The BAD BOYS Franchise Gets Two More Movies And Dates!

It's been twenty years since Bad Boys started blowing things up on the streets of Flordia, and with the second film in 2003, hopes for a third haven't quiet yet died. That said, a third in-line has been in development for some time now with Safe House scribe David Guggenheim attached to write the script back in 2013 prior to fellow franchise lead Martin Lawrence lending some lip service on Conan last year.

Moreover, just two months ago it was finally reported that A-Team and Stretch helmer Joe Carnahan was eyeing the director's chair, and we actually still need confirmation in that regard as we technically don't see a director attached just yet. However, we do have some extra info courtesy of THR and it looks like we're getting not one, but TWO more films to encompass a Bad Boys quadrilogy!

The report has announced that Bad Boys 3 will release on February 17, 2017, with a fourth installment dated for July 3, 2019. Granted, this could all change as this isn't the first time Sony plotted a course of release dates as recently as last year for the remainder of what would have been more Spider-Man movies with Andrew Garfield, long prior to its current reboot efforts. At any rate, we'll see what happens.

The site has also announced other release dates for forthcoming titles, including 2016 dates for Antoine Fuqua's upcoming Western remake, The Magnificent Seven, now set for September 23 (no longer January 2017) and Underworld 5 for October 21. Franchise lead actor Will Smith can also be seen next year as well in Warner Bros. upcoming DC adaptation, Suicide Squad on August 5.

Check back for more info.

All Six Star Wars Movies Will Be Re-Released In Steelbook This Fall!

2015 is the year to be a fan of Star Wars and if the nearly 50-year old franchise is completely alien to you, you really, really need to get out more. Incidentally, you're also in luck, as timeless as George Lucas's popular film franchise has been since breaking ground in 1977 and with a multitude of games, television shows, novels and comic books therein. Indeed, there are dozens of ways to celebrate this iconic saga, BUT, as if there weren't enough, Lucasfilm, Fox and Walt Disney Co. have announced new Blu-Ray steelbook and repackaged versions of all six movies thus far to arrive between October and November.

Bear these in mind with the forthcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens in December, and guaranteed it'll be a great entry into 2016, and hopefully we will learn more about the progress upcoming spin-offs as well as the eighth film. And considering the announcement, maybe there is something to all those rumors about Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson making a return to their earlier prequel roles...just maybe. Rumors, at best, but just maybe.

Los Angeles, CA (August 5, 2015) – As the galaxy prepares for the next generation of Star Wars, the six epic films will each release as commemorative Blu-ray steelbooks on November 10th. These highly collectible films will be available for a limited time only and can be pre-ordered beginning August 7th. In addition, Star Wars: The Complete Saga will be released in newly repackaged artwork on October 13th. The announcements were made today by The Walt Disney Studios, Lucasfilm Ltd., and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Each film from the Saga is presented with new character packaging allowing fans to choose their favorite or collect all six for a limited time. Characters include: The Phantom Menace – Darth Maul; Attack of the Clones – Yoda; Revenge of the Sith – General Grievous; A New Hope – Darth Vader; The Empire Strikes Back – Imperial Stormtrooper; and Return of the Jedi – Emperor Palpatine.

In addition to the collectible steelbook packaging, each single disc Blu-ray includes existing audio commentary with George Lucas and the film crew as well as audio commentary from archival interviews with the cast and crew.

The newly repackaged Saga includes all six feature films on Blu-ray, along with three additional discs containing more than 40 hours of previously released extensive special features.

Glu Announces Partnership With Jason Statham For SNIPER X: KILL CONFIRMED

I'm not much of a mobile gamer, much less a gamer at all. Nonetheless Glu's latest announcement from Tuesday sure garners some appeal for fans as enticing as it may be now that they're partnering with action hero Jason Statham. Sniper X: Kill Confirmed will be what lies ahead for anyone with a smartphone or a tablet, so I reckon a lot people will be glued to their phones much more when the game releases.

At any rate, this should help bide time for Statham fans along with the forthcoming home releases of Furious Seven and Spy since Summitt/Lionsgate's sequel thriller, Mechanic: Resurrection, moved from its original April date and won't be here for another year on August 26...that's a hell of a jump, and quite intriguing.

