Is Aaron V. Williamson In Terminator 5?

Bodybuilder and actor Aaron V. Williamson has reportedly signed on to play a younger T-800
in the sequel reboot Terminator 5 aka Terminator: Genesis says Terminator Fans.

Williamson's involvement was discovered thanks to a now-deleted post on one of the actor's social networking pages where he reportedly said:

"Thanks to an amazing team of people who help me get better each week, both physically & creatively, I'll be playing a T-800 (Terminator) in the upcoming production Terminator: Genesis. I'm extremely grateful & motivated as this new chapter begins to take shape."

Skydance and Paramount have not commented on the casting story. Williamson confirmed that he has been cast in the film but wouldn't offer any specific details.

Jai Courtney has won the role of Kyle Reese. The Good Day to Die Hard star beat out Boyd Holbrook his nearest competitor who is to have tested twice--while Sam Reid, Wilson Bethel, and newcomer, Thomas Cocquerel were also contenders for the role of Reese. All 5 actors tested for the role last month. Seemingly, both Nicholas Hoult and Garrett Hedlund were studio favorites but have declined to enter negotiations for the role.

The film will apparently "end the story of Skynet's battle with the resistance".

Australian actor Jason Clarke ("Zero Dark Thirty," "White House Down") is in early talks to play the role of John Connor in the upcoming reboot. Hedlund Tom Hardy and ironically Holbrook ("The Host") were said to be up for John as well. Emilia Clarke is set to play a young Sarah Connor in the film. She beat out Brie Larson for the role. Former "Spider-Man" scene stealer J.K. Simmons will play a weary and alcoholic detective who has followed a bizarre case involving Sarah Connor and robots for more than three decades starting in 1984 and the events depicted in The Terminator. Dayo Okeniyi (The Hunger Games) has signed on to play the part of  Danny Dyson--the son of Miles Dyson, played by Joe Morton in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" who designed the neural-net processor that would lead to the creation of Skynet.

Arnold Schwarzenegger will return while cohorts Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn have been rumored to be involved as well.

 Byung-hun Lee, Michael Gladis and Sandrine Holt co-star. Lee's role, "promises to be a doozy."

Meanwhile, Drew McWeeney at Hitfix discusses the time travel component of the new film and revealed that this new Terminator overlaps with events in the original 1984 classic ala "Back to the Future". In one scene we see Arnie's older "Terminator" walking into one of the iconic early scenes from the first film after his younger counterpart has left.

No other story details have been offered but we do know that the new pic is the chapter of a stand alone trilogy. Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier wrote the script from which "Thor: The Dark World" director Alan Taylor  is all but set to call action. Clarke has experience working with Taylor on the cable drama "Game of Thrones". She also has a six degrees connection to the franchise: Clarke's Thrones co-star Lena Headey played Sarah Connor in the TV series "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles".

David Ellison's going to produce the film

Production takes place in New Orleans to meet a July 1st 2015 release.

Jackman Says Next "Wolverine" Will Be His Last

On the stump for Bryan Singer's "X-Men Days of Future Past" Hugh Jackman tells SFX that he still hasn't signed on for the as yet Untitled Wolverine Sequel. He adds that even if he does the movie it will be his final outing as the clawed mutant Wolverine:

"I don't know yet. We're talking it through. I still am very ambitious for the character. And tonally I feel like we corrected the ship with the last one. But I feel we can still go further, in a way. If I did another one I'm 99.9% sure it would be the last, so that will inform what it is for me."

He confirmed that he and "The Wolverine" director James Mangold are currently considering adapting  Mark Millar's Old Man Logan storyline, but nothing has been decided on yet.

"Of course we're looking at Old Man Logan, because that may be the only option left at this point! [laughs] We are looking at a lot of different storylines. No one has jumped out. You can tell from my answer that we're still working it out."

 Fox has hired screenwriter David James Kelly to write the script for the film--The sequel already has a release date of  March 3rd 2017

It's seems to be the right time to talk about Wolverine's end since last week Marvel had announced the 'Death of Wolverine'--a four-part series due this September--where Logan will be stripped of his healing powers.

