Gluck Recounts "Agatha" Tale

Will Gluck is attached to direct writer Allison Schroeder's action adventure spec script "Agatha" says Deadline.

The film explores the eleven days that noted mystery author Agatha Christie went missing in 1926 after quarrelling with her husband who wanted a divorce. Despite a massive manhunt, she was not found until a week and a half later at a hotel in Yorkshire.  Christie never accounted for her disappearance, and she was diagnosed as suffering from psychogenic fugue. Most thought it was a publicity stunt, and evidence since has only cemented that opinion.

The incident has been used before as the basis for a Doctor Who episode in 2008.

Story details of this film are being kept under wraps, but the tone is said to be described as a female "Sherlock Holmes" meets "Romancing The Stone".

Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Chris Bender, Jake Weiner and Jc Spink are producing

Diesel Still Up For "Last Witch Hunter"

Vin Diesel is still in early talks to star in "The Last Witch Hunter" says Deadline

The story follows one of the last remaining witch hunters on his latest mission - charged with discouraging a group of witches and warlocks from reproducing.

Cory Goodman wrote the script from which Breck Eisner is gonna call action.

Previously "Wanted" director Timur Bekmambetov was attached to direct and produce but he's no longer a part of the pic.

Diesel has been linked to this pic since last fall

Mendes NOT Directing Bond #24

Despite talk that "Skyfall" director Sam Mendes might return to the big chair for "Bond 24" he told Empire that he has decided NOT to take the job of steering the next James Bond adventure...

 

In an official statement, Mendes says:

"It has been a very difficult decision not to accept Michael and Barbara’s very generous offer to direct the next Bond movie. Directing Skyfall was one of the best experiences of my professional life, but I have theatre and other commitments, including productions of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and King Lear, that need my complete focus over the next year and beyond.I feel very honoured to have been part of the Bond family, and very much hope I have a chance to work with them again sometime in the future."

Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have released their own statement response:

"We thoroughly enjoyed working with Sam, he directed our most successful Bond movie ever, Skyfall. We would have loved to have made the next film with him but completely respect his decision to focus on other projects and hope to have the opportunity to collaborate with him again."

"Skyfall" recently crossed the $1 Billion Box Office Mark Worldwide--currently holding as the seventh highest grossing film of all time.

Broccoli and Wilson are hoping to get production underway at the end of the year for a late 2014 release.

Fisher IS Back As Leia--NOT QUITE YET But CLOSE

Giving a one word answer to Palm Beach Illustrated...

"Yes".

 Actress Carrie Fisher has confirmed that she will back in the role of Princess Leia in "Star Wars: Episode VII".

UPDATE Fisher's rep told CNN that she 'was joking' about being confirmed for 'Star Wars: Episode VII' and "nothing has been announced",

Franchise creator George Lucas told Bloomberg Businessweek that he begun talks with original stars to have them return to for its new films -- before he had even begun the process of the ultimately $2 billion deal between Disney/Lucasfilm.

"We had already signed Mark and Carrie and Harrison—or we were pretty much in final stages of negotiation. So I called them to say, ‘Look, this is what’s going on. Maybe I’m not supposed to say that. I think they want to announce that with some big whoop-de-do, but we were negotiating with them... I won’t say whether the negotiations were successful or not."

Oscar winner Michael Arndt ("Toy Story 3," "Little Miss Sunshine") is writing the script for the “Star Wars: Episode VII that J.J. Abrams directs The script draft is said to include Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo in their later years, which may mean those early rumours of Harrison Ford being interestedin returning could also be true. No official word yet if Mark Hamill could be tempted to return as Luke Skywalker but he is interested... 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. Kasdan and Kinberg are also indeed developing stand alone "Star Wars features.

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

Whedon Dismisses "Planet Hulk" Notion

Talking to IGN  Joss Whedon has denied recent chatter that a "Planet Hulk" stand-alone film is part of phase three of Marvel's master plan.

Whedon says: "Well I'm really not supposed to comment, but no, that's nonsense."

The rumor suggested that we would see Mark Ruffalo's Hulk lost in space. This would allow for the character's solo feature film that would be based on the 2006 comic fan favorite storyline - "Planet Hulk". The story has already been adapted for the small screen in 2010 The plot has Hulk becoming a gladiatorial champion on an alien world..

