Former James Cameron Employee Claims He Created The Idea For Avatar

Plagiarism lawsuits are nothing new in Hollywood -- hell, we've covered several here just in the past few months -- so you would expect a movie that made nearly three billion dollars worldwide to attract its share of litigants. Indeed, Avatar director James Cameron has been sued before by people claiming he swiped the idea for his ecological sci-fi epic from this place or that. Now the lawyers are flocking once again, and this time it's a former employee of Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment claiming that Avatar was based on his ideas.

According to THR, Eric Ryder has filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court claiming that while employed by Lightstorm back in 1999 he wrote a story that became the basis for Avatar. Called K.R.Z. 2068, Ryder says the story was developed as a planned movie by Lightstorm, but was eventually abandoned in 2002 because the company didn't think there would be enough interest in the film. Ryder also claims to have created supporting materials such as treatments and photos.

So what was K.R.Z. 2068 all about? THR lists several choice quotes from the complaint. Ryder's story was an "environmentally-themed 3D epic about a corporation's colonization and plundering of a distant moon's lush and wondrous natural setting." The complaint also claims that both Ryder's story and Avatar include a corporation spy, similarities between their respective alien inhabitants, and the spy forming a relationship with the natives and eventually switching sides.

Okay, it all sounds relatively Avatar-ish, but whatever else you can say about it, Avatar definitely doesn't have the most original storyline in the world. Many have pointed out the film's similarities to movies such as Pocahontas and Dances with Wolves, to name only two. Plus, Cameron has said that he began developing Avatar back in 1994, when he wrote the 80-page treatment for the film, which was later leaked and popped up all over the internet. From what I remember of that treatment, most of the elements Ryder is claiming were stolen were already there, at least in prototypical form. Sure, it's possible Cameron could have incorporated Ryder's ideas into the eventual film...but that, along with the rest of it, remains to be proven.

Angelina Jolie May Star In Luc Besson's Next Thriller

When Hollywood is looking for a woman that can kick some ass, they inevitably return with Angelina Jolie's name. From Tomb Raider to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Wanted to Salt, Jolie, despite her skinny frame, has developed a reputation as an actresses who can take down a room full of bad guys and look amazing while doing it. It's for that reason that it's amazing Jolie has never hooked up with director Luc Besson before, but that's finally about to change.

According to Deadline, Jolie is now in talks to star in a new action film written and directed by Luc Besson. While the project doesn't yet have a title and plot details are slim, the site reports that it's a thriller "rooted in true scientific elements" (what that means exactly is still a bit of a mystery). Besson has made a career out of building strong female characters, beginning with La Femme Nikita in 1990, Leon in 1994, and even his newest film, The Lady, which is currently in theaters. The project is moving quickly and could begin production as early as next spring. Should she sign on, Jolie will make the film before working with Ridley Scott on the Gertrude Bell biopic, which was revealed last month.

Frank Lloyd Wright Biopic To Be Directed By Bruce Beresford

Bruce Beresford used to be one of the most prolific directors around, making films like Driving Miss Daisy, Breaker Morant, and Tender Mercies year after year. In the 1980s and 1990s he averaged almost a film per year. In the last decade, however, he's slowed down considerably. In fact, since 2000 he's only directed five films, the most recent being this year's Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding with Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Elizabeth Olsen. But just because his production has slowed doesn't mean that he's done directing, as evidenced by the new project that he just picked up.

THR has learned that Beresford is now attached to direct Taliesin, a biopic about world famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The script was written by Nicholas Meyer (The Prince of Egypt, Elegy) and the project will be produced by J. Todd Harris and Ed Bachrach, who are currently raising funds. The title of the film comes from the name of Wright's home in Spring Green, Wisconsin, where many of the most important scenes of the film take place. In 1914, Martha "Mamah" Cheney, Wright's wife, her two children, and four others were murdered by a domestic worker named Julian Carlton, who locked them all inside the building and set it on fire. Talking about the project, Beresford said, "It’s a very good script. It doesn’t cover his whole life, just a small section of it, and it doesn’t whitewash him into some sort of saint."

It's a pretty horrific story, but I'm curious if the film will only deal with that section of his life or go a little broader. After all, the man did build some of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in the 20th century and it would be a shame to ignore that. Too bad drafting blueprints for a house isn't more dramatic.

Gangster Squad Photos Show Ryan Gosling On Set, Penn And Brolin Face Off

Among Ryan Goslings upcoming projects is the Ruben Fleischer directed Gangster Squad, which also stars Emma Stone, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin and Nick Nolte. These aren’t the first set photos to make their way online, but if you’re a fan of eying Gosling looking chic in 40’s attire, they’re worth a look.

Gangster Squad is set in the ‘40’s/‘50’s and follows the LAPD’s attempts to keep the East Coast Mafia from spreading crime in Los Angeles. A few months back, we saw Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling looking cosy on the set of Gangster Squad. In one photo, Emma is snuggled up against Gosling and puffing on a cigarette. The latest set photos, courtesy of Just Jared don’t feature Stone, but some of them do show Gosling (and/or his character) getting his nicotine fix, while dressed up in a suit and hat, which he sometimes shares with a nearby statue... the hat, not the suit. (Is that Grauman's Chinese Theater?)







Just Jared doesn’t specify who the second man is in the above photo, but judging by the fact that he’s dressed nearly identically to Gosling (with the hat and jacket, minus the chain at his belt), it’s possible he’s a stand-in.

The era looks good on Gosling, but anyone who’s seen The Notebook already knows that. Then again, we’re seeing a much more dressed up version of Gosling than we ever saw from his portrayal of Sparks’ Noah Calhoun, at least in his early years. There are more photos from the set, which you can see here.

And while we’re on the subject of Gangster Squad, Entertainment Weekly posted an interview with Fleischer, who spoke about the movie, including how the story fits in to Paul Lieberman’s series of articles, which ran in the L.A. Times back in 2008, and the excellent cast.

Men In Black 3 Trailer

15 years after the first movie, and 9 years after the disappointing sequel, Men In Black III is coming to theaters next summer and is stuck trying to sell their movie to an audience that may be as old as this franchise. As a result, the first teaser trailer for the film, which Sony Pictures posted online today, is less focused on revealing information about the new film than going over the basics of what the Men In Black do. Here's Will Smith, here's Tommy Lee Jones, here are their suits, here is their memory eraser stick, here are the aliens they monitor-- oh, and in the last 30 seconds, here's this time travel plot! Take a look for yourself below.

The best reveal of the trailer by far is the shot of Josh Brolin as the younger version of Tommy Lee Jones, and you can't blame them for saving it to the very end-- Brolin nails the delivery and the grim facial expression, and his facial expressions are better than any alien makeup or Will-Smith-leaping-off-the-Chrysler-building effect in the trailer. But after months of production delays and a script they were apparently making up as they went along, it's a little worrying that Men In Black III has revealed no coherent plot here, spending a lot of time on the elements of Men In Black they know we like already and saving the actual details of the sequel for later. I know it's unlikely but it makes me wonder if they're still working out the plot kinks in the editing room.

The movie will be hitting early in the summer movie season, opening May 25 next year, and there's still time for them to impress us more with the marketing. But as nice as it is to see Jones and Smith-- the most unlikely but enjoyable comic duo you can think of-- reunited, memories of the awful Men In Black II and this mediocre trailer are getting in the way of having a lot of hope here.

