Muse On The Twilight New Moon & Eclipse Soundtracks

Whether they wanted to or not, Muse have pretty much established themselves as the resident “Twilight” band. After being frequently shouted out by author Stephenie Meyer, the British rockers’ “Supermassive Black Hole” was featured on the soundtrack to the first film. It surprised absolutely no one that they were asked to record a song for the second flick in the franchise, “New Moon,” but the band is pretty flattered to be the only artists to appear on both discs.

“It might be something to do with Stephenie Meyer and that she loves us,” drummer Dominic Howard told MTV News. “We met her quite awhile ago in Phoenix — it was before ‘Twilight’ came out. She’s a very nice lady and talked about how she listens to our music as she writes her books. This is all way before it turned into this huge success that it is, before everyone went vampire nuts.”

But now that everyone has gone “vampire nuts,” Howard says they’re happy to benefit from the extra exposure. “I think our music has reached out to whole loads of new people that haven’t heard us before,” he said. “It’s great to know that people are discovering our music. It’s a nice side project to be involved in.”

Muse originally recorded the piano ballad “I Belong to You” for their latest album, The Resistance. But just as that album came out, the brain trust behind the “Twilight” flicks asked them to rework the track for “New Moon.”

“I know the director [Chris Weitz] really, really liked that track,” Howard said. “He really wanted to get it into a scene somewhere, but they wanted a slightly different vibe of what was already recorded for the album.”

So, they headed back into the studio, and Howard said he’s quite pleased with the results. “It’s a bit more rock in some ways,” he said. “We rocked it up a bit and put some guitars on it and did an alternative mix.”

Although Muse will soon be heading out on a tour, Howard said they might be able to fit the film’s premiere into their schedules. “I think we got invited to the premiere, which might be in London the day before one of our shows in London,” he said. “I liked the first one. I thought it was quite cool. I thought it was quite raw as well.”

Muse are apparently fully embracing their status as the “Twilight” band. They’ve already had their track “Supermassive Black Hole” on the first film’s soundtrack, and come Friday, Twilighters can get their hands on the “New Moon” soundtrack, which features the group’s remixed track “I Belong to You.”

Now it looks like there’s a good chance the British rockers will be back for even more vampy fun on the “Eclipse” soundtrack. “It’s great to have the feeling of being a new band again in so many people’s eyes or minds … we might even do something for the third one,” drummer Dominic Howard told MTV News. “How about that for a scoop?”

Nothing is set in stone yet, but Howard noted that besides being a favorite of “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer, they also have an in with “Eclipse” director David Slade.

“[Slade is] kind of a friend of ours ’cause he directed about three or four of our videos for the second album, and he’s a really great video director,” Howard explained. “I know he did that really great kind of sick horror [film '30 Days of Night'] which was a bit of a vampire/zombie vibe, wasn’t it? So I think he’s a great director, and he’s quite a funny character as well. So, yeah, we might do something for him as well.”

Although Muse have no problems selling albums without the assistance of “Twilight,” Howard notes that they’re not going to pass up the chance to work on music for the hugely popular franchise. “That’s not the sole reason why people know about us, because this is now our fifth album,” he said. “But it’s a nice side project to be involved with.”

Muse Confirm ‘New Moon’ Track

Matt Bellamy has confirmed that Muse have been approached to provide a song for the New Moon soundtrack.

The rockers, who have been widely linked to the Twilight sequel, revealed to MTV News that they had discussed recording a new version of a song from their album The Resistance.

“I spoke to the director yesterday and he wants the track ‘I Belong To You’, the sort of vaudeville piano track,” explained Bellamy.

“He wants a rendition of that but the only thing with the new film is they want the songs to be exclusive to the film. So he’s asking if I mind doing, or if we mind doing an alternative version of it.”

He added: “I think it’s alright – if it was one of the main tracks on the album I would never do it. But it’s actually one of the weirder tracks on the album. [It's] one of the ‘can’t believe we got away with it’ kind of tracks.

“I think it might be worth giving it a go because it’s a track that might not get played live very often… one of the obscure tracks off the album so it might give that track some life that it wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Death Cab For Cutie recently revealed their contribution to the highly-anticipated soundtrack, a track called ‘Meet Me On The Equinox’.

Matt Bellamy of Muse – The International Soundtrack

Its been floating around the ether that Matt Bellamy of Muse fame has composed this track from the movie soundtrack of ‘The International’ – either using a non de plume or not even having his name listed as one of the composers of this wonderful piece of music.