The script is not done for "The Avengers 2", and Whedon says the sequel will take its cues from classic sequels in other genres:

"I've got the next story, and it's a corker. I haven't even been thinking in terms of superhero movies. The films I've been thinking about are The Godfather: Part II and Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back. Those are the stars by which I chart my course."

"The Avengers 2" is expected to be in cinemas in 2015.

Poulter Is A "Maze Runner"

Will Poulter (Son of Rambow) has been offered a lead role in the adaptation of author James Dashner's bestselling 2009 book "The Maze Runner" says Deadline,

The young adult dystopian story follows Thomas who awakens with no memory and finds that he is among a community of boys trapped inside an enormous maze. He soon learns they are part of a mysterious test, and finds it is his destiny to join the ‘maze runners’ and lead them to freedom.

Noah Oppenheim wrote the first draft of the script when Catherine Hardwicke was due to helm, Grant Myers wrote the next draft of the script for new helmer Wes Ball (Ruin),

Reiner Takes Over "And So It Goes"

Rob Reiner will replace P.J. Hogan as director on the rom-com  "And So It Goes" says Showbiz 411

Michael Douglas stars as a self-centered realtor with an empathy deficiency, who ends up learning to love again after reconnecting with his granddaughter and forming a friendship with a bubbly neighbor played by Diane Keaton.

Mark Andrus ("As Good As It Gets") wrote the script.

Alan Greisman will produce the film.

Douglas played The American President for the former "Meathead" in All in the Family

Tomb Raider Movie Shadows New Video Game

As Square Enix Global and Crystal Dynamics release their high-profile reboot of the "Tomb Raider" game franchise, talk about the film franchise restart has begun again according to Variety.

Photo Credit: Reuters

The newest Tomb Raider game takes a "Batman Begins," "Casino Royale", approach introducing a younger 21-year-old version of British archeologist Lara Croft. The story showcases how she started out as a frightened young woman who is forced to become a hardened survivor when she is shipwrecked on a dangerous island.

Crystal Dynamics will work closely with movie producer Graham King on the new film which will have the same style. Crystal Dynamics chief Darrell Gallagher says: "They are working from this new take that we've given them. It's a good partnership. We're seeing the challenges through the same lens. It was important for both of us to have a cohesive version of the franchise. We didn't want to see a film version that was a continuation of the old 'Tomb Raider' films."

Angelina Jolie, her estranged dad Jon Voight and Daniel Craig starred in the 2001 film . The sequel hit theaters in 2003.

The first film scored boffo $275 million in international box-office. The sequel revenue sank with a thud of $157 million globally

At last report Iron Man writers Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus were tasked to pen the reboot script

Latest Iron Man 3 Peek: "We Do Need Back-Up..."

Marvel has released another rocking trailer for Shane Black's Iron Man 3.

The story is based on the popular six-issue mini series "Extremis" by Warren Ellis--The plot involves the spread of a virus through nanobots. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) will battle Ben Kingsley (as the Mandarin) and Guy Pearce's characters. Drew Pearce adapted the story into a script.

We also know that thanks to the events chronicled in The Avengers Stark suffers from PTSD in the film.

Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Jon Favreau Rebecca Hall James Badge Dale Ashley Hamilton William Sadler and Chinese star Wang Xueqi co-star.

The film hits May 3rd 2013--Getting an IMAX Release.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan Seeking "Solace"

Jeffrey Dean Morgan has joined the long gestating supernatural thriller "Solace" says THR.

Colin Farrell would play an FBI detective who seeks the help of a retired and reclusive doctor (Anthony Hopkins) to try and solve a series of grisly murders. The doctor was a genius at solving murders until his daughter died tragically. Desperate, the detective presses the doctor to come out of retirement for one more case.

Morgan is playing a veteran FBI agent heading the investigation.

Written by Sean Bailey and Ted Griffin with revisions by James Vanderbilt and Peter Morgan-- with Afonso Poyart ("Two Rabbits") attached to direct.

Beau Flynn, Tripp Vinson, and Thomas Augsberger are producing the project

The idea originated at New Line Cinema where at one point it was to be turned into a sequel to David Fincher's "Se7en".

Production is due to start May 20th in Detroit.

Hall Married To Depp In "Transcendence".

