lifestyle SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2013 ‘Spider-Man’ Universe: Kurtzman to direct ‘Venom,’ Goddard to write ‘Sinister Six’ ony Pictures Entertainment, in association with fourth “Amazing Spider-Man” movie will hit theaters on that Marc, Avi and Matt have begun to explore in ‘The Marvel Entertainment, is expanding its blockbuster May 4, 2018. Amazing Spider-Man’ and ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2.’ S“Spider-Man” franchise with new projects including Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach will produce the films, We believe that Marc, Alex, and Drew have the uniquely “Venom” and “The Sinister Six,” the studio announced which will continue to build on the cinematic foundation exciting visions for how to expand the Spider-Man uni- Thursday night via ElectroArrives.com. Alex Kurtzman, established in the first two “Amazing Spider-Man” verse in each of these upcoming films,” said Columbia Roberto Orci and Ed Solomon will write “Venom,” which movies. Hannah Minghella and Rachel O’Connor will Pictures president Doug Belgrad. Goddard recently Kurtzman will direct, while Drew Goddard will write “The oversee the development and production of the films for signed on to write and direct the pilot for Marvel’s Netflix Sinister Six” with an eye to direct the film, which focuses the studio. Kurtzman, Orci, Pinkner, Solomon and series “Daredevil,” while Solomon co-wrote the surprise on the villains in Peter Parker’s universe. Goddard join Arad, Tolmach and Webb as members of hit “Now You See Me.” The character Venom debuted in Sam Raimi’s “Spider- the franchise’s brain trust, which will maintain the brand Universe building is all the rage amongst studios Man 3,” where he was played by Topher Grace. and develop a consistent tone throughout the “Spider- these days, with Joss Whedon overseeing Marvel’s cine- Meanwhile, Kurtzman, Orci and Jeff Pinkner will write Man” universe. matic universe for Disney and Simon Kinberg shepherd- “The Amazing Spider-Man 3,” which Sony hopes Marc “The Spider-Man film franchise is one of our studio’s ing the “X-Men” franchise for 20th Century Fox. Warner Webb will return to direct. The studio plans to start pro- greatest assets. We are thrilled with the creative team we Bros is working closely with screenwriter David Goyer on duction next fall in advance of a June 10, 2016 release. A have assembled to delve more deeply into the world its DC Comics properties. —Reuters ames Franco is set to star in “The Osman’s journey. Producers expect to Morocco, which would stand in for American as Osman, and they’re open to Fixer,” an indie drama that Franco’s start production in July in Northern Afghanistan. casting non-actors as well as profession- Jfrequent collaborator Ian Olds will California, where 90% of the script takes In a bid for authenticity, the filmmak- als. The project received a development A participant at the New York ComicCon 2009, walks direct from a script he co-wrote with Paul place. “The Fixer” may also shoot in ers intend to cast an Afghan or Afghan- grant from the San Francisco Film Society, past a giant Spider-Man poster in New York in this Felten, TheWrap has learned. The project so Olds and von Kuhn will head to the February 6, 2009 file photo. —AFP is inspired by Olds’ work with “fixers” - Bay Area, Fremont and other NorCal areas individuals hired by foreign journalists to with large Afghan-American populations facilitate, translate and gain access for in February. Golden Globe nominee their stories. Olds directed the 2009 doc- Barkhad Abdi was discovered in a similar Peter Jackson stands by umentary “Fixer: The Taking of Ajmal casting call for “Captain Phillips” in Naqshbandi,” for which he won the Best Minneapolis, which boasts a large Somali New Documentary Filmmaker award at population. Olds served as the editor of 48 frames-per-second the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. Franco’s adaptation of “As I Lay Dying” Caroline von Kuhn (“Like the Water”) and his SNL documentary “Saturday as Peter Jackson reflected on the massive chunk of his of ACE Productions will produce with Night.” He also edited the Franco-pro- life that he’s devoted to Hobbits? “You’re not going to Vince Jolivette of Franco’s Rabbit Bandini duced documentary “Kink” and co-direct- Hmake me are you?” he winces. “It’s a long time. A long banner. The feature film follows Osman, ed the documentary “Francophrenia” with time.” The 52-year-old New Zealand director still has another an Afghan journalist exiled from his war- Franco. Franco currently stars opposite movie to go, so he can be forgiven for not wanting to ponder torn country to a small bohemian