Milla Jovovich Marries "Cymbeline"

Milla Jovovich has joined the cast of director Michael Almereyda's modern day adaption of a William Shakespeare's play called Cymbeline says Deadline.

Shakespeare’s play centered on the daughter of the British king Cymbeline, who discovers she has secretly married a man raised in her father’s court, resulting in his banishment from the court.

Described as "Sons of Anarchy" meets Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet" the film will trace a battle between dirty cops and a drug dealing biker gang set in a corruption-fueled 21st century America.

Jovovich plays the Queen, wife of Ed Harris playing King Cymbeline.

 In the play, the Queen schemes to move her own son from a previous marriage onto the throne at the expense of the true romance between the orphan Posthumus (Penn Badgley) and the King’s daughter Imogen. The role of Imogen has not been cast yet.

Ethan Hawke also stars.

Anthony Katagas will produce.

Production begins on August 19th in New York City

Sedgwick Travels "The Road Within"

Deadline reports that former "The Closer" star Kyra Sedgwick has joined the cast of the drama "The Road Within".

The film is a remake of the German feature "Vincent Will Meer", and follows a young man with Tourette Syndrome (Robert Sheehan) who breaks out of a clinic with an Anorexic woman (Zoe Kravitz) and his OCD roommate (Dev Patel) to take his mother’s ashes to the ocean.

Sedgwick will play Dr. Mia Rose, who runs the clinic.

Gren Wells directs the film from her own adapted screenplay

Bradley Gallo, Robert L. Stein, Michael A. Helfant, Brent Emery and Guy J. Louthan will produce.

Production is currently underway.

Hugh Grant Supports The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Hugh Grant has joined the long planned film adaptation of the 1960s spy TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. says THR.

The original 60's U.N.C.L.E series saw Robert Vaughn and David McCallum as two agents of the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement (U.N.C.L.E.), who fought the forces of Technological Hierarchy for the Removal of Undesirables and the Subjugation of Humanity (T.H.R.U.S.H.).

The film follows special agents Napoleon Solo  (Henry Cavill) and Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer), who work for the mysterious agency.

Grant will play the head of British Naval Intelligence in the film.

Alicia Vikander will play a British agent who has a thing for cars. The character did not appear in the TV series Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby) will play a femme fatale

The project has had quite a history...

Director Steven Soderbergh left the film in 2011 due to budgetary and casting issues--The studio set a low $60 million dollar budget proposal for what is supposed to be the first in a franchise trilogy,

Soderbergh felt the figure wasn’t enough for a ‘60s set period spy film that’s set on four continents, and with a March date looming, he could no longer wait for the studio to refine numbers.

Soderbergh went on to direct the thriller, Side Effects.

After Soderbergh left Guy Ritchie took over the directing duties and brought on his production partner Lionel Wigram. The pair have worked together on both Sherlock Holmes films.

Casting has always been a concern; Channing Tatum was in the mix---Once minted Sexiest Man Bradley Cooper was in talks for this but he left the table--Ryan Gosling, Alexander Skarsgård, Joseph Gordon-Levitt Robert Pattinson Leonardo DiCaprio Ryan Reynolds were on the list at one point once George Clooney was gonna play the role but left the pic after injuring his back. Once that happened the wanted younger (read CHEAPER) actors in the leads before Tom Cruise came on board and things stabilized. Soon after that though Cruise left the project in favor of doing Paramount Pictures's Mission: Impossible 5

Ritchie and Wigram co wrote the latest script and both will produce the film with John Davis.

Production is slated to begin in September.

We'll Get 2 Paranormal Activity Flicks Next Year

A few weeks ago we got word that Paramount was pushing back the release of Paranormal Activity 5 from the film series traditional annual October release slot to a January 3rd 2014 release.

Now Yahoo reports that the studio has pushed back "PA 5" even further--to an October 24th 2014 release date. Greg Plotkin, who edited the last three films, is poised to direct that next installment.

