Blog Posts by Danny Bowes

Photo: Columba PicturesFans of Daniel Craig's performance in 2011's “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” may be in for an unpleasant surprise in the sequel: his character, crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist may be written out of the film entirely. “The Girl Who Played With Fire,” based as “Dragon Tattoo” on a novel by the late Stieg Larsson, focuses a lot more on “The Girl,” hacker extraordinaire Lisbeth Salander (played by rising star Rooney Mara). But the reason Blomkvist may be cut has more to do with commerce than art.

Photo: The Shaggs onlineThe Shaggs, a ‘60s rock band formed by three sisters – Dot, Betty and Helen Wiggins -- with no musical background after their grandmother visited a fortune teller who predicted great fame for them, are going to be the subject of a new film. Ken Kwapis, who is best known for directing “He's Just Not That Into You,” is slated to helm the film.

Photo: Getty Images

David Cronenberg is reuniting with novelist Don DeLillo and "Cosmopolis" producer Paolo Branco on a new project. Cronenberg will be taking on a rare acting role in "Body Art," director Luca Guadagnino's adaptation of DeLillo's novella "The Body Artist."

'Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith' (Photo: Lucasfilm/20th Century Fox)

The dawn of the J.J. Abrams era in "Star Wars" history will eclipse Disney's previous plans to re-release two previous installments of the saga in 3D. That's right. The long-planned 3D re-releases of "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith" have been delayed.

Photo: Everett Collection

Several key members of the “X-Men” cast are confirmed as returning for Bryan Singer's forthcoming “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” Singer, returning to the director's chair for this new installment, announced on Twitter that Shawn Ashmore, Anna Paquin, and Ellen Page (Iceman, Rogue, and Kitty Pryde, respectively) will be returning for the new film, joining the array of other actors returning to the franchise, among whom are current Oscar nominees Hugh Jackman and Jennifer Lawrence.

The cast of “Days of Future Past” features actors from both the initial trilogy of X-Men films—the first two of which Singer directed before Brett Ratner took over for the third—and the 2011 sequel “X-Men: First Class.”

This movie also boasts two Professor Charles Xaviers (Patrick Stewart, James McAvoy) and two Magnetos (Ian McKellen, Michael Fassbender), raising the strong possibility that “X-Men: Days of the Future Past” will follow the same alternative history storyline of the comic book series.

One

Photo: Sundance

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired “Before Midnight” for distribution in North America and the UK. The third in the series after “Before Sunrise” and “Before Sunset,” the Richard Linklater-directed Ethan Hawke/Julie Delpy romance debuted at this year's Sundance Film Festival to strongly positive reactions.

Dolph Lundgren in 'Universal Solder: Day of Reckoning' (Photo: Magnet Releasing)

If Dolph Lundgren had never done another movie after his breakthrough role as Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV," he'd still be remembered today. But, to the great benefit of the action genre, he kept on, punching, shooting, and detonating his way through a string of memorable movies.

One of these, 1992's "Universal Soldier," has recently been resurrected as a franchise by up-and-coming action auteur John Hyams. "Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning,"  -- which comes out on DVD and Blu Ray this week -- along with Sylvester Stallone's "The Expendables" series, has brought Lundgren back into the spotlight. We recently chatted with him about action movies, directing, his academic background, and what's next:

Getty ImagesJoaquin Phoenix is re-teaming with “The Master” writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson, Variety reports. Phoenix has joined the cast of “Inherent Vice,” from Thomas Pynchon's novel, presumably as the lead. Robert Downey, Jr. had previously been rumored to be playing the role.