'Toy Story' Short Featuring Barbie and Ken is Attached to 'Cars 2'?« FirstShowing.net

Shortly after the charming yet tear-jerkingToy Story 3hit theaters, director Lee Unkrich revealed that the farewell to Andy's toys didn't mean the characters wouldn't be returning. WhileToy Story 4seemed to be unlikely, the director said the traditionalPixar shortplaying beforeCars 2would featuresome of theToy Storycharacters. Well, nowDigital Spyhas noticed a recentTwitter updatefrom Disney animator Floyd Norman saying,“Saw the Pixar 'Hawaii' short. Cute.Ken and Barbiewant to go toHawaii. I don’t know what it’s gonna be attached to. Fun stuff, however.” So it sounds like there will be a Hawaiian adventure beforeCars 2!

This isn't exactly official yet, but putting two and two together, this definitely seems like a safe bet. So whenCars 2hits theaters onJune 24th, 2011, it looks like we'll have the return of a couple franchise in the same sitting. Personally, the original shorts that don't feature Pixar's staple characters are the ones I prefer, but by no means should my stance imply that I don't enjoy seeing my favorite characters returning in their shorts. After all, Ken and Barbie had quite the hilarious relationship (even if Ken did betray her at first), so this should be a blast.Sound good?

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Christian Bale Joins the Ranks of Zhang Yimou's 'Nanjing Heroes'« FirstShowing.net

Though audiences are looking forward to his final turn as Batman in Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated sequelThe Dark Knight Rises, it looks likeChristian Baleis already looking to his future beyond the Caped Crusader. Today a press conference in Beijing (viaTHR) announced Christian Bale will star in the tentatively titledNanjing Heroes, the next film from directorZhang Yimou(Hero). The story, based on Yan Geling's novelThe 13 Women of Nanjing, will see Bale as a priest who shelters a group of prostitutes and female students in his church during the 1937 wartime atrocity known as"The Rape of Nanking"by Japanese troops.

Throughout the violent invasion, hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians and surrendered soldiers were murdered along with anywhere from 20,000-80,000 women being raped by the Imperial Japanese Army. As for Bale's casting in the story, Zhang says,"I met Christian in America and was impressed with his serious book research for the role."The film is yet another cinematic approach to the tragic historical events which has been seen before in Chinese films likeCity of Life and Death. Bale has always chosen roles completely different from his previous work whether it'sThe MachinistorTerminator Salvation, and this project is no different.Interested?

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Toy Story 3, The King's Speech& More Ineligible for WGA Awards« FirstShowing.net

The 2010 nominees for the WGA Awards, or the annualWriters Guild Awards, haven't been announced yet - not until January 4th. When they do arrive, there will be some key films of 2010 missing, because they were disqualified. The WGA likes to cut out scripts that don't follow"the guild's Minimum Basic Agreement, or the agreements of several affiliated international guilds,"whatever that means. As reported by Steve Pond ofThe Wrap(viaAwards Daily), the scripts disqualified this year include:The King's Speech,Winter's Bone,Toy Story 3,Blue ValentineandAnother Year. Quite a batch of films withdamngood writing!

To be honest, I don't think this is as shocking as it all sounds, as this happens pretty much every year with the WGA. Last year they disqualifiedInglourious Basterds,An EducationandDistrict 9, which opened up space for500 Days of Summertoget a nomination. Maybe excluding those 5 strong scripts will allow other worthy scripts a chance, likeMonstersorThe American. It's not good to hear that some of the best writing won't be recognized by its own guild, but there's always theOscars, where I'm also expecting/hoping to seeThe King's Speech,Toy Story 3andBlue Valentineto get featured anyway. Stay tuned for the nominations!