George Clooney To Bring The Smothers Brothers To The Big Screen

Back in the late 1960s, Tom and Dick Smothers - two 30 year old singing comedian brothers - were one of the most controversial acts around. The siblings hosted a show on CBS called The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour that was a regular target of criticism due to their openness about youth culture, the Vietnam War and racism in America. The program also regularly featured guest appearances from incredible young comedic talents and musicians like Steve Martin, Albert Brooks, Bob Einstein The Doors, Jefferson Airplane and The Who (whose performance led to this famous piece of television history). Though the show didn't last long, only running from 1967 to 1969, it most definitely had a cultural impact, and now George Clooney is working to bring that impact to the silver screen.

Deadline has learned that Clooney, his producing/writing parter Grant Heslov, and Sony are now working together to make a movie about the Smothers brothers. They have already optioned Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story Of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, a biography by David Bianculli, and Brian Hecker and Craig Sherman have been hired to write the script. The site says that it's too early to know if Clooney is planning on starring in and/or directing the film, though he and Heslov will serve as producers.

With a proper cast and director this could actually be a really fascinating project. It has the potential to be a great way to reflect on an era that was filled with upheaval and see it all through a comedic lens. Not to mention it gives someone out there the opportunity to hire an actor to play a young Steve Martin. Who on Earth wouldn't want that role?

American Psycho Author Wants Miles Fisher Or Scott Disick To Be The New Patrick Bateman

A couple years ago, actor/singer Miles Fischer decided to make a music video for his over of the Talking Heads song "This Must Be The Place." The clip was a parody of the Mary Harron's cult film American Psycho, in which Fischer played 80s yuppie serial killer Patrick Bateman. In addition to being a catchy tune, the video was spot on, both well made and perfectly performed - and apparently it made quite an impression on the author of the original book, because now Bret Easton Ellis is calling for Miles Fischer to star in the recently announced remake.

Ellis, who published American Psycho back in 1991, recently sent out a Tweet saying, "I have warned Lionsgate that I will not approve a new version of "American Psycho" unless it stars SCOTT DISICK or MILES FISHER." Unlike Fischer, who, in addition to music videos, has had roles in movies like Final Destination 5 and J. Edgar, Disick is actually more of a reality star than an actor, as he is best known for being Kourtney Kardashian's boyfriend. Unlike the 2000 adaptation, which was set during the 1980s and was as much a parody as it was a horror movie, the new on-screen version of the book will be set in modern day. Noble Jones is writing and directing the new film.

As much as I love the "This Must Be The Place" video and would be excited to see Miles Fischer get the part, I still can't support this remake in any way. As I said yesterday, setting the story in modern times completely misses the point.

Game Of Thrones Directors Being Looked At To Helm Thor 2

It was pretty shocking news when it was announced earlier this week that Patty Jenkins was dropping out of directing Thor 2 after having been attached to the project for the last two months. The report said that Jenkins' decision was motivated by creative differences with Marvel and that the studio would immediately start looking for someone to take her place. Well, two candidates have already risen to the top.

According to THR, Alan Taylor and Daniel Minahan are now the top two filmmakers being looked at to helm superhero sequel Thor 2. Much like Jenkins and her rumored predecessor, Game of Thrones director Brian Kirk, both Taylor and Minahan have done most of their work on television. Taylor, who has been directing TV shows since the mid-1990s, has episodes of Oz, Mad Men, Bored To Death, The Sopranos and Game of Thrones on his resume, while Minahan's prior work includes True Blood, Six Feet Under, Grey's Anatomy, and, again, Game of Thrones.

The studio is also currently looking for a writer to work on the next version of the script. While Don Payne wrote the first draft, Marvel is currently considering Sheldon Turner, John Collee (Happy Feet), Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan) and Roger Avery (Pulp Fiction). Thor 2 is currently scheduled to be released on November 15, 2013.

It's becoming pretty obvious that the folks over at Marvel are big fans of Game of Thrones and are thinking that the HBO show's look would be perfect for the thunder god's next story. Do you think they are looking in the right direction or do you think they should be more focused on finding a director with heavy feature film experience?

Jackie Robinson Biopic 42 May Have Found Its Leading Man

Legendary Pictures has sent out a press release both confirming the casting of Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford, which was rumored earlier.

How do you find the right actor to play Jackie Robinson in a biopic? A while back you could have had either Will Smith or Denzel Washington do it, but considering Robinson was 28 when he broke the color barrier and Smith and Washington are 43 and 56, respectively, that's just not going to work. There's also the issue of finding an actor who can disappear into the role be Jackie Robinson instead of just playing him. Given those factors, the best bet would probably to find a talented up-and-comer to take the role, and that's exactly what's happening with Legendary Pictures' 42.

Chadwick Boseman is now in final talks to take the role of the legendary baseball player, according to Variety. While the project won't be his first film role - he recently wrapped production on an action movie called The Kill Hole for writer-director Mischa Webley and played Floyd Little in The Express - most of Boseman's experience has been on television, with single episode appearances on shows like Fringe, Justified, Castle, and The Glades. He also played in Christopher McQuarrie's miniseries Persons Unknown as Graham McNair. The Robinson biopic will be written and directed by Brian Helgeland, who is best known for scripting the Oscar-winning screenplay for L.A. Confidential.

I can't say that I'm all too familiar with Boseman's work, but he looks the part and this is a part that can really launch his career. The story of Jackie Robinson is probably the most iconic and easily the most important in baseball history, as it not only changed the sport but had a major impact on the civil rights movement. I look forward to seeing what he can do.

Dark Knight Rises Poster Promises The End Of Batman's Legend

All of a sudden, it seems like we’re being inundated with The Dark Knight Rises goodies. For Batman fans, it is an embarrassment of riches, as we’re being treated to IMAX prologues, viral marketing campaigns and now, a gripping new poster that should get tongues wagging.

The tantalizing tagline “The Legend Ends” can mean so many things. Both Christopher Nolan and his brooding leading man, Christian Bale, have said that this will be their last Batman movie together, so this will be the end of their trilogy. However, that’s Tom Hardy’s Bane walking away from the Dark Knight’s discarded mask, and those of us who know Batman’s back story know that the villain causes our hero devastating harm– let’s avoid spoilers, for those who’d appreciate that.

So yeah, it looks like Bale’s Batman is in for a world of hurt next summer in The Dark Knight Rises. I also find it interesting how most of the official marketing materials deal with Bane – who is the main villain in Nolan’s film – but barely anything has focused on Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman. No character banner. No shot in the trailer. She is this film’s real wild card, as some have speculated that she could take over for Batman while he heals. (There has to be a reason why she was riding the bat-cycle in those Pittsburgh set-location shots, right?)

Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises will be in theaters on July 20, 2012.

Katherine Heigl In Talks To Star And Produce In The Follower

A lot of what we’ve seen from Katherine Heigl since her departure from ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy has been more or less along the romantic comedy lines. The upcoming Julie Anne Robinson directed One for the Money sounds like it leans more toward comedy than romcom, but close enough. Beyond that and The Wedding, which is also in the works, Heigl may be branching out a bit by starring in a thriller called The Follower.

According to Variety, Heigl is in negotiations with Millennium Films to star and produce in The Follower, which was written by Tony Giglio. Little is known about the movie as far as the plot, but we do know that it’s described as a thriller, which is a shift from some of the stuff we’ve seen from her recently. Assuming the deal goes through, it should be interesting to hear more of the details on this project. At this point, it's becoming difficult to picture Heigl in a movie that doesn't have her set up to fall in love with a man she starts out disliking.

In the meantime, Heigl can be seen next in New Year’s Eve, which releases in theaters tomorrow night. After that, One for the Money, which also has Heigl credited as a producer, hits theaters in January. She also has The Wedding in the works further down the line and set for a 2012 release.

Neil Marshall To Direct Halloween Slasher Film Hellfest

Since the low-key release of Neil Marshall's last film Centurion, the director has flirted with a number of potential new projects, including a horror thriller "set in the world of gourmet underground supper clubs" and an alien invasion movie set during World War II. No idea what happened to either of those projects, but Marshall now appears to be moving forward with something different, and he's committed to making it his next film.

