Fox's FRANKENSTEIN To Be Told From Ygor's Perspective

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Reelz Channel

Back in June I noted that Fox had put a new "Frankenstein" movie into high gear in hopes of beating out about a dozen other studios working on a similar project to the box office. In hopes of getting a leg up on the competition Fox hired screenwriter Max Landis to pen the story. At that time there were no details on just how the writer was going to approach such a project that had been done over and over again by so many different entities.

Now it seems that Landis has found his niche, Frankenstein as seen from Ygor's (Dr. Frankenstein's assistant .... as if you didn't know) perspective.

Landis explains," I was having an argument with my friend about when Ygor first appeared in the Frankenstein mythology. The argument got more and more intense. He was convinced that Ygor was in the Universal film. I told him that was a hunchback named Fritz. He didn't believe me and so I did some research. I read the original book. In the original book [Frankenstein is] not a doctor, he's a college dropout. The whole book is spent in fear, fleeing from a smart monster. It's exactly like the Mary Shelley's Frankenstein movie.

Then I was like, "Where's Ygor?"

So I went to the Hammer horror films. First, I watched all of the Hammer horrors, all of the Peter Cushings, all of these different Frankensteins, and there's brilliant stuff in there. Some of which, I was like, "Wait a minute. This is part of the zeitgeist Frankenstein myth. They think this is stuff from the 1930s movie."

So I was like, "Where's Ygor?"

So I watched all of the original Frankensteins, all of the Universal Frankensteins. I found Ygor. He's in the third Frankenstein film. He's a broke-neck blacksmith played by Bela Lugosi, who manipulates the monster for his own means. He's not a hunchback and he's not Frankenstein's assistant. But that can't be right! Everyone knows Frankenstein's assistant is Ygor. ... I began to pick apart our knowledge of Frankenstein and discovered that the public's idea of [the Frankenstein] myth comes from a million different places. ... I became committed to recontexturizing it all so that it all works in one story. Yeah, it's a period piece. Yes, it's from Ygor's perspective. But, man it's cool."

Now if only Fox could resurrect Bela Lugosi to play the part .... now that would be cool!

We Know EVIL DEAD 4 Is Coming ... Why? Because Bruce Says So!

Written By: Ken Hulsey

Source: Collider / Bruce Campbell

Talk about news coming straight from the horses mouth!

Rumors of an "Evil Dead" remake/sequel have been around for some time but now according to Bruce Campbell the film is actually going into production.

This is what Bruce had to say via Twitter, “Believe in the remake, dawg! The project is real. In the works. Cool as hell. Scary as hell.”

At this point it is not known if Campbell will indeed reprise his role as Ash in the film or even if Sam Raimi will be involved.

Early rumors had Campbell working behind the camera with Raimi sitting in as a producer.

An "Evil Dead" without Bruce Campbell as the star ..... count me out. He owns that role dawg!

See Also: Get Ready To Rock Your Ash Off With EVIL DEAD The Musical / Celluloid Philosophers - Ash / 'The Evil Dead' Returns To The Midnight Movie Scene / Universal Scares Up Some New Halloween DVD Releases / Army Of Darkness Screwhead Edition DVD And Blue-Ray / Mothers Hide Your Children! Bruce Campbell Is Coming!

Johnny Depp To Step Into McGavin's Shoes As THE NIGHT STALKER

Written By: Ken Hulsey

Source: Empire

The news out of Hollywood today is that Johnny Depp has teamed up with Disney to secure the movie rights to the 1970s cult television series "The Night Stalker." Depp's production company Infinitum Nihil is already in place to begin pre-production work alongside the folks at Buena Vista.

Depp will be taking over the role of Carl Kolchak, which was originally played by the late Darren McGavin, a pesky newspaper reporter who had a knack for stumbling on stories involving monsters, aliens and other paranormal activity.

It has been noted that "The Night Stalker" was one of Chris Carter's major influences in developing "The X-Files".

No word on a director or cast for "The Night Stalker."

