Bill Condon Page 2

The revelation that the upcoming live action version of 'Beauty and the Beast' will feature Disney's first gay character has caused predictable controversy, with one Alabama drive-in even going as far as banning screenings of the film and Russia has also been called to boycott the movie.

People are really angry about 'Beauty and the Beast' news

A small drive-in in Henagar, Alabama are refusing to show the forthcoming blockbuster starring Emma Watson, Luke Evans and Dan Stevens simply because director Bill Condon recently cited that Gaston's sidekick LeFou (played by Josh Gad) was openly gay with feelings for his master. We doubt this will make a significant dint in the film's profits.

Continue reading: Bigots Are Going Out Of Their Way To Ban 'Beauty And The Beast'

'Beauty And The Beast' has without a doubt been one of the best loved Disney films since its release as an animated movie in 1991. Now that it's jumped on the bandwagon of live action reboots, it has re-emerged as a culturally relevant with a culturally relevant star in the shape of Emma Watson.

Emma Watson stars alongside Dan Stevens in 'Beauty and the Beast'

Director Bill Condon spoke about just why it was so important that the actress took on the role of Belle as we draw closer to the film's release date.

Continue reading: Here's Why Emma Watson Was So Right For 'Beauty And The Beast'

The new live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, coming out on the 17th of March, is set to feature lyrics that were unused in the 1991 version. The Bill Condon-directed film will use lyrics originally penned by the late Howard Ashman, who wrote songs with composer Alan Menken and will feature in the song 'Gaston'.

As Menken told Entertainment Weekly: "In 'Gaston,' we had a treasure trove of lyrics that Howard had written that we did not put in the movie. In many cases, they were a little bit risqué - not risqué sexually, but risqué in terms of sensibility. We all felt ready to have these lyrics. When Bill found out about those lyrics, he said, 'Oh my god, can we please look at that, because it would be a wonderful way to add an extra freshness to the movie.' So, yes, you're going to hear some unheard Howard Ashman lyrics."

Emma Watson at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Insitute in May

Continue reading: Remake Of Beauty And The Beast To Feature New Lyrics

Twilight director Bill Condon is back in the blockbuster business after the disappointment of WikiLeaks drama The Fifth Estate and will director Disney's live-action movie Beauty and the Beast. The news comes after the studio scored a major success with Maleficent, which earned $170 million worldwide during its opening weekend. 

Bill Condon will direct 'Beauty and the Beast'

Disney has also released live-action versions of Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland to huge success, and has Cinderella pencilled in for 2015, as well as Jon Favreau's Jungle Book movie.

Continue reading: After 'Fifth Estate' Failure, Bill Condon Is Directing 'Beauty And The Beast'

Julian Assange has become pretty annoying. There was a period when the WikiLeaks founder was an intriguing guy. People started calling him a rock and roll star. Now, he's holed away in the Ecuadorean embassy, demanding $1 million for interviews, getting visits from Lady Gaga and being mean to Benedict Cumberbatch.

The Official Fifth Estate Poster 

It was revealed in a leaked email this week that Julian Assange refused to meet with the British actor while he was preparing to play the whistleblower in The Fifth Estate, describing Bill Condon movie as "toxic" and "distorted," and forebodingly urging Cumberbatch to "reconsider your involvement in this enterprise."

Continue reading: Was Julian Assange Right About Benedict Cumberbatch's 'The Fifth Estate'?

Sir Ian McKellen is due to star as an elderly Sherlock Holmes in the movie adaptation of 'A Slight Trick of the Mind', a 2005 novel by Mitch Cullin.

'The Hobbit' star has been signed on to portray the world famous sleuth which is set to be directed by Bill Condon, who he previously worked on in Oscar winning 1998 biography drama 'Gods and Monsters', with a screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher.

The Holmes film is about the detective as an old man, partially crippled and only able to walk with a cane, and with an increasingly poor memory. He must crack a case that has stumped him for 50 years before his almighty mind finally fails him.

