Are You In Or Are You Out?

Is there something strange in the water that folks from Hollywood are drinking?...

Examine the following:

***More problems for David O. Russell's $25 million indie political comedy "Nailed". Production has been shut down by the Screen Actors Guild according to Deadline Hollywood Daily.

The reason for the shut down on Friday seems to be due to insufficient funds on deposit with the guild. Rumors are also out there that South Carolina (where filming is taking place) could withdraw its incentive monies because of financing problems.

The shut down comes two weeks after James Caan walked off the set due to a dispute with Russell. He was replaced by James Brolin.

Shooting kicked off in April and is about halfway complete. The filmmakers hope to resolve the problem and re-start shooting next week...

***Lindsay Lohan is no longer attached to "The Manson Girls" says The BBC.

The actress was first linked back in March, but an online report indicated that the actress had been dropped from the film due to the fact that no-one wanted to work with her.

Lohan's publicist Leslie Sloane spins the situation saying "Unfortunately [the Manson movie] didn't come together quickly enough, and she was offered other roles, which she accepted and is looking forward to doing.

What? The filmmakers didn't know who Lohan was prior to her "involvement"...Sheesh!!

***Natalie Portman has opted out of the upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights says The Hollywood Reporter.

Portman's exit has left the financiers, sellers and producers in a panic just days ahead of this year's Cannes Film Festival where the project was to be pedaled to distributors.

The suits are hoping to have a replacement for Portman "within days" for the role of Cathy.

**First came word that Aussie actress Teresa Palmer had been cast in Transformers 2 news that director Michael Bay dismissed on his blog.

And then the casting news about Jonah Hill cropped up last week, and again was dismissed by Bay.

The folks at IGN report that another Aussie actress-Isabel Lucas (pictured) -has been cast in the role of Alice in the sequel.

Casting announcements are expected within the next few weeks. Filming remains scheduled to begin on the sequel in early June, depending upon what happens with the looming possibility of the actors strike..

One question: Can we really believe anything that bay says...?