Riggs & Courtney Show "Mercy"

"The Walking Dead" star Chandler Riggs and Super 8's Joel Courtney will star in Mercy says THR.

The fantasy-horror film is  based on Stephen King's short story "Gramma", Published in the 1985 anthology "Skeleton Crew" the tale follows two young boys who, along with their single mother (Frances O'Connor), take care of their elderly, senile grandmother. They discover she's a witch who made a deal with a dark force years beforehand.

Both young actors are more than up to doing the characters justice in the film.

This was previously adapted for the small screen as an episode of "The New Twilight Zone" written by author Harlan Ellison

Peter Cornwell (The Haunting in Connecticut) will direct from the adapted script by Matt Greenberg

McG Mary Viola and Jason Blum will produce the pic.

Forlani Sees With "Panda Eyes"

Claire Forlani has joined the cast of writer/director Isabel Coixet’s paranormal thriller "Panda Eyes" says Deadline

In the film Sophie Turner plays a teenage girl begins to sense, and then starts to believe, that she is being pursued by her own double.

Forlani will play her mother.

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Rhys Ifans and Gregg Sulkin also star.

Rebekah Gilbertson. Mariela Besuievski and
Nicole Carmen-Davis are producing the film which is currently shooting in Wales.

Feuerstein Leads A Group Of Renegades

Mark Feuerstein, Stanley Tucci, Marcia Gay Harden, Molly Shannon, Taye Diggs and Henry Winkler are all set to star in the low-budget comedy "Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant" says Variety.

The story follows Larry, a womanizing, self-anointed 'renegade' male flight attendant who must save the day when the airline he works for tries to eliminate flight attendants as a cost-cutting measure.

Sam Friedlander (USA Network's Royal Pains TV series) is directing from a script by Mike Sikowitz.

Michael Roiff and Ted Kroeber are producing the pic.

 Feuerstein spearheaded the project through development.

Hornby & Witherspoon Go "Wild"

Author Nick Hornby will pen the script adaptation of fellow author Cheryl Strayed's memoir "Wild" says  Deadline.

The story follows a woman who tries to rebuild her shattered life by taking on an 1100-mile solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State. Despite no experience in long-distance hiking, she succeeded and in the process pulled herself back together.

 Reese Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea will produce.

Witherspoon is also expected to star in the pic.

McKellen Talks X-Men Return

The news broke this week that both Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart will return for .”X-Men: Days of Future Past, the sequel to X-Men: First Class.

The entire FC cast is set to reprise their roles, including James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), and Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Rose Byrne (Moira MacTaggert), January Jones (Emma Frost) and Nicholas Hoult (Beast). Hugh Jackman is talks to play Wolverine again as well.

Bryan Singer penned the treatment and produced 'First Class' which was directed by Matthew Vaughn. Now, their roles will be completely reversed for this sequel with Singer helming the film while Vaughn wrote the treatment and will produce with Lauren Shuler Donner and writer Simon Kinberg.

The sequel is based on a -2 issue story arc in the 'X-Men' comics published in 1981. Kinberg (Sherlock Holmes) is on board to pen the screenplay which will include New Mutants. Magneto and his relationship with Charles X. Xavier will be front and center as well.

Now, out on the stump for "The Hobbit: An Expected Journey," McKellen talked about reprising the role:

"What a gas! I mean, Patrick Stewart and I have just been playing "Waiting for Godot" throughout England and in the West End of London. So, we've stayed in touch. We can't believe it [laughs]. I thought these were Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy's parts, but -- no, no -- we're back. We'll give them a run for their money."

He adds that he hasn't read the script and doesn't know yet how involved he is. but says, "to be back in that world, and for Bryan Singer to be doing it -- with all the success he's had in the meantime -- it's wonderful. Wonderful."

McKellen also gave his opinion about Michael Fassbender's work in the role for "First Class": "I thought he was exactly that: first class. Excellent. [Laughs] I thought he was better than me. But, we weren't quite playing the same character because he was so much younger than me. And the scope of Magneto, one day a Jewish actor will play it. Clearly, he's Jewish. We first meet him in at Auschwitz and there's scope for all sorts of people to pay Magneto. But, I was just the lucky guy who got to play him first

Scheduled to begin shooting early next year, "X-Men: Days Of Future Past" hits screens July 18th 2014.

Box Office Preview: "Soft" Weekend

This weekend the cineplex welcomes Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Sam Shepard, and Scoot McNairy who are Killing Them Softly (reviews) for director Andrew Dominik; Marcus Dunstan & Patrick Melton show off items in The Collection (reviews).

Pamela McClintock of THR:

Andrew Dominik's Killing Them Softly, opening Friday, could mark Brad Pitt's lowest nationwide opening in more than a decade.

