Joe Wright Circles Houdini Biopic

Director Joe Wright (Hanna, Atonement) is now in talks to adapt Lionsgate-Summit's The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero, based on the controversial biography by William Kalush and Larry Sloman.

The book, which was published by Atria Books in 2006, insinuated that the escape artist Harry Houdini was in fact a secret service agent for Britain and America. The studio picked up the movie rights back in 2009 with the aim of creating an action thriller depicting Houdini as part Indiana Jones and part Sherlock Holmes.

The Hunger Games' Gary Ross was previously attached to helm the project, however, the filmmaker has since moved on to his Peter Pan project Peter and the Starcatchers.

Via the L.A. Times

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love by following @Max_Nicholson on Twitter, or MaxNicholson on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

The Expendables 2 Touches Down on BD, DVD

Ready for some hardcore ass kicking? Well, you're in luck! Lionsgate Home Entertainment will bring the smash-hit sequel, The Expendables 2, to Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download November 20, 2012, just in time for Thanksgiving!

While not as a big of a hit in the U.S. as the first feature, the star-studded sequel was a huge success overseas, grossing nearly $300 million worldwide.

The Expendables 2 will come to Blu-ray and DVD fully loaded with bonus features. The Blu-ray will boast a 1080p hi-def transfer, with 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. The DVD will feature an anamorphic widescreen presentation with 5.1 Dolby Digital audio. Extras will include the following:

• Audio commentary with director Simon West
• "Gods of War: Assembling Earth's Mightiest Anti-Heroes" featurette
• "Big Guns, Bigger Heroes: The 1980's and the Rise of the Action Film" featurette
• "On the Assault: The Real-Life Weaponry of The Expendables" featurette
• "Guns for Hire: The Real Expendables" featurette
• Deleted Scenes
• Gag Reel

Suggested retail is set at $39.99 for the Blu-ray and $29.95 for the DVD. Amazon's current pre-order pricing is set at $27.99 for the Blu-ray and $20.97 for the DVD.

Stay tuned for more news, and be sure to check back for our review of The Expendables 2 on Blu-ray this November!

R.L. Shaffer is a writer for IGN. He loves a good '80s throwback! Be sure to follow his Twitter, Facebook and MyIGN for quotes, rants, reviews, news and more!

Source : ign[dot]com

The Expendables 2 Touches Down on BD, DVD

Ready for some hardcore ass kicking? Well, you're in luck! Lionsgate Home Entertainment will bring the smash-hit sequel, The Expendables 2, to Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download November 20, 2012, just in time for Thanksgiving!

While not as a big of a hit in the U.S. as the first feature, the star-studded sequel was a huge success overseas, grossing nearly $300 million worldwide.

The Expendables 2 will come to Blu-ray and DVD fully loaded with bonus features. The Blu-ray will boast a 1080p hi-def transfer, with 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. The DVD will feature an anamorphic widescreen presentation with 5.1 Dolby Digital audio. Extras will include the following:

• Audio commentary with director Simon West
• "Gods of War: Assembling Earth's Mightiest Anti-Heroes" featurette
• "Big Guns, Bigger Heroes: The 1980's and the Rise of the Action Film" featurette
• "On the Assault: The Real-Life Weaponry of The Expendables" featurette
• "Guns for Hire: The Real Expendables" featurette
• Deleted Scenes
• Gag Reel

Suggested retail is set at $39.99 for the Blu-ray and $29.95 for the DVD. Amazon's current pre-order pricing is set at $27.99 for the Blu-ray and $20.97 for the DVD.

Stay tuned for more news, and be sure to check back for our review of The Expendables 2 on Blu-ray this November!

R.L. Shaffer is a writer for IGN. He loves a good '80s throwback! Be sure to follow his Twitter, Facebook and MyIGN for quotes, rants, reviews, news and more!

Source : ign[dot]com

Lionsgate Buys Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing

Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions announced today that they've acquired filmmaker Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing, a contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic comedy.

Unlike his blockbuster The Avengers, Much Ado is a low-budget indie shot in black & white. Whedon filmed it in less than two weeks at his home upon completing Avengers. It's the first production of his micro-studio Bellwether Pictures.

The film, which screened at this week's Toronto International Film Festival, stars such Whedon veterans as Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion, Fran Kranz, Jillian Morgese, Sean Maher, Clark Gregg, and Reed Diamond.

“I’m thrilled to be working with my cronies at Lionsgate again, and with The Roadside team," said Whedon in a statement. "That they all embrace a Shakespearean romance with the same enthusiasm they had for 'Cabin in the Woods' shows that they’re exactly the mad fools we want to be partying – I mean working – with.”

