Mark Wahlberg, looking a bit glum.

ComingSoon has a new interview with Mark Wahlberg, who in between his TV producing duties, likes to make a film now and then. He stars in this week’s Max Payne, but talks mostly–okay, actually only–about films he is planning for the future, most notably Darren Aronofsky’s The Fighter, which appears to be in limbo. Aronofsky has been tapped to work on the new Robocop movie and Brad Pitt has likely dropped out of the boxing movie. Let’s see what Mr. Wahlberg has to say:

ComingSoon.net: Have you started shooting that [The Fighter] yet?

Mark Wahlberg: No and I don’t know if we’re going to start.

CS: What do you mean? There’s so much buzz about it.

Wahlberg: I know. I keep on training and I don’t know. We’ll wait and see. Hopefully we’ll get a start date one of these days and we can make the movie.

And what’s up with a rumored sequel to The Italian Job and The Departed?

CS: What’s going on with “Departed 2″?

Wahlberg: I don’t know. They’re still trying to make “Italian Job 2″ so who knows. If it’s worth doing and it’s better than the first than it’s worth entertaining. People loved the first one. If we can make it better than the first then we’ll go on to do the prequel and go on to bring everybody back for that.

CS: Is there a script or have you heard anything about it?

Wahlberg: No, they’ve tried many scripts on the “Italian Job”, but we’ll see. I’m never holding my breath.

CS: What about a script for “The Departed 2″?

Wahlberg: I don’t know if they’re working on it yet. I have no idea what’s going on. I’m so focused on “Fighter” and that’s not even happening so it’s all depressing. I’m just looking for the next thing. I’m always looking for the next thing. I’ve done three or four movies since I’ve been training for “Fighter.”

Seriously, Mark, I don’t know if your relationship with The Fighter is healthy. Might be time to have a talk.

Make sure you read the rest of the interview here to find out about things like Cocaine Cowboys.

CS: What’s the hold up?

Wahlberg: A whole bunch of things. It’s too depressing to talk about. I get up everyday at 5:00AM to train for a movie that might not even happen. It’s depressing.

Wow, buck up, little camper. It’s not that bad. At least you can fall back on boxing if this acting thing doesn’t work out.

The Chihuahas can afford the best. 

Some surprises this weekend–despite the arrival of some new big names, the top spots at the box office went to a holdover and a low-budget horror movie.

Last week’s winner, Beverly Hills Chihuaha, took first place again with $17.5 million. There is no question that a sequel is already being planned. Quarantine, a horror movie that cost just $12 million to make, came in second with $14.2 million–and that’s playing at almost 1,000 less screens than Chihuaha. (all numbers, btw, come from Variety and are pending final totals on Monday).

Third place went to Body of Lies with $13.2 million. Considering the big names involved–Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Ridley Scott–and the heavy marketing, it’s hard to consider this anything but a disappointment. While it’s easy to write this off as just the fallout from audiences’ current allergy to anything relating to war or politics, that just doesn’t make sense; this film, about a CIA agent tracking terrorists, was really sold as a straightforward actioner and doesn’t seem to be trying to be anything else. The stars were expected to sell it, as well. Good heavens, if Leo can’t guarantee a big opening, then I guess no one can. Was it just that people are really not in the mood for anything that falls even slightly into the drama or heavier than air category? I guess so.

Eagle Eye, a few weeks into its run, came in fourth with $11 million. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist was fifth with $6.5 million.

The Express, another big new release, landed in sixth place with $4.7 million. This year’s entry into the Inspirational True Life Sports Drama category just might not have been flashy enough to get attention. And as good as it may be, I think it’s just the type of movie that people would put aside as something they’re just as happy to see on home video.

The Duchess, with Keira Knightley, expanded from 127 theaters to 1,207, and that pushed it into ninth place with $3.32 million. The thirst for big gowns and big wigs never ends. Appaloosa, in its second week of wide release, was in eighth place with $3.34 million. Everyone I know who’s seen this has loved it, so if you’re on the fence, I recommend it.

City of Ember was in tenth place with $3.2 million. With its studio, Fox Walden, breaking up as it hit theaters, expectations were low for Ember despite its roots as a best-selling children’s book. There wasn’t much advertising, reviews were bad, and the kid audiences went to Chihuaha instead. Don’t feel bad, Bill Murray. If Leo and Russell can’t win people over, you don’t have a chance.

No, there isn’t an award for best performance on a picket line. 

Hey, uh, remember the SAG strike? I know, it’s been a while. There hasn’t been a lot of talk about this since the Screen Actors’ Guild contract expired last June 30th. Anyway, since then competing factions within SAG have been fighting over whether to strike or whether to take an offer from the producers. Difficulties were compounded when the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), SAG’s fellow performer union, negotiated and accepted its own prime time television contract in July. 