Box office observers expect the modestly budgeted independent film to gross in the $8 million to $10 million range. The Weinstein Co. bought U.S. distribution rights to the film from Inferno Entertainment, which financed the crime drama with Pitt's Plan B production company and Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures.

Holdovers The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 2 and Skyfall are expected to lead the box office overall, with a crush of films duking it out for the remaining top spots, including Killing Them Softly, Lincoln, Life of Pi, Rise of the Guardians and Wreck-It Ralph.

The weekend after Thanksgiving is generally devoid of big studio releases, and this year is no exception.

After Killing Them Softly, the only other new release is horror pic The Collection, a sequel to the 2009 The Collector. Both were independently financed, with The Collection distributed in North America by LD Entertainment. The movie is expected to open in the $4 million range.

Killing Them Softly, based on the 1974 novel Cogan's Trade by George V. Higgins, stars Pitt as professional enforcer Jackie Cogan, who is charged with investigating a robbery at a mob-protected poker game. Budgeted at $15 million, the film also stars Ray Liotta, James Gandolfini and Sam Shepard.

The movie made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May; its release was subsequently moved from September to November.

Pitt is a consistently strong box-office draw, and there's always a chance Killing Them Softly could overperform. Among his nationwide live-action releases, his last lowest opening was $11 million for Fight Club in 1999.

Steinfeld And Costner Ready For Action With McG

Hailee Steinfeld ("True Grit") will star opposite Kevin Costner in a McG--directed now untitled action film says Deadline.

Previously titled "Three Days To Kill", Luc Besson and Adi Hasak wrote the script in which Costner stars as a Service agent who discovers he’s dying. Before he goes, he attempts to complete a final mission, and reconnect with his estranged daughter. He’s also taking an experimental drug that could prolong his life, but causes hallucinatory side effects.

Besson, Hasak, Ryan Kavanaugh and Virginie Besson-Silla are producing the film.

"Guardians" Looks For Star-Lord & Gunn Under Fire

Casting is about to get underway on James Gunn's Marvel superhero movie "Guardians Of The Galaxy".

A report in Deadline says that a short list has been drawn up of actors to test for the key role of Star-Lord (aka. Peter Quill), an interplanetary policeman and the Guardians leader who is born of a human mother and alien father.

Marvel is reportedly making test deals with Joel Edgerton, Jack Huston Jim Sturgess , Lee Pace and Eddie Redmayne  The studio is also said to be interested in Garrett Hedlund, James Marsden and Sullivan Stapleton.

No further deets on any of the other roles, concept art released in July indicated we can expect to see Drax the Destroyer, Groot, Rocket Raccoon and Gamora in the line-up.

The Guardians of the Galaxy comic book follows a US pilot who ends up in space during a universal conflict, then is forced to go on the run with a band of futuristic alien ex-cons.

Screenwriter Chris McCoy was recently hired to rewrite the Nicole Perlman’s original script.

Meantime, Gunn has come under fire for "sexist and homophobic" slurs and graphic descriptions included in his blog post, "The 50 Superheroes You Most Want to Have Sex With," according THR. The article, which has since been removed, was originally posted on Feb. 17, 2011.

Drew McWeeny over at Hitfix says he doesn't think Gunn's superhero sex post is controversial because the director is known for dirty jokes and deranged sense of humor. Drew says, the timing is suspect. "Is it just because he's directing a big-budget superhero film that people are suddenly upset?"

And then there's this Gunn Criticized by Gay Rights Group Over Controversial Blog Posts to which Gunn Apologizes for Controversial Jokes: 'I'm Sorry and Regret Making Them at All'.

The film arrives August 1, 2014

Theron Takes Remake Of Park's "Lady Vengeance"

An American remake of Chan-wook Park's 2005 film "Sympathy For Lady Vengeance" is in the works says Variety.

The story follows a woman who, for reasons of her own, completes a prison term for a murder she did not commit. She re-emerges to punish the killer and avenge the dead.

Charlize Theron is set to star as well as produce the film along with Beth Kono, Megan Ellison, Chelsea Barnard, Ted Kim and William Monahan. "Kingdom of Heaven" and "The Departed" writer

Monahan is also adapting the script.

The original is the third in Park's Vengeance Trilogy following "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" and the highly acclaimed "Old Boy", the latter sees director Spike Lee currently remaking.

Jimmy Franco Is Good People

James Franco is at the top of the list to star in the film adaptation of David Lindsay-Abaire’s play "Good People" says The Wrap,

The story is set in a working-class Irish neighborhood in Boston and follows a down-on-her-luck single mother with a disabled child, and a former classmate who has escaped the rough-and-tumble neighborhood. When she loses her minimum-wage job, she seeks employment from the former classmate who may or may not be the father of her child.

