Sequel Bits: Cobra Commander In ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation;’ Plus ‘Rambo 5,’ ‘Beetlejuice 2,’ ‘This Is 40’
Let’s kick off another sequel news roundup with some info on a film that will be out soon.Jon M. ChudirectedG.I. Joe: Retaliation, and the trailers released so far have generated a good level of interest in the film.
In an interview withMoviefone, Chu talks about enthusiasm for various Joe characters and the difficulty his team had with creating a linear follow-up to the first Joe film,The Rise of Cobra. One question many of our readers has asked regards Cobra Commander, and how this film’s character connects to the Joseph Gordon-Levitt version in the previous movie. Chu says, “Cobra Commander was an issue. But I know we couldn’t lose Cobra Commander.”
Asked if this is the same character under the mask, the director says,
No. [Smiling] But we figured out a way that’s pretty nice. And you get the Cobra Commander that you’ve always wanted. Or, to me, what I always wanted: a bad-ass villain. He’s one of the most iconic villains ever. I’m even following him on Twitter — he’s so funny.
After the break, a brief update on the chance of aRambo 5, Michael Keaton is reportedly excited about aBeetlejuicesequel, and we’ve got some info on Judd Apatow’s sorta-sequel toKnocked Up,This Is 40.
There has been a lot of back and forth speculation on the option of a fifthRambomovie, andSylvester Stallonehasn’t always helped clear things up, as he has offered slightly contradictory statements about the sequel in the past few years. But there is a brief bit of hope for those who want to see Sly throw on the bandanna one more time. ScreenwriterSean Hoodsaid onTwitter,
Rambo 5 on hold as Sly finishes Expendables 2. He hasn’t decided if R5 will be an Unforgiven or a “passing of the torch.”
Both of those options could probably be pulled into one, and the ‘Unforgiven’ version is one we’ve heard referenced as a possibility in the past. Before that happens, however, Stallone has to deal with the release ofThe Expendables 2and the shoot forThe Tomb, in which he’ll be joined once again by Arnold Schwarzenegger. [viaCollider]
Seth Grahame-Smith, who got his foot in the door with the novelPride and Prejudice and Zombies, has become a close associate ofTim Burton. He wroteDark Shadowsand adapted his own novelAbraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunterfor the Burton-produced film. And now he’s working with Burton and Warner Bros. on a follow-up toBeetlejuicethat he says is a priority for Burton and the studio.
Grahame-Smith says theBeetlejuicemovie is third on his current schedule, but thatMichael Keatonexpressed excitement and interest in the project. Grahame-Smith toldSTYD,
[Keaton has] been wanting to do it for 20 years and he’ll talk to anybody about it who will listen. I really told him, I have a huge reverence for Tim and a huge reverence for that film in general. I don’t think we should do it if we shit on the legacy. He agrees. So, right now, it remains to be seen, I have a couple of story ideas, but we’re very early out.
Finally, here’s a tidbit aboutThis Is 40, the film thatJudd Apatowwrote and directed featuring returning characters fromKnocked Upand Apatow stable actors (Paul Rudd,Leslie Mann,Charlyne Yi,Jason Segel, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O’Dowd), as well as new additions such asMegan Fox,Albert Brooks,Lena Dunham,Robert Smigel, andJohn Lithgow.
FilmMusicReporter, viaThe Playlist, reports thatJon Brionwill score the film. The capable musician and super-producer scored the Apatow-producedStep Brothers, and is probably most notable for his string of work with Paul Thomas Anderson, culminating with his wildPunch Drunk Lovescore.
We’ll have to wait for the end of the year to see what Brion turns in —This Is 40opens on December 21 — but is is a great bit of news that makes the film a bit more interesting. (To me, at least.)