Now Variety brings word that the union’s elected leaders will meet next Saturday to decide whether to ask its members to vote to authorize a strike. If they decide to poll the members, ballots would have to be returned within the next 30-45 days, which would put the actors on strike just as the holiday season is kicking off.

It’s unclear how likely it is that this will even get to that point. With different groups winning more control of elected positions in the union, there’s some speculation that the pro-strike crowd might be pushed out before members are even asked to vote. And even if the vote for strike authorization is sent out, there’s hardly a guarantee that it will pass; the economy is too unstable, and members might be more interested in pushing for a settlement of any kind and be glad to have work. Not to mention the unseemliness of actors being out picketing for more money when many people around the country are just flat out losing their jobs.

That is, if there would be anyone free to picket–as noted, actors who belong to AFTRA as well as SAG–and that’s a pretty large percentage–would, I assume, still be able to continue filming their TV shows; considering how bitter things got between the two unions this summer when SAG couldn’t agree to join with AFTRA, I doubt AFTRA leadership will insist on a sympathy strike. Additonally, many movies locked in deals months before the contract ended that would either let them complete any film that is still shooting when a strike starts, or allowed them to startand continue any films as long as they promised to accept any terms that were negotiated during the strike. That’s a lot of productions that are safe.

So all that said, I think it’s very unlikely there will be a strike. And even if there is, you might not notice it. So eat, drink, be merry, and worry about something else–as if you were ever worrying.

High School Musical 3 is only just hitting the big screen, to the excited cries of 12 year olds everywhere, and older people who really need to get a grip and grow up (this comes from someone who reads Harry Potter and plays Pokemon) a little. But speculation surrounding High School Musical 4 has already begun.

The film is definitely happening, with Disney Channel Worldwide president Rich Ross confirming the sequel back in April. But who will be back for the next film? Will fan favourites Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens make it back yet again, or will 7 year old girls (in the case of Efron) and 40 year old fathers (for Hudgens) hearts everywhere break?

The pair recently spoke to Digital Spy at the London première. Both were asked about the possibility of appearing in a fourth film.

Efron said:

“Well, our characters graduate, so I don’t think that would work.”

Hudgens added:

“Well, we’ve graduated!”

So, I take that to mean it’s highly unlikely, but neither actor wants to rule out appearing in High School Musical 4 just in case the writers manage to pull something off to enable them to once again star. This sort of response also ups their negotiating powers when it comes to discussing the money needed to tempt them back.

I personally couldn’t give two hoots, having never seen any of the films. But I do have sympathy for nieces everywhere who are going to have their first crush on a guy named Zac. And Hudgens is hot, which helps make here rather more palatable as an actress.

This weekend saw news of a new comedy on the way from Seth Rogen: a comedy called I’m With Cancer. The film is based on an autobiographical screenplay by Will Reiser, who beat the disease in his twenties, and who worked on Da Ali G Show and Best Week Ever.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the story, produced by Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Ben Karlin, will focus on a 25 year old man who discovers he has cancer. As comedies go, that’s a pretty dark idea right there. And I’m not sure if it’s just a little too dark and depressing for me.

As this is based on a true experience, and written from the point of view of someone who has been through the illness, you can’t really complain, and with Rogen involved, it’s likely to be funny. But could you really see yourself going to a cinema to watch a comedy about cancer? I’m not sure I could.

I’m all for laughing in the face of adversity, and illnesses such as cancer shouldn’t be treated with reverence to give them power, but anyone who has been touched in any way by cancer may have trouble seeing the funny side of the disease.

It’s a brave film to make, and will probably receive plaudits from critics and fans alike, but this may be a movie I’ll choose to give a miss purely because the subject matter is too depressing for me to take light-heartedly.

All of the Marvel comic book movies are currently making references to The Avengers, a movie set for 2011 that will tie up all the loose ends and bring together Iron Man, Ant-Man, Thor, and Captain America as an all-singing, all-dancing, all burlesque (only kidding) troupe of superheroes.

But while the heroes are all being brought together, there’s still one burning question: who to have as the villain? With superheroes of that calibre fighting against a unified enemy, it would clearly have to be a mighty force, someone or something with super strength, and capable of kicking serious ass. How about The Incredible Hulk?

Louis Leterrier, director of The Incredible Hulk, has already suggested this possibility, and now, according to MTV Splash Page, Iron Man writers Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby agree with him. They said:

“I hope ‘The Avengers’ embraces that. You don’t want like 10 super-badass good guys fighting together. Where’s the fun in that? Let’s break it off a little. Friends or colleagues who become enemies is always an interesting thing because you know it’s based on love and friendship and that’s always the worst thing to have turn bad — is someone you actually care about and someone you actually believe in.”

