What's next in 3D?

http://today3d.blogspot.com/2010/02/whats-next-in-3d.html

 

You only have to peripherally interested in movies these days to have noticed that there seems to be an industry-wide interest bordering on mania where 3D is concerned.

 

The studios are making plans to make more films in 3D than ever before, and films that have already been shot in 2D are being converted to 3D. Disney's long-awaited, Tim Burton-directed "Alice in Wonderland" and Warner Brothers'"Clash of the Titans" remake top that list. Warner Brothers is also converting "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" to 3D and that's what should have gotten people really thinking. "Harry Potter" shares top billing only with Batman as the crown jewel in Warners' crown, and Harry's generated more movies lately.

 

And they aren't alone. Even before "Avatar" was released, back in October of 2009, M-G-M announced that Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon's long-delayed "The Cabin in the Woods" would be delayed practically another year to convert it to 3D. It has been reported that Academy Award winning director Ridley Scott is lobbying Universal to convert his new "Robin Hood," which stars Russell Crowe to 3D. "Robin Hood" is believed to have topped the $200 million mark already.

 

That has to have moviegoers wondering what's next. There are some high-profile projects in development that could realistically be made in 3D, and there's been surprisingly little talk about some of them.

 

Currently, Sony and Columbia are prepping "Ghostbusters III" to shoot this summer. Ivan Reitman, director of the original two "Ghostbusters" movie is on board to direct, and most of the original cast is also attached.

 

In the original movies, Reitman had special effects ghosts flying at the camera all over the place. You'd have to think this would be a natural property for 3D.

My source at Sony at this point will only say: "There is nothing new to report beyond our continued progress in developing the screenplay."

 

Sony, however, has already announced plans to film the next installment of the "Spider-Man" movies series in 3D, as well as "Zombieland 2."

 

M-G-M's financial woes appear to be the cause of the recently announced pre-production delays in the twenty-third James Bond movie (and yes, we knowit's the twenty-fourth if you count "Never Say Never Again--" it would be the twenty-fifth if you counted the first version of "Casino Royale" and we aren't counting that, either) and not, as the English tabloids have claimed, that's it to prepare the film in 3D.

However, you'd almost have to believe that if Harry Potter and Spider-Man can go 3D, so can 007. As to that, producer Barbara Broccoli has been quoted as saying to MI6:

"[D]irectors like ["Avatar's" James] Cameron, they're fantastic because they get everybody excited about movies. We've always said that the better the competition, the better for us, because all we hope for is that people keep going to the cinema and that movies keep breaking barriers and becoming more and more exciting. We couldn't ask for anything more."

Which is a long way from saying that the next Bond movie will be in 3D, but it might be a roundabout way of saying they're thinking about it. After the success of "Avatar," in an uncertain economic climate, everyone's looking for a sure thing