Baz Luhrmann To Chart An Elvis Biopic

The Wrap says that Baz Luhrmann is in talks to direct a biopic about iconic singer Elvis Presley for Warner Bros.

The studio has secured rights to all musical components in Presley's catalog for this project which will not be based on any pre-existing material.

Kelly Marcel ("Fifty Shades of Grey," "Saving Mr. Banks") is writing the script bur it's  unclear which periods of Presley's life the film will concentrate on.

Gail Berman is producing the biopic.

It's expected Luhrmann's wife Catherine Martin will come on board as costume designer and potentially production designer.

Luhrmann is also developing the film adaptation of the 1970s martial arts TV series "Kung Fu" for Legendary Pictures and it's unclear which one of these two pics be his immediate next project following last year's "The Great Gatsby".

Marvel's Quesada Thinks Zod Is The Hero In "Man Of Steel"

Marvel's Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada just upped the ante on the rivalry between the company and DC Entertainment during his recent interview on director Kevin Smith's Fatman on Batman podcast.

During the chat Quesada talked about Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel" and said he wasn't a fan of the reboot, though his primary issue with the film may surprise you..

 He says (via The Mary Sue):

"As a comic book fan, I wanted to love that movie so much. I just think at the end of the day, Zod [Michael Shannon] was the hero of the movie to me. He wanted to save his race, and Superman [Henry Cavill] didn't let him. Zod, in this particular incarnation, struck me as not necessarily an evil man, he had his orders, he had a mission. Correct me if I'm wrong, but he didn't say, 'I want to rebuild Krypton, and then come back and destroy this little planet. All I want is to rebuild this planet. And the only reason I'm blowing everything to bits here is because you've got what I want, and you're not giving it to me. So please, give me my people, and I'll leave.' When Superman said 'Krypton had its chance,' I was like, 'Will you just f*cking kill him, Zod?'...You could have had a better solution if you had written a better problem. So I see things like that, and I'm like, 'Aww, man.' It was one of some things in the movie, that I just ended up feeling disappointed in it."

If you read my review of  the film--you will note my own issues with the reboot--Allowing for the Marvel/DC rivalry--I have to admit  Quesada makes a valid point--It's one that did not occur to me...Until now...

Hartnett Is Back: Explains Why He Turned Down Superman

Actor Josh Hartnett is on the stump for Showtime's cable series Penny Dreadful and spoke with Details about the time when he was offered the lead role in Bryan Singer's 2006 pseudo-sequel to the director Richard Donner started series "Superman Returns" starring :Brandon Routh

"Spider-Man was something we talked about. Batman was another one. But I somehow knew those roles had potential to define me, and I didn't want that. I didn't want to be labeled as Superman for the rest of my career. I was maybe 22, but I saw the danger. I didn't have those agents for much longer after that. There was a lot of infighting between my manager and agents, trying to figure out who to put the blame on. It got to the point where none of us were able to work together."

If a similar offer were to made today?

Hartnett says: "I'd say, 'Let's talk about how it would be done, see if we can get on the same page.' Compromise doesn't scare me anymore."

Hartnet has also explained why he quit Hollywood and moved back to Minnesota.

The vampire series Penny Dreadful premieres May 11th at 10:00 PM

Jon M. Chu Finds "Jem And The Holograms" Male Lead

THR reports that "The Boy Next Door" co-star Ryan Guzman has joined the upcoming live-action film version of the classic 1980s cartoon and Hasbro toys "Jem and the Holograms".

The original mid-late 1980s cartoon created by Christy Marx followed a musical superstar named Jem, who is actually a young woman named Jerrica Benton who uses a holographic computer to clandestinely perform rock concerts.

Playing the Holograms are Stefanie Scott ("A.N.T. Farm") in the role of Kimber, Aurora Perrineau ("Pretty Little Liars") as Shana, and Hayley Kiyoko ("The Fosters") as Aja.

Guzman is playing Rio, the road manager and technical engineer for the band. He is also Jem's love interest in the film.

