Thor 2: Hiddleston Talks Loki, Darlk Elves & Ultron

Tom Hiddleston says the upcoming "Thor: The Dark World" is as much sequel to "The Avengers" as it is to the first "Thor" movie.

Of his role in Thor 2, Hiddleston tells MTV News:

"Loki has a very complicated relationship with Thor. He is an agent of chaos without equal in the world he inhabits. He knows his true nature. He knows he doesn't belong in the family of Asgard, and he's locked away in the beginning of the film in the deepest, darkest recesses of the dungeon as public enemy number one.  Lo and behold, Asgard needs his help. That's going to be a very complicated allegiance. You'll have to see what happens in 'The Dark World' to find out where Loki finishes up."

The sequel is directed by Alan Taylor and on a larger scale than the first film with double the amount of Asgardian characters and the inclusion of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) battling more mythical Norse creatures.

Natalie Portman is back playing Jane Foster Kat Dennings will reprise her role as Darcy Lewis, the spunky sidekick to Portman's from the first film and Idris Elba will be reprising the role of Heimdal. Jamie Alexander plays Sif, ‘Chuck’s’ Zachary Levi is lined up to replace Josh Dallas who will not reprise his role as Warriors Three member Frandral Hopkins will be back playing Thor's pops. Christopher Eccleston will play the villain--the character of Malekith The Accursed, is the ruler of the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim and has magical abilities including teleportation, energy projection, flight, and shape changing ability. He also has a weakness to iron which cancels out his powers. Eccleston takes over from Mads Mikkelsen who was originally slated to play the part but had to pass due to scheduling issues with the Hannibal TV show.The great Alice Krige ("Star Trek: First Contact," "Silent Hill") will play the Dark Elf queen Alflyse. Richard Brake will play a captain in an elite squad of warriors known as the Einherjar. Clive Russell ("Sherlock Holmes") will play Tyr, Asgard’s god of war and the older brother of Thor.

"Saving Private Ryan" scribe Robert Rodat is said to have performed a re-write of the sequel. First Thor co-writer Don Payne had written the first draft.

Talking about the films baddies he says the Dark Elves have "an ancient, ancient grudge" against Asgard and Odin.

The sequel hits theaters on November 8th 2013

Hiddleston also says that, if he were to come back in a future "Avengers" film, he'd love to see Loki settle some "unfinished business" with The Hulk.

Speaking of 'Avengers,' Hiddleston took to Twitter to support of the casting of James Spader as Ultron in  "The Avengers: Age of Ultron": "Go on, James Spader. Go get 'em @Avengers #AgeOfUltron".

Pixar Team Takes Over "The Good Dinosaur"

The L.A. Times confirms that Bob Peterson has been removed as director of Pixar Animation Studios and Disney's 2014 release "The Good Dinosaur".

Pixar suit Ed Catmull says:

"All directors get really deep in their films. Sometimes you just need a different perspective to get the idea out. Sometimes directors... are so deeply embedded in their ideas it actually takes someone else to finish it up. I would go so far as to argue that a lot of live-action films would be better off with that same process."

A replacement has not been named yet, though members of the Pixar bullpen are currently steering the film. Folks like John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich, Mark Andrews, and Pete Sohn are overseeing different sequences to make sure the film meets its May 30th 2014 release date.

The film puts forth that that the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs actually missed the planet, as a result they continue to evolve.

John Lithgow, Frances McDormand, Bill Hader, Neil Patrick Harris and Judy Greer will all lend their voices to the work, while Lucas Neff will voice the lead character of an Apatosaurus named Arlo.

Plot Details On Nolan's "Interstellar"

Christopher Nolan's sci-fi film "Interstellar" is now in production.

Interstellar 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 also star. Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream) that 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 landed roles as well.

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 is known about the plot is that it will follow a group of scientists who travel through a wormhole into another dimension.

Now, The Ft. MacLeod Gazette adds 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 set for release on November 7, 2014.

