $40.2 million international.

Sure, "Star Trek Into Darkness" and "Iron Man 3" made gazillions of dollars overseas but they're no match for Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby" which made $42.1 million overseas ahead of the science fiction films. Domestically, "The Great Gatsby" was sitting pretty at No. 3 with $23.4 million. Yup old sport, "The Great Gatsby" is a hit!

Here's the estimated Top 10 Box-Office Films for weekend of May 17th:

1. "Star Trek: Into Darkness," $70.6 million ($40 million international).

2. "Iron Man 3," $35.2 million ($40.2 million international).

3. "The Great Gatsby," $23.4 million ($42.1 million international)

4. "Pain & Gain," $3.1 million.

5. "The Croods," $2.75 million.

6. "42," $2.73 million.

7. "Oblivion," $2.2 million.

8. "Mud," $2.16 million.

9. "Peeples," $2.15 million.

10. "The Big Wedding," $1.1 million.]]> http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130520-145055 Manny Mon, 20 May 2013 18:50:55 GMT http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/comments.php?y=13&m=05&entry=entry130520-145055 Woody Harrelson Talks About “Now You See Me” and Hypnotizes Me! http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130517-204527

Truth be told, I didn’t know what to expect interviewing Woody Harrelson. He’s a fantastic actor, and I grew up watching “Cheers,” but I had no idea that the actor was also a great father (witness how he playfully interacts with his daughter in this interview) and a man with conviction! And he was also sweet!

In the unpredictable “Now You See Me” opening May 31st, Harrelson stars as Merritt Osbourne, a hypnotist who becomes an integral part of the Four Horsemen – a group of magicians who rob banks to help people, like modern day Robin Hoods.

In this interview, we talked about:

*** I love that he called by my first name! HA!
*** How his lunch with Jesse Eisenberg made him want to star in “Now You See Me”
*** Almost his Hannibal approach to his character
*** How he prepared for his character
*** (his daughter brought him wheat grass and juice!)
*** He then proceeded to hypnotize me! It worked!!!
*** He called me awesommmmme!

]]> http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130517-204527 Manny Sat, 18 May 2013 00:45:27 GMT http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/comments.php?y=13&m=05&entry=entry130517-204527 The Fantastic Mark Ruffalo Talks About “Now You See Me” and Working on “The Avengers” http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130517-204328

I love Mark Ruffalo! The actor is sweet and down-to-earth in real life! We all know him, of course, as Dr. Bruce Banner aka The Hulk in the mega-successful “Marvel’s The Avengers.” But we love him in smaller films like “The Kids are All Right” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” In the new movie “Now You See Me” opening May 31st, the actor stars as Dylan Hobbs, the detective out to get our Four Horsemen played by Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Jesse Eisenberg, and Dave Franco.

In this interview, we talked about:

*** I love how he kept on calling my name!
*** His reaction reading the script by Boaz Yakin, Ed Solomon, and Edward Ricourt for the first time
*** His character’s aspirations
*** The antagonists and the protagonists
*** It’s like “The Avengers” with magicians
*** How has his life changed since “The Avengers?”
*** Why “Now You See Me” is better than “The Avengers” for his kids at least
*** He will continue working on smaller, thought-provoking, independent movies! Yay!

]]> http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130517-204328 Manny Sat, 18 May 2013 00:43:28 GMT http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/comments.php?y=13&m=05&entry=entry130517-204328 Jesse Eisenberg Reveals Secrets of “Now You See Me” http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130517-204152

Jesse Eisenberg reteams with his “Zombieland” cohort, Woody Harrelson, for the brilliantly unpredictable movie, “Now You See Me,” opening in theaters May 31st. Eisenberg stars as Michael Atlas, a guy who’s so good in card tricks that he gets invited to join The Four Horsemen alongside Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco. Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine co-star in this Louis Leterrier-directed crime-thriller.

In this interview, we talked about:

*** What got him interested in making “Now You See Me”
*** The movie’s thesis – “the closer you look, the less you see”
*** How did he prepare for his character?
*** What tricks did he learn?
*** His playwriting skills in the stage play “Asuncion”
*** What’s his interest in writing stage plays?
*** Working with Woody Harrelson again
*** If he can have one magic trick what will it be?

