Tag Archives: Jon Favreau

Jon Favreau Directs ‘Destiny’ Ad For Bungie

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Jon Favreau Directs Destiny Ad For Bungie

Jon Favreau directed a partially live-action ad for Bungie’s follow-up to the “Halo” series, “Destiny.” It’s really cool, and we haven’t even mentioned the cameo from Giancarlo “Gus Fring” Esposito.

Also, lots and lots of “Return of the Jedi” stuff in today’s Dailies!

» Check out these early “Return of the Jedi” returns from a 1980s fan magazine. [Huffington Post]

Jon Favreau Directs Destiny Ad For Bungie

» Jon Favreau directs live-action “Destiny” ad [Variety]

» “Return of the Jedi” documentary [Entertainment Weekly]

Jon Favreau Directs Destiny Ad For Bungie

» 4-year-old knows her Marvel trivia! [CBR]

» “Rush” trailer [/Film]

Welcome to the Dailies, where the MTV Movies team runs down all the film and television news, odds and ends that are fit to print! From awesome fan art to obscure casting news, this is your place to feast on all the movie leftovers you didn’t know you were hungry for.

J.J. Abrams To Direct ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’

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At long last, Disney’s “Star Wars” sequel has found its director — and it’s a bold choice, to say the least.

“Star Trek” filmmaker J.J. Abrams is Disney’s choice to helm “Star Wars: Episode VII,” according to reports published by TheWrap.com and Deadline.com. MTV News has confirmed the report with a source close to the production. Emails and calls to representatives at Disney and Abrams’ Bad Robot were not immediately returned.

Abrams was frequently cited as a fan-favorite pick for the “Star Wars” job, but his connection to the “Star Trek” series seemingly took him out of the running. Abrams even clarified in a December interview that he was approached by Lucasfilm to direct the new “Star Wars” movie, but he passed out of loyalty to “Trek.”

‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ And Disney: Five Burning Questions

“[Lucasfilm president] Kathy Kennedy is a friend and there are no smarter producers,” he said at the time. “It’s in great hands. There were the very early conversations and I quickly said that because of my loyalty to ‘Star Trek,’ and also just being a fan, I wouldn’t even want to be involved in the next version of those things. I declined any involvement very early on. I’d rather be in the audience not knowing what was coming, rather than being involved in the minutiae of making them.”

Now, it appears that Abrams does want to be involved in the minutiae of making a “Star Wars” film. In landing the job, Abrams beats out an extensive list of rumored hopefuls including the likes of Ben Affleck and Jon Favreau. It also marks Abrams’ second high-profile intergalactic franchise; his next “Star Trek” film, subtitled “Into Darkness,” cruises into theaters this coming May.

“Star Wars: Episode VII,” written by Michael Arndt and directed by J.J. Abrams, hits theaters in 2015.

Check Out Seven Rules For a Kick-Ass New ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy

Are you excited to see Abrams helming the “Star Wars” sequel? Let us know in the comments section below or hit me up on Twitter @roundhoward!

Zack Snyder Denies Parallel ‘Star Wars’ Movie

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“Star Wars” fans might have to settle for just one universe for now. Just hours after a report emerged on Monday that controversial director developing
 his own “Star Wars” movie that has nothing to do with the “Episode VII” reboot, the “Man of Steel” helmer’s reps denied the Vulture blog story.

“While he is super-flattered because he is a huge fan, Zack is not involved in any way with the new ‘Star Wars.’” His rep told the Hollywood Reporter. “He is currently in post on his two films, ‘Man of Steel’ and ’300: Battle of Artemisia.’”

The original story claimed that Snyder’s phantom flick would be “loosely based on Akira Kurosawa‘s 1954 classic ‘Seven Samurai,’ with the ronin and katana being replaced by the Force-wielding knights and their iconic lightsabers.”

For those unfamiliar with the Kurosawa classic, “Seven Samurai” tells the story of a small farming village that hires a group of sword-wielding warriors to defend their homes from bandits. If that plot seems familiar to you, it’s because the film has been remade as “The Magnificent Seven,” and Pixar borrowed some elements for “A Bug’s Life.” Additionally, George Lucas has often cited Kurosawa as one of his greatest sources of inspiration.

When Disney first announced its acquisition of Lucasfilm, CEO Bob Iger said that the plan for the series was first and foremost a new trilogy, but also a new film set in the universe every two to three years. Vulture’s sources said that Snyder’s film would go into production after “Episode VII,” which could mean that “Episode VIII” would not be the immediate follow-up to the new trilogy’s first installment.

