Box Office Update: A Scary Time For "Annabelle"

David Fincher's thriller Gone Girl tops the box office--giving the popular director his best opening to date.

"Annabelle," the spin-off film centering on the haunted doll character from last year's hit supernatural thriller "The Conjuring" did solid biz at #2. While the drama  The Good Lie and the faith based action drama "Left Behind" hit with a THUD.

Pamela McClintock of THR:

Capping a dramatic race at the North American box office, David Fincher's R-rated adult drama Gone Girl topped horror spinoff Annabelle as both movies did far better than expected.

Gone Girl took in an estimated $38 million from 3,014 theaters, the top opening of Fincher's career and one of the best showings for star Ben Affleck, who stars opposite Rosamund Pike in 20th Century Fox and New Regency's $61 million adaptation of Gillian Flynn's popular novel. Fincher's top opening is Panic Room, which opened to $30.1 million in 2002.

Mirco-budgeted horror film Annabelle, a prequel to box office hit The Conjuring, grossed $37.2 million from 3,815 theaters. That's a sizeable victory for New Line and Warner Bros., considering Annabelle cost just $6.5 million to make.

Some rivals have the two pictures closer; final weekend numbers will be released Monday.

Based on Friday's numbers, Gone Girl appeared the easy victor, but the race became closer thanks to Annabelle's hold on Saturday (usually, horror falls off). Either way, both movies provided a needed boost for the North American box office following the worst September in six years, with overall weekend revenue up 3 percent.

It's not a surprise that Gone Girl received a B CinemaScore, considering its polarizing subject matter. The film, about the torments of marriage, has plenty of pedigree between Fincher, the cast and Flynn's novel, which has sold more than 6 million copies in hardcover. Flynn also wrote the adapted script for the movie, which opened the New York Film Festival Sept. 26.

Adult dramas generally don't open big but can have impressive legs. That holds true for virtually all of Fincher's films. The Social Network opened to $22.5 million domestically on its way to earning $95 million. And two years before that, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, benefiting from stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, debuted to $26.9 million on its way to earning $127.5 million domestically.

Ben Affleck's Argo also built slowly, opening to $19.5 million on its way to winning the Oscar and earning $136 million domestically.

Heading into the weekend, Fox predicted that that Gone Girl, also starring Tyler Perry and Neil Patrick Harris, would open in the $20 million to $22 million range.

New Line and Warner Bros. were likewise cautious, saying they'd be thrilled if Annabelle crossed $20 million. The movie earned a B CinemaScore (horror titles often get a C).

Returning John R. Leonetti in the director's chair, Annabelle stars Alfre Woodard, Annabelle Wallis and Ward Horton. The film has garnered strong interest among younger moviegoers, who tend to turn out en masse on opening weekend.

The weekend's other new nationwide offering, Nicolas Cage's faith-based thriller, Left Behind, placed No. 6 for the weekend with $7 million from 1,825 locations. Freestyle is distributing the independently financed film.

Reese Witherspoon's Sudanese refugee drama The Good Lie, only opening in 461 theaters, got off to a slow start. The film, from Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros., placed No. 13 with an estimated $935,000. The good news: It received an A+ CinemaScore, so could benefit from word-of-mouth and build slowly.

Among holdovers, Denzel Washington's The Equalizer enjoyed a strong hold in its second weekend, declining 35 percent to an estimated $19 million for a domestic cume of $64.5 million. The action thriller placed No. 3 after Gone Girl and Annabelle.

Laika and Focus Features' family offering The Boxtrolls came in No. 4 in its second outing, falling even less (28 percent) to $12.4 million for a domestic total of $32.5 million.

Fox's The Maze Runner rounded out the top five, grossing $12 million in its third weekend for a North American cume of $73.9 million.

Next Up: Universal Pictures releases its "Dracula" reboot called "Dracula Untold".
 
Formerly known as "Dracula Year Zero"--the project centers on Vlad the Impaler (Luke Evans) and his lust for blood which inspired the mythology behind Bram Stoker's classic novel. In this version Dracula is a Transylvanian prince who risks eternal damnation in order to save his wife and son from a Turkish horde.

Here cones The Judge.The initial script by Nick Schenk that Bill Dubuque rewrote sees Robert Downey Jr star as a big-city lawyer who returns home after the death of his mother to learn that his estranged father (Robert Duvall), a judge, is suspected of murder. He sets out to discover the truth and along the way reconnects with the family he walked away from years before.