Uwe Boll Wants YOU To Fund "Postal 2"

German filmmaker Uwe Boll is using Kickstarter with the hope of raising $500,000 for a sequel to his 2007 video video game movie adaptation "Postal".

Boll has made a name for himself calling action helming on some truly terrible films like "House of the Dead," "Alone in the Dark," "Bloodrayne," and "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale"

On Postal 2 Boll says:

"Postal 2 will be a controversial comedy in which we take up current political issues. We take the biggest scandals of our democracy, like the happenings about [Julian Assange]and [Edward Snowden] and show that there is no difference between our democracy and the prison camps in Russia or China. We show that through this massive monitoring our communication data is not safe anymore! We want to make a movie which is totally uncensored, pointed against everything and everybody, against every political party and every religion. There will be no survivors."

Boll's Kickstarter campaign has two months to reach his total. The top pledge available of $10,000 gives you credit as executive producer and gives you permanent access to the set.

Kurt Russell Hops On To "Fast 7"

Kurt Russell is in talks to join the cast of the action sequel Fast & Furious 7 says Variety.

No specific details were given about Russell's role other than that it is the same one the suits at Universal Pictures offered to Denzel Washington a while back (Washington turned it down).

The film will see Jason Statham's Ian Shaw character out for revenge against Dominic and Brian (Vin Diesel and Paul Walker).

Mixed Martial Arts fighter Ronda Rousey and Thai martial arts superstar and Ong-bak star Tony Jaa will make his American film debut in the next installment of the action film franchise.

Chris Morgan writes the script from which The Conjuring "Saw" and "Insidious" director James Wan will call action.

Neal H. Moritz will produce

Production begins soon this in Atlanta to make a July 11, 2014 release.

Turner Joins "Dumb and Dumber To"

80's screen icon Kathleen Turner ("Romancing the Stone," "Body Heat") is set to join the comedy sequel "Dumb and Dumber To" at Universal Pictures and Red Granite Pictures says Variety.

Stars Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are both slated to return for writer/directors Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly in the story that sees Harry and Lloyd trying to find one of their children

There are no details about the character Turner will be playing.

John Morris and Sean Anders wrote the most recent drafts of the script.

Cooper IS Rocket Raccoon In Gunn's "Guardians"

Marvel has officially confirmed all of the chatter that Bradley Cooper will provide the voice for Rocket Raccoon in director James Gunn's film adaptation of the "Guardians Of The Galaxy" comic.

Rocket Raccoon has a penchant for big guns and is also a master tactician. He’s best friends with Groot and in the comics was captain of a starship.

The Guardians of the Galaxy comic book follows a US pilot who ends up in space during a universal conflict, then is forced to go on the run with a band of futuristic alien ex-cons.

Chris Pratt is Peter Quill/Star-Lord-The character is an interplanetary policeman and the Guardians leader who is born of a human mother and alien father.

WWE superstar Dave Bautista plays Drax the Destroyer who born as the human Arthur Douglas, whose family was attacked and murdered by the villainous Thanos (seen in the credt post-script of The Avengers). Arthur's spirit was then placed into a powerful new body by Kronos, which resulted in Drax the Destroyer's creation. The superhero's powers include incredible strength and the ability to emit energy blasts from his hands.

Zoe Saldana is Gamora a "green-skinned humanoid who is the last of a species that was exterminated by a race known as the Badoon" who also "happens to be a skilled assassin."

"The Walking Dead" fave Michael Rooker plays Yondu Udonta who first appeared in a 1969. He hails from the Zatoan tribe on Centauri IV, the first planet to be colonized outside of the Sun's solar system in the 29th Century. Yondu does not possess any super-human abilities, but he is a skilled hunter with a bow and arrow, and has a mystical "sixth sense" that gives him limited empathic abilities with other life forms. He is one of the founding members of the group.

The lovely Ophelia Lovibond plays "The Collector" who "gathers artifacts and beings in the hopes of saving them from a foretold galactic annihilation."