Ryan Landels wrote the adapted script for director Jon M. Chu which follows an orphaned teenage girl (Nashville co-star Aubrey Peeples) who becomes an online recording sensation. She and her sisters embark on a music-driven scavenger hunt- one that sends them on an adventure across Los Angeles in an attempt to unlock a final message left by her father.

Jason Blum and Scooter Braun are set to produce the film.

Production is already underway - just over a month after it was first announced.

Marvel's "Big Hero 6" Gets New Names

Saturday Night Live''s  Maya Rudolph will lend her voice in one of the lead roles in the Disney/Marvel animated movie "Big Hero 6" says The Wrap.

The story centers on a young robotics genius who creates his own superhero team to take on a deadly villain.

T.J. Miller plays Fred, a character in the comics who volunteers to be a test subject for an experiment which allows him to transform into a giant lizard creature.

Jamie Chung is playing a character named Go Go Tomago.

Don Hall and Chris Williams are directing from a screenplay penned by Hall and Jordan Roberts, based on the comics created by Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle

Robert Pattinson Bails On "Mission: Blacklist"

Robert Pattinson has dropped out of the psychological thriller "Mission: Blacklist" due to scheduling issues according to The Wrap.

Pattinson was to star as Army interrogator Eric Maddox--the man who spearheaded the capture of Saddam Hussein by playing a key role in pinpointing his hideout. The role will now be recast.

The film is being adapted by "Band of Brothers" writer/producer Erik Jendresen, Dylan Kussman, and Trace Sheehan based upon Maddox and Davin Seay's book.

Jesper Ganslandt ("Blondie") replaces the previously attached Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire who was set to direct.

Jendresen Ross M. Dinerstein, and Kevin Waller are producing.

Production aims to begin this Fall.

Star Wars: Episode VII: One More Role & Where's Lando?

Following yesterday's Official Cast Announcement--Heat Vision reports that J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars: Episode VII" still has one more major female role left to fill.

From the photo and Daisy Ridley's proximity to actors Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, it has been suggested Ridley is playing the daughter of Han and Leia. That would suggest the female role yet to be cast is the one rumored to be a mixed-race descendant of Obi-Wan Kenobi - a role  12 Years a Slave Best Supporting Actress  Lupita Nyong'o was linked to.

Disney/Lucasfilm haven't revealed any character details at all however, so which of the newcomers is playing which roles is all speculation at this point.

There was also one key name missing Lando Calrissian himself Billy Dee Williams whose involvement has been hinted at for more than a year but he was absent yesterday

Classic trilogy stars Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker are returning as well.

 Abrams wrote the script with Lawrence Kasdan for the film. Oscar winner Michael Arndt ("Toy Story 3," "Little Miss Sunshine") vacated his job scripting the next film--after disagreements over which characters the film will focus on.

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/origin  Star Wars features. Current franchise chief, Kathleen Kennedy spoke to Yahoo about the stand-alone films saying that they will NOT affect the main narrative of the Episodes.

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 Kennedy.

Production is scheduled to run from now until September.
 
The film now has a confirmed release date of December 18, 2015

RIP Bob Hoskins (1942-2014)

The great Bob Hoskins died Tuesday of Pneumonia at the age of 71 in the hospital, surrounded by family.

With over a hundred credits to his name across film and television, Hoskins announced his retirement from acting in 2012 after being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

Hoskins will be remembered far more though for his memorable turns in films such as "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," "The Long Good Friday," "Mona Lisa" "The Honorary Consul," "Brazil," "Hook," "Nixon," "The Cotton Club,"Twenty Four Seven," "Super Mario Bros.," "Last Orders," "Mermaids," "Mrs. Henderson Presents," "Unleashed," "Hollywoodland," "Doomsday," "Enemy at the Gates," "Pink Floyd The Wall " and TV projects like "Pennies from Heaven," "On the Move," "The Lost World" and "The Street".

