Happy Thanksgiving & Ginger Michael

Like most Americans, I will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday and having some time off to chill out. I do not anticipate any hot Fassy news this gossip quiet weekend, so I reckon I should post some nice images of Michael in all his ginger glory that I found at Fuck Yeah Fassbender photo blog. It's a new blog and they have a few pictures I don't think I've seen before. So enjoy and happy Turkey day. Oh, btw, the FNN newsletter will resume next week, been too busy at work and not feeling well to conjure up creative writing energies.







Source: Fuck Yeah Fassbender

Moar Michael!

I have been extremely busy with work the past few days, and I've been feeling under the weather, AND there hasn't been new news on Michael since last week's 'Jane Eyre' news break. And speaking of which, I have not read the book yet, but I read online that Rochester, the character that Michael will play, is an ugly man. Ok, so, um, why is Michael is talks to play Rochester? I guess I need to read the book to find out. Did they have plastic surgery back then?

So anyway, in preparation for an even quieter week due to Thanksgiving here in the states, here are a few pictures I found tonight that I hope you all enjoy and haven't seen before. I recall an anon poster was very pleased with the 'Fish Tank' kitchen scene still from last week. Well, you're going to love this one even more. ;)

BTW, I'm working on getting some 'Blood Creek' stills of Michael, so stay tuned!

Fan signing at what I believe to be at the '300' London premiere.

Edit: I remember where I have seen this before. It's a scene from Fish Tank at Connor's job. His hair is the perfect length in this movie! He could be in a shampoo commercial!

Michael in talks for 'Jane Eyre'

Many of us were so disappointed when Michael's Heathcliff opportunity in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights fell to the wayside. But now Variety reports that Michael along with Mia Wasikowska (this 19 year-old actress will play Alice in the new Johnny Depp 'Alice in Wonderland' movie) will star in another Bronte woman's adapation, Charlotte Bronte's 'Jane Eyre'.

I'm so damn excited about this, it's past my bedtime and I'm writing this post about it before I go to bed!

Wasikowska in talks for 'Jane Eyre'

Fassbender may also co-star in Fukunaga's adaptation

By ALI JAAFAR

Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender are in negotiations to star in "Sin nombre" helmer Cary Fukunaga's feature adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's classic novel, "Jane Eyre."

Brit shingle Ruby Films' Alison Owen and Paul Trijbits are producing with BBC Films and Focus Features from a script by Moira Buffini.

Project is a period piece but will play up the gothic elements of the story about Jane (Wasikowska), a demure governess who discovers her surly employer Rochester (Fassbender) is harboring a dark secret. The book is one of the most iconic in English literature and has been the subject of numerous previous adaptations.

Wasikowska will next be seen as Alice alongside Johnny Depp in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland," which Disney is releasing next year. The actress is also set to star in helmer Gus Van Sant's untitled project for producers Dallas Bryce Howard and Imagine's Ron Howard and Brian Grazer.

Fassbender previously appeared in Steve McQueen's "Hunger," Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" and Andrea Arnold's "Fish Tank."

He will next be seen in Neil Marshall's Roman actioner "Centurion" and Warner Bros.' "Jonah Hex" opposite Josh Brolin and Megan Fox.

Ellen Page was previously attached to star as the eponymous heroine but left the project some time ago.

Lensing is due to begin next year.



Michael's 2010 filming schedule is off to an excellent start! I love him in period pieces!

Also, I have befriend Dezmond of Hollywood Spy earlier today after his blog posted an article about a poll his readers voted in. And the results of the poll had Michael come in second, only behind Sam Worthington as a most promising upcoming male action star! Here's what Dezmond wrote:

Michael Fassbender is also young, gorgeous, talented and extremelly promising. We'd first noticed him as the amazing Stelios in epic "300" in which he charmed us when after cutting a Persian warrior's hand off and hearing him yell "My arm, my arm!!!" elegantly puts him off by saying "It's not yours, anymore!" And then when another Persian tells him "Our arrows will blot out the sun!" he responds with "Then we will fight in the shade!" After that he had marvellous action roles in "Town Creek" and "Inglorious Basterds" and breathtaking dramatic performances in "The Fish Tank" and "Hunger". He will continue shinning as an action hero in "Centurion" and "Jonah Hex". He is the key proof how Ireland and Germany can nurture the best of actors. It's just a matter of time before he lands an Oscar :)

Welcome to Fassinator central Dezmond! We are affliated together via blogger and twitter! Thanks D!

