Hooking Up

Wow! Good girl Vanessa Hudgens is going to play a hooker in the upcoming Sucker Punch according to UK Metro

"I’m playing a character named Blondie and it’s set in a brothel in the 1950s, so there’s not a whole lot of clothes. I think this is my time to really step it up and get to grow up. It will be somewhat different with the content and a few more foul words, but that’s the biggest difference" she says.

Speculation that she would have a nude scene in the pic was shot down...that kind of stuff is still reserved only for boyfriend Zac Efron...

The film is scheduled to hit. theaters on March 25, 2011....

Leaving The Station

Denzel Washington has formally withdrawn from Tony Scott's action film "Unstoppable" says Variety.



Washington was to star as a veteran engineer who jumps into a locomotive with a young conductor (to be played by Chris Pine) to halt an unmanned runaway train filled with a toxic chemical.

Mark Bomback (Live Free or Die Hard) wrote the script.

The project however hit a snag last month due to budget and schedule concerns...

An insider told the trade that Fox tried to cut the $100 million budget to $90 million which resulted in them asking the two-time Oscar winner to shave $4 million of his $20 million fee.

The actor turned down the request and decided to seek other projects for the fall.

Washington and Scott will keep talking this week though to try and resolve the matter...

Pine is still attached to the pic but any lengthy delay may cause him to bow out before the start of say the Star Trek sequel...

A Former Queen Will Love A God

Natalie Portman has officially won the female lead in the "Thor" flick says the Variety.



Portman will play Jane Foster, who in early comic book lore was a nurse who became Thor's first love. The character will now be a doctor-scientist combo.

The film is set in both present-day and the mythical realm of Asgard. Thor is an arrogant Norse warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment, he learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth

Chris Hemsworth's already been cast as Thor, the Norse God of Thunder while Tom Hiddleston plays the villain Loki, the god of mischief.

Kenneth Branagh calls action.

Jessica Biel is rumored to play Enchantress Amora.

Portman makes a good choice for this pic and has actually been rumored to have a role for quite some time...She is keeping really busy currently shooting the comedy "Your Highness" with James Franco...

Filming on the comic book adaptation kicks off early next year for release May 2011.

Sexy Spice?

British tabby reports say that Victoria Beckham wants to have a cameo role in the upcoming "Sex and the City 2" after missing out on one in the first Sex And The City film



The former Spice gal turned down a walk-on role in the first film - because she was too busy rehearsing for the Spice Girls reunion tour in 2007.

A source told Britain's Mail on Sunday, "She really wanted to be in the last movie,but wasn’t able to take part because of her commitments with the Spice Girls. This time she’s keen to take part."

Beckham previously appeared in 1997's Spice World and did a cameo as herself in the second season of Ugly Betty.

Beckham herself denies 'Sex' cameo talk though....

Last Loser

Holt McCallany has joined the cast of the comic book adaptation "The Losers" says The Hollywood Reporter

The story sees a band of black ops commandos who are set up to be killed by their own government. They barely survive and set out to get even.

McCallany will play the role of Wade, a special-ops officer who has abandoned the group.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Idris Elba, Chris Evans, Columbus Short, Jason Patric, and Zoe Saldana also star.

McCallany done a ton of TV and had a role in Fight Club...and seems like a cool addition here.

Sylvain White calls action on the April 2010 pic.

King Size

Danny Huston will join the cast of Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood" film (a.k.a. "Nottingham") as King Richard according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Huston will plays the historical figure Richard I of England, also known as Richard the Lionheart because of his exploits during the Third Crusade.

Russell Crowe plays the legendary folk hero in the movie, originally scripted by Ethan Reiff, Cyrus Voris and Brian Helgeland and then reworked by Tom Stoppard.

Cate Blanchett is Maid Marian and Matthew Macfadyen will play the Sheriff.

Filming is underway in the UK.

Can't wait to see some footage.

Friends Of Dr.K

Susan Sarandon is reuniting with her Speed Racer co-star John Goodman to join the cast of the Barry Levinson helmed Jack Kevorkian biopic You Don't Know Jack says The Hollywood Reporter.

Al Pacino is Kevorkian, known as Dr. Death, who assisted in more than 130 suicides. After willingly sending a videotape of himself euthanizing a terminally ill man to 60 Minutes he was convicted in 1999 of second-degree murder and spent eight years in prison.

Goodman will play Nicol, a friend and co-worker of Kevorkian since 1961 and a steadfast supporter of the right to die.

