Johnny Depp Introduces the Mad Hatter to Disney Guests

The surest way to get a ton of publicity for your new mega blockbuster film is to send your mega blockbuster film star out among the people for surprises that make for viral videos. Enter a blushing young man named Depp who thought it a good idea to introduce the citizens of Disneyland to an obscure character called the "Mad Hatter" via a digital billboard that wasn't supposed to be interactive...

“Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass” Kicks Off Production

Disney’s “Alice In Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass” begins principal photography this week, featuring an award-winning production team and all-star ensemble cast, including Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen. James Bobin (“The Muppets,” “Muppets Most Wanted”) helms the film, which revisits Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories with an all-new new tale that travels back to Underland—and back in Time. “Alice In Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass” is produced by Joe Roth (“Maleficent,” “Alice in Wonderland”), Jennifer Todd (“Alice In Wonderland,” “Memento”), Suzanne Todd (“Alice In Wonderland,” “Memento”) and Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Frankenweenie”). John G. Scotti (“Muppets Most Wanted,” “The Muppets”) is the executive producer; Linda Woolverton (“Maleficent,” “Alice In Wonderland,” “Beauty and the Beast”) penned the screenplay. Shooting on location and at Shepperton Studios in England, the film is slated for release on May 27, 2016. 

The Hot Toys Lone Ranger 1/6th scale Tonto Figure

Welp...the movie didn't do so hot...and Mr. Depp didn't exactly ingratiate himself with the public by blaming movie critics for the film's flop...but this is America, where we love jerks no matter what they do...AND BUY ACTION FIGURES OF THEM! Yay. Hot Toys adds to your legion of high end, eerily life-like 12 inch action figures with the white faced, crow headed, insane American Indian you want to snuggle up with and go "shhh..shhh...just make another pirates movie...shhhh".

Hot Toys – MMS217 – The Lone Ranger: 1/6th scale Tonto Collectible Figure Specification
~ Movie Masterpiece Series ~

The Lone Ranger Taking Shape

 

We've got a long way to go until that July 3, 2013 release date, but that doesn't mean the fine folks at Disney won't torment you with beautiful imagery until then! This first round has it all...a teaser poster, lush cinematography, action and Johnny Depp!

 From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaking team behind the blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, comes Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “The Lone Ranger,” a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes.  Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice—taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.

Dark Shadows: Vampire History

In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet—or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy...until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets. Matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) has called upon live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), to help with her family troubles. Also residing in the manor is Elizabeth's ne'er-do-well brother, Roger Collins, (Jonny Lee Miller); her rebellious teenage daughter Carolyn Stoddard (Chloe Moretz); and Roger's precocious 10-year-old son, David Collins (Gulliver McGrath). The mystery extends beyond the family, to caretaker Willie Loomis, played by Jackie Earle Haley, and David's new nanny, Victoria Winters, played by Bella Heathcote.

"Dark Shadows" in theaters May 11!

Dark Shadows Trailer Premieres..and Confuses

If you are like me, you probably didn't guess the tone of this film from the stills released to date. That being the case, then like me, you completely overlooked the fact that Tim Burton is directing. Fail on my part. Dark Shadows seems to be setting itself up to be Burton's own Addams Family, and I am completely down with that!

In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet—or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy...until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets. Matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) has called upon live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), to help with her family troubles. Also residing in the manor is Elizabeth's ne'er-do-well brother, Roger Collins, (Jonny Lee Miller); her rebellious teenage daughter Carolyn Stoddard (Chloe Moretz); and Roger's precocious 10-year-old son, David Collins (Gulliver McGrath). The mystery extends beyond the family, to caretaker Willie Loomis, played by Jackie Earle Haley, and David's new nanny, Victoria Winters, played by Bella Heathcote.



So we are talking campy 70's era soap opera themes with a vampire and a witch then, hmm? Sold. May 11 will come soon enough!

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides on DVD this October

What do you do when your movie has made over a billion dollars? Well, I suppose you just keep making money. REALLY??!! A BILLION DOLLARS??!! That's just...insane. I'm not jealous.

The Walt Disney Studios and Jerry Bruckheimer Films are proud to present the #1 worldwide box office success of 2011 - making over $1 billion globally - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, in stunning high definition Blu-ray™, eye popping Blu-ray 3D™ (a first for the legendary franchise) and Movie Download on October 18, 2011.

