BOP Daily News
September 18, 2003
The spirit of BOP News lives on in
This is So Last Week,
our pop culture week-in-review,
presented in a pleasing quiz form.
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In what is surely a first, NBC is already making plans to create a TV
series
based on the upcoming Van Helsing, even though the film will not be
released
until next May. The series, currently titled Transylvania, would be
"inspired" by the film, and while it will be set in the film's universe,
it
will not include the eponymous vampire hunter. Instead, the series is
being
described as a "character-driven soap opera" and will focus on a young
man
from Texas who becomes the sheriff of a town where strange things occur.
Insert your favorite "At least the show has an excuse to suck" joke
here.
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Johnny Depp, who is currently riding high at the box office in not one
but
two successful films, is reportedly looking forward to the challenge of
portraying Willy Wonka in Tim Burton's upcoming Charlie and the
Chocolate
Factory. While nothing has been finalized yet, it appears Depp has a
lock
on the role, and believes taking on a role that has already been
memorably
portrayed will be the ultimate challenge. Current plans for the film
don't
include musical numbers from the original, although Depp has indicated
he is
not advertise to belting out a song or two. The thought of Depp singing
"Pure Imagination" fill us with strong emotion, but whether it's terror
or
delight we're not quite sure.
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And continuing with the seemingly ubiquitous Mr. Depp, he is also on the
slate to join Josh Hartnett, Nick Nolte and Benicio Del Toro in Hunter S
Thompson's The Rum Diaries, which Del Toro will also direct. Depp and
Del
Toro previously worked together on Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las
Vegas. Rum Diaries is a story of love, treachery and lust set in '50s
era
San Juan, Puerto Rico. With Depp and Nolte both on the same film and
Hunter
S Thompson as the source material, we're thinking there's going to be
some
heavy-duty partying. And probably off the set, too.
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We've heard of directors and actors leaving projects during
pre-production
and filming, but reports that Paul Schrader has parted ways with Morgan
Creek Productions over the Exorcist prequel herald the first time a
director
has left a project during post. Principal photography on the movie,
currently titled Exorcist IV: The Beginning, was completed in February
and
the film is slated to be released sometime in early 2004. No word on
why
Schrader left at such a late date, nor has a replacement yet been found
for
the director. Although we suspect the ever-ready Alan Smithee is a
front-runner to appear as director in the credits.
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Ever wondered what the Greek gods were like as teenagers? Well, you may
not
have to wonder much longer. New Line is reportedly planning a film
called
Titans, which will focus on Zeus, Hera, Hades and Poseidon as teens.
The
hook is they began life as mortals and only learn of their true
destinies as
teens. They must then learn how to use their powers in order to save
the
planet from the Titans, which will apparently include Lucifer, for some
strange reason. And you thought you had problems finding a date for the
prom.
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Box Office Prophets offers quality, reliable news about the entertainment industry. BOP is also entertaining. To that end, please be advised that some content in this column is intended to be humorous and should not be considered factual.
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