However, fans of the franchise will get their fix earlier. It seems that Christopher Landon's latino-audience targeted spin-off is much further along than PA5, and has already been performing well with test audiences.

As a result, Paramount has moved that film into the January 3rd 2014 release slot.  Once titled "The Oxnard Tapes," they've changed the title to fall under the franchise's moniker. It will now go by the name of "Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones". 

Moore Takes On "The Englishman"

John Moore ("A Good Day To Die Hard") will direct the action film "The Englishman" says Screen Daily

Based upon the book "Once a Pilgrim" by former SAS officer turned mercenary Will Scully. The story recounts the time Scully rescued innocent civilians trapped inside an African hotel during a coup.

William Wisher wrote the adapted script

Moore, Mark Damon, James Gibb, Benedict Carver and Tim Peternel will produce.

Production begins early next year in South Africa.

Mira Nair Tracks "The Bengali Detective"

Mira Nair ("Amelia," "Monsoon Wedding") will direct the crime drama "The Bengali Detective" says Variety.

The story focuses on an intrepid private eye in Calcutta’s criminal underworld whose dream is to dance on Indian TV.

Sabrina Dhawan wrote the script, based on Phil Cox's 2011 documentary of the same name.

Michael Costigan is producing the film.

"Chicken Soup for the Soul" The Movie

Alcon Entertainment has obtained the film and television rights to the popular "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series and motivational essay collection.

Alcon and the Kerner Entertainment Company will co-finance and produce a feature film that shares the brand's name. Warner Bros will distribute.

Brandon Camp ("Love Happens") will write the screenplay.

Jordan Kerner, Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove will produce the film.

Greer Jets Off To "Tomorrowland"

Judy Greer is in talks to join the sci-fi adventure "Tomorrowland" says Deadline. Details of Greer's role are also under wraps.

Former "Lost" show runner and "Prometheus" writer Damon Lindelof and Jeff Jensen, wrote the script for a film that is said to be in the vein of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"

Britt Robertson ("Under The Dome") will play a high school girl named Casey Newton, a rebellious teenager--The character has an unconventional understanding of technology who is on a journey to reclaim her future. Naomi Scott ("Terra Nova") was up for the role as well

English actress Raffey Cassidy (Snow White and the Huntsman) will play a young robot who has been around for decades. She knows several fighting styles. She has a previous relationship with George Clooney who will play the film's hero, a bitter inventor. Hugh Laurie is going to play the bad guy.

Greer and Clooney worked together before in both "Three Kings" and "The Descendants" .

Key plot deets are being kept under wraps on the film that used to be titled "1952" Brad Bird's calling the shots.  In March HitFix posted a few deets

Lindelof and Bird produce the movie

The project is one of only very few non-Marvel, non-Pixar Animation Studios live-action films that Disney hopes to get into production this year.

Tarsem Singh Charts "The Panopticon"

Tarsem Singh ("Immortals," "The Cell") will direct the action-thriller/sci-fi tale "The Panopticon" says The Wrap.

Craig Rosenberg ("After the Sunset") wrote the script which follows a seemingly ordinary man who receives a mysterious package containing a pre-recorded message from himself. The message warns that the world is about to end and only he can save it. He must race against the clock to learn the truth before time runs out for mankind.

Andrew Lazar ("Get Smart") will produce the film.

Alex Russell Says "Believe Me"

Aussie hunk Alex Russell ("Chronicle," "Bait 3D") will star in the indie feel good comedy "Believe Me" says THR  .

 

Russell plays a charismatic college kid who recruits his roommates in a scheme that uses a phony charity to bilk gullible churchgoers out of their money.

Will Bakke's calling action using a script he co-wrote. The movie marks his feature film directing debut

Zachary Knighton, Johanna Braddy, Max Adler and hip-hop artist LeCraealso star.

Production is currently underway.