John C. Reilly has been offered the role of Rhomann Dey in the film who is said to be "Agent Coulson of the 'Guardians' movies," a human agent who serves as a go-between with S.H.I.E.L.D. This is quite different from the comic character, described as an alien centurion in the Nova Corps. There's were reports that the studio was interested in either Hugh Laurie, Alan Rickman or Ken Watanabe to play the role of a colleague of the Dey's.

Glenn Close is "playing a leadership role in Nova Corp, the intergalactic space patrol. ... Close’s role would be the closest thing to the one that Samuel L. Jackson plays in Avengers movie.

Benicio Del Toro is playing The Collector. who is billions of years old and does exactly that - collect rare or valuable items from across the universe. He also has the power of prophecy and created a museum of countless life forms to keep them safe from Thanos.

Lee Pace is playing Ronan The Accussor is an alien Kree with superhuman powers. He was a villain, but has become more heroic in the comics - so he'll probably have an arc in the film.

Karen Gillan is set to play Nebula  a space pirate and the apparent granddaughter of Thanos.

Vin Diesel will be providing the voice for Groot who can absorb wood to gain strength, as well as control trees. The surprise here is that the is not as high as profile a role as many though it was going to be.

Gregg Henry also stars.

Screenwriter Chris McCoy was hired to rewrite the Nicole Perlman’s original script.

Production is underway in London The film arrives August 1, 2014.

JT Supports Bat-fleck, Nixes Robin, Wants To Play A Bad Guy

While chatting with WWFS - Fresh 102.7 via MTV News--singer/actor Justin Timberlake added his support for the casting of Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman in the upcoming Superman/Batman team-up Man of Steel Sequel

JT called his "Runner Runner" co-star a "brilliant filmmaker" and "extreme talent".

It was then joked that he could re-team with Affleck as the Caped Crusader's loyal sidekick Robin Timberlake responded: "Not a chance in hell. I ain't playing Robin. I have no aspiration to ever be a superhero in a movie."

The role in the superhero universe he would like to play?:

"Now villain. I'll tell you the villain I want to play more than anything because I grew up loving Batman, funny enough, is the Riddler. The Riddler is my favorite villain... The Riddler was like a sociopath. He was proper crazy. So if I'm gonna play crazy, I'm wanna play proper crazy... I'm ready. The Riddler. Gimme a call."

Runner Runner opens October 4th in the US.

Justin Timberlake Producing "Idolmaker" Remake

Justin Timberlake has entered negotiations to produce the remake of "The Idolmaker" says The Wrap

The original ‘Idolmaker was helmed by Taylor Hackford in 1980 and starred Ray Sharkey. It told the story of rock promoter/producer as Vincent Vacari

Based on the life of Bob Marcucci. Marcucci. who died in 2011 at 81 discovered the likes of Frankie Avalon and Fabian

Timberlake currently has no plans to star in the new version, though that might change depending upon the script and director.

The project shares similar themes to JT's upcoming producing debut, a biopic about iconic 1970s music entrepreneur Neil Bogart called "Spinning Gold" which hopes to shoot next year.

A few years ago, Ryan Gosling was previously signed on to both star in and make his directorial debut on the remake but abruptly pulled out of doing it a few weeks later, due to a busy schedule.

MOS: Snyder Calls Mass Destruction "Mythological"

"Man Of Steel" director Zack Snyder is busy promoting the reboot in Japan--The question about the amount of destruction in the film's final 45 minutes has come up again...

When the movie was released in June fanboys debated the merits of the confrontation between Superman (Henry Cavill) and Zod (Michael Shannon) that saw thousands killed in the city-destroying  melee.

An analysis of the battle suggested a 129,000 death toll for just the Metropolis fight sequences alone. 

Snyder was asked about it by The Japan Times, and his answer has started a debate of its own:

"I wanted the movie to have a mythological feeling. In ancient mythology, mass deaths are used to symbolize disasters. In other countries like Greece and Japan, myths were recounted through the generations, partly to answer unanswerable questions about death and violence. In America, we don’t have that legacy of ancient mythology. Superman is probably the closest we get. It’s a way of recounting the myth."