See Also: Filming Begins On Tim Burton's Dark Shadows

The First Photos From DRACULA 3D

Written By: Ken Hulsey

Source: Total Film

Classic movie monsters are all the rage these days with studios climbing all over themselves trying to make a new "Frankenstein" movie, Universal trying to get "The Wolfman" right, Legendary pictures making a new 3D "Godzilla" movie, a "Creature From the Black Lagoon" remake about to get under way, and enough Bigfoot movies to beat the band.

In prior articles I have talked about film maker James Baack's homage to Hammer horror films "Dracula's Orgy of the Damned" which of course features yet another classic movie monster Dracula. Now it seems that Baack is not alone in his quest to revisit the feel of 60s and 70s UK horror. Director Dario Argento is also well into production on "Dracula 3D" which from the looks of it has Hammer written all over it.

The film stars Rutger Hauer as Van Helsing and Argento's daughter Asia as Lucy.

It's normally a bad sign when a film maker casts his own family members in his films so watch out.

Here is the plot:

TRANSYLVANIA, 1893.

One night in the woods adjacent to Passo Borgo, at the foot of the Carpazi mountains, a couple of young lovers, Tania and Milos, secretly meet. On her way home, Tania is chased and overcome by a "dark shadow" that kills her. In those days Jonathan Harker, a young librarian, arrives at the village hired by Count Dracula, a nobleman from the area. Tania's body mysteriously disappears from the cemetery. In the meantime Harker, before going to Count Dracula's castle, takes the opportunity to visit Lucy Kisslinger, his wife Mina's best friend as well as the daughter of the local mayor.

Upon arriving at the castle, Harker is greeted by Tania, brought back to life from the dead and made vampire, who tries from the very beginning to seduce him; however they are interrupted by Dracula's entrance welcoming Harker. The following night Tania tries again to bite Harker, she is close to his neck when she is stopped by the count who gets the upper hand and it is he himself who bites Harker's neck, however allowing him to live. The following day, weakened but still conscious Harker attempts to escape, but as soon as he is outside the castle a large wolf with a white lock assaults and savagely kills him. Meanwhile, Mina, Harker's wife, arrives in the village and is guest for a few days at the home of her dearest friend Lucy Kisslinger, who will also be bitten and vampirized. The day after, Mina, worried about her husband, goes to Count Dracula's castle. Their encounter makes her forget the reason for her presence there. She is completely under the count's influence; the count had orchestrated the events leading up to their encounter; in fact Mina looks exactly like his beloved Dolinger, who died some centuries ago. Upon her return to the Kisslinger house, Mina learns of the death of her dear friend Lucy. The sequence of such strange and dramatic events summons the aid of Van Helsing, vampire expert of the techniques used to eliminate them. Van Helsing, aware of the circumstances decides to act swiftly and prepares the tools needed to combat vampires. He directs himself to the center of evil, Count Dracula's castle. Meanwhile Dracula, in the village, kills the inhabitants who rescinded their pact, while Van Helsing, inside the castle, is able to definitively eliminate Tania. Dracula, intent on his desire to reunite with his beloved wife, leads Mina, completely hypnotized, to the castle where Van Helsing is waiting. He has decided to engage in a deadly fight with his evil foe. During the struggle Van Helsing loses his gun with the silver bullet and Mina, still under Dracula's spell, gathers it and tries to aid Dracula, but she misses the target and involuntarily kills him. The special silver bullet transforms Dracula into ashes; but his spirit lifts the ashes into the air and uniting, they shape into a large bat with a mocking grin...