Hoskins had a dry sense of humor as an anecdote recounted to Metro about Brian De Palma's The Untouchables shows

Hoskins was slated to step in if Robert De Niro decided not to play Al Capone in the pic. De Niro took the part and De Palma mailed Hoskins a a six-figure paycheck by De Palma for "being a great standby". That prompted Hoskins to call De Palma and ask if there were any more movies he didn't want him to be in.

His final films were British comedy "Outside Bet" and big-budget fantasy feature "Snow White and the Huntsman". 

"The Sinister Six" Hints Embeded In Amazing 2 End Credits?

Did Sony Pictures reveal the bad guy line-up for the film series villain spin off "The Sinister Six" during the end credits of Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man 2?
 
Coming Soon reports that those using the Shazam Music App while the end credits roll will not only get the name of the song- It's On Again by Alicia Keys but they also receive a copy of the credits (without the titles) sent to their phone.

The credits include six different teaser images which are all identifying elements of six of Spider-Man's most famous foes--they appear to indicate the line-up will be Doctor Octopus Green Goblin, Sandman, Mysterio ,Vulture Kraven the Hunter or perhaps the Chameleon.

 There were various incarnations of the Sinister Six in the comics.

"The Cabin in the Woods" director Drew Goddard was hired last December to write the film as part of the studio's plan to expand webhead's mini movie-verse. Goddard will also direct the film.

Sony is also continuing development of its proposed "Venom" spin-off film which Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, and Ed Solomon are writing and Kurtzman is tagged to direct. Goddard previously worked with Orci and Kurtzman on TV's "Alias".

Analeigh Tipton Goes "Viral"

Deadline reports that Warm Bodies co-star Analeigh Tipton has joined the horror thriller "Viral" formerly titled “Peste”.

The script written by Barbara Marshall that now includes rewrites by Christopher Landon (Paranormal Activity 3), follows Emma Drakeford (Tipton) who is struggling after a recent family tragedy--As she begins a video documentary about her life for a school project. the county that she lives in succumbs to the spread of a parasitic virus, and the citizens try to survive a wide spread quarantine.

 The script was written as the first part of a planned trilogy.

 “Catfish” helmers Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman will call action here. The duo also helmed Paranormal Activity 3 and Paranormal Activity 4

Jason Blum Matt Kaplan and Sherryl Clark will produce the pic.

Stuart Ford Matt Jackson and Charles Layton are exec producing.

The pic will get released sometime in 2015

Rob Lowe Will Sit In Some "Monster Trucks"

Deadline reports that Rob Lowe has signed on to Paramount Pictures' film adaptation of Hasbro's "Monster Trucks" toy line.

Lucas Till ("X-Men: First Class") and Jane Levy ("Suburgatory") star as a bad boy with a good heart, while Levy would play a character said to resemble a "high school version of Tina Fey". The plot is being hushed for now but the tone is said to be Transformers meets Gremlins.

 Lowe's role was not disclosed.

Amy Ryan Frank Whaley Danny Glover Thomas Lennon Holt McCallany and Barry Pepper also star

Dylan Minnette and Nick Robinson were also previously linked for roles but have since committed to other projects.

 Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger ("Kung Fu Panda") will pen the script from which  Chris Wedge ("Ice Age") is set to direct.

A  May 29th 2015 release date is eyed and production is slated to start this summer.

Ioan Gruffudd Is Rattled By "San Andreas"

Deadline says that Ioan Gruffudd has joined New Line Cinema and Village Roadshow Pictures' disaster film, San Andreas.

Dwayne Johnson plays a helicopter pilot who journeys across the state of California to try and rescue his estranged daughter ("True Detective" star Alexandra Daddario), after an enormous earthquake hits.

Carla Gugino is set to play Johnson’s ex-wife. She and Johnson teamed up on screen for the updated Race To Witch Mountain. The Good Wife co-star Archie Panjabi will play Serena, a reporter doing an investigation on the disaster.

Gruffudd will play Daniel Reddick, a wealthy real estate developer who is engaged to Gugino.

Former Teen Wolf series turned Arrow co-star Colton Haynes Hugo Johnstone-Burt ("Home and Away") and Art Parkinson ("Game of Thrones") have joined the cast.

