17 years after Waterworld , is Kevin Costner back in the game? “[The] Movie Star is dead. But Costner is catching a wave that is still building, a trend that is still sinking into the cultural psyche — he’s re-emerging not as Kevin Costner, Movie Star, but as Kevin Costner, Portrayer of Memorable Characters. This is the way forward for actors in a star-less world… These days, I don’t think a true star can break through unless it’s on the back of a signature character…This is the future. This is the Movie Star’s second act. It’s not about the star anymore. Now it’s about the Celebrity Character.” [ Lainey Gossip ]
Don’t tell David Koepp that scandal is good for box office. The screenwriter ( Jurassic Park , Indiana Jones: The Return of a Legend ) and director of this week’s Premium Rush told Movieline that speculation that the media scandal involving Kristen Stewart, her Twilight co-star and reported off-screen beau Robert Pattinson and her Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders is somehow good for business is “a cynical response” to the situation. “The people involved in any kind of scandal like that might want to respond, Who gives a shit? I didn’t say you could eat my head . You know?” Koepp told me. John Kamps, his writing partner on Premium Rush, agreed: “I think historically scandal has never done well for movies.” (Movieline will post an interview with both regarding their new film on Friday.) When I asked Koepp what he made of the media frenzy surrounding Stewart, Sanders and Pattinson, he replied: “I think it was sad for all involved.” Koepp was hired by Universal to write a script to Snow White and the Huntsman but explained that he departed the project on friendly terms because the producers wanted to pursue a different direction. “I felt like there was a good path with her, but they wanted to explore a different thing I had no ideas for,” said Koepp, who told me he couldn’t picture SWATH 2 without Stewart and, therefore, “couldn’t follow through.” Koepp observed that the proliferation of social media has made it difficult for just about anyone, not just Twilight cast members, to maintain privacy. “In the past — in the long past now — actors were able to keep their private lives much more separate,” the filmmaker said. “Now, no one really has a private life. I don’t think it’s just actors. I have teenage sons and they’re of the social media generation. That sort of living out loud is just weird to me. “I can’t understand why you would want so much of yourself revealed to just anyone, because it is inevitably — inevitably — a target of derision. It’s impersonal, but hurtful,” he said. “You see people really get hurt by Facebook attacks. Particularly in the junior high sort of level.” Noting that “Hollywood kind of is junior high,” albeit with more money and drugs, Koepp added: “There’s a lot of pain out there for people who are exposed. I feel very bad for actors in that regard. I think it’s a suckie part of the job and, when people say, Well, you asked for it — no they didn’t. “They asked for a bunch of other stuff and were willing to make a bunch of other sacrifices,” he said. “Just because you’re in the public eye doesn’t mean that you agree that there will be a complete abrogation of decency.” Nell Alk is an arts and entertainment writer and reporter based in New York City. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal , Manhattan Magazine, Z!NK Magazine and on InterviewMagazine.com, PaperMag.com and RollingStone.com, among others. Learn more about her here . Follow Nell Alk on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
David Koepp couldn’t envision a Snow White and the Huntsman sequel without Kristen Stewart — which is one reason he says he’s no longer involved in the project. Koepp — who scripted Jurassic Park , the original 2002 Spider-Man movie and co-wrote and directed this weekend’s new bike-messenger thriller Premium Rush — told Movieline that he departed the project because he had worked on a script idea “that I really liked” involving Stewart’s character. “And their situation, I hear, changed a little, so they weren’t interested in pursuing that idea anymore.” Koepp said that was a sign for him to move on. “I felt like there was a good path with her, but then they wanted to explore a different thing that I had no ideas for,” he explained. “If you don’t have any ideas, you should probably put your pen in your backpack and go home.” As a result, he added, “we agreed to part ways and stay friends.” When I asked Koepp if he could see a sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman being made sans Stewart, he replied: “Well, I couldn’t. That was why I felt like I couldn’t follow through.” Stewart’s involvement in a Snow White sequel has been hotly debated since reports broke in late July that she cheated on her on- and 0ff-screen Twilight love interest Robert Pattinson with SWATH director Rupert Sanders and apologized for it. On Aug. 15, Deadline reported that, internally, Universal is discussing whether to focus the next movie on the Huntsman character played by Chris Hemsworth , who is fast proving himself to be leading-man material. Universal also bought a crime drama called 90 Church: The True Story of the Narcotics Squad from Hell for Sanders. Nell Alk is an arts and entertainment writer and reporter based in New York City. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal , Manhattan Magazine , Z!NK Magazine and on InterviewMagazine.com, PaperMag.com and RollingStone.com, among others. Learn more about her here . Follow Nell Alk on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter .
