David Yates Returns to Harry Potter for 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'

The Harry Potter franchise is one of the most successful of all-time, if not the most successful, spanning eight movies and nearly $8B in total box office. In short, every studio wants their own Harry Potter, but what if you're Warner Bros. and you already have access to it? How do you ensure a new 'Potter' series like J.K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them reaches the same heights? One way is by luring David Yates, director of four Harry Potter movies, back into the wizarding world.

Yates, who is currently directing another potential blockbuster in Tarzan, has agreed to helm Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. This would be his fifth Harry Potter film after he took over with 2007's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Rowling is writing the screenplay for what is expected to be a brand new trilogy taking place decades before the arrival of Harry Potter and centering on magizoologist Newt Scamander. The story, which begins in New York rather than London, will follow Scamander as he catalogs amazing creatures for his reference guide.

Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) had briefly circled the directing job but one has to believe Warner Bros. is more than happy with Yates. While the book doesn't include Harry, Ron, and Hermione, don't be surprised if they find a way to fit them in somehow. [THR]

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David Yates to Direct Spy Film 'Who Is Jake Ellis?'

Harry Potter director David Yates took his time deciding on his next project, but when he did he settled on another blockbuster franchise with Warner Bros.' Tarzan. While that seems to still be next on his schedule, Yates is looking forward by agreeing to direct Who is Jake Ellis?, based on the 5-issue Image Comics miniseries by Nathan Edmonson and Tonci Zonjic.

The story is a pretty clever one, set in the European criminal underworld and following spy-for-hire Jon Moore, the most sought after asset in the world. The secret to his success is Jake Ellis, an invisible psychic guide only he can see and whose expertise helps him through impossible situations.  20th Century Fox picked up the rights and they probably see franchise potential. The comic was followed up by a sequel, Where is Jake Ellis?

Writers are still being sought so this is a long ways off. That should give Yates plenty of time to finish up Tarzan which begins filming early next year. [THR]

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Christoph Waltz To Play 'Tarzan' Villain; Emma Stone, Margot Robbie Eyed for Jane

 Warner Bros. has apparently decided enough time has past since the last Edgar Rice Burroughs adaptation, the box office dud John Carter, and now it's time to get swinging on Tarzan again. The studio shut down production on Tarzan earlier this year, even though director David Yates (Harry Potter) had already lined up Alexander Skarsgard to wear the loincloth of the classic jungle hero. But now it's back on and they've already found someone to play his nemesis, perennial bad guy Christoph Waltz.

After playing heels in Inglourious Basterds, The Green Hornet, and The Three Musketeers, Waltz will again wear the black hat, playing a military figure who crosses Tarzan's path. Bleeding Cool expands on that a little, describing the character as "Captain Rom, a very formidable Belgian soldier who plans to trade Tarzan to Chief Mbonga, the owner of a diamond mine."  They also add that the story will begin after Tarzan has reacquainted himself with civilization, and the story eventually takes him back into the jungle.

Missing is any mention of Samuel L. Jackson, who was being targeted for the role of Civil War veteran George Washington Williams, an ally of Tarzan's. He may have moved on while the film was in limbo. The plan now is to fill the role of Tarzan's love, Jane, with Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street) and Emma Stone mentioned as possibilities even though no formal talks have begun.

A greenlight is expected to come in the next few weeks and assuming the cast falls into place, production on Tarzan should begin next year. Does that mean it will be part of the crowded 2015 line-up? I certainly hope not, if only so Tarzan has a better chance to succeed. [Variety]

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Nicolas Winding Refn, Ang Lee, Shane Black and more eyed for next James Bond film

It's always a big deal when names start getting tossed around to direct the next James Bond film, but after the $1B+ returns on Skyfall, it's become more of an issue than ever. With Sam Mendes dropping out, the Internet was set abuzz when Christopher Nolan supposedly entered informal talks with producers, although nobody knows for sure just what entails. It could have just been a chat over breakfast. However those negotiations are, other directors are definitely being considered.

A report at Variety tosses Nicolas Winding Refn, Ang Lee, David Yates, Shane Black, and Tom Hooper into the mix to helm Bond 24, although they note that we could be waiting awhile for a final decision. The shortlist isn't at all surprising, as each contender is either a proven box office or awards season success, and are definitely of a similar stature as Mendes.

Refn is perhaps the most intriguing choice, even if he's also the one least likely to take something like this on. After what sounds like an awful experience during the brief time he was attached to helm The Equalizer, Refn came out recently and compared making blockbuster flicks like banging a cheap whore....

Refn: “Hollywood is like going into a hotel room and seeing the most gorgeous escort girl. She will say to you 'You are the greatest filmmaker in the world, I will do whatever you want’ and you’re so tempted, but you’re also like ‘Am I gonna catch something?’”

FirstShowing actually caught up with Refn recently and asked him directly about taking on the next Bond film. He doesn't confirm anything, but the site takes his smirk and demeanor as a confirmation he's been approached. They may be reaching a bit on that mark. Check it out in the video below....


