Apes Versus Man

It certiainly has been a strange week at the box office with Cowboys & Aliens get Smurfed by The Smurfs ...twice...

And now James Franco and Freida Pinto witness Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (reviews); As Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman go out of body in yet another R-rated summer '11 comedy The Change-Up (reviews)

Pamela McClimtock of THR

Summer box office revenues in North America are up 4% over last year and Hollywood's hoping the dog days of August prove just as healthy.

July alone brought in $1.4 billion in revenues -- the biggest month of all time at the domestic box office, fueled by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and Transformers: Dark of the Moon, plus a raft of comedies.

However, revenues year-to-date are still down 5% over 2010, thanks to a dramatic downturn in moviegoing the first part of the year. The film business hopes that August will help to close the gap further.

August used to be a graveyard for movies, but not longer. A number of high-profile movies unspool this month, beginning on Friday with 20th Century Fox and Chernin Entertainment's Rise of the Planet of the Apes, an origins pic designed to revive the cult sci-fi franchise.

Rise of the Apes, produced for $93 million, is widely expected to win the domestic box office with a gross of $30 million or more. The pic rolls out overseas in more than 25 territories, including some key markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Men of all ages are most interested in the film, followed by older women. The movie’s unaided awareness was notably low but nearly doubled in the past two days.

Fox has no easy task in convincing moviegoers to scrub from their memories Tim Burton’s 2001 Planet of the Apes, which was roundly rejected by critics and audiences. So far, Rise of the Apes is receiving rave reviews, which the studio hopes will translate into strong traffic at the multiplex this weekend and good legs throughout the dog days of August.

Just as the original Planet of the Apes — starring Charlton Heston — was a defining moment for its time, so is Rise of the Apes.

Every simian in Rise of the Apes was created using state-of-the-art performance capture technology developed by Peter Jackson’s Weta Digital for Fox and James Cameron’s Avatar. The technology, perfected even further, makes the ape played by Andy Serkis completely realistic.

Rise of the Apes is the first title from Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark’s Chernin Entertainment and will be a sizable feather in the company’s cap if it indeed revives the franchise.

Directed by Rupert Wyatt, Apes also stars James Franco, Frida Pinto and John Lithgow.

The pic was co-financed by Fox and partners Dune Entertainment and Ingenious.

Elsewhere, another raunchy comedy opens this weekend at the domestic box office — David Dobkin’s Ryan Reynolds-Jason Bateman starrer The Change-Up. The R-rated film, from Universal, also stars Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde and Alan Arkin.

Tracking is on the softer side, with the body-switching comedy only expected to reach the mid-teens, tops. Universal hopes for strong legs, pointing out that comedies can have great multiples.

Universal and Relativity Media co-financed the $52 million film, which doesn’t launch overseas until Aug. 11.

Among holdovers, Universal’s Cowboys & Aliens is expected to take a hit because of Rise of the Apes, but just how big is the question.

Sony’s holdover The Smurfs will remain a strong contender in its second weekend and could come in No. 2.

Grady Smith of EW

'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' looks to evolve into the top spot...

Little shocked that Rise woed most critics...

I saw Captain America recently and plan to post a review over the weekend...

Walker Is An Angel

Benjamin Walker is in talks to play the archangel Michael in the mythological fantasy epic in Paradise Lost says Deadline.

The film takes John Milton's classic 17th century poem "Paradise Lost" story and deals with Lucifer's fall from grace, his temptation of Adam and Eve, and the first couple's subsequent banishment from the Garden of Eden.

This adaptation reimagines it with a family friendly, action-oriented slant might be shot in 3D.

This film follows the fallen angel Lucifer (Bradley Cooper) who, after being cast out of Heaven, mounts an army that battles the forces of good. Michael is Lucifer's brother and the leader of said good forces.

Alex Proyas is directing the pic. and calls the film a "family saga, about a group of brothers, two in particular, who are on divergent paths, and Lucifer's feelings of betrayal by his father and family that forge his descent into evil."

The script has passed through the hands of several writers, including Stuart Hazeldine, Byron Willinger, Philip de Blasi, Lawrence Kasdan and Ryan Condal

Thomas Tull Vincent Newman and Jon Jashni are producing.

