Universal's slate of releases for the coming year looks to be heavy on remakes and sequels. Here's the rundown:
"Couples Retreat" Release date: Oct. 9
Director: Peter Billingsley
Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Kali Hawk, Kristin Davis
Logline: Four couples head for what they think is a relaxing vacation in Bora Bora, only to discover they're required to undergo couples therapy.
"Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" Release date: Oct. 23
Director: Paul Weitz
Cast: Chris Massoglia, John C. Reilly, Patrick Fugit, Salma Hayak
Logline: A newly undead teenager joins the traveling sideshow Cirque du Freak, where he becomes a pawn in the battle between the vampires and their deadlier counterparts.
"The Fourth Kind"Release date: Nov. 6
Director: Olatunde Osunsanmi
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Elias Koteas, Will Patton
Logline: A psychologist investigating the disappearances of people in Nome, Alaska, since the 1960s uncovers a series of alien abductions (the fourth kind, with a sighting being an encounter of the first kind, evidence second and contact third).
"Pirate Radio" (Focus)
(aka "The Boat That Rocked")
Nov. 1
Director: Richard Curtis
Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans
Logline: Period comedy about an illegal radio station broadcasting from the North Sea in the 1960s (reportedly budgeted at $50 million).
(aka "The Boat That Rocked")
Nov. 1
Director: Richard Curtis
Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans
Logline: Period comedy about an illegal radio station broadcasting from the North Sea in the 1960s (reportedly budgeted at $50 million).
"It's Complicated" Release date: Dec. 25
Director: Nancy Meyers
Cast: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin
Logline: A woman becomes “the other woman” in her ex-husband's life when they unexpectedly start an affair. Meanwhile, her architect also falls in love with her, creating a rather peculiar love triangle. (Reported budget: $75 million)
"The Wolfman" Release date: Feb. 12
Director: Joe Johnston
Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt
Logline: Remake of the Universal classic horror tale, starring Del Toro as the Wolfman, with special makeup effects by Rick Baker.
"Green Zone" (tentative title)
Release date: March 12
Director: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Matt Damon, Amy Ryan, Greg Kinnear, Jason Isaacs, Brendan Gleeson
Logline: Thriller about a foreign correspondent following a pair of CIA agents who are on the trail of weapons of mass destruction.
Release date: March 12
Director: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Matt Damon, Amy Ryan, Greg Kinnear, Jason Isaacs, Brendan Gleeson
Logline: Thriller about a foreign correspondent following a pair of CIA agents who are on the trail of weapons of mass destruction.
"Repo Men"
Release date: April 2
Director: Miguel Sapochnik
Release date: April 2
Director: Miguel Sapochnik
Cast: Alice Braga, Jude Law, Liev Schreiber, Forest Whitaker
Logline: A futuristic thriller about a repo man created out of artificial organs who receives a heart transplant for which he can't pay, forcing him to go on the run.
Logline: A futuristic thriller about a repo man created out of artificial organs who receives a heart transplant for which he can't pay, forcing him to go on the run.
"MacGruber" Release date: April 16
Director: Jorma Taccone
Cast: Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Val Kilmer, Ryan Phillippe
Logline: Based on the “Saturday Night Live” sketch about a laid-back secret agent.
Untitled Robin Hood Adventure (formerly Nottingham)
Release date: May 14
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Russell Crowe, Sienna Miller, Mark Strong, Vanessa Redgrave
Logline: Updates the classic Robin Hood tale.
Release date: May 14
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Russell Crowe, Sienna Miller, Mark Strong, Vanessa Redgrave
Logline: Updates the classic Robin Hood tale.