“The Conjuring” scribes Carey Hayes and Chad Hayes wrote the most recent script draft from which Brad Peyton has been pegged to direct.  Former "Lost" co-showrunner Carlton Cuse, Andre Fabrizio, Jeremy Passmore and Allan Loeb penned previous script drafts

Beau Flynn and Tripp Vinson are producing the film.

Production on the project is slated to take place in Brisbane, Australia and in both Los Angeles and San Francisco starting in June.

Spider-Man Movies: Andrew's Idea & Arad Talks Cross-Over

Days out from the release of Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in the United States, and star Andrew Garfield already has an interesting suggestion where the Spider-Man film series should go next after The Amazing Spider-Man 3:

He thinks Sony Pictures should replace Peter Parker with the 13-year-old, half black, half Hispanic Miles Morales who became Spider-Man in the "Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man" storyline.

Neither Garfield nor Webb are set to return for "The Amazing Spider-Man 4," and its been suggested that rather than recasting Peter again, the character of Morales could take over the suit with Peter Parker either passing the torch or the character potentially not surviving "Amazing 3"

Garfield told CBR:

"I think one of the amazing things about Spider-Man is that you don't see skin color when he's in the suit. You don't see any religious beliefs. You don't see any denominations. Everyone can project themselves into that suit. It's incredibly powerful in that way. So of course I think it's important that the openness, the casting, in terms of who could be Spider-Man, could be absolutely anyone. A hero is a hero, whether you're a man, woman, gay, lesbian, straight, black, white or red all over - it doesn't matter. Miles Morales was a huge moment in this character's comic book life. And I do believe that we can do that. It's something I'm really interested in figuring out; an eloquent way of co-existing, or passing on the torch. I don't have an answer, but I think it's actually a really important move. I think it's a really beautiful and important move."

The other issue is that the 30-year-old Garfield can't play a teenager forever:

"I want it to feel like a circle. I want the two ends to join, somehow. I don't know what that means, yet. I don't know what that means in terms of the quantity of Spider-Man movies do. But I know that I don't particularly want to be a 40-year-old Spider-Man. [Laughs] I do know that time is fleeting."

Meanwhile, series producer Avi Arad seems to have softened slightly on comments he made the other day over the "Spider-Man" cinematic universe with the Marvel heroes at other studios

Arad tells The Toronto Sun that it could happen--on one condition:

"I think there are some stories that will fit beautifully into a cross. Spider-Man would be incredible mixed up with those other universes. But if we want to do that, the crossovers, it has to be a story that is absolutely centered on Spider-Man. We cannot be second banana to anything out there. Because this is the king. This is the one that influenced young people from birth. I'm not preaching, but Spider-Man, Peter Parker, who is in all of us, is too important to go in and use it as a sidepiece for corporate purposes. The studio may disagree with me, some fans may disagree with me. I don't care."

Kurzel Tipped For "Assassin's Creed" With Fassy

 They worked on the newest film adaptation of author William Shakespeare's classic play Macbeth--Now Deadline reports that Justin Kurzel ("Snowtown") is in talks with New Regency Enterprises and Ubisoft to redraft the film adaptation of the acclaimed "Assassin's Creed" video game series.

The story follows Desmond Miles (Michael Fassbender), a bartender who is a descendant of several lines of prominent assassins. The story weaves between present day and ancient times as Miles squares off with the Knights Templar.

Fassbender has been attached to star in the film for some time now and both he and Kurzel are reportedly eager to get things going.

Ubisoft will work closely to develop and co-produce with New Regency who is partly financing. The aim is to have a director, cast and script in place by next Summer. There's also plans to tie in the release of the film with a new game launch.

The first game was set in the Middle East during the time of the Crusades, the second through fourth games took place during the Italian Renaissance with the action centered around various Italian cities and in Ottoman-era Constantinople. The upcoming fifth game, "Assassin's Creed III", is set during the American Revolutionary War.

