Film News: EIFF opening film announced; Comics on TV: Constantine, Gotham, Preacher and more

Feature by News Team | 12 May 2014

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCE OPENING FILM, PRESENT 'HERO HANGOUTS'
The opening film for this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival (18-29 Jun) will be Hyena, from director Gerard Johnson, it was announced today. Johnson broke through with his debut feature Tony, a dark, gritty, London-set serial killer movie, in 2009. The film is brought to you by veteran British producer Stephen Woolley (Made in Dagenham, The Crying Game, Mona Lisa), Elizabeth Karlsen (Great Expectations) and Joanna Laurie. Hyena stars stars Stephen Graham (This is England, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), MyAnna Buring (Twilight, Downton Abbey), and Neil Maskell (Kill List, Wild Bill). A pitch-dark British gangster movie, Hyena is an exciting choice for the opening gala, and will join eight other films in competition for the coveted Michael Powell award – read our piece on the other films in contention here.

Chris Fujiwara, EIFF Artistic Director, comments: "We’re excited to be opening the festival with the World Premiere of Hyena. It’s a powerful and beautifully directed thriller that clearly establishes director Gerard Johnson as a major talent in British filmmaking. It’s also an exceptional example of the kind of film that our festival has traditionally supported: a work in which a director of artistic integrity takes a vigorous and imaginative approach to the renewal of a film genre."     

In another strand at EIFF, announced late last week, Hero Hangouts will see a series of live Q&As with some big names from the world of filmmaking, with actors, directors, producers and more all confirmed for exclusive appearances. With Hero Hangouts being organised by EIFF in conjunction with Empire magazine, the sessions are sure to offer some very exciting prospects and intriguing discussions, and is sure to be a hot ticket at the 68th edition of EIFF.  

TV SPECIAL – COMIC ADAPTATIONS: GOTHAM, CONSTANTINE, PREACHER & MORE
Ever since Tim Burton's stylish, deliciously dark, fairytale-like take on Batman in 1989, superheroes have been big business at the box office. Before Burton, 1980s cinema audiences thrilled to the early Superman movies, which although dated in some ways, have much to recommend them, especially Richard Donner's entry in the series. As recently as 1994, current market-dominator Marvel's movies were cheap, low-budget affairs – it was Bryan Singer's bold, realistic take on X-Men in 2000 which really ushered in the modern era of the superhero film.

With Singer set to return to the franchise with X-Men: Days of Future Past, and the summer box office now dominated by tights 'n' fights flicks, it's beginning to look a little crowded up there on the silver screen. Buoyed by the success of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Arrow and a few notable others, producers are now increasingly turning to the small screen to develop their adaptations – and we are about to see a rash of them in the coming months. So will these shows be more in tune with the beloved but action-light 70s version of The Incredible Hulk? The dreary soap opera of Smallville? Or can they carve out a new and satisfying niche for superheroes on TV?  

First up, there's Gotham, premiering on Fox, and retconning the Batman origin story into an ongoing series that looks equal parts Nolan-esque neo-noir and Dawson's Creek with fistfights and gangsters. Developed by Bruno Heller (The Mentalist), the show follows a young James Gordon, a detective on the corrupt and beleaguered police force of Gotham City. He becomes the protector of a young Bruce Wayne, who meanwhile has to join a high school populated by young versions of many classic Batman villains, not least a junior Joker. It's going to be hard balancing the dark, violent themes of Nolan's Batman (clearly the stylistic template) with the conventions of a young adult-aimed ongoing series, but on the strength of the first trailer, it seems they might just have nailed it. 

For a more adult-oriented show, you could try another DC adaptation – Constantine, based on Hellblazer, a series featuring a character created by Alan Moore. This is the second stab at bringing the Liverpudlian magician and chain-smoker to life, following the competent but risibly-adapted big screen outing, which made John Constantine an American (played by Keanu Reeves). Now played by Brit Matt Ryan, this Constantine looks a lot more faithful to the source material, and with a series already commissioned  (according to Coming Soon), and a pilot directed by Neil Marshall (The Descent, and more recently episodes of Game of Thrones and Black Sails), it comes with an impressive pedigree. 

