Bot Babe

An offer is officially out to Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington Whiteley to play the female lead in Transformers 3 reports Deadline.
Huntington-Whiteley read for the role of Shia Labeouf's love interest last Friday and was the front runner on a short-list of three actresses which included Sarah Wright and Brooklyn Decker.
Now it appears the other two actresses have been informed Huntington-Whiteley has the part with last-minute negotiation snags to potentially change that standing.
Chief Bot man Michael Bay has worked on several Victoria’s Secret commercials. Despite no relative acting experience, filming on her role kicks off shortly.
Thank God Bay did not consider this Audition Tape

Revenant Revs Up

Christian Bale is in talks to star and John Hillcoat ("The Road," "The Proposition") is going to direct the period revenge tale "The Revenant" says Bloody Disgusting.

Based on the book by Michael Punke, the story follows solider/adventurer Hugh Glass who, after being attacked by a bear along the Missouri River and left for dead by his friends, sets out to hunt them down for leaving him behind

Mark L. Smith ("Vacancy") is writing the script.

Bale in a revenge tale should be very cool...

Samuel L. Jackson was previously attached to the project when Chan-wook Park was going to direct the adaptation some years ago

Smith told the site that he is writing a remake of the Pascal Laugier film Martyrs for producer Wyck Godfrey and he also revealed some details on a secret project he's working on with director Patrick Tatopoulos.

Gamer

Ari Sandel ("West Bank Story") is in talks to direct the dating comedy "The Game" says Variety.

Based upon author Neil Strauss' book--the story follows an average and unlucky in love loser who tries becoming the world's best pickup artist with the help of professional seduction experts.

Adam Sztykiel ("Due Date") is rewriting Dan Weiss' script adaptation

The pic has been in the pipeline since 2006.

Meanwhile Sztykiel has also sold his family-centered comedy pitch "The Fight Before Christmas" that Shawn Levy will produce.

Great Last Minute Add On

Lost's Mr. Eko Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje has joined the already in production prequel of The Thing says Bloody Disgusting

Inspired by John Carpenter's 1982 horror classic--sees an Antarctica outpost where an alien spaceship is discovered far beneath the ice. When a group of ambitious scientists decide to thaw out one of the creatures inside, they're in for the terrifying fight of their lives.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Joel Edgerton star along with Dennis Storhøi, Trond Espen Seim, Jørgen Langhelle, Eric Christian Olsen, Stig Henrik Hoff, Jan Gunnar Røise, and Kristofer Hivju under the direction of Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.

The film hits theaters next year

Mid-Level

The Risky Business Blog reports that 'Woody Allen's latest comedy Midnight in Paris has been cast.

Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen Owen Wilson, Nina Arianda, Kurt Fuller, Tom Hiddleston, Mimi Kennedy, and Alison Pill.will all appear in the film.

The plot is not yet known but filming is to get underway in a few weeks--Still it's unusual that an Allen even has a title before production begins

Less Is More

Jesse Eisenberg will reunite with his Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer for the comedy 30 Minutes or Less says The Hollywood Reporter

Eisenberg will star as a pizza delivery guy who, along with his best friend, a junior high teacher (Aziz Ansari) are forced by a bunch of criminals (Danny McBride, Michael Peña and Nick Swardson) to rob a bank.

Written by Michael Diliberti and Matthew Sullivan, and produced by Ben Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld and Jeremy Kramer

Eisenberg has been doing solid stuff in films like "Roger Dodger," "Adventureland" and "The Squid and the Whale”"

Next up is "The Social Network" for director David Fincher, coming this fall

Martial Voice Artists

Jean-Claude Van Damme Michelle Yeoh, and Victor Garber have joined the cast of Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom according to an official press release.

They join returning stars Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross and James Hong in the film which is scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend next year. The previously announced release date was June 3, 2011.

The Charlie Kaufman written Jennifer Yuh Nelson directed sequel will follow Po, the world's biggest kung fu fan, as he continues his journey as the chosen one who fulfills an ancient prophesy while mastering the art of kung fu.

Yeoh will voice the mystical character of The Soothsayer (a goat). Van Damme and Garber round out the cast as Master Croc and Master Thundering Rhino, respectively

Crooners?

Martin Scorsese told The Hindu that the script from Phil Alden Robinson is ready for his planned biopic Sinatra about entertainment legend Frank Sinatra's life. and now it's time to think casting

"I've had it in mind for a long time. Even the initial script is ready. I'm yet to spot the actor who can bring back Frank Sinatra alive on screen. My choice is Al Pacino and Robert De Niro as Dean Martin" says Scorsese.

The duo would be a dream team for this biopic. But Johnny Depp would be the studio's pick-- while George Clooney is the choice of Sinatra's own daughter Nancy Sinatra.

Love ya Nancy but Clooney--ugh!

The film is expected to explore the darker side of the singer as well as the musical side.

Blowing Bubbles

A remake of the all-star, 1991 comedy Soapdish is on the way says Pajiba.

