There Could Be A Drive Sequel

Twitch reports that author James Sallis who wrote the original novel which Drive is based on has written a sequel titled Driven. The sequel takes place six years after the events of the first book in Phoenix, Arizona. Someone in town is trying to kill Driver and it will be their biggest mistake. There hasn't been an announcement from either Nicolas Winding Refn or Ryan Gosling about their involvement in a sequel. Yet I'm sure since the film got rave reviews from critics it could be worth returning to.

Who Should Direct Thor 2?

Now that we know that Patty Jenkins, Brian Kirk and Kenneth Branagh aren't options to direct Thor 2, who could? Previously we've seen some names that seem like odd matches before but have turned out great for Marvel Studios like Jon Favreau and Branagh. I think with the production date looming the studio might want to consider a few names. They very well won't workout because of scheduling issues but I feel these directors could bring something to the table.

RUPERT SANDERS: He's new to the movie industry but is cutting his teeth with a rather large project currently Snow White And The Huntsman which stars Chris Hemsworth. Rupert already has a working relationship with Hemsworth and seems to be able to handle a project of this size along with it's budget restrictions. Huntsman features a lot of fantasy aspects that could be interesting seen in a Thor sequel. The humor might be an issue for Sanders since Huntsman looks like it could be a lot more serious than Thor. However, the last film was able to balance between many different emotions and could go darker if need be. While Huntsman will get a June release date between now and then Sanders is likely going to be busy as can be with post-production on the film.

NICOLAS WINDING REFN: Nicolas is film geek gold winning over many with his conceptual eye-popping thriller Drive this year. He's been itching to make a comic book film being on many people's list to step in for future Batman films. Not to mention Refn's own intentions on making a serious Wonder Woman film for Warner Bros. but has yet to be taken up on the offer. Refn has stated his favorite of his own films was Valhalla Rising which featured a one eyed mute Viking slave who was a prize fighter. If Marvel really wanted to go the auteur route Nicolas would be that route. He's currently shooting another smaller film title Only God Forgives which could easily be edited on the fly. I could see him being able to handle the genre and it's humor my only concern would be it's pacing. The only issue could be his in development remake of Logan's Run could end up being his next project if WB wants it to be.

DUNCAN JONES: He's been linked as a contender for Man of Steel, The Wolverine and Iron Man 3, the latter more rumor if anything else. Jones is a solid science fiction director his films Moon and Source Code run the gauntlet of emotions which doesn't often happen in the genre. Thor is equally set in fantasy as it is science fiction which could be explored greatly with Jones behind the camera. He currently doesn't have a set film on his slate while the others on the list do. Duncan has yet to fully jump into franchise territory and is unlikely to do so without a serious reason to. One of his passion projects Mute has been lacking in financing which could change if he knocked out something like Thor 2. I liken Duncan to Matthew Vaughn early in his career, so I dying to see what he can do with a Marvel property.

Warner Bros. Adds Another Writer To Logan's Run

HeatVision reports that Warner Bros. has hired yet another writer to tinker with the Logan's Run script. Andrew Baldwin has been set to give his contribution previously writers Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Sunshine) and Will Beall (Gangster Squad) had worked on it. Baldwin recently sold the Yakuza film The Outsider to the studio and wrote Red Asphalt for Timur Bekmembatov (Wanted, Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunter).

The film starring Ryan Gosling has also gone through a few different directors. It first started out with Bryan Singer (X-Men) then went to James McTiegue (V For Vendetta) later to Carl Erik Rinsch (47 Ronin) and finally to Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, Bronson, Pusher).

Johnny Jewel Reteaming With Nicolas Winding Refn For Logan's Run

Johnny Jewel isn't a household name yet but he's responsible for some interesting indie electro groups such as the Glass Candy, Chromatics and Desire. The latter provived tracks for Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive soundtrack. The Chromatics song Tick of The Clock being used for the film's trailers.

