BREAKING MOVIE/TV NEWS

Saturday, June 04, 2011

"47 Ronin" @ Shepperton and "Dark Shadows" @ Pinewood

The UK's Pinewood and Shepperton Studios complex, reports that filming is now underway @ Shepperton on Universal’s upcoming, 3D fantasy-adventure, "47 Ronin" and "Dark Shadows" has started @ Pinewood.

"47 Ronin", inspired by ancient Japan’s most enduring story about the 'Samurai', stars Keanu Reeves as 'Kai', an outcast who joins 'Oishi' (Hiroyuki Sanada), the leader of the '47 Ronin' :

"...Together they seek vengeance on the treacherous overlord who killed their master and banished their kind. To restore honor to their homeland, the warriors embark upon a quest that challenges them with a series of trials that would destroy ordinary warriors..."

Production on the film started early in the New Year, building sets on Shepperton’s sound stages and backlot, recreating 18th century Japan in the form of a castle, fortress, tournament arena and village.

"47 Ronin" is directed by Carl Erik Rinsch ("The Gift").

"Pinewood and Shepperton have seen some relatively big productions come through its gates in recent years, although few rival the scale and ambition of '47 Ronin'," said Andrew Smith, Group Corporate Affairs Director at Pinewood.

"The sets are some of the most amazing we’ve seen and it’s so pleasing to have been able to provide the production with the space, infrastructure and support they need to help them achieve their vision..."

Written by Chris Morgan ("Wanted") and Hossein Amini ("Drive"), producers are Scott Stuber ("Battleship"), Pamela Abdy ("Garden State"), and Eric McLeod ("Tropic Thunder").

DP is Oscar-nominated cinematographer John Mathieson ("Gladiator"), Oscar-nominated production designer Jan Roelfs ("Alexander"), editor is Craig Wood ("The Ring"), costume designer is Penny Rose ("Pirates of the Caribbean"), special effects producer is Paul Corbould ("The Wolfman") and visual effects producer is Garv Thorp ("The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor").

"Dark Shadows" from Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Village Roadshow Pictures, brings the cult classic 1960's TV series to the big screen under the direction of Tim Burton, with shooting to be done entirely in England including Pinewood Studios.

Cast includes Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Bella Heathcote, Chloe Moretz and Gulliver McGrath.

Burton is directing and producing Dark Shadows from a screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith, and story by John August and Grahame-Smith, based on the television series created by Dan Curtis. Also producing are Oscar winner Richard D. Zanuck ("Alice in Wonderland"), Oscar winner Graham King, ("The Departed"), Depp, Christi Dembrowski, and David Kennedy. Executive producers are Chris Lebenzon, Nigel Gostelow, Tim Headington, and Bruce Berman.

DP is cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, Oscar-winning production designer is Rick Heinrichs ("Sleepy Hollow"), costume designer is Oscar-winning Colleen Atwood ("Alice in Wonderland") and editor is Chris Lebenzon ("Alice in Wonderland").

The score will be composed by long-time Burton collaborator Danny Elfman ("Batman").

Click the images to enlarge...