Sarandon will play Janet Good, an activist with the Hemlock Society who becomes one of Jack's greatest supporters, working side by side with him to make humane suicide available to the terminally ill and suffering.

Adam Mazer's script is loosely based on the book Between the Dying and the Dead.

Dead Like Shaun

Young Matthew O'Leary (pictured), Lea Thompson, Judge Reinhold, Ron Perlman and Jana Kramer are attached to star in the zombie comedy thriller "Gatekeeper" says Variety.

A simple mistake leaves three friends to defend their town from a zombie outbreak. Shaun of the Dead American-style if you will.

Isaac Meisenheimer will make his feature directing debut from his script .

Stephen Emery produces the pic and shooting kicks off in September.

Kodi Loaded

Young Aussie actor Kodi Smit-McPhee will probably lead the cast of the US remake of last year's acclaimed Swedish vampire flick "Let the Right One In" says The Herald Sun via Moviehole.

Now called Let Me In, the new film follows a young boy that develops a tight bond with a vampire girl. McPhee hasn't officially signed on the dotted line as yet but all signs say that he will.

Cloverfield director Matt Reeves is writing and directing the new version, which begins shooting later this year for release in 2010.

Kodi Smit-McPhee will be seen in The Road...

Meantime-Swedish helmer Tomas Alfredson. , who directed the original "Let the Right One In", has landed his first US flick a new adaptation of John le Carré's classic Cold War book "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"with a Peter Morgan script says THR...

Chopped Phooey

Another childhood toon favorite is about be ruined on the big screen...

A live-action CG animation feature film based on classic 1970's Hanna-Barbera animated series "Hong Kong Phooey" is in the works reports Variety.



The story follows a police station janitor who becomes a dog with mystical powers, including the ability to do kung fu.

Alex Zamm is set to direct from "Family Guy" producer David A. Goodman's script.

Brett Ratner is co-producing.

Beyond my initial reaction of "why bother"--is it a good thing that Zamm has previously directed "Inspector Gadget 2" and "Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts," which went direct-to-DVD?

No one can top Scatman Crothers' work on the toon.

Gamble Of Steel

The G.I. Joe flick may not hit theaters till August 7th, but that hasn't stopped plans from moving forward with another film based upon another Mattel action figure--Max Steel reports Variety.

The toy property revolves around a 19-year-old extreme sports junkie recruited by a secret agency after an accident infects his body with nanobots, making him superhuman.

The toy was introduced in 1999 and became both an animated series TV series becoming the biggest selling Mattel figure in Latin America. The plan with the film is to help 'relaunch' the toy line.

Mattel and producer Joe Roth are looking for both a screenwriter and director, who will work closely with the company to develop the film's characters and storyline to match plans for the franchise.

GI Joe better not suck....

Fly-Bots

Producer Kevin Misher whose Public Enemies is now in theaters, is going to develop the action feature "Vegas Avengers" reports Reuters.

"Avengers" tells the story of a hot-shot pilot who, after taking too many risks, is forced to enter a top-secret program that flies experimental, unmanned planes.

Much of the action takes place at Nellis Air Force Base just outside Las Vegas.



Soo Hugh wrote the script.

Fashion Faux

Bruno beats Beth Cooper big time....



Pamela McClintock of Variety:

Universal’s Sacha Baron Cohen starrer “Bruno” grossed an estimated $30.4 million in its domestic debut from 2,756 runs, although most fans seemed to have turned out for opening day.

The comedy--pushing the bounds of the R-rating--beat the $26.5 million earned by Cohen’s “Borat” in its opening in November 2006. But “Bruno” dropped a precipitous 39% from Friday to Saturday.

“Bruno” was produced and financed by Media Rights Capital and acquired by U for $42 million. U has domestic distribution rights, as well as rights in a handful of lucrative foreign markets.

Twentieth Century Fox’s holdover “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” did strong business in its second frame, grossing an estimated $28.5 million from 4,102 screens and jumping the $100 million mark domestically. Film, sporting a cume of $120.6 million, came in No. 2 for the frame.

Fox wasn’t as lucky with new wide entry “I Love You, Beth Cooper.” Teen comedy grossed an estimated $5 million from 1,858 runs to place No. 7 for the weekend.

John Young of EW:

Sacha Baron Cohen rides big Friday to box office win, though Saturday-Sunday estimates show film slipping ,,,,

Hope And Change

Hope Davis is set to replace Julianne Moore as Hillary Rodham Clinton in "The Special Relationship," says The Hollywood Reporter

The story traces the relationship between newly installed British Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) and U.S. President Bill. Clinton(Dennis Quaid) in the late 1990s.

