Úna Hennessy keeps you updated on all the latest Hollywood news.
Stallone Holds a Grudge in New Boxing Movie: It appears that Hollywood just can’t get enough of the boxing movie, as Warner Bros announces that Sylvester Stallone is confirmed to join Grudge Match, alongside veteran film actor Robert DeNiro. The story plays out as the two retired boxers decide to step back into the ring for one more fight. The two actors are, of course, well known for having played legendary fighters in the past, Stallone in the Rocky films while DeNiro won an Oscar for Raging Bull back in 1980.
Actor/comedian Kevin Hart (Think Like a Man, The 5 Year Engagement) is to play the fight promoter who initiates the match, while Peter Segal (50 First Dates) steps on board to direct with Entourage writer Doug Ellin to pen the script. It remains to be seen whether 69-year-old DeNiro will bulk up for the role in order to compete with 66-year-old Stallone who is in top shape following filming recent action movies like The Expendables. The film is expected to enter production in 2013.
Charlie Brown to hit the Silver Screen in 2015: The iconic Peanuts gang from late creator Charles Schulz is to hit the big screen in 2015 to commemorate the 65th year of the franchise. Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the crew, the most widely read and influential comic strip of all time, will be brought back to life by twentieth Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios, with Steve Martino (Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!, Ice Age: Continental Drift) attached to direct.
The beloved comic strip was read daily by 355 million people in 75 countries and spawned such Emmy-winning specials as It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Charles Schulz’s family is heavily involved in the production of the film, with his son and grandson set to produce. The film will no doubt increase the popularity of the Peanuts Brand, bringing the much-loved stories to a whole new generation.
Taken 3: Even More Taking: Given that Taken 2 cost relatively little to make and has had a massive opening weekend recently it comes as no surprise that a second sequel is in the works, according to producer Robert Mark Kamen. It was originally thought that Taken 2 would close the book on the franchise. “We didn’t start talking about [Taken 3] until we saw the numbers," said Kamen. "But then we said, ‘Oh, okay. I think we should do a third one.’ And Fox wants us to do a third one.”
The original Taken starred Liam Neeson as a former CIA operative whose daughter is kidnapped. The film was a surprise smash at the box office, grossing over $226 million worldwide, and reinvented the Irish actor as an action star.
Finding a way to continue the story will indeed be an obstacle. "We've taken everyone we can take," producer Kamen says. "How many times can she be taken? It's bad parenthood after that. Taken 3 is going to go in another direction. Should be interesting”.
