EPIC TRAILER FOR CHRISTIAN BALE'S "THE FLOWERS OF WAR"! SONY TAKES "ASSASSINS CREED"! MARK ROMANEK HELMS DAN BROWN'S "THE LOST SYMBOL"! IS GARRETT HEDLUND "AKIRA"?

 You probably remember that earlier this Spring, I wrote about Ubisoft's plan to make 3D films out of their hit games ASSASSINS

CREED, SPLINTER CELL and GHOST RECKON. Well, according to latest news from "Variety", Sony Pictures is negotiating to distribute ASSASSINS CREED movie. The game, sold in more than 30 million copies so far, is an epic adventure which follows a bartender named Desmond Miles, who is kidnapped by Abstergo Industries and forced to travel back through time for secret missions. He must recover ancient artifacts from his ancestors, after learning that he comes from a long line of assassins.

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S HEADLINES

As latest rumors say, Mark Romanek (ONE HOUR PHOTO) could take the helm behind THE LOST SYMBOL, film adaptation of Dan Brown's third novel. First two, THE DA VINCI CODE and

ANGEL AND DEMONS were directed by Ron Howard who isn't returning. The third part should see Tom Hanks investigating Freemasons in USA. Variety reports that Warner Bros.' $200 million mega movie adaptation of famous anime AKIRA has been officially given a go. After a bunch of actors in the race for the lead role, which included Keanu Revees, Justin Timberlake, Michael Fassbender, it seems the lead contender is now Garrett Hedlund from TRON: LEGACY. The futuristic tale is set in post-nuclear war Manhattan in 2019 where a  biker gang member tries to save his best friend who is subjected to a government experiment which unleashes his latent powers. 

We're still in Asia today, when it comes to trailers, since the first one for Zhang Yimou's (THE HOUSE OF THE FLYING DAGGERS) epic drama THE FLOWERS OF WAR has just been released!

As you know, China's official Oscar candidate for 2012, and also one of their most expensive movies ever, will have Christian Bale as a a foreign mortician who comes to China in 1937 to bury a priest. He has the misfortune of being there just as Japanese forces are taking over the capital and epic battles rage all around him. The late priest’s cathedral was also a school for girls in which the mortician must now pose as a priest to avoid incarceration by the advancing Japanese army. But he is forced to take a more active role in the conflict when the soldiers demand the use of the young female students as “entertainment” for their troops.

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KIWI STAR KYLE PRYOR FROM "SPARTACUS" AND "LEGEND OF THE SEEKER"

 I will entertain you today with a charming interview with one of New Zealand's most dashing young actors, Kyle Pryor, a man of a rather magnetic charisma which simply radiates from the screen whenever you watch a scene with him. Beside playing warriors and

fighters in two of the most popular epic shows SPARTACUS and LEGEND OF THE SEEKER, Kyle also performed stunts in famous vampire saga UNDERWORLD and in action epic THE WARRIOR'S WAY. Check out the lovely chat Kyle and HOLLYWOOD SPY have had recently.

DEZZ KYLE, WHAT IS IN THE AIR DOWN THERE IN NEW ZEALAND WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY CHARISMATIC AND TALENTED ACTORS FROM KARL URBAN TO CRAIG PARKER, TWO OF HOLLYWOOD SPY'S FAVOURITES?

KYLE New Zealand is well known for its scenery, it keeps you grounded, being so close to nature. Craig and Karl are both indeed very talented, and are hard workers, they are an inspiration to me. Karl has also studied with my acting teacher, Mr Michael Saccente, a great class based around the Meisner Technique.

DEZZ WHAT WERE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN SHOOTING TWO OF THE MOST POPULAR EPIC SHOWS "SPARTACUS" AND "LEGEND OF THE SEEKER"? WHICH ROLES DID YOU PLAY?

KYLE I played ‘Marcus’ in Spartacus Blood and Sand, a recruit brought into the Ludus of Batiatus with Spartacus, and ‘Walter as ‘D’Haran’ in Legend of the Seeker. As you can imagine I had an

excellent time shooting these shows, working with some great actors in great locations. Marcus met an early demise at the hands of Barca. Walter was an interesting character. I was Craig’s characters spirit transferred into my body, becoming the D’Haran version of Walter, so had to embrace his mannerisms and persona. Performing my own stunts on the shows enabled me to experience everything that the character would, so it takes you on a full journey, something that only a few other actors get to enjoy.