Movies.Com (via CinemaBlend) caught up with Jewel in which he revealed he is in talks with the writer/director to score his remake of Logan's Run which has Ryan Gosling attached as the lead. It's expected that after Only God Forgives is finished he'll start working on Logan's Run. Jewel made his own score for Drive that didn't get used instead Cliff Martinez's score was chosen. It's very well possible that the unused music was enough to convince Nicolas. Personally, I love Jewel's music and his score could be on the level of Daft Punk's Tron Legacy or Trent Reznor's haunting scores for Social Network and Dragon Tattoo.


"Nick talked to me a little bit about Logan’s Run...He mentioned it and was just trying to feel out if I was interested, and I was telling him about how on my 30^th birthday, I had a party and I had a blinking stone in my hand, because I was super into that movie and obsessed with the idea of turning 30 or whatever." 

Ryan Gosling Joins Nicolas Winding Refn's Only God Forgives

Twitch reports that Ryan Gosling has joined Nicolas Winding Refn's (Drive, Bronson) Only God Forgives. It's expected to be Nicolas' next project before making I Walk With The Dead with Carey Mulligan. The film set in Bangkok will bring the writer/director back to the world of drug dealers. He blew everyone away with his drug epic Pusher trilogy. It's unknown if Gosling is replacing previously linked actor Luke Evans who just landed a decent sized role on The Hobbit. Kristin Scott Thomas (Nowhere Boy, The English Patient) is expected to play Julian's mother.

"Julian is on the run from the British police. He runs a Thai Boxing club in Bangkok which is a front for a drugs smuggling operation. He is well respected within the criminal underworld, but deep in his heart he feels that his life is lacking something. He meets a retired cop, The Angel of Vengeance, and finds out that he has to confront his mother." 

Carey Mulligan To Star In Nicolas Winding Refn's I Walk With The Dead

HollywoodReporter says that British actress Carey Mulligan (An Education, Never Let Me Go) will work again with writer/director Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson) starring in his next film. The pair recently worked together on the action thriller Drive which is gathering a lot of awards buzz. Not much is known about project titled I Walk With The Dead besides the fact that it's going to be a sex thriller with many nude/sex scenes. It very well could end up in the vain of Basic Instinct or Wild Things.

Marti Noxon Wants To Write Wonder Woman

Screenwriter Marti Noxon (Buffy, Fright Night, Pride & Prejudice & Zombies) talked to FearNet about her dream project which would be Wonder Woman. Currently the only other name contending for the film is writer/director Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, Bronson) who wants Ryan Gosling for a role and Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) for Princess Diana. Apparently Nicolas' involvement will be factored on if Warner Bros. is happy with Logan's Run. I'm glad to hear more and more talk of a serious take on the female hero. Rather than rehashing the terrible sexist attributes of the television show.

"I would love to. To be honest - as scary as it is - part of me wishes I could take a crack at Wonder Woman. There was a moment where it looked like I might get involved in the TV version. She is one of the few in the canon that hasn't been exploited. There are reasons for that; there is stuff in her mythology that are really silly. The costume - she's in a star-spangled bathing suit! And she uses a "lasso of truth" and rides around in an invisible plane. But they don't have to be that way. I definitely have a point of view about that. If I could do it, and nobody could "yell at me"... if the internet wasn't poised to explode in hate, no matter what you did, I would be out there, really pushing for it"

Nicolas Winding Refn Wants Christina Hendricks To Play Wonder Woman

We haven't heard much since director Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson, Pusher Trilogy) began his campaign to make his gritty Wonder Woman film. Previously Ryan Gosling said he'd be up to take a role in the purposed projected if offered just to work with Nicolas again. The pair are about to start work on the Logan's Run remake for Warner Bros.

During promotion for the upcoming heist thriller Drive the director gave another bit of casting hopes this time involving the lead. Nicolas wants Christina Hendricks (Mad Men, Drive) for the Wonder Woman role and also would like a crack at writing the film.