The live-action adaptation of author Judith Viorst's children's book "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" is here. The story centers on a boy (Newcomer Ed Oxenbould) who has a very horrible day and finds out that other people can have them too.

Jennifer Garner will play his mother. Steve Carell is set to play the boy’s father.Dylan Minnette and Kerris Dorsey will play Alexander’s older brother and sister. Bella Thorne former star of the Disney Channel comedy Shake It Up is also in the film.

"American Sniper" Peek Is Pretty Tense

The first trailer has arrived this week for the biopic "American Sniper".

Based upon U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle's autobiography--Jason Dean Hall wrote the adapted script about Texas native Kyle (Bradley Cooper) who came to record the highest number of sniper kills (255) for an American. The book is a frank first-person account and includes passages from his wife who slowly watches her husband’s affection turn from her to his job. Tragically, this true American hero was killed by a fellow veteran at a shooting range in February 2013.

Sienna Miller is playing the Kyle's wife, who is raising his kids while he is off fighting overseas. Miller beat out Jaimie Alexander ("Thor") for the role. Kate Mara was also an early candidate for the role, but dropped out of consideration when she was cast in the reboot of The Fantastic Four.

Homeland co-star Navid Negahban has been cast as Iraqi local Sheikh al-Obeidi, who helps the SEALs find their targets. Boardwalk Empire's Eric Ladin plays Squirrel, a young surfer from Southern California who is part of the Seal team, while no further details have been released about the character Nashville's Eric Close will play. Gang Related's Rey Gallegos will appear as chief of the Seal team Tony. Jake McDorman will play Kyle's buddy Ryan 'Biggles' Job who was known for his sense of humor. Fifty Shades of Grey co-star Luke Grimes is playing fellow Seal team member Marc Lee Cory Hardrict ("Battle: Los Angeles") will play a fellow Navy SEAL in the pic. Sammy Sheik also stars. Several real-life SEALs are expected to appear in the movie. Parenthood star Sam Jaeger will play Captain Martens, who welcomes Kyle back to Iraq for his second tour of duty and is his commanding officer on his subsequent tour. Joel Lambert ("Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen") plays a Delta sniper who is sent on a mission with his partner (Owain Yeoman)

 Clint Eastwood took over directing duties--Steven Spielberg was due to helm the biopic but left the project last August, He decided to  move on because his vision of this movie would not mesh with the budget. DreamWorks also pulled out leaving the project solely in the hands of  Warner Bros where Eastwood makes his films.

Cooper, Andrew Lazar and Peter Morgan are producing the film.

Eric Bana Commands "The Finest Hours"

Eric Bana has joined the true story Coast Guard drama "The Finest Hours" says Deadline.

Based on the non-fiction book by Casey Sherman and Michael Tougias, the story chronicles a daring rescue by the Coast Guard of 84 men off Cape Cod in 1952. At the time two oil tankers collided and were torn in half by waves during a fierce blizzard.

Bana will play Daniel Cluff, a Coast Guard warrant officer who orders the others on this deadly mission.

Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Josh Stewart Graham McTavish Kyle Gallner Ben Foster John Magaro and Holliday Grainger also star in the film.

"The Fighter" scribes Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson are writing the adapted script.

Robert Schwentke was originally attached to direct last May, but the script took too long to develop and he left the project deciding to do the Divergent sequel Insurgent. Prior to that reports had Boardwalk Empire ep helmer Tim Van Patten in line to helm this as his first big screen gig.

Craig Gillespie (Million Dollar Arm) is now tipped to direct.

Jim Whitaker and Dorothy Aufiero will produce.

Production is underway in Massachusetts.

Pine and Bana squared off in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" '09

Chris Hemsworth Up For More Time As Thor

Actor Chris Hemsworth talked to Channel 7's "The Morning Show and Fashion & Style earlier this week and discussed his future as Thor.

While other Marvel actors like Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans have talked about moving on, Hemsworth isn't ready to give up his Hammer:

"It's three times I've played the character now; [which] has made me look at it in a different way. We just shot the [The Avengers: Age of Ultron] and finished a couple months ago. It's exciting if not more than the first one was to see all those characters come back together.

I still got three more [movies or is it two?] in my contract that I need to finish off, but I love playing the character. So, I'm not in any hurry to finish doing that. It's nice to be able to fit different things in between [playing Thor.]

Giancarlo Esposito Nabs Pivotal "Scorch Trials" Part

Giancarlo Esposito ("Breaking Bad," "Revolution") has joined the cast of the upcoming sequel "The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" for Fox says Heat Vision.