Deadline reports that final three contender  Rebecca Hall ("The Prestige," "Iron Man 3") has won the role of the wife of Johnny Depp's character in "The Dark Knight" cinematographer Wally Pfister's directorial debut "Transcendence".

In the Jack Paglen penned script Johnny Depp plays a scientist trying create the first self-aware computer. Somewhere along the way, he dies and his consciousness is uploaded into this supercomputer by his wife. Then that computer is connected to the internet.

Hall beat out Emily Blunt and Rooney Mara for the role

Paul Bettany will play a fellow scientist

Christian Bale, James McAvoy, Tobey Maguire, Noomi Rapace and Christoph Waltz are all circling the film.

Marisa Polvino, Kate Cohen, Annie Marter, David Valdes, Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove will produce.

Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas are serving as executive producers.

Shooting kicks off in the spring for release in theaters by April 2014

Pfister has worked on seven of Nolan’s films since "Memento" including his Batman trilogy and "Inception" for which he won an Oscar.

Berry Back As Storm For "X-Men: Days Of Futures Past"

Halle Berry has officially confirmed by director Bryan Singer via Twitter to reprise her role as Storm in "X-Men: Days Of  Futures Past".

Singer tweeted "Couldn't be more excited that #HalleBerry has joined the cast of #XMen#DaysofFuturePast. Hopefully she can improve the weather in Montreal"

The entire X-Men: First Class cast is set to reprise their roles, including James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), and Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Rose Byrne (Moira MacTaggert), and Nicholas Hoult (Beast).

The original trilogy stars Sir Ian McKellen Sir Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman are already poised to return again as well. Anna Paquin (Rogue), Ellen Page (Kitty Pride) and Shawn Ashmore (Iceman) While it was hoped that James Marsden (Cyclops) would be back.

Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage has a key role in the film as does French actor Omar Sy

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.

Scheduled to begin shooting in April, "X-Men: Days Of Future Past" hits screens July 18th 2014

Ford Is A News Legend In Anchorman 2

Harrison Ford will join the comedy sequel "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" says THR.

The story deals with the birth of 24-hour news channels and its impact on the San Diego news team.

Ford is set to play a legendary newscaster a la Tom Brokaw to Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy in the sequel.

Original Anchorman cast members Paul Rudd, Steve Carell Christina Applegate and David Koechner are set to come back. It was recently announced that comedy actress Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) will also be joining the cast. Terence Stamp was also reported to be wanted for a "Rupert Murdoch-type" role in the follow-up. James Marsden is set to play a rival anchor and nemesis to Burgundy. Dylan Baker and Meagan Good co-star

John C. Reilly is also rumored to be making an appearance in the film.

Adam McKay is back to direct and he and Ferrell penned the script for the film.

Judd Apatow will produce the picture.

Production is due to begin next month in Atlanta, with a December 20th 2013 release date being eyed.

Ford is said to be back as Han Solo in an upcoming "Star Wars" film as well

Jen Lynch Will Boss Her Dad Around With "Grace"

Director David Lynch has agreed to appear in his daughter Jennifer Lynch’s new thriller "A Fall From Grace" says THR.

In the film Tim Roth stars as a homicide detective on the trail of a serial killer.

The elder Lynch will play the father of Roth's character.

Vincent D'Onofrio, Paz Vega and Willow Shields also star in the film.

Eric Wilkinson wrote the screenplay and will produce the film with David Michaels

Production will take place this summer in St. Louis.

RUMOR: Nolan & Bale On For "Justice League" Movie?

Having scraped Will Beale's script for the "Justice League" film Warner Bros.is rumored to be turning to Christopher Nolan for help.

The "Justice League " teams DC Entertainment's most famous heroes (Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, among others).

Beale's discarded story was said to take its cues from the storyline by Gerry Conway from Justice League Of America 183-185. sees Darkseid, the oppressive god ruler of the war planet Apokolips, planning the destruction of Earth by blasting it with a weapon that moves Apokolips into Earth’s place.

The storyline has the Justice League teaming up with the Justice Society of America--That could have been great but was it too ambitious?

Latino Review reports that Nolan is set to become the DC Universe equivalent of Marvel's suit Kevin Feige--but less hands on. Anything to do with DC films would go through him.

As he did with the upcoming "Man of Steel", he is expected to 'godfather' and produce the "Justice League" film and possibly other superhero franchise launchers.

