The Avengers 2: Spader Talks "Age of Ultron"!

It has been a month since we found out that James Spader will play the villain Ultron in "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" for writer/director Joss Whedon...Now, Spader has finally commented about the casting. 

In a quote from Inquirer it would seem that the job he'll be doing is more than just voice work:

"I have spoken to Joss Whedon about it, and yes, actually, just this weekend I went in for them to take very extensive photographs, head scans, body scans, and all kinds of things in preparation for figuring out how the hell I’m gonna fit in this Ultron character!"

Spader also talked to The Independent about his excitement about the sequel:

"I think it’ll be a lot of fun and it’s incredibly nostalgic for me. When I was a kid my best friend had trunks of comics and I didn’t have any so I used to love going for sleepovers at his house. Also, I have three sons and two of them have a great interest in comics so they’re excited I’m playing the role."

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. 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 now 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.

"The Fifth Beatle" Movie Moves Ahead

Bruce Cohen ("Silver Linings Playbook," "Milk") is set to produce "The Fifth Beatle," a film adaptation of author Vivek J. Tiwary's graphic novel of the same name says Deadline.

The project is described as a human story chronicling the life of The Beatles iconic manager Brian Epstein.

Tiwary is writing the adapted script for the film.

This marks the first feature about The Beatles to obtain the rights to use their original songs.

Production begins next year.

Mouse House Preps Live Action Cruella De Vil Film

Disney has hired Aline Brosh McKenna ("The Devil Wears Prada") to write "Cruella," a new live-action film about another one of its famed animated villains says Heat Vision.

Producer Joe Roth, who is behind a 2014 film about Sleeping Beauty's evil Queen (Angelina Jolie), will produce this new take on the dog fur-loving meanie. The story's new take on the character is being kept a secret

First appearing in the 1956 novel by author Dodie Smith, Cruella De Vil was made famous in the 1961 animated film.  Glenn Close portrayed a live-action version of the character for the 1996 (1996) live-action movie and its 2000 sequel. 102 Dalmatians.

Davis & Spencer Set To "Get On Up" For Taylor

Deadline reports that "The Help" director Tate Taylor will reunite with stars Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer for the James Brown biopic "Get On Up"

The story charts a young boy’s rise from extreme poverty and violence to become The Godfather Of Soul (Chadwick Boseman), one of the most influential black artists in history whose career spanned six decades.

Davis will play Susie Brown, a girl of just 16 when she gave birth to the singing legend. She ultimately abandoned him to live with relatives. Spencer will play the child’s aunt, Anne Tunney, who was a formative figure in his upbringing.

Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth ("Fair Game") wrote the script.

Mick Jagger, Brian Grazer, Victoria Pearman and Erica Huggins will produce.

Production starts in November in Mississippi.

David Zayas Is A Friend To "Annie"

THR reports that Dexter co-star David Zayas has joined the upcoming remake of "Annie".

Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis ("Beasts of the Southern Wild") will star as the iconic big-hearted orphan adopted by a new incarnation of Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks  named Benjamin Stacks (Jamie Foxx) in this contemporary update of the classic Musical and Comic Strip.

Sandra Bullock was offered the role of Miss Hannigan, the mean lady who runs the orphanage where Annie and her fellow orphans live. She had initially passed on the role before coming back to the negotiating table, though her representatives  were unable to strike a deal Cameron Diaz will now take over. Rose Byrne ("Insidious") will play Grace, the assistant to Foxx's Stacks. Bobby Cannavale will play a bulldog political adviser to Foxx’s character as he makes a mayoral run in NYC.

Zayas will play Lou, the local bodega owner who is a friend to Annie and has a crush on Miss Hannigan.

Will Gluck will direct the project and is currently revising the screenplay by Emma Thompson and Aline Brosh McKenna.

James Lassiter, Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Jay Z, Jay Brown and Tyran 'Ty-Ty' Smith
will produce the film.

At one time Will and Jada's daughter Willow was considered for the lead.

Production is underway to meet a planned Christmas 2014 release.

Chris Hemsworth Chats About Mann's Cyberthriller

Actor Chris Hemsworth is wrapping up doing publicity for "Rush" and will soon start talking up the comic book sequel "Thor: The Dark World".

