Movie News Wrap Up: ‘The Great Wall’, ‘The Martian’ & More

Bryan Cranston may join The Great Wall; Disney buys the rights to Floors; the All Quiet on the Western Front remake gets a director; and Michael Pena may join The Martian.

Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston is in talks to join Matt Damon for Legendary’s The Great Wall.

The Great Wall is Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s latest project, and centers on the development of the eponymous landmark. Damon is currently slated to star, but Legendary is trying to find room on the actor’s busy schedule alongside projects like The Martian and the next Bourne film.

That’s all to say that if Cranston is singing on, it should be soon. However, whom the Emmy winner might play is a mystery for now.
Disney has picked up the rights to the popular children’s book Floors.

Floors is part of a 30-book series about a boy who inherits an old hotel and must go on adventures throughout the building to save it. In total, the Floors series, written by Patrick Carman, has been translated into more than 20 languages, which makes it a strong acquisition for Disney.

The mouse house picked up the rights after receiving a treatment from screenwriter Jason Filardi (17 Again). This is obviously the first stage of development for Disney, but some have compared the story to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Night at the Museum.

The November Man director Roger Donaldson is in talks to helm the All Quiet on the Western Front remake for Radar Pictures.

Radar hopes to begin shooting the film, based on the 1928 novel by Erich Maria Remarque, in March. Of course, this is not the first time Remarque’s novel has been adapted; it was also the source for the 1930 Best Picture winner of the same name.

Not much is known about this latest remake, but the project is said to be pursuing a more gritty and realistic tone. However, adapting a classic like this is never an easy proposition, so Radar and Donaldson have to nail it.

Michael Pena is the latest actor to circle the ever-growing cast of The Martian.

The End of Watch actor is reportedly looking to take on a role in the film, but his busy schedule might keep this from happening. Given that the movie already boasts Matt Damon and director Ridley Scott, it’s easy to see why Pena is interested – but it might not work out.

Pena isn’t the only high profile name to eye the project either. Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara and Kristen Wiig were all eyeing roles at one point, but nothing has been made official. Aside from Damon, the only other for sure cast member is Mackenzie Davis (Halt and Catch Fire), who will play the female lead.

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