"Minority Report" and "The Wolverine" scribe Scott Frank performed re-writes on the previous drafts of the screenplay penned by Michael Lesslie. At that time Swedish director Daniel Espinosa ("Safe House," "Easy Money") was being wooed to direct. Bill Collage and Adam Cooper will rewrite the script for the film.

The game series has sold more than 38 million units worldwide since 2007.

The film remains on track for an August 7th 2015 release.

Kurzel is an Australian filmmaker who was previously supposed to helm the adaptation of author John le Carré's novel the thriller "Our Kind of Traitor" but Susanna White ("Generation Kill," "Parade's End") has taken over that project.

Young Folks Feelln' "Some Kind Of Hate"

Heat Vision reports Ronen Rubinstein, Grace Phipps and Sierra McCormick will star in the slasher movie Some Kind of Hate.

The story centers on a tightly wound kid who is a favorite target for the local high school bullies. He is sent away to a remote reform school, where he accidentally summons a vengeful spirit -- herself a victim of bullying -- to exact retribution on his tormentors.

 Michael Polish, Noah Segan, Spencer Breslin, Maestro Harrell, Jasper Polish, Jeremy Hawkins, Brando Eaton and Lexi Atkins also star.

Adam Egypt Mortimer directs the film using a script he co wrote with author Brian DeLeeuw.

Dallas Sonnier Jack Heller Amanda Mortimer and Gabriela Revilla will produce the film .

“Hate” begins shooting this week in Los Angeles

Halston Sage Gets Another High Profile Film

THR reports that Zac Efron's latest girlfriend Halston Sage (Neighbors Boy Scouts Vs. Zombies) has joined the long in the works live-action film adaptation of Goosebumps.

Based upon author R.L. Stine's popular young-adult novel series is made up of more than 50 books that often pay homage to classic sci-fi/horror movies. After nabbing the rights to the book series in 2008, Sony Pictures has been trying to adapt the property. The "Goosebumps" series sold more than 300 million copies worldwide.

In the film, Jack Black plays Mr. Shivers, a Stine-like author whose scary characters come alive. He's forced to hide from his own creations.

Odeya Rush ("We Are What We Are," "The Odd Life of Timothy Green") will play Black's quirky and mysterious niece, who teams up with her recently relocated young male neighbor (Dylan Minnette) to battle the monsters unleashed from Mr. Shivers' works. Amy Ryan will play Minnette's disbelieving mother, and Jillian Bell his ditzy aunt. Bad Milo star Ken Marino will play a high school sports coach. Ryan Lee ("Super 8") also stars.

Darren Lemke ("Shrek Forever After") was at least the fourth writer to take  a shot at scripting the project. Larry Karaszewski, Scott Alexander, and Carl Ellsworth have all taken a whack at it.

Rob Letterman is directing, he and Black having previously worked together on 2010's "Gulliver's Travels" and "Shark Tale".

Neal Moritz and Deborah Forte will produce.

The property has been adapted as a TV series in the 90's

This first film treatment is looked upon as a potential franchise launcher.

 Principal photography has begun-the pic is set for release on March 23, 2016.

Godzilla Reboot: A SPOILER Filled Asia Trailer

Mere weeks out from its debut Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have released an Asian trailer for the upcoming Godzilla reboot.

I am very surprised at just how spoilery this peek is--That said the fanboy in me is totally stoked....!! If you don't wanna know...DO NOT WATCH....YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED....

Aaron Johnson will play the lead. Juliette Binoche Elizabeth Olsen, David Strathairn Ken Watanabe Sally Hawkins and Bryan Cranston also star Character deets are scarce. Yuki Morita and Akira Takarada, who made his acting debut in the very first Godzilla film as diver Hideto Ogata has shot a cameo.

David Callahan, David Goyer Drew Pearce and Max Borenstein have all worked on previous drafts of the screenplay.-"The Shawshank Redemption" director Frank Darabont wrote the final draft of the script

The film has been in the pipeline for several years, but picked up steam recently - after a proof of concept trailer screened twice during Comic-Con 2012 and got great reaction. The project will "return the character to its epic roots with a gritty, realistic actioner".