Whoever gets the job will have to work with the script being put together by John Logan, which is expected to be bigger and extend into the follow-up film. So it's not as if the director is going to get much of a chance to put his own stamp on the franchise, which is perhaps the main reason why directors like Nolan and Refn seems like long shots.

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David Yates' 'Tarzan' gets shut down at Warner Bros.

There's no denying that Warner Bros. has set themselves up as the studio for big blockbusters and franchise films. It seems to be pretty much all they do nowadays. But at the same time, they've been extremely cautious in what gets green lit, recently canning attempted takes on Akira and Paradise Lost, largely over budgetary concerns. Now it appears they're doing it again, as Deadline reports that David Yates' Tarzan film has been shut down.

The Harry Potter director had lined up Alexander Skarsgard and Samuel L. Jackson to play the loinclothed hero and his Civil War veteran colleague, George Washington Williams. Last month Jessica Chastain began circling the female lead, and apparently Jamie Foxx was in contention for another part. That's a line-up that most studios would be willing to shell out the big bucks for, but apparently Warner Bros. was never comfortable with the budget, and attempts to reduce it failed. They've shut down the production office, leaving open the possibility of restarting things in 2014.

The studio also got cold feet over David Dobkin's Arthur & Lancelot, and it should be noted that they've never gone back and tried to jumpstart any of the recent films left in limbo.  What is surprising is that they've done this to Yates, who largely spearheaded the most successful franchise in their history. After losing a rumored $140M on Jack the Giant Slayer, they can hardly be blamed for being cautious.

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Jessica Chastain to play Jane in David Yates' 'Tarzan'?

It would have been pretty cool if Jessica Chastain had taken that role in Iron Man 3 she was offered, as it would have given us the chance to see the uber-talented actress in a blockbuster for once. I still think superhero movies will be a part of her future, and clearly directors still want her for their mainstream efforts. The latest to have their eye on her is Harry Potter director David Yates, as rumors have Chastain at the top of the list for his upcoming Tarzan film.

The always-questionable Page Six in the New York Post has the rumor, saying that Chastain may be the pick to play Jane in the film. She'd be joining Alexander Skarsgard as the vine-swinging hero, and possibly Samuel L. Jackson as George Washington Williams, a Civil War soldier looking to redeem himself for atrocities he committed during the fighting. Adam Cozad wrote the script, which follows John Clayton III's assimilation into society after living in the jungles, only to be tasked by Queen Victoria to investigate strange happenings in the Congo.

Chastain gets a ton of offers, and this could just be another one thrown on the pile. So we'll see if she actually signs on, and for that matter we're still waiting for confirmation on Skarsgard and Jackson. Nothing is quite certain about Tarzan at this point. What we do know is that Chastain will be filming Liv Ullmann's Miss Julie opposite Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton later this year.

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Tom Hardy, Charlie Hunnam, Alexander Skarsgard, and Henry Cavill eyed for David Yates' 'Tarzan'

After directing the last four Harry Potter movies to phenomenal success, David Yates has taken his sweet time deciding what to do next. That doesn't mean he's been sitting idly by, as he was once attached to direct Your Voice in My Head with Emma Watson, and has an Al Capone trilogy with Tom Hardy circling the title role. But after mulling his options, Yates has decided he wants to hit the jungle first, choosing a big screen version of Tarzan as his next project.


Yates began circling the job back in June, but at the time it was unclear what direction Warner Bros. was going to go in. Craig Brewer(Footloose) was, and presumably still is, developing a rival take on the Edgar Rice Burroughs character, but that version may now be dead and buried. The version Yates will take on features a script by Adam Cozad(Jack Ryan), and already names are starting to emerge as to who will get to wear the loincloth and swing from the trees. Henry Cavill, Charlie Hunnam(Pacific Rim), Tom Hardy, and Alexander Skarsgard(True Blood) are all reportedly being looked at for it, with no one really in the pole position at this stage. All four men have fairly close ties to the studio, but I think it's unlikely Cavill could handle another high-profile franchise after Man of Steel and possibly Justice League.

Tarzan would be a tough film to make relevant and cool, but if any one could do it Yates is one of those guys. Certainly it would have to be better than the most recent Burroughs adaptation, John Carter? [Vulture]

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David Yates exits 'Your Voice in My Head' with Emma Watson

Looks like we won't get to see Emma Watson reunite with her Harry Potter director, David Yates, after all. The last we had heard on Your Voice In My Head, an adaptation of Emma Forrest's memoir about how she overcame a turbulent part of her life with the help of a loving psychiatrist, it had been bumped back to this summer. That gave Watson a little bit of breathing room on her schedule, allowing for her to join Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel's The End of the World. Now Deadline reports that Yates has had to drop out completely, and the project may be on the bubble.

It appears that a family health situation is the reason for Yates leaving, so there aren't any juicy stories or scathing nine page letters to be found here. Hopefully everything with Yates turns out fine, and he can get back to working soon. Unfortunately, producers on the film didn't want to push it back any further to allow him a chance to get everything squared away.