Between the wrap of "Thor 2", and doing said press commitments, he made a film with "Heat" and "Collateral" director Michael Mann--an as yet Untitled Cyberthriller.

All that we know about the plot is that involves hackers and cyber crime. Now though--Hemsworth offered up some new details while talking to Film Futter:

"I just finished it. It’s based in the world of cyber terrorism. Basically, something similar to the Chicago Board of Trade is hacked into and it sets off a chain of events around the world, affecting the stock market. And the code that was used to hack into it, my character had written it years before and he happens to be in prison for cyber crime. He is pulled out and offered a deal if he works with a joint task force of the FBI and the Chinese government in trying to track this guy down"

Mann co-wrote the script with Morgan Davis Foehl (Mass Effect) and has been developing the project for over a year.

 Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni are producing the movie.

Expendables 3: Stallone Regets Anti-Willis Tweet

Back in August, we learned that Bruce Willis had seemingly priced himself out of doing the upcoming action sequel "The Expendables 3". Harrison Ford took over Willis' spot on the roster.

Star Sylvester Stallone tweeted the reason for Willis' departure was money--calling Bruce: "GREEDY AND LAZY ...... A SURE FORMULA FOR CAREER FAILURE"

Now, chatting with Empire, Sly says he regrets posting that tweet: "This is just a matter of economics. Bruce has been a lifelong friend. I still consider him a friend, at least on my side. This is something that came out of frustration. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so vocal with it."

For his part, Willis has kept quiet about the situation...

Jason Statham, Mel Gibson, Dolph Lundgren, Wesley Snipes, Jet Li, Randy Couture, Antonio Banderas, Ronda Rousey,Terry Crews, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Victor Ortiz, Kellan Lutz and Kelsey Grammer also star in the sequel.

It has also been confirmed that Rousey, Ortiz, Lutz and 24-year-old Glen Powell (The Dark Knight Rises) will play members of "a younger group of tech-savvy action heroes" who will clash with Stallone's group at first and then  eventually team-up with them.

The movie will be directed by Patrick Hughes (Red Hill) from a script by Richard Wenk.

Boaz Davidson and Avi Lerner produce the film.

The movie is slated to open August 15th 2014.

Jackman Set For Blomkamp's “Chappie”

While attending the Zurich Film Festival actor Hugh Jackman has confirmed via Screen Daily that he will join Neill Blomkamp's next sci-fi film “Chappie”.

The film is based on “Tetra Vaal” a short film about a robot police force patrolling the slums of South Africa.

Sharlto Copley would play the police robot while Dev Patel will play a man in the impoverished town.

 Hugh's nabbed an as yet unspecified role. “I am doing a role in Neill’s new film, called 'Chappie,' which we shoot in Johannesburg," Jackman said. "I’m there for a couple of weeks at the beginning of next year".

Eugene Khumbanyiwa and Elysium’s Jose Pablo Cantillo also star.

Described as a science fiction comedy, Chappie is based on an original concept thought up by Blomkamp and his wife, District 9 co-writer Terri Tatchell.

Simon Kinberg is producing the film.

Box Office Update: Meat Lovers Delight

It was a sunny weekend at the Cineplex for the CG toon sequel Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs  2 as it sits atop the box office.

Last week's winner--the Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal thriller Prisoners edged out the Ron Howard directed racing biopic "Rush" starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl for #2. The fates of the Joseph Gordon-Levitt written/directed/starring in film Don Jon and Baggage Claim were mixed.

Pamela McClintock of THR:

A crowded weekend at the North American box office saw Sony's Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 opening to a strong $35 from 4,001 theaters, while the three other new offerings -- Ron Howard's Rush, Baggage Claim and Don Jon -- turned in mixed performances.

Families fueled Cloudy 2's debut, which marks the fourth biggest September opening of all time after fellow Sony title Hotel Transylvania, which rolled out on the same weekend a year ago, raking in $42.5 million; Insidious: Chapter 2, which opened to $40.3 million two weeks ago; and Sweet Home Alabama ($35.6 million).

Cloudy 2 is a needed boost for Sony after a dismal summer, and opens just days after Sony showed its global head of marketing Marc Weinstock the door. Digital marketing president Dwight Caines is replacing Weinstock, although Caines will only spearhead domestic campaigns.