Moore was originally set to play Hillary but has since pulled out due to a scheduling conflict with The Kids Are All Right..

Davis is a great choice both from an acting standpoint and sharing more of a resemblance with Mrs. Clinton than Moore does

The news comes not long after the film's scribe Peter Morgan had opted out of directing the project due to scheduling conflicts. Richard Loncraine will sit in the big chair.

Filming gets underway Monday July 20th in London.

The Ring Bearer

Variety has the news....

Both Warner Bros. and DC have made their choice....



The Green Lantern will be played by MY pick Ryan Reynolds! This will be Reynolds's third major role in a comic book movie after playing Hannibal King in Blade: Trinity in 2004, and Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine this summer.

I guess the news puts an axe through the heart of the Deadpool solo film plans...or at least delays them a lot...



Thank God fan boys won't have to worry about Justin Timberlake in the role...

Martin Campbell directs the 2010 GL flick.

Princess Bride #2

Zooey Deschanel has been cast in David Gordon Green's upcoming comedy “Your Highness" says The Hollywood Reporter.

The story centers on an arrogant, lazy prince who must complete a quest to save his father's kingdom. Joining him on the quest is his more heroic brother.

Danny McBride is the prince and James Franco, plays his brother.

Deschanel plays Belladonna, Franco's virginal bride while Natalie Portman plays McBride's love interest, a warrior princess.

Written by McBride and Ben Best--the film has great potential--given those involved.

I sure hope things end up turning out better for Deschanel than they did in the craptastic Yes Man and The Happening.

Fingers Crossed.

Three Wives Club

Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver and Rachelle Lefevre are playing Paul Giamatti's many wives in "Barney's Version says The Hollywood Reporter.

An adaptation of the Mordecai Richler book --the story follows the politically incorrect, fully lived life of the impulsive, irascible and fearlessly blunt Barney Panofsky (Giamatti).

Lefevre will play Clara, Barney's first wife, a wild, troubled artist. Driver plays Barney's second wife, the annoyingly loquacious Mrs. "P." Miriam, Barney's third wife and true love, will be played by Pike.

Dustin Hoffman plays Barney's father.

Michael Konyves adapted the script from which Richard Lewis directs.

Filming kicks off on August 17th in Rome

The Puppet Fits Him Like A Glove

Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster are getting ready to pair up for the $18 million comedy The Beaver, reports Variety.



Gibson will play a depressed man who finds solace in wearing a beaver hand-puppet.

Foster will both direct the film and play the role of the man's wife. The actress brought the project to Gibson herself.

Given Gibson's personal darker side issues--Another case of a perfect Actor/Role Fit

Kyle Killen wrote the script which made last year's coveted Black Listed and that had both Jim Carrey Steve Carell circling it back in May.

Anonymous Content's Steve Golin and Keith Redmon will produce the film.

Foster and Gibson co-starred in 1994's Maverick.

Shooting kicks off this September in New York City.

Ring Side Seat

Bradley Cooper, Ryan Reynolds and Justin Timberlake (!?) have made the final list to star as the title superhero character in The Green Lantern pic says The Hollywood Reporter.



Director Martin Campbell studio suits, producers Donald De Line and Greg Berlanti have spent the past five months searching for an actor to play Hal Jordan, the hot-shot Air Force pilot who is chosen by a dying alien to be his successor in an intergalactic police force known as the Green Lanterns.

The trio beat out the likes of Michael Fassbender, Henry Cavill and Jared Leto for spot on the final list and performed two rounds of screen tests.

Unfortunately De Line, Campbell and the studio each had a different favorite among the three finalists, making it difficult to come to a decision.

The holding deal on all three actors expired on Monday, meaning they are now free to take on other projects making a decision on the casting an urgent matter.

The $150-200 million space saga is scheduled to begin production at the end of this year in Sydney for release Summer 2011.

Here's my take on the trio--Reynolds would be my pick of choice but he's got another comic book flick Deadpool to worry about and if the GL team lets him go...

Cooper has had comedy success and is primed for The A-Team pic...

Leaving JT who is talented yes but really doesn't seem like franchise material to me.

Fair Ball

Sony Pictures still wants to play Moneyball hiring Aaron Sorkin of "The West Wing" and "A Few Good Men" to polish Steven Zaillian's early script says Variety.

