Two projects pulled for James McAvoy

Warner Bros Shut Down AKIRA Production
Warner Bros has shut down the Vancouver production offices for the highly controversial live-action remake of the anime cult favourite Akira. The Hollywood Reporter cite the failures in locking down a cast which still only had Garrett Hedlund as the confirmed lead but with high-profile names in Brad Pitt, Kristen Stewart, Gary Oldman, Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield, James McAvoy and many, many more spoken to but no contracts signed, and issues over the budget for the lock down.

The movie, which has been hit with problems since day one, now looks doomed. “Everybody is being sent home,” said an insider with the director, producer (and maybe the script writer) set to lock themselves in a room with the screenplay to see if they can reduce the budget by $20-30 million and iron out the story problems.

Read more at WhatCulture!





Elton's Rocket ban on James McAvoy
POP icon Sir Elton John has snubbed Scots movie idol James McAvoy by backing Justin Timberlake to play the singer on screen. X-Men: First Class star McAvoy was the red-hot favourite to land the role of flamboyant Elton in next year's blockbuster Rocketman, but his dream appears to have been crushed by Elton's sudden support for US chart heart-throb turned actor Justin Timberlake.

Read more at The Sun

This story was reported slightly differently by Worst Previews

James McAvoy to play Elton John?

If the rumours are to believed, then Scottish actor James McAvoy might be set to take on the role of legendary singer Elton John, in a movie following the story of the star’s rise to fame.

The upcoming movie, titled ”Rocketman”, is reportedly being written by the man who penned the screenplay for ”Billy Elliot”, Lee Hall. Elton John himself will act as executive producer on the project, whilst a number of his hit songs are thought to be being included within the narrative itself.

This will be the second time that John has worked alongside Hall, as he was also involved in composing the score for the West End theatre adaptation of ”Billy Elliot”, which took place in 2000. Indeed, the soundtrack for the show proved so popular than many fans enjoyed it as more of a standalone album, listening while commuting to work or playing online partypoker. However, it has not get been announced whether any original music will feature in this upcoming biopic movie.

Still, there are plenty of Elton John classics for Hall to choose from, and it is thought that the movie will not be without big hits like ‘Candle In The Wind’ and, of course, ‘Rocket Man’. It has not yet been confirmed who will take on the role of the eccentric singer, but McAvoy is certainly tipped to be one of the preferred choices.

Read more at Movie Hole and Entertainment Wise