Joanna Newsom Picks Up Role In PTA's "Inherent Vice"

Singer Joanna Newsom will join Paul Thomas Anderson's adaptation of author Thomas Pynchon's novel "Inherent Vice" says IndieWire.

In 1969 Los Angeles, Joaquin Phoenix will play a stoner detective named Doc Sportello, whose ex-girlfriend (Katherine Waterston of "Taking Woodstock" and "Michael Clayton") Shasta, sets things in motion. Now a straight-laced partner to a real estate mogul, she enlists Doc's help to protect the mogul from his murderous wife and her young boytoy.

There are no details on the musician's role in the movie.

Martin Short Owen Wilson Jena Malone Reese Witherspoon Josh Brolin Maya Rudolph Timothy Simons and Benicio Del Toro co star. Peter McRobbie will play loan shark Adrian Prussia.  Sean Penn is up to take a role as well.

Anderson wrote the adapted screenplay

Anderson, Megan Ellison, John Lesher and JoAnne Sellar will produce the film .

PTA has been talking about making Vice since 2010, but went off to make The Master instead. Word is PTA is looking to make Vice into a comedy in the vein of Cheech and Chong meets The Big Lebowski or Boogie Nights.

The film is currently shooting in Los Angeles.

Penn Badgley Tapped For "Cymbeline"

Penn Badgley has joined the cast of director Michael Almereyda's modern day adaption of a William Shakespeare's play called Cymbeline says Deadline.

Shakespeare’s play centered on the daughter of the British king Cymbeline, who discovers she has secretly married a man raised in her father’s court, resulting in his banishment from the court.

Described as "Sons of Anarchy" meets Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet" the film will trace a battle between dirty cops and a drug dealing biker gang set in a corruption-fueled 21st century America.

Badgley would play the key role of Posthumus.

Ethan Hawke and Ed Harris also star.

Anthony Katagas will produce.

Production begins on August 19th in New York City

Rousey Eyed For "Fast 7"

Mixed Martial Arts fighter Ronda Rousey is in talks to take a supporting role in Fast & Furious 7 says Variety.

Rousey is the first major casting for the next installment in the action film franchise. Should she sign on, Rousey would move the training for her next fight to Atlanta where the film is set to shoot.

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

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

Neal H. Moritz will produce

Production is aiming to begin this Fall.

Rousey is also set to join the action sequel "The Expendables 3".

She is expected to shoot both films back to back ahead of a her pre-fight training period which runs from mid-November though to a championship rematch on December 28th.

Courtney, Till, And Sheedy Commit "Sins Of Our Youth"

Deadline reports that Joel Courtney, Lucas Till and Ally Sheedy have joined the cast of the teen drama "Sins Of Our Youth".

The story focuses on four teenage boys who accidentally kill a younger boy while shooting off rifles.  As the quartet tries to deal with the killing, things take an even darker turn.

Edmund Entin wrote the script from which Gary Entin's calling action.

Michael Huffington is producing the film.

Production begins this week in Las Vegas.

Green Exits "Horrible Bosses 2"

Original "Horrible Bosses" director Seth Gordon has vacated his commitment to call action on the  sequel "Horrible Bosses 2" says THR.

Gordon told members Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis the news on Wednesday. The reason is said to be due to scheduling conflicts with the upcoming television comedy series "The Goldbergs".

The search for a replacement is on, where interest is said to be very strong.

The sequel apparently will have a new set of bosses, but there is as yet no word yet whether any of the original bosses will reprise their roles.

Jamie Foxx is also expected to reprise his role as hitman Motherf--er Jones.

John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the screenwriters behind the first film are penning the sequel

Production remains on track to begin this Fall.

Willis And His "Expendables 3" Exit

Earlier this week it was revealed that Bruce Willis was being replaced by Harrison Ford in the upcoming the action sequel "The Expendables 3"

Sylvester Stallone said Willis was "greedy and lazy".

Now new, details have surfaced regarding what the name calling meant.

