Disney’s ‘Zootopia’ Teaser Trailer Presents A World Run By Animals
Welcome to Zootopia, where civilized animals, big and small, live together in perfect harmony. Well, not really. While the city may be home to everything from elephants to shrews, Disney’s first teaser trailer shows it’s not all fun and games. When optimistic Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives in town, she soon discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t easy. Wanting to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case by partnering with fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), to solve a mystery. Disney’s Zootopia opens in theaters on Mar. 4, 2016.
Chiwetel Ejiofor To Play Baron Mordo In Marvel’s ‘Doctor Strange’
Benedict Cumberbatch has met his match. After months of speculation, Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) is reportedly in talks to play villain Baron Mordo in Marvel’s Doctor Strange. A sorcerer and student of the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) along with Strange (Cumberbatch), Mordo was exiled in the comics for trying to kill his teacher with dark magic. Yet reports say, the character won’t be ‘completely villainous’ this time around. Instead, he’s a combination of multiple characters culled from mythology. Doctor Strange, directed by Scott Derrickson (Sinister), debuts on Nov. 4, 2016. [Deadline]
Elizabeth Banks in Talks to Direct YA Novel Adaptation ‘Red Queen’
Pitch Perfect 2 was only the beginning of Elizabeth Banks’ directing career. The Hunger Games actress is now circling Universal’s YA adaptation Red Queen as her next project. Based on the fantasy novel by Victoria Aveyard, Red Queen is set in a world divided by blood color — red for ordinary people and silver for elites with supernatural abilities. But when a poor, thief with red blood displays special powers, she is drawn into a dangerous game of betrayal. Gennifer Hutchison (Breaking Bad) wrote the script. [Deadline]
Bradley Cooper, Todd Phillips, and Graham King Developing ‘Hyperion’ for Syfy
As Syfy continues to renew its focus on quality science fiction programming, the cable network has announced that it is teaming up with Bradley Cooper, Todd Phillips (The Hangover) and Graham King (The Departed, Argo) to develop an event series based on Dan Simmons’ bestselling novel Hyperion. Set on the eve of an interstellar war, Hyperion is the story of seven pilgrims who go on a voyage to seek the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Itamar Moses (Boardwalk Empire) will write the screenplay and serve as co-executive producer. But the 1989 Hugo award-winning novel is only one of several adaptations in the works at Syfy, with Childhood’s End airing in December, The Magicians due out next year and Brave New World also in development. [THR]
Christopher Lee Has Died at the Age of 93
Christopher Lee, the legendary British actor who is best known for playing some of film’s most iconic villains, has passed away at the age of 93. According to media reports, Lee died on Sunday due to respiratory problems and heart failure. After serving in the Royal Air Force during World War II, Lee took up acting but didn’t make it big until he was cast as Frankenstein and Dracula in the 1950s. Decades later, he would again become a star when he played Saruman in The Lord of the Rings and Sith lord Count Dooku in Star Wars in the 2000s.