So wait-You want this incarnation of Supes to be as grounded in as much realism as possible--but then dismiss the fact that the final reels are very unreal by explaining it away as myth--What?

One wonders how all of the widespread destruction will be dealt with in the upcoming Superman/Batman team-up Man of Steel Sequel, and what impact it will have on the citizens of Metropolis and how they view the caped hero?

We'll find out when its released on July 17, 2015.

Legendary Mulls "Dracula" Redux & ."Jurassic Park IV"

As the 5 year deal for co-financing and distribution between Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures set to start--the nitty gritty is now being worked out according to Variety.

Legendary suit Thomas Tull is considering co-financing the"Dracula" reboot.

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.

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 is now in poised to direct. Michael De Luca will act as producer.

Production is underway in Belfast.

Tull is also considering taking on Colin Trevorrow's "Jurassic Park IV" which is scheduled to begin production next year.

Legendary is committed to invest an average of $275 million in Universal films for the first two years of the deal. That doesn't include either the Fast and Furious film franchise or Illumination Entertainment's animated features which are all excluded from the agreement.

Trier's "Louder Than Bombs" Shelved For Now

"Reprise" and "Oslo, August 31st" director Joachim Trier's first English-language feature film, "Louder Than Bombs," has been postponed indefinitely says Screen.

Norwegian based Motley Productions has seemingly failed to provide the financing for the $6.6 million Norwegian-Danish-French-us co-production.

Isabelle Huppert, Gabriel Byrne and Jesse Eisenberg were attached to star in the project which was to begin shooting around a month from now in the United States and Germany.

Trier co-wrote the script with his long-time collaborator Eskil Vogt.

Huppert would play a famous, late war photographer. On the eve of a retrospective of work, her husband (Byrne) and two sons (one played by Eisenberg) discover an unsettling secret from her past.

A statement from the parties involved states that they "are confident that the project will be realised in the near future”.

Box Office Preview: There's Only One Direction To Go...Up?

It's hard to believe that we are about to begin the final weekend of Summer 2013...It's certainly been an interesting one for the big movie studios with the failure of several blockbusters.

For the extended holiday weekend Go inside the world of the popular Brit boy band  One Direction with the docu-concert film This Is Us (reviews); Ethan Hawke tries to save his wife with the help of Selena Gomez in the thriller Getaway (reviews); And you have been watched in Closed Circuit (reviews) by Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall since Wednesday.

Pamela McClintock of THR:

Benefiting from the fan frenzy that surrounds the British boyband, concert documentary One Direction: This Is Us should top the long Labor Day holiday weekend, ringing out a record-breaking summer at the domestic box office despite a number of big-budget misses.

Box office observers expect One Direction to earn around $20 million in its four-day debut, easily besting the dismal $7.2 million debut of last year's Katy Perry concert doc Part of Me in July 2012.

This weekend's other newcomers -- Closed Circuit with Eric Bana and Getaway starring Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez -- face grim prospects. Opening Wednesday, Closed Circuit appears D.O.A., earning only $248,704 in its first two days.

From Working Title Films and released by Focus Features in the U.S., Closed Circuit was directed by John Crowley from a script by Steven Knight. Playing in only 862 theaters, the movie should earn an estimated $2 million for the six days. The rated-R crime thriller stars Bana and Rebecca Hall as attorneys working on a high profile case involving a Muslim man accused of setting off a bomb in London. The British thriller has a 41 percent positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Getaway, directed by Courtney Solomon, is likely to open to a soft $6 or $7 million after receiving weak reviews (the film currently has a 3 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes). The PG-13 film marks the final Dark Castle Entertainment title to be released by Warner Bros. as Joel Silver's production company commences its new deal with Universal. The movie follows a man (Hawke) and his passenger (Spring Breakers star Gomez) who are forced to drive around under the instructions of a man (Jon Voight) who is holding the man's wife hostage. The film is opening in 2,000 theaters.