A source for THR says the fallout occurred over salary demands.  Willis was only required to be on set for four days of consecutive work on location in Bulgaria.

He was offered him $3 million. Willis told them that he'd drop out unless he got $4 million (ie. a million dollars a day). Stallone and everybody else involved then said "No."

Their source also says: "I think [Willis] was pretty surprised he was replaced in 72 hours by Harrison Ford — a better actor, a much nicer person and a more interesting direction for the film."

Jackie Chan, Wesley Snipes, Kellan Lutz Milla Jovovich Mixed Martial Arts fighter Ronda Rousey and welterweight boxer Victor Ortiz are all set to join the film. Thankfully Nicolas Cage ended speculation that he might show up and ruin the movie.

Also on producer Avi Lerner's initial wish-list was Clint Eastwood.

Stallone and most of his pals from the last two flicks in the series will be back in the line up.

The movie will be directed by Patrick Hughes (Red Hill) from a script by Richard Wenk. It's scheduled to start production in August.

The movie is slated to open August 15th 2014.

There's also an all-female riff on the premise in the works as well Katee Sackhoff ("Battlestar Galactica")  and former MMA fighter-turned-actress Gina Carano ("Haywire") are set

Leo Gets His Shot To Play A Viking After All As "King Harald"

Warner Bros has acquired the pitch "King Harald" that Mark L. Smith will turn into a script as a potential starring vehicle for Leonardo DiCaprio to potentially star in says Deadline.

The film will follow Harald Hardrada, the 11th Century conqueror who has been called the last great Viking king. His thirst for battle led to him being briefly exiled to Russia before returning in triumph.

DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran will produce.

DiCaprio previously circled a now seemingly defunct film about Viking warriors that Mel Gibson was set to direct.

Smith and Leo keep crossing paths.

He wrote the upcoming "The Revenant" which DiCaprio and Sean Penn are attached to star in, and the DiCaprio produced "Endurance" about explorer Ernest Shackleton and his doomed 1914 expedition to the South Pole.

Has The Plot For "The Conjuring 2" Been Revealed?

There's been talk of a sequel to James Wan's scare fest The Conjuring even before the first one turned out to one of the biggest hits of the Summer.

Having now crossed the $100 million mark at the box office, development has officially begun at the studio.

It is not clear if Wan will return to direct The Conjuring 2 due to commitments to helm Fast & Furious 7 but stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are set to return as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The next movie will explore another of their famous cases investigating the paranormal. Writers Chad Hayes and Carey Hayes will pen the script

Until now, we had no idea which of those cases would be the centerpiece for the follow-up,

The folks at AICN claim that they have information about which case might be used:

"The case file they’re looking at occurs in the late '70s and centers on two sisters in Enfield, England, who were allegedly possessed. Warren said she personally saw them levitate and even saw one of the sister dematerialize in front of her only to be found 20 minutes later stuffed into an oversized fuse box, contorted in such an unnatural way that they couldn't have replicated it if they tried. She also said that the demon spoke directly to her husband on many occasions. Warren cited this case as one of the most terrifying experiences of her career."

Christian Madsen Sees Life Through A "Prism"

THR reports that Christian Madsen--son of actor Michael Madsen will star in an upcoming indie drama Prism.

The story follows a young man (Madsen) who reunites with his estranged father 15 years after he disappeared. After discovering that his dad is suffering from amnesia, he sets out on a mission to put back the pieces of his father's life.

The script was written by Brendan Rooney and Cal Robertson from which Robertson calls action.

Jo Henriquez and Brendan Rooney are producing the film.

Production is underway on the East Coast.

The younger Madsen landed a role in the film adaptation 'Divergent' opposite Shailene Woodley

X-Men: Days of Future Past: Go Slow In Order To Be Quick

Director Bryan Singer has shed some light on how he will realize the speedy Quicksilver in the upcoming "X-Men: Days of Future Past":

In a new photo from the set, the director says he's about to film on the "brightest set I’ve ever filmed on."

