Upcoming Pixar Movies

 

Up will be Pixar Animation Studios‘ 10th feature film. Pete Docter is directing the film and Bob Peterson is the co-director and writer. Jonas Rivera is the producer and it features the voices of Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger and Jordan Nagai. The film is set to be released on May 29, 2009 and will be the first Pixar film released in Disney Digital 3-D(TM).

As described in the Disney press release:

From the Academy Award®-nominated team of director Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.“) and co-director Bob Peterson comes “Up,” a comedic adventure taking off (and lifting spirits) in summer 2009. Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life. “Up” takes audiences on a thrilling journey where the unlikely pair encounter wild terrain, unexpected villains and jungle creatures. When seeking adventure next summer — look “Up.”

 

Toy Story 3 is a forthcoming sequel to Toy Story and Toy Story 2 being directed by Lee Unkrich for a June 18, 2010 release. The story starts as Andy is getting ready to head off for college. It will be made in Disney Digital 3-D(TM). It is being produced by Darla K. Anderson and the music will be composed by Toy Story and Toy Story 2 composer Randy Newman.

As described in the Disney press release:

The creators of the beloved “Toy Story” films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters in “Toy Story 3.” Lee Unkrich (co-director of “Toy Story 2″ and “Finding Nemo”) directs this highly anticipated film, and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of “Little Miss Sunshine,” brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities to the proceedings.

 

newt will be Pixar Animation Studios‘ 12th feature film. Gary Rydstrom will be making his full-length feature film directorial debut. Rydstrom also co-wrote the script with Leslie Caveny. The film is set to be released during the summer of 2011.

As described in the Disney press release:

What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they can’t stand each other? That’s the problem facing Newt and Brooke, heroes of “newt,” the Pixar film by seven-time Academy Award(R) winner for sound Gary Rydstrom, and director of Pixar’s Oscar-nominated short, “Lifted.” Newt and Brooke embark on a perilous, unpredictable adventure and discover that finding a mate never goes as planned, even when you only have one choice. Love, it turns out, is not a science.

 

The Bear and the Bow will be Pixar Animation Studios‘ 13th animated feature film. The film will be directed by Brenda Chapman, produced by Katherine Sarafian and features the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson. The film will be released during the Christmas season of 2011.

As described in the Disney press release:

A rugged and mythic Scotland is the setting for Pixar’s action-adventure “The Bear and the Bow.” The impetuous, tangle-haired Merida, though a daughter of royalty, would prefer to make her mark as a great archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father’s kingdom and her mother’s life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right. Director Brenda Chapman (“The Prince of Egypt,” “The Lion King“) and the storytelling wizards of Pixar conjure humor, fantasy and excitement in this rich Highland tale.

 

Cars 2 will be Pixar Animation Studios‘ 14th animated feature film. The film will be directed by Brad Lewis. The film will be released in the summer of 2012.

As described in the Disney press release:

All the world’s a racetrack as racing superstar Lightning McQueen zooms back into action, with his best friend Mater in tow, to take on the globe’s fastest and finest in this thrilling high-octane new installment of the “Cars” saga. Mater and McQueen will need their passports as they find themselves in a new world of intrigue, thrills and fast-paced comedic escapades around the globe. “Cars 2” is being directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar(R)- winning film “Ratatouille.”

NEW PIC: Two-Face Revealed from the Dark Knight

The Los Angeles Times quoted Aaron Eckhart, the actor who plays Two-Face in the upcoming Dark Knight movie, as saying…“I can tell you that, basically, when you look at Two-Face, you should get sick to your stomach. Being the guy under all that, well, that was a lot of fun for me. It’s like you would feel if you met someone whose face had pretty much been ripped off or burned off with acid. I can’t talk about it beyond that because I don’t want to give away too much of the plans by Chris.”  Based on the picture below, mission accomplished…

 

Official Star Wars: The Clone Wars Poster

Another “Star Wars” tale is on its way to the bigscreen.

Lucasfilm has partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures and Turner Broadcasting on “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” a CGI toon that will bow in theaters August 15^th before moving to the smallscreen in the fall. The feature will set the stage for the spinoff skein, which will bow on Cartoon Network, followed by airings on TNT.

Who should go home tonight on American Idol…

Batman 3 Story Details

The Dark Knight may still be months away, but planning for a third Batman movie is already happening, somewhere deep in the Warner Bros. lair.  Cinema Blend uncovered some of the details about where exactly Batman goes next, after he’s finished with the Joker in Dark Knight.

 

Make no mistake by the way, Joker really is out of the picture after this movie, at least according to our source. We’re told that the Joker indeed was supposed to be back for another film, and that they did consider simply recasting the part for the inevitable Batman 3, but that those plans have been scrapped after the tragedy of Heath Ledger’s death. Joker has been written out of the Batman 3 script.

 

Instead, we’ll get a lot more Two-Face. No surprise there. Anyone who’s seen the recent trailer for The Dark Knight knows the current movie will be dealing with the creation of Batman’s scarred, coin-flipping bad guy. It looks like Batman 3 will continue with his story. We couldn’t get specific details from our source, but she says the third film will be referencing the Batman graphic novels “The Long Halloween” and “Dark Victory”.

 

“The Long Halloween” seems to deal with a lot of the plot elements we’ll see in The Dark Knight. According to Wikipedia, it involves the Joker, and the creation of Two-Face. More importantly, it involves the evolution of the gang of criminals Batman fights into full fledged supervillains. “Dark Victory” is a sequel to “The Long Halloween”, in the same way Batman 3 will likely be a direct sequel to The Dark Knight. “Dark Victory” continues the story of “The Long Halloween” and seems primarily focused on Two-Face, while introducing Batman’s sidekick Robin. Does that mean we’ll get the return of the boy wonder in Batman 3? If the story follows along this same track, it could.

 

For any of this complex storytelling to work, they’re going to need director Christopher Nolan. From what our source tell us, he’ll be back for Batman 3… but only Batman 3. Whether the series goes on from there is anybody’s guess, but all indications are that no matter what happens Nolan quits the world of Batman after the third one, and moves on to something else.