The guy who posted this to You Tube clearly got his wires crossed and listed it as the overture to the upcoming Exogenesis track from The Resistance album, had he done his homework properly he would have realised his mistake. Still an excellent piece of intrumental music whether Matt was involved or not. However in the end credits of the film it dictates and credits a one Matt Bellamy as the co-composer of the track, whether this be the very same Matt from Muse who knows!

The track is titled ‘The International End Titles’ and is available from ITunes.

BUFFY TO HIT BIG SCREEN?

As we all know, Hollywood likes fads, if one thing works we can expect to see loads like it. And now the hoopla around Twilight, might mean a reappearance for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Twilight does nothing for me, however Buffy used to. Is Whedon really into the idea of a film?

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–>Twilight fans, and that’s all I call them (Richard has another name we shall not mention) are more than a little excited for the film version of the books. And despite the fact that vampire films are nothing new, Joss Whedon might be inspired to bring back something old-ish. Just a rumour at this stage but could he be trying to make a Buffy the Vampire Slayer film? The Herald Sun newspaper through Moviehole.net has this to say.

“Rumours are circulating in Hollywood that Whedon has a feature-film script based on his hit TV series ready to roll as soon as a studio is prepared to commit.”

The first Buffy film was pre Sarah Michelle Gellar, and starred Kristy Swanson. I wasn’t a huge fan of that film, but I was a bit partial to the TV show created by Whedon. I guess it’s a logical rumour to come out, on the back of Twilight causing such excitement. And if anyone could bring Buffy back it’s Whedon.

The TV show did have a pretty decent ending though, so I’m not sure I’d want that spoiled. A film catching up with them a few years later might be quite good though. Man, it’s only a rumour and I’m torn. Any Buffy fans out there? Would you want a film version with Gellar and David Boreanaz?

Fast & The Furious 4 – Official Trailer

I was so very disappointed with Babylon A.D. being a Vin Diesel fan, I was looking forward to seeing a new film with him in as he hasnt graced these UK shores in quite a while. I did do the unimaginable thing of reading the book prior to seeing the film, a sin in most movie goers eyes but in my defence I had read that book a few years back though.

I remembered enough to know that it was a thoroughly deep and thought provoking book that dealt with all manner topics none of which were really covered very well in the film. Its troubled production showed through in the final edit, the director was after a sci-fi action thriller but anyone who has read the book would tell you that the action was few and far between so it begs the question, maybe Babylon Babies should never of made it to the big screen after all?

Still, its not a bad romp through post apocalyptic Earth with the ‘package’ and a kung fu kicking nun in the shape of the wonderful Michelle Yeoh, a highly polished cast with just a piss poor screenplay and a director who pans his own film prior to its European release before buggering off to the Caribbean to escape the critcism!

Still, onto better Diesel news and the film I have been looking forward to seeing when its released next year and thats the 4th film in the franchise of ‘Fast And The Furious’ – theyve dropped the ‘The’ apparently – teaming Diesel with Paul Walker and its a sort of prequel to FATF 2 and Tokyo Drift.

Its the film that FATF 2 should have been in the first place but instead we got Walker fannying around the east coast of America as the boy wonder. The new film will bring back some old faces, Jordana Brewster playing Dominic Torretto’s sister, Mia and Michelle Rodriguez as Letty, release date has been pencilled in as a worldwide release of June 5th 2009.

When a crime brings them back to L.A., fugitive ex-con Dom Toretto reignites his feud with agent Brian O’Conner. But as they are forced to confront a shared enemy, Dom and Brian must give in to an uncertain new trust if they hope to outmanuever him. And from convoy heists to precision tunnel crawls across international lines, two men will find the best way to get revenge: push the limits of what’s possible behind the wheel.

The official trailer has already been released, you can find it showing on several cinema’s prior to the movie youve originally gone in to watch or you can watch it here:

Torchwood, 24 The Movie, Heroes

Russell T. Davies has revealed that Torchwood’s third season will be entitled ‘Children Of Earth’.

The mini season will run over five consecutive nights on BBC1 in Spring 2009 and be directed by Euros Lyn.

Davies exclusively told Torchwood Magazine: “More than ever before, this series of Torchwood will be director-led, and it will look absolutely amazing.”