Also opening this weekend is the Spanish-language comedy Instructions Not Included. Pantelion and Lionsgate are targeting Hispanic adults and will release the film in 347 North American theaters. It should earn around $2 million.

One Direction's main competition is likely to be third week holdover Lee Daniels' The Butler. The Weinstein Co. film has held the No. 1 spot the previous two weekends, and earned $55.7 million domestically to date. Starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey, the film could earn another $14-$15 million this weekend.

Super Size Me doc filmmaker Morgan Spurlock directs Sony's 3D concert film about the British pop band, which is comprised of Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson. The PG film, opening in more than 2,500 theaters, is produced by Spurlock and Simon Cowell, who first assembled boyband after they appeared as solo acts on The U.K.'s The X Factor. The film is rolling out in much of the world this weekend.

Miley Cyrus' Hannah Montana concert film Best of Both Worlds currently holds the record for the top concert film at the domestic box office. It earned $31 million in February 2008. Justin Bieber's concert doc Never Say Never opened in February 2011, earning $29.5 million its opening weekend.

At the specialty box office, Wong Kar-wai's martial arts epic The Grandmaster makes an aggressive push after opening in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto last weekend. From the Weinstein Co., the movie will be playing in nearly 750 theaters on Friday.

Specialty openers include include Afternoon Delight starring Kathryn Hahn and Juno Temple, Brian De Palma's erotic thriller Passion starring Rachel McAdams and Kristen Bell-starrer The Lifeguard.

MOS 2: Supes & Bats Will Go To Motor City

The Michigan Film Office reports that the upcoming Superman/Batman team-up Man of Steel Sequel will shoot in Detroit and throughout Michigan sometime in the first quarter of 2014

The Hollywood Reporter says that the city will stand in for Metropolis--or perhaps even Gotham City
(or both).

 According to THR, "the production is expected to hire 406 Michigan workers, with a full time equivalent of 426 jobs, plus an additional 6,000 man/days of extra work. … The production estimated the use of 500 local Michigan vendors and spending $5.1 million on hotels."

MOS 2 will see the return of Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent, Ben Affleck will play Bruce Wayne/Batman amid lots of fallout while Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane are set to reprise their roles as Lois Lane, Perry White and Martha Kent.

There are reports that suggest that the chatter about "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston playing Lex Luthor in the pic is true. It's said that Cranston's deal could see him appearing in at least six films (and as many as 10) as the criminal genius according to the report. It adds that Warner Bros. is apparently waiting for the Sept. 29 series finale of Breaking Bad to air before making a formal announcement.

"Man Of Steel" director Zack Snyder and writer David S. Goyer will also be back--as will Christopher Nolan to executive produce the film,

Sources say the new movie is going for the tone of the relationship and fight seen in Frank Miller’s 1980s ground-breaking mini-series The Dark Knight Returns.

The studio will also shoot the movie in Toronto in 2014 to meet its release on July 17, 2015

Gaffigan & Walsh Reside in "Staten Island"

THR reports that Jim Gaffigan and Kate Walsh  have joined the coming-of-age comedy Staten Island Summer.

The story revolves around Harvard University-bound Danny (Graham Phillips) and his unambitious best friend Frank (Zack Pearlman) who decide to work as lifeguards during their summer before college.

Walsh and Gaffigan play Danny's parents.

Teen Beach Movie co-star John DeLuca will play Anthony Dibuono, a young, hunky Italian lifeguard whose dream of joining the Navy seems unlikely until he forms a partnership with Danny that proves beneficial for both parties Ashley Greene will play a member of the pool club and the daughter of an overly protected mobster.

Rhys Thomas is directing the film using a screenplay written by Saturday Night Live head writer Colin Jost.

Lorne Michaels will produce the film.

Production is slated to begin later this week in New York.

Cassel Replaces Hoffman In "Child 44"

Vincent Cassel will replace Philip Seymour Hoffman in the cast of the film adaptation of author Tom Rob Smith's novel "Child 44" says Deadline.