And here are the first photos from "Dracula 3D":

SEE MORE PHOTOS

See Also: Hammer Horror Countess Dracula, Van Helsing And Count Dracula Masterpiece Collection Busts / Dracula (Bela Lugosi) Film Cell / New Images And Casting News For DRACULA'S ORGY OF THE DAMNED /Universal Monsters Select - Dracula Action Figure / A New Retro Style Poster For DRACULA'S ORGY OF THE DAMNED / The 100 Greatest Monsters From Movies And Television #10 - #1 / New Behind The Scenes Photos From DRACULA'S ORGY OF THE DAMNED / Vampirella Goes Toe-To-Toe With Dracula/ New Teaser Art And Casting News For DRACULA'S ORGY OF THE DAMNED / BELA LUGOSI'S TALES FROM THE GRAVE Gets Rave Reviews / Universal Monsters - Life Like Stretchable Figures - Complete Set Of Six /Dracula - Dracula's Ring - Collectors Edition - Prop Replica / Dracula - 12 inch Figure - Bela Lugosi As Dracula - Sideshow Collectibles /

Fox Jumps Into The FRANKENSTEIN Derby By Hiring Landis

Written By: Ken Hulsey

Source: Variety

The Monster (Frankenstein to all you laymen) is certainly a very popular fellow in Hollywood these days with at least a half dozen films based on the monster in some form of production.

Not wanting to be left out of this new "Frankenstein Derby" Fox has jumped into the mix, and possibly the lead, by hiring Max Landis (Chronicle) to write their screenplay. Fox is also actively searching for a director for "Frankenstein" with the names Ron Howard, Paul Greengrass and David Yates ("Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix") being mentioned as candidates.

As we reported earlier Universal is planning their own remake of the 1931 classic "Frankenstein" with Guillermo del Toro and Scott Stube at the helm. That film however does not have a script in the works.

Other "Frankenstein" projects out there include "I, Frankenstein" at Lakeshore Entertainment, "This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein" at Summit Entertainment and "The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein" from Ghost House Pictures and RT Features. There are also a ton of independent "Frankenstein" flicks in the works as well including "Monster Brawl" (Frankenstein fights the Wolfman, Dracula and Zombies), "Frankenstein 2011" and "Frankenstein Rising".

It's good to be The Monster!

See Also: Universal Monsters Frankenstein 1:4 Scale Figure / Monsterpalooza: Day One Report / A New Retro Style Poster For DRACULA'S ORGY OF THE DAMNED / Your Invited To Frankenstein's Wedding / The 100 Greatest Monsters From Movies And Television #10 - #1 /Universal Monsters - Life Like Stretchable Figures - Complete Set Of Six / Universal Monsters - Action Figures - Frankenstein, Wolfman and Dracula - Jakks Pacific / Frankenstein - 1/8 Scale Model Kit - Universal Monsters - Moebius Models / The First Images From Jesse Cook's MONSTER BRAWL / Frankenstein As A Ruthless Killing Machine In FRANKENSTEIN 2011 / MONSTER BRAWL Update! - Teaser Art And Casting News / Del Toro Ready To Begin Makeup Tests For FRANKENSTEIN / Monster DVD Madness! DEMEKING, GAMERA And HOUSE OF THE WOLF MAN / Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy And Zombies - Let's Get Ready To Rumble! / Mark And Brian Gunn To Write MONSTER SQUAD Remake / Halcyon International Pictures Teams Up With Famous Monsters Of Filmland To Reboot Classic Universal Horrors / Famous Monsters To Bring Back The Creature, The Mummy, Frankenstein And Others To The Silver Screen? / Eric Swelstad Promises A More Violent Monster In "Frankenstein Rising" / The Top Ten Hottest Monsters Of 2009 / Universal's Monsters: Legacy / Robot-13 Returns For An Action Packed Second Issue / Boris Karloff Tales Of Mystery Hardcover Graphic Novel / Universal Monsters Frankenstein 1:8 Scale Model Kit / Behind-The-Scenes of "Bikini Frankenstein" / Gonzo Movie Trailers From Japan - Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl & Robo-Geisha / Scarlett Johansson As The Sexy Bride Of Frankenstein? / The First Look At Nishimura And Tomomatsu's Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl / A Modern Look A The Frankenstein Mythos In Blacklist Studios Robot-13 / Tatopoulos And Grevioux To Mix Classic Monsters With Film Noir In I, Frankenstein / 40th Anniversary of Boris Karloff's Passing / The Top Ten Hottest Monsters Of 2008 / RIP Forrest J Ackerman (1916-2008) / Universal Monsters Frankenstein Black and White Head Knocker / Mad Monster Party (1969) / Frankenstein Painting Finds Home At Rockwell Museum

