Movies
Jack Black Leaves ‘Man-Witch’ Out of Concern?
I’m constantly switching back and forth when it comes to Jack Black, one day I hate him, the next I love him. One project of his that I was pretty stoked for was Man-Witch, which not only rocked the cool title, but also had a rad plot. A male schoolteacher who abruptly discovers he’s got witchlike abilities that lead him to be taken in by a coven of real witches. They send him to “witch school,” where he is the lone adult male, surrounded mostly by little girl witches-in-training. It was reported this evening that Black will not be part of the project anymore, details inside.
Jack Black has fallen out of “Man-Witch,” Todd Phillips’ supernatural comedy that’s set up at Warner Brothers.
When the star was attached last year, it was hailed as notable because it was the first collaboration between the boxoffice-drawing comic actor and the force behind such comedy powerhouses as “Old School” (which Phillips wrote, directed and produced) and “Borat” (which he wrote.)
“Man-Witch” centered on a man who discovers he’s a witch and then heads off to teach at a female witch school; Phillips was set to produce and, likely, to direct.
Sources said that the decision this week to part ways may have originated from Black’s camp, which had questions about Phillips’ commitment to direct the picture ahead of “Hangover,” another comedy said to be close to the helmer’s heart. That project is also set up at Warners.
Warners confirmed the departure but declined to provide further detail. A spokesperson for Black said the star had no comment. A spokesperson for CAA, which reps Phillips, had yet to comment by press time.
The actor’s departure has not affected the status of the movie, which remains in active development. Warners and Phillips are said to be combing a list of stars to replace the funnyman.
Black stars in the upcoming comedy ensemble “Tropic Thunder” as well as in the Judd Apatow-produced “Year One.”
The Black-voiced “Kung-Fu Panda” was the top-grossing movie at the boxoffice last weekend, surpassing expectations by earning more than $60 million domestically.
Sunrise Films has announced the official North American release of William Bagley‘s horror comedy Hold the Fort, and it’s accompanied by an energetic new trailer.
Hold the Fort debuts on digital platforms on June 23.
In the film, “Lucas and Jenny think their life is finally coming together when the couple become homeowners. Little do they know that their new house comes with a big catch. Lucas and Jenny soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when they become trapped in a battle between their Homeowners Association and an onslaught of monsters from hell. The horror-comedy takes the timely concern of home-ownership and wraps this up in an entertaining action-packed thrill ride.“
Watch the new trailer below, which introduces one wild HOA gathering during an equinox. Things get bloody fast.
Chris Mayers (Adult Swim Yule Log), Haley Leary (“The Walking Dead”), Levi Burdick, and Julian Smith star.
William Bagley writes and directs, in addition to producing with Smith, Matt Dodd, Luke Williams, and Tim Reis (Adult Swim Yule Log).
Ahead of the release, Bagley said, “My goal with this film was to make a hilarious, fast-paced thrill ride while also telling a great story with heart. Hopefully, through all the blood, laughs, fights, and gags, you leave the film feeling inspired to tackle whatever life throws at you.“
Hold the Fort premiered at Fantasia last summer before going on to play FrightFest London, Toronto After Dark, and Beyond Fest.
I wrote in my review, “It’s an infectiously charming assemblage of jokes and monster vignettes bound together by a barebones plot with not much on its mind beyond delivering an entertaining time.”
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