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.