According to Deadline Marshall is in early talks to direct Hellfest, which as you might guess from the title is a horror movie, set at a theme park where a costumed killer slaughters visitors who arrive on Halloween. Sounds something like the Halloween Horror Nights that Universal Studios does in Orlando and Los Angeles, but I guess we shouldn't be surprised they haven't licensed their official name. Marshall expects to start production next summer, though that would mean there's no way he can make a Halloween 2012 release date-- either there will be a long wait until Halloween 2013, or they'll buck tradition and release it nowhere near the holiday.

Vivica Fox Hopes To Be A Part Of Kill Bill Volume 3

Quentin Tarantino fans may associate Vivica A. Fox with her role as Vernita Green (a.k.a. Copperhead) in Volume 1 of the excellent vengeance story Kill Bill. Based on her long list of credits, she’s been pretty busy since then and is set to star in a Hallmark Channel movie called Annie Claus is Coming to Town. During an interview to discuss the holiday TV movie, Fox spoke briefly about Kill Bill Volume 3 and offered some interesting, albeit completely hypothetical (from the sound of it) scenarios that might bring her back to the story for the third installment.

If you’ve seen Kill Bill Vol. 1, you know that things don’t work out so well for Vernita. Such was the case for everyone whose name ended up on the Bride’s kill list. Vernita died in her kitchen after trying to shoot the Bride through a box of Kaboom cereal. The whole thing was very bloody-suburban (watch it below). If there’s ever a loose end left in the first two movies, it’s that Vernita’s daughter Nikki witnessed her mother lying dead on the floor just after Beatrix put a knife through her chest. The Bride’s response, as she wiped off her blade and turned to the little girl was, “It was not my intention to do this in front of you. For that, I’m sorry. You can take my word for it, your mother had it coming. When you grow up, if you still feel raw about it, I’ll be waiting.”

Whether or not Nikki returns for Volume 3, we don’t know. The film, which is listed as "announced" and slated for a 2014 release, according to IMDB, is rumored to be set ten years after Volume 2 (released 2004). Assuming young Nikki was between the ages of six and eight (that’s a guess) when her mother died, she might be at the prime age to pursue Beatrix in Volume 3.

When the Hollywood Reporter asked Fox about there being any chance of a flashback or a cameo in Volume 3 that might include Vernita, her response was hopeful and a little bit humorous...

Quentin Tarantino is such a genius, that I am really hoping it will either be a flashback or something that he can show Vernita Green playing with her daughter [Nikki], teaching her some moves, or passing on some messages that she remembers. I would definitely tell her to ‘Watch out with that cereal box, don’t try that move on The Bride, cause she’s also good with the knife.’ Maybe it’ll be a flashback or something like that, but I definitely hope to be a part of it. 

There’s definite potential for a Nikki storyline if that’s the direction Tarantino goes for, although it’ll be hard to choose a side if that's the case. On one hand, Beatrix had a point when she said Vernita had it coming, but it’s doubtful Nikki would agree with that. The woman killed her mother. It'd be understandable if she was still raw about it after ten years. Perhaps after an epic battle between a trained Nikki and Beatrix, the two will put their differences aside and set their sights on a bigger target together. This is, of course, assuming Nikki even makes an appearance in the film at all. And if she does, hopefully Tarantino will find a way to bring Fox back in some form or another. In the meantime, we have this to look back on...

Twilight Stars Kristen Stewart And Robert Pattinson Named Two Of The Most Bankable Actors In Hollywood

7 Comments published: 2011-12-07 16:36:06 Author: Eric Eisenberg

Early last month Forbes published their annual list of the most overpaid actors in Hollywood, the performers that get paid way too much for the small box office results that their films get. But the magazine isn't all about negativity. They also use another issue every year to celebrate those actors that make a bundle at the box office and don't ask for too much when receiving a paycheck. Now that list has been announced and the results are far from surprising.

According to the report in Forbes, Kristen Stewart is the most bankable star in Hollywood. The statistics state that for every dollar that Stewart makes, her movies make $55.83. While some might be surprised that she isn't joined at the top spot by her Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson - who makes the same amount of money on each film as the actress - he ranks lower because, as the site says, " he has branched out more so only one of his Twilight films is eligible for this list." Earning second place on the list is Anne Hathaway, who earns $45.67 for every dollar that's spent on her paycheck (thanks to the great success of Alice in Wonderland), and number three is Pattinson.

 The rest of the list goes as follows:

4. Daniel Radcliffe - $34.24/$1
5. Shia LaBeouf - $29.40/$1
6. Robert Downey Jr. - $18.74/$1
7. Matt Damon - $15.83/$1
8. Cate Blanchett - $15.17/$1
9. Meryl Streep - $13.54/$1
10. Johnny Depp - $12.48/$1

If you've ever wondered why Hollywood loves a franchise, look no further than this list. Of the top 10 bankable stars in the movie industry, six are the stars of their own respective series of films (Damon is excluded because he's now done with the Bourne movies. The question is who among these stars will maintain their high numbers in the years to come. Will Stewart and Pattinson continue making bank at the box office once Twilight is over? Can The Lone Ranger keep Johnny Depp from falling off the list or possible cause him to move up it? Is Shia LaBeouf making the right decision by not returning for Transformers 4? Only time will tell.

The Hobbit And Man Of Steel Sticking With Release Dates Despite Rumors

Earlier today a rumor surfaced regarding two of Warner Bros. top upcoming projects: Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Hobbit and Zack Snyder's reboot of the Superman franchise, Man of Steel. The original story, which comes from a site called Think McFly Think, said that Jackson doesn't want to rush the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first of two Lord of the Rings prequels, which is currently scheduled to hit theaters on December 14, 2012. To fix this, Man of Steel, which is currently set to come out on June 14, 2013, would be pushed up to take The Hobbit's place and Jackson's movie would move to December 2013. I have received word from the studio that this rumor is inaccurate.

After learning of the story, I reached out to Warner Bros. for comment and they responded that the claims about Man of Steel and The Hobbit moving are absolutely false. Dan Fellman, the President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures, says, "Contrary to inaccurate reports - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is being released on December 14, 2012." Both movies are currently in production.

So let's all celebrate, shall we? Considering The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King came out all the way back in 2003, we've been without a trip to the shire for far too long and it's nice to know that things are still on track. It's unfortunate that we still have to wait a year and a half before Superman finally makes his way back to the silver screen, but we can, at the very least, have confidence that the project isn't being rushed.

Tom Cruise Updates On Top Gun 2

 

The proposed Top Gun sequel that has been rumored for years took a major step forward a couple months ago when Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz, two writers that worked on both Thor and X-Men: First Class this past summer, were hired to write the script for the project. Since then, however, there hasn't been a peep about its forward progress. In fact, one major question hanging in the air was the possibility of Tom Cruise reprising his role as Maverick from the first film. Thankfully the star is currently doing press rounds for Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and has given MTV a status update.

While Cruise didn't explicitly say that he had plans to star in the film - when asked what kind of role he would play his response was "I don't know, we're working on it." - he did confirm that he is involved in the process of getting a Top Gun 2 made. Talking about how he became involved, the actor said that it began with a desire to work with Tony Scott again, and that it blossomed from there. "I said to Tony I want to make another movie with him," Cruise said. "He and I haven't made a film since Days of Thunder. Tony and I and Jerry [Bruckheimer], we never thought that we would do it again. Then they started to come to us with these ideas of where it is now. I thought, 'Wow, that would be ... what we could do now.'"