DEZZ I REMEMBER BEING QUITE MESMERIZED BY YOUR PERFORMANCE IN "SEEKER" AND RATHER INTRIGUED BY YOUR ROLE IN "SPARTACUS" IN WHICH YOU PLAYED WITH ANDY WHITFIELD. WE WERE ALL SHOCKED WHEN ANDY WHITFIELD LEFT US EARLIER THIS MONTH. WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH HIM?

KYLE Andy had a great spirit and was a true warrior. It was great working with such a talented actor, who was a kind family man with a down to earth nature. It was a pleasure witnessing his performance as Spartacus, and was a regular reminder to continue working hard in a career that I love. Andy will be missed, but has left a legacy behind that will not be forgotten.

DEZZ IT IS TRUE, WE SHALL NEVER FORGET HIM. WHICH DIRECTORS AND ACTORS WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH IN THE FUTURE?

KYLE There are so many great actors and directors out there. I tend to believe that the right roles come along at the right time, with the right people.I love the style of Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese, and am a big fan of Daniel Day Lewis, to work with him would be an honour, he is a phenomenal artist.

DEZZ I SHALL KEEP MY FINGERS CROSSED FOR YOU, KYLE :), BUT TELL ME, HOW DID IT FEEL LIKE RECEIVING A KISS OF LIFE FROM THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN ON EARTH - TABRETT BETHELL IN "LEGEND OF THE SEEKER"? :)

KYLE Good question, and I would love to answer it, but a gentleman doesn’t divulge such things ;-)

DEZZ SPOKEN LIKE A TRUE GLADIATOR, KYLE :) HAVING IN MIND YOUR STUNTWORK AND YOUR MINDBLOWING LOOKS, HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU DEDICATE TO YOUR PHYSICAL TRAINING AND DIET?

KYLE Firstly, thank you for your compliment. I have been training since my early teens. I dedicated a great deal of my youth to martial arts and fitness, and from an early age discovered what works and what doesn’t. My training fluctuates depending on my work schedule, but I always train at least 4 days a week, and

stay as active as I can. I eat healthily during the week and allow myself an ‘indulgence day’ on the weekend, I have to say, that is my favourite day.

DEZZ SPEAKING OF HARD WORK, KYLE, WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON CURRENTLY, AND DO YOU HAVE SOME FUTURE PLANS?

KYLE Unfortunately I can’t currently disclose exactly what projects I am working on, however, I can tell you that I am narrating an exciting series at the moment and will start shooting on a New Zealand production in a few months time, starring some international guests. It’s going to be an exciting end to a busy year. I intend to continue working hard and look forward to new and exciting projects to come.

DEZZ KYLE, I MUST THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO HOLLYWOOD SPY. I HAD LOVELY TIME CHATTING WITH YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT PROJECTS, AND WE ARE HERE TO GIVE YOU SUPPORT IN YOUR CAREER! 

KYLE Thank you for your interest in my career, I am very grateful for the support and encouragement. Best Wishes

PS DON'T FORGET TO CLICK ON THE RED LINKS THROUGHOUT THE POST TO GET BETTER ILLUSTRATIONS :) 

EPIC TRAILER FOR "LEGENDARY AMAZONS"! JULIETTE BINOCHE IN "A MONKEY ON MY SHOULDER", JEREMY IRONS IN "A NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON"! VAMPIRES ATTACK "IN THE DUST" CLOUDS!

First some film news from Europe. According to "ScreenDaily" Juliette Binoche and Edgar Ramirez (he is playing Ares in CLASH OF THE TITANS II) will team up in A MONKEY ON MY

SHOULDER, a strange drama which will see them as two top surgeons, one from France, the other hailing from South America, who will be drawn into a love triangle with an unexpected pregnancy and an adventure down in Amazon. The same source has a report on A NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON, a Bille August film with Jeremy Irons, Christopher Lee, Vanessa Redgrave, Lena Olin ...about a Swiss Professor, who, after saving a beautiful Portuguese woman from leaping to her death, stumbles on a mysterious book that convinces him he should leave academia behind and travel to Lisbon. In search of the author, he acts as detective, pulling together pieces of the personal and political puzzle.