Could Inglourious Basterds win the Best Picture Oscar? (updated)

Over at Gold Derby, Tom O'Neil has gone way out on a limb, actually put his neck out there, and his credibility along with it, by predicting so early, that Inglourious Basterds may win the Best Picture Oscar. Basically, he is using deductive reasoning by pointing out that Quentin Tarantino is on the hot track to win the Director's Guild of America for Best Director. And if he does that, due to Hollywood being wary of honoring again, Clint Eastwood, or Peter Jackson, for instance, they may honor Quentin for the first time in his 20 year career. And therefore, if Quentin were to win the DGA, he would be in prime position to win the Oscar for Best Director, and historically, the Best Picture would be awarded to Basterds to compliment the Director award. Got that? Makes sense to me. You can go to the link above to read the article and the comments that blast his rationality, or just read it below.

Oscars prediction: 'Inglourious Basterds' will win best picture

As all Oscarologists know, the movie that wins best picture usually wins best director too, and the recipient of that prize is usually the same person who claims the top honor from the Directors Guild of America.

At this point in the derby, we don't have an obvious DGA front-runner. "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" has major Oscar buzz for best picture, but it's unlikely that DGA members will consider it a spectacular directorial achievement. Lee Daniels may be nominated for his impressive dramatic achievement on celluloid, yes, but guild members usually look for more production dazzle.

Given his high Cool Factor and the critical and commercial success ($120 million U.S.; $300 million worldwide) of "Inglourious Basterds," it's likely that Quentin Tarantino will nab a bid on Jan. 7. How can guild members resist voting for the Hollywood hipster — who's never won DGA — when rivals are likely to be refried beans like Clint Eastwood ("Invictus") and Peter Jackson ("The Lovely Bones")? Rob Marshall won DGA for "Chicago" (he lost the Oscar to Roman Polanski for "The Pianist"), but buzz for "Nine" seems to be quieting a bit. Jason Reitman wasn't nominated by DGA for "Juno," but he might finally prevail with a bid, maybe even a win, if "Up in the Air" gets serious best picture momentum. It will be nominated at the Oscars, but can it win? Hmmm. Kathryn Bigelow ("The Hurt Locker") might be nommed at DGA, but women rarely triumph at these ole boys' clubs.

Therefore, by process of elimination, it looks like Tarantino is the likely front-runner, which means "Inglourious Basterds" is probably ahead for the top Oscars too. DGA will have hiked influence over the Oscars this year since there's a major gap — five weeks — between the kudos this year. DGA will be bestowed Jan. 30, the Oscars on March 7. That's all the more time for the DGA victory to impact the Academy Awards, where "Basterds" will probably score at least seven or eight nominations: best picture, director, screenplay, supporting actor (Christoph Waltz), art direction, costumes, cinematography, maybe film editing. Read more about the strong shot "Basterds" has at the Oscars here.

My spies tell me that members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association really, really love "Basterds," so expect it to score lots of major Golden Globe nominations. If many late-2009 releases stumble in the best picture race, as I think they will, "Basterds" could even win best drama picture at the Globes. If that doesn't trigger its Oscar push, then DGA will. Sometimes films get overlooked by other, early kudos and get launched Oscar bound by the directors' guild. A notable example is "Midnight Cowboy."

I was really happy to be the first to point out the brilliant eagle eyes of bluebear_74 from Livejournal on Monday, because it started a wave of happiness all through Fassyland with those new outtake photos from last summer's GQ photoshoot and those other two nice candid photos. So I got lots of visits over the past two days and even a few more people signed up for the Fassy News Network newsletter. And so because of all this in the past 48 hours, it pleases me to finally see that Google/Googlebot is showing Fassinating Fassbender some love by placing us in the 'Related blogs' top spot when you do a 'Michael Fassbender blogs' search on google.

Previously only one related Michael Fassbender website was highlighted up there, now there's three, including FF. Thank you Google! Apparently due to the activity here at FF and the visits we have been receiving, especially through people using Google to search for Michael Fassbender websites/blogs, all those inquiries and subsequent visits to this blog raised a flag to Google to get their butts in gear and recognize what's going up in here. Yeah!

ETA: I just found another great Basterds Oscar discussion at Fassy friendly blog, In Contention, started by Guy Lodge. They are discussing Melanie Laurent's Lead Actress chances, and at the end of his article, Guy tosses out the idea about why hasn't Michael been getting a lot of nomination talk especially since he outshines two other actors (Pitt and Kruger) whom are getting some nomination chit-chat. It's good to review the comments also to test the temperature to gauge what people think of Michael's performance and his nomination chances, however slim they appear to be.