]]> http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130517-204152 Manny Sat, 18 May 2013 00:41:52 GMT http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/comments.php?y=13&m=05&entry=entry130517-204152 The Lovely Isla Fisher Talks About “Now You See Me” and Her Semi-Hiatus http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130517-204052

Isla Fisher was missing in action. The last time I interviewed the petite star was for 2009’s “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” And then she retired for a little bit, enjoying motherhood with spouse Sacha Baron Cohen. But now, we can’t escape her! Especially this summer! First, she nearly stole “The Great Gatsby” from Leonardo DiCaprio (I don’t know about you, but her Myrtle character has far more resonance), and then, she’s the fierce Henley in Summit’s “Now You See Me.”

And on my way to New Orleans to interview the cast of “Now You See Me,” guess what I found as a reading material? American Airlines’ American Way where Isla was the front cover! I can’t escape her indeed!

In this interview, we talked about:

*** Her semi-hiatus
*** What attracted her to doing “Now You See Me”
*** Doing her own stunts
*** The stunt that almost killed her!
*** Did she draw from any of her experience learning mimes at Jacques Lecoq School of Mime, Movement, and Theater in Paris in doing the stage scenes in “Now You See Me?”
*** Being vulnerable in interviews

]]> http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130517-204052 Manny Sat, 18 May 2013 00:40:52 GMT http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/comments.php?y=13&m=05&entry=entry130517-204052 Dave Franco Talks About “Now You See Me” – And Shows His Card Tricks http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130517-203927

I love talking to Dave Franco. The baby brother of James Franco is slowly carving his own niche in Hollywood. He has made some Funny or Die videos, has starred in the surprise zombie romantic comedy hit, “Warm Bodies,” and now, he’s part of the fun ensemble in the unpredictable crime thriller, “Now You See Me.” In this interview, we talked about:

*** We started our interview with Franco critiquing my yellow shirt HA!
*** The unpredictable ending of “Now You See Me”
*** How the cast and director Louis Leterrier got him to sign on to make “Now You See Me”
*** How he prepared for the role
*** And then he tried to hit Morgan Freeman’s nether regions
*** Learning filmmaking from director Louis Leterrier
*** How much he loves the Parker Hotel in Park Springs

]]> http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130517-203927 Manny Sat, 18 May 2013 00:39:27 GMT http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/comments.php?y=13&m=05&entry=entry130517-203927 "Into the Woods" Finds Its Baker's Wife? http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130517-202833

Wow, "Into the Woods" is becoming a star-studded affair! We all know Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp are joining the big screen adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical from director Rob Marshall ("Chicago"). And then we heard that Chris Pine and Jake Gyllenhaal were in serious talks to join the cast as a pair of self-obsessed princes.

Now, we're hearing from Variety that Emily Blunt is also in serious talks to star as the Baker's wife. It's a lead role as the play focuses on the Baker and his wife as they go into the woods in search of the witch (Streep, I'm sure, will be fantastic!).

James Lapine wrote the script based on his book from the musical. No production date set yet, but my oh my, with a cast like this, I can't wait!]]> http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130517-202833 Manny Sat, 18 May 2013 00:28:33 GMT http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/comments.php?y=13&m=05&entry=entry130517-202833 Is Christopher Nolan the Next Bond Director? http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130517-194634

He made us love Batman even more with "The Dark Knight" series, and he's about to do the same thing with Superman as executive producer of "Man of Steel," and now, Christopher Nolan may put his magic touch to James Bond.

According to The Daily Mail, the director has been approached to helm the next 007 movie and he's been in talks with the powers-that-be, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.

It's fine and dandy but Nolan is getting ready to start his next big film, "Interstellar," starring Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain, so Bond may have to wait.

Sure, Nolan is a Bond fan, but if talks moved forward and he became the director, will his 007 movie be better than the last Sam Mendes-directed flick? The fantastic "Skyfall?"

Having Nolan as director of anything is wonderufl! I worship his filmmaking abilities. But let's wait and see if Bond 24 will fall under his guidance.]]> http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/index.php?entry=entry130517-194634 Manny Fri, 17 May 2013 23:46:34 GMT http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/comments.php?y=13&m=05&entry=entry130517-194634