The reason for all the brightness?

Singer is filming American Horror Story favorite Evan Peters in character, for his scenes at a staggering 3,600 frames per second - 150 times slower than standard film photography.

The character is said to have a "fantastic action scene" in the film, and this sounds like it'll be a part of that sequence.

The latest sequel is based on a -2 issue story arc in the 'X-Men' comics published in 1981. Kinberg (Sherlock Holmes) is on board to pen the screenplay which will include New Mutants. Magneto and his relationship with Charles X. Xavier will be front and center as well.

Singer penned the treatment and produced 'First Class' which was directed by Matthew Vaughn. Now, their roles will be completely reversed for this sequel with Singer helming the film while Vaughn wrote the treatment and will produce with Lauren Shuler Donner and writer Simon Kinberg

Most of “X-Men: First Class” cast will reprise their roles, including James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magneto) Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), and Nicholas Hoult (Beast). Lucas Till (Alex “Havoc” Summers) Rose Byrne (Moira MacTaggert) recently confirmed that she is NOT in this film...

The original trilogy stars Sir Ian McKellen Sir Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman are already poised to return again as well. Anna Paquin (Rogue), Ellen Page (Kitty Pride) and Shawn Ashmore (Iceman)Halle Berry (Storm). It seems Alan Cumming.(Nightcrawler) will not return. James Marsden has confirmed that he will NOT return as Cyclops

The teams will join forces to battle the Sentinels--mutant-hunting robots--created by Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage).

Daniel Cudmore is returning as Colossus and BooBoo Stewart is also in the film--character as yet unknown. Chinese actress Fan Bingbing has joined the film--as Blink, a mutant with the power of teleportation. Aussie soap "Home and Away" actor Josh Helman -- once rumored to be playing a young Cyclops -- will portray Bill Stryker. In X2: X-Men United Brian Cox played him and in X-Men Origins: Wolverine Danny Huston took over. French actor Omar Sy plays Bishop and Adan Canto also star.

Production on the sequel is well underway "X-Men: Days Of Future Past" hits screens May 23, 2014.

A Trio Set For "The Giver"

Meryl Streep, "True Blood" star Alexander Skarsgård and Cameron Monaghan are in talks to join the cast of the Phillip Noyce ("Salt," "The Quiet American") adaptation of "The Giver" says The Wrap.

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.

Streep will play the society’s antagonistic Chief Elder, who assigns the young their tasks. Skarsgard is in talks to play Jonas' father, while Monaghan will play Jonas' best friend Asher.

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.

Expendables 3: Ford Takes Bruce's Spot & Wants Indy 5

Harrison Ford is officially in while Bruce Willis is out of the upcoming action sequel "The Expendables 3".

Star Sylvester Stallone tweeted the news yesterday, saying: "WILLIS OUT... HARRISON FORD IN !!!! GREAT NEWS !!!!! Been waiting years for this!!!!"

A few minutes later, he cited the reason for Willis' departure: "GREEDY AND LAZY ...... A SURE FORMULA FOR CAREER FAILURE"

Jackie Chan, Wesley Snipes, Kellan Lutz Milla Jovovich Mixed Martial Arts fighter Ronda Rousey and welterweight boxer Victor Ortiz are all set to join the film. Thankfully Nicolas Cage ended speculation that he might show up and ruin the movie.

Also on producer Avi Lerner's initial wish-list was Clint Eastwood.

Stallone and most of his pals from the last two flicks in the series will be back in the line up.

The movie will be directed by Patrick Hughes (Red Hill) from a script by Richard Wenk. It's scheduled to start production in August.

The movie is slated to open August 15th 2014.

There's also an all-female riff on the premise in the works as well Katee Sackhoff ("Battlestar Galactica")  and former MMA fighter-turned-actress Gina Carano ("Haywire") are set to star.