Last month the studio put the project into limited turnaround just before it was scheduled to begin shooting due to director Steven Soderbergh's newest version of the script taking on a more documentary style approach to the material. A change that studio chief Amy Pascal felt would hurt the film's commercial chances.



Sorkin's changes are expected to bring the project back to the style the studio favored all along-- a straight film narrative.

Brad Pitt is still attached to star but Soderbergh will no longer direct this adaptation of the Michael Lewis nonfiction book.

Sorkin will finish his work by next month, no new production dates were given.

Play ball indeed!

The Morning After...After

Summer '09 comedy hit The Hangover is getting the inevitable sequel with director Todd Phillips calling action again once he wraps work on the road trip comedy "Due Date" reports Variety.



'Date' re-teams Phillips with Zach Galifianakis, Hangover co-star and the story of an expectant dad and his unlikely travel companion (Galifianakis) who race cross-country in hopes of making it home for the birth of his first child.

Production on that film will begin October 6th for release early June 2010.

The Hangover 2 has the same schedule a year later, kicking off production next October for a Memorial Day 2011 release.

Phillips and Scot Armstrong began writing a script for the sequel after highly successful early test screenings. The film has achieved a $210 million domestic gross thus far, the second highest grossing R-rated comedy ever behind the $234 million gross of Beverly Hills Cop 25 years ago.

A Passion For Fashion

This weekend Sacha Baron Cohen's flamboyant character Bruno (reviews) takes center stage....While director Chris Columbus, and stars Hayden Panettiere/Paul Rust bring Larry Doyle's book to life in the teen comedy Love You, Beth Cooper (reviews)...





Pamela McClintock of Variety:

Sacha Baron Cohen mockumentary "Bruno" is looking good as it gets ready to strut down the box office runway for Universal.

Weekend's other wide entry is 20th Century Fox's "I Love You, Beth Cooper," which bows sans much buzz. Teen comedy, opening in 1,858 runs, is expected to do modest biz.

The R-rated "Bruno," conversely, is one of the most talked-about pics of the season. But it still may not win the weekend, depending upon the strength of 20th Century Fox holdover "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs."

U opens "Bruno" in 2,755 domestic theaters, nearly triple the number of opening locations for "Borat" in November 2006. At that time, Baron Cohen was largely unknown in the U.S., and 20th Century Fox used the smaller release plan to build word of mouth.

It worked: Pic's domestic gross was $125.8 million.

The characters of gay fashionista Bruno and Kazakhstan TV reporter Borat were created by Baron Cohen for his TV program "Da Ali G Show."

Produced and financed by Media Rights Capital, "Bruno" landed at Universal after the studio paid $42.5 million for distribution rights in the U.S. and Australia, the U.K., Germany, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, New Zealand and South Africa, where the film opens day and date.

Domestically, tracking for "Bruno" shows the film drawing the most interest from males, followed by younger females.

In terms of geography, "Borat," with its merciless pranks was weaker in more conservative markets, such as Atlanta; Dallas; Houston; Kansas City; Mo.; Orlando, Fla.; Phoenix; Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; and Sacramento.

"Borat" debuted to $26.5 million from 837 locations. The following weekend, film expanded into a total of 2,566 runs and grossed $28.3 million.

Universal, as well as other box office observers, expect "Bruno" to open in the neighborhood of "Borat's" bow.

"Bruno" is making a major play overseas and opened earlier this week to boffo numbers in Australia. Film grossed $1.4 million from 222 screens as it unspooled Wednesday, 61% ahead of "Borat's" opening-day gross and the third best opening day ever for a comedy behind "Meet the Fockers" and "Sex and the City."

"Borat" grossed a healthy $133.1 million at the international B.O., led by $46.1 million in the U.K, Baron Cohen's homebase. Australia was the second highest grossing territory at $14.6 million, followed by Germany at $13.5 million.

Universal's release slate is full with "Bruno" and Johnny Depp gangster movie "Public Enemies," which heads into its second weekend. Michael Mann-directed film's gross through Wednesday was $49.9 million.

Paramount's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" also remains a formidable box office force as it heads into its third weekend. Domestic cume through Wednesday was $310.4 million...

Nicole Sperling of EW predicts a haute run at the box office for Sacha Baron Cohen's new comedy this weekend...

Not really big on Cohen's schtick--I therefore choose to "sit out" on the movie...

This Wednesday Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince casts its spell...