Lindsay-Abaire ("Rabbit Hole") wrote the adapted script himself.

Frances McDormand and Tate Donovan starred in the play.

When the pic was initially in development, McDormand was slated to reprise her role. No word if that's still the case

Clooney Works With Terrio On Crime PIc

"Argo" writer Chris Terrio and producers George Clooney and Grant Heslov will re-team for an untitled crime drama says Variety.

The script is described as an original story set in the world of New York criminal syndicates.  Any other plot details are being kept top secret.

"The Bourne Ultimatum" helmer Paul Greengrass is attached to direct and produce and Clooney is attached to star.

Terrio recently finished the first draft of a New York-set remake of French thriller "Tell No One"

Brühl Logs On For Wikileaks Biopic

Inglourious Basterds’ Daniel Brühl is set to replace James McAvoy in the Untitled Assange/Wikileaks pic says THR.

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch is set to play the infamous Australian journalist and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange,

Bruhl is in talks to play German tech guru Daniel Domscheit-Berg who became the spokesperson for the organization. The Killing and new Robocop star Joel Kinnaman was also previously linked to the role. After becoming Assange's right-hand man, Domscheit-Berg left the organisation due to his belief that Assange failed to display journalistic integrity. The film is based on the book he wrote about the site and his working relationship with Assange.

Talks with McAvoy broke down due to scheduling issues with the actor's commitment to Bryan Singer's "X-Men: Days of Future Past".

Despite reports, Laura Linney is not in negotiations nor has an offer to join the cast although there is interest in her playing a US intelligence officer.

Josh Singer is adapting the script that Bill Condon is set to direct.

Steve Golin, Michael Sugar and Bard Dorros will produce.

Shooting kicks off in Berlin and Iceland early next year.

The project is one of several Assange films in development for both big screen and small.

Wolverine Claws His Way Into First Class Sequel

Hugh Jackman is talks to play Wolverine for .”X-Men: Days of Future Past, the sequel to X-Men: First Class.says THR. He would join other X-Men films stars, Sir Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, as well---who were announced yesterday by director Bryan Singer,

Jackman, who appeared in the first three X-Men movies and the spin-off X-Men Origins: Wolverine, cameoed in First Class recently finished filming The Wolverine for release next July.

Singer penned the treatment and produced 'First Class' which was directed by Matthew Vaughn. Now, their roles will be completely reversed for this sequel with Singer helming the film while Vaughn wrote the treatment and will produce with Lauren Shuler Donner and writer Simon Kinberg.

The sequel is based on a -2 issue story arc in the 'X-Men' comics published in 1981. Kinberg (Sherlock Holmes) is on board to pen the screenplay which will include New Mutants. Magneto and his relationship with Charles X. Xavier will be front and center as well.

The entire cast is set to reprise their roles, including James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), and Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Rose Byrne (Moira MacTaggert), January Jones (Emma Frost) and Nicholas Hoult (Beast).

Scheduled to begin shooting early next year, "X-Men: Days Of Future Past" hits screens July 18th 2014.

Trevorrow Steers "Flight of the Navigator" Redux

"Safety Not Guaranteed" filmmakers of Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly have been hired to rewrite the remake of the 1986 sci-fi cult favorite Flight of the Navigator" says Variety

Randal Kleiser called action on the original which followed a 12 year-old boy (Joey Cramer) who goes missing and re-appears eight years later having not aged a day. At the same time, an alien spacecraft crashes nearby which may explain the boy's disappearance.

Brad Copeland ("Arrested Development") was hired to do the first draft of the remake in May 2009.

Now, the project will be developed as a potential directing vehicle for Trevorrow.

David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are producing.

Writers Chat "God Of War" Flick

In July it was announced that "Pacific Rim" writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan were hired to rewrite the script for the film version of the best-selling video game series "God of War".

The first game followed the battles of the Spartan warrior Kratos, who squares off against mythological beasts including Medusa, Cyclops and the Hydra in his quest to find Pandora's Box and destroy Ares, the god of war. By the end of the third game, much of the Greek pantheon lay dead at Kratos' feet. The game is famous for its graphics and imaginative environments, its often copied gameplay, and its doses of sex and extreme violence.

In an interview this week with STYD the pair claim it will be quite different to both the "Clash of the Titans" remake and last year's Immortals that cover the same territory as the games. "Immortals" was indeed heavily influenced by the series.