Walker just wrapped work on next year's actioner Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Shooting on 'Paradise' kicks off in January in Sydney ahead of a late 2013 release

Look Up On The Blog!

Have your first look at Henry Cavill wearing the suit in Zack Snyder's big budget reboot "Superman: Man of Steel!

It harkens back to a more traditional look yet retains the smaller "S" pattern woven in that marked the outfit in Superman Returns....Going a bit overboard in that regard I'd say...

Meantime Cavill recently spoke with Total Film about his preparation for the role of Superman:

“I’m on 5000 calories a day… You’ve got to eat protein first, then a little bit of carbs…you’ve gotta keep your hunger levels going. I’m training two and a half hours a day, pushing my body beyond its normal limits, putting on a lot of muscle mass and just making myself look like Superman” .

As for the iconic outfit--" It’s extremely cool. There’s no other feeling like it. […] They just put it on, I turned around and look in the mirror and you can’t really play it cool – you sort of guffaw and laugh. I thought ‘OK, holy hell, this is real, it’s not a joke anymore. This is it…you’re doing it, you’re right in the middle of it."

Amy Adams Kevin Costner Diane Lane Michael Shannon is Zod Christopher Meloni Antje Traue  Harry Lennix Julia Ormond Laurence Fishburne  and Russell Crowe co-star.

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

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

Shooting on the film is presently scheduled to kick off on August 22nd and will run through into April for a June 14th 2013 debut

Undies Model Lands Step Up 4

Model Ryan Guzman has joined the cast of  has joined the tentatively titled "Step Up 4-Ever" says Reuters

Guzman will play the male lead opposite So You Think You Can Dance favorite Kathryn McCormick.

Music video director Scott Speer calls the shots on the sequel from a script written by Jenny Mayer,

Jennifer Gibgot Adam Shankman Patrick Wachsberger and Erik Feig.are producing--while. Jon M. Chu, who directed "Step Up 2: The Streets and SU 3-D exec produces.

The three previous Step Up films have grossed a total of over $430 million worldwide.

Shooting kicks off this Summer.

Hottie Expecting

Genesis Rodriguez has joined the ensemble rom-com What To Expect When You're Expecting says Variety.

An adaptation of the guidebook of the same name the film will interweave the lives of several couples as they prepare for parenthood.

Rodriguez will play the roommate of Anna Kendrick's character. 

Cameron Diaz, Rodrigo Santoro Jennifer Lopez Elizabeth Banks Chris Rock Rob Huebel Matthew Morrison Wendi McLendon-Covey and Chace Crawford also star

Ben Falcone and Thomas Lennon joined the cast at the end of last month

Whip It writer Shauna Cross and Heather Hach (“Freaky Friday)” will adapt authors Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel bestseller into a screenplay.

Kirk Jones (“Nanny McPhee”) will call action on the film for producers Mike Medavoy, Arnie Messer, David Thwaites and Doug McKay.

The pic shoots in Atlanta for a May 11, 2012 bow, just in time for Mother's Day weekend.

Imogene Gets Pals

Natasha Lyonne and June Diane Raphael have joined the film "Imogene" says Variety.

Kristen Wiig stars as a playwright who stages a fake suicide attempt to win back her ex-boyfriend (Darren Criss) only to end up being forced into the custody of her gambling-addict mother (Annette Bening).

Lyonne will play Allyson, a Jersey Shore girl who works on the boardwalk and is the love interest of Christopher Fitzgerald's character. Raphael's character is unknown at this time

Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini ("American Splendor") direct the picture from a script by Michelle Morgan.

The project is being produced by Celine Rattray Trudie Styler Alix Madigan, and Steve Golin,

Banshee Bunch

Blair Erickson will make his directorial debut on the horror film "The Banshee Chapter" reports Heat Vision.

Erickson also wrote the screenplay that follows a young, female journalist tracking a missing friend who had been experimenting with mind-altering chemicals developed in secret government drug tests.

Though not a true story, the test elements are based on real Central Intelligence Agency secret programs.