Filming will begin in Cardiff on August 18 and details of casting are due to be released shortly. Freema Agyeman was expected to join the Torchwood team as Martha Jones, but her recent decision to join the cast of ITV1’s Law And Order has put her appearance in doubt.

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Kiefer Sutherland has confirmed that a 24 movie is likely to go ahead once the show is over.

The actor admitted that producers do not want his character Jack Bauer to hit the big screen until the programme itself has been cancelled.

“It’s certainly on the table,” Sutherland told Extra. “We would certainly be thrilled to make it, but we’re going to wait until the series is finished.”

Speaking in a separate interview, he added: “It’s always been a desire but we’ve always known that for the writers, it’s so hard for them to actually get through the series every year that we put the film on the back burner, that we would do it after the series was over, and that might be as soon as next year.”

In the meantime, a 24 TV movie, titled Exile, will air later this year. It will act as a prequel for the forthcoming seventh season, which premieres in January.

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Seth Green & Brekin Meyer are close to agreeing on a deal to star in the 3rd series of Heroes. The pair who write and star in Robot Chicken, will appear in a multi-episode arc in the forthcoming third series. The will portray Atlanta based comic book geeks who cross paths with and act as advisors to one of the shows lead superheroes.

Season 3 of Heroes is due back on UK screens in September on both BBC 2 and BBC 3, a few days after its premiere on the NBC channel in the USA.

 

 

Star Wars, Ghostbusters & Whedon

Rex Features

George Lucas has insisted that the Star Wars movies are not science fiction.

The franchise creator said science has little connection with the universe he invented for the films.

He is quoted as saying: “We look at it as a different dimension. The laws of physics are different here. Star Wars is not science fiction at all. It’s much more attuned to mythology, to psychology, to history than it is to science.

“It’s more of a parable about the way we are, rather than the way we’re going to be. That’s why it starts out as a fairytale – a long time ago in a galaxy far away – once upon a time.

“It deals with princesses. It’s purposely designed not to be about where we’re going. It’s about where we’ve been and what we can learn from the past in the present.”

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Paul Rudd has denied reports that he will star in a third Ghostbusters movie.

Rumours surfaced claiming that Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Rudd and Romany Malco – the four male leads in Judd Apatow’s The 40-Year-Old Virgin – will suit up for a third instalment in the franchise.

Speaking to MTV, Rudd refuted the speculation but confessed that he would be open to the idea of becoming a Ghostbuster.

“I’ve heard this rumour,” he said. “A couple of days ago somebody asked me that and that was the first I’d heard about it. It’s incredibly flattering to be in a rumour.

“I would do it in a second with those guys. But do you think it’s a good idea to redo Ghostbusters? It’s a classic.”

When quizzed about which role he would want to play, Rudd joked: “I’d like to be Sigourney Weaver.”

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Rex Features

Director Joss Whedon has discussed his rejected plans for a new Batman movie.

The Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator claimed that he spoke to Warner Bros. about a project for the superhero franchise before Christopher Nolan began work on Batman Begins.

“Well, I actually did pitch a Batman film when [Warner Bros. began developing Batman Begins], and it wasn’t what they did but the vibe was very similar,” he told MTV.

“Mine was a bit less epic. It was more about the progression of him and it was more in Gotham City. He didn’t go to Tibet and meet cool people, but it was very similar in vibe.”

He continued: “In my version, there was actually a new [villain], it wasn’t one of the classics – which is probably why they didn’t use it. It was more of a Hannibal Lector type – he was somebody already in Arkham Asylum that Bruce went and sort of studied with.

“It was a whole thing – I get very emotional about it, I still love the story. Maybe I’ll get to do it as a comic one day.”

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Robert Downey Jr. has admitted that he is not a fan of The Dark Knight.

Downey Jr., whose Marvel superhero film Iron Man was the highest-grossing film of the year until Christopher Nolan’s sequel debuted, told MovieHole that he found the latest Batman movie too complicated.

He explained: “It’s like a Ferrari engine of storytelling and script writing and I’m like, ‘That’s not my idea of what I want to see in a movie’.

“I didn’t understand The Dark Knight. Didn’t get it, still can’t tell you what happened in the movie, what happened to the character and in the end they need him to be a bad guy.”

Downey Jr. suggested that the DC Comics adaptation was “highbrow” and required a “college education to understand”.

He added: “You know what? F*** DC Comics. That’s all I have to say and that’s where I’m really coming from.”