The just-announced follow-up to the boffo box office hit "The Maze Runner" will be based on the second book in author James Dashner's young adult novel trilogy.

In the next installment we find out that the survivors' “escape” was anything but...soon they realize that something’s not right – Teresa goes missing and a new boy, Aris (Mud star Jacob Lofland), is put in her place. Thomas, Newt, Minho, must make their way through the Scorch, a desolate wasteland crawling with plagued humans known as Cranks, and arrive at the designated Safe Haven before time runs out.

Esposito will play Jorge, the leader of  the Cranks. The character also appears in "The Death Cure," the third book in the trilogy which is expected to be adapted as well.

Rosa Salazar ("Insurgent") will play Brenda, the lone female amongst another group of teens who ends up paired with Teen Wolf series co-star and NJ native Dylan O'Brien’s character when both end up on the run in tunnels underneath a city.

Game of Thrones actor Aidan Gillen will play the villain Janson, who is also referred to as Rat-Man.

 Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Kaya Scodelario as well as some of the other main cast from the original are reprising their roles.

The first film's director Wes Ball is back to call action using an adapted script by T.S. Nowlin, who co-wrote the first film with Noah Oppenheim and Grant Pierce Myers.

Production is slated to begin at the end of October---The sequel will hit theaters on September 18th 2015.

"The Rock" Patrols The Beach Of "Baywatch"

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson  is set to star in the long-gestating film version of the hit TV Show "Baywatch" at Paramount.says THR .

 In late 2011 "Rescue Me" co-creator Peter Tolan and Jeremy Garelick had reportedly finished their script which goes the way of the 21 Jump Street movie in that it's not a parody but it is a comedy, and is only loosely based on the show even though there will be some nods to the series.

Series stars David Hassehoff and Pamela Anderson have roles written for them if they wish to appear

Reno 911 creators and stars Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant were attached to work on rhe pic at one point as well In June 2012, Justin Timberlake was linked to play a disgraced former Olympic swimmer trying out for the Baywatch crew. But that's never been confirmed

Justin Malen will do a rewrite of the script that Sean Anders and John Morris (We're the Millers) will direct.

Ivan Reitman, Beau Flynn and Tripp Vinson are producing the pic.

How far along the project is, is unknown at this point.

Box Office Preview: Too Far "Gone"

In David Fincher's thriller Gone Girl (reviews) for Fox that is based on author Gillian Flynn's novel, Ben Affleck stars as a husband whose wife (one time frontrunner Rosamund Pike) disappears during their fifth anniversary - leaving him the prime suspect for her murder.

Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema's "Annabelle," (reviews) the spin-off film centering on the haunted doll character from last year's hit supernatural thriller "The Conjuring" is ready for the fright.

We also get the first film in a proposed new trilogy of motion pictures based on Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins's Christian-themed "Left Behind" (reviews) novel series. The sixteen book series is set in the aftermath of The Rapture, the Christian event in which that religion's true believers are transported to heaven. What remains of the world is shattered and chaotic, and from these ashes rises a Romanian politician promising to restore stability - a politician who is actually the Antichrist.

Nicolas Cage Lea Thompson Cassi Thomson Chad Michael Murray William Ragsdale (the original Fright Night) singer Jordin Sparks Martin Klebba and Nicky Whelan star.

In the drama  The Good Lie (reviews) directed by Philippe Falardeau Sudanese refugees given the chance to resettle in America arrive in Kansas, where their encounter with employment agency (Reese Witherspoon) counselor forever changes all of their lives.

Pamela McClintock of THR:

Will a demonic doll named Annabelle snatch the box-office crown away from David Fincher's film adaptation Gone Girl, the high-profile thriller starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike?

According to prerelease surveys, New Line's horror spinoff Annabelle is tracking to open to $25 million or better this coming weekend, compared to $20 million to $22 million for Gone Girl (both films are rated R).

New Line and parent Warner Bros. are being far more cautious, considering how unreliable tracking has been in recent months, saying they expect a mid- to high teens opening for Annabelle. Final tracking comes out Thursday morning, and should reflect eleventh hour advertising blitzes.

Adult dramas like Gone Girl generally don't open big but can have impressive legs. That holds true for virtually all of Fincher's films. The Social Network opened to $22.5 million domestically on its way to earning $95 million. And two years before that, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, benefiting from stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, debuted to $26.9 million on its way to earning $127.5 million domestically.

Affleck's Oscar-winning Argo, another adult property, debuted to $19.5 million in October 2012 before topping out at $136 million. The film, directed by and starring Affleck, it didn't come in No. 1 until its third weekend.