Meantime 71 year old Ford is on the stump for next week's thriller Paranoia tells The Telegraph that he is still keen on making Indiana Jones 5 :

"We've seen the character develop and grow over a period of time and it's perfectly appropriate and okay for him to come back again with a great movie around him where he doesn't necessarily have to kick as much ass. To me, what was interesting about the character was that he prevailed, that he had courage, that he had wit, that he had intelligence, that he was frightened and that he still managed to survive. That I can do."

Despite a mixed critical response, 2008's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal " grossed almost $800 million worldwide from a budget of $185 million.

Thor 2 Trailer: "That Was For New York"

Disney and Marvel have released the latest trailer for the upcoming sequel "Thor: The Dark World":

Alan Taylor directs the sequel that is 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.

Tom Hiddleston who plays Loki will return as will Natalie Portman playing Jane. 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 Anthony 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.

This looks great--The peek suggests that the film will spend most of its time on Asgard as promised.

The sequel hits theaters on November 8th 2013

Box Office Preview: Elysium Eyes Top Spot

2 new films open today at the Cineplex "Percy Jackson And The Sea of Monsters" (reviews) is follow-up to 2010's The Lightning Thief with Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario and Brandon T. Jackson reprising their roles. I thought the first Percy was a lot more fun than the early films in the Harry Potter film series which I struggled to get through before calling it quits

 Jason Sudeikis hires a fake wife played by Jennifer Aniston, and two teens (Emma Roberts, Will Poulter) in the comedy We're the Millers (reviews).

On Friday Neill Blomkamp’s latest sci-fi film Elysium (reviews) is finally here starring a buffed up Matt Damon, Jodie Foster and Sharlto Copley; Just as Disney's Planes (reviews) prepares to land.

Pamela McClintock of THR:

To say there is something for everyone at the multiplex this weekend is an understatement.

There are four new nationwide releases, beginning with 20th Century Fox sequel Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters and New Line's R-rated comedy We're the Millers, both of which open everywhere on Wednesday. Friday brings Neill Blomkamp's highly anticipated Elysium and Disney's Cars spin-off Planes.

The ultimate winner will depend upon which film expands beyond its core audience. Sea of Monsters is appealing heavily to teens, according to pre-release tracking, but also needs to lure families away from Planes. Millers is tracking best among females, but hopes to steal males away from Elysium.

Sony and Media Rights Capital are betting on Elysium -- headlining Matt Damon and Jodie Foster -- to win the crowded race with a three-day gross in the $35 million to $40 million range. The studio, under fire from shareholder activist Daniel Loeb, needs a hit and is counting on the dystopian sci-fi epic to do the trick.

However, some box office observers believe Elysium may have trouble reaching $30 million.

Blomkamp became an overnight sensation when his District 9 opened to $37.4 million in mid-August 2009 on its way to earning $210.8 million worldwide. That film, however, cost only $30 million to produce. Sony paid $115 million for worldwide rights to Elysium, which was packaged, financed and produced by MRC (it's not clear what the exact budget was).

One wild card is We're the Millers, starring Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts and Will Poulter as a fake family who smuggle marijuana out of Mexico. The film is tracking better than fellow New Line comedy Horrible Bosses, which posted an three-day opening weekend gross of $28.3 million. Ed Helms also stars in the comedy, which cost $37 million to produce and was directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber.

Warner Bros. and New Line insiders believe We're the Millers has a shot of hitting $40 million in its five-day debut, despite blistering reviews from some critics.

Another wild card is Planes. Originally intended to be a direct-to-DVD release, the pic could do solid business if families -- who largely shied away from Turbo and The Smurfs 2 -- are ready to turn out in force again for an animated film. Disney is projecting an three-day opening in the $25 million range; other put it closer to $30 million.

Although Planes is a spin-off of the Cars franchise, Pixar didn't produce the film. Rather, it is from direct-to-DVD unit DisneyToon Studios.

Fox's sequel Sea of Monsters is anticipating a five-day debut in the $20 million to $25 million range, meaning it won't quite match the $31.2 million opening of Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief. That film, opening in February 2010, faced far less competition.