HOLLYWOOD SPY DAILY HEADLINES

Top Cow will have another of their comics adapted into a film. This time it will be IN THE DUST, a graphic novel yet to be released

which follows a federal agent in the 1930s, who is investigating the bizarre disappearances of entire families during Midwestern dust storms. The agent discovers an army of vampires, who use the Dust Bowl as cover to feed on innocent families. When the vampires move to Chicago, he must team up with former members of Al Capone's gang to save the Windy City. Always cute Mandy Moore will take the lead in ABC's new sitcom US AND THEM which explores the inherent conflict that exists between the families you grow up in and the ones we make as adults and is told from the perspective of a young, newlywed couple.

You remember how earlier this year, I posted some breathtaking posters for THE LADY GENERALS OF YANG FAMILY Chinese epic? Well, I now have the first trailer for the film which changed its title into LEGENDARY AMAZONS. Hitting Chinese

cinemas next month it is set in the period of the Northern Song Dynasty, when the emperor neglected the political affairs, hence rolling border war. The war brought times of hardship upon the Xia country. Enemies invaded the Song's territory forcefully and all the male members of The Yang family were slaughtered. Unable to tolerate the pain and suffering, Mu Guiying, the wife of General Yang Zongbao decided to organize the Yangs's widows and lead them into the battle against their enemies... This lavish Asian epic produced by Jackie Chan, will feature lots of different female characters from the Yang family including their 100 year old Yang matriarch, and her daughters some of which are extremely wise, some know how to use a  halberd, some are superb archers, some possess occult powers, some use embroidery needle as hidden weapon, some always have some inventive solutions. 

 AND DON'T FORGET THAT LATER ON TODAY I WILL BE POSTING AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH  
KYLE PRYOR
FROM "SPARTACUS" AND "LEGEND OF THE SEEKER"

ANNE HATHAWAY JOINS HUGH JACKMAN IN "LES MISERABLES"! BRYAN SINGER HELMS "BATTLESTAR GALACTICA" FILM! JASON STATHAM TO HEAD "TRANSFORMERS 4"? SHIA LABEOUF IS "GIANT"! CHARLIZE THERON IN "ZWART WATER"

What was rumored earlier this summer is now confirmed: Anne Hathaway has officially joined Hugh Jackman and Russell

Crowe in LES MISERABLES In the film adaptation of Victor Hugo's famous novel, she will play Fantine, next to Hugh's Jean Valjean, a man released after 19 years in prison, who must carry a yellow passport which indicates he was a prisoner, even after he has served his time. Russell Crowe will play Inspector Valvert, the policeman who keeps pursuing Jean Valjean. The film is helmed by Tom Hooper who amazed us with THE KING'S SPEECH and ELIZABETH I mini series with Helen Mirren.

HOLLYWOOD SPY DAILY HEADLINES

Since his idea of remaking famous EXCALIBUR didn't go through

with the studios, X-MEN and USUAL SUSPECTS director Bryan Singer, who is currently working on JACK THE GIAN KILLER with Nicholas Hoult and Ewan McGregor, is moving ahead with BATTLESTAR GALACTICA movie as his next project. According to "Variety" Shia LaBeouf has a very strange new project: he will star in A GIANT, which centers on a girl, broke and running from a series of bad relationships, who moves back home to reconnect with her brother. Instead she forms a relationship with a 20-foot-tall man-child who lives next door. Shia will be this unusual man child!

Ah, that Charlize Theron keeps getting strange unbecoming roles. As "MovieWeb" reports she will star in ZWART WATER, American remake of a Dutch horror movie which will revolve

around a nine-year-old girl who discovers her new friend is actually her mother's dead twin. Charlize Theron will portray the mother in the remake, who is said to be slightly unhinged. According to latest rumors Hasbro is negotiating with Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay about the production of TRANSFORMERS 4 and 5 which could be shot back to back. Since Shia LaBeouf isn't coming back in the lead role, some stories say that Jason Statham could take over the franchise which is doing rather fine, since the last installment earned more than $1 billion around the world!