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Spike Jonze& Charlie Kaufman Reuniting for New Secret Project« FirstShowing.net

Since the two have collaborated so well on mind-bending films likeAdaptationandBeing John Malkovich, it's pretty damn good to hear from24 Framesthat writerCharlie Kaufmanand directorSpike Jonzeare looking to work together again. The duo are currently shopping around a new pitch (there isnoscript yet), but the plot is being kept under tight wraps. As of now, the project is being taken to independent financiers in hopes of getting the production off the ground first. Since Kaufman and Jonze don't really have anything officially lined up as their next projects, a reunion of these two brilliant cinematic minds is quite exciting.

As far as we know, Kaufman has otherwise been working on a script calledFrank or Francisthat had been set up at Sony, but it doesn't sound like this new project is the same. Still, that project sounds just as meta as his previous projects as it follows a director embraced for broadly commercial hits resents his success and wants to be considered an auteur and artiste. Apparently the project acts as a Hollywood satire in the form of a musical. That sounds pretty damn great, so hopefully we'll see that at some point. As for this unknown new team-up goes, we'll keep you posted as more information becomes available.Anyone else excited?

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Kathryn Bigelow May Direct Another Film Before 'Triple Frontier'« FirstShowing.net

We've just recently confirmed that Tom Hankswill indeed starin the next film from Academy Award winning directorKathryn Bigelowwhether it's calledSleeping Dogs,Triple Frontieror something completely different. However, that project isn't slated to start production until fall of 2011, andVarietysays Bigelow andThe Hurt LockerwriterMark Boalare looking to get another international thriller off the ground before then. Though details are sparse, it will apparently be timely and revolve around certainblack ops. However,Call of Dutyfans shouldn't get excited as the film is said to be based on atrue storythat has"appeared in printed form."

The project is currently being shopped around to studios and if the Oscar winning team of Boal and Bigelow is behind it, you can bet plenty of studios will be taking the bait. It will be a low budget, indie project not unlikeThe Hurt Locker. Though it might seem like this will get in the way ofTriple Frontier/Sleeping Dogs, apparently this project will actually give Boal and Bigelow more time to figure out scheduling of potential cast members. Since most of the names mentioned as potential involvement have full future slates (Johnny Depp, Will Smithand more), this may make their participation slightly more likely. We'll do our best to keep you posted.Interested?

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Casting Tidbits: Teresa Palmer, Ricky Gervais and Giovanni Ribisi« FirstShowing.net

It's just like Santa's workshop! Except it smells like Casting Tidbits and everyone looks like they wanna hurt me. First up,THRreportsJoel Edgerton(The Thingremake) and the lovelyTeresa Palmer(The Sorcerer's Apprentice) will star in an Australian psychological drama calledSay Nothing. ActorKieran Darcy Smithwill make his feature directorial debut with this story of four friends who lose themselves in the fun of a carefree Southeast Asian holiday. However, a mystery unfolds after a fateful night when they were dancing under a full moon in Cambodia and one disappears. Darcy also wrote the film himself.

Second, after we heardEmily Bluntmayco-star with Jason Segelagain inFive-Year Engagement, it looks like they may co-star for the second time even sooner.Heat Visionreports Blunt has joined the growing list of celebrity cameos inThe Muppets. In addition,Ricky Gervaishas also signed up to join in the puppet fun. The two British talents join other names like Jack Black, Zach Galifianakis, and maybe even Lady Gaga for a film that promises to be an epic return to the big screen for all your favorite Muppets.

Finally,VarietyreportsBen Foster(The Messenger) andGiovanni Ribisi(Avatar) will join Mark Wahlberg and Kate Beckinsale inContraband. A remake of the Icelandic thrillerReykjavik-Rotterdam, the story follows a security guard and former alcohol smuggler on the Iceland-Netherlands route who is tempted back into illicit business by a dubious friend after encountering financial problems. Foster is playing Wahblerg's brother-in-law, but it's not clear what role Ribisi has signed up for in the film. Universal is looking to release the film on March 16, 2012.

Well, that's all for this edition ofCasting Tidbits. Be sure to stay tuned for more casting updates on the way.