LR then up the ante going on to claim a DOOZY of a rumor.

"So like with Man of Steel, [Nolan's ] going to be involved with godfathering/producing while Zack Snyder will be co-producing and will possibly be the director. They're shaping this [Justice League] as a vehicle for Christian Bale to reprise his role as Batman and join Henry Cavill's Superman in the Justice League movie."

If Bale returns would the Ryan Reynolds version of "Green Lantern" be part of the film...?

I am taking this with several grains of salt--While Bale's return would be great news (at least to me anyway) I find it speculative that the suits could coax him to wear the cowl again---No matter what the incentive is.

There's always the rumored Armie Hammer for Bats back when Warners was planning to keep the Nolan's Bat-verse separate and apart from its plans for DC Comic films moving forward?.. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was fancied to be appearing in the upcoming movie as the new Batman....but that was quickly nixed by JGL's peeps.

Stay Tuned...

Box Office Update: Fee-Fi-Ho-Hum

Things are not going all that well for Bryan Singer's super-sized epic fantasy Jack the Giant Slayer--Yes it's the #1 film in the land but as 2013's first event film...it proved a disappointment...Adult comedy 21 And Over celebrates 3rd place

Pamela McClintock of THR:

There was no fairy tale ending for Bryan Singer's 3D fantasy-adventure Jack the Giant Slayer at the weekend box office, where the year's first big-budget tentpole topped the domestic chart with a dismal $28 million.

From New Line and Legendary Pictures, the revisionist take on the classic English story Jack and the Beanstalk needed a much bigger opening considering its cost. All told, the price tag was nearly $300 million when accounting for the film's $195 production budget and hefty marketing spend.

Last year, Disney's doomed John Carter debuted to $30 million in early March (that film cost north of $250 million). Several months later, Universal and Hasbro's Battleship, costing in the same ballpark as Jack, opened to $25.5 million on its way to grossing $65.4 million domestically and $237.6 million internationally for a meek total of $303 million. Disney and Universal suffered major financial losses.

Providing a glimmer of hope for New Line and its parent company Warner Bros., Jack did succeed in luring families despite its PG-13 rating. The movie was up 57 percent from Friday to Saturday, a sure sign that kids and their parents turned out. (Jack's release was pushed back from June 2012 in order to retool parts of the film and make it more kid-friendly, and the title was changed from Jack the Giant Killer to Jack the Giant Slayer.)

Movies that appeal to families often have sturdy legs. However, Jack faces a formidable foe in Disney's family-friendly Oz the Great and Powerful, which opens next weekend and is rated PG.

New Line and Warner Bros. are banking on a strong international run to make up for Jack's performance in North America, considering that 3D event pics can often do far better overseas.

In North America, Jack drew a B+ CinemaScore overall, while moviegoers under the age of 18 gave it an A. The pic skewed slightly male (55 percent). Moviegoers under the age of 25 made up 27 percent of the audience.

In Singer's rendering, the young farmhand Jack (Nicholas Hoult) accidentally opens a portal to a race of angry giants intent on destroying the kingdom and kidnapping Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson). Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy and Ewan McGregor also star.

Domestic box offfice revenue tumbled more than 35 percent from last year as Jack and three other new entires, including Relativity Media's R-rated comedy 21 and Over and CBS Films' The Last Exorcism Part II, underwhelmed.

21 and Over, written and directed by The Hangover scribes Josh Lucas and Scott Moore, debuted to a soft $9 million to place No. 3 behind Jack and Identity Thief. The $13 million comedy stars Justin Chon, Skylar Astin and Miles Teller as three friends embarking on a 21st birthday celebration.

Last Exorcism II came in No. 4 with $8 million, well short of the $20.4 million opening of Last Exorcism in late August 2010 (that film was released by Lionsgate).

Independent thriller Phantom, the weekend's fourth new wide entry, opened to a paltry $475,000 -- one of the worst debuts of all time for a film playing in more than 1,000 theaters (the film's location count was 1,118). Starring Ed Harris, David Duchovny and William Fichtner, Phantom is distributed by RCR.

Below is thw top 10 films and estimates for the March 1-3 weekend at the domestic box office.