“I personally like when good-guy characters have to fight each other. Good guys going against good guys who both believe in an issue is way more interesting than a villain clearly into evil and I like when former friends become committed enemies.”

This is a brilliant idea, as The Hulk has always been somewhat of an anti-hero. Pitting him against other superheroes would make for an awesome film sure to draw in the audiences.

With everything building towards The Avengers, the pressure is going to be on to produce something special. If they don’t produce, then audiences are going to be left disappointed. This would surely be a guaranteed way of getting bums on seats and making sure The Avengers is one film not to miss in 2011.

In May, there were rumours circulating about a new Dirty Harry film on the way. At the time, it was though Clint Eastwood had chosen to revisit one of his most famous roles, and give it a good send off as he approaches the twilight years of his career.

Those rumours ended up being false, with Eastwood denying them outright. The reason the speculation had begun was because Eastwood had been working on a new film, a mystery project with the title of Gran Torino. People jumped to conclusions and the rest they say is history, thanks to the rumour mill they call the Internet.

Now, at last, Clint Eastwood has revealed some details about Gran Torino. During promotion for Changeling, he told USA Today:

“I’m a weirdo in it. I play a real racist. … It’s a great time in life (to do that) because, you know, what can they do to you once you’re past 70? There’s nothing they can do. But it also has redemption.”

“This Hmong family moves in next door, and he has been in the Korean War, in the infantry, and looks down on Asian people and lumps everybody together. But finally they befriend him in his time of need because he has no relationship with his family”

Granted, it doesn’t sound quite as exciting as a new Dirty Harry film, but then the idea of a 77 year old playing a hard nosed cop meant that was a no-go from the start. Gran Torino will be released in New York on Christmas day, but no further release information has yet been announced.

Apparently you can make a reboot with the same actor…which seems strange. 

Kellvin Chavez of Latino Review was lucky enough to catch up with Paul Levitz, president of DC Comics, at a recent Watchmen press screening. The mini-interview with Levitz can be found here.

First off, yes, Chavez was completely impressed by the Watchmen footage, but thinks it’s going to be something that people will love or hate, somewhat like Sin City (really? I was completely down the middle on Sin City. Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it).

Levitz said that another Superman movie is still planned but the timeline is kind of fuzzy right now. He mentioned that Brandon Routh had been in to their offices recently to talk about the future of the project, so he must still be in the mix. Bad news if you found Routh kind of forgettable.

Meanwhile Batman holds the key to everything and I don’t just mean untold wealth. Here’s what we mean, as explained by Mr. Levitz:

“Everyone is waiting for Nolan to sign on for another Batman, once that happens, the release date for Superman and all other future projects will follow.”

And what about the Green Lantern? Apparently that’s moving along faster than Superman, which makes sense because I think we’ve been hearing about that one for at least five years.

Another source at DC said that they’re trying to get Nolan to commit to July 2011 for a third Batman movie. If that happens the schedule would look something like this.

Green Lantern Summer 2010
Batman 3 Summer 2011
New Superman reboot Summer 2012

The Flash would be in there somewhere too. It would be great to see a Flash movie, but that one’s been talked about so long I don’t know if it’ll ever really happen.

Anyway, the rest is here at Latino Review, please read it.
 

Here is the last trailer before the Twilight’s November 21st release date. Sorry the quality’s not perfect–I looked around and they all seemed a little pixilated. But it’s better than not having it at all. Take a look.

This doesn’t feel particularly new; I think it’s that we’ve all seen little bits and pieces of what’s in here, but now it’s just all banded together. Still, this does give you more of the film to think about and look at over and over if you’re having trouble making it to 11/21.

See? Josh Brolin seems ready to be a gunslinger. 

Earlier today, Hollywood Elsewhere posted news that Josh Brolin was in talks to play Jonah Hex in an adaptation of the DC Comic. Tonight, Variety reports that it’s close to a done deal.

Jonah Hex is a gunslinger and “part-time bounty hunter.” He’s notable for his disfigured face and partiality for Confederate uniforms. Hex first appeared in the 1970s in the All-Star Westerns series before winning a solo gig. The character has been through several relaunches, most recently in 2005. Crank writers Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor wrote the script and are directing.

After a successful 2007, in which he starred in Oscar winner No Country for Old Men, Brolin’s finally having his moment in the sun. He’s starring as soon-to-be-not-president Bush in the soon-to-be-released W, and also plays Dan White, the guy who shot Harvey Milk, in Gus Van Sant’s Milk. The man has apparently developed a fondness for films with brief, to the point titles.