Actor Zachary Quinto Stephanie Riggs and Corey Moosa are producing the film
Shooting kicks off next month in New Mexico.

Bait-ed Breaths

Writer/Director Paul Schrader and author Bret Easton Ellis will team up on the psychological horror thriller "Bait" reports Heat Vision.

The story follows a young man who works at a posh beach club and itches to take his revenge against the wealthy. He commandeers a yacht filled with obnoxious elites and steers it into shark-infested waters.

Schrader will direct the picture and will work with Ellis on the latest draft of the script.

Jesus Martinez, Kevin Mann, Matthew Perniciaro and Braxton Pope will produc

Production kicks off in November in Puerto Rico.

Brand Be A Lamb?

It seems that Russell Brand has been offered the male lead in Diablo Cody's directorial debut "Lamb of God" says Twitchfilm.

The comedy follows a young conservative religious woman who loses her faith after a plane crash. Headed to Las Vegas to live the life of a sinner, her journey brings her full circle back to faith.

Dancer/actress Julianne Hough is reportedly Cody's top choice for the female lead in the pic

No production date has been set yet

Evans & Hughes Get Their Motor Running

Albert Hughes has signed on to direct the action thriller Motor City says Twitchfilm.

The story follows a small time crook who is framed and sent to jail, only to go after those who put him there after he is released.

Chad St. John’s screenplay is unique in that it only has but one line of dialogue and made it on to Hollywood’s Black List back in 2009, the list of the year’s best unproduced scripts

Chris Evans has been offered the lead and has the edge...But Joel Edgerton and Jeremy Renner are also in the running too for producer Joel Silver

The pic is not to be confused with "Broken City", another Black List script which Albert's brother Allen Hughes is directing with recently signed star Mark Wahlberg.

Production could begin as early as January 2012

Snyder To Take Last Photo Himself

Zack Snyder. has signed on to direct the Afghanistan-war drama The Last Photograph reports Variety

The story revolves around a photograph that becomes the catalyst for a journey two men undertake through war-torn Afghanistan -A war correspondent (Christian Bale) who is the only survivor of an attack on a group of Americans-and a retired ex-special ops soldier (Sean Penn) determined to free a family member who has been kidnapped and the journalist agrees to travel the rough terrain to find them with him in exchange for the story.

Kurt Johnstad wrote the script based on an idea by Snyder who has been developing the project for four years. The pair brought 300 to the big screen

Snyder was originally only set to produce  the film with his wife Deborah Snyder and Gianni Nunnari. Russian director Sergey Bodrov and Niels Arden Oplev ("The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo") were previously linked to helm at different points

Now Snyder will take the helm once he wraps the reboot, Man of Steel which hits theaters in 2013 meaning shooting on "Last" will take place later than originally planned and  might nix both Bale and Penn's involvement

Emily Finds A Writer

Chloë Moretz is still attached to star in the comic book film adaptation Emily the Strange says THR But now she has someone to write her words

Created by skateboarder Rob Reger it's the story of the punk and gothic figure and how she comes to gain her abilities that fuse technology and imagination. The film will focus on her relationship with four cats: troublemaker Sabbath, schemer Nee-Chee, imaginative Miles and leader Mystery.

Melisa Wallack (The Brothers Grimm: Snow White) will pen the script

Mike Richardson is producing the pic

Dark Horse Entertainment has been developing the character as a movie project since 2008.

The Voodoo You Do So Well

Forest Whitaker, Anthony Mackie, Mike Epps and Sanaa Lathan will all star in director Philippe Caland's Vipaka, says Heat Vision

The psychological horror thriller written by Shintaro Shimosawa, follows a severely disturbed contractor (Whitaker) seeks help from a life coach (Mackie). What begins as an therapy session becomes a twisted and dangerous psychological game, when he abducts the life coach and uses his spiritual messages to terrorize him and his family.

Lathan plays Mackie's wife while Epps is his brother.

The spooky premise sounds just great

Whitaker and Nina Yang are producing the pic

Caland (Boxing Helena) previously worked with Whitaker on the 2007 indie drama Ripple Effect.

Production begins this week in New Orleans.

