- Jan '01
- <Back to back not possible?>
- <Yuen Woo-ping with money problems?>
WOO-PING DISPELLS RUMORS >Source: Coming Attractions
Yuen Woo-Ping told the Oriental Daily newspaper that the Coming Attractions-spawned rumor about him threatening to leave the Matrix sequels was simply not true. Woo-Ping also said the reports about Reeves having a broken ankle were false, and that Jet Li was never in advanced discussions about taking on a starring role in the sequels. The fight choreographer also said that "serious stuff" was going to appear in the sequels and called the first movie "foreplay". YES! That's what we want to hear!
INJURIES >Source: Comingsoon.net
Both
Keanu Reeves and Carrie Moss (co-stars of the back-to-back sequels due in 2002
and 2003) have been felled by injuries suffered while training for the martial
arts/sci-fi hybrid.
A bruised knee left Moss on crutches for six weeks, The New York Daily News reports (via Jam!
Showbiz), while Reeves was left with a sore left ankle. An MRI and X-ray revealed there was nothing seriously wrong with Reeves, but doctors put him in a cast, Reeves' spokeswoman told the trade. There's no word yet on whether the injuries will put a crimp in the plans of directors Larry and Andy Wachowski to film both sequels simultaneously over the next year.
The films will co-star Laurence Fishburne and Jada Pinkett Smith. Keanu Reeves is reportedly receiving $30 million for both movies, plus 15% of the films' gross.
YOUNG CONTENDER MATRIX 2 >Source Empire Online
Empire Online talked with young actor Stuart Wells ("Billy Elliot") who went out for a part in 'The Matrix 2' Here's the outcome of everything:
Billy Elliot’s best friend Michael, played by Stuart Wells, may be taking the leap from 80s mining town to post-apocalyptic virtual world for a part in the upcoming Matrix 2. "I screentested for ‘em, did some kicks and punches and stuff, and now they’re gong to send me some more lines," Wells told Empire in his thick Northern burr. "Although if I get the part I’ll have to take a few elocution lessons."
"They need an agile teenager with black hair," he said of the part. "I’m definitely up for it, but I don’t know how many others are, so fingers crossed eh?"
MICHELLE YEOH SAYS NO >Source: Coming Attractions
The Page Six website has confirmed that Michelle Yeoh is officially out of the running for The Matrix sequels. "I'm not going to do The Matrix," Yeoh told Page Six.
"I'm a great fan of the Wachowski brothers but some things are more important. I just started my own production company and the filming of it conflicted with my movie. I believe it is time to do other things, stories coming from Asia. At the end of the day you have to do what's really important to you."
BACK TO BACK NOT POSSIBLE? >Source: Movieheadlines
According to Movieheadlines.net, "A memo has been sent asking the filmmakers to consider the possibility of abandoning the back to back shooting schedule in favor of just filming Matrix 2. Numerous complications have emerged, including injury and contract negotiations, so its looking like (Warner Bros.) might only get one Matrix sequel in the can before the impending strike".
SHOOTING IN OAKLAND >Source: CountingDown
There are some tidbits of info regarding location shooting of The Matrix sequels in the Oakland area. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, an anonymous industry source told the paper, "Oakland will get some filming." In addition, word has it that have been discussions in the city offices regarding shooting a high-speed chase scene on a Interstate 880. Portions of the road will need to be closed off to do so. Filming of the sequels is primarily taking place in Australia with additional location work in the San Francisco/Oakland area as well as Chicago.
NEW HOOVERCRAFT CONCEPT
Oh Yes, this stuff is what we're waiting for! Between the comics on the official Matrix site you can find a small piece of quicktime video. It shows a concept of a new hoovercraft, which may be used in one of the sequels. Of course you can search for the link yourself (and at the same time view some great artwork of those guys who are making the comics), but for all you lazy people out there I posted the link to the video in the <making_of> section.
BATTLE SUITS IN MATRIX 2? >Source: Movieheadlines
The Art of the Matrix is out. And as you would hope for, there's discussion of Matrix 2 in the book. There's a section devoted to concept art drawn by Geoff Darrow. He's the comic artist from Hard Boiled, Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot, and more. He did concept art for the interior of the ship, the fetus harvester, and other cool stuff. One of his concept drawings shown in the book is that of a Battle Suit. Darrow explains:
"There's
a lot of material I drew that didn't get used for the film - from characters
to equipment - conceptual material no one's going to see just yet. Here's a
battle suit which wasn't used for the first film, but may or may not get used
in the sequels." "I'm really looking forward to the next two films, but I'm
scared to death as well. I figure, they're going find out what an imposter I
am, so I'm nervous. I know Larry and Andy have a lot of this in their heads,
they always saw The Matrix as more than one film, so they haven't written themselves
into a corner; they know where it's going. It's inevitable, I'll be drawing
Zion - a lot of fun, but a lot of work."
So will a battle suit appear in Matrix 2? We'll find out soon enough!
YUEN WOO-PING WITH MONEY PROBLEMS? >Source: Corona
"Martial
Art Choreographer and Action Director Yuen Woo-ping is having a hard time dealing
with the 'suits' at Warner Brothers. Continually being hounded about costs (only
double plus 10% more than he and his team recieved for the first film and this
is for two features and a full years worth of work) and the need of a large
staff (the Yuen stunt team), Yuen is considering leaving the project. This could
have devestating results as both Mr. Fishburn and Mr. Reeves are both avoid
fans and students of the renouned Hong Kong filmmaker.
"At this point in time, it remains to be seen if Woo-ping will continue to be involved in the Matrix sequels. Though he is currently training the cast (wire work effects should be completed by 12/22/00), there is still four months of rigorous martial arts training to finish up. As it is, Yuen Woo-ping is becoming very disenchanted with Hollywood."
If
indeed Woo-ping is disenfranhised with working on the Matrix sequels and left
the production, it would be a serious blow felt both by the Wachowskis, the
cast members and the sizable Matrix fanbase around the world. We've heard similar
reports about in-fighting over budgetary issues with the sequels, brought on
by unnamed studio executives, but we heard the same thing repeated time and
time again by other filmmakers making different movies for different studios.
Whenever large sums of cash are involved, of course people are going to be concerned
about how much is being spent...and when you're footing the bill, you always
want to save a buck.
Still, just this week Michael Fleming reported about Jet Li not being cast in the sequels because his asking price was too high. According to the Variety story, Li would also not get paid for participation with the future Matrix video games, which struck us as being somewhat unusual. Typically actors can make additional money by licencing their voices or appearance in games, on action figures or comic books. While there's not big bucks to be made there, it's still something extra for the actors to get. If Woo-ping is only getting paid 10% more for his work on Matrix 2 and 3, but the original film's actors, producers and directors are receiving sizable raises, he's got a right to be pissed. We know Reeves is receiving a big back-end profit participation (as well as a raise upfront) that could see The Keanu make as much as $30 Million if the movies are blockbusters... and who wants to guess they won't be? Not us.
Let's hope Woo-ping and the producers can iron out a deal. Matrix just wouldn't be the same without his stunt coordination, and he's simply the best there is in the biz.
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