Previous reports about Top Gun 2 have said that the film will be about unmanned fighters, also known as drones, but that was all the way back when Scott was promoting Unstoppable. With Miller and Stentz on board the story could completely change.

The Saw Franchise May Be Making A Comeback

When Saw 3D, the last film in the franchise, hit theaters in October of 2010 its box office numbers were rather surprising. While many long running series tend to see their final installment make an insane amount of cash (just look at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 from this summer), the performance of Saw 3D was rather underwhelming, making only $22 million in its opening weekend and by the end of its run it was the second worst performer of all the sequels, beating only Saw VI. With that in mind, it was fitting that the franchise would not return, as it was plainly obvious that people just didn't care anymore. Apparently nobody told Lionsgate about that.

Studio Vice Chairman Michael Burns recently made a stop to CNBC (via Bloody Disgusting) to talk about the potential merger between Lionsgate and Summit. But while there wasn't much to say about the two companies' business dealings, Burns did drop a bit of interesting information about the future of the Saw franchise. Talking about upcoming projects, the executive said, " "I'm sure, some day, you'll see Saw back in the picture." While obviously this doesn't mean that they are currently on the hunt for a script and a director, the statement does undermine previous reports that Saw 3D was the last of the franchise.

While I could totally see this happening, I wouldn't be surprised if Burns is just blowing smoke. CNBC is a business channel and what better way to try and make your stock price inflate then by suggesting that one of the studio's most successful franchises will return? By saying "some day" he totally takes the pressure off himself, as that could very well mean 600 years from now. Ultimately the thing to take away from this story is that it's possible the Saw series could have another sequel, but don't expect it any time soon.

Michael Bay May Direct Transformers 4 After All

Michael Bay hasn't directed a film without Transformers in the title since 2005, but just yesterday he began making headway towards changing that pattern. A report came out that said the filmmaker was looking at Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Mark Wahlberg to star in his Coen brothers-esque crime comedy Pain and Gain. While it was eventually announced that Wahlberg had decided to pass on the project, Johnson began having talks and it looked like Bay was finally moving away from epic robot destruction. But that was yesterday.

Unnamed inside sources have informed Vulture that Michael Bay is now in talks with Paramount Pictures to direct a fourth film in the Transformers franchise. The news goes against all previous reports, which stated that the director would stay on in a producorial capacity, but this news undercuts that story. The story says that it's actually been Bay's desire to make Pain and Gain that has prevented him from signing on for a Transformers 4, but the source says an official announcement could be released next week. The trick is that a third sequel wouldn't prevent Bay from doing his passion project: the site says that Pain and Gain could go into production as soon as early spring, and that the next Transformers movie would film in late 2012.

While it's hard to tell if this article is 100% factual, it wouldn't be surprising in the least. While Transformers: Dark of the Moon didn't pull in as much cash as the second installment domestically, it was a monster hit internationally, pushing the movie's worldwide box office totals over a billion dollars. Paramount was going to try anything to get Bay back and, for now, it looks like they succeeded.

Juno Temple And Wes Bentley Join Amanda Seyfried In Lovelace

Following his performance in American Beauty, many thought that Wes Bentley was going to become one of the biggest young stars in Hollywood...only that never really happened. Since the Sam Mendes film premiered in 1999, the movies that Bentley has appeared in have ranged from mediocre to terrible, taking parts in films like Jonah Hex, Ghost Rider, and P2. Now, like many actors who don't see their career trajectory take off in the direction that they want it to, Bentley is headed for the porn industry...kind of.

Wes Bentley and Juno Temple are the two newest additions to the cast of Lovelace, a biopic about the star of Deep Throat. Already in the cast are Amanda Seyfried, who plays the titular Linda Lovelace; Peter Sarsgaard, who will be Linda's sadistic, abusive first husband; and Sharon Stone, as Linda's mother. According to Variety, Bentley will play the starlet's second husband, Larry Marchiano, while Temple will portray her best friend (the name of the character isn't specified). The project is being made by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, who wrote and directed last year's Howl, starring James Franco as Allen Ginsberg.

Considering how long this project spent in development hell, it's coming along quite nicely. Epstein and Friedman have gathered an exceptional cast and they are scheduled to start production at the end of the month in Los Angeles.

Zoe Kravitz And Sophie Okonedo May Join M. Night Shyamalan's Next Movie

It's hard to imagine that there's anyone out there who is really excited to see the next movie from director M. Night Shyamalan. As many were quick to point out after the critical failure of The Last Airbender, each of the films that he has directed since have gotten worse and worse reviews, hitting their lowest point with last year's summer film. His next project, 1000 AE, was first announced late last year and has both Will and Jaden Smith slated to star. But what about the female side of the equation? He's taking care of that now, according to THR.

Zoe Kravitz and Sophie Okonedo are now in talks for roles in Shyamalan's upcoming science-fiction adventure film. The script, which was recently tinkered with by Oscar winner Stephen Gaghan after drafts by Gary Whitta and Shyamalan himself, is set 1,000 years after humans have been forced to vacate Earth (as the title implies). Will Smith will play a warrior with a disappointing son - played by Jaden Smith - but when the two of them crash land on Earth it's up to the son to save the father. Should the end up making a deal and accepting their roles, both Kravitz and Okonedo will be a part of the family as well, the former playing the sister/daughter and the latter playing the mom/wife. Production is scheduled to begin at the beginning of next year and the studio, Columbia Pictures, is looking at a June 2013 release date.

As horrible as Will Smith's nepotism has been as of late, at least he's letting this one go. I do have to wonder, though, just how hard he fought to get Jada Pinkett and Willow the parts mentioned above.

Martin Scorsese Confirms That Silence Will Be His Next Project

It's typically not until after a filmmaker finishes his/her project that he/she begins getting asked about what his/her follow up will be, but in the case of Martin Scorsese that's been a subject of controversy and debate for months. Though Hugo only came out two weeks ago, many have questioned what the Oscar winning director's next movie would be. A big part of what has fueled speculation is the simple fact that Scorsese actually has a lot of titles on his slate. Most recently there was a report that he would direct an adaptation of Jo Nesbo's The Snowman, but there's also been talks of him remaking The Gambler, and reuniting with Robert De Niro for a mob thriller called The Irishman. Then there's Silence. Based on the novel by Shusako Endo, Scorsese has been developing the project for years, but has always skipped over it in favor of another project. That changes now.

The legendary director was recently a guest star on Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode’s Radio Five show (via Bleeding Cool) and he announced that Silence will be the next movie he tackles. Seemingly hesitant at first, Scorsese first said that he was hoping to make the Endo adaptation his next project, but then fully committed to it. Not hoping, we’re literally pulling all the elements together at this point," Scorsese said. Casting, however, may be a little more complicated than you may think. For years the project has had Benicio Del Toro and Daniel Day-Lewis attached to star, but he may not be able to reunite with his Gangs of New York villain due to scheduling issues. Asked if he would be working with Day-Lewis again, Scorsese responded, "I’m not sure. Daniel’s working with Steve right now, Steve Spielberg."

For those unfamiliar with the story, the book is set in 17th century Japan, where two Jesuit priests face persecution as they spread their gospel and search for their mentor. According to IMDb, Jay Cocks (who also scripted Gangs of New York) wrote the screenplay, but it's hard to know how long that information has been around and/or if something has changed. When you consider how long Scorsese has been talking about the film - we're talking 2006 here - it must be something he's passionate about doing.

Sci-Fi Flick Last Man Standing Finds A Screenwriter

One of the success stories of Comic-Con in recent years was a graphic novel called Last Man Standing. Created over two and a half years by Dan LuVisi, the graphic novel's movie rights were snatched up by Paramount during the book’s first Comic-Con appearance, and it sold out in just two hours at this past summer’s show. Now the project has officially found its screenwriter. Variety reports that David Leslie Johnson, who penned the horror flick Orphan and this year’s Red Riding Hood, has landed the gig.