The original direcred by Michael Hoffman followed the behind-the-scenes mayhem of a popular soap opera where the aging 'Queen of Daytime' Celeste Talbot (Sally Field) finds her life turned upside down by an ambitious producer (Robert Downey Jr.), a jealous actress (Cathy Moriarty), and both her niece (Elisabeth Shue) and her ex-flame (Kevin Kline) who end up working on the show.

Whoopi Goldberg, Carrie Fisher, Teri Hatcher, Kathy Najimy and Garry Marshall also starred.

It only earned a mere $18 million in the US--but the comedy pulled in a strong $68 million internationally - costing a mere $7 million to make.

Some of the films more outlandish story elements seem much more reasonable considering the state of daytime soap operas today

The new version is expected to take place behind the scenes of a telenovela with writers being presently sought.

The question is will they be able to assemble a cast as talented as the last one?

Downey & Goldberg both said there's a lot more improvization in the original than you might think...

The first one is just plain chaotic fun and is a guilty pleasure of mine...Casting is gonna be tough on the update

Sweet Jesus

Bette Midler, Sam Rockwell, Kim Cattrall and British singer Pixie Lott have joined the cast of the 70's-themed comedy "Sweet Baby Jesus" says Deadline.

Rockwell and Lott will play an expecting hippie couple who arrive in Bethlehem, Maryland to visit the woman's mother (Cattrall). There they reveal the pregnancy is not via the boyfriend and the townspeople are convinced they're about to witness the Second Coming of Christ .

Midler plays the owner of a guest house that is putting up the couple.

Lott makes her film debut here in a role meant for Britney Spears

Peter Hewitt (Garfield) will direct from a script by Steve Blair.

Filming kicks off this August in Maryland and Ireland.

Mass Appeal

Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros.have won the feature film rights to BioWare: Games hit franchise "Mass Effect" says a press release

The epic science fiction series takes place in the year 2183 and follows Commander Shepard of the SS Normandy who leads a team on a mission to defeat an ancient alien race that invades the galaxy every 50,000 years, wiping out all organic life.

The 2nd game in a planned trilogy hit this past January and scored rave reviews all over the world.

Producers are in discussions with Mark Protosevich ("Thor") to draft a screenplay.

Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni will produce the film with Avi and Ari Arad. Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk will serve as executive producers with Casey Hudson.

Journey's End?

The Journey to the Center of the Earth Sequel has lost both star Brendan Fraser and director Eric Brevig seem to have left the 3-D pic says Deadline

Brad Peyton n (Cats & Dogs - The Revenge of Kitty Galore) is close to inking a deal to direct the feature which could be focused on the nephew played by Josh Hutcherson

Fraser felt strongly about making the movie with Brevig, however the studio wants the film out by Fall 2011 which wouldn't fit with Brevig's schedule.

Fraser could still potentially be involved, but chances are very slim

Galaxy Wars

Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films have purchased Terry Rossio and Bill Marsilii’s (Deja Vu ) epic space adventure, Lightspeed for a cool $3.5 million says Variety.

The story follows a young pilot who makes the Earth Interstellar Racing Team and must take his ship on a perilous journey across the galaxy that's on the brink of war.

Bruckheimer will produce the project which he sees as a live-action,and possibly 3-D flick

Enter The Exodus

Luke Goss Andy Garcia, Mario Van Peebles and Aidan Quinn have all joined the cast of the indie crime drama "The Exodus of Charlie Wright" says The Hollywood Reporter.

R. Ellis Frazier directs from his own screenplay that follows Charlie (Quinn), a Los Angeles billionaire who goes into self-imposed exile in Tijuana when his fraudulently built empire crumbles.

Searching for the woman he abandoned there 25 years before, Charlie is pursued by a Mexican gangster (Garcia), a federal agent (Van Peebles) and thugs sent by a former client (Goss).

Frazier will produce alongside Geoffrey Ross

Filming kicks off next week in Mexico and Los Angeles.

Taken For Granted

Australian actor Grant Bowler (TV's "Lost," & "Ugly Betty") lands roles in the action flick The Killer Elite and indie drama The City of Gardens says The Hollywood Reporter.

Currently filming in Melbourne under the direction of Gary McKendry, 'Elite' follows a private British vigilante group setting out to eliminate a band of contract killers. Bowler will play Capt. James Cregg, an Sas officer and war hero who is one of the targets.

Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro also star.

'Gardens' follows a young California surfer in 1980 who is framed and thrown in a Peruvian jail for political prisoners before escaping.

Bowler will play a schizophrenic named Jesus Christ who is stuck in solitary confinement.

John Robinson, James Remar and Deborah Unger also star.

Camilo Vila directs and shooting kicks off this month in Peru.

Bowler will next be seen as a biker-turned-werewolf on the upcoming third season of "True Blood" which kicks off June 13th on HBO.

Search And Restore

Film Score Monthly and Screen Archives Entertainment are following up last year's expanded score of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan by doing the same for James Horner’s work on Star Trek III: The Search for Spock score

Star Trek III: The Expanded Soundtrack front cover

The original release of the Star Trek III score was on a single 43-minute LP/cassette. The FSM edition is on 2 CDs , both newly mastered from recording engineer Dan Wallin's first-generation digital film mixes.