Source : ign[dot]com

Vin Diesel Could Be The Last Witch Hunter

Fast and Furious star Vin Diesel is now in negotiations to star in Lionsgate-Summit's The Last Witch Hunter.

The story, which was penned by Cory Goodman (Priest), is about the last remaining witch hunter, who is tasked with discouraging a group of witches and warlocks from reproducing. Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov was once set to helm the film when the pitch was first picked up, however, the filmmaker has since dropped out.

The Wrap reports that The Crazies' Breck Eisner is now attached to direct the film, with Adam Goldworm executive producing. Emmett/Furla Films will also produce.

Source : ign[dot]com

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Complete Classic Series on DVD

Fans of the original TMNT have reason to scream "Cowabunga!" Lionsgate Home Entertainment will release Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Complete Classic Series on DVD November 13, 2012. This massive 23-disc box set will include all 193 episodes from the original 1987 classic series. The set will also feature a radical replica of the turtle van. Check it out:

Each episode will be presented in 1.33:1 full frame, with 2.0 Dolby Digital audio. The set will also include over three hours of bonus features, ported over from previous Turtles box sets.

Suggested retail for this complete series collection is set at $99.98. Amazon's current pre-order price is $69.99 -- not bad considering you get 23 discs and over 73 hours of content. If nothing else, this set should make The Angry Video Game Nerd very happy.

"Cowabunga!" Follow R.L. Shaffer on Twitter, Facebook and MyIGN for quotes, rants, reviews, news and more!

Source : ign[dot]com

Dredd Prologue Comic Cover Debut

Lionsgate has premiered the full Dredd 3D prequel comic, which tells the story of movie villain Ma-Ma. You can read the comic here! Stay tuned to watch the Dredd motion comic as well, right here on IGN.

Original story from 8/28/12:

We're drawing ever closer to the release of Dredd 3D in theaters next month (though we've already reviewed -- and loved -- the movie), but that doesn't mean Judge Dredd die-hards have to wait until release day to get their fix. Lionsgate will be debuting a brand new Dredd prologue comic next week with some top-notch 2000AD talent -- it's written by Matt Smith with art by Henry Flint, Chris Blythe, and Simon Bowland -- that will explore the background of the film's villain, Ma-Ma.

We're excited to bring you the very first look at the book's cover, drawn by frequent Judge Dredd artist Greg Staples, which features the badass likeness of Dredd star Karl Urban. Check it:

Alongside the reveal of the cover, Lionsgate has launched a brand new app for fans to create their very own covers for the Dredd comic. You can select from a bunch of pre-made images and combine them into your own justice-inducing scene. Be sure to give it a whirl at dredd3dcomiccovercreator.com!

Stay tuned for more on the official Dredd prequel comic and much more from Mega-City One right here at IGN Comics.

Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on IGN. He loves superhero pets so hard.

Source : ign[dot]com

Mad Men: Season Five Arriving on BD, DVD

Lionsgate Home Entertainment will bring Mad Men: Season Five to Blu-ray and DVD October 16, 2012. Both sets will include all 13 episodes from the fifth season.

Mad Men: Season Five will be presented on Blu-ray in 1080p (2.35:1 aspect ratio), mixed in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. The DVD will feature an anamorphic widescreen transfer with 5.1 Dolby Digital audio.

Extras will include the following:

• ""Mad Men Say the Darndest Things" - Take a look at the best one-­liners from the series and perhaps you will see your favorite!
• "The Uniform Time Act of 1966" - A pictorial time line explores the history of Daylight Savings Time and its official observance in the United States.
• "What Shall I Love If Not the Enigma?" - A glance into the life and work of metaphysical artist Giorgio de Chirico.
• "The Party of the Century" - Author Deborah Davis and legendary bandleader Peter Duchin take you inside Truman Capote's infamous Black & White Masquerade Ball.
• "Scoring Mad Men: Inside a Session" - Join composer David Carbonarra, orchestrator Geoff Stradling and sound engineer Jim Hill in the recording studio as they discuss their formula for scoring Mad Men.
• "Newsweek Magazine Digital Gallery" - A selection of Newsweek Magazine covers share the top news stories from around the world in 1966.
• Mad Men Season 5 commentaries - Matthew Weiner and the cast and crew of Mad Men take viewers behind the scenes in feature-length audio commentaries for all 13 episodes.

Suggested retail for the Blu-ray is $49.99 and $49.98 for the DVD. Amazon has the DVD and Blu-ray available for pre-order for $44.99.

Be sure to check back for more news regarding this series, and be on the lookout for a review of the Blu-ray this October. In the meantime, be sure to check out IGN TV's Mad Men page for reviews, interviews, features and more.

R.L. Shaffer has seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. He's watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. And now you can follow his Twitter, Facebook and MyIGN for quotes, rants, reviews, news and more!

Source : ign[dot]com