Back With A Vengeance

Brooke Shields, Ken Jeong, Samantha Bee, and Dick Van Dyke have all joined the live-action family comedy Furry Vengeance says The Hollywood Reporter.

The story centers on a real estate developer (Brendan Fraser) who gets more than he bargained for from a band of raccoons when he pushes too hard into more pristine territory.

Shields will play Tami Sanders, the wife of Fraser's character.

This is Shields first big screen role since James Toback's 1999 film Black and White

Roger Kumble directs. from Michael Carnes and Josh Gilbert's screenplay.

A release date of April 2nd 2010 is planned.

Web Of Yarn

Gary Ross has been hired to rewrite the Spider-Man 4 script, says Variety.

Ross marks the third scribe to take a crack at the sequel's screenplay...

James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire were there first.

Story details are still being kept under wraps.

Ross wrote (and directed) both Seabiscuit and Pleasantville, with Spidey himself Tobey Maguire.

Ross is talented... Spider-Man had four different people work on the story and screenplay..and that turned out to be the best film in the series so far...A little curious why this script is such a tough nut to write--But I'm not worried yet....

The comic book flick will go into production early next year for release May 2011

Her Favorite Color Must Be Green

Cameron Diaz is in talks to play the female lead in The Green Hornet says Entertainment Weekly.

Michel Gondry is set to direct the film based on a script by actor Seth Rogen and his writing pal Evan Goldberg .

Diaz played a similar role in the flick that launched her film career--The Mask...

Rogen would play the masked hero, based on the character made most famous for the 60's TV show.

Dough Boy

Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore's new global financial crisis documentary has a title - "Capitalism: A Love Story" reports Variety.



Moore says the pic will examine "the disastrous impact that corporate dominance and out-of-control profit motives have on the lives of Americans and citizens of the world. It will be the perfect date movie. It's got it all -- lust, passion, romance and 14,000 jobs being eliminated every day. It's a forbidden love, one that dare not speak its name. Heck, let's just say it: It's capitalism".

Does anyone else find it a bit ironic that he makes a film against profit and Capitalism but hopes his new film makes plenty of cash for him to live off of...

The film is in theaters on October 2nd 2009

Blue Screen

Variety is reporting that "Scooby Doo" and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" director Raja Gosnell will direct the live-action/CGI feature film based on the classic 80's animated series "Smurfs.



The small blue-skinned villagers originated from a Belgian series of comic books created by Peyo in the late 1950's, but are best remembered as a classic cartoon which ran from 1981-1990.

Producer Jordan Kerner: "Our three-apple-high heroes are in good hands, and we feel absolutely positively Smurfy to be working with him."

Story details are being kept under wraps, though the human villain Gargamel will likely be played by a major star. J. David Stem and David N. Weiss wrote the script and Audrey Wells is doing a rewrite.

A simultaneous standard and 3-D release has already been set for December 17th 2010.

Come Sail Away....

Will Smith is set to re-team with his "I Am Legend" director Francis Lawrence for the fantasy drama "The City That Sailed" says The Hollywood Reporter.



The script follows a New York City street magician whose daughter, because of family circumstances, lives in England. In exploring a lighthouse one day, the girl discovers a room with magic candles and wishes to be reunited with her father, causing the island of Manhattan to break away and drift across the Pond.

"Ocean's Thirteen" writers Brian Koppelman and David Levien will rewrite a script that Andrew Niccol came up with.

At first glance this sounds pretty hokey to me...even for a a fantasy flick. Smith can (and probably will find a way to) make it work...

Lawrence sees the film as a potential directorial vehicle.

Evil-Doers

Two sci-fi genre faves are teaming up on a flick,

Tyler Labine (pictured) and Alan Tudyk have joined the cast of the genre-bending indie horror comedy Tucker & Dale vs Evil says Screen Daily.

The story centers on a pair of benign hillbillies who are mistakenly accused of being psychopathic killers by a group of college student on camping holiday.

Katrina Bowden co-stars.

Co-writer (along with Chelan Simmons)/director Eli Craig (who also happens to be Sally Field's son) is in chargr with. filming is currently underway in Calgary, Alberta.

Sub-Standard

Randall Wallace will rewrite the script for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo says The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on the classic tale by Jules Verne, the new film tells the origin of Captain Nemo and his submarine warship, the Nautilus.

McG directs the pic

Bill Marsilii (Deja Vu) and Justin Marks worked on the previous script.

Production was due to kick off in Australia later this year--A new writer will surely delay any production kickoff.

