Hugh Jackman: 'The Wolverine' knocked back, but not dead -- EXCLUSIVE

By: Anthony Breznican
From: http://insidemovies.ew.com

When Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky backed out of The Wolverine a little over a week ago, it left the promising comic book drama in the lurch.

Part of the anticipation for the film, in which Hugh Jackman’s X-Men character ventures to Japan and encounters a legion of samurai warriors, was having the provocative tendencies of Aronofsky channeled into a commercial action-adventure movie. Jackman himself has been bulking up, gorging on protein and working out to build muscle, in anticipation of the project’s start. Then Aronofsky said he could no longer commit to the project because the Japan shoot would interfere too much with his personal life.

Jackman says he’s not quitting now.

The actor was in Las Vegas for CinemaCon, the annual convention for theater owners, to reveal the first scenes of his upcoming robot-boxing drama Real Steel. (More on that film in an upcoming Inside Movies post.) After the presentation, he told EW that The Wolverine remains very much alive — he’s staying on board, and the script by The Usual Suspects screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie is still in play.

“So now we’re out looking for a director,” Jackman shrugged. “We were pretty much ready to go. The script is fantastic — the best we’ve ever had, which is why it attracted Darren in the first place. His personal situation precludes him from doing it now, and I feel for him. But now we need to find a director.”

Jackman wouldn’t cite any preference, but said the team is aiming for another prestige filmmaker, not just someone to yell “action” and “cut.”

“We’re not going to settle. We’re going to find a director as good as Darren, if not better. Well, as good,” Jackman said. “Everyone is still pushing forward to getting it done.”

The actor did acknowledge a little impatience, especially since he’s growing weary of his protein-powered, muscle-building diet. “I can’t be eating too many more chicken breasts,” he groaned.

Darren Aronofsky No Longer Directing The Wolverine

Darren Aronofsky and Twentieth Century Fox today issued the following statements about the director's involvement in the movie, The Wolverine.

Stated Aronofsky: "As I talked more about the film with my collaborators at Fox, it became clear that the production of 'The Wolverine' would keep me out of the country for almost a year. I was not comfortable being away from my family for that length of time. I am sad that I won't be able to see the project through, as it is a terrific script and I was very much looking forward to working with my friend, Hugh Jackman, again."

Stated Twentieth Century Fox: "While we are of course disappointed that Darren can't do 'The Wolverine,' we also understand and respect his reasons. Having done both 'The Wrestler' and 'Black Swan' with Darren, we know he is an extraordinary talent and we look forward to working with him on other projects in the future. Hugh Jackman and Fox both remain fully committed to making 'The Wolverine.' We will regroup and move forward aggressively.

Read more: Darren Aronofsky No Longer Directing The Wolverine - ComingSoon.net http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=75358#ixzz1IsCgMlIx

SHN proudly presents Hugh Jackman, in Performance at The Curran Theatre

SHN proudly presents Hugh Jackman, in Performance at The Curran Theatre for a two week limited engagement May 3-15 in San Francisco. Hugh Jackman will perform his Broadway and Hollywood favorite musical numbers backed by a 17 piece orchestra.

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X-Men: First Class - Official Trailer

The trailer is finally here!!


I don't know about you guys, but I'm really looking forward to this.

Latest issue of Gutters

Official: Aronofsky on The Wolverine | Movie & TV News | News | Marvel.com

Official: Aronofsky on The Wolverine | Movie & TV News | News | Marvel.com

Fox Filmed Entertainment has signed Darren Aronofsky and his production company Protozoa Pictures to a new two-year, overall deal, it was announced today. Under the deal, Protozoa will develop and produce films for both Twentieth Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Aronofsky’s debut picture under the pact will be "The Wolverine," starring Hugh Jackman. Written by Oscar-winner Christopher McQuarrie, the film is scheduled to begin production in April next year.

The deal solidifies Fox’s relationship with Aronofsky, whose recent films--this fall’s critically acclaimed psychological thriller, "Black Swan," was produced and distributed by Fox Searchlight, which also distributed Aronofsky’s 2008 award-winning film "The Wrester." "Black Swan" opened this year’s Venice Film Festival, and has since screened at such major festivals as Telluride, Toronto and London to great acclaim. The film arrives in theaters beginning December 3.

“Darren’s vision has brought audiences some of the most original and memorable stories and characters in recent motion picture history,” said Fox Searchlight heads, Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley. “We at Fox witnessed this first hand with his work on "The Wrestler" and "Black Swan," and now, on "The Wolverine," which will be an exciting take on that iconic figure and on the genre itself. We can’t wait to see what else Darren has in store for us.”

