Former “American Idol” contestant and Shark Night star Katharine McPhee is set to star in screenwriter Paul Tamasy’s (The Fighter) directorial debut Depravity, a psychological thriller written by crime novelist Dennis Lehane (Shutter Island, Mystic River).
Depravity follows a group of roommates who kill a man they mistakenly take to be a killer, causing them to face a true terror and their own… wait for it… depravity. Deadline reports that McPhee will play a twentysomething the roommates try to use as a scapegoat.
McPhee is best known for placing second on Fox TV’s “American Idol” competition and for starring on NBC’s recently cancelled musical drama “Smash.”
Lucy Lawless announced last week on her Twitter feed that a “Xena: Warrior Princess” reboot may be underway. Lawless, who played the titular heroine during the show’s six season run, was cautious in getting fans’ hopes up, but seemed confident that the franchise could be revitalized.
Lawless tweeted:
Had an interesting call from a chap who wants to re-invigorate the Xena brand. You guys may have started something. But there’s a lot of red tape around XWP so don’t get your knickers in a twist. It may come back in a different form.
Lawless, who most recently starred as the ill-fated Lucretia on the Starz original series “Spartacus,” said she believes that a new actress will step into Xena’s boots. While I have no idea who could take on the role of warrior princess, I can’t help but think how perfect “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” co-star Laura Surrich would be as sexy sidekick Gabrielle.
Set in London on New Year’s Eve, Liars All centers on a game of truth-or-dare that spins out of control for a group of friends. The film is directed by newcomer Brian Brightly and stars knockouts Tiffany Mulheron (”Hollyoaks”), Sara Paxton (Shark Night 3-D), Gillian Zinser (Manson Girls), and Alice Evans (“LOST”).
Phase 4 Films has released the first official trailer for the erotic thriller, which premieres on VOD and in selected theaters on June 21.
Lionsgate Home Entertainment has set a July 30 release date for the DVD, Blu-ray and digital download of its girls-in-peril thriller Black Rock. Currently playing in selected theaters, the film is directed by and stars Katie Aselton (“The League”), Lake Bell (“Children’s Hospital”)and Kate Bosworth (Straw Dogs).
Black Rock follows three childhood girlfriends as they set out to reconnect during a weekend getaway at a deserted island off the coast of Maine. Trouble starts when the alluring trio hook up with three poachers they unexpectedly meet on the island.
When the campfire fun turns to attempted rape, the girls have no choice but to run, fall, get naked and fight back! Black Rock marks Aselton’s nude debut and serves as Bell’s second (she went topless on HBO’s “How to Make It in America”).
To catch a glimpse of Aselton and Bell’s full-frontal nude scene in the movie, go here.
Those who hate Nazis, clowns and mimes, but love ball-busting chicks dropping high-kicks in skintight outfits in a style reminiscent of Zack Snyder’s Sucker Punch will not want to miss Imaginarium’s upcoming vampire-actioner The Lost Girls.
The film is directed by Leigh Scott (Dorothy and the Witches of Oz) from a script he co-wrote with lead Eliza Swenson (Dragon), who co-stars with Aleandra Turshen and Robin Rose Singer as time-traveling vampire slayers.
Bankside Films has released a trailer for Mark Hartley’s Patrick, a remake of Richard Franklin’s (Psycho 2, Cloak & Dagger) 1978 Australian frightener, starring Sharni Vinson (Your Next), Rachel Griffiths (”Six Feet Under”) and Charles Dance (”Game of Thrones”).
Patrick tells the story of a man who falls into a comatose state after murdering his mother and her lover. When a beautiful nurse is assigned to his care, he uses psychokinetic powers to communicate with her and to destroy those who get in the way of his new found obsession.
X-Men: Days of Future Past director Bryan Singer posted on his Twitter page this week a first look at Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence in her Mystique body make-up. While it would take mutant-like vision to see any of Lawrence’s X-rated bits through the paint, the photo is nonetheless thrilling.
X-Men: Days of Future Past is a sequel to Mathew Vaughn’s 2011 blockbuster X-Men: First Class. This time out the story finds present day mutants traveling in time to warn the old guard about a dystopian future.
Cast includes Ian McKellan (Magneto), Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier), Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), Michael Fassbender (Young Magneto), James McAvoy (Young Xavier), Shawn Ashmore (Iceman), Anna Paquin (Rogue), Ellen Page (Kitty Pryde) and Halle Berry (Storm).
Star Trek Into Darkness co-writer Damon Lindelof took to Twitter yesterday to apologize for having actress Alice Eve strip down to her bra and panties in the film for no purpose other than she’s Alice Eve and director J.J. Abrams is a caring, wonderful giver.
Lindelof tweeted:
I copped to the fact that we should have done a better job of not being gratuitous in our representation of a barely clothed actress. I take responsibility and will be more mindful in the future.
It’s easy to understand why some people are shocked to see Eve objectified in the movie being that this is the only time she’s appeared in underwear since She’s Out of My League… and Starter for 10… and there’s that time she went nude in Crossing Over… and when she played walking breasts on Sex and the City 2.
Well, at least the media covering this story didn’t exploit her.
Li Bingbing(Resident Evil: Retribution) is set to star in Paramount Pictures’ Transformers 4. She is the first Chinese actor to join the production, which shoots in China this year. Michael Bay is once again at the helm with Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz and old people actors Kelsey Grammar and Stanley Tucci starring.
I am very happy to be able to join this international production. Thank you Paramount for the invitation!
Transformers 4 will pick up four years after the events of Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon. No word on what role Bingbing plays in the film.
Bay said:
I am excited to have Li Bingbing join our cast and to be shooting portions of the movie in her native China.
Bingbing is an internationally famous and award-winning actress best known in North America for playing deadly assassin Ada Wong in Sony Screen Gems’ Resident Evil: Retribution. She was also Ni-Chang, the White-Haired Witch, in the Jackie Chane fantasy-adventure The Forbidden Kingdom.
“Modern Family” star Sarah Hyland is the latest looker to join the cast of Reliance Entertainment and IM Global’s Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters, an adaptation of Richelle Mead’s bestselling young-adult book series from Mean Girls director Mark Waters and Heathers scribe Daniel Waters.
Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters follows the relationship between 17-year-old Rose Hathaway (Zoey Deutch) and her vampire BFF Lissa (Lucy Fry) as they attend St. Vladimir’s Academy, a school for vamps who wish to retain their humanity.
Deadline reports that Hyland will take on the role of Natalie, friend to Rose and Lissa and daughter of Academy head Victor (Gabriel Byrne). Additional co-stars include Oblivion stunner Olga Kurylenko as headmistress Kirova and “Nip/Tuck” babe Joely Richardson as vampire queen Tatiana.