Foster Is Gotti Jr In Biopic

Ben Foster will portray John Gotti, Jr. in the mob biopic GOTTI: In The Shadow Of My Father says THR

Foster Can Surely Play Tortured Tough Guy

John Gotti who took over the powerful Gambino crime family in the 70's, was convicted in 1992 of committing thirteen murders. The film will explore that through the eyes of his son John A. Gotti Jr.

Foster nabs role after English actor Dominic Cooper was said to be circling the part, Way back when the studio wanted James Franco to play the younger Gotti.

John Travolta stars as Gotti Sr.

Al Pacino will play Gambino crime family underboss Aniello Dellacroce, an associate and mentor to John Gotti Sr. Lindsay Lohan will play Kim Gotti,, the wife of Jr Gotti Travolta's real-life wife, Kelly Preston. will play his on screen wife Victoria Gotti

Leo Rossi wrote the inititial screenplay and then director Barry Levinson brought his "Bugsy" collaborator James Toback along to rework the script for "Gotti." The revisions will put more emphasis on Gotti's relationship with Dellacroce.

Actor Joe Pesci recently filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against the film's producer over his playing the role of Gotti Sr right-hand man Angelo Ruggiero

The project is said to start shooting January 3rd.

Man Of Steel Finds Perry White

Laurence Fishburne is set to play Daily Planet editor Perry White in Zack Snyder's big budget reboot "Superman: Man of Steel says Variety Fishburne steps into a role previously played on the big screen by the late Jackie Cooper, and more recently, Frank Langella took on the role in Superman Returns.

Fisburne is the first black actor to play the iconic character--anyone who has seen Fishburne as Thurgood knows that he is the perfect choice for this part--playing a man with principals and conviction

Henry Cavill Amy Adams Kevin Costner Diane Lane Michael Shannon is Zod and Antje Traue is up for Faora Harry Lennix Julia Ormond and Russell Crowe star.

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

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

Shooting on the film is presently scheduled to kick off on August 22nd and will run through into April for a June 14th 2013 debut

Constantine Still Knows How To Rock

Former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis will cameo in the film version of the Broadway musical "Rock Of Ages" says Deadline

The story takes place at a Sunset Strip club called Rock of Ages owned by Dupree, where a man and woman fall in love but soon the rock lifestyle turn them inside out.

The show is fueled by '80s rock music from Journey Pat Benatar Bon Jovi and REO Speedwagon among others

Maroulis originated the lead role of Drew Boley on stage will play a prototypical '80s record executive in the pic

Julianne Hough Mary J Blige Malin Akerman Tom Cruise Paul Giamatti Diego González Boneta Bryan Cranston Catherine Zeta-Jones Alec Baldwin Will Forte  and Russell Brand also star.

Director Adam Shankman reworked the script with Justin Theroux-from show creator Chris D'Arienzo's first draft

Carl Levin, Matt Weaver, Scott Prisand, actor Tobey Maguire and Jennifer Gibgot will produce. Janet Billig and Hillary Weaver are executive producers

Lights On Duo Found

Zachary Booth ("Damages") and Thure Lindhardt will star in Ira Sachs' indie drama "Keep the Lights On" says Variety

The story follows a gay couple over the course of a decade as they grapple with their relationship and their individual issues.

Julianne Nicholson, Justin Reinsilber, Souleymane Sy Savane and Paprika Steen also star

Mauricio Zacharias and Sachs wrote the script

Shooting kicked off last week in New York City

Darker Green

Warner Bros. still wants to make a Green Lantern sequel despite the $200 million-budget and only making $114 million domestically and a a paltry $40.1 million internationally.

WB suit Jeffrey Robinov told The L.A. Times that the film's $53 million opening weekend demonstrated to him there is an audience there for it, however "to go forward we need to make it a little edgier and darker with more emphasis on action… And we have to find a way to balance the time the movie spends in space versus on Earth.”

The studio already has a sequel outline by Greg Berlanti, Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim but that will either be significantly changed or scrapped for the sequel.

