Tag: concept art

Concept Art for Brian Henson’s The Happytime Murders

Collider and several other sources have released the first concept image from Brian Henson’s The Happytime Murders, a film set in a world where puppets and humans co-exist but the former are second-class citizens. The son of the legendary Muppet creator Jim Henson, who is also directing the film, will no doubt turn a few heads with this film, offering a very dark spin on the world of puppets. It’s about time we had another Who Framed Roger Rabbit? style movie. With puppets.

With a script by Todd Berger, the official synopsis reads as follows: In a world where puppets co-exist with humans as second class citizens, puppet private eye and disgraced ex-cop, Phil Phillips, is hot on the trail of the serial killer who murdered his brother and is now targeting the cast members of the famous 80s television show, “The Happytime Gang.” As the killings continue, Phil’s former flame, Jenny, is next on the list. It’s up to Phil and his ex-partner, Detective Edwards, to find the culprit, but as bad blood and old resentments resurface the clues start pointing to the only viable suspect, Phil himself. Now he’s on the run with only his wits and hard headed determination, as he tries to solve, The Happytime Murders.

Click image to enlarge

March 14, 2012
Star Wars Concept Artist Ralph McQuarrie Dies at 82

A sad bit of news has come in over the wires today, as legendary Star Wars concept artist Ralph McQuarrie dies at the age of 82.

It is arguable that no single man, outside of George Lucas, has had more of an impact on the look and feel of the Star Wars universe than Ralph McQuarrie. He served as the original concept artist on the first film, and returned for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He also had the uncredited role of General McQuarrie in The Empire Strikes Back.

In addition to his Star Wars work, McQuarrie designed the alien ships for Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, and was the conceptual artist on the 1985 film Cocoon, for which he won the Academy Award for Visual Effects.

We couldn’t think of a better way to pay tribute than to pull out some of our favourite examples of his work from the Star Wars trilogy. His legacy will live as long as we have the original Star Wars films available.

You can find a full list of his work over on RalphMcQuarrie.com.

Click images to enlarge

March 4, 2012
New John Carter Concept Art Revealed

It’s Art Magazine (via ComingSoon.Net) has unveiled a whole lot of concept art for Disney’s forthcoming John Carter, including character designs for Dominic West, Lynn Collins and a few potential spoilers along the way. These look absolutely stunning, and if the film can live up to the promise of this artwork, we might just have our first great sci-fi/action film of 2012.

From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton comes John Carter – a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). John Carter is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet.

John Carter is due in cinemas on 8 March 2012 in Australia and 9 March 2012 in the US from Disney.

Click images to enlarge. Some of these images may contain spoilers. Make sure you also check out It’s Art Magazine.

February 1, 2012
Vin Diesel unveils more Riddick artwork and details

Stars just seem to love sharing exclusives on their social media outlets, from Vin Diesel’s earlier artwork revelation to yesterday’s Resident Evil tidbits from Milla Jovovich. Now, via Vin Diesel’s Facebook page, the actor has let loose a “key frame” of concept art and more details about the state of production, including mention of a 2012 release date.

[stextbox id=”grey”]In the spirit of Creative Sundays… I asked the director to send a key frame that I could post it for you.

Concept art and Key frames allow a production to explore possibilities before actually committing to film. The road to the “R” rating, that so many of you were vocal about, has been a long one. The advantage however, (never empower the negatives) was that we were allowed a really extensive preproduction process. The art work is so good, the artists have really outdone themselves in illustrating this world at it’s early stage.

When this film comes to the screen… know that you willed it into being!

Haha…

I got two meetings today that I have been prepping for… one with the Director and another one with the head of the studio to discuss casting and the 2012 release date. Like always, I appreciate having your voice present in these meetings.

P.s. Share your thoughts… casting, release date, mythology or anything else. It’s Sunday and we are, at the very least, allowed to be creative in thought.[/stextbox]

The art below is provocatively titled The Final Stand of Riddick, and you can click to enlarge it:

Can we just say that we love this man and his willingness to share his enthusiasm for the series with the general public? Mr. Diesel: you rock.

September 19, 2011
Concept Art: ‘The Avengers’ Assemble

Unless you have been sleeping your way through the last few days (it was the weekend after all), the San Diego Comic-Con was on and all the big releases made their special announcements. Once of the most highly anticipated films of the next year, Marvel’s The Avengers, has been releasing concept art over the course of the event. Now we finally get to see all of the Avengers assemble – at least in art form.

Click for full-size image

The Avengers is released on 4 July 2012 from Disney.

The Reel Bits is the cinema arm of DVD Bits. Richard can be found on Twitter @DVDBits and Sarah @swardplay. The Reel Bits is also @The_ReelBits.

July 25, 2011
First Look: ‘John Carter’ Concept Art

In the lead up to the trailer due to be launched this Thursday, we see that Disney (via Apple Trailers) have released some hi-res concept artwork of the Edgar Rice Burroughs adaptation due out next year. Originally titled John Carter of Mars, the new and spiffier title of John Carter may diminish any bad feelings people still have for Disney’s ill-fated Mission to Mars, based on the theme park ride of the same name.

From Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton comes “John Carter”–a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). John Carter is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.

Click on the images below to be taken to their individual image links, where you can access hi-res versions.

John Carter is due in US cinemas on March 9th, 2012 from Disney. It does not currently have an Australian release date.

The Reel Bits is the cinema arm of DVD Bits. Richard can be found on Twitter @DVDBits and Sarah @swardplay. The Reel Bits is also @The_ReelBits.

July 12, 2011
Disney revives ‘King of the Elves’?

Variety reports that Disney’s adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s short story is back on the cards with Horrible Bosses screenwriter Michael Markowitz set to take on writing duties.

Originally announced back in 2008, along with WALL-E, Tangled (née Rapunzel), The Bear and the Bow (now Brave) and Pixar’s now-shelved Newt (reportedly too similar to Fox’s Rio), King of the Elves was slated for a 2012 release but was shelved (seemingly) indefinitely back in December 2009.

Chris Williams, the co-director of Bolt, is now attached to the project, once in the hands of Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker, who both co-directed 2003’s Brother Bear.

King of the Elves is due for a “holiday” 2013 release, following the November 2012 release of Wreck-It-Ralph (formerly known as Reboot Ralph).

Concept art via Filmonic.com

At the time of writing, Walt Disney Animation Studios has King of the Elves listed under “Projects” with a small placeholder page.

June 30, 2011