The film was directed by Gareth Edwards ("Monsters").

In a chat with io9, Darabont said that both he and director Edwards' goal is to deliver a much more grounded interpretation, one much like the original 1954 film.

Goyer, Borenstein, Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni will produce.

Roy Lee, Dan Lin Brian Rogers. Alex Garcia Patricia Whitcher Doug Davison, Yoshimitsu Banno and Kenji Okuhira will serve as executive producers.

The film will get a 3-D release and is due out May 16, 2014.

I said after I watched the teaser trailer and the overseas trailer that I thought that it was it safe to say that I am 99 % sure that this film will be far superior to the dreadful 1998 film by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin...I still think that...

Star Wars-Episode VII: OFFICIAL Cast Announced...

Disney/Lucasfilm have officially announced the key cast of J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars: Episode VII" and a photo from a script reading earlier today.

The new cast members are John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow.

Original stars of the saga Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker are returning as well.

In an official press release Abrams says: "We are so excited to finally share the cast of 'Star Wars: Episode VII.' It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud."

 Abrams wrote the script with Lawrence Kasdan for the film. Oscar winner Michael Arndt ("Toy Story 3," "Little Miss Sunshine") vacated his job scripting the next film--after disagreements over which characters the film will focus on.

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/origin  Star Wars features. Current franchise chief, Kathleen Kennedy spoke to Yahoo about the stand-alone films saying that they will NOT affect the main narrative of the Episodes.

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 Kennedy.

Production is scheduled to run from now until September.
 
The film now has a confirmed release date of December 18, 2015

DC Comics Films: Nine More Flicks In The Works?

 An article in yesterday's Wall Street Journal details the long-term movie strategy of Warner Bros and DC Entertainment's beyond Zack Snyder's Man of Steel Sequel and Justice League.

It seems Warners also has "nine other movies based on DC comics in development" to expand the DC Cinematic Universe

We don't know which nine titles are officially moving forward.

Andy Garcia Gets "Max Steel" Gig

Andy Garcia has joined the cast of the live-action adaptation of Mattel's superhero toy franchise called Max Steel says Heat Vision.

The action follows Max McGrath (Ben Winchell), a teenager with special turbo-energy powers. Together with his alien companion Steel, he becomes the superhero Max Steel.

Garcia will play the brilliant and mysterious scientist Dr. Miles Edwards.

Ana Villafañe will play Max's love interest, Sydney Gardner.

Christopher Yost ("Thor: The Dark World") wrote the script from which Stewart Hendler directs.

 Julia Pistor and Bill O'Dowd will produce the film.

Production begins today in Wilmington.

Star Wars Ford Gets More Solo Time & Efron Back In The Mix?

Deadline reports that a big table read is taking place today in London with members of the cast for  J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars: Episode VII".

The site claims "Inside Llewyn Davis" star Oscar Isaac is in line for a major role, along with newcomer Maisie Richardson-Sellers.

 The script Abrams wrote with Lawrence Kasdan for the film is complete. Oscar winner Michael Arndt ("Toy Story 3," "Little Miss Sunshine") vacated his job scripting the next film--after disagreements over which characters the film will focus on.

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' . At first Harrison Ford was interested...but had since walked that back--Now his deal to appear as Han Solo is not only done but seemingly goes beyond Ep VII.

Deadline adds that "Harrison Ford has a gigantic role in the first of the next three films" - suggesting he has more screen time than Fisher and Hamill. All three actors are in the UK. as reported yesterday

Zac Efron spoke with UK News 5 today promoting "Neighbors"--they asked him he was involved in the new "Star Wars" film.

 He said:

"I don't know. I have no idea on that. I don't know. There are irons in the fire, so to speak. I don't like to talk about anything too early, because it takes awhile to get these things done right. Who knows?"

Efron and Ryan Gosling were rumored to be in the running for the eagerly awaited next film with Gosling in particular being talked about for the role of Luke Skywalker's son. While promoting That Awkward Moment last winter Zac told MTV that "I just went and met with [producers]. So I don't know. It would be cool. I love  love them, but... who knows?" Leonardo DiCaprio is said to have passed on an offer to appear. Pretty wild...