Added Emma Watts, president of production, Twentieth Century Fox: "We're excited Darren is going to bring his unique vision to "The Wolverine" and we take great satisfaction that Fox, irrespective of the size of his films, continues to provide a home for his extraordinary talent."

Mutant Villain Riptide Cast In X-Men: First Class

Mutant Villain Riptide Cast In X-Men: First Class
By Ryan Matsunaga

Mutant Villain Riptide Cast In X-Men: First Class The X-Men: First Class cast is really starting to shape up nicely. James McAvoy is Charles Xavier, across from Michael Fassbender as Magneto. Kevin Bacon, January Jones, Jason Flemying, Rose Byrne and others have also been cast, bringing together a top notch ensemble. Now here’s one more addition. Earlier today we received word from Blog De Superheroes that Álex González has been cast as 'Riptide,' a mutant who can spin at incredible speed, releasing calcium-growth from his bones at high speeds.

The character of Riptide first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #211, and has subsequently been featured in a number of X-Men comics. The villain was originally member of the Marauders, a team of villains brought together by the mutant thief Gambit at the request of Mister Sinister. He's since died on at least three occasions, only to have been brought back through cloning. As he was never featured during First Class's era of canon, this doesn't really reveal much on how the character will be utilized in the film.

Álex González has had roles in a number of Spanish language productions, and is probably best known for his part in the film Sunday Light.

X-Men: First Class will be directed by Mathew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Kick-Ass), and will be a prequel to the X-Men trilogy. The movie takes place during the 1960s and will parallel the history of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X using Xavier and Magneto. The original team, with the exception of Beast, will not appear.

I see Ian McKellen joined in the anti-Pope march in London to... on Twitpic

I see Ian McKellen joined in the anti-Pope march in London to... on Twitpic

How would Daken have turned out if Wolverine raised him? | Marvel.com News | Marvel.com

How would Daken have turned out if Wolverine raised him? | Marvel.com News | Marvel.com

WHAT IF? WOLVERINE: FATHER
Written by ROB WILLIAMS
Penciled by GREG TOCCHINI
Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
Back-Up Story By RICK REMENDER & SHAWN MOLL
If there's one person who shouldn't raise a child, it's a berserker killing machine. In the regular Marvel Universe, Logan wasn't there for Daken, and his son grew up to become the murderous Dark Wolverine. But what would have happened if Logan had known of Daken's existence as a child, and had taken him under his wing from his first moments? Can a child with Logan's blood running through his veins ever turn his back on murder? Can Logan find redemption and be a good father?

X-Men: First Class Casting Update

X-Men: First Class Casting Update
Catch up on all the recent casting announcements for X-Men: First Class!

Take your seats, True Believers, because things have continued to get more exciting for the cast of "X-Men: First Class."

The film, set to debut June 3, 2011, will follow the formative years of the X-Men and the relationship between Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr, a.k.a. Magneto.

Deadline Hollywood had news earlier this week that January Jones, the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress who plays Betty Draper on AMC's "Mad Men," will play Emma Frost. Jones will undoubtedly bring a chilly air to the telepathic villainess-turned-X-Man also known as the White Queen!

Also reported was Rose Byrne, set to play Moira MacTaggert, Xavier's longtime love interest in the X-Men comics. Byrne, who stars in the TV series "Damages" also seen in "28 Days Later," "Sunshine" and "Knowing," will undoubtedly make things interesting for the young Professor X, played by James McAvoy.

The demonic Azazel will be brought to the silver screen by British actor Jason Flemyng. Having previously worked with "First Class" director Matthew Vaughan on "Layer Cake," "Stardust" and in a brief cameo in "Kick-Ass," the two have clearly developed a rapport that will continue here!

Mystery surrounds Oliver Platt's Man in Black-in fact, we can't even tell if he'll help or hurt our merry band of mutants! Given Platt's stellar performances in "Frost/Nixon" and Showtime's "Huff," though, you can bet he'll wow audiences no matter how malicious or heroic his character!

The young Zoe Kravitz joins the cast as Angel Salvadore, a character who first appeared in Grant Morrison's run on NEW X-MEN. Kravitz may not have many credits to her name just yet, but she's sure to make an impression on moviegoers and comics fans alike with her turn as this interesting mutant!

And on an even younger front, Bill Milner and Morgan Lily will portray Young Magneto and Young Raven, but as to just who the latter is we can't say!

The latest cast members will join James McAvoy (Charles Xavier), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), Nicholas Hoult (Beast), Caleb Landry Jones (Banshee), Edi Gathegi (Darwin), Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Lucas Till (Alex Summers) and Kevin Bacon, who will play an as-yet-unrevealed villain that will menace the young mutants.