First film director  Martin Campbell with whom the studio was reportedly unhappy with will not return but his deal apparently had a sequel option meaning even if he walks away he'll receive some kind of paycheck for Green Lantern 2

Cyrus Has Words With God

Miley Cyrus will star in and produce an untitled comedy project says The Hollywood Reporter



Written by Sam Brown and Jack Angelo, the plot for the high-concept comedy is being kept under wraps but it is said to be involve a broken promise to God.

Andrew Panay (When in Rome), Adam Glass, and Jodi Zuckerman will co-produce with Miley's mother Tish Cyrus,

No word on a director for the pic

This is Miley's second forray into comedy So Undercover opens later this year--The jury remains sequestered over her film career...

She Can Give Me A Shot Anytime She Wants

Katrina Bowden is joining the Doug Aarniokoski-directed horror thriller Nurse 3-D says  Deadline

Paz De La Huerta plays Abby Russell, a beautiful, dedicated nurse with a sinister side, and a secret life's work in which she targets and punishes dishonest men. Bowden will also play a nurse.

Shooting begins September 6th in Toronto.

All Star Cast Ready To Escape Earth

Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba, Rob Corddry, James Gandolfini and Craig Robinson. will lend their voices to the 3D CG-animated family film "Escape From Planet Earth" says  Deadline

The film takes place on planet Baab where admired astronaut Scorch Supernova (Fraser) is a national hero to the blue alien population. A master of daring rescues, Scorch pulls off astonishing feats with the quiet aid of his nerdy, by-the-rules brother, Gary (Corddry), head of mission control at BASA. When BASA’s no-nonsense chief Lena (Alba) informs the brothers of an SOS from a notoriously dangerous planet, Scorch rejects Gary’s warnings and bounds off for yet another exciting mission. But when Scorch finds himself caught in a fiendish trap set by the evil Shanker (Gandolfini), it’s up to scrawny, risk-adverse Gary to do the real rescuing. As the interplanetary stakes rise to new heights, Gary is left to save his brother, his planet, his beloved wife Kira (Parker) and their adventure hungry son Kip!

Cal Brunker, best known for his work on the animated feature films Despicable Me will direct
Donna Gigliotti and Catherine Winder serve as producers on the animated feature film.

To Die List

You can add Joe Cornish Justin Lin and Nicolas Winding Refn to the list of potential directors for Die Hard 5 says Deadline.

John Moore (Behind Enemy Lines, Max Payne) is also circling the gig

Director Noam Murro was the studio's choice to take the helm of the latest john McClane (Bruce Willis) adventure but he left to take on 300: Battle of Artemisia instead.

The script by Skip Woods is said to take place primarily in Russia, where McClane will be joined by his son taking out terrorists at every turn

A Little Hello Again

Just ahead of the September 6th Blu-ray debut of Brian De Palma's 1983 gamgster classic "Scarface"--the film is coming back to theaters for one night only!

The prints will use boast a "restored high-definition picture and enhanced audio".

The screengs will take place on Wednesday, August 31st at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com where you will also find info on which theater chains/locations will participate.

Strange Tales

Twitch is reporting that Marvel is moving ahead with plans for a film based on their Doctor Strange character.

Created in 1963 Doctor Strange tells the story of an arrogant surgeon who is injured in a car accident and goes on to become the Sorcerer Supreme of the universe. Using his magical powers Strange protects the earth from attacks from other realms.

Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer-the writing duo behind the August 19th remake of Conan the Barbarian have gotten their latest draft approved by the suits as they put together a list of potential directors whom they may want to call action on the film.

I think care must be taken though to find the right person for the job otherwise it could turn the material into a campy mess

Witherspoon's Wish

Reese Witherspoon will star in the fantasy comedy "Wish List" according to Deadline.

The story follows an ambitious career woman who lost her inner child at age ten due to ten wishes never coming true. The coin upon which she wished got stuck in the wishing well and never reached the bottom. When the coin suddenly becomes dislodged, floating to the bottom of the pool, the 30-year-old uptight professional must deal with all ten childhood wishes simultaneously coming true.

Randi Mayem Singer (“Tooth Fairy,” “Mrs. Doubtfire”) wrote the script.

