Trailers for Johnny Depp & Gore Verbinski’s Lone Ranger AND Ryan Reynolds' R.I.P.D from the director of R.E.D...

Two more big trailers arrived last night. Both films are relatively unusual for “blockbuster” films in modern times, in that their release dates are spread out over a couple of months, as opposed to “Day & Date” global releases or just a matter of weeks apart. Release dates for each film are below their respective trailers.

R.I.P.D...

First up we have Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Bacon and Mary-Louise Parker star in Graphic Novel adaptation R.I.P.D – Rest In Peace Department. Directed by Robert Schwentke (Flight Plan), who successfully adapted another comic book series, RED (Retired Extremely Dangerous), the basic concept is that there is an undead police force. Nick Walker (Reynolds) joins forces with the R.I.P.D to catch the people who have just murdered him.

Synopsis...

“Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds headline the 3D supernatural action-adventure R.I.P.D. as two cops dispatched by the otherworldly Rest In Peace Department to protect and serve the living from an increasingly destructive array of souls who refuse to move peacefully to the other side.

Veteran sheriff Roy Pulsifer (Bridges) has spent his career with the legendary police force known as R.I.P.D. tracking monstrous spirits who are cleverly disguised as ordinary people. His mission? To arrest and bring to justice a special brand of criminals trying to escape final judgment by hiding among the unsuspecting on Earth.

Once the wise-cracking Roy is assigned former rising-star detective Nick Walker (Reynolds) as his junior officer, the new partners have to turn grudging respect into top-notch teamwork. When they uncover a plot that could end life as we know it, two of R.I.P.D.’s finest must miraculously restore the cosmic balance...or watch the tunnel to the afterlife begin sending angry souls the very wrong way.”

I know this may sound very similar to that other comic book adaptation Men In Black, but after more than a century of film making and millennia of storytelling, pretty much everything sounds like something else.

R.I.P.D trailer...

Release dates...

Country	Date
Hungary	18-Jul-13
Italy	18-Jul-13
Portugal	18-Jul-13
Russia	18-Jul-13
Taiwan	18-Jul-13
Spain	19-Jul-13
Turkey	19-Jul-13
USA	19-Jul-13
Belgium	31-Jul-13
France	31-Jul-13
Germany	01-Aug-13
Hong Kong	01-Aug-13
Denmark	08-Aug-13
Netherlands	08-Aug-13
Norway	09-Aug-13
Sweden	14-Aug-13
Argentina	15-Aug-13
Australia	12-Sep-13

The Lone Ranger

Given that Westerns tend to do far less business internationally than they do in North America, The Lone Ranger is definitely a risk. Even with the super trio of Johnny Depp, Gore Verbinski & Jerry Bruckheimer (Who made 4 extremely successful Pirates of The Caribbean films), and the recent/continuing success of Tarantino’s Django Unchained ($257,220,912+ international versus $162,706,837   in North America), this $215m (cut from $250m),  super hero Western is by means guaranteed to make a profit at the cinema box office, although it should make enough to make a series of films viable; and that is usually the first target these days.

From Mouse Hunt & The Ring, to The Mexican, Rango and the first three Pirates films, I’m a big, big fan of Gore Verbinski’s particular form of entertainment, soI have to say I’m looking forward to this one. He said:-

"I have always been intrigued by characters who exist at times of monumental change. They are somehow cast against the events that engulf them and magnified. The Lone Ranger is a story of two outcasts bonded by adversity at a time when the lines between right and wrong have become blurred. With no well defined beacons to aid them, and no tribe to return to, they are a glorious pair of misfits: A band apart."

Synopsis...

“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 humour, 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, 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.

The Lone Ranger also stars Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson and Helena Bonham Carter.”

There is a 25min  Q&A with Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and Gore Verbinski at the bottom.

The Lone Ranger trailer 3...

Release dates...

Country	Date
Canada	03-Jul-13
Denmark	03-Jul-13
Estonia	03-Jul-13
Finland	03-Jul-13
Hong Kong	03-Jul-13
Italy	03-Jul-13
Lithuania	03-Jul-13
Norway	03-Jul-13
Sweden	03-Jul-13
USA	03-Jul-13
Argentina	04-Jul-13
Australia	04-Jul-13
Chile	04-Jul-13
Hungary	04-Jul-13
Malaysia	04-Jul-13
New Zealand	04-Jul-13
Russia	04-Jul-13
Serbia	04-Jul-13
Singapore	04-Jul-13
Slovenia	04-Jul-13
Bulgaria	05-Jul-13
Mexico	05-Jul-13
Romania	05-Jul-13
Turkey	05-Jul-13
Portugal	11-Jul-13
Brazil	12-Jul-13
Spain	19-Jul-13
Taiwan	19-Jul-13
Japan	02-Aug-13
Belgium	07-Aug-13
France	07-Aug-13
Netherlands	07-Aug-13
Germany	08-Aug-13
Lebanon	08-Aug-13
Ireland	09-Aug-13
UK	09-Aug-13

Q&A...

