Movie / TV News: FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN 2, MAMA 2, TED 2, ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND CONTINUES, IN A WORLD, ANNIHILATOR, IDENTITY THIEF 2, MUMMY, THE AMERICANS

Fifty Shades of Grey, Snow White and the Huntsman 2, Mama 2, Ted 2, Anchorman: The Legend Continues, In a World, Annihilator, Identity Thief 2, Mummy, and The Americans have all made recent film and TV news. You will find a table of contents below so that you can quickly navigate to the movie and TV you want to read about quickly.

* Fifty Shades of Grey could be in theaters by next year.
* Snow White and the Huntsman 2, Mama 2,  Ted 2, Mummy reboot, Identity Thief 2 are moving forward.
* Cyclops joins Anchorman: The Legend Continues.
* In a World gets a US distributor.
* Annihilator getting a film adaptation.
* The Americans gets renewed.

Fifty Shades of Grey

The development of a Fifty Shades of Grey movie, based on the runaway bestseller, is aiming for a summer 2014 release, if possible:

I don’t believe that [author EL James] had any interest in going to a studio where rushing it into production was the vision. I don’t believe that the second or third film would have benefited from that strategy. And I think that there are totally legitimate questions about what this book is as a movie. I will tell you that it is an absolute priority for us. It’s conceivable that we could be ready to release it as early as next summer.

Snow White and the Huntsman 2, Mama 2, Ted 2, Mummy, Identity Thief 2

Universal is working on sequels to the giant hit Ted and horror performer Mama.

Mama proved a solid hit, grossing almost six times its $15 million production budget. So of course Universal is looking into the possibility of a sequel. “We think there’s potential for a Mama franchise,” studio exec David Kosse said.

However, director Andres Muschietti seems to feel differently. In an earlier interview, he stated his lack of interest in a sequel.

We sort of wore out the subject matter…I never thought this could continue. Sequels are always tricky. I know how studios think but I don’t see ‘Mama’ as something you can exploit because you’re screwing with the original. I’m really hoping to jump into some other movies right now.

In a new interview, studio chairman Adam Fogelson explains that he also may made an Identity Thief sequel (“we created great characters, so we’ll discuss how to re-pair Jason [Bateman] and Melissa going forward”)

Snow White and the Huntsman will get a sequel, and with Snow as the central character and the Huntsman as sidekick:

We’re actively developing the movie right now with Kristen’s character central, as well as the Huntsman role. We think that for a first movie out of the gate to do basically $400 million worldwide, there is a lot of opportunity. I don’t think Rupert is pursuing the next Snow White as a directing opportunity.

Anchorman: The Legend Continues

For his next trick, Ron Burgundy will go one and one with Cyclops. James Marsden, who played the X-Men leader in the first three films, and was once Liz Lemon’s love interest on 30 Rock, has just been cast as a rival anchor to the News Team in Adam McKay‘s Anchorman: The Legend Continues.

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Scheduled for release December 20, the highly-anticipated sequel begins filming next month in Atlanta. It stars Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Kristen Wiig and Christina Applegate.

In a World

Following a jubilant debut at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and a competitive pursuit by distributors, Roadside Attractions acquired U.S. rights, while Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) acquired International rights, to comic charmer IN A WORLD…, written and directed by Lake Bell. Roadside Attractions is planning a summer 2013 release for the film. The film premiered to rave reviews in Sundance’s prestigious Dramatic Competition category and garnered Bell the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, whose past recipients include Christopher Nolan for Memento as well Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini for Winter’s Bone.

Writer/director Lake Bell (IT’S COMPLICATED, WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS) stars alongside Rob Corddry and Ken Marino, two of her co-stars on Adult Swim’s Emmy award-winning CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, as well as Demetri Martin, Fred Melamed, Michaela Watkins, Nick Offerman, Tig Notaro and Alexandra Holden. The film was produced by Eddie Vaisman and Mark Roberts of 3311 Productions alongside Jett Steiger and Bell. Ross Jacobson and Sean O’Grady of 3311 Productions served as executive producers.

“In a world…where everyone loves a good laugh, Lake’s film represents the introduction of a major new comedic voice – a 21st Century Carole Lombard,” said Roadside Co-President Howard Cohen. “We think audiences around the country are going to love it as much as we and the audiences at Sundance did.”

“I’ve already been spoiled with my unforgettable experience at Sundance, but now, to be working with Roadside as well as Sony to release the film is an embarrassment of riches,” stated Lake Bell. “I’m so honored they share my enthusiasm.”

IN A WORLD… takes a hilarious look at the cutthroat culture of movie trailer voice-over artists. Carol Solomon (Bell), a young female voice coach, joins the all-male race to land the white-hot new trailer of a blockbuster trilogy, and with it lay claim to the legendary trailer catchphrase “In a world…” In doing so, she must battle ingrained industry sexism, ridiculously self-important competitors and even her own father, Sam Sotto (Fred Melamed), a legendary voice-over artist who can’t bring himself to recognize his daughter’s talent.

The U.S. deal was brokered by Roadside Attractions’ Co-President Howard Cohen and the International deal by SPWA’s EVP of Business Affairs, Michael Helfand, SVP of Acquisitions, Joe Matukewicz, and VP of Business Development, Jon Freedberg. UTA Independent Film Group negotiated the deal on behalf of production.

Annihilator

Stan Lee…has continued to create superheroes both for Marvel and on his own and now one of the newest ones is about to get his own movie.

The character is named Annihilator and he’s a Chinese prisoner who undergoes a dangerous procedure infusing him with the powers of several different animals. Producer Barry Josephson (Enchanted, Bones, Wild Wild West) and Magic Storm Entertainment have signed on to develop a film version, which has a script by Dan Gilroy (The Bourne Legacy).

ANNIHILATOR tells the story of a young Chinese expatriate, Ming, who must choose between remaining in prison or enlist in a secret US super soldier program. The program uses targeted genetic enhancements from various animal species. Ming chooses to undergo this nearly fatal procedure and through his extreme resolve, gained as a result of his family’s tradition of practicing Qijong and martial arts, he survives. Now, armed with remarkable abilities, he must confront a former rival with his own set of enhanced faculties. Our reluctant hero is forced not only to face his personal demons, but also to defeat the villain who will destroy everything that he knows and loves.

The Americans

This just in: @fxnetworks renews #TheAmericans for a 13-episode second season!

— TVGuideMagazine (@TVGuideMagazine) February 21, 2013

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Source: Slashfilm, THR, Deadline, Spoilertv