Bryan Singer Begins Production On 3D Remake Of JACK THE GIANT KILLER

Source: Warner Bros

Principal photography is underway in London on acclaimed filmmaker Bryan Singer's 3D epic action adventure "Jack the Giant Killer," with Nicholas Hoult in the title role of Jack, for New Line Cinema and Legendary Pictures.

"Jack the Giant Killer" tells the story of an ancient war that is reignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack, into the battle of his life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend—and gets the chance to become a legend himself.

Hoult and Singer recently collaborated on the Singer-produced "X-Men: First Class," for release later this year. "Jack the Giant Killer" also stars Eleanor Tomlinson as Princess Isabelle; Stanley Tucci ("Captain America: The First Avenger," "Julie & Julia") as the deceitful Lord Roderick; Ian McShane ("Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," HBO's "Deadwood") as the besieged King Brahmwell; Bill Nighy ("Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows") as the giants' leader General Fallon; and Ewan McGregor ("Star Wars," "The Ghost Writer") as palace guard Elmont.

Singer will direct from a screenplay by Darren Lemke and Christopher McQuarrie and Dan Studney, story by Darren Lemke & David Dobkin. The film will be produced by Neal Moritz, David Dobkin, Bryan Singer and Patrick McCormick.

The creative filmmaking team includes Singer's longtime collaborators, director of photography Newton Thomas Sigel ("X-Men," "Superman Returns") and editor John Ottman ("X2," "Superman Returns"). The production designer is Gavin Bocquet ("Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith").

"Jack the Giant Killer" is filming on location in and around London, and is scheduled for a summer 2012 release.

A New Line Cinema presentation, in association with Legendary Pictures, the film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Filming Begins On Tim Burton's Dark Shadows

Source: Warner Bros

Filming begins this week on Warner Bros. Pictures' and Village Roadshow Pictures' "Dark Shadows," which brings the cult classic television series to the big screen under the direction of Tim Burton. The film's all-star ensemble cast includes Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Bella Heathcote, Chloe Moretz, and newcomer Gulliver McGrath.

In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet—or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy...until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive.

Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets. Matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) has called upon live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), to help with her family troubles.

Also residing in the manor is Elizabeth's ne'er-do-well brother, Roger Collins, (Jonny Lee Miller); her rebellious teenage daughter Carolyn Stoddard (Chloe Moretz); and Roger's precocious 10-year-old son, David Collins (Gulliver McGrath). The mystery extends beyond the family, to caretaker Willie Loomis, played by Jackie Earle Haley, and David's new nanny, Victoria Winters, played by Bella Heathcote.

Burton is directing and producing "Dark Shadows" from a screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith, story by John August and Grahame-Smith, based on the television series created by Dan Curtis. Also producing are Oscar® winner Richard D. Zanuck ("Alice in Wonderland," "Driving Miss Daisy"), continuing his long association with Burton; Oscar® winner Graham King, ("Rango," "The Departed"), continuing his collaboration with Depp; Johnny Depp, Christi Dembrowski, and David Kennedy. The executive producers are Chris Lebenzon, Nigel Gostelow, Tim Headington, and Bruce Berman.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, Oscar(R)-winning production designer Rick Heinrichs ("Sleepy Hollow"), Oscar(R)-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood ("Alice in Wonderland") and editor Chris Lebenzon ("Alice in Wonderland"). The score will be composed by Danny Elfman.

"Dark Shadows" is being filmed entirely in England, both at Pinewood Studios and on location.

"Dark Shadows" will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

See Also: Dark Shadows Festival News! / Retrospective: Original Music From Dark Shadows Volume 2 / Happy Birthday Jonathan Frid!