1. Jack the Giant Slayer, 1/3,525, Warner Bros., $28 million

2. Identity Thief, 4/3,230, Universal, $9.7 million, $107.4 million

3. 21 and Over, 1/2,771, Relativity Media, $9 million

4. The Last Exorcism: Part II, 1/2,700, CBS Films, $8 million

5. Snitch, 2/2,511, Lionsgate, $7.7 million, $24.4 million

6. Escape From Planet Earth, 3/3,110, The Weinstein Co, $6.7, $43.2million

7. Safe Haven, 3/2,951, Relativity, $6.3 million, $57.1 million

8. *Silver Linings Playbook, 16/1,836, The Weinstein Co., $5.9 million, $115.5 million

9. A Good Day to Die Hard, 3/2,589, Fox, $4.5 million, $59.6 million

10. Dark Skies, 2/2,313, The Weinstein Co., $3.6 million, $13.5 million

Next Up: It's Sam Raimi's turn to reinvent a classic fairy tale with Oz The Great and Powerful-a prequel to The Wizard of Oz starring James Franco; Colin Farrell is a Dead Man Down for director Niels Arden Oplev--who made the original film adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Singer Welcomes Omar Sy To "Days of Future Past"

Director Bryan Singer has announced via Twitter that French actor Omar Sy has joined the cast of X-Men: Days of Future Past in an as yet undiclosed role.

"Thrilled to welcome the brilliant #OmarSy from the amazing film #TheIntouchables, to the cast of #Xmen #DaysofFuturePast!"

The entire X-Men: First Class cast is set to reprise their roles, including James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), and Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Rose Byrne (Moira MacTaggert), and Nicholas Hoult (Beast).

The original trilogy stars Sir Ian McKellen Sir Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman are already poised to return again as well. Anna Paquin (Rogue), Ellen Page (Kitty Pride) and Shawn Ashmore (Iceman) While it was hoped that Halle Berry (Storm) and James Marsden (Cyclops) would be back.

Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage has a key role in the film.

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.

Scheduled to begin shooting in April, "X-Men: Days Of Future Past" hits screens July 18th 2014

Sinister Sequel On The Way

Plans are moving forward to make a sequel to last year's micro-budget horror flick "Sinister" says Deadline.

The original  movir starred Ethan Hawke as a true crime novelist who discovers a box of mysterious, disturbing home movies that plunge his family into a supernatural nightmare.

Juliet Rylance, Fred Dalton Thompson, James Ransone, Michael Hall D'Addario, and Clare Foley co-starred

Made on a budget of just $3 million, the supernatural hit hain $87 million worldwide.
All the key behind-the-scenes talent is expected back, including co-writer/director Scott Derrickson and co-scribe C. Robert Cargill.

The duo will also co-write the film version of the Square Enix video game "Deus Ex : Human Revolution" which Derrickson will direct.

 Derrickson will also serve as producer on Sinister 2 alongside Jason Blum.

Blum is also resposible for the Paranormal Activity film series as well as Insidious and the upcoming Insidious: Chapter 2. 

Spencer Is "Beautiful Now"

Abigail Spencer has joined  the indie drama Beautiful Now says The Hollywood Reporter,

This is the new project from writer/director Daniela Amavia that centers on a passionate dancer who finds herself mulling an extreme act when she reaches a crossroads in her life. As she hangs on the razor's edge, crossing between reality and fantasy, her fractured group of friends reunite and embark on a shared journey into intense memories of their past, helping the woman answer the question: "If your life flashed before your eyes, would you like what you see?"

Keith Kjarval is producing the film.

Spencer will be in theaters next week with Oz The Great and Powerful.

Miller & Gilford Take Found Footage Flick

Allison Miller one of the stars of TV’s short-lived "Terra Nova", will star with Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights) in the found footage film Unwanted aka Devil’s Due says THR.

Lindsay Devlin wrote the script for the film that it is being described as a female-driven having horror elements.

The directing team of Radio Silence will call action here. The team behind V/H/S segment "10/31/98" is made up of four people - Tyler Gillett, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Chad Villella and Justin Martinez.

John Davis is producing the film.

The film begins shooting next week in the Dominican Republic and New Orleans.

"Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" Film Lives

The seemingly dead film "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" has been resurrected...Yet again says THR.

