See what else is happening in film & TV industries around the world.
Johnny Depp may depart Whitey Bulger biopic ‘Black Mass’
According to reports, Johnny Depp may end up leaving ‘Black Mass’, the upcoming biopic on Irish-American gangster Whitey Bulger. Depp became attached to play the gangster back in February, and just two weeks ago, Joel Edgerton (The Great Gatsby) signed on to co-star as an FBI agent close to Bulger. Depp currently has an extremely busy schedule: Gore Verbinski’s ‘The Lone Ranger’ will be released in the next few weeks, he is currently in production on Wally Pfister's sci-fi drama ‘Transcendence’, and he has recently signed on to star in a musical adaptation of ‘Into the Woods’. Cross Creek and Exclusive Media are funding the independent production while Universal has signed on to distribute. The film focuses on the relationship between James “Whitey” Bulger and James Connolly, who grew up together on the streets of Boston. When they meet again in the 1970s, Connolly is a major figure in the FBI's Boston office and Whitey is the godfather of the Irish Mob. The two then join forces to trade secrets and take down Boston's Italian Mafia. However, after the Feds closed in on their targets, they double crossed Bulger and ultimately prosecuted him. Production on the film is meant to start this summer.
Brett Ratner donates $1 Million to Academy Museum
Producer/ director Brett Ratner (X-Men: The Last Stand, Rush Hour), who famously had to resign from producing the Oscars in 2012, has contributed $1 million to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Ratner had been tapped to produce the 2012 Academy Awards, but a series of controversial comments he made that many found sexist and homophobic led to him withdrawing from the ceremony altogether. He subsequently made several P.S.A.’s for GLAAD and in March received GLAAD's Ally Award for his efforts. AMPAS has already raised more than half of the $300 million it needs to raise for the museum with a fundraising campaign chaired by Bob Iger and co-chaired by Annette Bening and Tom Hanks. The Academy Museum will be located next to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in the Wilshire May Company building. Set to open in early 2017, the Academy Museum will contain nearly 300,000 square feet of state-of-the-art galleries, exhibition spaces, theatres, screening rooms, and special event spaces.
Watch a new clip from ‘World War Z’
A new clip has been released online from the highly-anticipated blockbuster ‘World War Z’. Starring Brad Pitt as United Nations employee Gerry Lane, the film focuses on Lane as he traverses the globe in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and threatening to put an end to humanity itself. Based on the novel by Max Brooks, the film is directed by Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, Quantum of Solace), and also stars Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, and Matthew Fox. The film will be released in Ireland on June 21st.
To watch the clip, click the video below. From Yahoo Movies.