Continue reading: Ian McKellen Goes From Sorcerer To Sleuth In Upcoming Sherlock Movie

It’s official, screen legend Ian McKellen has signed on to play a retired Sherlock Holmes in Bill Condon's A Slight Trick of the Mind. The movie is based on a novel of the same name by Mitch Cullin while the screenplay is being adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher. Anne Carey will produce.

The plot: a retired Holmes racks his brain for the answers to an unsolved case 50 years prior. His brilliant yet fading mind can’t handle the lack of closure, so, stripped of his once-impenetrable logic, he sets out on his hardest case yet.

It’s not often you can say this about a role – just ask the fans of 50 Shades of Grey – but McKellen is literally perfect to fill this role. Credits for that sentence go to the Oxford online dictionary for changing the meaning of “literally.” But, jokes aside, we can’t think of a better man to take on the part.

Continue reading: Ian McKellen Steps Into Sherlock Holmes' Shoes To Solve His Hardest Case Yet

Few movies feel complete without a baddy that you can lavish hate upon, whose own driving negative force encourages the hero to become the hero. Likewise, great movies couldn't be truly great if there weren't the equally bad ones to put it all into perspective. And that's what the Razzies celebrates: the absolute worst in cinema. While 2012 brought us some of the best films in a long time, it was also ripe for the pickings for terrible, terrible cinematic experiences as well.

The final offering from The Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn Part 2 swept up many Golden Raspberries and should feel proud that they did so, as they're certainly not going to be winning anything at tonight's Oscars. Star, Kristen Stewart, who appears as wooden in interviews as she does playing any character, left with Best Actress for both Twilight and Snow White and the Huntsmen. Taylor Lautner got best supporting actor, Bill Condon worst director and worst screen couple went to Lautner and Mackenzie Foy. That last one should be shared with the write of the books, Stephanie Meyer, as the relationship was tantamount to paedophilia. The film as a whole also scored worst screen ensemble and worst remake, rip-off or sequel. 

Continue reading: Twilight And Kristen Stewart Win (Lose?) Big At The Razzies

The contemporary social biopic has dug a niche for itself in popular cinema, spearheaded lately by such movies as The Social Network. They examine the lives of those who have been influential in contemporary history, and whose influences are still felt. 2013 will hold a host more, including the much anticipated movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch, about Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, now known to be title The Fifth Estate.

According to EW, Dreamworks have just released news that 'principal photography has commenced'. "Now titled The Fifth Estate, the film traces the meteoric rise of the site through the eyes of Assange colleague Daniel Domscheit-Berg" they write. Bill Condon is directing, he's responsible for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, which for many is foreboding rather than exciting, but working with a script from The West Wing writer Josh Singer he's beginning with better material, so hopefully that translates and the movie unfolds. 

Alongside Cumberbatch's Assange, Daniel Brühl plays Domscheit-Berg and Laura Linney,  David Thewlis, Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey), and Alicia Vikander provide a talented supporting cast. Clearly, the team behind Condon is a step above the Steward/Pattinson group as part of Twilight, so despite certain reservations around the director, there's enough good news for us to be a little excited about The Fifth Estate. With its central character still an international fugitive, there is heightened poignancy to its content. Expect its release to hit around November this year, just in time for the awards season.

It's that time of year again! The nominations for this year's Razzies have been announced, with Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 - which made a ridiculous $814 million at the box office - leading the way with 11 nominations, including Worst Film and Worst Sequel. A spoof of the Academy Awards, this year's Razzies' picks arrived just one day before Thursday's Oscar nominations. So which directors, actors and actresses will have let out a giant, "NOOOOOOOOOOOO" when catching wind of the infamous nominations today? And perhaps more importantly, who should win (or lose). Which movies and performances really were the worst of the worst? Here goes.

Worst Picture

Continue reading: Razzies Nominations: So, Who Made The Worst Movie Of The Year?