Our dear
Karl Urban, who has covered pretty much all of the best fantasy sagas from LORD OF THE RINGS and RIDDICK to STAR TREK, has a new gig according to "The Hollywood Rerporter". He will
take the lead role in family oriented 3D fantasy adventure
THE WONDER which will be directed by
Ron Underwood and will also have Chinese actor
Leehom Wang in the cast alongside another major Asian star. The story will focus on 14-year-old Rachel (
Willow Shields) who, together with two of her classmates, finds the end of a rainbow which, magically, transports them to China. There, they find themselves pursued by local authorities and a mysterious organisation. With unexpected help from Consul William Stanley (Urban), the kids are able to elude their chasers but soon discover that their journey has triggered a major natural disaster. Together with their new friend Cheng (Wang), they find their way back home but still need to race against time to stop the global catastrophe.
GERARD BUTLER IN DYNAMO
You gotta give it to him - that Scottish hunkster Gerard Butler sure
does love playing in sports films, from being a coach in PLAYING FOR KEEPS
to
surfing in CHASING MAVERICKS, to kicking a soccer ball in THE GAME OF
THEIR LIVES, he will now do the same but going back to WW2. According to
"Deadline" he has signed on to star in DYNAMO, a true story based on
"Dynamo: Defending The Honour Of Kiev" a novel by Andy Dougan. The story
in the novel is set in the Ukrainian capital Kiev during World War II.
The plot follows a landmark soccer game between the Ukrainian soccer
team and the Nazis. Gerard Butler is starring as the Ukrainian goalie,
who inspired the Ukrainian city in their dark hour. The match is still
remembered to the country as The Death Match.
BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP
If you follow HOLLYWOOD SPY regularly, you already know that last year's UK bestseller
BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP is getting a movie adaptation and you know that yours truly translated one of the world
editions of the book. The story written by
S. J. Watson, already has
Nicole Kidman who will play a London woman who wakes up every day unable to remember anything about her life. She only has a 24 hour memory span. She is told by her husband that she shouldn't leave the house after suffering a trauma. The woman sneaks off to see a doctor, who gives her a digital recorder to dictate her thoughts into (in the book she uses a written diary), with the hope that she will begin to remember who she is. The technique works, although the woman comes to realize the man she shares a bed with is not her husband. The update is that
Mark Strong will play the doctor.
to
surfing in CHASING MAVERICKS, to kicking a soccer ball in THE GAME OF
THEIR LIVES, he will now do the same but going back to WW2. According to
"Deadline" he has signed on to star in DYNAMO, a true story based on
"Dynamo: Defending The Honour Of Kiev" a novel by Andy Dougan. The story
in the novel is set in the Ukrainian capital Kiev during World War II.
The plot follows a landmark soccer game between the Ukrainian soccer
team and the Nazis. Gerard Butler is starring as the Ukrainian goalie,
who inspired the Ukrainian city in their dark hour. The match is still
remembered to the country as The Death Match.
Before I Go To Sleep sounds like a fantastic plot line for a movie and Nicole sounds like the perfect fit for the wife. I wish I had thought of the idea, I'd love to write something like this - oh the ideas I could spin with it LOL
ReplyDeletethe plot has been used many times before on film, in a more or less similar way, but I wish they've used two actresses that S. J. Watson originally wanted - Blanchett or Winslet... although, admittedly, the story really is too weak for the talents of those two amazing ladies.
DeleteWatson came upon the idea while working in his professional field, he's a neuroscientist or a doctor if I remember correctly.
Oooh, Dynamo and Before I Go To Sleep both sound quite interesting, I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteglad you like the sound of those, Megan :)
DeleteBefore I sleep sounds kind of like a horror film. I'm really curious to read the book now, it's like a better version of 50 first dates.
ReplyDeleteit's more of a psychological drama or thriller with a rather cheap crime ending :)
DeleteI must confess that Gerard Butler is one handsome cuss.
ReplyDeletehe sure is, Debs :)
Deletedidn't strong play on law and order?
ReplyDeletedon't know, Adam, never watched the show, it's possible :)
DeleteHe was in the UK's Prime Suspect with Helen Mirren for a couple of seasons. Lots of big stars were on that show before they were internationally famous. :)
Deletethere you go :)
DeleteThat was a great series. I think they have some of it on Netflix.
Deleteglad you liked the series, Annzie
DeleteThey all sound interesting today! I like those stories where the charcter slowly realizes reality really isn't! :)
ReplyDeleteglad you like the news today, Jemi :)
DeleteWow!! Everything sounds great today...I need to get to the cinema...its been a bit since I've gone!
ReplyDeleteI don't even have a cinema in my town :))
DeleteThat makes me sad. Come for a visit and I will take you!!
DeleteI don't even have an airport to come over :)
DeleteWell boo. :(
DeleteBoo indeed :(
DeleteAnd can I just say that was a very handsome post today. :))
ReplyDeleteI haven't read or even heard of the novel Before I Go to Sleep, but based on looks I would think Strong would play the husband. As we've said before, he has that bad guy look down. :)
I did try with the pics :)
DeleteWhat do you mean you haven't heard about the novel? I mentioned it a couple of times when I was doing the translation :) S.J. Watson was even here personally and left comments :) In the book the doctor is very young, so it is strange they've chosen Strong to play him, he would be better as husband, yes.