Sea of Monsters, based on Rick Riordan's bestselling YA series, cost $90 million to produce and returns Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson and Alexandra Daddario in the title roles. Thor Freudenthal directed this time out.

Singer Talks X-Men: DOFP While Wadlow Talks X-Force

While attending the 2013 Fantasia International Film Festival director Bryan Singer confirmed (via JoBlo) that Quicksilver (American Horror Story favorite Evan Peters) will NOT be joined by his sister Scarlet Witch in the upcoming "X-Men: Days of Future Past".

Aaron Taylor-Johnson remains the frontrunner to play the speedy hero in "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" for writer/director Joss Whedon where the Witch will appear with her brother.

Singer also spoke about how he can "justify bringing Xavier back because he transferred his consciousness [as seen in the end tag for "X-Men: The Last Stand] and could possibly construct a body around that consciousness".

The latest sequel is based on a -2 issue story arc in the 'X-Men' comics published in 1981. Kinberg (Sherlock Holmes) is on board to pen the screenplay which will include New Mutants. Magneto and his relationship with Charles X. Xavier will be front and center as well.

Singer penned the treatment and produced 'First Class' which was directed by Matthew Vaughn. Now, their roles will be completely reversed for this sequel with Singer helming the film while Vaughn wrote the treatment and will produce with Lauren Shuler Donner and writer Simon Kinberg

Most of “X-Men: First Class” cast will reprise their roles, including James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magneto) Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), and Nicholas Hoult (Beast). Lucas Till (Alex “Havoc” Summers) Rose Byrne (Moira MacTaggert) recently confirmed that she is NOT in this film...

The original trilogy stars Sir Ian McKellen Sir Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman are already poised to return again as well. Anna Paquin (Rogue), Ellen Page (Kitty Pride) and Shawn Ashmore (Iceman)Halle Berry (Storm). It seems Alan Cumming.(Nightcrawler) will not return. James Marsden has confirmed that he will NOT return as Cyclops

The teams will join forces to battle the Sentinels--mutant-hunting robots--created by Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage).

Daniel Cudmore is returning as Colossus and BooBoo Stewart is also in the film--character as yet unknown. Chinese actress Fan Bingbing has joined the film--as Blink, a mutant with the power of teleportation. Aussie soap "Home and Away" actor Josh Helman -- once rumored to be playing a young Cyclops -- will portray Bill Stryker. In X2: X-Men United Brian Cox played him and in X-Men Origins: Wolverine Danny Huston took over. French actor Omar Sy plays Bishop and Adan Canto also star.

Production on the sequel is well underway "X-Men: Days Of Future Past" hits screens May 23, 2014.

Meanwhile, "Kick-Ass 2" filmmaker Jeff Wadlow spoke about the X-Men film series spin off X-Force--Specifically on the film's tone and how it might fit with the other films.

He tells Bleeding Cool:

"Tonally it will fit in, quite well with all the other movies… but then I think the other movies cover a wide range of tones. It’s certainly not going to be tonally similar to Kick-Ass...I hope it will have what fans of X-Force will expect. I think it will be a little edgier, I think you'll see some characters with different takes on what it means to be a mutant. There will be some grey areas that the movies haven’t yet been explored. It won’t be as "overt." This movie is more about the grey areas in between. I'm going to take some big ideas from the X-universe and flip them, I think in an interesting way"

The "X-Force" was created by Rob Liefeld in the early 1990s described as a more aggressive and darker mutant team. Various fan favorite characters moved in and out of the team including Wolverine, Deadpool, Cable, Psylocke, Cannonball, Domino, Warpath, Sunspot and Colossus.

Ed Harris Is "Cymbeline"

Ed Harris is set to play the title role in director Michael Almereyda's modern day adaption of a William Shakespeare's play titled Cymbeline says Screen Daily.