The $78 million sequel, earning an A- CinemaScore, opens four years after the first Cloudy turned into a surprise hit for Sony Pictures Animation, debuting to $30.3 million in late September on its way to grossing $245.8 million worldwide. Cloudy 2 is benefiting from being the only fresh family offering in the marketplace (some had thought the 3D animated pic would cross $40 million, although Sony had always given a lower number).

Alcon Entertainment's holdover Prisoners fell to No. 2 in its second weekend, grossing $11.3 million from 3,290 theaters to edge out Rush, the Formula One drama starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl. Prisoners has earned $39 million in its first 10 days.

Playing in far fewer locations than Prisoners (2,297 versus 3,290), Rush grossed $10.3 million as it expanded nationwide after debuting in New York and Los Angeles last weekend. Some box office observers are predicting that Prisoners and Rush will finish even closer to each other when official weekend numbers come in Monday morning.

Rush, independently financed by Cross Creek Pictures and Exclusive Media for $45 million after tax rebates, faces a tremendous challenge in the U.S., where Formula One has never caught on. Universal is distributing the film in the U.S., while Entertainment One is releasing Rush in Canada.

In Rush's favor are strong reviews and an A- CinemaScore. Universal and the producers say the film is playing both to sport fans and to adults seeking more sophisticated fare, and believe it will have strong legs (nearly 50 percent of those seeing the film were over the age of 40).

According to exit polling, 41 percent of Rush's audience identified themselves as fans of F1. Males made up 52 percent of the audience, but plenty of females turned out as well (48 percent).

"Women aren't going because of the racing. The advertising campaign showed them a very unqiue film about two guys that were very competitive," said Universal president of domestic marketing Nikki Rocco.

From an original script by British writer Peter Morgan, Rush recounts the real-life battle between James Hunt and Niki Lauda for the 1976 F1 championship. It is only the second independent film Howard has made after his first film, Grand Theft Auto (1977).

Fox Searchlight's comedy Baggage Claim, targeted toward African-Americans, grossed a solid $9.3 million from 2,027 theaters to come in No. 4.

Directed by David E. Talbert, Baggage Claim stars Paula Patton as a woman who embarks on a 30,000-mile expedition to convince a suitor to marry her so that she isn't the only single person in her family. Taye Diggs and Derek Luke also star in the comedy, which nabbed an A- CinemaScore.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's debut directorial effort Don Jon debuted to $9 million from 2,422 locations (rival studios have it opening slightly lower with $8.8 million). Gordon-Levitt stars opposite Scarlett Johansson in the porn addiction pic, which earned a problematic C+ CinemaScore despite generally strong reviews.

Don Jon made its world premiere at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, where Relativity acquired U.S. rights for $4 million, as well as committing to a $27 million marketing spend. The film, which had to be toned down in order to receive an R-rating, was financed and produced by Voltage Pictures for $5 million to $6 million.

"We're really pleased. It's a strong gross and we want to be in the Joseph Gordon-Levitt business," Relativity distribution chief Kyle Davies. "We think the picture will play well. You can't have reviews this strong without there being a connection to an audience."

Opening exclusively in select Imax theaters is Metallica: Through the Never, a thriller-concert hybrid that heralds the return of Bob Berney's Picturehouse label. The movie grossed a solid $1.7 million from 308 theaters to place No. 13. In Through the Never, Dane DeHaan is a roadie whose surreal mission to retrieve an item for the heavy metal band is set against concert footage from the band's August 2012 tour.

Next Up: Almost anyone who has already seen Alfonso Cuarón's  new sci-fi buzz-worthy thriller "Gravity" has loved it--Will you? Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake team up for the gambling thriller Runner Runner. Adam Scott is an A.C,O.D. (Adult Child of Divorce)

Transformers 4 Photo: The Humans Run Out Of Gas

After months of car teases and behind the scenes explosions--the latest official still from director Michael Bay's "Transformers: Age Of Extinction" features the trio of human leads in the sequel.

The new film follows a high school student, and daughter (Nicola Peltz) of Mark Wahlberg's character, and her race car driver boyfriend--Jack Reynor--who is expected to be signed for three-picture deal.