The first book in a trilogy is set in the Joseph Stalin-era Soviet Union and follows disgraced lawman Leo Demidov who is assigned to investigate a series of gruesome child murders.

Tom Hardy will play the Soviet officer while Noomi Rapace will play his wife, who pretends to be a doting partner but is concealing many thoughts and feelings. "RoboCop" remake star Joel Kinnaman will play the killer responsible for these brutal deaths. Gary Oldman is set to play a member of the secret police who also happens to be a suspect in the case. Paddy Considine's role is unknown, Fares Fares ("Zero Dark Thirty") will play one of the trusted associates of Hardy's character. Jason Clarke would play Brodsky, a man accused of being a traitor by Hardy's character.

The story is based on the real life tale of Ukrainian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo aka the Rostov Ripper who was executed in 1994 for 52 murders.

Daniel Espinosa will call action on the pic.

Kinnaman and Espinosa have worked together on the international hit Easy Money (a.k.a. Snabba Cash) and the action-thriller Safe House

Richard Price adapted the script.

Ridley Scott was once attached to direct and remains producer with Michael Costigan

Christopher Woodrow, Molly Conners, Maria Cestone Sarah Johnson Redlich and Douglas Urbanski are executive producers

Hardy and Rapace worked on Michael R. Roskam's film adaptation of author Dennis Lehane's short story "Animal Rescue" first,

Filming is now underway on Child 44, which is due to be released in 2014.

"Lore" Movie Gets New Director

Newcomer David Green has signed on to take over for Barry Sonnenfeld and direct the big screen adaptation "Lore" says Deadline.

Described like Sonnenfeld's own "Men in Black with mythological creatures", and based on the graphic novel by Ashley Wood and T.P. Louise--the story follows the secret society of Shepherds - guardians who hold the banished world of mythical creatures at bay. When the generational line of Shepherds is broken, a reluctant hero finds her life threatened from every quarter - and the creatures are coming back.

Dwayne Johnson is attached to star in the sci-fi action flick

Cory Goodman and Jeremy Lott wrote the adapted script.

Andrew Lazar, David Alpert and Rick Jacobs are producing the film.

Sonnenfeld will stay on as executive producer.

Mullally And Coolidge Share "No Good, Very Bad Day"

Megan Mullally and Jennifer Coolidge have joined the live-action adaptation of author Judith Viorst's children's book "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" says THR.

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 star of the Disney Channel comedy Shake It Up is also in the film.

"Cedar Rapids" and "Youth in Revolt" helmer Miguel Arteta calls action--Lisa Cholodenko ("The Kids Are All Right") was previously supposed to direct the project but dropped out. She and Rob Lieber wrote the adapted script.

Shawn Levy is producing.

Filming just began in the Los Angeles area.

Wheatley Rebuilds Ballard's "High Rise"

Ben Wheatley ("Kill List," "Sightseers") is set to direct a film adaptation of author J. G. Ballard's 1975 satirical novel "High Rise".

Set in a luxury ultra-modern high-rise building, the story follows a group of affluent tenants who revert to barbarism. Cocktail parties degenerate into attacks on 'enemy' floors and once-luxurious amenities become an arena for primal and violent mayhem.

Nicolas Roeg almost turned the tale into a film in the '70s. Then, in 2010, Vincenzo Natali was going to direct a pic using a script by Richard Stanley.  The rights lapsed, however, and now a new writing and directing team has come aboard and it seems like they're actually going to get this adaptation across the finish line.

Wheatley's regular writing partner Amy Jump will pen what is being labelled a "faithful" adaptation which aims to shoot next year in the UK.

Wheatley told Empire: "The idea is to be true to Ballard. It is such a rich and interesting time that it seemed a shame to set it anywhere other than England... The scope of the film is exciting. It will be challenging, like Crash, but it’s not as dark as Kill List. The book is pretty out there, though"

Ballard also wrote the book that was turned into Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun" and the novel that became David Cronenberg's "Crash".