The film's story is taken from Seth Grahame-Smith's book using Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice and puts bloodthirsty flesh-eating zombies into the action. The tome now tells the timeless story of a woman's quest for love and independence amid the outbreak of a deadly virus that turns the undead into vicious killers.

Production execs Megan Ellison and Allison Shearmur will shepard the project going forward.The team is currently looking at directors, and the film will be packaged for the Cannes Film Festival 2013 in May.

Natalie Portman was to play the role as well as produce the film but left back in 2010. Then Anne Hathaway, Scarlett Johansson Mia Wasikowska Mila Kunis, Emma Stone, Rooney Mara, and Olivia Wilde were all being considered for the role at one point. And then Blake Lively and Dominic Cooper were attached to play the leads before it crumbled

Craig Gillespie was the last director on the film before he left in the Fall of 2011 David O. Russell and Mike White were previously attached to helm too but soon left the pic; Russell, Gillespie Grahame-Smith and Marti Noxon have all drafted the script

Annette Savitch Richard Kelly, Sean McKittrick Ted Hamm and Portman were set to produce.

Waugh Looking For A Few Good "Merry Men"

"Act Of Valor" co-director Scott Waugh is attached to direct "Merry Men," a revamp of the legemd of Robin Hood says Deadline.

The film is described as a tentpole re-imagining of the Robin Hood legend with a "high-concept revenge angle".

It's also more an ensemble 'mission' movie --"Ocean's Eleven," "The Dirty Dozen" type stuff centered around supporting characters like Little John, Friar Tuck, Maid Marian and Will Scarlet

Brad Ingelsby will write the script based on a pitch that just sold to Bandito Films. Waugh and Neal Moritz will produce.

Pretty X-Men Talk "Days of Future Past"

Recent Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence tells E! Online that, unlike "X-Men: First Class," she will wear a bodysuit to reprise her role as Mystique in the sequel "X-Men: Days of Future Past".

Lawrence says: "I'm so excited because I'm going to wear a body suit[in 'X-Men: Days of Future Past']. It will be from neck down so it will cut out time and the blisters."

Lawrence reportedly suffered skin irritations during the shooting of "First Class," so much so that a doctor had to be called to the set.

Meanwhile, chatting with IndieWire fellow mutant beauty Halle Berry says she is 90% sure director Bryan Singer will bring her back as Storm.

At this time, she has not officially signed a deal to appear with some minor details still being worked out.

The entire X-Men: First Class cast is set to reprise their roles, including James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), Rose Byrne (Moira MacTaggert), and Nicholas Hoult (Beast).

The original trilogy stars Sir Ian McKellen Sir Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman are already poised to return again as well. Anna Paquin (Rogue), Ellen Page (Kitty Pride) and Shawn Ashmore (Iceman) While it was hoped that James Marsden (Cyclops) would be back.

Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage has a key role in the film as well

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.

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

Neeson Goes Bad In Toon "The Nut Job'

Liam Neeson will lend his voice to play a villainous raccoon in Peter Lepeniotis' animated comedy adventure "The Nut Job" says THR.

The story is based on the 2005 short film "Surly Squirrel" and follows a mischievous squirrel and his rat friend who plan a nut store heist.

Lorne Cameron and Lepeniotis wrote the script.

Katherine Heigl, Will Arnett and Brendan Fraser also star.

Thom Chapman and Graham Moloy will produce the film

Ryan, Cooper, & Renner Circle The Ring For "Southpaw"

Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Renner are all said to be under consideration for the lead role in director Antoine Fuqua's boxing drama "Southpaw" just picked up by The Weinstein Company.

Fuqua tells Shadow and Act that he has already talked with Cooper & Renner about the role.

Originally rapper Eminem was ready to play a welterweight boxer on the rise who brawls his way to the title, only to see his world crash down around him due to a tragedy. He then must begin his fight to reclaim past glory for himself and his young daughter. The script was penned by Sons of Anarchy creator/exec producer Kurt Sutter.

Asked about the possibility of the Eminem returning, Fuqua says the rapper is "still being a part of it, whether he’ll play the lead role or not, we’re discussing that."

The extent of Eminem's involvement will be determined by his schedule.  Southpaw could be Fuqua's next project since his Tupac Shakur biopic is currently undergoing re-writes.

Rock Is "Finally Famous"

Chris Rock's third film as actor/writer/director is titled "Finally Famous" says Showbiz 411.