Stanley Tucci has joined the cast along with a mysterious young actor who hasn't been identified yet. former Frasier star Kelsey Grammer has been cast as the human bad guy---counter intelligence officer Harold Attinger. British actress Sophia Myles ("Moonlight," "Thunderbirds") will play a scientist in the film Comedian-turned-actor T.J. Miller will play Wahlberg's pal in the movie. "Resident Evil: Retribution" co-star Li Bingbing also stars.  Chinese singer/actor Han Geng co-stars. The 29-year-old is a superstar sensation in both his home country – he has 35 millions followers on his Weibo account – and South Korea, where he began his show-business career as a member of the chart-topping pop group Super Junior. Josh Duhamel recently said that they are trying to ensure an appearance for his military hero character, Major Lennox in the film. Titus Welliver appears as well.

Bay has confirmed that the next film is set four years after the events in Chicago as seen in the third film--Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Ehren Kruger wrote the script for the fourth film. Lorenzo di Bonaventura is producing the film.

Production for Transformers 4 began in June, with location shoots in China scheduled to take place in the fall. The sequel hits theaters on June 27th, 2014.

MOS 2: George Clooney On Bat-Fleck

It's almost universally accepted that 1997's "Batman and Robin" is the worst movie of the entire film franchise...

The man who played Bruce Wayne/Batman in that film, George Clooney was asked by Empire magazine (via The Playlist) to share his thoughts about his "Argo" pal Ben Affleck taking on the role in Zack Snyder's upcoming Superman/Batman team-up Man of Steel Sequel:

"I am the least qualified person to comment on anyone playing the role of Batman since I so terribly destroyed the part. I tend to look at it like this - let's just see what the movie is before everyone starts beating him up. He is a smart man, he knows what he is doing."

MOS 2 will see the return of Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent--while Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane are set to reprise their roles as Lois Lane, Perry White and Martha Kent.

Those reports that suggested that the chatter about "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston playing Lex Luthor in the upcoming movie were true have now been denied by the actor.

There's also noise that the production is seeking is a love interest for the Dark Knight in the film. The Type? A woman in their late 20s of any ethnicity. They do, however, specify that she be tall and "possess physicality".

The notice DID NOT give a name for the character, which led to speculation that it could anyone from Vicki Vale to Wonder Woman. A leaked casting call has fanboys thinking that Amazon warrior is in "Batman vs. Superman"

A love interest for Bats suggests that he will have a larger part in the film than expected. It also could mean that other characters like Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred Pennyworth might show up as well.

Singer Justin Bieber uploaded a photo on his Instagram account showing him holding up what appeared to be a personalized script for the film with the hashtag "#Robin" but it turned out to be a prop for a Funny or Die skit.

"Man Of Steel" writer David S. Goyer will 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 film will shoot in Detroit and throughout Michigan sometime in the first quarter of 2014. Warner Bros will also shoot the movie in Toronto to meet its release on July 17 2015.

Hiddleston Keen On Loki Movie With Enchantress

British actor Tom Hiddleston is making the rounds to promote Thor: The Dark World--During a chat with Total Film magazine he was asked about what he'd like to see in a stand alone Loki movie should Marvel ever decide to produce such a project.

As luck would have it, the fan favorite has an idea in mind:

"When I was first reading the comics, [Loki's] relationship with the Enchantress was one of the really fun things I thought would be good to explore… [I] may have even pitched it to Kevin Feige at some point."

Just what makes the relationship interesting enough to explore on film?:

"Because she is as sneaky and as untrustworthy as he was. They basically had a really fantastic and twisted relationship until they both say, 'You know what? I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you. It’s over.' Because they keep betraying each other, in a way. So it could be good."

All I have to say is--Yes please!!

Thor 2 is directed by Alan Taylor and on a larger scale than the first Thor 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. It was recently revealed that "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" writer/director Joss Whedon was brought in to help solve a few issues with the screenplay

The sequel hits theaters on November 8th 2013

Jennifer Lawrence Films A Small Part For "Dumb" Sequel

THR reports that  Hunger Games gal Jennifer Lawrence filmed a cameo for the comedy sequel "Dumb and Dumber To" at Universal Pictures and Red Granite Pictures.

Stars Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are back for writer/directors Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly in the story that sees Harry and Lloyd trying to find Harry’s long-lost daughter in the hopes of having her donate a kidney.