Gone Girl, a dark adult drama about a tormented marriage, has plenty of pedigree between Fincher, Affleck and Gillian Flynn's novel upon which the film is based, which has sold more than 6 million copies in hardcover. Flynn also wrote the adapted script for the movie, which opened the New York Film Festival Sept. 26, sparking immediate debate as to whether it will be an awards contender. According to tracking, older women are most interested in seeing Gone Girl.

"This very well-received film is going to have a very long shelf life," said Fox distribution chief Chris Aronson.

Comps for Gone Girl include last year's dark drama Prisoners, which debuted to $20.8 million in late September, and Affleck's The Town, which opened to $23.8 million in September 2010.

Annabelle, from New Line and Warner Bros., is a prequel to box-office hit The Conjuring, which debuted to a sizeable $41.9 million in July 2013 (a side character was a haunted doll named Annabelle).

Returning John R. Leonetti in the director's chair, Annabelle stars Alfre Woodard, Annabelle Wallis and Ward Horton. The film boasts strong interest among younger moviegoers, who tend to turn out en masse on opening weekend.

Leo Will NOT Play Steve Jobs

THR reports that Leonardo DiCaprio has taken himself out of the running as the star of the authorized biopic about late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

DiCaprio has stated that he wanted a break for a while, having shot Django Unchained, The Great Gatsby and The Wolf of Wall Street in succession . Having taken this break he is starting work on The Revenant, it would appear that DiCaprio does not want to shoot films back to back again.

Danny Boyle is being eyed to replace David Fincher in the big chair.  DiCaprio and Boyle made The Beach together that released in 2000. Fincher and Sony Pictures were at odds over his aggressive demands for compensation and control of the biopic. Fincher  had wanted to have Christian Bale to play Jobs but the star is not attached to the film.

The studio is said to be looking at Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Bradley Cooper for the title role after Leo's exit.

 "The West Wing" creator and "The Social Network" writer Aaron Sorkin's adapted script of author  Walter Isaacson's authorized biography will give the film a unique narrative.

Talking at the Hero Summit  he says "this entire movie is going to be three scenes, and three scenes only, that all take place in real time."

All three thirty-minute scenes will be "set right before three major product launches." Those three products? The original Macintosh computer in 1984, the NeXT Cube in 1990, and the first generation iPod in 2001. Sorkin finished the script earlier this year.

Mark Gordon, Scott Rudin and Guymon Casady will be producing the as yet uncast film being called Steve Jobs for now.

Ashley Greene Has The "Urge"

Ashley Greene is set to star in the dramatic thriller "Urge" says THR.

The story follows Theresa (Greene) who embarks on an island retreat with a group of friends, where they discover a new designer drug that appears to be perfect. They come to realize that the drug has one major side effect, causing users to lose control of their inhibitions and urges.

Pierce Brosnan will play the creator and distributor of the narcotic.

Sin City: A Dame To Kill For and Machete Kills producer Aaron Kaufman co-wrote the script with Jason Zumwalt and Jerry Stahl from which he will make his directorial debut.

 Skip Williamson and Mark Neveldine are producing the pic.

Production begins this October in New York.

"Truth" Casts Key Roles, About Ready To Start

John Benjamin Hickey has joined "Truth" a film adaptation of the 2005 memoir "Truth and Duty: The Press, The President, And The Privilege Of Power" says Deadline and THR

The book deals with the fallout after Dan Rather (Robert Redford) reported in 2004 that former President George W. Bush had received special treatment while serving in the Air National Guard during the Vietnam War. The report that was based on documents that turned out to be forgeries and the subsequent scandal became known as "Rathergate".

Cate Blanchett is attached to play Rather's producer Mary Mapes who wrote the book. Mapes was accused of lapses in judgment and was fired, while Rather's career and reputation were tarnished.

Hickey will play the husband of Mapes. news Topher Grace (Spider-Man 3) will play one of the key figures behind Rather’s downfall, Mike Smith. He’s “a researcher who helped figure out the truth behind the story Dennis Quaid will play Mapes’ friend, Colonel Roger Charles. Elisabeth Moss will play CBS News veteran Lucy Scott who was tasked with being Mapes' new associate producer to "run point" on the scandal.

"The Amazing Spider-Man" scribe James Vanderbilt makes his directorial debut on the film using the adapted screenplay he wrote.

Brad Fischer, William Sherak, Vanderbilt and Mikkel Bondesen are producing the film.