Hit By A "Mac" Truck

Another Saturday Night Live sketch is headed to the big screen...

Ryan Phillippe (pictured) and Val Kilmer are in talks to star in 'MacGruber'" says Reuters.



SNL alum Will Forte and Kristen Wiig are reprising their roles from the skits which are a comedic bent of 80's TV show MacGyver--with Richard Dean Anderson as a secret agent who concocted useful devices from the objects around him.

Foe the skits, Forte plays MacGyver's son and Wiig as his assistant. The pair usually find themselves, and the week's guest star, stuck in a room with a ticking bomb which usually goes off due to MacGruber getting caught up in his own personal issues.

The feature film will be a bit different -But still lame-- in it, the much decorated MacGruber is pulled out of retirement as a monk in Ecuador by a colonel, who needs him once more to fight on behalf of his country.

This time the mission involves going up against the evil Cunth, who has a nuclear warhead; the mission is personal because Cunth killed MacGruber's bride.

Phillippe would play Piper, an Army officer forced to pair up with a reluctant MacGruber. Kilmer would be Cunth.

Jorma Taccone will direct and co-wrote the script with Forte and John Solomon.

2 things on this...This SNL sketch based almost always suck; Are Phillippe and Kilmer that desperate for work...? Jeebus...

Production begins next month in New Mexico.

Racoon Lodge

Tobey Maguire steps into replace James McAvoy the indie black comedy The Details, reports Variety.



The story follows a struggling married couple while dealing with issues like infidelity, see their lives further complicated by ravenous raccoons burrowing in their back yard. A disagreement over how to handle the pesky pests creates a chain reaction of mishaps.

Maguire and Elizabeth Banks play the couple, McAvoy dropped out due to a scheduling conflict.

Ray Liotta, Dennis Haysbert, Laura Linney and Anna Friel co-star.

Maguire and Banks have screen history together in the Spider-Man pics--Chemistry should work out well here.

Jacob Aaron Estes wrote and will direct the film which begins shooting next month in Seattle.

The Doctor's Are In

Grey's Anatomy cast mates Eric Dane and Patrick Dempsey will appear on the big screen in the star packed ensemble comedy Valentine's Day says Variety



Dempsey will play a married obstetrician dating Jennifer Garner's character on the sly, with her unaware that he's married. Dane will play a quarterback struggling over the decision of whether to retire.

The film follows five slightly interconnecting stories playing out in Los Angeles during Valentine's Day.

Julia Roberts, Emma Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel,, Shirley MacLaine, Bradley Cooper, Ashton Kutcher, Topher Grace and Hector Elizondo also star.

Katherine Fugate wrote the first script draft, while Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein teamed up for the most recent version.

I'm curious to see how Marshall and Co. manage to fit everyone in...

Garry Marshall is directing with filming underway this week A February 12th 2010 release is planned.

Slam Duncan

Michael Clarke Duncan and Morgan Simpson have joined the cast of the indie drama "Bailey" reports Variety.

The story centers on spiritual redemption against the backdrop of Memphis blues.

Simpson, who wrote the script, will play the main character.

Actor turned director Melvin van Peebles calls the shots when filming begins in August..

Cullen-ary Delight

Brett Cullen has joined the cast of the musical biopic The Runaways says The Hollywood Reporter.

Cullen plays the alcoholic father of Runaways member Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning). The role will draw from the story of Currie's father, whom she wrote about in her addiction memoir Neon Angel: The Cherie Currie Story.

Cullen has experience playing a deadbeat dad --as Taylor Kitsch's on-screen father in the TV drama series Friday Night Lights.

Kristen Stewart stars with production now underway in Los Angeles.

Deacon Deal

Last October,"Blade" director Stephen Norrington and actor Stephen Dorff revealed that they were working on a new "Blade" prequel trilogy focusing on Deacon Frost, the villain played by Dorff in the original film--as seen in The Sunday Mail ...



Comics2Film now reports that project has become a "Blade" prequel trilogy.

Norrington confirmed the news but added that it is "not exactly how the ['08] article describes but close."

The original concept has since "evolved into a very interesting story...the linkage to 'Blade' is still big in the equation".

While Dorff is a very charismatic guy on screen---Is there really a trilogy's worth of Deacon's story to tell? Unless you somehow work in stars Wesley Snipes and Kris Kristofferson into the mix--I wonder about this idea working all that well...

After finishing his work of "The Crow" remake, Norrington expects this "Blade" follow-up to get going once that's complete.