Steve Tom, Rachel Melvin, and "The Walking Dead" co-star Laurie Holden will play the Pichlow family. Holden will play Adele Pichlow, who is secretly poisoning her husband, Dr. Pichlow (Tom) so she can run off with his money. Her nefarious plans also include killing off her step-daughter Penny (Melvin), Lloyd and Harry so she can run off with the family's handyman unscathed.

Rob Riggle will play twins, “a handyman named Travis and his unstable brother, Captain Lippencott.”

Kathleen Turner's character was recently revealed to be Fraida Feltcher, a woman who Harry and Lloyd have both pursued. Brady Bluhm will reprise his role of "Billy in 4C" the blind neighbor of Harry and Lloyd, to whom the pair sold their headless bird Petey.

Lawrence will play the younger version of Turner's character--spending just one day on the set. She recently told the world on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in January that the original Dumb & Dumber is one of  her favorite movies of all time.

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

The Farrelly brothers Riza Aziz Joey McFarland,  Bradley Thomas and Charlie Wessler will produce the film.

Production is underway in Atlanta to meet a likely summer 2014 release.

Twice The Riggle In "Dumb and Dumber To"

THR says that Rob Riggle has joined the comedy sequel "Dumb and Dumber To" at Universal Pictures and Red Granite Pictures.

Stars Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are back for writer/directors Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly in the story that sees Harry and Lloyd trying to find Harry’s long-lost daughter in the hopes of having her donate a kidney.

Riggle will play twins, “a handyman named Travis and his unstable brother, Captain Lippencott.”

Steve Tom, Rachel Melvin, and "The Walking Dead" co-star Laurie Holden will play the Pichlow family. Holden will play Adele Pichlow, who is secretly poisoning her husband, Dr. Pichlow (Tom) so she can run off with his money. Her nefarious plans also include killing off her step-daughter Penny (Melvin), Lloyd and Harry so she can run off with the family's handyman unscathed.

Kathleen Turner's character was recently revealed to be Fraida Feltcher, a woman who Harry and Lloyd have both pursued. Brady Bluhm will reprise his role of "Billy in 4C" the blind neighbor of Harry and Lloyd, to whom the pair sold their headless bird Petey.

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

The Farrelly brothers Riza Aziz Joey McFarland,  Bradley Thomas and Charlie Wessler will produce the film.

Production is underway in Atlanta to meet a likely summer 2014 release.

Taylor Swift Hops On To "The Giver"

EW reports that singer Taylor Swift has landed a supporting role in the Phillip Noyce ("Salt," "The Quiet American") adaptation of "The Giver"

 

Based on author Lois Lowry's celebrated 1993 children's book, the introspective fantasy take is set in a colorless dystopian society in which all memory of human history has been erased, emotion does not exist and citizens' professions are chosen for them. A 12-year-old boy is assigned to serve as the Receiver of Memories (i.e. the next Giver) and discovers that all is not as it seems.

In the film adaptation Aussie actor Brenton Thwaites ("Maleficent," "Blue Lagoon: The Awakening") is Jonas in the aged up role who is selected as the next Receiver of Memory—responsible for the collective consciousness from before the Sameness. He receives these memories from The Giver Jeff Bridges).

Thwaites beat out fellow rising stars Nick Robinson Tye Sheridan, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Dylan Minnette  Miles Heizer and Dylan Sprayberry.

Swift will play Rosemary, the last teen mentored by The Giver before he meets Jonas.

Meryl Streep will play the society’s antagonistic Chief Elder, who assigns the young their tasks.  "True Blood" star Alexander Skarsgård is in talks to play Jonas' father, while Cameron Monaghan will play Jonas' best friend Asher. Odeya Rush ("The Odd Life of Timothy Green") will play Fiona, Jonas' best friend and love interest. Katie Holmes will play Thwaites’ mother, a strict disciple of the laws that govern what is described as an antiseptic society.

Vadim Perelman ("House of Sand and Fog") wrote the most recent draft of the script

Bridges will also produce with Nikki Silver and Neil Koenigsberg

Production begins next month in South Africa.

Goggins Travels To "Mojave"

Deadline reports that Walton Goggins has joined the thriller "Mojave".

Garrett Hedlund plays a suicidal artist who escapes into the desert after an existential crisis, only to encounter a "doppelganger-like" antagonist in the form of a brilliant, homicidal drifter (Oscar Isaac).