The pic was originally written for a leading man but is being retooled to Witherspoon's talent

Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray will produce

Production begins later this year once a director is named

Ehrenreich Is Whipped In Stoker

Alden Ehrenreich has joined the cast of Chan-wook Park's thriller "Stoker" says Variety.

The film follows a teenage girl who is mourning the death of her father and has to deal with an eccentric uncle who shows up unexpectedly.

Ehrenreich will play Whip Taylor, who's initially kind to the young girl despite the fact that the jocks pick on her.

Nicole Kidman and Mia Wasikowska Jacki Weaver Lucas Till and British actor Matthew Goode co star.

Former "Prison Break" star Wentworth Miller wrote the script under the pseudonym Ted Foulke .

Ridley Scott and Tony Scott and Michael Costigan are producing

Fukunaga Needs His Space

The Heat Vision Blog says that Cary Fukunaga (Jane Eyre, Sin Nombre) will direct the sci-fi drama Spaceless.

The story centres on "an assassin who wakes up inside a spacesuit tumbling helplessly through space, with a computer designed to keep him company until his air runs out. He must try to solve the mystery of his death, which began when he broke into an orbiting space station to carry out a hit. The man, however, begins to question his reality, unsure if he is succumbing to madness or in an artificially created environment."

Jeff Vintar penned the script.

Gore Verbinski will produce.the film which does not have a production start as yet.

It's cool that Fukunaga is known for films across different genres

Wadlow Goes Non-Stop

Jeff Wadlow (Never Back Down) is set to direct the thriller Non-Stop says Heat Vision

Based on a spec script writen by John Richardson and Chris Roach the story follows an air marshal running into trouble when he boards his latest US flight

Joel Silver, Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman are producing for Dark Castle Entertainment which continues to move past the horror genre and into other areas

Cooper Changes The Playbook?

Bradley Cooper is in talks to replace Mark Wahlberg in  David O. Russell's The Silver Linings Playbook says Deadline.

The pic adapts author Matthew Quick's 2008 book of the same name

The story follows a delusional former high school history teacher who's just been released into the custody of his mom. Believing that he’s only been away for a few months instead of the four years he just spent in a mental institution, the teacher sets about wooing back his ex-wife. but becomes involved with an eccentric neighbor (Jennifer Lawrence) with problems of her own.

Wahberg leaves the project due to a scheduling conflict with Albert Hughes‘ Broken City--after Playbook's start got pushed back to accomodate Jen's work on The Hunger Games

Meantime Cooper's Limitless co-star Robert De Niro is also in talks to join the film.

Production begins this fall

Texas Forever! FNL Movie Update

Friday Night Lights executive-producer Peter Berg has confirmed that he's planning to bring the beloved TV show back to the big screen where it all  started says TV Line.

"We're writing a script," he told those assembled at the Television Critics Association summer press tour.

"We've been meeting with [fellow FNL executive-producer] Jason Katims for the last couple of weeks. We have a real good script idea. We want to do it. We're very serious about doing it. We intend to do it."

The film would focus on Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton. as they reprise their roles of Eric and Tami Taylor.

"The goal would be to focus the film around Kyle and Connie and bring [in] some new characters and then bring in some of our familiar faces," says Berg. "We have, I think, a really fresh, very original take on it. We're very serious about wanting to do it… If all goes well, we would shoot it next year at some point."

This is GREAT NEWS! The series had a great final episode called Always that aired a few weeks ago but it left me wanting more...I so want this to happen

Norris & Travolta Are Expendable

The Playlist reports that Chuck Norris and John Travolta are being eyed to kick some butt in The Expendables 2.

Sylvester Stallone Bruce Willis, Jet Li, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mickey Rourke and Jason Statham are expected to return for the action pic.

Plot deets are scarce but claims are that Willis and JCVD are the bad guys this time 'round

Con Air's Simon West, will be replacing Stallone as director while Sly acts in the sequel.

Producer David Varod, CEO at Nu Boyana Studios, told website Novinite,“I believe the sequel will be better than the first movie."

"The Expendables" sequel will being shooting in Bulgaria in September for an August 17th, 2012 bow

Till Centers On Stoker

Rising star Lucas Till has  has joined the cast of Chan-wook Park's thriller "Stoker" says Reuters.