Shakespeare’s play centered on the daughter of the British king Cymbeline, who discovers she has secretly married a man raised in her father’s court, resulting in his banishment from the court.

Described as "Sons of Anarchy" meets Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet" the film will trace a battle between dirty cops and a drug dealing biker gang set in a corruption-fueled 21st century America.

Ethan Hawke also stars.

Anthony Katagas will produce.

Production begins on August 19th in New York City

"Poltergeist" Remake Eyes Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell is in early talks to star in the remake of the 1982 supernatural horror classic "Poltergeist" says Variety.

Like the older film starring Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams, the story focuses on a family whose house was built on a sacred site and whose daughter is taken by ghosts.  The oeiginal film  was produced and co-scripted by Steven Spielberg (based on his story) and directed by Tobe Hooper. It spawned two sequels, "Poltergeist II: The Other Side" in 1986 and "Poltergeist III" in 1988.

Rockwell would play dad to the Bowen family married to wife Rosemarie DeWitt.

David Lindsay-Abaire is writing the new script from which "City of Ember" and "Monster House" helmer Gil Kenan will direct.

Sam Raimi Nathan Kahane (Juno) and Roy Lee (The Departed) are producing the redux

McQuarrie Will Helm MI 5

Christopher McQuarrie ("Jack Reacher") is now confirmed to direct Paramount Pictures' Mission: Impossible 5 says Screen Daily.

Tom Cruise will star again as special operative Ethan Hunt in the sequel--which reunites Cruise with his "Reacher" writer/director

"Iron Man 3" scripter Drew Pearce is writing the screenplay, while Cruise and J.J. Abrams will produce. 

The last film--2011's "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" raked in $700 million worldwide.
McQuarrie performed an uncredited re-write on the 'Ghost Protocol' script.

Spielberg Drops "Sniper" Cooper Stll Involved

Steven Spielberg has vacated his commitment to direct the biopic American Sniper reports Deadline.

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

Spielberg put Robopocalypse on indefinite hold in January to do the pic. Unlike 'Sniper' though, Spielberg still intends to direct "Robopocalypse" after additional development.

Spielberg decided to  move on since his vision of this movie would not mesh with the budget.

 Warner Bros is free to lock down another filmmaker to keep the project together. Cooper remains attached to star and produce the pic

Trek 3: Writers Return, Director Chatter, & Urban

It seems that "Thor" and "X-Men: First Class" writers and "Fringe" producers Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz will not be scripting Star Trek 3. Instead, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are in talks to return according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The duo wrote J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" '09 together and "Star Trek Into Darkness" with Damon Lindelof. Lindelof will not be returning for the third film.

Since Abrams is doing "Star Wars: Episode VII", he isn't back as director but he has started negotiations to produce the film.

Shortly after that came a rumor that "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" director Jon M. Chu was the top candidate to take over from Abrams as director on the film. The Huffington Post got in touch with Chu's reps who denied the report.

Shortly after Cinematallica posted a report claiming that Rupert Wyatt ("Rise of the Planet of the Apes")  is "virtually a lock at this stage in the game".

Finally Karl Urban (Dr.McCoy) talked to IGN about his hopes for the third film that suggest the had some concerns with 'Into Darkness':

"What I really believe we should do now is strive for originality. Because in 'Star Trek Into Darkness' we took one of the most revered and loved adversaries of the Enterprise and put him in there, and did a story that had all of these wonderful nods to films from the past, and episodes from the past. I really think that what we should do from here, in my personal opinion, is strive to be original. Strive to be something different and new. You know, let’s not forget that Star Trek as envisioned was about space exploration. And it would be really wonderful to harness the spirit of that and apply it to the next film, so that we do something different than a revenge-based picture."

I had my doubts about STID and they ended up pulling off a great film. I agree with Urban here though--I say Nod to the past for the sake of the anniversary--But the reverence should be embedded  within an original story

Paramount targeting a 2016 release for the film to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the "Star Trek" franchise.