Louise Bourgoin  also stars.

William Monaghan wrote the script from which he will direct.

Charles Roven will produce the pic.

Production is currently underway in LA and the Mojave Desert.

MOS 2: Is Wonder Woman In The Film?

A recent casting call for the upcoming Superman/Batman team-up Man of Steel Sequel has led to speculation that the female lead in the film may actually be Wonder Woman.

Bleeding Cool reports that those behind "Batman vs. Superman" are seeking an actress is being sought in her late 20s of all ethnicities. The key emphasis is that she has to be tall and "physically capable of going toe-to-toe with The Dark Knight".

As a result, talent agencies have been submitting actors for this role under the belief that they are submitting candidates who would also be suitable in the Wonder Woman role.

Studio suits are neither confirming or denying the reports.

This is in line with earlier noise that the production is seeking is a love interest for the Dark Knight in the film. The Type? A woman in their late 20s of any ethnicity. They specified at the time  that she be tall and "possess physicality".

Said notice DID NOT give a name for the character, which led to speculation that it could anyone from Vicki Vale to WW.

Meantime, the film's writer David S. Goyer chatted with the Associated Press and revealed that the film is "a bit a further along than what I think people realize."

 He goes on to talk about fan expectation and its impact on the creative process:

"From a fan point of view, we're conscious of that when you're working on these things, but you can't let yourself be paralyzed by that. At the end of the day, you still have to create something. And if you try and think, 'Well what would the fans like?' then you stop being creative. It’s sort of like, 'Where does it end?' You have to write the story that you want to write, and hope that people want to see it."

Goyer was also asked the age old question - Batman fights Superman, who would win in a fight?

"Most comic book purists would say Batman, because he is the ultimate strategist. Even though it makes no sense whatsoever. If Superman just flicked his finger, Batman would be done for."

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.

Those reports that suggested that the chatter about "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston playing Lex Luthor in the upcoming movie were true have now been denied by the actor.

Singer Justin Bieber uploaded a photo on his Instagram account showing him holding up what appeared to be a personalized script for the film with the hashtag "#Robin" but it turned out to be a prop for a Funny or Die skit.

"Man Of Steel" godfather Christopher Nolan is back 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 film will shoot in Detroit and throughout Michigan sometime in the first quarter of 2014. Warner Bros will also shoot the movie in Toronto to meet its release on July 17, 2015.

"Miss Sunshine" Helmers Proclaim "I'm Proud of You"

"Little Miss Sunshine" filmmakers Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris are set to direct a film adaptation of author Tim Madigan's memoir  "I'm Proud of You" says The Wrap.

The story follows a jaded and distracted husband and father who takes a newspaper assignment, writing a celebrity profile of children's television icon Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

From their first meeting in 1995, the pair became unlikely friends and stayed close until Rogers' death in 2003. Rogers, in turn, helped Madigan get over depression and heal his relationship with his father.

Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster are writing the adapted script.

Youree Henley, Peter Saraf and Marc Turtletaub will produce.

"Foxcatcher" Release Date Now In 2014

Sony Pictures Classics has pushed back the release of the true crime biopic "Foxcatcher" until an unspecified date in 2014, taking the film out of awards contention.

The decision was seemingly made by the filmmakers themselves, not the studio who released an official statement saying that they: "support the decision of the filmmakers to allow for more time to finish the film."

Steve Carell would play Schizophrenic murderer John du Pont, the heir to the DuPontChemical fortune who built a wrestling gym called Team Foxcatcher on his Pennsylvania estate. In 1996, he shot and killed his close friend, Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler Dave Schultz, (Mark Ruffalo) at the training center. After the murder, du Pont locked himself in his mansion for two days while he negotiated with police on the telephone. A motive for the crime was never established, and du Pont himself died in a Pennsylvania prison at the age of 72.

Sienna Miller will play the wife of Schultz Channing Tatum will play Mark Schultz David's younger brother who was also an Olympic champion wrestler. Anthony Michael Hall will play the assistant of du Pont.

E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman wrote the script from which Bennett Miller will call the shots. The trio will also produce the pic with Anthony Bregman and Jon Kilik.