Given the roulette wheel of speculation that has been turning for the past month about which director might take the helm of the first movie in the new trilogy,
 it’s not out of the question that Snyder’s name made it into the mix. Everyone from J.J. Abrams to Jon Favreau and Joseph Kosinski (“Oblivion”).

Great Picture Or Greatest Picture In Dailies!

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5465a oldman williams robocop Great Picture Or Greatest Picture In Dailies!

While we’re still on the fence about this whole “RoboCop” reboot business, this took place on set, and we cannot deny it’s sheer awesomeness. It’s just the coolest. Respect.

Also, find out why everyone is freaking out about something Jon Favreau tweeted in today’s Dailies!

» The “CHiPs”-”Star Wars” mash-up you didn’t know you weren’t waiting for. [Vulture]

» Ryan Gosling cast the always great Ben Mendelsohn in his upcoming directorial debut “How to Catch a Monster.” [Moviehole]

» The second trailer for “Killing Them Softly” [IGN]

» Here’s the thing that Jon Favreau tweeted that made everyone freak out. [Twitter]

Great Picture Or Greatest Picture In Dailies!

» Nic Cages face on stuff [Screen Crush]

ce784 552027 283858678381975 154890259 n Great Picture Or Greatest Picture In Dailies!

» Omar and Commissioner Gordon might actually be friends. [Comic Book Movie]

1143c oldmancop Great Picture Or Greatest Picture In Dailies!

» The first trailer for Dwayne Johnson in “Snitch” [Twitch]

Welcome to the Dailies, where the MTV Movies team runs down all the film and television news, odds and ends that are fit to print! From awesome fan art to obscure casting news, this is your place to feast on all the movie leftovers you didn’t know you were hungry for.

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Ben Affleck On ‘Star Wars VII’: ‘I’m Glad I Don’t Have That Job’

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In knowing the “Star Wars” fandom like we do, the excitement for “Episode VII” won’t be tempered until long after the film’s 2015 release. Currently, the excitement is focused on which lucky individual has been hired to direct the new chapter.

While we’re waiting for the official announcement to confirm or deny rumored candidates like J.J. Abrams and Jon Favreau, it’s fun to gather opinions on the subject from other members of the Hollywood elite, like what awards contender Ben Affleck would do with the film if he were in charge.

“I’d be too busy worrying about how the action figures would look for each character to direct the actual movie,” Affleck joked with us at GQ‘s Men of the Year event Tuesday. “I’d be like, ‘Oh, we’ll just reshoot the movie with the action figures.’ It’s very exciting that they’re going to make more. There might be purists who are opposed to it, but I think it’s a very cool thing and I’m excited to go see the movie.”

Affleck remained diplomatic when asked about rumored candidate and friend J.J. Abrams, as well as who he wants in the director’s chair.

“J.J. would kill it, he would crush it, but he would be great at anything,” Affleck said. “There are a lot of good directors out there. Naturally I would be inclined to get somebody who’s great at telling stories. You’re never going to be able to recapture the story that was the initial three, because it’s so legendary and iconic. I don’t know, I’m glad I don’t have that job. It’s a tough decision to make.”

One thing the “Argo” director is sure about, however, is that he’ll be lining up with everyone else to see “Episode VII” in 2015, and he isn’t above calling in favors to get an early look.

“That’s the one that whoever it is [directing], when it gets made, I’m going to be that dad, calling in favors. ‘Hey, it’s Ben. Can me and my kid come to the premiere? Swing by, by any chance?’ I know that my life is going to turn into that soon.”

‘Star Wars’ Director Search Down To ‘A Couple Of Candidates’

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J.J. Abrams, Jon Favreau, you name it — if they’re a popular director, they’re probably rumored for “Star Wars: Episode VII.” The rumors and speculation are flying fast and furiously, but from what we hear, it won’t be long before the chatter dies down and the facts roll out.

Producer Frank Marshall, whose wife Kathleen Kennedy is the president of Lucasfilm, spoke with MTV News this week and revealed that he knows what’s going on with the “Star Wars” director search — but you won’t be getting any details out of him.

“I do,” Marshall replied when asked if he knew who would be behind the hotly awaited “Star Wars” sequel. “But I can’t reveal it, or I won’t be alive tomorrow.”

Marshall added that he doesn’t know when the director will be announced; all he knows is that the hunt has honed in on “a couple of candidates, but I don’t know how soon that will be revealed.” He also knows this: regardless of whoever winds up directing “Star Wars,” it’s going to be one of the most anticipated blockbusters of all time.

“I’m really excited about this,” he said. “I didn’t grow up with it, but I was a big fan and have been since the series started. I’ll always remember seeing that big mother-ship go over the screen. I’ve never forgotten it. I can’t wait to see what’s next.”