 AND DON'T FORGET THAT THIS THURSDAY YOU WILL BE READING AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH  
KYLE PRYOR
FROM "SPARTACUS" AND "LEGEND OF THE SEEKER"

ATMOSPHERIC NEW TRAILER FOR AMC'S NEW SHOW "HELL ON WHEELS"! THRILLING TRAILER FOR FIRST DUTCH 3D EPIC "NOVA ZEMBLA" WITH DOUTZEN KROES! "WALKING DEAD" BREAKS RECORDS

It's a very boring beginning of the week, and I only have two trailers for you today, my freaks. One for a new show, and one for a foreign epic.

NOVA ZEMBLA

Over at "Buzzes Cafe" I came upon the thrilling trailer for a Dutch epic film NOVA ZEMBLA. The first 3D film to come from Holland follows the true-life travel of Willem Barentsz, who in 1596 tried to find a shorter shipping route to India by going North over Russia through uncharted waters. The ship and its crew got surprisingly far, managing to round the Northern tip of the island

Nova Zembla before getting irrevocably stuck in the ice. Plagued by hunger, extreme cold and attacks by polar bears, the men made it through the winter by demolishing their wooden ship and using the planks to build a large shelter on the island. When spring arrived the survivors demolished the shelter, built a smaller boat and managed to travel back to The Netherlands. Hopefully, the film will be translated into English at some point. The most interesting thing is that it also stars one of the hottest models ever - spellbinding Doutzen Kroes.

HELL ON WHEELS

Ready to debut on Sunday, November 6th in it's first season is AMC's new show HELL ON WHEELS which tells the epic story of post-Civil War America, focusing on a Confederate soldier (Anson Mount) who sets out to exact revenge on the Union soldiers who have killed his wife. His journey takes him west to HELL ON WHEELS, a dangerous, raucous, lawless melting pot of a town that

travels with and services the construction of the first transcontinental railroad, an engineering feat unprecedented for its time. The series examines the railroad's institutionalized greed and corruption, the immigrant experience, and the plight of the newly emancipated African Americans during reconstruction. Over time, HELL ON WHEELS chronicles this potent turning point in our nation's history, and how uncivilized the business of civilization can be.

PS! Have you watched Sunday's (US) or Monday's (rest of the world) premiere of the 2nd season of THE WALKING DEAD? How did you like it? I thought it could've used less of the religious

crap, but it was certainly thrilling. It also broke some records with about 11 million viewers only in USA which is more than 40% above the 1st season opening episode. I don't know what to think of the end of the 1st episode. I'm shocked.

NEW TRAILER FOR STARSTUDDED "NEW YEAR'S EVE"! LIAM HEMSWORTH GOES SF IN "TIMELESS"! UPDATES ON "THE CROW","TOP GUN" & "HIGHLANDER" REMAKES!

The younger brother of Chris Thor Hemsworth, Liam Hemsworth has a new project in his pocket. Beside taking one of the leads in HUNGER GAMES and going oriental in ARABIAN NIGHTS, he will now take the lead in sf film TIMELESS too, which I mentioned back in 2010.  Directed by  Phillip Noyce (SALT) the movie will follow a recently widowed man who inherits a fortune from his late wife. Plagued by an unresolved issue between he and his wife, he uses the money to build a time travel device to see her one last time, and to resolve a mysterious issue between the two of them.

HOLLYWOOD SPY REMAKE NEWS

 When it comes to remake/reboot news this Monday, "MovieWeb" reports that THE CROW remake has lost its director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo

(28 WEEKS LATER), who is also in the game for directing new HIGHLANDER. As you remember THE CROW also lost its main star when Bradley Cooper decided to play Lucifer in PARADISE LOST instead. He could be replaced by Channing Tatum now. Meanwhile, TOP GUN sequel is also in preproduction. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has now hired THOR and X-MEN FIRST CLASS screenwriters to pen the script.  To be directed by Tony Scott the sequel will focus on a group of young Air Force pilots, who fly remote-controlled drone planes from a command center.