com- Jason Statham in “Homefront,” and he’ll too deeply the 16 years he’s already spent in the service of munity in Northern California. When he soon be seen in Paul Haggis’ romantic J.R.R. Tolkien. The latest installment, “The Hobbit: The attempts to turn his menial job on the drama “Third Person.” Franco, who earned Desolation of Smaug,” is his fifth Tolkien film (part two in the local police blotter into “Afghan-style” an Oscar nomination for his performance three movie “Hobbit” prequel to the “Lord of the Rings” trilo- coverage of local crime, he gets drawn in “127 Hours,” is currently filming Sony’s gy) and approximately hour 84 in the Middle-earth saga. into the backwoods of this small town - a comedy “The Interview” with Seth Rogen. That may be a slight overestimate, but in any case, it’s been shadow Northern California where sex is The “Spring Breakers” star was recently a lot of Orcs. The journey has largely been a smooth one. Each casual, true friendship is hard to come by named Best Supporting Actor by the Los “Lord of the Rings” film was received rapturously, averaging and an unfamiliar form of violence lurks Angeles Film Critics Association along about $1 billion a pop, and the trilogy culminated in the all around. Franco will play one of the with Jared Leto (“Dallas Buyers Club”). Oscar steamrolling of “The Return of the King.” But when leads - an unstable hot-tub craftsman Franco is represented by CAA, while Olds Jackson turned his attention to Tolkien’s first book, “The named Lindsay, who is at the crux of James Franco is repped by WME. —Reuters Hobbit,” things got bumpier. He and New Line feuded over merchandising revenue from “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” was held up. Initially, Jackson was to executive pro- duce with Guillermo del Toro directing a two-film adaptation, but after delays raged on, del Toro dropped out and Jackson returned to the director’s chair. When Jackson and Warner Bros. opted to make “The Hobbit” three films, a feeling of Hobbit overdose - and claims of overreaching - began to surround the project. The first film didn’t enjoy nearly as warm a response from critics or filmgo- he trailers for “A Madea Christmas” promise prise visit to Eileen’s daughter Lacey (Tika Christmas Jubilee, until Lacey’s ex-boyfriend in ways that defy all logic. (Solution to bullying? ers. “An Unexpected Journey” made another $1 billion, but it the sight of the tough-talking, no-non- Sumpter), since Lacey told pushy, meddling Oliver (JR Lemon) offers a sponsorship possibility Punch them in the face. Solution to evil corpora- was derided for its lengthy running time (182 minutes), its sense protagonist working as a shopping Eileen she’d be too busy to come home for that’s got more than one string attached. And tions? Promise something on their behalf on a prolonged introduction of characters and its innovative use of T 48 frames-per-second, double the industry standard. Jackson mall Mrs. Santa and shooting down the dreams Christmas. Lacey’s got a sensitive, intelligent student (Noah TV microphone, and they’ll be honor-bound to of bratty kids. That never happens in the movie, Waiting for them in Alabama is a big bag of Urrea) who’s being bullied by classmates and comply.) had already broken new ground with technical effects like the alas, but the sight of Madea in a fake North Pole But you can’t have “A Madea Christmas” with- motion-capture technique used to create the hobbit mutant makes me want to share my own Christmas out Madea, and she’s the reason to see the film. Gollum, and he hailed the higher frame rate as the future of wish: I want Madea to have her own “Duck Soup.” Perry seemed to be holding his nose and trudg- filmmaking - a sharper image that could attract moviegoers Fans of the Marx Brothers fondly remember that ing through the disappointing “Madea’s Witness like 3-D had. 1933 comedy as the group’s finest and funniest, Protection,” but this time Madea has her groove But the 48 fps wasn’t well received. Critics said the film and one of the reasons it’s so great is because it’s back, and she’s a riot. Wisely, Perry has brought seemed overamplified and that the increased clarity yielded a the most unfiltered vehicle for Groucho, Harpo, in Larry the Cable Guy - who’s basically the white discombobulating hyper-realism that contrasted poorly with Chico and Zeppo. There’s no ingÈnue, no love male version of Madea - as a comic foil, and the the set design. With “The Desolation of Smaug,” Jackson story, no non-comedic musical numbers, just 68 two of them volley entertainingly, as does Kathy hopes to be righting the “Hobbit” ship. But he’s resolutely minutes of pure, anarchic brilliance.