Just recently folks like Ed Speleers, John Boyega, Jesse Plemons theater actors Matthew James Thomas, and Ray Fisher were said to be circling an unspecified yet probable Jedi role in the pic.

Abrams also confirmed that Plemons had indeed auditioned for a role but Plemons is actually
pegged for another film. Michael Fassbender, Hugo Weaving and Adam Driver were in the mix around the same time. AICN said "Transformers: Age Of Extinction" and and "What Richard Did" star Jack Reynor had reportedly landed a part. Michael Fassbender, Hugo Weaving and Adam Driver were in the mix around the same time. AICN said "Transformers: Age Of Extinction" and "What Richard Did" star Jack Reynor had reportedly landed a part

Additionally Total Film suggests that legendary actress Dame Judi Dench is up for role of the elderly version of Mon Mothma, the senator who co-ordinates the Rebel Alliance briefing in "Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi". Caroline Blakiston played the role in the original, a 30-second scene, while Genevieve O'Reilly played a young version of the character in a small role in "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith". The character has had a larger presence in non-canon books, cartoons and comics.

Actor Gary Oldman told  Sky Movies recently that he has been contacted about doing the film in an unspecified role. Also recently folks like Ed Speleers, John Boyega, Jesse Plemons and theater actors Matthew James Thomas, and Ray Fisher were said to be circling an unspecified yet probable Jedi role in the pic. 12 Years a Slave Best Supporting Actress  Lupita Nyong'o is reportedly also tipped to feel the force.

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 and sale. It's been said that Lucas' actually spent about a year planning the franchise's future before handing the reigns of Lucasfilm over to Disney.

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 was having his "name thrown around a lot" in connection with the movie. The actor says the talk is not true. David Oyelowo has seemingly been tagged for a role, while Michael B. Jordan reportedly met with Abrams personally about the film. Sullivan Stapleton and Daniel Day Lewis were hovering around the film as well

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"...

This photo indicates that Astro-Droid R2 D2 is in the film. Yahoo reported that the film's crew has constructed a full scale Millennium Falcon to be used during the filming. An inside source for JediNews hints that the film may take us to the Sith home world of Korriban At the same time the site also suggests that that Emmanuelle Chriqui (Entourage), Alexis Dziena (Fool's Gold) and Taissa Farmiga (American Horror Story) are up for roles in the film.

Peter Mayhew who played the legendary Wookiee Chewbacca in 4 of the previous films is apparently set to return--a report surfaced a few weeks ago that a recent canceled convention appearance in late May was "due to filming" was because of 'Episode VII'. Now, sources for The Hollywood Reporter have seemingly confirmed the news. The suits had no comment.

It was rumored recently that Alex Pettyfer ("Magic Mike," "I Am Number Four) likely auditioned for the role of Luke Skywalker’s son. Rachel Hurd-Wood reportedly went in for an audition to play the daughter of Princess Leia in the sequel. Latino Review claims they "got it confirmed via representation and other solid sources". Noise that Sherlock and "Star Trek Into Darkness" star Benedict Cumberbatch was poised to reunite with JJ were squashed but persist nonetheless. Saoirse Ronan is in there too. She even confirmed to Sky News that she auditioned for the film, but added "so has everyone". Former "Spartacus" star Liam McIntyre has reportedly read for the part of a Jedi role, while Ksenia Solo ("Black Swan") is apparently in contention for the role of Leia and Han Solo's daughter.
 
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/origin  Star Wars features. Current franchise chief, Kathleen Kennedy spoke to Yahoo about the stand-alone films saying that they will NOT affect the main narrative of the Episodes.

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 Kennedy.

Production is scheduled to run from now until September, with an official press release outlining who will be in the movie is expected to drop this weekend in time for 'Star Wars Day' on May 4th, ten days out from the original production start date.

The film now has a confirmed release date of December 18, 2015