IESB has uncovered a rumor that Will Smith has agreed to star in two sequels to the 1996 (nearly fifteen years old) blockbuster Independence Day. There have been rumors of a sequel for several years now, but the busy schedules of many of the original’s key players has kept it from ever moving forward. Now, however, it looks like we’re closer to a sequel than ever before. Read the full story

AICN (via Empire) is reporting that Roland Emmerich has signed on a handful of talented British actors to film Anonymous, which revolves around the widely-spewed conspiracy theory that there was never actually a William Shakespeare, but rather that Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, was the pen behind the man.

Here’s what Emmerich has to say about the film:

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Another movie announced to be 3D? Yes, that’s so unexpected in this post-Avatar world. Not just any movie, but Roland Emmerich’s planned adaptation of the Foundation trilogy. Emmerich gave up the details over at MTV citing Avatar as the inspiration:

Probably now all big movies have to be 3-D. It’s not only the effect of 3-D, [Avatar has] just shown that if you do a movie in 3-D, you can ask for more money and that’s the trick. I think now everybody who does bigger movies has to shoot them in 3-D. I think there’s no way around it. I was on the set of ‘Avatar’ and I saw how it worked and I really thought, ‘That’s the ultimate way of making movies.

Emmerich also said that he wouldn’t know how to shoot it “real”, which is a bit odd since what I’ve heard Asimov’s Foundation trilogy is something that could be done realistically, no mo-cap necessary. There’s one thing that is for sure fact, expect plenty of explosions to be coming at you in 3D. It’s a bit silly to expect that this will be any different than Emmerich’s past films, so don’t expect anything brainy and non-gimmicky.

What do you think of the idea of a 3D Foundation Trilogy?

NOTE: Massive spoilers below.

For a film that is one single entire ridiculous moment one may say it is difficult to pinpoint specific favorites. Well, here at The Film Stage we attempt to do just that. These include specific scenes, broader categories, and entire performances. Check out the list below. Read the full story

Columbia Pictures | USA | 158 mins

2012, directed by Roland Emmerich, is a standard disaster film, a.k.a. plenty of gaps in logic and a predictable story-line paired with action set pieces galore! This exploitation of mindless action is filled with non-stop cliches, mediocre acting and instantly quotably cringe-worthy lines. The film gets by at times due to its sheer cheese factor, but it never reaches the peak of “it’s so-bad-its-good”, something which could have aided in enjoyment arena.

As the Mayans predicted, the world is ending in 2012. Right at the center of this atrocity is writer Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) and the always sympathetic scientist Adrian Helmsley (Chiwitel Ejiofor). Curtis is a writer who lives an estranged life from his kids and ex-wife (Amanda Peet). He’s, of course, divorced and his children prefer their always lovable step-father (Tom McCarthy). Meanwhile, Helmsley is a government scientist who has known about the forthcoming apocalypse for years. His colleague in India discovered it in 2009. Helmsley ends up informing the president (Danny Glover). With only three years to prepare, they take the next logical step: don’t warn anyone and build giant arcs in China for the rich. When the inevitable doomsday comes everyone fights for survival. Curtis does his best to save his family while Helmsley whines plenty about having to save everyone. Read the full story

Columbia Pictures | USA | 158 mins

Roland Emmerich’s latest piece of world destruction cinema not only pushes the bounds of awful storytelling but manages to assault the viewer physically, mentally and psychologically. If there is one thing that films like Stargate, Independence Day, The Patriot, and The Day After Tomorrow all have in common (besides Emmerich’s direction) it is that they contain an element of fun. 2012, if it can be believed, surpasses the level of embarrassment that is achieved in Godzilla. While clichéd dialogue and shoddy CG are to be expected by Emmerich, it’s not an excuse for a story that is not only implausible, but, one that lacks even less character development and depth than Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

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Columbia Pictures and The Film Stage are offering you the chance to win free passes to Roland Emmerich’s upcoming apocalyptic thriller, 2012, starring John Cusack, opening in theaters on Friday, November 13, 2009. Tickets are for a screening of the film on Tuesday, November 10th at 7:30pm at Regal Elmwood. Read the full story

Sony Pictures has finally released the new trailer for Roland Emmerich’s new disaster film 2012. The film follows an academic researcher who is trying to survive the apocalyptic events predicted by the ancient Mayan calender. The cast includes John Cusack, Oliver Platt, Thandie Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Danny Glover. Check out the trailer in HD after the jump.

Watch the trailer below >>

Variety reports Sacha Bara Cohen’s new film, Bruno will be moving from May 15th to July 10th, the date in which Roland Emmerich’s 2012 was recently moved from. The Universal film will now go up against the Chris Columbus comedy, I Love You, Beth Cooper. Sacha Bara Cohen’s new film follows flamboyant Austrian fashionista Brüno as he takes his show to America. I’m hoping the comedic magic of Borat will continue. We will have to wait about two extra months to find out now.

Are you upset Bruno got pushed back?

Variety reports Sony Pictures has pushed back Roland Emmerich’s (Day After Tomorrow, 10,000 B.C.) end-of-the-world adventure 2012 from July 10th to Nov 13th. The movie, starring Amanda Peet, John Cusack, Thandie Newton, Woody Harrelson, and Oliver Platt, follows an academic researcher who leads a group of people in a fight to counteract the apocalyptic events that were predicted by the ancient Mayan calendar. Sony has strong summer slate– including Ron Howard’s Angels and Demons (May 15th) starring Tom Hanks and Tony Scott’s The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (June 12th), which stars Denzel Washington and John Travolta. This makes sense for Sony Pictures to move it back. It will now be up against Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr.

Here is a teaser trailer for it from Moviefone, check it out below or HD here:

Are you upset 2012 got pushed back?