Danny McBride will star in Hench, based on (what else) a graphic novel about “a football player who suffers a career-ending injury and needs a job. He signs on as henchman to a successful villain.” McBride will co-write with Eastbound & Down co-writer Shawn Harwell. So, pretty much Eastbound & Down the movie then. I’m okay with that. Danny McBride may not be athletic, but the man can sure swear. [Variety]
Columbia pictures bought the rights to the story of that dude who surrendered himself to Somali pirates in exchange for his crew’s freedom. Sounds good, but… wasn’t this already a South Park episode? [THR]
20th Century Fox hired Paul Verhoeven (Total Recall, Starship Troopers) to direct The Surrogate (not to be confused with The Surrogates). “Based on the 2004 book by Kathryn Mackel, the story centers on a couple desperate to have a child who find themselves in an unbearable position when they find out the surrogate they hired to carry their baby is insane.” Uh… don’t all pregnant chicks go insane? Anyway, Fox and Verhoeven is a good relationship, because no one can do trash like Paul Verhoeven. I ordered a “Verhoeven” at a Dutch brothel once. Once. [THR]
BOOM! Studios (which is disappointingly unaffliated with Michael Bay) is doing a comic book called “Die Hard: Year One” about the adventures of John McClane before he yippie kai yayed Hans Gruber’s foreign ass off the Nakatomi Towers. Let’s hope it stays a comic book. Though I can already see the Fox execs moving their leg around like a dog when you rub its tummy. [ComicsContinuum via /Film]
After the jump, you can watch a new clip from Will Ferrell and Danny McBride’s wholesome family comedy, Land of the Lost. I dislike things that are wholesome and family oriented as much as I like things that are booze related and pornographic, but if you’re into that whole “not swearing” bullshit, I suppose you could do worse than this. I mean what’s the competition? Paul Blart? Night at the Museum? It’s over, give this thing the Oscar. Best Lame Shit for Fags, the trophy could say.
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This is gonna be the best orgy ever!
The full trailer for Will Ferrell/Danny McBride’s Land of the Lost remake recently hit the web, courtesy of Subway. I know it’s a crass Hollywood remake and all that (and it’s sponsored by f-cking Subway), but all things considered, it doesn’t look that bad. I’ve always said, if you’re going to remake something cheesy, at least have the good sense to make it a comedy. Plus, it’s got Anna Friel in it, and I’m telling you, dawg, that girl is slee-stacked. …Whatever, I was already leaving.
This half-month’s Rolling Stone has a fairly informative feature on Pineapple Express. One new tidbit is that director David Gordon Green, who always seemed like an odd choice given that his previous films were all indie dramas, was Danny McBride’s idea.
Apatow and Rogen had met the actor Danny McBride on Knocked Up. Eventually, they cast McBride as Red in Pineapple Express. Just as important, they listened when McBride sang the praises of director David Gordon Green, his former college classmate [at North Carolina School of the Arts]. Green has spent his entire career directing critically acclaimed micro-indie films, including All the Real Girls and George Washington. Green signed on and immediately saw Franco’s role as key to the film. "I remember seeing True Romance with Brad Pitt as the stoner, and everyone in the audience cheering whenever he came on the screen," says Green. "I always wanted to know - what’s his life like? That’s what I wanted from James."
Using Floyd from True Romance as a character template is a pretty sweet idea. But can’t a guy say nice things about another guy without it being described as "Singing his praises?" That makes it sound really super queer.
More stuff from the article after the jump.
Franco hung out with stoners for research. Sadly, it wasn’t you.
Before shooting, Apatow’s assistant, Andrew Epstein, and Franco spent days with pot smokers in the Los Angeles area, trying to capture the laid-back vibe. "James doesn’t smoke, but he could just sit there for hours and observe and talk with the guys," says Epstein. One of the pot guys was eventually hired as a crew member so he could provide on-set guidance [I really hope he had a nametag that said "Pot Guy".]
Whoa whoa whoa, hold the phone there, Cheech, James Franco doesn’t smoke weed? Have you watched this clip? But that’s the story apparently - Seth Rogen is the real-life stoner, Franco the laid-back intellectual. In fact Rogen was originally set to play the drug dealer in the movie until Apatow had them switch, for shits and giggles. Some of their real-life interaction:
"I just don’t want to say it in front of him," says Franco, jerking a finger toward his friend. He flashes the killer grin that launched a thousand detention fantasies. [Wait, what? Did the writer just make a prison rape reference?] But the smile quickly fades and he doesn’t cough up the goods.
"Do it, James," says Rogen, his ‘07 Jew-fro replaced by a security-guard buzz cut. "I need to know. I promise. I won’t laugh."
Franco proceeds.
"I’m going to Paris to learn French. I eventually want to get a Ph.D. in literature, and a lot of the programs want you to be able to read in two languages."
Franco glances at his pal with worry. Rogen gives his best "I’m listening" nod. Franco continues.
"Then I’m going to be collaborating with an artist named Carter. It’s on an installation he’s doing at an art gallery."
Silence. Rogen furrows his brow, looks at Franco and solemnly nods his head. "That’s cool." Franco exhales.
But then Rogen’s straight face deserts him. Out comes his giant bear of a laugh. "No, it is cool, but it’s also a little gay."
After that, Franco plans to take a break from Hollywood to study writing at Columbia (The same program in which I’m currently enrolled, incidentally. What? Stop looking at me like that…). Rogen’s next project is Funny People with Apatow and Adam Sandler, and working on his script for Green Hornet. My plan is the nachos, possibly with extra cheese, thanks for asking.
USA Today has the first official still from the upcoming Land of the Lost remake starring Will Ferrell and Danny McBride.
The featured creatures are Sleestaks (as popularized by the Nerf Herder song, “She’s a Sleestak"). Sleestaks are described as “villainous lizard creatures with a single horn and giant eyes” a la Lisa Rinna. The good news is that director Brad Silberling (Lemony Snickets) fought to keep the Sleestaks as dudes in goofy costumes rather than CGI.
Ferrell plays Dr. Marshall, a wacky scientist who ends up the laughingstock of the scientific community after attacking the quadriplegic and wheelchair-bound Stephen Hawking while being interviewed on Anderson Cooper 360. Dr. Marshall is reduced to becoming a tour guide at the La Brea Tar Pits, the only scientific job that would take him. A young hot scientist played by Anna Friel convinces Dr. Marshall to go with her on an expedition which no doubt takes him to the Land of the Lost. [/film]
I’ll admit it, this sounds kind of awesome. I like the idea of remaking old stuff as a comedy, rather than trying to make a faithful version of something that was somewhat ridiculous to begin with, like say, Speed Racer. Comedies are preferable for the same reason it’s more fun to make fun of old people when they poop their pants than it is to listen to their stories about the olden times.