You know me, THE WONDER looks like the best one here. Gotta love adventures!
ReplyDeletegotta love Karl too :)
DeleteWhoa..Gerry is very active nowadays. Good to know that...Ruth must be very happy ;)
ReplyDeleteI bet she is :) Don't know if she heard about this one.
DeleteI checked all the comment and to my surprise she hasn't stop by here yet!
Deleteshe doesn't visit often, maybe two times a month or so...
DeleteHey, I visit way more often than that Dezzy! Come on, I actually drop multiple comments each time I come here :D
DeleteYeah I heard about DYNAMO, but to be honest I'm not as enthused about it as the story has been done twice before, and GB's sports movies don't have a good track record. He really needs to seek out good screenwriters and directors to work with, I wish he had the career of say, Michael Fassbender, who's beloved by critics and moviegoers alike.
OK, you visit three times a month :PP
DeleteYep, you know I agree with your wish to see Gerry Berry choosing his roles a bit differently, he keeps starring in the same film on and on, but I can't say I like Fassy's choices either. Although I do deeply enjoy the naughty side of his movie choices :P I don't think I've ever enjoyed any of his movies, and even his upcoming films are all so weird. What brings me joy is that he is doing ASSASSIN'S CREED, since I'd love to see him in an action blockbuster like that. Gerry also had a number of possible adventure or sf projects like that but they never went through :(
Now, if the two of them would star together in a remake of FLASH GORDON, I'd die happily :)
Oh I didn't say I LOVE Fassy's choices of roles but I think his career is going much better than GB right now. He seems to work with more acclaimed directors and cast, I mean his next movie is with Colin Firth!!
DeleteAhah, a remake of FLASH GORDON with those two, oh be still my heart!! You know I'd be first in line when that happens, Dezzy!! The original Flash Gordon has the super gorgeous Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin, YOWZA!!
yes, that is true, Fassy is loved by all, and Gerry never got his talent recognised, but that is his own fault in a way :( He needs to do a couple of really deep dramas.
DeleteYes, Barin of Arboria, my fave green planet :) He stole if from me, the devil, in a battle for throne :)
I remember talking to you on twitter when you were doing the translation on this book last year. I'm so glad the film is a go. I'm wondering how you feel about Nicole playing the lead. Methinks you don't like her very well. But either way it will be grand to see something you worked on and know so well on the big screen.
ReplyDeleteGerard can play as many sports roles as he likes just as long as I get to see him sweaty, tousled and hopefully only half dressed.
It was two years ago, Anne :) I did the translation even before the book was released in UK.
DeleteI don't hate Nicole, but I don't like her either. She is too cold and plastic and doesn't have the passion and she gets too many good roles which just don't fit her (from MOULIN ROUGE which would've been better with Zeta Jones, to AUSTRALIA which would've been better with Blanchett in it, to GRACE OF MONACCO which would've been better with Theron or even Kate Winslet).
I had other books I worked on adapted, darling :) from ERAGON and TRUE BLOOD to SPACESHIP TROOPERS.
When we were talking about it last year, I thought you were in the middle of the translation process. Sorry darling.
DeleteMoulin Rouge missed the mark in my opinion and much of that was due to the fact that it just didn't live up to the hype surrounding it. It fell flat for me. Theron is the one I'd want as Grace. Same level of natural features in all the right places on those faces. I love Kate Winslet, but not as Grace.
I do think Nicole looks good in the right dresses. I've seen clothes hang off her frame in such an elegant way and she is a pretty woman. The poor thing married that freak of nature Tom Cruise. I don't know how she survived the horror of that union.
MOULIN ROUGE is still my fave film of all times :) Mostly thanks to the songs, to Ewan and amazing Jim Broadbent.
DeleteI think Nicole married Cruise because the deal was to make her famous and she did become more popular thanks to it. How else do you explain her giving up their kids to Cruise after their split up? They had a contract for sure.
I want to see Before I Go to Sleep! I look forward to it.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good-looking post.
glad you liked it, Medeia :)
DeleteGerard rocks! ;D
ReplyDeleteI remember you talking about this book~ I am looking forward to it~ Thanks for keeping us in the know!
be welcome, hope we shall find out soon who will play the husband :)
DeleteI like the sound of The Wonder. I didn't realise that Urban was such a genre nut as well ... Hmm..
ReplyDeleteJamie
he played in all kinds of films, I'm hoping to see him in a romcom too :)
DeleteKarl, Karl, Karl...All Karl Urban all the time I say. I just hope his gorgeous face gets seen in this new film, unlike Dredd. That was the bad part about that movie. They'd have sold more tix if Karl was seen and minus a few clothes like maybe Dredd behind the armor on a day off or something. ;)
ReplyDeletemaybe seeing Dredd taking a shower in a locker room :))
DeleteNow you're talking! Dredd in the shower all buff and soaking wet...;))
Deletesurrounded with other of his coworkers.... :)))
Delete