Production kicks off this week in Sydney, Australia.

Jeff Daniels In Charge Of "The Martian"

Jeff Daniels is in talks to join the cast of "The Martian" says Heat Vision.

The project is based on a 2012 novel by author Andy Weir, which chronicles an astronaut (Matt Damon) who becomes stranded on Mars and tries to find a way back to Earth.

While it may sound similar to last year's Oscar blockbuster Gravity, the story is said to be much different, described as a cross between Apollo 13 and Cast Away.

Daniels would play the director of NASA who is dealing with this crisis.

Jessica Chastain is now in talks while Kristen Wiig is still hovering over the film.“Halt and Catch Fire” star Mackenzie Davis is in final negotiations to take a “small but crucial role”. "The Fantastic Four" star Kate Mara has been offered an unknown role. Michael Pena also stars.

Drew Goddard was in talks to write and direct this pic, but Fox didn't want to wait for his schedule to clear, now that he is committed to directing Sony Pictures' Spidey film series villain spin off "The Sinister Six" and  Netflix's Daredevil TV Series he has left the pic. His script remains behind.

Ridley Scott is set to call action.

Scott, Simon Kinberg and Aditya Sood will produce the pic.

There's no word on yet when production would start. But a November 2015 release date being targeted.

Richard Madden Tagged For "Bastille Day"

Game of Thrones actor Richard Madden is set to join the thriller Bastille Day says Variety.

Andrew Baldwin's screenplay that follows a U.S. operative (Idris Elba) who is told to make a young American boy "disappear" to avoid any embarrassment after he is linked as a prime suspect in a Paris metro bombing. After several more attacks take place, the agent realizes that the young boy is innocent, and in fact, that he may be the only link to the actual perpetrator.

No details were given for Madden's character. Adèle Exarchopoulos also stars. 

James Watkins (The Woman in Black, Eden Lake) is directing--at one time both Pierre Morel and Baran bo Odar were previously attached.

Philippe Rousselet Steve Golin, Bard Dorros and David Kanter will produce the project .

No production schedule was given.

Simon McBurney Is "Mission: Impossible 5" Boss

Simon McBurney (has joined the cast of "Mission: Impossible 5" says Variety.

Tom Cruise will star again as special operative Ethan Hunt in the sequel. Jeremy Renner is all set to reprise his role of William Brandt from 2011's "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" Simon Pegg also returns as will Ving Rhames .

Rhames was a regular in the first three installments of the film series, but only had cameo in "Protocol". No word on how extensive his role is in this film.

The White Queen star Rebecca Ferguson's character is said to be some sort of assassin. This is reportedly the role Jessica Chastain turned down to scheduling, The role requires months of intense training leading up to and during production. Alec Baldwin will play a high-ranking CIA official who oversees Cruise's division. British character actor Sean Harris ("The Borgias," "Deliver Us From Evil," "Prometheus") is set to play the villain.

McBurney will portray the boss of Ferguson's character.

Christopher McQuarrie ("Jack Reacher") is directing MI #5 from a script by video game scribe Will Staples. Drew Pearce penned the initial script.

The filmmakers behind the action sequel have reportedly closed a deal to film inside the Houses of Parliament in London - the first motion picture to do so. Until this year, filming on the site was forbidden. The Shard and Olympic Stadium are also being scouted as well. This would also mark the film series' return to London since the first film in 1996 Paramount has not confirmed this report. Some filming has also taken place in Morocco.

Cruise, David Ellison and J.J. Abrams are producing.

A Christmas 2015 release being targeted

Ethan Hawke As "Doctor Strange"? Maybe...

This Is Infamous reports that Ethan Hawke was offered the lead in Marvel's long gestating Doctor Strange movie on Friday and accepted the job over the weekend. Things quickly progressed into contract talks with a six-picture deal inked.

Now part of the studio's phase three or four plans--Created in 1963 in the comics by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko --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.

The recently hired Scott Derrickson was first reported in contention for the director job earlier this year, along with names like Jonathan Levine ("Warm Bodies") and Mark Andrews ("Brave").

This chatter may have merit since  Hawke previously worked with  Derrickson on 2012's "Sinister".

"Kung Fu Panda" scribes Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger were said to be poised to pen a recent screenplay draft. Back in January 2012, Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer-the writing duo behind the recent remake of Conan the Barbarian had their work seemingly approved by the studio. Just yesterday we learned that Jon Spaihts, best known for writing the early and more "Alien"-inspired drafts of Ridley Scott's "Prometheus" is in talks to rewrite the script. The tone of the film will be similar to that of "Iron Man".