Man of Steel A 3 minute trailer for the Superman film hoping to end a 3 film losing streak...

So the 6^th big screen outing for hopes to restore the balance (so far there have been 2 successes Superman 1 & 2, and 3 varying degrees of failure, Superman 3 & 4 and Superman Returns) to at least an even success / fail rate for the character that gave the English speaking world its first, real Super hero film. Decreasing popularity, no longer being the only Super hero on film and a lack of Christopher Reeve, have not helped  as WB / DC have failed to make a go of any other, mainstream, comic book hero other than Batman (Even that had the 2 Schumacher films in between Burton and Nolan).

So far the trailers have been pretty sombre and whilst fans have loved them, non fans have remained mostly underwhelmed; if for no other reason than they have been reminded of the tone of the previous Superman film. The box office for that film should remind WB that whilst Superman remains extremely well known, he is not popular enough to guarantee massive success simply because he’s ‘there’. Other characters, from Batman too Spider-Man have long since surpassed Superman in both-comic book sales and merchandising, two important  barometers for how well your film may open  with mostly “fan” interest alone.

I’m not sure if this new trailer is so different, but it is certainly my favourite of the three released so far. Could this be the first Superman film out of 4 that genuinely appeals to the masses? To fans and non fans alike? Well they are certainly in with a shot. Firstly Henry Cavill is a very, very good actor (If you still haven’t watched The Tudors, you should, and you’ll see how good he is.) Zack Snyder has a visual talent, there’s no denying that and with Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight trilogy) Producing and David S. Goyer (Blade trilogy, The Dark Knight trilogy) writing, the film has to have S, sorry hope. Superman re-returns on the 14th of June.

Official Trailer 3...

Star Trek Into Darkness: The Wrath of Kirk? Klingons, starships and death, Oh My...

I’m tempted to suggest that by now you are either going to see this film, or you’re not. But there’s always a chance to change a person’s mind and this trailer hopes to do that.

Synopsis...

“In Summer 2013, pioneering director J.J. Abrams will deliver an explosive action thriller that takes Star Trek Into Darkness. When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.”

Star Trek Into Darkness MTV Movie Awards TV Spot...

Star Trek (2009) took the massive Star Trek ‘franchise’ and did what seemed impossible. Took 100s of hours of back-story, “cannon” tradition and seamlessly (however much a vocal minority moans that it isn’t) left the old films and TV shows intact, but cleared the decks for an entirely new set of stories (or new versions of existing ones) without the burden of staying true to innumerable existing plot threads.

The film will actually be out in much of the international market a week before it debuts in North America, on the 17^th. Amongst other things it takes advantage of Iron Man 3’s early roll out, giving Star Trek a 2 week buffer after Iron Man takes all the money at cinemas, and more time before the Hangover 3 arrives.

Trailer 2...

Release dates...

North America

United States17 MAY 13

Canada - French17 MAY 13

Canada - English17 MAY 13

Latin America

Argentina22 AUG 13

Brazil14 JUN 13

Chile29 AUG 13

Colombia17 MAY 13

Mexico10 MAY 13

Panama17 MAY 13

Peru16 MAY 13

Venezuela19 JUL 13

Middle East / Africa

Egypt15 MAY 13

Israel13 JUN 13

Lebanon16 MAY 13

South Africa14 JUN 13

United Arab Emirates16 MAY 13

Asia Pacific

Australia09 MAY 13

Hong Kong16 MAY 13

India17 MAY 13

Indonesia17 MAY 13

Japan23 AUG 13

South Korea30 MAY 13

Singapore16 MAY 13

Malaysia16 MAY 13

New Zealand09 MAY 13

Phillippines16 MAY 13

Taiwan17 MAY 13

Thailand16 MAY 13

Europe

Austria09 MAY 13

Belgium05 JUN 13

Croatia16 MAY 13

Cyprus17 MAY 13

Czech Republic / Slovakia13 JUN 13

Denmark06 JUN 13

Finland05 JUN 13

France12 JUN 13

Germany09 MAY 13

Greece11 JUL 13

Hungary13 JUN 13

Iceland17 MAY 13

Ireland17 MAY 13

Italy13 JUN 13

Latvia17 MAY 13

Netherlands06 JUN 13

Norway15 MAY 13

Poland31 MAY 13

Portugal06 JUN 13

Romania17 MAY 13

Russia16 MAY 13

Serbia & Montenegro16 MAY 13

Slovenia16 MAY 13

Spain05 JUL 13

Sweden17 MAY 13

Switzerland - French12 JUN 13

Switzerland - German09 MAY 13

Switzerland - Italian13 JUN 13

Turkey07 JUN 13

Ukraine16 MAY 13

United Kingdom09 MAY 13