Another Lucas property that Marshall is deeply involved with is “Indiana Jones.” Marshall has served as an executive producer on all four of the whip-wielding archaeologist’s silver screen adventures to date, but those of you holding out hope for a fifth are going to need to stay patient — according to Marshall, Disney’s Lucasfilm purchase won’t do anything to speed up development on “Indy 5.”

“I don’t think it changes anything. It’s still open,” he said of progress on a new “Indy” movie. “But it’s really on the back burner and we’re not really talking about it. ‘Star Wars‘ is next, so that’s what we’re focusing on. ‘Indy’ is back there, but nothing has changed.”

Who do you want to see behind the wheel of the next “Star Wars” movie? Let us know in the comments section below!

J.J. Abrams Shoots Down ‘Star Wars’ Rumors

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“Star Wars: Episode VII” has snagged a writer in “Toy Story 3″ and “Little Miss Sunshine” scribe Michael Arndt. But if he’s the Wookiee co-pilot on the “Star Wars” sequel’s Millennium Falcon, which director will we see join him behind the wheel?

Three names have emerged in the race to direct Disney’s “Star Wars” sequel, including two names at the top of most fans’ wish-lists — “Star Trek” helmer J.J. Abrams and “Iron Man” director Jon Favreau — as well as a lesser known director, “Safety Not Guaranteed” filmmaker Colin Trevorrow. All three of these directors have spoken out about their interest in going to that galaxy far, far away — and at least in the case of Abrams, it doesn’t look likely to happen.

READ: What You Need To Know About “Star Wars” Writer Michael Arndt

“Look, Star Wars is one of my favorite movies of all time,” Abrams told Hollywood Life when asked about the rumors. “I frankly feel that — I almost feel that, in a weird way, the opportunity for whomever it is to direct that movie, it comes with the burden of being that kind of iconic movie and series. I was never a big Star Trek fan growing up, so for me, working on Star Trek didn’t have any of that, you know, almost fatal sacrilege, and so, I am looking forward more [than] anyone to the next iterations of Star Wars, but I believe I will be going as a paying moviegoer!”

Hollywood Life also spoke with Favreau about the possibility of directing the next “Star Wars” movie, and he seemed much more intrigued by the idea than Abrams.

“I think there is a lot of question marks of how they are going to do it, and who they are going to do it with, and what the story is going to be about; but to say that I am not excited about it is definitely an understatement,” he said. “We’ll see.”

READ: Is Jon Favreau The Frontrunner For “Star Wars: Episode VII”?

Meanwhile, /Film points out that rumored contender Trevorrow played coy about his relationship to the “Star Wars” sequel during an appearance on the filmmixern podcast.

“I think whoever gets it will have that fundamental understanding of why Star Wars matters so much to a billion people,” he said. “It’s just incredible. So that’s all I can say about that.”

Who do you think will direct the next “Star Wars” movie? Leave your wish lists in the comments section below!

Sam Mendes And Five Other Directors Who Made The Jump To Action

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12f4c Skyfall Bonds Sam Mendes And Five Other Directors Who Made The Jump To Action

By Colin Greten

The 23th installment of the James Bond franchise, “Skyfall” is finally here and has already generated serious box office and critical success.

With a franchise such as Bond, one that is literally action packed, it is interesting that Sam Mendes was chosen as the director. Mendes is a superb director and “Skyfall” is already this is being heralded as one of, if not the best, Bonds of all time. However, none of Mendes’ previous films can be considered action movies as his films generally are about people dealing with inner issues such as “American Beauty” and “Revolutionary Road.”

Even the more action-esque films he has done previously, like “Road to Perdition” and “Jarhead,” do not really have much action in them at all. Mendes’ jump from drama to action is not an unprecedented one, but already seems to be successful. Here are a few directors who have made or are going to make a transition to the action genre, with varying degrees of success.

Jon M. Chu
Starting off with the least recognizable name on the list, Jon M. Chu’s upcoming divergence into action is perhaps one of the most head scratching ones ever. Chu will direct the upcoming “G.I. Joe Retaliation” which features Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Bruce Willis and is sure to have plenty of insanely implausible yet awesome action sequences. The head scratching part you ask? Chu’s few previous directing credits include “Step Up 2: The Streets”, “Step Up 3D” and the groundbreaking documentary “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never”. Transitioning from working with the Biebs to working with John McClane himself has got to be a challenge.

Jon Favreau
Jon Favreau has had a solid acting career for a long time. I mean, he started the “Rudy” chant, enough said. As a director his career took a huge step forward with “Elf,” an instant Christmas movie classic. After seeing “Elf” in 2003, few probably thought that the same guy would direct “Iron Man,” but that’s exactly what Favreau did. “Iron Man” really rejuvenated the at-the-time slightly stale superhero movie genre and its rousing success helped Marvel launch its “Avengers” plan. Sure, we all wish “Cowboys and Aliens” was better, but when it comes to action, Favreau is still money baby, whether he knows it or not.