FIRST LOOK: Official Stills & Promo Poster From Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive

Will Beall In Talks To Rework Logan's Run Script

HeatVision reports Warner Bros. is talks with new screenwriter Will Beall to rework Alex Garland's Logan's Run script. Beall wrote Gangster Squad for the studio which is quickly becoming a very large project. Currently Nicolas Winding Refn is set to direct with Ryan Gosling in lead.

Justice League & Wonder Woman Films In The Works

Along with the news of a reboot for Batman Warner Bros' Jeff Robinov also spoke out on other DC hero projects. He confirms that script a for a new Justice League film is currently in the works. It's unknown if this a completely new take or a reworking of the previous script for George Miller's Justice League of America that got scrapped. What is known that Christopher Nolan will likely be involved as he is producing both the Superman and Batman reboots. I wouldn't be shocked to see him also producing Justice League and other future DC films. As it sits Ryan Reynolds and Henry Cavill seem like the only actors set for the film.

He also confirms that The Flash and Wonder Woman are still in development.  Last we heard of Wonder Woman there was a version in the works with Joss Whedon directing and Joel Silver producing. It's possible it could be a different take and be reworked to fall in a similar world of the new films. It's great news as fans have reservations of the new Wonder Woman television series which looks like it could end up really bad. Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, Pusher Trilogy, Bronson, Logan's Run) had openly campaigned to direct a gritty Wonder Woman film and now that he's directing Warner Bros' Logan's Run it's strong possibility he could be hired. As for Flash,  script had been delivered to the studio back in December but no director has been announced.

Of course this sounds in line with previous talk of the DC heroes taking over for the Harry Potter franchise. So I expect we could be seeing two DC films a year one in the summer and one during the Christmas season. Not mentioned is the fate of the Green Arrow film Supermax written by David S. Goyer (Superman: Man of Steel, Nolan's Batman Films, Blade) or the rumored Aquaman project. If they are on the road of a Justice League film they really should put Supermax back in development as Green Arrow would be needed to ground the film slightly as he doesn't have superpowers. One thing that grounds the Avengers is the fact that characters like Hawkeye, Black Widow, Maria Hill and Nick Fury don't have superpowers but are still great heroes.

Nicolas Winding Refn To Direct Logan's Run, Ryan Gosling Closing Deal To Star

It looks like Warner Bros. has finally got their Logan's Run remake close to production. Deadline reports that Nicolas Winding Refn (Pusher Trilogy, Bronson) is set to direct with Ryan Gosling finalizing his deal to play Logan. Gosling recently worked with Nicolas on the action thriller Drive and seems to be the key reason he's finally making an event studio film. I'm also excited to see Winding Refn jump into the sci-fi genre.

Bryan Singer had once been attached to direct but left to focus on other films. Carl Rinsch (The Gift, 47 Ronin) was next but also ditched the project to shoot his samurai film 47 Ronin. Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Sunshine, Never Let Me Go, Dredd) has written a well received script for the studio and it's expected it could go into production sometime this year.

Ryan Gosling Considering The Flash If Nicolas Winding Refn Directs

Ryan Gosling is no stranger to the world of casting rumors he previous had been mentioned as a contender for Green Lantern. Now Ryan is starting his own comic book rumors while talking to ThePlaylist during his current press junket for Blue Valentine.

He mentions director Nicolas Winding Refn's passion for Wonder Woman. Along with the possibility of starring in The Flash if Refn was directing. Gosling is working with Refn on Drive which he mentions could get a sequel. Going with director Nicolas Winding Refn would be similar to hiring Christopher Nolan for Batman and Darren Aronofsky for The Wolverine.

“I mean, I’m not actively looking for [a franchise],” Gosling qualified, “It would be like, ‘Who’s directing it, what’s the story? ....He’s [Refn] talked to me about Wonder Woman. They should totally let him do it.”