It’s official: Sam Claflin , British newcomer and co-star of recent blockbusters Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Snow White and the Huntsman , has been cast as former Games winner Finnick Odair in Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire . It’s a sizable role and a fan favorite, as readers of Suzanne Collins’ novels can attest — so what better way is there to get acquainted with your future Finnick than with a few adorable, worship-worthy photos? [ GALLERY: 9 Ridiculously Cute Photos Of Sam Claflin, Your New Finnick Odair ] Ever since landing the role of the young love-struck Philip in the last Pirates of the Caribbean flick (he’s the one who fell for the mermaid), Claflin’s been setting up his breakthrough potential stateside; his turn as the moony-eyed Prince in SWATH pitted him against Chris Hemsworth for Kristen Stewart’s affections, and while the Finnick role in the Hunger Games saga isn’t a central character, it’s a notable character that offers Claflin the chance to play more than just a pretty romantic figure. As a District 4 career Tribute who became something of a sex symbol after his Hunger Games victory, the flirty Finnick is known for using his charm and beauty to his advantage although there are much deeper layers roiling beneath the surface. Scroll down for the official Lionsgate press release and jump to this gallery of ridiculously cute Claflin pics to get better acquainted with your new Finnick. Click above for pics. Press release: Santa Monica, CA, August 22, 2012- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE are pleased to announce that Sam Claflin has been cast in the role of Finnick in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel Catching Fire. Charismatic and clever, Finnick was a District 4 Hunger Games victor when he was fourteen. After breaking out in his role as the romantic lead in last year’s PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES, Claflin starred in the box office smash SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN playing Prince William alongside Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth. He recently finished filming THE QUIET ONESopposite Jarred Harris, and MARY & MARTHA, in which he co-stars with Hilary Swank. THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever. THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has sold more than 50 million books in print and digital in the U.S. alone. Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013. Ongoing casting news and information for the film can be found at: www.CatchingFireCasting.com The Hunger Games: Catching Fire hits theaters November 22, 2013. Approve of Claflin as Finnick, Mockingjays?
‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ actor lands the pivotal role of District 4’s dreamiest Hunger Games winner. By Josh Wigler Sam Claflin Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Let’s get this out of the way: Kristen Stewart was wrong for cheating on Robert Pattinson . There’s no excuse for infidelity. It’s immoral and dishonest and hurtful to the person you supposedly care about most. But – good gracious! – have you been reading the Internet since this scandal broke?!? Is it possible justifiable criticism has morphed into ugly, inappropriate, sexist anger? Especially when one considers Stewart’s age and the marital status of the man with whom she got involved? Stewart is 22. Rupert Sanders is 41. He is married and has two children. She is legally single and has none. According to various reports, the leaked photos of this pair represented the entirety of their actions; i.e. they did not have sex . Moreover, Sanders served in the capacity of Stewart’s director on Snow White and the Huntsman , a position of power, someone Stewart – on a professional basis, granted – took orders from for many weeks. But where is the backlash against Sanders? The latest rumor even states he’ll be hired back as director on a possible Snow White sequel , while Stewart’s role has either been eliminated or greatly reduced. Considering all these factors, we need to ask: Is Kristen Stewart being unfairly treated by the public?