"Those movies can inform 'God of War' to step in a more bold direction," Dunstan says. "Not to join those ranks, but to stand head and shoulders apart like other reinventions have done within that genre. The satisfying element is to look at those movies as a commentary on the genre and now say something different."

Melton added, SONY® Games, you think they'd be sacred about the origin story and all of that, but they were encouraging us to make it different from those movies and if that means going in dramatic shifts, they were cool of it. And they're involved."

Charles Roven and Alex Gartner are the producing the film.

Vaughn Locked For "Episode VII"?/Universe Expanded?

"Kick-Ass" and "X-Men: First Class" director Matthew Vaughn has found his name being bandied about as a potential candidate to helm “Star Wars: Episode VII".

With various other major filmmakers like Colin Trevorrow, Brad Bird, J.J. Abrams Steven Spielberg. Zack Snyder Guillermo del Toro and Quentin Tarantino--all saying they would NOT take the gig ruling themselves out, Vaughn is now the most likely candidate to get the gig. Neither the Vaughn or the studio have commented on the notion .

Attending the Seven Psychopaths premiere actor Jason Flemyng may have let it slip that Vaughn indeed got the gig. Check out the clip below from the 65 second mark.



Oscar winner Michael Arndt ("Toy Story 3," "Little Miss Sunshine") is writing the script for the “Star Wars: Episode VII The draft is said to include Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo in their later years, which may mean mean those early rumours of Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher being interested in returning could be true. No word yet if Mark Hamill could be tempted to return as Luke Skywalker... And Might Vader Return?

Writers Lawrence Kasdan ("The Empire Strikes Back," "Raiders of the Lost Ark") and Simon Kinberg ("Sherlock Holmes," "X-Men: Days of Future Past") have reportedly closed deals to pen the final two instalments of the new "Star Wars" trilogy for Disney/Lucasfilm

Kasdan and Kinberg would also join the projects as producers with Kathleen Kennedy.

Sources tell THR that Kasdan and Kinberg will also expand the universe and write separate projects, not necessarily "Episode 8" and "Episode 9" -- a plan similar to what Marvel did with "The Avengers."

Carnahan Takes Over Undying Love Film

Joe Carnahan ("The Grey," "The A-Team") is closing a deal to pen the script and direct film adaptation of the comic book adaptation "Undying Love" says Deadline.

The story revolves around an ex-soldier who falls for a vampire, though in order to be with her, he must take on her creator. That creator is protected by an army of mobsters in the Hong Kong underworld.

Comic creators Tomm Coker and Daniel Freedman wrote the adapted script.

Michael De Luca, Stephen L'Heureux and Benderspink's Chris Bender, Jc Spink will produce the pic.

Carnahan replaces the previously attached Alexandre Aja.

Nolasco Gets Mobbed "In The Blood"

Former "Prison Break" star Amaury Nolasco is set to play a Dominican mob kingpin in the "Taken"-esque action thriller "In The Blood" says Variety.

The story follows a woman (Gina Carano) who tries to track down her husband (Cam Gigandet) after he is kidnapped on their South American honeymoon.

Diego Boneta ("Rock of Ages") will play a local who ends joins her on her search. Stephen Lang will play Carano’s father who raised her to be brutally tough.  Danny Trejo will play a thug named Big Biz.

John Stockwell ("Into the Blue," "Turistas") directs from a script worked on by Bennett Yellin, James Robert Johnston, Sean Finnegan and Gregg Parker

Shaun Redick, Ray Mansfield, Cash Warren and Marina Grasic are producing.

Filming is currently under way in Puerto Rico.

Trio Resides In "Violet Town"

Guy Pearce, Rosamund Pike and Bryan Brown are set to star in  "Violet Town" says Screen Daily.

Based on author Steven Carroll's 2001 novel The Art of the Engine Driver a 1957-set stoty that follows various characters who're attending a neighbor’s New Year’s Eve party where secrets are revealed. Among the partygoersthere's a bully, a drunk, a restless girl and a young boy forced to grow up before he is ready.

Matt Cameron wrote the adapted script from which Mark Joffe's calling action.

 Ian Collie is producing the pic

Production starts in the latter part of 2013.

Silver Uses A "Straight Edge"

Rich Wilkes' spec script "Straight Edge" has been purchased according to Heat Vision

The action film revolves around a heist gone wrong with various characters including corrupt cops and gang bangers.

The tone and style of the script is said to be like that of the 80's movies that Silver made a name on for himslf such films as "48 Hrs." and "Lethal Weapon".

Joel Silver, Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman will produce.

It's unknown at this point if the film will go through Silver's new distribution deal at Universal Pictures or be picked up by another studio.

UPDATED RUMOR: JGL As Batman In Justice League Film? NOPE

According to a source for Hitfix, Joseph Gordon-Levitt will absolutely be appearing in the upcoming "Justice League" movie as the new Batman....