“If Nicolas wanted to do ‘The Flash’....I don’t know. I’d probably have to think about it.”
 

Ron Perlman Joins Drive

Ron Perlman (Hellboy) has signed on for Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive. The impressive cast already includes Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) and Oscar Isaacs (Robin Hood).

Christina Hendricks Joins Drive

Variety reports Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) has joined Nicolas Winding Refn's (Pusher, Bronson) Drive. The film already stars Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston and Oscar Isaacs. The film revolves around a Hollywood stunt drive (Gosling) who moonlights as a getaway driver in L.A.'s criminal underworld. He finds himself a target after agreeing to aid the ex-con boyfriend of his beautiful neighbor (Mulligan) in a job that goes dangerously awry. The only way he can keep her safe and stay alive is to do what he does best drive.

Albert Brooks To Play Villain In Drive

This seems like excellent casting on the part of writer/director Nicolas Winding Refn (Pusher, Bronson). He's put Albert Brooks (Simpsons, Out of Sight) best known for nice guy comedic roles in the role of the baddie in Drive. Some might remember Brooks played the over the top Bond-type villain Hank Scorpio on the Simpsons. He also played the villain in the Simpsons movie.

Carey Muillgan In Talks For Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive

Carey Mulligan is in talks to star alongside Ryan Gosling in the crime thriller Drive.

Nicolas Winding Refn Talks Wonder Woman

Auteur director Nicolas Winding Refn has been campaigning to direct Wonder Woman. He recently talked about the film and hopes his next project Drive starring Ryan Gosling will give him some Hollywood-cred. His approach sounds interesting enough that DCE would be crazy not to think it over.

"I'm very optimistic about 'Drive.' The people [working on it] are great. So ask me in a year if I liked my Hollywood experience, but I have this dream concept: I want to make Wonder Woman as a feature And I thought in order to access to that I should probably become a bit more Hollywood friendly."


"They've been working on it for 40 years, he said. "It's going to be a concept that keep evolving for decades unless someone makes it. There's a million takes on it. She is, along with Batman and Superman one of the three original, iconic super heroes. And I think that it being a woman and she being created by a psychologist who was very interested in certain fetish elements — if you look at the original Wonder Woman its all about woman in very little clothes tying each other up, I don't know what you would call that, but I would call it quite fetish. And then giving her interesting powers and having her come from an island of woman. To me the real rosebud lies in the fact that its really about, what if women were stronger than men on all fronts: how would the world look like? If you do her as an average crusader in hot pants running around — which of course you have to do to some extent— but if you don't go beyond that its going to be really cheesy or silly and sure they'll be action, but its nothing special."

Nicolas Winding Refn Born To Make Wonder Woman?

DC Entrainment and Warner Bros. have made some interesting directorial choices in the past. Previously with Christopher Nolan for Batman Begins, Zack Snyder for Watchmen, Neveldine/Taylor for Jonah Hex (before they left) and recently Vincenzo Natali (Splice) for Swamp Thing. Now there is word from a BBC interview that Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson, Pusher Trilogy) is interested in directing the Wonder Woman film. This could be one of the biggest gutsy moves from the studio if this happens. Refn has one of the best track records in making cool as shit films. If anyone can make a serious film about Wonder Woman it would be Nicolas. He comes from a similar auteur film making sensibility as Nolan and could really pump new life into the character.

"After Valhalla Rising I thought the most surprising thing for me would be to go to Los Angeles and do a studio movie. Coming from a movie where I had complete control — I also own the movie — and had complete, kind of like, accessibility around me, and then going to Hollywood and doing a film within the studio, which is very much the opposite, I thought could be a very interesting experience for me."

"I guess one of the aims I am having, but at the very early stage, I always wanted to do Wonder Woman as a feature film…Well, I would say that Wonder Woman is probably something that, to me, would be not just a satisfaction, but almost a [catharsis], and I was born to make it."