Rustyboots.net

Click here to watch the new trailer for Rock of Ages, which will be out on June 15.

From Justin Kroll, Variety:

Russell Brand is attached to star in the Paramount and Platinum Dunes pic “The Hauntrepreneur.”

Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller will produce for Platinum.

The story revolves around a family that has trouble adjusting to a new town and hires a peculiar man who calls himself the Hauntrepreneur to help them. In an attempt to bring them together, the man creates a haunted house filled with an odd cast of characters. Paramount had no comment on the casting.

Paramount picked up the spec from Scott Rosenberg in October and will now look to lock down a director.

Platinum Dunes hasn’t had a pic in theaters since its remake of “A Nightmare on Elm Street”in 2010, but looks to stay busy in 2012.

The shingle is producing “Vigilandia” with Jason Blum for Universal and is close to getting “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” off the ground.

As for Brand, he can be seen next in Warner Bros. and New Line’s “Rock of Ages” and is currently working on a special untitled series for FX, which he is also slated to produce. He is also expected to start production on the Untitled Diablo Cody film for Mandate.

He is repped by WME and Ziffren Brittenham and manager Nik Linnen.

My first reaction is … this sounds a little bit dodgy. I was hoping Russell would move away from doing these mainstream/family-oriented films for big studios. At least it’s not another remake — doing a remake just seems like a setup for failure these days.

And who knows, maybe this won’t even pan out … he was previously attached to ‘Rentaghost’ and ‘Drop Dead Fred’ remakes and now isn’t doing either (Ben Stiller is now doing the former, and no one has mentioned the latter in a couple years).  Also, what happened to his reported role as a soccer coach in Texas? Or the film called ‘Hawkwind’ that he was supposed to star in? A lot of these movie ideas seem to fall through.

Or maybe I’m wrong, and this will be a great project for Russell … we can always hope!

In case you missed its brief run in cinemas, you can now own the DVD or Blu-Ray of The Tempest, featuring our Russell as Trinculo.

Order from your local shops, or from Amazon in the US or the UK.

One of the bonus features is this brilliant improv from Russell when asked by the director to describe his character’s backstory (posted here before, but any excuse to post it again!):

Here it is, the first trailer for the forthcoming Rock of Ages! Not a lot of Russell in the trailer, but perhaps there will be other versions that will show more of him.

I can’t help but think, Russell has already proven he can play an awesomely convincing rock star with Aldous Snow, so it’s odd to see him in a movie about rock where he’s not even the star! Surely he’s more of a rock star than Tom Cruise? But I’m probably biased …

From Film-News.co.uk:

To be in with a chance of winning 1 of 2 DVDs of the film and an Arthur Goodie bag (including a mug, t-shirt and soundtrack) just answer this question:

1) In ‘ARTHUR’, the title character is played by this comedic British actor, known for his recent role in the comedy Get Him to the Greek. Name the actor.

• A) Russell Brand
• B) Hugh Laurie
• C) Simon Pegg

Now send an email with ‘ARTHUR’! in the subject line to comp@film-news.co.uk including your answer, name, address and telephone number. Winners will be notified by phone/email.

Arthur is out on Blu-Ray and DVD in the UK on September 19.

In an official statement, Russell reveals he has established a production company called “Branded Films” with manager Nik Linnen at Warner Bros studios in Hollywood.  Here is the full statement:

“We at the newly founded Branded Films are very excited to announce our new company and the opportunity for puns that it affords us. Russell Brand and Nik Linnen have coerced Beau Bauman into running our company. Our offices will be on the lot, our sincere hope is that we’ll be in that water tower in which some of the Loony Tunes also live. For this we will expect a reduced rent. If you have any film ideas, send them to: Beau Bauman, the water tower, Warner Bros, Hollywood, America (care of E Fudd). We particularly welcome ideas that could feature a long haired actor with an unintelligible accent (Rasputin/Tarzan/British Jesus). That’s all folks.”

Statement & photo via Deadline.com.

It’s official. Russell Brand is joining a cavalcade of Hollywood stars in the big screen adaptation of “Rock of Ages.”

Brand will play Lonny, the show’s narrator and a rock club operator.

“I can officially announce Russell Brand as your Lonny in #rockofagesmovie ! I see a mullet in his future…maybe a Nikki Six?,” the film’s director Adam Shankman tweeted.

The “Arthur” star joins Alec Baldwin and Tom Cruise in the movie version of the hit Broadway stage show. Mexican singer-songwriter Diego Boneta will play Drew Boley in the film, an aspiring rocker.

Amy Adams is also reportedly circling the role of a rock journalist.

The movie is a love story told through the music of Pat Benetar, Bon Jovi, Journey, Poison, Twisted Sister and other artists from the 1980s.

Source

This is a lot more hilarious than an interview about a kids’ movie should probably be.

(Plus, Russell talks about the Royal Wedding…)

Short Hop interview:

(Click for Arthur)