Director Leterrier Talks "Now You See Me 2"

Louis Leterrier has confirmed that he's returning to call action on the upcoming sequel Now You See Me 2. He talked to Movieweb about the challenge of doing a follow-up:

"We're actively working on the sequel to Now You See Me, so that is happening. We're writing it, and it's pretty fun. We had such a great time doing that and we loved the characters. Our biggest problem now is that we have too many great ideas. We're sort of saying, 'What if he would do that? That would be amazing, I want to see this, I want to see that.' We want it to be intense and as twisty as the first one, but also want to learn more about the characters and go deeper, what a great sequel should do. That's going to take not too long, but enough so, just like in the first one, it's perfectly crafted. If you think about it, David Copperfield takes five years to prep, to create and prep. We just have a couple of years to do ours. David Copperfield was always saying, 'Your biggest challenge is you only have two years to do your movie, or one year to do your movie.

Costing just $75 million to produce, the first "Now You See Me" made $115 million domestic and a further $120 million-plus in overseas markets

The film was paid for through a "unique international infrastructure of output deals" which has allowed it to be a profitable film for Lionsgate.

Leterrier (Clash of the Titans remake) directed 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 Sir Michael Caine Mark Ruffalo Isla Fisher, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson Dave Franco Common and Mélanie Laurent starred.

Production on the sequel is penciled in for 2014.

Avengers 2: James Spader Is Ultron

James Spader will play the villain Ultron in "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" for writer/director Joss Whedon Marvel has announced

While the sequel DOES NOT follow the Age of Ultron comics storyline--in which the big bad Ultron was created by Hank Pym who becomes Ant-Man. We do not know whether Spader will just voice Ultron, or if he'll have to do some kind of motion-capture as well--This news puts to rest the most popular theory suggesting that Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr,) robot butler J.A.R.V.I.S. (voiced by Paul Bettany) operating system from the Iron Man Films would turn into the villain.

"Kick-Ass 2" star Aaron Taylor-Johnson remains the frontrunner to play Wanda's brother  Quicksilver in the film joining Marvel vets RDJ, Chris Evans Chris Hemsworth Scarlett Johansson Samuel L. Jackson Jeremy Renner Mark Ruffalo, Clark Gregg and Cobie Smulders who are all expected back

The chatter has been confirmed that "Martha Marcy May Marlene" and "Silent House" star Elizabeth Olsen has reportedly become the front runner for the role of Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. Scarlet Witch.

Production is due to begin in February to meet a release date of May 1, 2015.

Mara Steps In For Wasikowska On "Carol"

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and "Side Effects" actress Rooney Mara is set to replace Mia Wasikowska in the film adaptation of author Patricia Highsmith's "Carol" (aka "The Price Of Salt") says Screen.

The film traces the complex relationship between two very different women in 1950s New York. One is a twenty-something girl (Mara) working in a department store who dreams of a more fulfilling life, the other is a wife trapped in a loveless marriage (Cate Blanchett)

Phyllis Nagy penned the adapted script. Filmmaker Todd Haynes ("I'm Not There," "Far from Heaven")  is set to direct the film

Boy A director John Crowley was previously linked as director but vacated over scheduling conflicts.

Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley and Christine Vachon will produce.

Haynes and Blanchett worked together on "I'm Not There".

Production begins in the Spring.

Hawke Talks About Linklater's "Boyhood"

After more than a decade, Richard Linklater's unique drama "Boyhood" will finally be hitting screens next year.

The movie chronicles the growth of a boy (Ellar Salmon) from age 6 to his last year of high school at 17 or 18. Linklater shot the movie in sequence, filming a handful of scenes each year since 2002.

Ethan Hawke plays the boy’s stepfather and Patricia Arquette plays his mother

Now, out doing promotion for this week's thriller "Getaway," Hawke tells The Huffington Post he just shot his final scenes for the pic with overall filming on the project wrapping in November.