Actor/writer Justin Theroux ("Mulholland Drive," "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle"), Viggo Mortensen and Joel Edgerton were mentioned for the lead as well. "Inception" and "The Dark Knight Rises" star Joseph Gordon-Levitt was the last actor in the mix before Johnny Depp's name was mentioned

Depp is said to have had a meeting "to discuss taking on the role of Dr. Strange." His strong ties to Disney, Marvel's owners, makes him an ideal candidate

On the heels of the director potentials Bleeding Cool reported that: "According to one pretty solid Marvel-adjacent source, Mads Mikkelsen apparently is, or has been, somewhere in the mix for the film's early casting discussions."

Deadline had Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch hovering over the pic recently--The main issue for both actors is scheduling..They already have various commitments elsewhere. Both of them starred together in 2011's "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," remake and the 2007 telemovie "Stuart: A Life Backwards" Badass Digest reported that recent Oscar winner Jared Leto is (or was) being eyed to play the lead. This Is Infamous had it that "Boardwalk Empire" and "American Hustle" cohort Jack Huston.was the latest potential to play the Sorcerer Supreme. but he just landed the lead in the new "Ben-Hur" film adaptation.

A while ago The Wrap had Joaquin Phoenix is in talks for the lead. According to Collider Phoenix still had deets to work out--ultimately deciding NOT to take the role...

Edgar Ramirez has been mentioned as well---possibly playing bad guy Baron Mordo.

Production would begin next May at Pinewood Studio in England. There's no specific release date for "Doctor Strange," yet it will likely take one of the slots that the studio has staked out-recently. it's expected July 8th 2016 will be targeted.

"I Am Legend" Gets The Boot

Warner Bros wants to turn the 2007 film adaptation of author Richard Matheson's classic horror short story "I Am Legend" into a potential film franchise says Deadline

This means rebooting the property without Will Smith.

The studio is using Gary Graham's spec script "A Garden At The End Of The World," a project described as a sci-fi version of John Wayne's "The Searchers," and have decided to retrofit it for the 'Legend' reboot. There is reportedly enough similarities and Graham was brought in to write it.

Akiva Goldsman, James Lassiter, Roy Lee, Joby Harold and Brooklyn Weaver are set to produce.

The original film grossed $586 million worldwide.

RDJ Talks Iron Man 4 Potential

Robert Downey Jr is teasing the idea of reprising his role of Tony Stark/Iron Man in a 4th installment of the film series . RDJ is only committed to doing one more Marvel film which is the third "Avengers" movie. A fourth "Iron Man" would require a contract re-negotiation.

Asked about his future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor tells THR:

"I'm sure we'll ride that thing. You've got to surf that all the way in to shore. I think I was at the forefront of something that was coming into being, and I think it has carried me as much as I have informed it. That's the healthy way to look at it. It's so easy to become inflated by the successes, but what they really are are long, strong trends. It's just another wave."

"Dracula Untold" Ignites Universal's Monsters Cinematic Universe?

The upcoming "Dracula Untold" may not be a standalone feature after all, rather serving as a mini-prologue to Universal Pictures' proposed Classic Monsters cinematic universe.

Formerly known as "Dracula Year Zero"--the project centers on Vlad the Impaler (Luke Evans) and his lust for blood which inspired the mythology behind Bram Stoker's classic novel. In this version Dracula is a Transylvanian prince who risks eternal damnation in order to save his wife and son from a Turkish horde.

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD

The "Dracula" reboot includes a coda set in the modern day involving Evans' Dracula character and the vampire character (turned more human like) played by Charles Dance both milling around a market on the streets of a major city.

END SPOILERS

According to Badass Digest, reshoots were conducted a few months ago to include this sequence.

While the upcoming Untitled Reboot of The Mummy Film Franchise will be the first official film of the initiative, this 'Untold' coda sets the whole thing off.

It's also minor enough that if Untold is a failure, Universal can opt instead to make it retroactively standalone and go forward with another take on Dracula.

Sarah Gadon, Dominic Cooper, Samantha Barks and Art Parkinson also star.

Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless wrote the latest draft of the screenplay from which commercials guy Gary Shore directed Michael De Luca will act as producer.

 "Dracula Untold" is set to hit theaters on October 10, 2014.

Daniel Radcliffe Sets "Now You See Me 2" Gig

Harry Potter film series star Daniel Radcliffe is set to play Sir Michael Caine's son in the sequel "Now You See Me 2".