Setting sail on an ocean full of hi-def adventures, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides will debut in a Limited Edition 5-Disc Combo Pack (1-Disc Blu-ray 3D + 2-Disc Blu-ray + 1-Disc DVD + 1-Disc Digital Copy), a 2-Disc Combo Pack (1-Disc Blu-ray + 1-Disc DVD), and for the ultimate fan a 15-Disc Four Movie Collection. Additionally the movie will be available in 3D and High-Definition Movie Download.

The Limited Edition 5-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack includes hours of bonus materials offering fans a deeper dive inside Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides including immersive Disney Second Screen technology, exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences, Fountain of Youth mythology, an extensive look at mermaids, bloopers, deleted and extended scenes, and much more.

In addition, the Pirates of the Caribbean 15-Disc Four Movie Collection offers fans more adventures than ever before. The Collection is packaged in an authentic replica Pirate’s Chest, and includes a collectible map and an iconic skull disc case that holds the Blu-ray™ discs and digital copies of ALL four Pirates of the Caribbean movies, along with the Blu-ray 3D™ disc and DVD of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, directed by Rob Marshall (Nine, Chicago), and written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio (Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, National Treasure 2, Mask of Zorro), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is the latest addition to the incredibly successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise that has for years entertained audiences of all ages with its thrilling adventures, hi-tech special effects and unique storylines.

Back as Captain Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp (Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Alice in Wonderland) returns leading a sensational cast of talents that includes Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech), Ian McShane (HBO’s “Deadwood”) and more.



The visually stunning film shot in high-definition 3D invites viewers to embark on an adventure-filled ride with Captain Jack Sparrow as he searches for the breathtaking Fountain of Youth. Along the turbulent trip, fans are forced to re-think their knowledge of fairytale creatures when they are introduced to a group of alluring yet precarious mermaids, traverse isolated islands and fight international enemies.

Details:

2-Disc Combo Pack (1-Disc Blu-ray™ + 1-Disc DVD)
SRP = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada
· Disney Second Screen
· Bloopers of the Caribbean
· Audio Commentary by director Rob Marshall
· LEGO Animated Shorts: Captain Jack’s Brick Tales

Limited Edition 5-Disc Combo Pack (1-Disc Blu-ray 3D™ + 2-Disc Blu-ray + 1-Disc DVD + 1-Disc Digital Copy)
SRP = $49.99 U.S./$56.99 Canada
All of the above features plus…
· Legends of On Stranger Tides
· In Search of the Fountain
· Last Sail/First Voyage
· Under the Scene: Bringing Mermaids to Life
· Deleted and Extended Scenes with Intros by director Rob Marshall

Limited Edition 15-Disc Four Movie Collection
SRP = $169.99 U.S./$189.99 Canada
· Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2-Disc Blu-ray+1-Disc Digital Copy )
· Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2-Disc Blu-ray+1-Disc Digital Copy )
· Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2-Disc Blu-ray+1-Disc Digital Copy)
· Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (1-Disc Blu-ray 3D +2-Disc Blu-ray+Digital Copy+1-Disc DVD)
· 1-Disc Blu-ray bonus disc that includes all-new never-before-seen short film “Wedlocked”
· Authentic replica Pirate’s Chest, a collectible map and an iconic skull disc case.
· And much more…

CLICK HERE to pre-order on Blu-ray for $27.99 (30% off!)

The Rango Super Bowl Spot

Another film high on my list, and maybe slightly more so than Cage and his explosions and boobs. Who wouldn't love Johnny Depp as a chameleon in the old west? Seriously, if you don't like cartoons, you are a commie. Glad I said it.



From the director of “The Pirates of the Caribbean” comes RANGO, featuring Johnny Depp in an original animated comedy-adventure that takes moviegoers for a hilarious and heartfelt walk in the Wild West. The story follows the comical, transformative journey of Rango (Depp), a sheltered chameleon living as an ordinary family pet, while facing a major identity crisis. After all, how high can you aim when your whole purpose in life is to blend in? When Rango accidentally winds up in the gritty, gun-slinging town of Dirt – a lawless outpost populated by the desert’s most wily and whimsical creatures – the less-than-courageous lizard suddenly finds he stands out. Welcomed as the last hope the town has been waiting for, new Sheriff Rango is forced to play his new role to the hilt . . . until, in a blaze of action-packed situations and encounters with outrageous characters, Rango starts to become the hero he once only pretended to be. With a cast that includes Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Harry Dean Stanton, Ray Winstone and Timothy Olyphant as the Spirit of the West, Rango is an exciting new twist on the classic Western legend of the outsider who saves a town – and himself in the process.

