LAPTOP BASED THRILLER (Cast News)

• LAPTOP BASED THRILLER

Screen Daily has word that Elijah Wood and porn star turned Hollywood actress Sasha Grey will star in a thriller called Open Windows, which unfolds on the screen of a laptop computer connected to the Internet.

Nacho Vigolando (Timecrimes) is directing the film which follows Wood on a desperate search for an actress (grey) who has been abducted by a vicious man named Chord, played by British actor Neil Maskell.

Sasha Grey and Elijah Wood

Wild Bunch is behind the English-language film and executive Vincent Maraval says, "Open Windows develops in real time, delivering 90 minutes of suspense in a tense, fast-paced, high-tech thriller with action and terror, updating the key elements of 70s paranoid thrillers through today’s computer and online environment."

But the director himself had some more interesting words to say on this project:

“Just as in Brian De Palma’s 'Blow Out,' the girl is captured. The hero will have to use every means at his disposal to discover where she is, and rescue her from the villain before its too late. The action will be followed on the screen of a laptop connected to the Internet – an approach that has excited us all from the outset. Something like this means going beyond high concept films like 'Paranormal Activity,' 'Cloverfield' or 'Chronicle.' Instead of simulating a home video camera, we will be representing a computer desktop. The movie screen becomes a computer screen, and the spectator becomes the protagonist of this adventure.”

Wood sounds very excited about the prospect saying, “I’ve wanted to work with Nacho since I first saw Timecrimes and his incredible short films. We got to know one another at Fantastic Fest in Austin and when he approached me with this project, truly one of the most unique and exciting films I’ve ever encountered, I leapt at the chance to be a part of it.”

So it’s basically a webcam horror movie?

You excited for this? Let us know and comment below.

CASABLANCA 2 (Talk)

• CASABLANCA 2

Well this certainly isn’t the first time this has been considered has fresh talk of a Casablanca sequel is real, very real.

According to a great piece from the New York Post (via The Film Stage), the sequel would take place twenty years after the events of the first film, where a child conceived from Rick and Ilsa’s renewed affair (and subsequently adopted by Laszlo) named Richard would travel to the Middle East to learn more about his father.

Richard “grew up to be a handsome, tough-tender young man reminiscent of his father. He had been told the truth about his origin and has a deep desire to find his real father, or at least more about him, since Rick’s heroic at actions in Casablanca have become legendary.”

Eventually, “After learning the cafe in the original was blown up by Nazis, he would link up with an Arab woman named Joan (inspired by Joan Baez) and join in on her citizen’s movement to find Nazi outlaws.”

Warner Bros. turned the second treatment down in 1989, but with the 70th anniversary of the film upon us, renewed interest in the project has been sparked.

The biggest question of course is who could possibly be cast in these roles, particular that of Richard.  Aljean Harmetz told the New York Post, “There really are not many solid 20-year-old actors. Certainly not Robert Pattinson, though maybe that guy who’s popping up everywhere, Joseph Gordon-Levitt.”

Film historian Leonard Maltin as well as Humphrey Bogart’s son with Lauren Bacall, Stephen, are both chilly to the idea of a sequel even despite it having come from Koch.  As Stephen puts it, “If they want to make a movie about intrigue in North Africa, that’s fine, but bringing the specter of one of the greatest movies of all time into it makes it just another feeble attempt at Casablanca 2.  There are certain films, like The Wizard of Oz, Gone With the Wind and, of course, Casablanca that need to stay as pristine and perfect as they are.’’

STAR WARS EPISODE 7 (Director Rumor)

• STAR WARS EPISODE 7

Collider has certainly been one of the most trusted websites on the net over the past for years, so when they pick a rumor, its quite possible that it could be true.

Matthew Directing Star Wars Ep. 7 rumor

Collider reports that Matthew Vaughn, the director of Kick-Ass, Stardust, Layer Cake, and X-Men: First Class, is in talks with Lucasfilm to helm Star Wars: Episode VII.

This would explain Vaughn’s sudden departure from X-Men: Days of Future Past (Bryan Singer will no direct).

Last week we reported that Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion dollars and they also announced a 2015 release date for Star Wars: Episode VII. 

Hiring Vaughn, would make sense as he is a writer, who worked on the scripts for X-Men: First Class, The Debt, Stardust and Kick-Ass (with Jane Goldman) so if he ends up directing Star Wars, we’d also be getting someone that could solve script issues on set.

This is only but a rumor, so take it lightly as we wait to see how this will develop in future.

TRANSCDENCE (Update)

• TRANSCDENCE

The upcoming sci-fi/fantasy film Transcendence, starring Johnny Depp and directed by Dark Knight Rises cinematographer Wally Pfister, is being shopped to international buyers at this week's American Film Market.

Johnny Depp

TheWrap posted the follow story summary for the movie: "The story follows three scientists, attempting work on stem cell and advanced computer technology, which  will change the fundamentals of human life. Tension comes into play when they are met by protest and resistance."

The Hollywood Reporter previously described the film "as in the vein of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Inception. The story centers on a man who creates a computer that develops a malevolent awareness. Depp will play a husband who gets sucked into the computer, contingent on changes Pfister is making to the script."

We recently learned that Prometheus star Noomi Rapace is up for the female lead, while Tobey Maguire and James McAvoy are in the running for the other male lead. Christoph Waltz has also been offered a key-supporting role.

Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas are exec producing the Alcon production, which is reportedly budgeted in the $120 million range. Warner Bros. will distribute domestically.

Transcendence begins filming in February.

FOCUS (Cast News)

• FOCUS

As Twilight comes to end with its November 15 release of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, Kristen Stewart appears to have lined up another major role as Variety reports that she's in talks to appear opposite Ben Affleck in Focus.

Ben Affleck and Kristen Stewart

Crazy, Stupid, Love directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa will helm the Warner Bros. production, which is said to involve a romance between a professional conman and someone just learning the criminal art and how their past relationship comes back into play when they meet up again years later.

The duo originaly wanted Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone to play the two leads in the film, however as the pair have other commitments they dropped out allowing Ben Affleck and Kristen Stewart to fill the gap.

Stewart can also be seen in the upcoming On the Road, set for a limited release December 21.