The story centers on a comedian turned film star who, despite the expectations of his fans, is determined to reinvent himself as a ‘serious’ actor. The problem is, that attempt is failing, while his marriage to a popular reality star is expected to be the biggest media event of the year.
His interview by a woman for The New Yorker magazine proves to be an interaction that could change the course of both their lives.

Scott Rudin is due to produce.

Production begins in June.

Rock helmed Head of State and I Think I Love My Wife for the big screen as well as a 2006 episode of his biographical sit-com Everybody Hates Chris called Everybody Hates Corleone.

Anchorman 2 Gets Two More...Maybe Three

Dylan Baker and Meagan Good are set to join the cast of the comedy sequel "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" says Deadline.

The story deals with the birth of 24-hour news channels and its impact on the San Diego news team.

Good is set to play the boss of Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy in the sequel.

Original Anchorman cast members Paul Rudd, Steve Carell Christina Applegate and David Koechner are set to come back. It was recently announced that comedy actress Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) will also be joining the cast. Terence Stamp was also reported to be wanted for a "Rupert Murdoch-type" role in the follow-up. James Marsden is set to play a rival anchor and nemesis to Burgundy.

John C. Reilly is also rumored to be making an appearance in the film.

Adam McKay is back to direct and he and Ferrell penned the script for the film.

Judd Apatow will produce the picture.

Production is due to begin next month in Atlanta, with a December 20th 2013 release date being eyed.

Bettany Poised For "Transcendence"

Paul Bettany is in negotiations to star in "The Dark Knight" cinematographer Wally Pfister's directorial debut "Transcendence" says Deadline.

In the Jack Paglen penned script Johnny Depp plays a scientist trying create the first self-aware computer. Somewhere along the way, he dies and his consciousness is uploaded into this supercomputer by his wife. Then that computer is connected to the internet.

Bettany will play a fellow scientist

Christian Bale, James McAvoy, Tobey Maguire, Noomi Rapace and Christoph Waltz are all circling the film.

Rebecca Hall, Emily Blunt and Rooney Mara are all up for the role of Depp's wife

Jack Paglen penned the script.

Johnny Depp is set while Christian Bale, James McAvoy, Tobey Maguire, Noomi Rapace and Christoph Waltz are all circling the film.

Marisa Polvino, Kate Cohen, Annie Marter, David Valdes, Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove will produce.

Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas are serving as executive producers.

Shooting kicks off in the spring for release in theaters by April 2014

Pfister has worked on seven of Nolan’s films since "Memento" including his Batman trilogy and "Inception" for which he won an Oscar.

Snook Is In The Loop Of "Predestination"

Aussie actress Sarah Snook won the lead female in the sci-fi thriller "Predestination" says Deadline.

The film will see Ethan Hawke star as a Temporal Agent who on his final assignment pursues a criminal who has long eluded him.

Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig ("Daybreakers," "Undead") direct the project, based on a short story by noted sci-fi author Robert A. Heinlein .

Tim McGahan and Patrick McDonald produce the film.

Hawke worked wth the Spierig boys on the better than expected vampire tale "Daybreakers"

Production begins April 8th in Melbourne.

Fey Almost Ready To "Leave You"

THR says that Tina Fey is entering negotiations to join "This Is Where I Leave You".

Based on Jonathan Tropper's novel, the story centers on a father who dies and requests that his highly dysfunctional and non-religious family sit Shiva for seven days.

Fey will play Jason Bateman's older sister, a woman who is married and whose first love now has brain damage. Kathryn Hahn will likely play Bateman's sister-in-law.Ari Graynor is rumored as well

Tropper has written the adapted script.

At one point Goldie Hawn, was to play the family matriarch while Bateman, Zac Efron, and Leslie Mann were poised to be playing siblings. While Malin Akerman would play Bateman’s wife whose affair with his boss (Jason Sudeikis) goes public.

Shawn Levy ("Night at the Museum") replaced Adam Shankman as director on the pic last November.

Fey and Levy worked on the very uneven comedy Date Night together

Jennifer Gibgot, Paula Weinstein Shankman and Jeff Levine are producing the film.

There are plans to shoot it this summer

Watson Will Wear The Glass Slippers

Variety reports that Emma Watson is in very early talks to play the title character in the latest re-telling of the fairy tale "Cinderella".