Stockard Takes Over Script For Ben And Matt's Bulger Biopic

Deadline reports that "The Town" and "Gone Baby Gone" writer Aaron Stockard will re-teaming with director Ben Affleck for an as yet Untitled Biopic about the notorious Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger.

Bulger was betrayed by the FBI after he became an informant to bring down a rival crime family. Bulger was captured in June 2011 in Santa Monica following a 16-year manhunt. He was recently found guilty.

Matt Damon will star as Bulger and will produce the film with Affleck

Terence Winter had worked on previous drafts of the screenplay.

The project isn't to be confused with Barry Levinson's rival Bulger project "Black Mass"--based on the book by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill.

The untitled biopic won't be happening for a long while due to Affleck's busy schedule.

PHOTO: Meryl Streep Looks Evil "Into the Woods"

Disney has released the first official photo from the film adaptation of the classic 1980s Stephen Sondheim Broadway musical "Into the Woods".

The musical tells the story of a baker (James Corden) and his wife’s (Emily Blunt) attempt to have a family, but uses several classic fairy tale characters, such as Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood, to enhance the story.

Musical co-creator James Lapine is now adapting the script and the film is expected to feature new songs by Sondheim. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides director Rob Marshall will call action on the musical adaptation.

Meryl Streep will play The Witch. a character originated on Broadway by Bernadette Peters. Johnny Depp is playing a sexy version of the Big Bad Wolf. Soap actor Billy Magnussen  will play Rapunzel's (Stage and soap actress MacKenzie Mauzy) Prince Chris Pine is poised to play the film’s other prince. Tracey Ullman will play the mother to Jack the Giant Killer. Tammy Blanchard plays the role of Florinda, one of Cinderella’s evil step sisters. Christine Baranski also stars.

The Witch

You can also see behind the scenes set pics via The Huffington Post.

The film is scheduled for a Christmas 2014 release

Box Office Preview: Now Serving Meatballs

This weekend the Ron Howard directed racing biopic "Rush" (reviews) starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl opens wide. The weather forecasters are calling for it to be Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs  2. (reviews) Paula Patton works in Baggage Claim (reviews); Joseph Gordon-Levitt wrote directed and stars opposite Scarlett Johansson as Don Jon (reviews)

Pamela McClintock of THR:

After a brutal summer, Sony's fortunes should improve this weekend with the debut of 3D animated pic Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2. The studio is projecting a $30 million to $35 million opening, although many box-office observers expect the family film to cross $40 million.

Cloudy 2 opens just days after Sony showed its global head of marketing Marc Weinstock the door. Digital marketing president Dwight Caines is replacing Weinstock, although Caines will only spearhead domestic campaigns.

The sequel opens four years after the first Cloudy turned into a surprise hit for Sony Pictures Animation, opening to $30.3 million in late September on its way to grossing $245.8 million worldwide.

Sony spends more modestly on their animation titles than DreamWorks Animation and Pixar, with Cloudy 2 costing $78 million to produce. The pic opens in three international territories this weekend; Central America, Chile and Vietnam.

The weekend's three other new nationwide entries will see more modest results.

Ron Howard's Formula One drama Rush, starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl, is expected to gross a muted $10 million to $12 million as it expands across the country after opening in New York and Los Angeles last weekend.

The well-reviewed film, independently financed by Cross Creek Pictures and Exclusive Media, faces a tremendous challenge in the U.S., where Formula One has never caught on. Universal is distributing the film in the U.S., while Entertainment One is releasing Rush in Canada. Rush has already begun rolling out in Europe, where it has earned $14 million to date.

From an original script by British writer Peter Morgan, Rush recounts the real-life battle between James Hunt and Niki Lauda for the 1976 F1 championship. It is only the second independent film Howard has made after his first film, Grand Theft Auto (1977).

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's debut directorial effort Don Jon also hits theaters Friday after making its world premiere at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, where Relativity Media acquired U.S. rights or $4 million. Gordon-Levitt stars opposite Scarlett Johansson in the psycho-sexual dramedy, which had to be softened in order to get an R-rating.

Relativity is projecting an $8 million to $10 million opening for Don Jon, which was financed and produced by Voltage Pictures for $5 million to $6 million.

