Joe Cornish’s alien invasion action comedy Attack the Block was my favorite film of last year, and it made a bonafide star out of lead actor John Boyega. The Brit immediately capitalized on that film’s success, snagging the lead role in Spike Lee’s HBO pilot, “Da Brick.” Unfortunately that show didn’t go to series, but Boyega isn’t letting that get him down. Variety says he’s just lined up a starring role in a film called Half of a Yellow Sun opposite the underrated Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton. Based on a book, the story follows three interweaving storylines set amid violence during Nigeria’s bid to be an independent republic.

Biyi Bandele will direct the film, which weaves together multiple storylines during a decade of turmoil. Boyega will play Ugwu, a houseboy for a zealous university professor presumed to be played by Ejiofor. Newton seems perfect for Olanna, the professor’s beautiful mistress who has abandoned her past life in favor of one with her new lover. And Dominic Cooper is in talks for the role of Richard, an Englishman in love with Olanna’s twin sister. All the while, Nigerian troops close in and all of their relationships are tested. I’m a big fan of this cast, and while Bandele is relatively untested (he’ll make his directorial debut with this film), he has a lot of experience as a playwright and novelist, so film seems like the natural next step in his creative career.

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Vanity Fair has unveiled a photo featuring the entire White House Cabinet that will be in Oliver Stones W.

From left to right: Jeffrey Wright as Colin Powell, Toby Jones as Karl Rove, Dennis Boutsikaris as Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney, Josh Brolin as George W. Bush, Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice, Rob Corddry as Ari Fleischer, Bruce McGill as George Tenet, and Scott Glenn as Donald Rumsfeld.

W. will be released on October 17th just before the election.

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Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla, starring Gerard Butler and Thandie Newton, is due for release by Warner Bros in October in the States. However, producer Joel Silver is out and about shopping it to studios such as Lionsgate and Sony Pictures. Why is this?

The Los Angeles Times explains,

Silver was looking for a buyer for the film. People who’ve seen the film say it’s not bad at all. But as Warners goes through the arduous process of absorbing two dozen or so New Line films into its distribution system, the studio simply has too many movies to release, so it’s starting to pick out the weak calves from the herd.

If people say the film is not bad why is it considered one of the ‘weak calves’? Well the LA Times spoke with Warners chief Alan Horn, and he had this to say,

“I think it’s a well-made picture, but while it’s funny in spots, it’s very English,” he said. “I don’t think it’s broadly commercial. It feels like a film that deserves a spirited release, but not a wide one. Joel has an 800-screen deal, which we’ll honor, but we might not be willing to spend the marketing money he wants us to.”

So because the film is ‘very english’ Warner Bros don’t know how to go about marketing it and are therefore not willing to spend the money. Producer Joel Silver would rather get another studio to buy and release the film so that it can get a wider release, more than the 800 screens Warner Bros intend.

Being an English person I am a little disgruntled by the fact a movie is considered a ‘weak calf’ just because it is English. Are Gerard Butler and Thandie Newton not big enough actors in the States to promote a film? Or is this a case of the big movie studio thinking the American public won’t be interested in a film not set in America with American actors, when in fact they may be?

USA people give me your thoughts on RocknRolla! Below is the trailer to remind you how English it is:

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Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla isn’t even out yet, however he revealed to wenn that he has already got a second film lined up.

“I’ve written one. So people better go see it. It’ll allow me to make the next one.”

RocknRolla will be out on September 5th in the UK and October 31st in the US. It stars Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton and Jeremy Piven, and follows London gangsters fighting for a share of a real estate scam.

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Warner Bros have released a new poster for RocknRolla staring Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton, Jeremy Piven and Idris Elba.

RocknRolla will be out in the UK on September 5th and in the US on October 31st.

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It’s not officially suppose to première until Monday night on Access Hollywood, but someone has already leaked it online.

I present to you the trailer for the film about the President of the United States of America…W.

Ioan Gruffudd looks nothing like Tony Blair, yet Thandie Newton is quite convincing as Condoleezza Rice…with that weird smile.

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