Mission: Impossible 4 Release Date Change

The release date for Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol has changed from Wednesday, December 21st to Friday, December 16th. The change is being called a "preview" in select theaters but the number of theatres was not provided. Considering the release date of Friday, I doubt anyone will have a problem seeing the film. The move seems to be a response to a crowded Christmas slate that includes The Girl with the Golden Tattoo and Steven Spielberg's War Horse.

J.J. Producing TV Adventure Series for NBC

It seems that J.J. Abrams just can't get enough of producing as he has signed on for yet another TV series (joining Fringe, Person of Interest and Alcatraz). The show, called Revolution, is a "one-hour NBC drama described as "an epic adventure thiller" according to Deadline. The show was created by Eric Kripke (Supernatural) who also is working on a Deadman series based on the DC comics ghost character. No idea if this means the show is being prepped as a possible mid-season replacement or just early groundwork for the 2012-2013 season.

Super 8 Home Video Details

The details for the home video release of Super 8 on DVD and Blu-ray have been revealed via a press release. The movie is set for a November 22, 2011 release with a Combo Pack of Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Copy. There will probably also be seperate copies of Blu-ray and DVD discs. As for the special features, there will be commentaries, 9 behind the scenes videos and deleted scenes. Full details below. Hopefully this isn't the final cover as the large yellow box with quotes is truly ugly.

Abrams Commits to Directing Star Trek 2 (Updated)

Vulture is reporting that J.J. Abrams has decided to direct Star Trek 2. Their sources indicate that pre-production has started and the script is expected by the end of the month. Star Trek 2's extended delay due to various film projects from Abrams (Super 8), Roberto Orci (Cowboys vs. Aliens) and Alex Kurtzman (Welcome to People) is the primary reasons why the film was forced to abandon its intended June 2012 release date. A new date has not been scheduled but I would not be surprised if it’s not bumped to May 2013 even though I think Thanksgiving 2012 is a better release time. Keep in mind that Abrams choosing the direct the film and Paramount agreeing to meet his price are two separate things but I would be surprised if things don't get worked out after the studio delayed the film in hopes of getting him back as director. (via TrekMovie)

Update: Entertainment Weekly has independently confirmed Vulture's story saying "EW has confirmed that the insatiable media multi-hyphenate has signed on to direct the sequel to his 2009 hit Star Trek."

JJ Abrams Briefly Talks IM4

While promoting the upcoming CBS TV series Person of Interest, show executive producer JJ Abrams briefly discussed Star Trek (delayed, not signed on as directory) and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol with Collider.

As producer, what are your thoughts on Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and Brad Bird as the director? Is it the best one in the series?
ABRAMS: I think it’s the best one of the series. I do. First of all, you’ve never seen a live action Brad Bird movie, and yet when you watch it, you go, “This is a Brad Bird movie.” You realize you’ve been watching Brad Bird films that just happen to be animated. It’s really fun. It’s got a fun intensity to it, and that’s Brad. It’s the biggest one, by far, in terms of the stuff that happens in it. Also, there are other things like a portion of it was shot in IMAX and there’s a sequence on the tallest building in the world, the Burj in Dubai, where Tom Cruise did five days worth of wire work outside the building that is so insane, you cannot believe the insurance company let him do it. When you see it on IMAX, it’s terrifying. It’s crazy, what he did. It really is unbelievable. It’s weird to be in meetings with him and think, “That dude was running down the outside of the building!” I’m talking to him, he’s in my office, and he did that. It’s weird. It’s like talking to Buzz Aldrin. You’re like, “That dude was on the moon!”

You could have been the guy who killed Tom Cruise.
ABRAMS: Well, you’re always afraid of that ‘cause Tom wants to do every stunt. But then, when he does it, you realize he can.