Disc one features the complete score as intended for the film itself, including such long-desired cues as “Grissom Destroyed,” “A Fighting Chance to Live” (featuring the Enterprise’s self-destruct countdown and immolation in Genesis’s atmosphere) and “Genesis Destroyed.” In addition, previously unreleased film versions of cues such as “Klingons” and “Stealing the Enterprise” make their premiere, with differences that are subtle but noticeable to devoted fans.

Disc two features a recreation (in better sound quality) of the familiar LP sequence—complete with GROUP 87’s pop version of “The Search for Spock.”

There's also a 20-page booklet that features liner notes....

Star Trek III: The Expanded Soundtrack inside back cover uses original LP cover

DISC 1: Film Score

1. Prologue and Main Title 6:30
2. Klingons 5:57
3. Spock's Cabin 1:40
4. The Klingon's Plan 1:01
5. The Mind-Meld 2:31
6. Stealing the Enterprise 8:39
7. Grissom Destroyed 1:02
8. Sunset on Genesis 2:17
9. Spock Endures Pon Farr 3:04
10. Bird of Prey Decloaks 3:47
11. A Fighting Chance to Live 3:52
12. Genesis Destroyed 2:42
13. Returning to Vulcan 4:56
14. The Katra Ritual 4:30
15. End Titles 6:13
16. That Old Black Magic/Tangerine/I Remember You (Bar Source) 10:32

    Total Time: 69:45

DISC 2: Soundtrack Album

1. Prologue and Main Title* 6:29
2. Klingons* 5:56
3. Stealing the Enterprise* 8:34
4. The Mind-Meld 2:31
5. Bird of Prey Decloaks 3:46
6. Returning to Vulcan* 4:53
7. The Katra Ritual 4:30
8. End Titles 6:13
9. The Search for Spock: Theme From Star Trek III (Performed by Group 87) 3:42

This complete Star Trek III: The Search for Spock CD set begins shipping on June 1st, and can be pre-ordered now at www.screenarchives.com.

Not quite as good as the music from TWOK but still a must have for the as yet unreleased material and new sound mix--Can't Wait!

She's Game For Anything

Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev has joined the action thriller "Deathgames" says Heat Vision.

The story centers on a young man (Kellan Lutz) kidnapped and forced into a savage modern gladiator arena where men fight to the death for the amusement of online gamblers and the games organiser (Samuel L. Jackson).

Dobrev will play the young man's wife.

James Remar and Derek Mears have also joined the cast playing a mysterious character named Tall Man and a fighter named Brutus Jackson respectively.

Daniel Dae Kim o also stars as a fighter.

Jonah Loop makes his directorial debut on the pic Production is currently underway in Louisiana.

Hard Kill

Deadline reports that Daniel Benmayor has been hired to direct Hitman 2.

The video game inspired sequel also has a new writer Daniel Casey who takes over script duties from Kyle Ward based in part on the forthcoming game Hitman 5 released from Eidos Interactive by late 2010.

The original Hitman flick released in November 2007, made $100 million worldwide on a production budget of $30 million, but was critically slaughtered.

Timothy Olyphant played the lead role, a genetically-engineered killer codenamed Agent 47, but there is no word on whether he’ll return for this sequel.

Benmayor has helmed TV ads and made his feature debut with the solid action pic Paintball.

A fall start date for the film is planned but with no star yet in place or futher info this late--Can they hit that target?.

Cooper Duper

Rising star Dominic Cooper is about to take it up a notch-as he is set to play Howard Stark in the Joe Johnston's comic book pic Captain America: The First Avenger says Salon

Played by John Slattery in Iron Man 2 the man is the father of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.)

He joins Chris Evans as our hero, Hugo Weaving as the villain Red Skull, Toby Jones as evil scientist Arnim Zola, Hayley Atwell as Cap's love interest Peggy Carter, Sebastian Stan as Cap's sidekick Bucky Barnes.

Just off apearring opposite Carey Mulligan in An Education and soon to be seen in Tamara Drewe this role is a big get for the young Cooper--Since as co-founder of S.H.I.E.L.D. the elder Stark could appear in several sequels or spin offs

Cap comes to theaters July 22nd, 2011

Living Off The Land

Michael Clarke Duncan has joined the cast of the 3-D action-thriller "No Man's Land" says Variety.

Described as a cross between reality competition The Amazing Race and Deliverance the story follows a group of reality show contestants on a globe-trotting race who are traversing a dense Louisiana swamp where a misunderstanding with a group of backwater Cajuns turns into an all-out blood feud.

Sharni Vinson, Samm Levine, Christopher McDonald and Zuleikha Robinson ("Lost") also star.

Jason Cox directs from a screenplay by Kevin Leonard and Jim Doyle.

Tracy Bennett, Lee Ross, Jeff Stern and Jeff Spilman are producing the flick.

Shooting kicks off in September.