Other shows in the works include DC's The Flash, spinning off from the Arrow continuity, also commissioned  for a full series and following the exploits of the scarlet speedster. Marvel have Agent Carter, a spin-off from the Captain America movies and starring Hayley Atwell (who confirmed the show's comissioning via Twitter), and a second series of the initially much-maligned, then justly-celebrated Agents of S.H.IE.L.D., recently confirmed by Collider. Plans for other Marvel shows, including a Netflix-only take on Daredevil, and related 'street-level' heroes such as Luke Cage, Iron Fist and The Defenders among others, have yet to take final shape, but are mooted for their TV or VOD debuts in the next year or two. 

Taking longer to reach your screens will be Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen's take on Preacher, another 'mature readers' comic from DC. Rogen recently spoke to Collider about his ongoing adaptation of the fan favourite comic, saying: "We’re still in the writing phase and we’re signing on to direct the pilot if it gets picked up to get made... We really have to shape the whole series to some degree before you start writing the pilot, and we really want to change some of the ideas, not just to change them, but to expand on them and emphasise some and de-emphasise others. So we’ve had to do a lot more work than I expected before we could actually start writing the pilot, honestly. We kind of have to shape the whole series in a weird way. I honestly want to make it so that if you have read the comics, you don’t know what to expect... It’s pointless just to make a literal interpretation of the comics. If you want that experience, you can go read the comics."

What are your thoughts on all of these forthcoming adaptations? Have we reached 'peak superhero' already? Have they got Constantine's accent right this time, or does he sound just a little bit Welsh to you? Will Gotham prove to be more Smallville or more junior Dark Knight? And what about Preacher – do you trust Goldberg and Rogen not to ruin it for fans of the book? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

THE RUMOUR MILL: STAR WARS VII TITLE UNVEILED, MICHAEL FASSBENDER CONFIRMS PROMETHEUS 2 ROLE, IRVINE WELSH TO PEN SPRING BREAKERS 2, MATT SMITH FOR TERMINATOR: GENESIS
A quick run through the scurrilous rumours and casting calls doing the rounds on the gossip sites this week – first up, it looks like Star Wars VII might have its official title. According to Ain't It Cool, the working title for the new J.J. Abrams-helmed entry in the most beloved space opera saga of all time is The Ancient Fear, reportedly a reference to the evil character played by Max von Sydow. Nothing has been officially confirmed here, and the title wasn't mentioned in Abrams' special 'May the Fourth Be With You' message to fans, recorded alongside scriptwriter Lawrence Kasdan, and shared last week.  

Next up, Michael Fassbender will reprise the role of David, the murderous android who completely stole the show in Ridley Scott's dubious Alien prequel, Prometheus. Scott has finished the script, and Fassbender let slip his involvement in a recent interview with Collider

Perhaps the strangest rumour this week concerns a planned sequel to Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers. While stars Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine and Selena Gomez have not been confirmed for a return to their roles, Screen Daily reports that a sequel is already in the works, with Jonas Åkerlund directing, and none other than Irvine Welsh penning the screenplay, which apparently involves the girls from the original film taking on a militant Christian sect. All we have to say about that is... um, what?

And finally, Matt Smith completely fails to avoid timecasting (sorry, typecasting) as he is confirmed for a recurring role in the planned trilogy of films starting with Terminator: Genesis, according to Deadline. No details have emerged about Smith's reportedly major role – he will star opposite Emilia Clarke (playing Sarah Connor), Jason Clarke (John Connor), and Jai Courtney (Kyle Reese).  

TRAILERS: RAGE, GOD'S POCKET
Is there any more sublime sight in a modern action thriller than Nicolas Cage in full-on loony mode, chewing the scenery and pumping bullets into bad guys in slow motion? With a plot stolen from the Harrison Ford / Liam Neeson playbook (daughter kidnapped; wants her back; is great at violence), and Danny Glover essaying the role of Cage's police force Jiminy Cricket (warning him not to pursue the kidnappers.... ha ha, like that's going to work), this might be by the numbers... BUT! Nicolas Cage. Here's the trailer for Rage (formerly Tokarev).

Last but not least, here's the trailer for God's Pocket, one of the final films starring the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman. After his stepson dies in mysterious circumstances, Hoffman's character unravels a web of secrets, lies and deception that will break apart the close-knit working-class community where he lives. With Drive's Christina Hendricks and John Turturro in supporting roles, this looks like it could be a strong performance from Hoffman. 

http://twitter.com/SkinnyFilm