Announcement below!

Glu Mobile Inc. (NASDAQ:GLUU), a leading global developer and publisher of free-to-play games for smartphone and tablet devices, today announced the company has partnered with world renowned action star Jason Statham on a new mobile game expected to be titled Sniper X: Kill Confirmed. Statham marks Glu’s first male celebrity partner, and will bring a new audience demographic to the company’s growing celebrity gaming portfolio. 

“Jason Statham’s action persona and strong social following make him an ideal partner for Sniper X: Kill Confirmed. We look forward to launching this new title to a global audience of mobile action gaming fans, including Jason’s social audience of more than 54 million followers*,” said Niccolo de Masi, Glu Chairman and CEO. “I’m pleased to welcome Jason to Glu’s celebrity portfolio and believe this new partnership will cement Glu’s leadership in the Hollywood gaming space.” 

Known for his explosive acting roles, Statham has starred in more than 40 blockbuster films including such global franchises as THE EXPENDABLES and THE FAST & THE FURIOUS, and most recently, SPY. 

Currently slated for global release in fall 2015, Sniper X: Kill Confirmed will incorporate Statham’s name, likeness, and voice in the high-pressure, first-person shooter gameplay. 

With the addition of Statham, Glu’s celebrity gaming platform is now supported by nearly 650 million** total social followers. 

*Statham’s social audience as of August 3, 2015: 51.5 million on Facebook, and 2.5 million on Instagram. 

**Based on the combined Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vevo, and Vine audiences of Katy Perry, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian West, Nicki Minaj, Britney Spears, and Statham as of August 3, 2015. There is some fan overlap among these social channels and celebrities. 

Statham is represented by Creative Artists Agency, Steve Chasman of Current Entertainment, and attorneys Jacob Bloom and Patrick Knapp of Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal LaViolette Feldman Schenkman & Goodman, LLP.

Stop The World! Watch The New DEADPOOL Trailer Right Now!

Following the riproaring thunderstorm of residual uber-excitement stemming from reactions toward the epic Comic-Con trailer for Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice in July, and with the exception of the stellar reception drawn from Warner Bros.'s Suicide Squad, it became quite clear that topping these would not be an easy feat. And then came Colossus, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, swords, brown pants, vehicular manslaughter and frontman Ryan Renyolds solidly in his element as the titular "merc with a mouth" in what can easily be deemed as the next level in Marvel superhero movie fandom.

I speak of the latest official trailer for director Tim Miller's long-awaited comic book adaptation, Deadpool, based on a character created by Rob Liefield and well into a decade in the works for the big screen, and it's easy to understand the delight and resolve being felt in the air right now. Years of worry over a PG-13 rating have nearly disuaded the fanbase from even supporting the movie in that state, and it took the power of the internet to stop that from happening, and gladly all that has changed in due time.

SYNOPSIS:

Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, DEADPOOL tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

Actresses Morena Baccarin, Gina Carano and Brianna Hildebrand, and actors Ed Skrein and T.J. Miller round out the cast woth a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and fight and stunt coordination by Netflix series Daredevil action choreographer Philip J. Silvera.

It's also worth noting that Renyolds won't be taking on another superhero property after this with the exception of a hopeful Deadpool sequel or a possible addition to the studio's currently-developing X-Force movie. So, yes - this is one to appreciate, and no less, support. February 12, 2016 is the date, bitches, so bring friends.

Watch the brand new red-band trailer below, and expect the trailer to play in front of Fantastic Four in theaters this weekend!

Live-Action Manga, TERRA FORMARS, Gets A Teaser And Poster

Rarely have I ever come across any sort of controversy when it comes to mangas or anime movies or shows or anything of the sort. To be honest, the only time I ever pay attention to these is if there's action involved and making it's way to some kind of film adaptation, and that includes director Miike Takashi's latest manga adaptation, Terra Formars.

The film is based on the 2011 manga by Tachibana Kenshi and Sasuga Yū which centers on mankind's peril when Earth and Mars fall victim to earlier efforts to colonize Mars through the use of modified algae and cockroaches. What now lurks on the planet are giant humanoid, and judging by their depictions interpreted in the manga in this article, I can certainly understand how some might deem this to be, well...a little, hmmmm....racist.