Let’s get this out of the way: Kristen Stewart was wrong for cheating on Robert Pattinson . There’s no excuse for infidelity. It’s immoral and dishonest and hurtful to the person you supposedly care about most. But – good gracious! – have you been reading the Internet since this scandal broke?!? Is it possible justifiable criticism has morphed into ugly, inappropriate, sexist anger? Especially when one considers Stewart’s age and the marital status of the man with whom she got involved? Stewart is 22. Rupert Sanders is 41. He is married and has two children. She is legally single and has none. According to various reports, the leaked photos of this pair represented the entirety of their actions; i.e. they did not have sex . Moreover, Sanders served in the capacity of Stewart’s director on Snow White and the Huntsman , a position of power, someone Stewart – on a professional basis, granted – took orders from for many weeks. But where is the backlash against Sanders? The latest rumor even states he’ll be hired back as director on a possible Snow White sequel , while Stewart’s role has either been eliminated or greatly reduced. Considering all these factors, we need to ask: Is Kristen Stewart being unfairly treated by the public?
With Deadline reporting that Universal Pictures is denying a Hollywood Reporter story that Kristen Stewart has been deep-sixed from the sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman , and the Twitter-verse buzzing over the news, we here at Movieline figure it’s a good time to ask our readers to weigh in on this debate. As Deadline points out, SWATH ‘s near $400 million worldwide box-office gross makes it an eligible vehicle for a sequel, and, internally, Universal is discussing whether to focus the next movie on the Huntsman character played by Chris Hemsworth, who is fast proving himself to be leading-man material. According to our sister site, the Hollywood Reporter “used all this as a referendum to stamp out the participation of Stewart, because of recent events , which seemed a bit harsh and unfair, particularly since nary a word of the sequel or spinoff has yet been written.” (There’s also the bit of news that Universal has bought a crime drama called 90 Church: The True Story of the Narcotics Squad from Hell for Huntsman director Rupert Sanders.) So, now we’re dying to ask you: Would you see SWATH 2 without Kristen Stewart? Check out the poll below and vote. It’ll be good practice for November. Take Our Poll Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
Her affair with Rupert Sanders has already taken a toll on her personal life, as Kristen Stewart finds herself reportedly single, unshowered and generally depressed. But a new report reveals a major professional consequence: the actress has been dropped from any subsequent Snow White and the Huntsman sequels. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a follow-up to this summer hit – if there is one – will now focus on Chris Hemsworth ‘s Huntsman instead of the beloved fairy tale character Stewart brought to life on the big screen. Though unconfirmed, it’s likely Sanders will return to direct the film. The original grossed nearly $400 million worldwide and Universal had strongly been considering plans for a sequel. In this same article, a spokesperson simply tells the trade that the “studio is currently exploring options to continue the franchise.” This move is likely to generate a great deal of controversy, especially if Sanders really is behind the camera for the sequel. Would an actor have been fired for having an affair? How can there be justification for letting Stewart go and not the married man who cheated on his wife? Sound off now, THGers: Is it fair to give Stewart the boot from Snow White?
U.K. born actor Bob Hoskins said Wednesday he is retiring following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. A representative announced the actor’s retirement. His career spanned four decades, most recently appearing in Snow White and the Huntsman . “Bob Hoskins wishes to announce that he will be retiring from acting, following his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease last autumn,” his representative said in a statement. “He wishes to thank all the great and brilliant people he has worked with over the years, and all of his fans who have supported him during a wonderful career. Bob is now looking forward to his retirement with his family, and would greatly appreciate that his privacy be respected at this time.” Hoskins received a Best Actor Oscar-nomination in 1987 for his starring role in Neil Jordan’s crime-drama Mona Lisa . He won the BAFTA and a Golden Globe nomination for that role in addition to wins ranging from Cannes to the Boston Society of Film Critics and the European Film Awards. He also received nods the following year for his role in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) and later for parts in Made in Dagenham (2010), Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005), Twenty Four Seven (1997) and The Street (2006). He also appeared in Hook (1991), Brazil (1985) and Enemy at the Gates (2001). [ Which is your favorite Bob Hoskins film? ] [Source: Hollywood Reporter ]
