Movie News Bits - The Lizard in SPIDER-MAN 4, Hulu to start charging, new trailer for UNCERTAINTY, DISTRICT 9 director starts next film, Willis in KANE & LYNCH
Jeffrey Van Camp
Friday, October 23, 2009 
Here are a few newsy highlights for the day. I have to say, I'm very bothered by the Hulu news. This could be the end of free premium content. Entertainment executives need to get their heads out of their asses. I'm also happy to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a "new" movie. Check these stories out, and more, after the jump.
The Lizard might be the villain in "Spider-Man 4"
Dylan Baker, who played Dr. Curt Connors (the one armed guy) in the first "Spider-Man" trilogy, is set to return for "Spider-Man 4." In the comics, Dr. Connors eventually becomes The Lizard when an experiment to regrow his arm goes terribly awry. Sam Raimi, the director of the series, has always been vocal about his love for The Lizard and other earlier villains. He's not as big a fan of Venom, Carnage, and more recent enemies, as evidenced by Spider-Man 3 falling apart.
Hulu may abandon its free model in favor of paid subscriptions
Lame. If this goes through, it will be a sad day for content and Hulu. Hulu's entire concept has always been based around free content monetized by having fewer ads than broadcast television, but charging more for them. I think it'll lose a majority of its viewership by making a move like this. By charging, Hulu is also pitting itself against subscription streamin streaming services like Netflix. It's not smart and a shame because I've been a Hulu supporter since they launched a year and a half ago.
Here's a new trailer for "Uncertainty," starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt
I never gave "3rd Rock from the Sun" a chance. It never appealed to me. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, however, is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors. He's fantastic in "500 Days of Summer" (my review) and "Uncertainty" looks interesting. According to IMDB, the film was completed in 2008, but never secured wide distribution. We can probably thank the success "500 Days" for this one's release.
"District 9" writer/director Neil Blomkamp gets another original Sci-fi film greenlit
Neil Blomkamp is so hot right now. Fresh off of "District 9," the writer/director is already working on his next project, and it's another original movie! For those unaware, "District 9" (review) is great. What's better, it was made on a low budget and isn't based on any brand or older film. That's right, it's an original movie--a rarity these days. I can't wait to see what he cooks up next.
Viola Davis signs up for two new films, one with Schwimmer and one with Galifianakis
Ever since "Doubt," I've been a big fan of Viola Davis. If you haven't seen the film yet, watch it. Davis is only in one scene, but it was enough to get her an Oscar nomination. She recently popped up in "Law Abiding Citizen" as well, providing some of the best acting in that film. Now she's signed on for "It’s Kind of a Funny Story," opposite Zach Galifianakis, and the David Schwimmer-helmed drama "Trust." Variety briefly explains the premise of each movie.
Bruce Willis on on board for Kane & Lynch; you shouldn't be
Sometimes I wonder how these deals happen. Out of all the great videogames to adapt, movie executives have picked a critically panned, moderate selling, two-year-old, generic action game by Eidos Interactive, a publisher that recently sold off a good portion of its assets to stay in business. It's one of the most boring and least inspired games on the market. Ugh. Why, Bruce? Why?
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