This notion has been speculated about given the ending of "The Dark Knight Rises"

The "Justice League " teams DC Entertainment's most famous heroes (Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, among others)--with the script by "The Gangster Squad" writer Will Beall already being worked on. Getting a director and then a cast is the next order of bussiness.

What's most interesting about this report is that JGL could also appear in the role for  Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel"

"They're a long way from filming anything 'Justice League' related, but they appear to be solidifying deals for Gordon-Levitt and, potentially, at least one other actor from the Nolan's films to do… something" says the site's Drew McWeeny. He goes on to speculate this could be a cameo at the end of "Man of Steel."

The upside of such a casting move is that 'Rises' then pretty much serves as the origin movie of the League-incarnation of Batman - getting that backstory out of the way.

It's assumed that Henry Cavill's Superman in Snyder's "Man of Steel" will likely be a part of a JL film, but there is no official word that's a sure thing...Would the Ryan Reynolds version of "Green Lantern" be part of the film...? The rumored Armie Hammer was said to be up for Bats since the studio was said to be planning to keep the Nolan's Bat-verse separate and apart from its plans for DC Comic films moving forward which this report upends if true.

UPDATE. Gordon-Levitt's reps have flatly denied that the actor has any kind of involvement with Justice League. Hollywood.com followed up with his reps who "have refuted the rumor entirely."

X-Men Vets Return For "Future Past" Sequel

Deadline New York reports Bryan Singer has tweeted that both Sir Sir Ian McKellen
and Sir Patrick Stewart will return for .”X-Men: Days of Future Past, the sequel to X-Men: First Class.

 

 

Singer--the man who started the X-Men films worked with both men on the first two films as the older versions of Professer Charles Xavier and Magneto.

Singer penned the treatment and produced 'First Class' which was directed by Matthew Vaughn. Now, their roles will be completely reversed for this sequel with Singer helming the film while Vaughn wrote the treatment and will produce with Lauren Shuler Donner and writer Simon Kinberg.

The sequel is based on a -2 issue story arc in the 'X-Men' comics published in 1981. Kinberg (Sherlock Holmes) is on board to pen the screenplay which will include New Mutants. Magneto and his relationship with Charles X. Xavier will be front and center as well.

The entire cast is set to reprise their roles, including James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), and Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Rose Byrne (Moira MacTaggert), January Jones (Emma Frost) and Nicholas Hoult (Beast).

Singer is in New Zealand for meetings, just in time to attend the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Expected Journey".

Scheduled to begin shooting early next year, "X-Men: Days Of Future Past" hits screens July 18th 2014.

Trek 2: The Synopsis Does NOT Reveal Much

Paramount has released a vague synopsis for J.J. Abrams’ "Star Trek Into Darkness" sequel.

In the new film the Enterprise crew will face off with Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch's baddie who might just be a version of Khan Noonien Singh in the film. Or is it perhaps Gary Mitchell instead?

When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has decimated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis.

With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.

As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.

Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin John Cho and Bruce Greenwood have all returned to the Final Frontier in their respective roles as Kirk Spock Uhura Dr. McCoy Scotty Chekov Sulu and Admiral Pike.

The Supporting Cast Includes Nazneen Contractor who will play the wife of Noel Clarke’s family man character Alice Eve has a major role as does former "Robocop" star Peter Weller and actor/stuntman Joseph Gatt. Original "A Nightmare on Elm Street" star Heather Langenkamp has a small part in the film as well.

Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof wrote the script for director J.J. Abrams.

The sequel will be produced by Abrams, Kurtzman, Orci, Lindelof, Bryan Burk, and David Ellison.

The film will be released May 17, 2013 in 3D and IMAX.

Hutcherson Keen On "Catching Fire" IMAX-Style

Josh Hutcherson recently told MTV News about the upcoming sequel "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" and revealed which sequences from the movie will be shot natively with IMAX cameras.

Hutcherson says: "They're shooting, I think, all the stuff in the arena is going to be IMAX. So when you go see it in IMAX, you'll see the regular movie when we're in the Districts and in the Capitol. When you see us go up in the pod in the games, it will open up into IMAX. It will be amazing. It's very cool."

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The story begins as Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark (Hutcherson). Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a "Victor's Tour" of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow (Donald Sutherland) prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) - a competition that could change Panem forever.

Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the role of Plutarch Heavensbee, the new Gamemaker at the Capitol after Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley) was executed. Plutarch is a far savvier political animal and plays a crucial role in the events of Catching Fire. Jena Malone has won the role to play the strong-willed tribute Johanna Mason. Amanda Plummer will play Wiress who has the nickname “Nuts” due to her eccentricity--she “doesn’t communicate traditionally, her observations and contributions prove invaluable in the Quarter” (aka the 75th Hunger Games) ceremony though. Sam Claflin won the part of trident-wielding tribute Finnick Odair, the veteran tribute Tony Shalhoub plays the inventor Volts. Lynn Cohen has been cast in the role of Mags. Patrick St. Esprit will play Romulus Thread Meta Golding has landed the role of Enobaria a tribute from District 2 who antagonizes Katniss and is known to be especially brutal and unrelenting. Bruno Gunn has been cast in the role of Brutus, a former Career victor from District 2. Maria Howell will portray District 11's female victor-tribute for the Third Quarter Quell, Seeder. E. Roger Mitchell ("Battle: Los Angeles," "S.W.A.T.") has joined the cast as Chaff Stephanie Leigh Schlund (The Last Song) has landed the role of Cashmere former winner from District 1 who proves to be a formidable foe to Katniss thanks to her partnership with her brother Gloss (Alan Ritchson) — they won their respective Hunger Games in consecutive years. Jeffrey Wright will play the role of Beetee.

Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz and Sutherland will return.

"Slumdog Millionaire" scribe Simon Beaufoy had signed on to originally go ahead and adapt author Suzanne Collins' next novel in the series a while back when Gary Ross was attached to direct. Since Francis Lawrence has replaced Ross, a new script was commissioned.

"I Am Legend" and "Constantine" filmmaker Lawrence will helm rest of the pics including  the 2 part series finale in The Hunger Games Film Franchise
.
Lawrence has been shooting the upcoming sequel "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," and then he is going to take the helm of the two film adaptation of the last book in author Suzanne Collins' trilogy - The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1/The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.

Multi-award -winning "Game Change" and "The Butler" writer Danny Strong will pen those adapted scripts.

Catching Fire already has a set release date of Nov. 22, 2013.

Mockingjay Part 1 opens November 21st 2014 while Part 2 hits November 20th 2015

Is MOS Linked To Justice League Movie?

Director Zack Snyder's was asked by The New York Post whether his big budget reboot Superman: Man of Steel is related to the same cinematic universe as the "Justice League" movie that's in development.

Snyder says "I don’t know how ‘Justice League’ is going to be handled. Honestly, I don’t. But ‘The Man of Steel’ exists, and Superman is in it. I don’t know how you’d move forward without acknowledging that."

Asked further about whether there's been discussions about 'Man' being linked to a 'Justice' film, Snyder says "How can I answer that? I can’t really say anything to that, because that’s a big spoiler. I will say, yeah, they trust me to keep them on course."

The "Justice League " teams DC Entertainment's most famous heroes (Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, among others)--with the script by "The Gangster Squad" writer Will Beall already being worked on. Getting a director and then a cast is the next order of bussiness.

What about a 'Steel' 2?

"We approach the film as a single endeavor. There are a lot of gears that have to turn in the world of commerce and the world of the mythology we create to facilitate more adventures for this character. We’ll see what happens."

MOS stars Henry Cavill Amy Adams Michael Shannon Kevin Costner Diane Lane Antje Traue Christopher Meloni Harry Lennix Laurence Fishburne Russell Crowe and Ayelet Zurer. Bradley Cooper is said to be in talks to make a cameo appearance as Lex Luthor as a set-up for sequels. But that's not been confirmed. Emmy-winning actor Richard Schiff will play Dr. Hamilton. Cooper Timberline and Dylan Sprayberry both play young Clark Kent at various ages in the film. Jadin Gould is a young Lana Lang.

David S. Goyer wrote the first screenplay draft based on a story he concocted with Christopher. His bro Jonah Nolan taking a crack at the task as well Kurt Johnstad did rewrites

Charles Roven, Emma Thomas Deborah Snyder, and Nolan will be producers on the film.

MOS flies into theaters June 14th 2013.

Schoenaerts Falls For "Suite Francaise"

"Rust and Bone" star Matthias Schoenaerts is in final talks to join Saul Dibb's World War II drama "Suite Francaise"  says The Daily Mail.

Based on author Irène Némirovsky's novel, the story charts the love affair between a young French woman (Michelle Williams) and the German officer (Schoenaerts) assigned to watch her in Nazi-occupied France.

Kristin Scott Thomas is set to play Williams' mother.

Production hopes to kick off in London next spring.

Box Office Update: Stats And Other Stuff[ing]

As expected The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 2 held on to the top spot over the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend; The CG animated Rise of the Guardians opened lower while Ang Lee's 3-D adaptation of Yann Martel's beloved novel Life Of Pi beats expectations. Steven Spielberg's Lincoln biopic builds momentum. And Skyfall reaches a domestic benchmark..