Marc Webb
Marc Webb is still very early in his directing career with only two feature films under his belt. The first, “500 Days of Summer” was a bigger success than anyone could have hoped for as the offbeat romantic comedy really connected with audiences. After it was decided that the “Spider-Man” franchise was getting a reboot, Webb was picked to helm the project. (Maybe it was the name?) Going from directing a low budget rom-com to directing the first installment of a new “Spider-Man” has got to be daunting. Despite hit or miss types of responses, “The Amazing Spider-Man” was successful enough that a sequel is already in the works with Webb attached. (That name works so well here). Jamie Foxx as Electro is questionable, but fans will have to wait until the sequels 2014 release to know for sure.

Rian Johnson
Johnson is name that dedicated “Breaking Bad” fans may know, as he directed a few episodes of the hit AMC series. While he has directed features previously, Johnson basically went from the aforementioned “Breaking Bad” to the mind-bending action thriller “Looper” which was more critically successful than many would have probably guessed. In Johnson’s case he made a compounded change in directing going from drama to action as well as jumping from television to film, no easy feat. It can be argued that “Breaking Bad” has plenty of action, however one of Johnson’s directing credits on the show is “Fly”, an episode that is literally the opposite of action-packed.

Doug Liman
Doug Liman was the director of “The Bourne Identity” a film that launched a still running and very successful franchise. However, the only really recognizable film before “Bourne” that he directed is “Swingers” a classic late 90s comedy. Basically Liman went from Jon Favreau (so money for getting on this list in two different sections) being unable to get over a bad breakup to Matt Damon being unable to remember that he is a super solider/spy. Maybe Favreau was inspired by Liman’s transition from comedy to action, following the same path a few years later, probably not, but maybe.

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‘Iron Man 3′ Trailer: Why Tony Stark Is His Own Worst Enemy

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If he can’t save the world, you can be damn sure Tony Stark will avenge it — and he certainly looks to be in the avenging mood in the new “Iron Man 3″ trailer.

Director Shane Black and Marvel Studios‘ brand new “Iron Man” adventure sports a darker coat of paint than ever before, promising death and danger at every turn. Indeed, the new trailer might even reveal the death of one fan-favorite character in particular, while a brutal new nemesis — the ring-wearing Mandarin — makes himself known in terrible fashion.

Read on for five key scenes from the “Iron Man 3″ trailer.

Your Own Worst Enemy
Tony Stark’s long list of apologies likely has a space right at the top reserved for “inventing traitorous Iron Man armor.” The trailer shows Stark’s own Mark XLVII armor — the newest and, by the look of it, only remaining suit in his arsenal — rebelling against him, creeping up on Pepper Potts in the night and rampaging his waterfront property. We always knew that Tony was his own biggest obstacle, and now that idea has taken a new, literal meaning.

Out Of The Potts And Into The Fire
If Pepper is the only thing worth protecting, then Tony should have done a better job. Not only is she at the heart of the assault on Casa del Stark, she’s also seen strapped into a metallic device and screaming for her life. The optimist in us hopes that she’s being outfitted with Extremis-branded Rescue armor. The realist knows that her life is in danger, and Tony is going to have to fight very hard to get her out of this movie with her life intact.

The Happy Days Are Over
Worried as we are for Pepper’s safety, we’re downright depressed over what’s happened to Happy Hogan. Midway into the trailer, a barely-alive body is seen twitching on the ground. Pause the footage long enough and you’ll see for yourself that the man is none other than a blood-covered Jon Favreau, giving us great cause for concern over Tony’s bodyguard and best pal.

Mandarin Makes His Move
Sir Ben Kingsley knows how to make an entrance, that’s for sure. Silly voice aside, Mandarin owns the “Iron Man 3″ trailer, proving himself a threat worth fearing. With his ten rings firmly on his fists and a handgun not far behind, the Marvel Studios take on Tony’s most classic comic book nemesis looks like an interpretation we’re going to be talking about all summer long in 2013.

The Lonely Man
You can practically hear Stark whistling the “Hulk” TV theme while trudging through the snow at the trailer’s end. Bruce Banner comparisons aside, what’s important here is that Tony is truly, completely alone. His world has been ruined, his armor destroyed, his allies dead or gone. But even if there’s no such thing as heroes, we know this much: there are very, very few things in the world more dangerous than a genius billionaire playboy philanthropist scorned.

Let us know what you think of the “Iron Man 3″ trailer in the comments section below!