Chatting with Hey U Guys, Caine said: "There's a sequel to Now You See Me and we're shooting in London. I shoot in December, the whole of December in London, and my son is Harry Potter. I thought it'd be funny, me and Daniel Radcliffe as father and son."

Louis Leterrier's original Now You See Me came outta nowhere last year and surprised the industry making a whopping $117.7 million domestically, and $351 million worldwide--amid a sea of brand name blockbusters.

The first film that centers on a FBI unit locked in a game of cat and mouse against a super-team of the world's greatest illusionists, who pull off a series of bank heists during their performances.

Jesse Eisenberg Morgan Freeman Mark Ruffalo Isla Fisher, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson Dave Franco Common and Mélanie Laurent starred and are expected back.

 "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" director Jon M. Chu is set to call action.

William Hurt Set For "Race" Role

William Hurt has joined the biopic about American track and field legend Jesse Owens called "Race". The news comes via a Press Release.

Stephan James will play Owens. Back in January actor John Boyega ("Attack the Block") was tipped to take the lead role.

Set against the backdrop of Berlin's 1936 Summer Olympics, it chronicles how the son of an Alabama sharecropper won a record four gold medals. Adolf Hitler had insisted Jews and Blacks not be allowed to participate, but relented when threatened with a boycott.

Jason Sudeikis will play Owens’ obsessive coach and mentor, Larry Snyder while Jeremy Irons will portray Avery Brundage, head of the US Olympic committee who fought to stage the Games in Berlin Carice van Houten also stars

 Hurt will play the president of the Amateur Athletic Union Jeremiah Mahoney, who led efforts to boycott the 1936 Olympics in Berlin against Hitler

The film will be based on ESPN host Jeremy Schaap's book "Triumph," with David Seidler ("The King's Speech") writing the adapted script. Stephen Hopkins ("The Life and Death of Peter Sellers") is due to direct. At one point Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day," "Olympus Has Fallen") was attached to direct

Gil Netter, Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun will produce the film.

The pic will open wide on April 8, 2016.

The Maze Runner 2 Finds Its Aris

THR reports that Mud star Jacob Lofland has joined the cast of the upcoming sequel "The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" for Fox.

The just-announced follow-up to the boffo box office hit "The Maze Runner" will be based on the second book in author James Dashner's young adult novel trilogy.

In the next installment we find out that the survivors' “escape” was anything but...soon they realize that something’s not right – Teresa goes missing and a new boy, Aris (Lofland), is put in her place. Thomas, Newt, Minho, must make their way through the Scorch, a desolate wasteland crawling with plagued humans known as Cranks, and arrive at the designated Safe Haven before time runs out.

Rosa Salazar ("Insurgent") will play Brenda, the lone female amongst another group of teens who ends up paired with Teen Wolf series co-star and NJ native Dylan O'Brien’s character when both end up on the run in tunnels underneath a city.

Game of Thrones actor Aidan Gillen will play the villain Janson, who is also referred to as Rat-Man.

 Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Kaya Scodelario as well as some of the other main cast from the original are reprising their roles.

The first film's director Wes Ball is back to call action using an adapted script by T.S. Nowlin, who co-wrote the first film with Noah Oppenheim and Grant Pierce Myers.

Production is slated to begin at the end of October---The sequel will hit theaters on September 18th 2015.

Ben Affleck Circles "The Accountant"

Variety reports that Ben Affleck is up for the lead in the thriller "The Accountant".

Bill Dubuque ("The Judge") wrote the script about a mild-mannered accountant who moonlights as an assassin.

Gavin O'Connor is the favorite to direct here but no official offer has been made yet.

Kevin Scott Frakes, Lynette Howell, Raj Brinder Singh and Mark Williams are producing the project.

Stuck for several years in development, the project was at one time considered for a directorial vehicle for Mel Gibson. At another point along the way Will Smith was attached to star.

It is expected that Ben will take on the role before he directs and stars in the film adaptation of author Dennis Lehane's novel "Live by Night" which begins filming in July of next year.

Interstellar Trailer 3: The Mission Specs

A new trailer for Christopher Nolan's sci-fi film Interstellar is here.

The idea has been around since 2006, when Steven Spielberg was attached to direct--the younger Nolan came on board to write the screenplay in 2007. As late as 2010, the idea was still in play for those two to collaborate.

The premise springs from "a scientific theory by Kip S. Thorne, a Caltech physicist and expert on relativity. His theory that says wormholes exist and can be used for time travel intrigued Spielberg, who attended a Caltech workshop on the subject with Thorne and other scientists."