"The Devil Wears Prada" writer Aline Brosh McKenna sold the pitch to Disney back in 2010 which re-imagines the story as it follows a "prince set for a politically arranged marriage, until the evil plan is threatened when the prince meets Cinderella". Chris Weitz penned the final script.

Cate Blanchett was in talks to play the evil stepmother. While Saoirse Ronan ("Atonement"), Alicia Vikander ("Anna Karenina") Imogen Poots and Gabriella Wilde ("The Three Musketeers") tested for the lead last year.

Mark Romanek ("Never Let Me Go") vacated the director's chair last year when he and the studio reportedly over "differing views on how to tell the story." Romanek’s version was a darker vision than thnowe studio wanted. The same thing happened with 2010's "The Wolfman," and Romanek ended up looking like the smart one for exiting what ended up being a critical and commercial failure.

Kenneth Branagh is now calling action on the film.

Simon Kinberg will produce.

Box Office Preview: A Tall Order

This weekend BIG things are happening at the cineplex--with the release of  four new films. Nicholas Hoult is Jack the Giant Slayer (reviews) in director Bryan Singer's super-sized epic fantasy; Miles Teller, Skylar Astin and Justin Chon celebrate being 21 And Over (reviews); And the nightmare continues in The Last Exorcism Part II (reviews); And Ed Harris, Julian Adams and David Duchovny encounter a Phantom (reviews)

Pamela McClintock of THR:

A fairy-tale ending might be tough for Bryan Singer's 3D fantasy-adventure Jack the Giant Slayer, which rolls out at 10 p.m. Thursday in North American theaters in the face of soft prerelease tracking.

From New Line and Legendary Pictures, the revisionist take on the classic English story Jack and the Beanstalk, starring up-and-coming actor Nicholas Hoult in the title role, might only open in the $25 million to $30 million range -- a worrisome start considering the film's $195 million production budget, bringing the total price tag to nearly $300 million when accounting for marketing.

Last year, Disney's doomed John Carter debuted to $30 million in early March (that film cost north of $250 million). Several months later, Universal and Hasbro's Battleship, costing in the same ballpark as Jack, opened to $25.5 million on its way to grossing $65.4 million domestically and $237.6 million internationally for a meek total of $303 million. Disney and Universal suffered major financial losses.

New Line and its parent company Warner Bros. are hoping that Jack overperforms overseas, where 3D action-adventure films can see big returns. The film opens this weekend in Asian territories, though not China.

And in North America, Jack is making a major push for families despite its PG-13 rating -- and if parents and kids turn out in force, the pic could overperform. Jack's release was pushed back from June 2012 in order to retool parts of the film and make it more kid-friendly, and the title was changed from Jack the Giant Killer to Jack the Giant Slayer.

In Singer's rendering, the young farmhand Jack (Hoult) accidentally opens a portal to a race of angry giants intent on destroying the kingdom and kidnapping Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson). Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy and Ewan McGregor also star.

Even if it does better than expected in its opening, Jack faces a formidable foe in Disney's fantasy-adventure Oz the Great and Powerful, which debuts March 8. Rated PG, the 3D event pic is enjoying strong tracking and is projecting to open to $75 million or better.

Jack isn't the only new game in town this weekend. Relativity Media's $13 million, R-rated comedy 21 and Over debuts, along with CBS Films' The Last Exorcism Part II and RCR's KGB thriller Phantom.

21 and Over, written and directed by The Hangover scribes Josh Lucas and Scott Moore, is pacing to open in the $13 million-to-$15 million range. The comedy stars Justin Chon, Skylar Astin and Miles Teller as three friends embarking on a 21st birthday celebration.

Last Exorcism II is expected to open in the $8 million-to-$10 million range, well short of the $20.4 million opening of Last Exorcism in late August 2010 (that film was released by Lionsgate).

Phantom, starring Ed Harris, David Duchovny and William Fichtner, is only pacing to gross $2 million to $3 million.

It's looking like another down weekend in terms of overall revenue. Last year, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax debuted to $70.2 million, while Project X opened to $21.1 million.

The specialty box office sees the debut of Chan-wook Park's Stoker, starring Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman and Matthew Goode. Fox Searchlight opens the film in seven theaters.