Last Man Standing is set 600 years in the future, when Earth is embroiled in a war against Mars. The Earth military creates a super-soldier to help tip the balance against the Red Planet, and after their victory the soldier becomes a hero and celebrity. Until, that is, he is framed for a terroristic crime and tossed in the slammer for nearly a decade. Once he's finally sprung, he sets out to take revenge on the people responsible.

I'm not familiar with the graphic novel, but the general premise sounds solid enough. Revenge is always a motivation audiences respond to, and Last Man Standing sounds like it could be a sort of futuristic Count of Monte Cristo (or, depending on how well you know your SF literature, a different spin on Alfred Bester's The Stars My Destination). Johnson's past credits don't inspire enormous amounts of confidence, but hey, everybody's got some shitty stuff in them before they get to the goods.

Johnson is also one of the writers who worked on the upcoming Clash of the Titans sequel, Wrath of the Titans.

Star Trek 2 Beams Up Robocop Himself, Peter Weller

With a real release date finally set (May 17, 2013) and production ready to get started, J.J. Abrams's long-anticipated Star Trek 2 is finally filling out a cast beyond the mainstays from the first film, who will all be returning. The rumors about Benicio del Toro playing Khan may not be true, but would you be willing to swap for for an entirely different sci-fi icon like, say, Robocop?

As odd as that sounds, Variety reports that Abrams indeed is bringing in Peter Weller, who played the cop-turned-robot in Paul Verhoeven's film, for an unspecified role in Star Trek 2. He joins Alice Eve as the only confirmed new cast member for the film, and while it's logical to guess both of them will be playing villains, the Abrams brain trust of course won't divulge anything.

As hardcore Trek fans already know, Weller has experience with the franchise, having popped up on two episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise in 2005 as the character John Frederick Paxton. That series served as a prequel to the original 60s series, also set aboard the Enterprise and featuring the familiar cast of characters-- Kirk, Spock, Uhura etc.-- whom Abrams has revived in his films. Given that the 2009 Star Trek established a completely alternate timeline, though, it seems unlikely Weller's casting will at all reference his previous Trek role. More likely Abrams is just like you-- a Robocop fan who wanted Weller on his team.

With production on Trek 2 starting early next year, we'll likely get a flurry of casting announcements in the coming weeks, some big and some tiny. But it's hard to deny that the presence of Weller, in however small a role, is going to be welcome, even if we have no idea who he'll be playing.

J.J. Abrams Denies Rumors Of Khan In The Star Trek Sequel

 

Just a little while ago a report came out saying that Benicio Del Toro will play Khan Noonien Singh in the J.J. Abrams-directed sequel to 2009's Star Trek reboot. When reporting the story, I noted that in the original article it said that we could expect "rebuttals and denials" of the scoop. Well, we didn't have to wait long.

Upon hearing the rumor, HitFix was able to contact Abrams directly and he gave them a two word response: "Not true." 

As I noted in the original story, however, it's entirely possible that they are just denying the rumor until they are ready to announce it officially (though a two word response does seem rather definitive). The most recent news followed a report that said Abrams is interested in Benicio Del Toro to play the Star Trek sequel's villain, but as of yet there hasn't been an official announcement or even news that he has entered negotiations. 

It was also reported recently that the filmmaker is interested in adding Alice Eve to the cast, though she is potentially up for a role that has never before existed in the Star Trek universe. The script for the film, written by Damon Lindelof, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, has been completed and they are currently aiming to start production in early 2012. Look for the untitled Star Trek sequel to hit theaters on May 17, 2013.

I know some of you have voiced support for "Benicio as Khan," but it's really for the best if it's not true. By doing a reboot on an alternate timeline, the creators of the new Star Trek opened up an endless number of possibilities. If they had chosen to do Khan again it would simply be a remake of Wrath of Khan and what's the point of that?

Would Michelle Trachtenberg Have Made A Good Bella Swan?

Can you picture Michelle Trachtenberg caught up in a whole mess of danger and vampire-related drama? Ok, if you’ve seen the later years of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you probably can, but apparently, there was “interest here and there” for her to play the lead role in the Twilight movies.

Entertainment Weekly shared some interesting comments from Trachtenberg, whose more recent roles include a part on Gossip Girl as well as last season of Showtime’s Weeds. According to the actress, there was interest in her taking on the role of Bella Swan. “There was definitely interest here and there because there’s only so few pale girls in Hollywood,” she told EW.

According to EW, Trachtenberg had a connection with Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke, as she was originally set to star in the 2003 film Thirteen, but it conflicted with her work on Buffy. Interestingly enough, Nikki Reed, who plays the beautiful but vain vampire Rosalie in the Twilight, was one of the young stars of Thirteen.

It’s hard to tell exactly how close Trachtenberg came to starring in Twilight. EW says Hardwicke “turned back to Trachtenberg” when it came time to cast Bella, which might mean that some kind of offer was made, or maybe it was just a consideration that never quite led to anything. As Trachtenberg put it, “I guess the schedules never worked out.”

Frankly, I’d have a much easier time picturing Trachtenberg as Rosalie or Alice than I would Bella. The whole idea of Trachtenberg as Bella seems a little too close to the recurring Dawn-in-Danger episode arcs on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, of which I was never a huge fan. Nor did I love some of Dawn's more emotional teen angsty moments (“Get out! Get out! Get out!”), so the idea of seeing her once again needing to be rescued from vampires doesn't exactly work for me. Having seen her tougher side in Weeds makes me think she'd fit better as one of the vampires. Trachtenberg with fangs could actually be great. True Blood, maybe?

Real Steel Will Hit Blu-Ray Hard In January

Despite Real Steel’s previews, which left many people -- or at least me -- wondering why an actor like Hugh Jackman would take a movie essentially about Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots, Real Steel came extremely close to earning a fresh rating (58%) on Rotten Tomatoes. More impressively, Real Steel made over $251 million dollars worldwide. I guess robots translate well into multiple languages.

I’d put money on director Shawn Levy, who has a knack for turning movies that should be disasters, like Night at the Museum, into films that are pretty fun to watch. It helps that Steven Spielberg was on board to produce, as well. In Real Steel Hugh Jackman plays Charlie Kenton, a crappy dad who wants to get his robot boxing career and his relationship with his son back on track. If you haven’t caught it yet, Real Steel will hit Blu-Ray, DVD, and digital download on January 24th.

As far as special features go, DVD copies are getting the short end of the stick with this release. All copies will include a blooper reel, a “making of” featurette, and a “building the Bots” segment. Digital copies get a little more exciting, with the addition of “Sugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman’s Champ.” Blu-Ray copies will come with all of the aforementioned stuff, plus a bit about the character Charlie Kenton, as well as deleted and extended scenes with introductions from Shawn Levy, who apparently didn’t go out of his way to do full commentary for the film. Wise move, Levy. If only Family Album had gotten its shit together you would have had a pretty good year.

Will Benicio Del Toro Play Khan In The Star Trek Sequel?

Back in early November, Star Trek fans started going nuts when it was reported that J.J. Abrams was keen on casting Benicio Del Toro as the central villain in his upcoming sequel to the 2009 sci-fi blockbuster hit. There was a problem, however: the report didn't say what character the Oscar winner would play. The internet became an endless stream of speculation, with Trekies speculating everything from Klingons to Tribbles (yes, I did actually read a comment that suggested Tribbles). Now it seems that Latino Review has gotten word as to who Del Toro might be playing.