Fox Searchlight's Baggage Claim, targeted toward African-Americans, is expected to open in the $10 million range, but could easily overperform. Directed by David E. Talbert, the comedy stars Paula Patton as a woman who embarks on a 30,000-mile expedition to convince a suitor to marry her so that she isn't the only single person in her family. Taye Diggs and Derek Luke also star.

Opening exclusively in select Imax theaters is Metallica: Through the Never, a thriller-concert hybrid that heralds the return of Bob Berney's Picturehouse label. The movie stars Dane DeHaan as a roadie whose surreal mission to retrieve an item for the heavy metal band is set against concert footage from the band's August 2012 tour.

Bryce Dallas Howard Enters "Jurassic World"

Bryce Dallas Howard is in talks to play a leading role in "Jurassic World" at Universal Pictures says The Wrap.

We know nothing about her potential character but Howard has seemingly been eyed for the long in the works sequel. David Oyelowo is said to had a meeting about the flick as well. There's nothing official just yet though.

Originally slated for June 2014, the sequel was delayed due to further work being need on the super secret script by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (Rise of the Planet of the Apes)--not to mention an already too tight schedule. Safety Not Guaranteed director Colin Trevorrow will call action on the feature.

Steven Spielberg, who directed Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World: Jurassic Park, will executive produce here. Jurassic Park III was brought to the screen by Joe Johnston.

Frank Marshall will produce the dino sequel set to hit theaters on June 12, 2015.

Dawson Confronts "Incarnate"

Heat Vision reports that Rosario Dawson is in negotiations to join the horror thriller Incarnate.

Aaron Eckhart will play an unconventional exorcist who can tap into the subconscious of the possessed. He soon meets his match when a nine-year-old boy is possessed by a demon from his past.

There are no deets about Dawson’s character at this time.

Brad Peyton ("Journey 2: The Mysterious Island") directs from a script by Ronnie Christensen.

Jason Blum is producing the film.

Production begins in November in Los Angeles.

Katie Holmes Is Mom In "The Giver"

Katie Holmes has joined the cast of the Phillip Noyce ("Salt," "The Quiet American") adaptation of "The Giver" says THR.

Based on author Lois Lowry's celebrated 1993 children's book, the introspective fantasy take is set in a colorless dystopian society in which all memory of human history has been erased, emotion does not exist and citizens' professions are chosen for them. A 12-year-old boy is assigned to serve as the Receiver of Memories (i.e. the next Giver) and discovers that all is not as it seems.

In the film adaptation Aussie actor Brenton Thwaites ("Maleficent," "Blue Lagoon: The Awakening") is Jonas in the aged up role who is selected as the next Receiver of Memory—responsible for the collective consciousness from before the Sameness. He receives these memories from The Giver Jeff Bridges).

Thwaites beat out fellow rising stars Nick Robinson Tye Sheridan, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Dylan Minnette  Miles Heizer and Dylan Sprayberry.

“Holmes will play Thwaites’ mother, a strict obeyer of the laws that govern what is described as an antiseptic society.”

Meryl Streep will play the society’s antagonistic Chief Elder, who assigns the young their tasks.  "True Blood" star Alexander Skarsgård is in talks to play Jonas' father, while Cameron Monaghan will play Jonas' best friend Asher. Odeya Rush ("The Odd Life of Timothy Green") will play Fiona, Jonas' best friend and love interest.

Vadim Perelman ("House of Sand and Fog") wrote the most recent draft of the script

Bridges will also produce with Nikki Silver and Neil Koenigsberg

Production begins this Fall in South Africa.

Martinez Tries To Keep Bella Thorne Safe In "Home Invasion"

Under The Dome's Natalie Martinez has joined the thriller "Home Invasion" says Heat Vision.

The story involves a family who is imprisoned in their own home by intruders who toy with their lives. Bella Thorne star of the Disney Channel comedy Shake It Up plays Jamie, a disenchanted teen who guards a personal secret.

Martinez will play Thorne’s strong-willed stepmother, who is determined to keep her new family intact as the night’s horrific events unfold

 Sean Carter will make his directorial debut on the project using Joseph Dembner's screenplay.

Dembner. Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman will produce the film.

Nicolas Chartier and Craig J. Flores. Joel Silver, Steve Richards, and Michael Fiore will exec produce.

Production starts later this Fall

Shake It Up will end its run after three seasons.