"No mention whatsoever of Michael Fassbender: presumably they don’t want internal competition for Waltz, not that he’d have a snowball’s chance of a nom anyway. But neither do Pitt and Kruger, and Fassbender outacts them both, so it’s hardly fair."

Also, one of the commenters, Blake, tossed out this great factoid that I did not know:

"I was really bored one day and wanted to answer this question myself: who has the most screentime in Inglourious Basterds?

Well, first up would be Christoph Waltz. He carries the first act himself and has good chunks of screentime in the third and fifth acts, with a scene at the end of the fourth. He is on screen for approximately 42 minutes.

Brad Pitt is next, surprisingly enough. He’s on screen for, if I recall, somewhere between 37-40 minutes. I wish I kept the numbers.

Next was Melanie Laurent, but Diane Kruger wasn’t very far behind. They are both on screen a little over half an hour. They should both be considered supporting. Michael Fassbender is right behind them, with 27 minutes of screentime. Daniel Bruhl has the smallest role of the six with only 17 minutes."

Excellent analysis, Michael definitely deserved his third billing spot!

New old hot pictures of Fassy!

Thanks to bluebear_74 at this ONTD! post on Michael - This is a Post about a Sexy Person, she posted several new images (on page 3 of the thread) that I have not seen before from the GQ photoshoot from this past summer. Additionally, I went to her livejournal webpage and found two more newer images of Michael.






The language used at ONTD is very saucy if not downright nasty at times, but it's all in fun. There are a lot of crazy Fassinators out there!

Source: ONTD!

POTW

A lot of Google search results that lead people to FF request: 'Michael Fassbender nude'. Well, sorry, I don't have any nude images of Michael. I wish I did, but I don't. But here's the next best thing eh? A still from 'Fish Tank' - this is the first time we see Michael/Connor in the film, and what a grand entrance he makes. Yes.

The ABCs of Michael Fassbender

Let's start off the week with a fun breakdown of the ABCs of Michael Fassbender. I created this alpha list in no time as it was easy to think of one word to describe Michael and his life/career per each letter of the alphabet. I'm sure readers will find their own word for D, L, or S for instance, so feel free to share it if you like. I will offer a small description to some words for clarification. Enjoy!


A - Actor

B - Bloody Mary (he's quite fond of this beverage)

C - California - He lives there part-time for work and leisure

D - Determined

E - European (he stated in the Crash magazine interview that he considers himself European)

F - Fish Tank

G - German - Half German, Born in Germany, Has a German passport

H - Handsome - duh

I - Irish - Half Irish, Raised in Ireland

J - Joker - Michael has a brilliant sense of humor

K - Killarney - A town in the South of Ireland, County Kerry, where he was raised

L - London - Moved there when he was 18, owns a home in Hackney

M - Multi-talented (likes to sing, plays instruments, and he dances)

N - Nice (so many fan/media reports mention how nice he is)

O - Oscar - He's going to be nominated and may win one in the future!

P - Passionate

Q - Quentin Tarantino

R - Rising Star

S - Smart

T - TIFF (He's going to be a staple at TIFF in years to come)

U - Unknown (believe it or not, he's still not that well known)

V - Villain - he'll play a villain in next summer's Jonah Hex.

W - Winner (he's won acting awards for 'Hunger' and 'Fish Tank')

X - Xtreme

Y - Yoga

Z - Zeal

POTW - Fish Tank Wins Top AFI Prize

This is definitely the Photo of the week!

Michael Fassbender attended AFI Fest Awards and the 'A Single Man' party Thursday evening with Leasi Andrews, to accept the prize for 'Fish Tank'.

Andrea Arnold’s “Fish Tank” and Javier Rebello’s “Woman Without Piano” are the joint winners of the AFI Fest New Lights Competition.

“I’d like to thank Rose [Kuo] and everybody at AFI and IFC [the film’s distributor] for championing independent film,” said actor Michael Fassbender reading a statement from the director Thursday night. Unfortunately, the crowd chatted during the short awards presentation, so some of the moments the films might have received were drowned out.

Actress and filmmaker Angela Bassett, who chaired the jury, presented the awards, and “Fish Tank” star Michael Fassbender accepted the prize on behalf of the film.

Congratulations, again, to the director and cast of the excellent 'Fish Tank' as it wins yet another top film festival prize! Hopefully more pictures of Michael Fassbender at the AFI awards party will be unveiled today.

Source: indieWire

A Minute with Michael Fassbender

This new interview with Michael was just posted in the past hour at here. No new picture, but at least the interview is new and interesting.

By Iain Blair

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) He may not be a household name in the United States, but Michael Fassbender is fast becoming one of the hottest young stars in Hollywood.