A new trailer and a new poster have been released for the new uplifting romantic film NEW YEAR'S EVE which opens in cinemas

December 9th directed by Garry Marshall. A kind of sequel to VALENTINE'S DAY, this movie celebrates love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts, in the intertwining stories told amidst the pulse and promise of New York City on the most dazzling night of the year. As you can see from the poster, the film features an amazingly stellar cast which includes Robert De Niro, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ashton Kutcher, Zac Efron, Lea Michele, Jessica Biel, Sofía Vergara, Josh Duhamel, Katherine Heigl, Michelle Pfeiffer, Abigail Breslin, Jon Bon Jovi and Til Schweiger.

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S SPOTLIGHT ON UPCOMING STARS III: EDDIE REDMAYNE, TERESA PALMER, NICHOLAS HOULT, TAYLOR KITSCH

Hey, my little freaks, it's time for a new spotlight on fresh new faces who are slowly conquering Hollywood. Don't forget to check out two previous posts on new stars: HOLLYWOOD SPY'S SPOTLIGHT ON UPCOMING STARS PART 1 and PART 2.

 ANGEL EYES EDDIE RED MAYNE

He is probably one of the most eye-catching young Brits of his age: Eddie Redmayne is mostly known for his lead role in epic TV series  THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH, in which he gave a haunting portrayal of a young medieval boy torn between his love, talent, religion and his sense for justice. But it was not the first time we've seen him in period flicks: his unique looks and his mesmerizing eyes have also secured him roles in ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE as a boy who tries to assassinate Cate Blanchet's Elizabeth, and also in THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, as the husband of Mary Boleyn. After that he also starred in a medieval horror BLACK

DEATH next to Sean Bean. This December we will be watching him in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN in which, judging from the trailer, he gives a stunning portrayal of Colin Clark, a young man who gave Marilyn Monroe a chance to experience free life at least for one week while she was filming THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL in London. He also played famous Angel Clare in TV series TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES. As a talented theatre actor he is also a winner of a Tony Award.

BREATHTAKING TERESA PALMER

Probably one of the most gorgeous Australian stars of the young generation, Teresa Palmer has been mentioned for a lot of big future projects (including the remake of MAD MAX and THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN) but didn't have the luck to get any of the rumored roles. However, we will be seeing her next to Nicholas Hoult in zombie drama WARM BODIES  about a zombie who falls for the girlfriend of one of his victims and then tries to change his naughty zombie ways. She will also join Liam Hemsworth in action drama AWOL. You mostly remember her from I AM NUMBER FOUR with Alex

Pettyfer and from THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE with Jay Baruchel and Nicholas Cage. She had a lot of celebrity boyfriends from Adam Brody and Russell Brand to Topher Grace and Scott Speedman.

TAYLOR KITSCH OF MARS

Canadian heartbreaker Taylor Kitsch has reached wider fame with his role in WOLVERINE, but then went on to star in TV show FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. However,

it seems someone in the big studios has noticed his hunky looks (he was a top model) and he is about to become a big action star with lead roles in two mega projects: sf epic JOHN CARTER, which should hit cinemas next March following a brave soldier who ends up on a strange planet where he is involved in a war among strange alien race. The trailer for the film promises an extra-ordinary sf movie with breathtaking sets and more than respectable cast. After that he will again join an alien battle, but this time a naval one in BATTLESHIP in which US navy will

have to fight off the attack of some strange aliens using their ships and submarines. He will also join Blake Lively and Salma Hayek in Oliver Stone's SAVAGES. And it seems, that privately, he is a calm and quiet guy who often takes part in different charities.

CAPTIVATING NICHOLAS HOULT 

Adorable little boy whom we all remember from Hugh Grant's ALL ABOUT THE BOY has grown up over the years and is now Nicholas Hoult, one of Hollywood's upcoming stars. He is now an actor who has behind him roles in A SINGLE MAN (next to Collin Firth), in CLASH OF THE TITANS (he played Eusebios), but his biggest break was the role of Beast in this year's X-MEN: FIRST CLASS. He is currently filming Brian Singer's mega epic JACK THE GIANT KILLER next to Ewan McGregor in which he plays the lead role of the fabled character, and as mentioned above he will play the lead zombie role next to

Teresa Palmer in WARM BODIES. His distinctive Vulcan eyebrows and piercing blue eyes have also made him a very successful top model and he is one of Tom Ford's favourite models.