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Pearce to pen 'Godzilla' re-write
'Iron Man 3' scribe will age up characters for Legendary pic


www.variety.com/article/VR1118060280?refCatId=13

With buzz of the project rising, Legendary has brought in "Iron Man 3" scribe Drew Pearce to do a rewrite on "Godzilla" before it gets the casting process under way.

"Godzilla" has gained a lot of momentum after Legendary previewed a short test reel of the pic at Comic-Con, and sources tell Variety that Pearce is now being brought in to do a four-week polish on the script.

Gareth Edwards is helming the pic. Legendary's Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni will produce, along with Roy Lee, Dan Lin and Brian Rogers. Alex Garcia and Patricia Whitcher will serve as executive producers alongside Doug Davison, Yoshimitsu Banno and Kenji Okuhira.

Previous drafts were penned by David Callahan, who wrote the original draft, as well as David Goyer and Max Borenstein. Sources add that the polish isn't being done because Legendary has any major problems with the script; it wants to age up the characters so that they fit the prototype of the actors they would like to target.

Besides "Iron Man 3," the WME-repped Pearce is also working on the script for WB's "Sherlock Holmes 3."

‘Godzilla’ Cast Finalized; Begins Production in Canada

screenrant.com/godzilla-reboot-cast-director-2014/

Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have confirmed the beginning of production on the Godzilla reboot, a project that features Gareth Edwards serving as director and a human cast that includes several Oscar-nominees (and one winner) among its ranks.

We now have official confirmation for all the actors and actresses reported as being in talks for the giant monster blockbuster in recent months (while awaiting Frank Darabont’s final script re-write), as well as one more critically-acclaimed name that was not previously associated with the project. They will be working alongside hundreds of technicians and local extras from the city of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island – where the production is starting out.

Here’s the lowdown on the Godzilla production (via Canada.com):

The film, whose working title is Nautilus, did a casting call in February for extras and recently notified residents along Old Victoria Road that filming is about to begin. Joan Miller, the North Island film commissioner, says Vancouver Island will make up the first shots for the new take on the legendary radioactive monster, which is set to hit theatres next year. Crews will stay in Nanaimo hotels for three days while they shoot the scenes downtown and Ladysmith area before they move onto Shawnigan Lake.

Godzilla features Aaron-Taylor Johnson (Savages, Kick-Ass 2) as the human male lead, in addition to Elizabeth Olsen (Silent House), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Juliette Binoche (Cosmopolis) and David Strathairn (Lincoln) playing important leading or supporting roles. They will be joined by Ken Watanabe, whose Hollywood credits include The Last Samurai, Batman Begins and Inception; he’ll be appearing in a Japanese remake of the Clint Eastwood western Unforgiven releasing later this year (going under the non-English title “Yurusarezaru mono”).

Ken Watanabe has joined the ‘Godzilla’ cast

Few concrete details have been revealed about the Godzilla reboot plot; though, Edwards says he and the credited screenwriters – which include Max Borenstein (The Seventh Son) and Dave Callaham (Doom, The Expendables) for a previous draft – intend to bring the franchise back to its roots, as a dramatic and serious disaster blockbuster which taps into the modern cultural zeitgeist (much like the original 1954 Japanese film dealt with the aftermath of the atomic bombings in WWII).

Here is a direct quote from Edwards, describing his approach on the project:

“I’ve always been interested in Godzilla and the ideas around him. I really wanted to see another Godzilla film and jumped at the opportunity. My main idea was to imagine ‘If this really happened, what would it be like?’ I want to take a grounded, realistic approach to a Godzilla film.”

Edwards faces a similar challenge as Jurassic Park 4 director Colin Trevorrow, in the sense that he’s also generated buzz as a promising new filmmaker – thanks to his effective mix of character-driven storytelling and low-budget special effects on the indie flick Monsters. He has our (and many fans) vote of confidence on the Godzilla reboot, thanks to his passionate display and the impressive test trailer shown at last year’s Comic-Con presentation.

Godzilla opens in theaters on May 16th, 2014 – and yes, it will be presented in 3D.

screenrant.com/godzilla-gareth-edwards-set-videos/

Having built up a good deal of hype with a well-received teaser presentation at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, director Gareth Edwards’ reboot of Godzilla is an undeniably hot (and hotly-anticipated) property. After assembling a top-notch cast, the movie just recently began production in British Columbia.

Extremely little is known about the actual content of the Godzilla script, including exactly where the titular radioactive lizard will wreak his signature havoc. Clues (or, perhaps, red herrings) to the setting of the film were recently dropped in the first set video from the production, released by Edwards himself.

As you can see above, the first official video released by the Godzilla production remains coy as to any actual content of the film. However, the camera lingering on airport signs in Japanese does suggest that the film will at least partially take place on the big green monster’s native islands.

Edwards’ semi-exhausted celebration of his first shot isn’t the only Godzilla-related video released in previous days. The second was apparently shot by local residents around the set in Nanaimo, British Columbia. You can check out the brief footage (set appropriately to Blue Öyster Cult’s classic song, “Godzilla”)

The above video of charred cars and helicopters does little to confirm or deny Godzilla‘s setting. One might interpret the brief glimpse of a bamboo fence and decrepit fishing structure as hinting at a stomp through rural Japan, but this is speculation at best.

There is one definite item one can take from this short video – Edwards’ reinterpretation of Godzilla will likely not skimp on the carnage. Recent images taken on the set definitely indicate a large scale military presence in the film, and this footage of burning vehicles suggests that human resistance against a rampaging, titanic monster will be just as fruitless as it’s ever been.

Thus we come to the real question of the moment: Will Gareth Edwards have British Columbia fill in for Japan? Much of Godzilla‘s primary cast is North American or European in origin (with the notable exception of Ken Watanabe), but this doesn’t rule the film out of at least starting (or traveling to) Japan. This jibes with previous comments that this version of Godzilla will be a return to the franchise’s darker, disaster movie roots.

WARNER BROS. PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES
ANNOUNCE CAST AND START OF PRODUCTION FOR "GODZILLA"


Burbank, CA, March 18, 2013 — Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced today the final principal cast for the upcoming tent pole "Godzilla." Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, and Juliette Binoche are starring in the film, with David Strathairn and Bryan Cranston.

The companies also announced that principal photography began today on location in Vancouver.

Gareth Edwards is directing the film from a screenplay by Max Borenstein, Frank Darabont and Dave Callaham. Legendary's Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni are producing with Mary Parent and Brian Rogers. Alex Garcia and Patricia Whitcher are serving as executive producers alongside Yoshimitsu Banno and Kenji Okuhira.

A presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, "Godzilla" will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, except in Japan, where it will be distributed by Toho Co., Ltd. Legendary Pictures is a division of Legendary Entertainment.

Slated to open on May 16, 2014, the film is expected to be presented in 3D.

Godzilla 2014 trailer!
(2012 San Diego Comic Con Trailer)

Godzilla TRAILER 1 (2014)