The actor got his big break when Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks cast him in their "Band of Brothers" World War Two mini-series. He also appeared in the hit movie "300."

In August, Fassbender drew acclaim for his portrayal of undercover British military man Archie Hicox in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds."

He is also winning praise low-budget "Fish Tank," a coming-of-age tale in which he plays a handsome young man who strikes up a volatile relationship with frustrated teenager played by newcomer Katie Jarvis.

The movie won the Jury Prize at the Cannes film festival, and has been for eight British Independent Film Awards. It will not be shown in the United States until January.

Fassbender spoke to Reuters about the film, swimming with sharks and fighting with actress Megan Fox.

Q: There's a lot of sexual tension in "Fish Tank."

A: "Yeah, absolutely. It's about this 15-year-old girl coming to terms with her sexuality and where she is in her life -- growing up in a council estate, which would be like the projects in America, and feeling that she can never escape. Then I appear and I'm a catalyst that provokes her to get out and do something. Regardless of the questionable things Connor does, he gives her a confidence and self-belief that her own mother isn't capable of giving."

Q: Is it true that director Andrea Arnold cast you without meeting you, even though she'd planned to cast a non-actor?

A: "Yes, she'd seen me in "Wedding Bells," a BBC show, and thought I'd be perfect for Connor. I got a call telling me she wanted me, and I was thrilled as I'd seen her first film, "Red Road," and loved it."

Q: Is it true that, like Woody Allen, she wouldn't give you the script before shooting?

A: "Yeah, and it made me a bit nervous as I don't usually work that way. I like to really prepare, so it was a bit of a risk, but she seemed totally confident and in the end we compromised. She'd give me the next week's work on a Friday, so I had the weekend, and she was right - it worked out fine."

Q: Tell us about working with Kate Jarvis as the young girl Mia. She'd never acted or danced before.

A: "She's obviously got a lot of Mia in her. She's tough as nails and not going to be taken advantage of. At the same time, she's very vulnerable and insecure. As for her acting, she's got this honesty and rawness and fantastic intuition. She's like a laser beam when you act opposite her. I was impressed."

Q: You were last seen in "Inglourious Basterds." Any funny Tarantino stories?

A: "All sorts. He's so shy and quiet. I tried to bring him out of his shell! No, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't star struck doing a scene with Brad Pitt and Quentin directing. You go, 'OK, get your shit together! Get a grip, man!' That's why I do so much preparation usually, so that when I freak out at those times, I can go, 'OK, relax!'"

Q: You just shot "Jonah Hex" with Megan Fox. You know every 15-year-old boy hates you now?

A: "I know, especially as I try to kill her in the film. I found that out at Comi-con. They really do hate me! [Ed op: dumb ass American comic book nerds!] It's a western based on a comic book, and she was great. Sadly I just had the one scene with her, and it was very physical and she was game for everything."

Q: Apart from fighting with Megan Fox, what's the wildest thing you've done recently?

A: "I went diving with sharks when I was in South Africa. We had seven Great Whites in the water next to us. It was amazing, awe-inspiring."

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Patricia Reaney)

Michael's next role: A Single Shot

Much anticipated news has finally arrived today! [Edited to add original Variety report.] We have information about Michael Fassbender's next big Hollywood role in a movie titled, 'A Single Shot'. Here is what has been released about this film:

Fassbender takes aim with 'Shot'

Pic also stars Whitaker, Macy, Church

By ALI JAAFAR

LONDON -- Rising star Michael Fassbender has boarded helmer David Jacobson's thriller "A Single Shot" opposite Forest Whitaker, William H. Macy and Thomas Haden Church.

Pic is set to start lensing in Ontario in January next year.

Hanway Films is selling international rights, with CAA co-repping the project's North American distribution rights.

CAA and WME are arranging financing for the project, in which Fassbender plays a poacher who finds himself on the run from a gang of hardened killers.

Chris Coen is producing for London-based shingle Unanimous Pictures alongside Brad Arseneau. Kevin Hicks is exec producing for Northern United Film and Media, which is financing the pic.

Hanway's slate includes helmer David Cronenberg's "The Talking Cure," Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page and Liv Tyler starrer "The Super" and Jon Amiel's Charles Darwin biopic "Creation."

Fassbender, whose bravura turns in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds" and Andrea Arnold's "Fish Tank" are generating awards season buzz, is repped by Michael Cooper at WME and Conor McCaughan at Troika.

Excellent! it will be filmed in Ontario, and that means most likely Toronto, and you know how close that is to me. So according to this, Michael will be running for his life from a bunch a bad asses. Sounds good to me.

Source: Variety