Hawke talked about what we can expect:

"This is about growing up and the little moments that define our identity that aren’t about your bar mitzvah or your first time you had sex. There are these signposts that are supposed to be meaningful — prom, or something — that aren’t really meaningful. The movie is going to be — I don’t know what people are going to make out of it — but I do know it’s the damned most original thing I’ve ever been a part of. In 2002 when it started, the parents are going though a divorce and it opens with the mom — and you don’t see me. And then I come for a weekend visit the next year. The first scene I did was with a 7-year-old boy … and I take this 7-year-old boy bowling — and I’m chain smoking in a bowling alley, which was legal then. I finished yesterday and I’m 42 years old — I was 33 when I did my first scene — he’s 19. He’s a grown man! He’s got crazy ear rings and he’s taller than me and he’s intimidating. Just acting in the movie felt like nothing I’ve ever done."

Damon Joins "Interstellar" Directs "A Murder Fortold"

Matt Damon has joined the cast of Christopher Nolan's sci-fi film "Interstellar" for a small and undisclosed role says The Playlist.

Damon's work will take only two weeks of the film's four month shoot, and his scenes will all shoot done in Iceland.

The news comes as Indian actor Irrfan Khan ("Life of Pi") revealed he had to turn down a major role in the project due to the time allotted.

Interstellar 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 also star. Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream) that 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 and Timothee Chalamet landed roles as well.

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

The film will follow a group of scientists who travel through a wormhole into another dimension.

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

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

Meantime Damon will make his directorial debut on the real life drama "The Foreigner". 

"Argo" writer Chris Terrio wrote the script based on a 2008 article from The New Yorker by David Grann titled "A Murder Foretold".

The story follows a man who is gunned down in the escalating violence in Guatemala, leaving behind a videotape after his death. The tape implicates the president, his wife, and other close aides in his killing. A special prosecutor is brought in to learn the shocking truth behind the man's murder.

Star Wars: RUMOR Pettyfer & Hurd-Wood Are The Kids Of...?

Latino Review says that Alex Pettyfer ("Magic Mike," "I Am Number Four) and Rachel Hurd-Wood are the latest names to join the rumor mill regarding J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars: Episode VII".

Pettyfer is likely auditioning for the role of Luke Skywalker’s son. Hurd-Wood reportedly went in for an audition to play the daughter of Princess Leia in the sequel. LR claims they "got it confirmed via representation and other solid sources". They also say Hurd-Wood is the only one to have read for the part so far, but she's expected to be the first of several to do so.

Some sort of official casting announcement for another role in the film is also said to be imminent.

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 is said to include Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo in their later years.   No official word yet if Mark Hamill could be tempted to return as Luke Skywalker but he is interested... Carrie Fisher had all but confirmed that she would be back in the role of Princess Leia--but then her rep told CNN that she 'was joking'  Harrison Ford is also interested..."

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.

Fellow Original cast mates Billy Dee Williams and Anthony Daniels say that they are keen on returning to that "galaxy far, far, away". Earlier in July actor Ray Park said that he would be interested in playing Darth Maul again as well. Back in May LR said that "The Tudors" and future Dracula TV series star Jonathan Rhys Meyers is having his "name thrown around a lot" in connection with the movie.

It's rumored that Ewan McGregor will return as the Force Ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi McGregor played the Jedi Master in The Prequel Trilogy while Alec Guinness portrayed the Force Ghost version of Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Original Trilogy. The Force Ghost is much the same way that actor Ian McDiarmid  could return as Emperor Palpatine. The character met his end in the final reel of "Return of the Jedi"...

Zac Efron and Ryan Gosling are rumored to be in the running for the eagerly awaited next film with Gosling in particular is being talked about for the role of Luke Skywalker's son as well Leonardo DiCaprio is said to have passed on an offer to appear. Pretty wild...

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 installments of the new "Star Wars" trilogy. Kasdan and Kinberg are also indeed developing stand alone Star Wars features.

The series MVP composer John Williams is set to score Episode VII, Episode VIII and Episode IX.

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

Production is reportedly set to start on Tuesday January 21st 2014 in London