According to an unnamed inside source over at the site, Benicio Del Toro will play Khan Noonien Singh in the next Star Trek movie. The site does say that we can expect "rebuttals and denials" but it's unclear if they are referring to Paramount trying to keep a lid on the secret or lack of confidence in the source. Khan, of course, was the central villain in the last Star Trek film with the number two in it: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Played by Ricardo Montalban, Khan is a genetically-engineered superhuman that most famously left Captain Kirk stranded on Ceti Alpha V, where the villain was exiled by Kirk years earlier. The character's first appearance, however, was in the first season of the original series in an episode titled "Space Seed."

I have my doubts about the authenticity of this story (who wouldn't?) and I really hope it's not true, but I can totally see this happening. In a film industry filled to the brim with sequels, remakes and TV adaptations, it has been throughly proven that Hollywood is completely obsessed with name recognition and there isn't a single Star Trek villain who is better known than Khan.

The Queen’s Peter Morgan Sells Heist Script To New Line

British writer Peter Morgan has made a name for himself penning awards-friendly, character-centric dramas such as The Last King of Scotland, The Queen, and Frost/Nixon. With the upcoming remake of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy he’s branching out into thriller territory, and now he’s tackling yet another time-honored genre: the heist flick. Variety reports that New Line has picked up Morgan’s untitled heist screenplay, to be produced by Simon Kinberg.

Morgan and Kinberg developed the script together. The story doesn’t provide many details about the project – not surprising since it doesn’t even have a title listed – but it does say that it is a character-driven story revolving around two male leads, and it is set in America. Variety also says the film is “in the vein of” Michael Mann’s Heat and Martin Scorsese’s The Departed. Without knowing more about the film, that could mean that we’ll see two lead characters on opposite sides of the law, like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro’s roles in Heat.

While Kinberg built his career as a screenwriter on flicks such as Mr. & Mrs. Smith, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Sherlock Holmes, he has lately added producing to his insanely busy schedule. He’s producing Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Neil Blomkamp’s new science fiction film Elysium, and The Caves of Steel, based on Isaac Asimov’s novel. He’s also writing the so-far untitled sequel to X-Men: First Class.

Nikki Reed, Sean Faris And More Join Michael Chiklis In Pawn

A couple days ago we reported that both Michael Chiklis and Forest Whitaker had signed on for a movie from first-time director David A. Armstrong called Pawn. Both actors are known for their powerhouse performances and they even squared off against each other for a season of FX's critically acclaimed drama The Shield. So naturally two of their co-stars will come from the worlds of Twilight and The Vampire Diaries.

THR has learned that Nikki Reed, who recently came out with The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, and Sean Faris, who did a three-episode stint on the supernatural CW program last year, have both signed on for parts in the upcoming crime drama along with Stephen Lang, Marton Csokas, Jessica Szohr and Jonathan Bennett. The story, based on a script by Jay Anthony White, is about a group of gunmen who try and hold up a diner only to discover that the establishment is owned by the mob. The situation quickly escalates and cops, feds and mafioso are introduced to the hostage situation. Common and Ray Liotta are also signed on for the film. Though the project will be the first time that Armstrong has headed up a production, he has vast experience as a cinematographer, having worked on all of the Saw films (except for the last one) and other thrillers like Skinwalkers and 2009's The Lodger. In addition to starring, Chiklis is producing the film under his Extravaganza Films banner, as are Michael Becker, Jeff Most and Brad Luff.

The film goes into production today and while it doesn't yet have a distributor, it's expected that the movie will be released in 2013.

Brand New Character Posters For Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

The marketing for Journey 2: The Mysterious Island has been hitting fast and furious lately. After hearing nothing about the film for months, the first trailer premiered early last month and in the past two weeks we've gotten a new poster, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and even a international trailer that took away all the comedy and fun stuff and replaced it with heavy drama. The media blitz is understandable, as the movie is only three months away and the studio wants to get word out there. So today the trend continues with a slew of new artwork

Yahoo! has revealed four new character banners and a new one-sheet for Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. Check out three of the posters below and head over there for the rest.







A sequel to 2008's Journey to the Center of the Earth directed by Brad Peyton, the new movie brings back Josh Hutcherson as Sean Anderson who is ready to go on a whole new adventure. Teaming up with his mother's new boyfriend (Dwayne Johnson), Sean decides to go on a trip looking for his long-lost grandfather (Michael Caine), who he believes has discovered the legendary Mysterious Island, as written about by Jules Verne. Hiring a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzman) and his daughter (Vanessa Hudgens) to take them to the source of strange radio signals that seem to be coming from the middle of the ocean. What they discover is a world beyond imagination and filled with the spectacular.

Julia Roberts Signs On For Second Act

It looks like Julia Roberts may have her next project lined up. While fans of hers can look forward to seeing her in the upcoming Snow White movie Mirror Mirror, further down the line you’ll be seeing her in a workplace comedy called Second Act.

Per the Hollywood Reporter, Roberts is on board with the film both on and off camera, as she’s set to star and produce in the comedy through her label Red Om Films. She’s partnering with Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas on the project, which also has Maven Pictures set to produce.

Second Act follows a woman “who has never worked and is forced to take a job.” There’s definitely a lot of potential for a set-up like that, especially assuming Roberts is set to play the mentioned woman with zero work experience. The title works, although at quick glance, it looks a little like Sister Act.

The project is still in the early stages of development, from the sound of it. It doesn’t have a writer or a director yet but with Roberts attached, it's likely to find both soon enough.

The Expendables 2 Adds Tennis Star Novak Djokovic

On the list of "manly" sports, tennis doesn't really rank towards the top of the list. Sure, the athletes in the sport are some of the most physically capable in the world (do you have the strength to hit a serve 155 mph?) but are still placed behind the men who professionally play football, basketball, hockey and baseball. But how many active players in those sports have a role in a movie alongside Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, and every other major action star from the last 30 years?

Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis player who has been ranked number 1 in the world since early July, apparently has a role in The Expendables 2, according to Deadline. If you're worried about about his ability to perform as another person, however, let me quell your fears: Djokovic will be playing himself (he's also known as quite the showman on the court, as well). He was invited to be in the film by producer Avi Lerner and is already in Bulgaria, where the movie is currently shooting. Directed by Simon West, The Expendables 2 also stars Jason Statham, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Scott Adkins, Randy Couture, and Liam Hemsworth.

What I find funny about this is that Djokovic won't be the first professional athlete to join the cast of an Expendables movie. Couture used to be an MMA fighter, Steve Austin (who won't be in the sequel) was a former wrestler, and Crews played in the NFL for four seasons (not to mention the martial arts experience that just about every other member of the cast has). Djokovic should be right at home.

Taylor Swift, Lea Michele, Scarlett Johansson Up For Same Les Miserables Role

Anne Hathaway has already snagged one of the big female roles in Tom Hooper's splashy upcoming adaptation of Les Miserables, the huge Broadway musical based on Victor Hugo's novel. Hathaway is set to play Fantine, the doomed factory worker, opposite Hugh Jackman as the hero Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as the determined Inspector Javert, and My Week With Marilyn's Eddie Redmayne as Marius, a young man fighting in the French Revolution.

Marius, like any good musical character, is also caught in a love triangle between Fantine's daughter Cosette and Eponine, another splashy role that's currently being cast. According to The New York Post, Taylor Swift, Lea Michele, Scarlett Johansson and Evan Rachel Wood are all in the running for the role, and with the film set for a December 7 release date next year, casting is likely to move fast so shooting can get started. Michele has the strongest Broadway chops of the bunch, having played Young Cosette herself as a child and belting out every musical ballad known to man week after week on Glee. But according to the Post, Swift brings her country music fan base, Wood her indie cred, and Johansson acting ability so… apparently the choice isn't as easy as it seems?

