KONG NEWS

JULY 2004

Bell & Parke Join Jackson's King Kong

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Thursday, July 29, 2004

Jamie Bell and Evan Parke have joined the cast of Peter Jackson's King Kong for Universal Pictures alongside Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody.

The Hollywood Reporter says Bell will play a young cameraman who accompanies Black's character, a filmmaker, on a quest to find the giant gorilla, while Parke portrays the first mate on the Venture, the tramp steamer that sails to Skull Island. He ends up heading the rescue team sent into the jungle to save Watts' character.

The studio has scheduled the film for a December 14, 2005 release.

Naomi Watts on Filming King Kong

Source: Sci Fi Wire

Tuesday, July 27, 2004

Naomi Watts tells Sci Fi Wire that she'll be acting opposite Andy Serkis in Peter Jackson's King Kong.

"[I] won't be [acting against] nothing," Watts said. "That's one of the things he told me in our initial meeting, because I would be very worried about that. Andy Serkis is going to be not only a character in the film, but he's going to be a pair of eyes for me to look at [on set]. There's a huge amount of emotion looking [at him]."

Serkis will voice and perform the giant ape, just like he did for Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Naomi Watts on Filming King Kong

Source: Sci Fi Wire

Tuesday, July 27, 2004

Coming This October From DH Press

Source: DH Press

Sunday, July 11, 2004

The story begins in 1957, twenty five years after King Kong's fall from atop New York City's Empire State Building. Following Kong's death, both Carl Denham and the body of Kong quickly vanished before any investigation could be launched, leaving rumor and speculation in their wake. Carl's son, Vincent, was left behind. He is now a paleontologist facing a spiritual dilemma, which has its seeds in the disappearance of his father. Upon a chance finding of the hidden Skull Island map, Vincent contacts Jack Driscoll, one of Kong's original captors. They piece together a plan and go to Skull Island in search of Carl Denham, King Kong, and answers to questions spanning a quarter century.

During a disastrous landing attempt, Vincent is almost killed and Driscoll sets out to find his stricken friend. Upon waking in a dark cavern, Vincent finds himself being cared for by an enigmatic island elder and her young, exotically beautiful but ominous assistant, Kara. The ancient woman, who asks to be called "Storyteller," seems to possess extraordinary knowledge about Vincent and his father. She relates a story from a century earlier that Vincent half-hears and half-dreams through the haze of narcotic herbs kept burning to aid his recovery. Her tale hints at the true origin of the island's culture and the mystery behind questions such as: Who built the Wall and how? If the Wall was built to keep Kong out, why are its doors big enough to let him in? How could such an island and its monstrous creatures still exist? The answers to those questions and more are all revealed.

Or are they?

While the Storyteller’s tale is sometimes confirmed, it is often refuted by the sights and experiences of Jack Driscoll. He stumbles upon pieces to Skull Island’s mysterious history as he struggles to survive the various threats of the island and find his friend. When Driscoll and Vincent reunite, their experiences combine to determine just who the Storyteller and Kara are, what became of Carl Denham, the story behind King Kong and clues to the origins of Skull Island itself. As a result, their lives are all changed forever.

As the story unfolds against a fantastic prehistoric backdrop, woven throughout are themes of personal redemption and reconciliation. All the protagonists have a particular cross to bear: Vincent is on the brink, both emotionally and spiritually; Driscoll comes face to face with past fears and prejudices; in the wake of Kong's death, the lives and culture of the islanders themselves hang in the balance; and we find that Carl Denham's desperate attempt to assuage his conscience decades earlier had very unexpected consequences…

Mysteriously, everyone is inextricably bound to the Storyteller’s tale. It tells of two ancient native children, Ishara and Kublai, and their quest to escape a terrible fate which threatens both themselves and their people. That struggle has the power to reach across time and change the destiny of all. If they survive. For at the nexus of every event is the beast-god of Skull Island:

KING KONG.

www.kongskullisland.com
www.jdevito.com

Peter Jackson Looking for King Kong Extras

Source: The Dominion Post

Friday, July 2, 2004

The Dominion Post says that film company Big Primate Pictures, created specifically for Peter Jackson's King Kong, is putting out the call for extras for the filming in Wellington.

The film company is looking for men and women aged 17 years and over, and anyone interested in being extras can write to the company, listing their contact details, and include "a headshot and full-length body shot" photographs.

Big Primate Pictures' contact info can be found in tomorrow's Dominion Post.

Hanks and Chandler Aboard King Kong

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Thursday, July 1, 2004

Colin Hanks and Early Edition star Kyle Chandler have joined Peter Jackson's King Kong remake, says The Hollywood Reporter. They join Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody in the Universal Pictures remake.

Hanks is on board to play a production assistant to filmmaker Carl Denham (Black) with Chandler in negotiations to play a 1930s B-movie actor opposite Watts' character, Ann Darrow.

Andy Serkis (Gollum in Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" films) is providing the reference for the character of Kong, who will be a completely computer-generated character, as well as playing the role of Lumpy the cook.