Hugh Jackman Loses Director Darren Aronofsky For “The Wolverine”
In the Access “Week In Geek,” big “Superman” news with Kevin Costner finally set to play Jonathan Kent, and Diane Lane talks about her role as Martha Kent… Liz Hurley is spotted on the set of the new “Wonder Woman” television pilot… And, there will be no reunion for Hugh Jackman and director Darren Aronofsky on “The Wolverine.”
“THE WOLVERINE” LOSES ITS DIRECTOR – Disappointing news for “X-Men” fans: Darren Aronofsky announced that he is leaving the director’s chair of “The Wolverine,” the highly anticipated gritty stand-alone adventure for the popular Marvel mutant.
According to a joint press release with 20th Century Fox, the film’s extensive shooting schedule in Japan would have prevented Aronofsky from being with his family.
“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,” Aronofsky said.
They previously worked together on “The Fountain.”
Fox plans to “regroup and move forward aggressively” on the film.
“SUPERMAN” CAST UPDATES – After casting rumors circled for the last month, the Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Kevin Costner has finally signed on to play Jonathan Kent (Clark’s adopted Earth father), in director Zack Snyder’s big screen reboot for the Man of Steel.
“Jonathan Kent is the only father figure Clark has ever had, the man who was there to help Clark understand what he was meant to do in the world as Superman. Kevin will be able to communicate the quiet strength of this rural American man who raised the greatest super hero of all time,” Snyder said in a statement.
“It’s going to be a wild ride,” Diane Lane told USA Weekend about playing Martha Kent, alongside Costner as Jonathan.
The film stars Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent, and Lane is looking forward to working with Snyder (“Watchmen,” “300”).
“I love ‘300’ and I’m very flattered to play Martha Kent and live up to his vision. It’s pretty cool,” she admitted.
NO “MEN IN BLACK” FOR BALDWIN – Due to scheduling conflicts, Alec Baldwin will no longer be available to film a part in “Men In Black III” with Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones (returning as Agents J and K).
“I’m not doing that. I’m out of it; the schedule didn’t work out,” he told the NY Times’ Vulture blog.
The film is currently on an extended shooting hiatus, and the adjusted production dates may have conflicted with Baldwin’s “30 Rock” schedule. The film is slotted for a May 2012 release in 3D.
HURLEY HITS THE “WONDER WOMAN” SET – The first pictures of Elizabeth Hurley on the set of the pilot episode of NBC’s “Wonder Woman” hit the web this week.
Hurley plays Wonder Woman’s arch nemesis, Veronica Cale, who is reportedly an evil scientist and businesswoman. Adrienne Palicki plays the title character in the David E. Kelley (“Ally McBeal”) produced show.
After the shoot, a relieved Hurley took to her Twitter account: “First scene in the can. Phew.”
Also seen on site was the new “Wonder Woman” logo, as displayed on one of the director’s chairs reserved for cast and crewmembers on the set.
Plus, for the first shot of Adrianne in the full costume, Access has it! Click here!
“TWILIGHT” DIRECTOR TAKES ON “DAREDEVIL” – Director David Slade (“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” “30 Days Of Night”) has been tapped to bring “Daredevil” back to the big screen. The blind Marvel superhero was previously featured in the 2003 film starring Ben Affleck (Daredevil/Matt Murdock), Jennifer Garner (Elektra) and Michael Clarke Duncan (The Kingpin). While it won’t be a complete re-imagining, the film reportedly will stick closer to its comic book roots, and is unlikely to feature any of the original cast in their roles. The Hollywood Reporter has the full scoop, here.
NEW “X-MEN: FIRST CLASS” TRAILER – An extended international trailer for “X-Men: First Class” surfaced this week with many scenes not included in the recent domestic version. Although this cut is in Russian, there are better glimpses of the “X-Men” mutants in action, including Havok, Banshee, and the blue-skinned shape shifter Mystique (played here by Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence from “Winter’s Bone,” who was just cast in the big screen version of “The Hunger Games”).
SIMON PEGG’S MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GETTING THE GIGGLES – The “Paul” star told Access Hollywood at the red carpet premiere of the road trip sci-fi comedy that he hopes to be back on the set of the USS Enterprise as Scotty in the next “Star Trek” film by late summer. He also revealed what a blast he had recently shooting “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.”
“We had a really good time just hanging out. There’s four of us: Myself, Jeremy (Renner), Paula Patton, and Tom (Cruise). Hanging out is a lot of fun. We went go karting and all sorts of stuff. He’s a good boss Tom Cruise. We spent a lot of time just hanging out and laughing. We got the giggles a lot. Jeremy is a giggler. He’s a remarkable talent. He’s great in this movie,” he said of his new co-star.
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