Les Miserables is such a massive story that it's impossible for one casting decision to make the film great or ruin it, so I'm trying not to get too worked up over the idea of Taylor Swift and her frilly-weak singing voice in any musical, period. With Hugh Jackman in the lead it can't be all bad, but… seriously, Taylor Swift? Just cast Lea Michele, fill out the rest of the cast with actual Broadway actors, and let this Les Miz hold its head high.

Sherlock Holmes Scribe May Rewrite The New Twilight Zone Movie

Though the project flirted with an A-list director like Christopher Nolan and Michael Bay for a while, the new Twilight Zone movie is set to move forward with Cloverfield and Let Me In director Matt Reeves at the helm. But there's one tiny problem: apparently Warner Bros. is not 100 percent on Jason Rothenberg's script. So what's the best way to fix that problem? Hire a new writer, of course!

Variety has learned that WB has now in final negotiations with Tony Peckham to do a rewrite of the script for The Twilight Zone. The studio is quite familiar with Peckham, as he was the writer of Sherlock Holmes and Invictus, both of which were Warner Bros. properties. The writer's other work includes the Andrew Klavan-directed thriller Don't Say A Word. Unlike the original Twilight Zone movie from 1983, which was made by powerhouse directors John Landis, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante and George Miller, previous reports have said that the new project won't be anthology, but rather will have just one story described as a "big science fiction action movie." That, however, referred to Rothenberg's script, so who knows how Peckham will change things.

I'm always wary about deals like this. Warner Bros. might like Peckham's work, but 20th Century Fox loves Skip Woods and his credits include Hitman, Swordfish and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. A studio may have reasons for liking a writer outside of their talent. That said, Reeves is a talented director and a new Twilight Zone movie could be interesting. I wouldn't count this one out just yet.

Harrison Ford Among Those Eyed To Join Asa Butterfield In Ender's Game

Right before Asa Butterfield spent a weekend in New York doing press for Hugo, it was all but announced that he would be starring in Ender's Game, an adaptation of Orson Scott Card's landmark children's novel. But of course, Butterfield couldn't confirm anything, so he spent the weekend hedging questions about Ender while smiling in a way that suggested it was totally in the bag. Now it really is official, according to Variety and Butterfield's own Twitter feed, and it's time for a bigger name actor to join Butterfield in the cast.

Variety's report says that several high-profile actors are being eyed to play Colonel Hyrum Graff, the commander of the military unit that recruits expert child gamer Ender. Viggo Mortensen had been their goal for a while, but apparently the producers are shifting directions and looking at several options, including Harrison Ford. Given that the character's name basically sounds like the kind of "harumph" the constantly grumpy Ford might give, he's kind of perfect for the role, though it's unclear why Ford would sign on for a film that could easily land him in a franchise-- there are several Ender books by Orson Scott Card. Isn't the general assumption that Ford is quasi-retired, and only shows up when there's easy money or the chance to wear a cowboy hat? Not that he wouldn't be great in Ender's Game, but I just have a hard time seeing him taking the role.

Regardless of who winds up playing the main adult role, Gavin Hood is still directing the film, which is set for a March 15, 2013 release from Summit Entertainment.

Breaking Dawn Part 1 Breaks Five Hundred Million Dollars At The Global Box Office

There’s cause to celebrate for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1. The film, which made its grand debut earlier this month, has already surpassed a half a billion dollars worldwide. That’s not a bad haul for twelve days in the theater and while things are bound to taper off at the box office, the film will probably continue to rake in even more cash as fans return for more or finally get around to seeing it.

Summit broke the news today, sharing the huge success at the global box office for the first part in the two-part adaptation of the final installment in Stephenie Meyer’s teen-vampire romance series. Summit’s release says the film has grossed more than $508 million globally since the film’s release on November 18, 2011. Just under half of that ($223 million) was earned domestically, which puts the movie among the top 12 films to reach $220 million in 10 days. That seems like a very specific milestone but I suppose it’s notable, especially to those who benefit from such a financial success.

Breaking Dawn Part 1 follows vampire Edward and his true love Bella down the aisle and off to a romantic honeymoon. A scary pregnancy and lots of drama (and blood, I hear) ensues. The franchise only has more money to make, not only from future screenings of Part 1 and the inevitable DVD/Blu-ray release, but from the second part, which is set to hit theaters next fall.

Jesse Eisenberg Sues Over Misleading Camp Hell DVD Cover

Lionsgate and Grindstone Entertainment are facing a lawsuit filed by Jesse Eisenberg over the DVD cover of the low budget horror film Camp Hell. The DVD cover art prominently features The Social Network stars name and face, which is apparently a major oversell in terms of Eisenberg’s involvement in the movie.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Eisenberg is suing Lionsgate and Grindhouse over the cover, “for allegedly turning his less-than-five-minute cameo in the horror flick Camp Hell into an above-the-title star turn. The complaint states that the actor is suing in order to warn his fans that, despite how it looks on the DVD cover, he’s not the star of the film, nor does he play a prominent role in the movie. He’s also looking for $3 million in damages. Considering that’s more than what it cost to make the movie, they may as well have hired him to star in it to begin with.

John Carter Gets A Brand New Poster

The new trailer for Disney's John Carter is scheduled to arrive online this Thursday. Last week the news brought six new stills from the film, which showed off the stunning landscapes, alien creatures, and star Taylor Kitsch. But just as I predicted, the marketing is only starting to ramp up and today we have a brand new poster

Starring Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Daryl Sabara, Polly Walker, Bryan Cranston, Thomas Hayden Church, and Willem Dafoe, John Carter makes the live-action debut of Pixar director Andrew Stanton, whose previous films include A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo and WALL-E. His new film, based on the novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs, is about a civil war veteran who is mysteriously transported to Mars. Dealing with strange creatures and discovered abilities on the red planet, he must both try to find a way home and save a princess from a life of misery.

Beginners And Tree Of Life Tie For Top Gotham Independent Film Award

The first film awards show of the season is also among the smallest, but it's always good to kick off the back-patting and celebrating with the Gotham Independent Film Awards, which celebrate the kind of small-scale indies that typically get clobbered when the Oscars roll around. The prizes were handed out last night, and for the first time in the 21-year history of the Gothams, there was a tie for Best Picture. Both Beginners, Mike Mills's autobiographical dramedy about the death of his father, and Terrence Malick's Tree of Life shared the Best Picture prize, with Beginners also taking home the Best Ensemble trophy.

Though both Beginners and Tree of Life are in the hunt for Oscars, though possibly not for Best Picture, the rest of the Gothams went to films that likely won't factor there at all. Felicity Jones, who won the Best Actress prize at the Sundance Film Festival, added another trophy for that performance, taking home Breakthrough Actor for her indie Like Crazy, and beating out bigger names like Martha Marcy May Marlene's Elizabeth Olsen and The Descendants' Shailene Woodley in the process. Pariah director Dee Rees won Breakthrough Director, and Better This World, a documentary about two young American men arrested on terrorist charges, won Best Documentary. The award for Best Film Not Playing In A Theater Near You went to Scenes of a Crime, a documentary about police interrogation that played a series of festivals this year.

What's nice about the Gothams is that you don't really need to tie them into a larger awards narrative, or try to figure out how these awards might give people heat for the rest of awards season. These are just statues that reward good work, and with such a solid slate of nominees, every winner is more than deserving. You can check out a lot of the winning performances and films on DVD or in theaters right now too, so really, everybody wins.

Tom Hanks Heading Back Into Battle For WWII-Era Drama

Tom Hanks, Oscar-winning star of Saving Private Ryan and producer behind Band of Brothers, hopes to be heading back to war for an adaptation of Erik Larson’s non-fiction best-seller In the Garden of Beasts.