Keep your eyes on Marvel.com for the latest news on "X-Men: First Class" as we prepare for its release on June 3, 2011!

Zoe Kravitz And January Jones Join X-Men: First Class; Is Kravitz Secretly Playing Storm?

Zoe Kravitz And January Jones Join X-Men: First Class; Is Kravitz Secretly Playing Storm?

Given the limitless roster of mutants in the X-Men universe I wouldn't be surprised if the casting process for X-Men: First Class really did go on until the end of time. As production gets ready to start at the end of the month we're getting a new announcement seemingly every hour, and now here are two big ones-- Deadline reports that January Jones will play Emma Frost and Zoe Kravitz will play Angel.

This news is confusing in many different ways, so let me start from the beginning-- we've been presuming for months now that Alice Eve had the role, to the point that she was included in nearly every casting roundup, but apparently she never made a deal and was handily replaced by Jones instead. Kravitz is far trickier-- not only is the character of Angel male and played by Ben Foster in X3, but the character was introduced as having had no contact with the other mutants in the past, and as we know this is a prequel. It's possible Kravitz won't be playing Angel at all, and instead this is another one of those casting misdirects we warned you about in July. Feel free to speculate all you like about who Kravitz might really be playing, but I'll wager something substantial she's stepping in for Halle Berry

and playing Storm.

Two more names figure into the piece, one of which, Morgan Lily, we told you about earlier. The other is Bill Milner, a 15-year-old who will play a younger version of Magneto. No, I have no idea how a teenage Magneto is going to fit into this story, nor why we don't have casting for an equivalent teenage Professor Xavier. For all I know Milner is playing Cyclops and this is a total misdirect.

X-Men First Class’ The White Queen is Not Out of January Jones’ League | BeyondHollywood.com

X-Men First Class’ The White Queen is Not Out of January Jones’ League | BeyondHollywood.com

Despite reports that Alice Eve (“She’s Out of My League”) had all but been cast as Emma Frost aka The White Queen in Matthew Vaughn’s upcoming “X-Men: First Class”, that turned out to not be the case after all. Premature casting, perhaps.

In any case, Deadline reports that “Mad Men’s” January Jones (left) has snagged the role from Eve. Emma Frost (below, in all her minimal clothing glory) is a potentially pivotal role in the film, if rumors prove true and Kevin Bacon, long announced as the film’s main villain, turns out to be a member of the Hellfire Club, of which Frost is a main member.

Also added to the cast: Zoe Kravitz as Angel, Bill Milner as Magneto Jr., and Morgan Lily as young Raven.

Two notables here: casting Kravitz as “Angel” is interesting, because the only Angel I know from X-Men lore is the male, winged flying one. So does this mean they’ve switched up Angel’s gender? (Zoe Kravitz is the daughter of Lenny Kravitz FYI.) Also, “Young Raven” could be a younger version of Mystique, whose real name is Raven Darkhölme.

The new faces join James McAvoy as Professor X, Michael Fassbender as Magneto, Nicholas Hoult as Beast, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, Caleb Landry Jones as Banshee, Lucas Till as Havoc, and Edi Gathegi as Darwin.

Earlier this week, other castmembers were announced, including Rose Byrne as Moira MacTaggert, Jason Flemyng as Azazel, and Oliver Platt as an unidentified Man in Black.

Shooting on “First Class” begins next week in London.

Kevin Bacon's 'X-Men: First Class' Role 'Will Surprise You,' Says Matthew Vaughn

Kevin Bacon's 'X-Men: First Class' Role 'Will Surprise You,' Says Matthew Vaughn

Last month, it came as a bit of a surprise when it was reported that Kevin Bacon was in talks to play the "X-Men: First Class" villain. Which villain would he play? Would it be a known or unknown character?

These were the questions I posed to "X-Men: First Class" director Matthew Vaughn when I spoke to him earlier this month about the DVD release of "Kick-Ass," and while the filmmaker was careful not to reveal too much about Bacon's role, he did say that the actor being cast in the film wasn't the only surprise coming out of his involvement.

"I don't think it would be right to give that away, but he's really going for it," said Vaughn when asked about Bacon's character in the film. "He's really up for it, and he's going for it. I'm just thrilled that we could get him."

Vaughn heaped praise on the "Footloose" actor, and confessed to being a fan of Bacon's work "for as long as I can remember. Calling Bacon "a proper legendary actor," the director hinted that revealing anything more about the film's villain would spoil some big moments in the story — namely, his character's entrance.