The film follows a teen who is mourning the death of her father and has to deal with an eccentric uncle who shows up unexpectedly.

No word on what character Till will play, but might he be the fatherless young man?

Nicole Kidman and Mia Wasikowska Jacki Weaver and British actor Matthew Goode co star.

Former "Prison Break" star Wentworth Miller wrote the script under the pseudonym Ted Foulke .

Ridley Scott and Tony Scott and Michael Costigan are producing

Trio Has Happy Ending

Karen Gillan, Martin Compston and Emun Elliott have joined the indie comedy Not Another Happy Ending. reports Screen Daily.

Written by  David Solomons the pic follows an eccentric author (Gillan) suffering from writer’s block after she finds success with a best-selling novel.

John McKay (Crush) is attached to direct. when shooting kicks off end of this year or early next year.

Claire Mundell will produce.

Dan & Jon Talk Bond 23

Cowboys & Aliens director Jon Favreau recently interviewed his star Daniel Craig and they talked about Bond 23 and the involvement of Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes...

"I think it's a kind of great choice. I think Sam has a fervour and energy to really direct a 'Bond' movie with a capital 'B'. He's just completely feet-first thrown himself into it. He's read every book, and soaked up everything about it. I mean, I've read the script the other day, and I'm more excited about this than I was about Casino [Royale] because we've kind of got a classic 'Bond' movie, plus lots of other things."

The complete exchange is below:




Judi Dench Javier Bardem Ralph Fiennes and Naomie Harris also star

Mendes directs from a script by Patrick Marber John Logan Neal Purvis and Robert Wade

The film will begin shooting near the end of the year for its November 9th, 2012 bow

Furman Does Pablo Pic

Brad Furman will direct an untitled biopic about Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar says The Hollywood Reporter.

The film will see the man's rise to become the head of the largest criminal organization in the world.

Matthew Aldrich will write the screenplay

Scott Steindorff  who will produce with Dylan Russell and Scott Lastaiti said the following  “We’re showing the story of his family, the structure of his enterprise, his rise—the man had the largest criminal organization in the world. In the end, it was a war between Colombia and one man.”

The pic marks the 3rd attempt to bring this story to the big screen.

Bats Battles In Pittsburgh

I am getting giddy folks!

A series of set photos and video from the Pittsburgh shoot for Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises have made their way online.

Bats And Bane

Bane

The Tumbler

Christian Bale Anne Hathaway,Tom Hardy Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Josh Pence,Alon Aboutboul and Nestor Carbonell star along with return of the trilogy's ensemble cast such as Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine

Matthew ModineTom Conti 11-year-old actress Joey King Daniel Sunjata, Diego Klattenhoff Christopher Judge and Burn Gorman take on secondary roles

Nolan calls action on the DKR from a screenplay he wrote with bro Jonathan Nolan, from a story by Nolan and David S. Goyer

Shooting is due to continue in and around the city through August.

The sequel is set to hit theaters on July 20th, 2012

Leo Heeds The Creed?

The LA Times reports that Leo DiCaprio may take one of the lead roles in the western Creed of Violence

An adaptation of Boston Teran's novel, the story follows an outlaw who attempts to smuggle a cache of weapons into Mexico during that country's revolution. He is caught but then helped by a government agent whom he once knew.

DiCaprio has been offered both the role of the agent and the outlaw, but has yet to official sign on for either part.

"Little Children" director Todd Field is attached to helm the film

If he signs this would be Leo's 2nd Western The actor is also set for the Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, which finds DiCaprio the owner of a sprawling ranch that employees female slaves as prostitutes, and pits male slaves in fights to the death.

A Christmas 2012 release is already planned for Creed

Die Hard 5 Gets Moore; Goes To Russia?

John Moore (Behind Enemy Lines, Max Payne) may take over calling the shots on Die Hard 5 says Twitch

Director Noam Murro was to take the helm of the latest John McClane (Bruce Willis) adventure but left to take on 300: Battle of Artemisia instead

The script by Skip Woods is said to take place primarily in Russia, where McClane will be joined by his son taking out terrorists at every turn

Sources say Moore is not signed but the gig is his if he wants it.