Universal has optioned the rights to Larson’s story for Hanks and his producing shingle, Playtone, and will position it as a vehicle for the leading man, The Hollywood Reporter reports. Hanks would play William Dodd, America’s ambassador to Berlin in the early 1930s who gradually realized the atrocities that were being conducted around him as World War II escalated. Adding to the mix, according to the trade, is Dodd’s daughter Martha, who was romantically involved with Gestapo officials and even dated a Societ spy, no doubt complicating matters for Dodd.

The scenario appears to create a lot of gray area in which Hanks, an immensely talented actor who’s rarely tested, can explore. The actor’s an obvious student of history, and shows an overwhelming fascination in WWII. This passion can only help Beasts as it works its way to the screen.

Now we’re left to wonder if Hanks can lure his Band of Brothers collaborator Steven Spielberg back over to Universal – where he create so many masterpieces – for yet another WWII drama. If that would be the case, it might put Beasts on a temporary backburner, as Spielberg’s busy shooting Lincoln. But wouldn’t it be worth the wait? So long as Hanks doesn’t try to direct it himself, for as much as I love That Thing You Do!, I don’t think any of us can risk seeing Larry Crowne behind enemy lines.

Bret McKenzie Hints At A Possible Flight Of The Conchords Movie

While walking the red carpet for James Bobin’s The Muppets -- to which he served as music supervisor -- Bret McKenzie told The Hollywood Reporter that a feature film structured around the comedy-musical duo Flight of the Conchords is on his radar, but rabid fans might want to slow the hell down because, you know, movies take time.

“We’re gonna try and do a movie,” McKenzie told the trade. “We just need a story.”

Obviously. And when pressed on the matter a little bit further, McKenzie joked, “I’m gonna go back to New Zealand tomorrow, maybe film it next week. And then edit it the week after… I don’t know how familiar you are with movies, but there’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff that could take one or two weeks. Probably in about a month we’ll have a premiere.”

As if McKenzie actually had the time. He’s currently filming a part in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, where he’ll play Lindir, the Elf of Rivendell. “I’ve never seen anything so massive,” McKenzie says of Jackson’s adaptation.

As for Conchord, sure, it’s great to hear that he’s like to make a Flight movie with colleague Jemaine Clement. But is this going to become the new Arrested Development, where McKenzie’s asked about little else until a movie reaches theaters? They don’t even have a story yet. They’d like to make a movie. Of course they’d like to make a movie! Who wouldn’t? And while I like Conchords, I’d rather hear about a Wire or Sopranos feature film if we’re talking HBO adaptations … and something tells me we’re just as close to those

Vin Diesel's Chronicles of Riddick Sequel Reportedly Secures Funding

Fans who subscribe to Vin Diesel’s Facebook page (I’m not joking) already know two things. One, Vin loves you. He says it all of the time. Second, he’s passionate about making a third Chronicles of Riddick film with writer/director/collaborator David Twohy. He has shared Riddick-inspired artwork and potential costume design with fans through social media, but has kept mum on specific details. Production on a Pitch Black sequel hit a snag when money dried up, but TMZ says the wheels are turning once again as cash flows back into Riddick’s coffers.

The gossip site says that the Montreal studio where parts of the sequel are being filmed has opened its doors to cast and crew now that the production company footing the bills has paid off its debt. The site even says that disgruntled Riddick crew members who went a while without being paid can expect to see compensation “in the very near future.” As TMZ states, this is but one step back toward a Riddick sequel reaching theaters, but it’s a major step for what’s expected to be a moderately-budgeted sci-fi thriller.

And why not bankroll Diesel on this effort? You know he;s passionate about the character. The Fast and Furious films demonstrate his bankability as an action star. And yet, Universal’s last stab at a Riddick film – 2004’s The Chronicles of Riddick -- tapped out at $57.7 million against a reported $105 million production budget. The keys for Diesel and crew, now that money’s available, will be to tighten the budget, squeeze every penny out of the expense report, and deliver a slam-bang Riddick film that fans of all generations will want to see.

According to TMZ, filming on this untitled Riddick sequel resumes on Dec. 28, which probably explains Diesel’s latest status update, “I have a good feeling about this winter …”

Curtis Hanson Has To Hand His Surf Drama Over To Michael Apted

Complications surrounding Curtis Hanson’s recent heart surgery will force the L.A. Confidential director to step away from his curtly-shooting picture, Of Men and Mavericks, though he’ll receive support from an equally qualified filmmaker who’ll step in a guide the production for a few days.

Michael Apted, award-winning director of the Up documentary series, will take over Hanson’s Northern California set and complete the final 15 days of principal photography on the director’s surfing drama, Deadline reports. Men, produced by Walden Media, tells the true story of surfer Jay Moriarty, who conquered a specific break off of California’s coast that became known as Mavericks. Newcomer Jonny Weston is on board playing Moriarty in the film. He’ll be joined by Gerard Butler, Abigail Spencer and Elisabeth Shue.

Apted’s no stranger to feature film work, having helmed the most recent Chronicles of Narnia film (for Walden), the James Bond thriller The World Is Not Enough, Jodie Foster’s Nell and Gorillas In the Mist.

It’s unclear just how much footage Apted will have to shoot for Hanson, or whether Hanson will be back in time to begin the editing process. As of right now, Men has scheduled an October 2012 release, which should give Hanson time to complete a final cut should he be able to overcome these unfortunate health complications that have popped up due to his surgery. Though Hanson helmed the TV movie Too Big to Fail, about our nation’s financial meltdown, his last theatrical release was 2007’s Lucky You with Drew Barrymore, and his fans were hoping he could rebound with a winning drama. We’re pulling for Hanson, for his health, and for Of Men and Mavericks.

John Lithgow Joins Ferrell And Galifianakis In Dog Fight

John Lithgow has proven to be just as adept at comedy as he is at drama. The success of the '90's sitcom 3rd Rock From the Sun is one example of that. The actor has a number of projects coming up, among which is a role in Warner Bros' comedy Dog Fight alongside Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis.

Variety posted the news, stating that the film is set to be directed by Jay Roach (Austin Powers) and follows two rival politicians (Ferrell and Galifianakis) as they run for a congressional seat in a small North Carolina District Election. Variety doesn’t specify what role Lithgow will play in the film, only that he's been cast. This is pure speculation here but perhaps he’ll be another, more serious (and possibly villainous) rivaling politician, or perhaps the father to Ferrell or Galifianakis’ character.

In recent years, Lithgow has appeared in Rise of the Planet of the Apes and CBS’ How I Met Your Mother. He also delivered and excellent, Emmy-winning performance as Arthur Mitchell (aka Trinity) in Season 4 of Showtime’s Dexter. Coming up, he’s see to appear in New Year’s Eve and further down the line, Judd Apatow’s This is 40.

Daniel Craig Is Suited Up On Set For Skyfall in Trafalgar Square

Daniel Craig was suited up and looking fittingly dapper on the set of the latest installment of the James Bond franchise Skyfall. While not much is known about the movie, beyond the title and the cast, at the very least, these photos indicate that Bond hasn’t lost his sense of fashion.

The last set photo we posted told us that Scene 45 of the much anticipated 2012 Bond film was taking place in a bathroom, and not a very nice one at that.












Just Jared posted more recent photos, which were taken in London’s Trafalgar Square last Saturday and feature Daniel Craig as Bond, dressed in a suit and long-ish jacket. Check out two of them below.


There isn’t really much to say about the above photos other than that Craig looks really good dressed up, but we already knew that. Most of the photos posted at Just Jared show people in the background. Trafalger Square’s known to be a bit touristy, but it’s also a pretty fantastic looking location. It’ll be interesting to see what’s filmed there and how much of it makes it into the movie.