Matthew McConaughey Jessica Chastain Casey Affleck Michael Caine Anne Hathaway and veteran character actor Bill Irwin  Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream) Mackenzie Foy (The Conjuring The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2) John Lithgow Wes Bentley David Oyelowo David Gyasi Game of Thrones actor Elyes Gabel Matt Damon and Timothee Chalamet star in the pic.

The script was penned by Chris and his younger brother Jonathan Nolan

Christopher Nolan Emma Thomas and Lynda Obst will produce the pic. Jordan Goldberg is executive producing.

All that was known about the plot at first was that it would follow a group of scientists who travel through a wormhole into another dimension.

The Ft. MacLeod Gazette added a key plot point. The "updated synopsis" includes a MINOR SPOILER:

Set in the future, the movie details the toll climate change has taken on agriculture, with corn the last crop to be cultivated. The scientists embark on a journey through a worm hole into other dimensions in search of somewhere other crops can be grown.

The film is Nolan's longest film to date - clocking in at 169 minutes according to The Film Stage. Slashfilm reports that the IMAX Company will be installing a 15perf/70mm film projection system inside the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood exclusively for the run of film. Advance screenings are planned as well.

The film is set for release on November 7, 2014.

The fresh peek details of the mission and what's at stake.

"The Killer" Movie Gets A Writer

Alex Holmes has been hired to write the "The Killer" says Deadline . Holmes penned and directed episodes of "House Of Saddam" and "Strike Back" along with the documentary "Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story".

Based on the first book in author Tom Wood's Victor The Assassin series "The Killer", which centers on an assassin who had no last name and about whom very little is known.

 

 Pierre Morel ("Taken") is on board to direct the film.

 

 Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman will produce the film.

The hope is the film will be the potential first in a franchise.

Morel and the producers just worked together on "The Gunman" starring Sean Penn, Idris Elba and Javier Bardem which opens in February.

Rihanna Gets Bond 24 Acting Gig?

Singer Rihanna is rumored to be making a cameo in Bond 24, according to OK!.

 The trade claims that producers have approached the 26-year old pop stat  to see whether she'd be interested in making a guest appearance in the sequel

Their source says: "Rihanna is a big fan of the Bond films and has always loved the idea of appearing in one. She didn’t even need to think about it, she knows she wants to do it. She’s really excited."

 This would mark the singer's third film role following "Battleship" and "This Is The End".

Does this mean that she will be tipped to sing the title song?

Sam Mendes is once again directing the film. Veteran James Bond screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade have returned to perform rewrites. The duo have been the early writers on the film series since 1999's "The World is Not Enough,"and  they would often do the initial script drafts while other writers like Paul Haggis and John Logan would  polish. The pair were set to retire from the series after handing in their early drafts of "Skyfall," with Logan subsequently taking over the later drafts. Logan was writing the latest adventure solo.

Daniel Craig is back as Bond--we will also see the return of Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris reprising their roles from "Skyfall" as M, Q, and Moneypenny.

Casting for the film's key villain--This character is in line with the tall and imposing types from earlier films like Jaws (Richard Kiel) or Red Grant (Martin Shaw)--and the next Bond girl is now underway with announcements due over the next few months. Several Scandanavian actresses have tested for a secondary role, but the primary Bond girl in this film is said to likely be British.

Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson will produce the new film.

Shooting doesn't begin on the pic until December 6th, but prep is already underway on the Austria/Italy border in the tiny municipality of Obertilliach reports MI6. Production will also take place in Morocco The cast will gather for a table read of the screenplay in late November at Pinewood Studios.

The sequel is still targeting a November 6th 2015 release.

"The Twilight Saga" Lives On As A Series Of Short Films

"The Twilight Saga" will continue as a series of short films--called 'The Storytellers - New Creative Voices of The Twilight Saga' to be directed by at least five aspiring female filmmakers reports HitFix

"Twilight Series" author Stephenie Meyer is teaming up with Women in Film, Facebook and crowdsourcing platform Tongal to develop and produce the shorts which will include films based on a broad spectrum of characters from the "Twilight" universe.

Meyer's "The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide" will offer guidance for the filmmakers to direct the shorts which will be financed through production advances. The winning entries will premiere exclusively on Facebook next year.

Helping to select the winners are Meyer, Kristen Stewart, Catherine Hardwicke, Jennifer Lee, Kate Winslet, Octavia Spencer, Julie Bowen and Women In Film President Cathy Schulman.