"He will surprise you," said Vaughn. "I'll put it that way: He will surprise you with the kind of things he will do in this movie. He's not going to be what you expect at all when you first meet him in the film, you will be surprised that it's him."

Not too long after Bacon was confirmed for the film, we offered up our own suggestions regarding the role he should play. With even more "X-Men: First Class" casting news hitting the wire today, are we any closer to knowing which character Bacon will play?

Jason Flemyng and Rose Byrne Join X-Men: The First Class

Jason Flemyng and Rose Byrne Join X-Men: The First Class

Jason Flemyng has officially signed on for Matthew Vaughn’s upcoming superhero film X-Men: First Class, according to Empire. The British actor will portray Azazel, the father of Nightcrawler, in the X-Men universe. Here’s an excerpt from the site’s article.

“Matthew showed me my costume just the other day. Now I swore I’d never be in heavy make-up again, but this role is going to involve it. But at least they said, “Don’t worry, we’ll add the tail in post”. I am Azazel, and I can teleport by waving my arms [gestures like a cross between a flamenco dancer and a Bollywood star].”

The site was also able to confirm that Flemyng’s Azazel will be red, as opposed to Nightcrawler’s blue-skinned character. It wasn’t clear at this time how big Flemyng’s role in the film will be. In other news, apparently Rose Byrne will be playing the role of Moira MacTaggert, a scientist and an authority on genetic mutation. She’ll be the love interest of James McAvoy, who plays mutant telepath Charles Xavier. We thought this role had already been cast with Rosamund Pike set to play this character, but apparently that was premature. Thanks Production Weekly, for being wrong. Byrne is known for her role in the hit FX show Damages, but recently was seen as Jackie Q in Get Him to the Greek.

We are not clear on how big these roles will actually be in the film, but it seems as if Vaughn’s film will be very mutant-heavy with all the various castings happening. Presumably we will see Mystique being played by Jennifer Lawrence giving birth to her son, eventually dubbed as Nightcrawler.

Here is the current cast as we know it so far:

- James McAvoy — Professor Charles Xavier

- Michael Fassbender — Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto

- Alice Eve – Emma Frost

- Nicholas Hoult — Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast

- Caleb Landry Jones — Sean Cassidy/Banshee

- Kevin Bacon — Mr. Sinister (rumored role)

- Edi Gathegi — Darwin

- Jennifer Lawrence — Mystique

- Rose Byrne – Moira McTaggert

- Jason Flemyng — Azazel

We are still waiting on casting confirmations on mutants like Storm, Cyclops, and Jean Grey as part of the First Class, but also what other big ones will show up based on the origin set-up by the previous Wolverine film, such as Sabretooth and Gambit.

Jane Goldsman has penned the script, along with Ash Miller & Zack Stentz, based on the idea by Bryan Singer. Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men. Regarding the film’s story, Vaughn said, “The story that Bryan Singer came up with is very, very smart … It’s very clever when you see how he has integrated the characters into the time period where the film is set. I’ll put it that way. I just don’t want to give it away. … It’s a very clever way of getting these characters involved in recent history, in recent world events.” It has also been confirmed that it is a prequel to the first three movies.

Rose Byrne will be Prof. Xavier's love interest in 'X-Men: First Class'

Rose Byrne will be Prof. Xavier's love interest in 'X-Men: First Class'

Mutant scientific expert Moria MacTaggert makes it to the big screen.

Matthew Vaughn's "X-Men: First Class" is only a few weeks away from shooting, but there are a number of key roles that still need to be cast. So far, the prequel has recruited an impressive list of actors including James McAvoy (Charles Xavier), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), Kevin Bacon (possibly Mister Sinister), Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Nicolas Hoult (Hank "Beast" McCoy) and Alice Eve (Emma Frost, aka The White Queen). Now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Rose Byrne is in negotiations to join the group as mutant scientist Moria MacTaggert, a longtime character from the "X-Men" comic book series.

First appearing in Uncanny X-Men #96 way back in 1975, MacTaggert is a former flame of Xavier's who lead a Mutant Research Center on the fictional Muir Island off the coast of Scotland. A supporter of mutant rights, she has a long history with many of the "X-Men" characters including Jean Grey, Magneto and Banshee. How she will fit into the cinematic "X-Men: FIrst Class" remains to be seen.

Byrne is best known for her Emmy and Golden Globe nominated role in the series "Damages" (she recently received her second Emmy nod for the series), but has also appeared alongside Russell Brand in "Get Him to the Greek," "28 Days Later" and "Troy." She's currently shooting the comedy "Bridesmaids" for Universal.