That's not to suggest this will be Miike's approach with filming already underway as of May. As to what these creatures look like, your guess is as good as mine, although the film is finally breathing a few signs of life with a brand new teaser, as well as the first official poster. Both are now viral and don't really offer much, but as much as this is tapping into the creature genre, it's worth asking how some may feel about the manga with respect to the film's prospects.

Personally, I imagine (and surely hope) the monsters will look much more supernatural and badass than grotesque depictions of black people. Because despite whatever Tachibana and Sasuga might have had mind, this is kind of awkward in its mild hilarity, and to be frank, maybe a little fucked up. BUT, you be the judge.

The film is set to release in 2016 with Ito Hideaki, Takei Emi, Yamada Takayuki, Oguri Shun, Kosugi Kane, Kikuchi Rinko, Kato Masaya, Ohta Rina and Fukushima Rila starring among its cast. Check out the poster and teaser below!

Zahler's BONE TOMAHAWK Gets U.S. Distribution Ahead Of Fantastic Fest

For fans of westerns and horrors, namely anything with actor Kurt Russell in it, the prospect of watching two Westerns come out in one year is simply amazing. This, with particular regard to the latest news regarding S. Craig Zahler's latest mid-19th century western horror flick, Bone Tomahawk, is worth noting as folks in Austin await the film's first-wave premiere at Fantastic Fest later next month.

The new film joins Russell - co-star of Quentin Tarantino's own upcoming film, The Hateful Eight, with actors Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox and actress Jena Malone among its cast in the story of a crippled rancher who joins a team of gunmen to rescue his wife and other helpless settlers of Bright Hope from a band of cannibals. This sort of thing should be pleasing to the eye and very likely will be, and with that in mind, the trades are actually lending some good news pertaining to the film's release with word that RLJ Entertainment has acquired North American and Canadian distribution rights to the film.

Hopefully later news will be expedient with a trailer and possible release dates very soon as events at Fantastic Fest go underway through the first week of October. Check back for further info.

H/T: Screendaily

Chan: KARATE KID 2 Script Is Still Being Written

Some exclusive coverage over at The Hollywood Reporter has some details largely pertaining to the recovering relationship action star Jackie Chan is working on with his son, Jaycee, following the younger Chan's six-month stint in jail over drugs last year. In the meantime, the article gave brief mention to the currently-developing sequel to the recent reboot of The Karate Kid starring Chan with Jaden Smith in the title role.

The sequel, otherwise promising for fans faithful toward Harald Zwart's 2010 adaptation of the original Ralph Macchio/Pat Morita trilogy, has been in the works for some time now. The repurposed approach to the original storyline sees Smith spirited away with his mother to China and forced to adjust to a new life with new people, only to get swept into a vortex of juvenile drama when the local bullies from a nearby martial arts school find, in him, a target for their adolescent ire; In comes Chan who ultimately saves his life and reluctantly agrees to teach his new underdog pupil Kung Fu when the bullies and their malicious teacher refuse peaceful resolve, in a transformative fish-out-of-water journey leading to a climatic tournament showdown.

Breck Eisner was on par to direct the sequel last year until scheduling became an issue, and so the film still tentatively remains without a director, while Will Smith serves as executive producer for his Overbrook Entertainment banner. Bearing that in mind, seldom headlines have circulated about the film, although it was finally revealed at THR, in a discussion between Chan and The Associated Press, the script is still being written as the elder Smith isn't yet comfortable with it, to which Chan is quoted jokingly saying in reply "...hurry up or otherwise Jaden will be taller than me,".

It's a small update but an update nonetheless that guarantees the film is still happening, and not for nothing either as Jaden has proven to be quite the actor and very much fitting for a role that sees him rebooting a beloved franchise with such physicality and scope. This, plus the starpower at hand with Chan and the likes of Chinese film star Yu Rongguang who appeared in the first film, should open an excellent door for an international variety of talent, young or old, to help welcome the next spiritual chapter of the newly revamped Karate Kid.

Chan's latest epic, Dragon Blade, opens in U.S. theaters on September 4. Watch this space for more info!