Pamela McClintock of THR:

Moviegoers stuffed themselves on a diverse buffet of movies at the Thanksgiving box office, with overall revenues ringing in it at a record $290 million for the Wednesday through Sunday stretch.

But not every film benefitted from the holiday. New entry Rise of the Guardians posted a five-day opening of $32.6 million, the lowest debut for a DreamWorks Animation title in recent memory. The weekend take was $24 million.

In a surprise twist, Ang Lee's awards contender Life of Pi overperformed in its opening to nearly match Rise of the Guardians, posting a three-day gross of $22 million and a five-day take of $30.2 million for 20th Century Fox.

Holdovers were particularly potent over the long holiday, with Summit Entertainment's The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 2 and MGM/Sony's Skyfall both jumping the $200 million mark domestically.

Breaking Dawn -- Part 2 easily topped the box office chart, taking in $43.1 million for the three days and $64 million for the five days. After two weeks of play, the final installment in the blockbuster franchise has earned $227 million domestically and $577.7 million worldwide.

Sam Mendes' Skyfall came in No. 2, grossing $36 million for the three days and $51 million for the five days. The movie, earning $221.7 million to date, is the first James Bond pic to earn $200 million or more domestically.

Steven Spielberg's awards contender Lincoln continued to build momentum, coming in at an impressive No. 3 with a five-day gross of $34.1 million for DreamWorks and distribution partner Disney. Lincoln, earning $25.1 million for the weekend itself, has now grossed $62.2 million domestically. The historical drama's strong performance boosts its awards chances and is a needed victory for DreamWorks.

Rise of the Guardians placed No. 4. DreamWorks Animation and Paramount are hoping that Guardians follows the same path as The Polar Express -- both movies are Christmas-themed -- which debuted to a meek $23.3 million in early November 2004, but ultimately grossed $182.7 million domestically.

Costing $145 million to produce, Rise of the Guardians did draw a stellar A CinemaScore. The toon, drawing only 35 percent of its earnings from 3D screens, is the final DWA title that Paramount will distribute; Jeffrey Katzenberg's DWA now embarks on its five-year distribution deal with Fox.

Life of Pi, a substantial creative risk for Fox, drew an A- CinemaScore. Overseas, the movie opened to a strong $17.5 million from only four markets, including China, where it was No. 1 with $10.5 million. Pi also opened in India ($3.5 million), Taiwan ($2.2 million) -- where Lee was born -- and Hong Kong ($1.4 million).

"To open to $47.7 milllion worldwide is a phenomenal start for this unique movie," Fox president of domestic distribution Chris Aronson said. "This performance validates the vision of Ang Lee and Elizabeth Gabler [president of Fox 2000]."

Costing $120 million to produce, Life of Pi is succeeding in drawing younger moviegoers and families in the U.S., with 38 percent of the audience under the age of 25 (the film is rated PG). Tracking had suggested the movie, based on Yann Martel's bestselling novel about a boy lost at sea with a Bengal tiger, would post a five-day opening in the $20 million range.

Life of Pi -- Lee's first 3D movie -- had drawn comparisons to Martin Scorsese's Hugo, but that film debuted to a troubled $15.4 million last Thanksgiving.

Disney Animation Studios' Wreck-It Ralph, posing unexpected competition for Rise of the Guardians, came in a strong No. 6 in its fourth outing with a three-day gross of $16.8 million and five-day gross of $23 million. The toon's domestic cume is $149.5 million.

MGM and FilmDistrict's Red Dawn remake -- the third new Thanksgiving entry after Life of Pi and Guardians -- posted a five-day gross of $22 million. The action pic, relying heavily on older males, received a B CinemaScore.

The specialty box office saw so-so results as several high-profile award contenders vied for attention.

David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook expanded into a total of 367 theaters on Wednesday as The Weinstein Co. scrapped a nationwide push in favor of a slower rollout.

Silver Linings -- starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver -- came in at No. 9 with $4.6 million for the three days and $5.9 million for the five days, pushing its domestic total to $6.5 million. The film's three-day location average of $12,596 and five-day average of $16,079 were solid, but lackluster.

As a way of comparison, Lincoln is playing in 2,018 theaters and posted a three-day average of $12,398 and five-day average of $16,896.

Fox Searchlight's Hitchcock, starring Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren, opened in 17 theaters on Friday, grossing $300,799 for a location average of $17,694.

Sony Pictures Classics opened Rust and Bone, starring Marion Cotillard, in two theaters in New York and Los Angeles on Friday. The drama grossed $30,196 million for a location ssof $15,098.