That sounds kinda cold and heartless to me, especially since I don't think a lot of people are sitting on their hands wondering when this film is going to come out. Plus, the biggest draw is more than just Watson, but her working again with Yates. It just doesn't sound like good business sense. Warner Brothers is housing the film, and they love them some David Yates for obvious reasons, so this just strikes me as very odd. I think it'll still end up getting done, but clearly this takes a lot of the steam out from under it.

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Emma Watson re-teams with David Yates for 'Your Voice In My Head'

If The Woman in Black is any indication of Daniel Radcliffe's post Harry Potter career, I'm putting my money on Emma Watson to be around a lot longer. She's already well on her way to establishing herself, with a small part in My Week With Marilyn, and a starring gig in The Perks of Being A Wallflower. The future appears very bright, but she also knows to stick close to those who got her where she is. People like Harry Potter director David Yates.

Watson is joining Yates' adaptation of Your Voice In My Head, the memoir by journalist Emma Forrest(I'm always tempted to write Emma Frost). Watson will tackle play Forrest, who at the age of 22 was spiraling out of control in a haze of drugs, alcohol, and bad relationships. When she finally hit rock bottom, she was only saved by a compassionate psychiatrist, who she would also fall in love with. I won't give the rest away, but it's pretty devastating yet also a little hopeful.

Deadline reports some pretty heavy names are being mentioned for the psychiatrist role, guys like Tom Hanks and George Clooney. But then again aren't they up for everything? Who wouldn't want them? This is a bold move for Watson, and one I fully expect her to hit a home run with.

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David Yates confirms he won't direct big screen Fables

Oh well. This one's too sad for me to dwell on for long. Last year, word broke that Harry Potter director David Yates was circling an adaption of Fables, the hit comic book series from Vertigo. Created by Bill Willingham and artist Mark Buckingham, Fables presents a world where all of the various fairy tale characters exist and walk amongst us. All those modern versions of fairy tales that are the rage in Hollywood right now, they took their inspiration from Fables for sure. Unfortunately, little has been heard of Yates' involvement ever since the initial announcement, while he's been lining up other projects like a big screen take on Dr. Who.

Yates recently spoke to MTV about Fables, and made it clear he won't be involved. Let's just hope this doesn't kill the project altogether, but with his experience for crafting huge, magical worlds, Yates would have been the ideal choice. Check out the video below...

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

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Yates denies Fantastic Four rumors

David Yates doesn't want to direct the Fantastic Four reboot. No, he REALLY doesn't want to direct it. The director, who has been feverishly wrapping up the final two chapters of the Harry Potter franchise, was rumored to be one of the top contenders for the superhero film.  Apparently that ain't the case.  He tells Comicbookmovie...

“And to tell you the truth, I’ve no interest in doing Fantastic Four, frankly, and there have been no discussions about it. I think more than anything after Potter, I need a bit of a break. And there are two or three things I really like a lot that would come before anything else. Even though they’re not announced, there are a few things that I really, really like a lot that I’m keeping under my hat to make sure they’re cooking. So my schedule wouldn’t allow it anyway, but, again, I haven’t had any discussions with anyone.”

Ok, so he wasn't even asked apparently. They probably saw the look of disgust on his face and just ran in the opposite direction. One of the projects Yates might be talking about pursuing after Harry Potter is a possible adaptation of the Vertigo comic book series, Fables. One can only hope!

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It's Jackson vs. Yates to Direct The Hobbit

After Guillermo Del Toro pulled out of directing The Hobbit due to MGM's continued financial hardships, the next obvious question was who would replace him. With MGM having spent so much money on the production of the film already, they don't have much choice but go full steam ahead. Peter Jackson was the logical choice given his LOTR experience and the fact that he co-wrote the script, but he has already established that his previous commitments could throw a monkey wrench into those plans(specifically TinTin with Steven Spielberg). Now Deadline is reporting that a frontrunner has emerged: David Yates.

Yates is probably best known as the director of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, as well as the sequels that followed. He's definitely got the chops for a massive project like this. If he can handle the rabid fans of Harry Potter, The Hobbit should be child's play. Order of the Phoenix might be my favorite of the Potter films, but Half-Blood Prince left a lot to be desired. I still think Yates is a good choice. Probably better than Jackson in a way, because it might be beneficial to see another person's take on it. We already know what Jackson would do.

Deadline also notes that a couple of names are also on WB's list, one of which will have LOTR fans rending garments and gnashing teeth if it comes to pass: David Dobkin(Wedding Crashers), and the great Brett Ratner(X-men: The Last Stand, Rush Hour).  Talks haven't progressed enough that any contracts have been sent out, but just the idea of Ratner working on The Hobbit is disturbing. Maybe he'll turn it into a Bilbo/Tom Bombadil buddy comedy?

Warner Brothers is still pushing hard for Jackson to take over, but his asking price will be steep, and given the number of producers on the film(including Jackson himself) there isn't much loot left to give up.

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