Run with Rango March 4th, 2011!

Pre-Toy Fair 2011: LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

IT'S LEGO TIME!! After many many years of covering toys, we know one thing for sure. LEGO fans want to see every detail you can scrounge up for them. That said, we teamed up with our buds over at Wrestlingfigs.com (click the link for lots of pirates eye candy) to bring you some pre-toy fair coverage of LEGO's new Pirates of the Caribbean line for the upcoming film "On Stranger Tides" as well as past films! Here's the skinny...

The LEGO Group and Disney Consumer Products announced an upcoming collection of LEGO® brand Pirates of the Caribbean construction toys that will set children's imaginations sailing on thousands of build-and-play adventures. Scheduled to launch in spring 2011, eight new building sets will bring the action, stories and characters of the entire series of Pirates of the Caribbean films to life in LEGO form, including the spring 2011 premiere of the fourth installment, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides."

"The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is a classic favorite among families and children around the world," said Jill Wilfert, vice president licensing & entertainment at The LEGO Group. "The pirate theme is always a strong player in the LEGO portfolio, and the Pirates of the Caribbean brand offers the quintessential pirate experience with familiar characters, stories and scenes, allowing us to develop even more authentic and exciting models for children and collectors."

"Collaborating with The LEGO Group on the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is sure to be another great example of how together, we merge timeless characters and stories with a versatile play pattern to create exciting ways to play for children and fans of all ages," said Vince Klaseus, senior vice president of global toys, Disney Consumer Products. "We look forward to giving children a chance to recreate the adventures from the big screen, while adding their own creative twists and ideas through LEGO building."

What's on tap?

Queen Anne's Revenge Ship with Jack Sparrow, Angelico, Blackbeard, Chef, Quartermaster (could be wrong on this one) and 2 Zombie Pirates- 1097 pieces : From the captain’s quarters perched high on his magnificent ship, Blackbeard secretly looks on as Jack Sparrow and the motley crew attempt mutiny against Angelica and the zombies. Will our heroes be able to take control of the ship before Blackbeard reveals himself? Includes Jack Sparrow, Angelica and Blackbeard figures. Available: May 2011 - $119.99
















































Whitecap Bay with Jack Sparrow, Philip, Syrano (Mermaid), Mermaid, Scrum and a Pirate - 746 pieces : At White Cap Bay, Jack Sparrow and the other pirates must capture a mermaid. Spot them using the searchlight and shoot the net from the boathouse cannon. But beware! If the whale oil tips over, the whole lighthouse is sure to go up in flames! Includes Jack Sparrow, three mermaids and three other pirate minifigs, mini-boat with pirates’ victims, crewmates and a collapsing lighthouse. Available: May 2011 - $79.99







































The Mill with Jack Sparrow, Will Turner and Norrington - 365 pieces




























The London Escape with Jack Sparrow, Gibbs, Horse Coach Driver, King George's Soldier and King George's Officer - 463 pieces

























The Captain's Cabin with Jack Sparrow and 2 different Zombie Pirates- 95 pieces : Will Jack Sparrow escape the captain’s cabin with a coveted prize or be captured by Zombies? Includes buildable shelf and two ships in a bottle. Available: May 2011 - $10.99
















The Cannibal Escape with Jack Sparrow, Will Turner and 2 different Cannibals- 279 pieces




























Isle De Muerta with Elizabeth Swann, Jack Sparrow (head turns for skeleton jack look!), Hector Barbosa and Skeleton Barbosa - 152 pieces































Fountain of Youth with Jack Sparrow, Blackbeard and Hector Barbosa : The race is on to see who will make it to the Fountain of Youth first! Will Jack Sparrow be outsmarted by Blackbeard or wooed by Angelica, or will he beat his rivals to the coveted pools of eternal youth? Set includes Jack Sparrow, Barbossa with peg leg and Blackbead minifigs, plastic waterfall detail and two chalices. Available: May 2011 - $19.99
















And what licensed LEGO line would be complete without a new Video Game??!!

Disney Interactive Studios and TT Games have collaborated to develop LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game. Based in the world of the globally successful film franchise, incorporating storylines, locations and characters from the first three films, LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game will re-create the action, adventure and memorable moments of the Pirates of the Caribbean mythology in LEGO form, incorporating the humor of LEGO minifigures and fantastic worlds built from LEGO bricks and elements for players to explore. The video game will release in May in conjunction with the film and will be available for the Wii™ console, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system, Games For Windows — LIVE and the Nintendo DS™ family of hand-held systems.