Joe Wright's Anna Karenina expanded into a total of 66 theaters on Friday. The Focus Features film took in $831,732 for a location average of $12,062 and a cume of $1.5 million. Starring Keira Knightley, Anna Karenina is being fueled by traditional arthouse audiences, evidenced by the fact that it was up 159 percent from Friday to Saturday.

Next Up: Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Sam Shepard, and Scoot McNairy are Killing Them Softly for director Andrew Dominik; Marcus Dunstan & Patrick Melton show off items in The Collection

Jay's Holidaze: Maniac (Short)

Nobody Gets Out Alive director Jason Christopher really wants to tell ya about Maniac as his special series continues....

Not really a Christmas movie just a short. I’m obsessed with this short so much and it really hints that Shia LaBeouf is awesome. He’s not a kid any nore, turned into a bad ass. I’m also a huge fan of both Kid Cudi and Cage’s music.

The short follows two serial killers that are being documented with their 12 kills in one night. The short was produced to promote Kid Cudi’s tune Maniac featuring Cage. Now, this is proven to take place during Christmas because of one scene.

I remember Cage (Chris Palko) posting a picture up of the script like a year before this came out and was pretty interested. I thought it was going to be a full length. A year later it was put on YouTube and I was stunned. The makers have to be obsessed with horror flicks and especially, Man Bites Dog. Cool story.

We can see Kid Cudi killing it in the acting scene when he’s not rapping. He was on How To Make It In America; he’s supposed to be in the new Ninja Turtles flick. He’s a good actor. I really like his work. I’m a huge fan of Cage’s music. Preferably his newer stuff. This was the only thing I’ve ever seen him act in and I think it’s the only thing he’s acted in. He’s good friends with Shia LaBeouf so I think he was an extra in Transformers, I forget. After I saw this short I reached out to Cage and was like, I’m writing a part for you and I want to work with you. So, I’m literally doing that right now (I took a break to do this post). I think he could be an amazing actor, I’m gonna push for that…HAH!

This film really shows LaBeouf breaking out of the kid Disney flicks and being mature. I think if he got behind the camera for a full length he’d make a beautiful movie. He directed this short, a Cage music video, and I believe he put together a Kid Cudi video too. Either way, I completely enjoy that dude’s work.

I have to get two scripts done in 13 days…so I’m getting back to work on that. Ciao!

WARNING THE SHORT BELOW IS NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

K-Stew Back In Sanders Vacates Huntsman 2

It looks like Kristen Stewart will return for "Snow White and the Huntsman 2" says Radar Online.

A source says director "Rupert Sanders definitely won't be a part of the project. Rupert didn't want to be a part of it to begin with because he is still desperately trying to save his marriage. The search is still on for a new director."
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Stewart has reportedly signed on to reprise her role as the fairytale character in the follow-up which hopes to begin production late next year. The script is apparently already complete.

The report also claims that Stewart is said to be worried about how her indiscretion with Sanders has affected her career.

Back in August we were told that Universal Pictures originally planned to continue the franchise by featuring two more films with Stewart as Snow White, then a spin-off with Chris Hemsworth‘s Huntsman alone.  And the studio was scrapping the current draft for the sequel, and “exploring options to continue the franchise” –with or without Stewart in wake of the scandal

Now that she and Robert Pattinson are back together--and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 2 is doing quite well--I don't see Stewart havig issues going forward

Tomei Joins Grant Rom-Com

Marisa Tomei is in negotiations to join the Untitled rom-com from writer/director Marc Lawrence says The Wrap.

The story centers on an Oscar-winning British screenwriter (Hugh Grant) now creatively washed up, divorced and broke. He takes a job teaching screenwriting at a small East Coast college, and ends up in a romance with a single mom who has gone back to school.

Martin Shafer and Liz Glotzer are producing.

Production kicks off in New York next spring,

Lawrence and Grant previously worked together on 3 films "Music and Lyrics," "Two Weeks Notice" and "Did You Hear About the Morgans?".

Mendelsohn Learns How To Catch A Monster

Ben Mendelsohn is set to join How to Catch a Monster according to Moviehole,

Described as a "modern day fairytale" with suspense and fantasy noir elements weaved in, the story is set in a vanishing city where a single mother of two (Christina Hendricks) is "swept into a macabre and dark fantasy underworld while her teenage son discovers a secret road leading to an underwater town". The pair must solve the mystery if they're all to survive.

The motion picture will mark Ryan Gosling's writing and directing debut

Marc Platt will produce the film

Mendelsohn worked with Gosling on the upcoming The Place Beyond the Pines.

Fiming on 'Monster' kicks off in May.