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Robert Downey Jr Sets Up New Musical Comedy at Warner Bros« FirstShowing.net

Looks likeRobert Downey Jr.might start singing for his next project.Deadlinereports that Warner Bros has closed a deal for a currently untitledmusical comedythat is being developed for Downey Jr to star in. The script& lyrics will be written byBrian Yorkeyand the music will be composed byTom Kitt, the duo behind the Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musicalNext to Normal, which was already in the news today whenRob Reiner talked abouthow he really wanted to adapt it into a movie. This new project is being developed with Yorkey, Kitt and Anonymous Content's Joy Gorman as well as with Susan Downey producing.Read on!

Deadline says the story is about two Broadway songwriters, one of whom is played by Downey Jr, who find themselves creatively and financially bankrupt when their big-break musical is a huge flop. While searching for inspiration for a comeback, they take jobs as counselors, teaching singing and dancing at a theater camp they attended as kids. This obviously seems a bitGleeinspired, along with just being a creative concept from the guys behindNext to Normal, but it sounds like it'll be fun. I'm not sure why, but when I think of Downey Jr singing, I think ofGene Wilder, and if that comparison is true at all, we're in for a hell of a good time.

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More Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon Sequels Coming?« FirstShowing.net

We're already aware the DreamWorks Animation has sequels on the way forKung Fu Panda(check out theteaser trailer here) andHow to Train Your Dragon, but apparently there's plans beyond the next installments for even more adventures.Empirerecently sat down with DWA'sJeffrey Katzenbergwho talked about plans for several sequels for each franchise and even a fourth installment ofMadagascar(the third willhit in 2012). In short, Katzenberg mentioned plans for six chapters ofKung Fu Panda, three chapters forHow to Train Your Dragon, and four total films forMadagascar. Find out what he had to say about each of the franchises below.

As for the next installment ofMadagascar(the franchise that doesn't really have any of my interest), Katzenberg says that the third film will see,"{the animals} come back to New York, and they will come to terms with that, which they will do in this next chapter. Because of the way that movie concludes there's probably one more for them."Not exactly a solid guarantee, but it sounds like he knows exactly there the story is going. As forKung Fu PandaandHow to Train Your Dragon, here's what Katzenberg had to say:

"'Kung Fu Panda'actually hassix chapters to it, and we’ve mapped that out over the years. 'How to Train Your Dragon' isat least three, maybe more, but we know there are a least three chapters to that story. There are actually 8 books. {They're different form the film} but there are elements of them that actually… as you know, there aremany islands in the world of Berk, and different things there, so we’ll see. But right now, today, we know that there are three for sure that we want to tell and there may be more. We haven’t thought, you know, how do we continue beyond that."

With so much source material forHow to Train Your DragoninCressida Cowell's booksit's not surprising that even more sequels are planned, but the fact that there are six more stories forKung Fu Pandaenvisioned seems a bit over-the-top. This could always change since I'm pretty sure I recall DWA saying they had a story planned for fiveShrekfilms, but ultimately decided to call it quits after the fourth (which is good, because they started losing their flare afterShrek the Third). SinceKung Fu Pandais an original property it's a little harder to crack, but I can definitely imagine at least one trilogy coming together. However, having asecondtrilogy seems a bit excessive. Of course, Disney doesn't have a problem taking on the challenge with theirnew trilogy forPirates of the Caribbean, so we'll see what happens.What do you guys think?

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'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' Has Nicolas Cage Very Excited« FirstShowing.net

Not too many people walked away from the big screen adaptation of Marvel's flaming pile that isGhost Riderwith a smile on their face, but with Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (the duo behindCrank) at the helm of the sequel, some of us still have hope for the flaming biker. But we aren't the only ones excited aboutGhost Rider: Spirit of Vengeanceasi09recently caught up withNicolas Cagewhilst he's been out promoting his January release ofSeason of the Witch, and he's absolutely thrilled with the plans.  Below he talks about the differences between the first film and this sequel and how Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider has changed over the years.

Here's what Nicolas Cage had to say about the sequel, which seems to be going in a vastly different direction than the first:

"It is acompletely different film. The first one, which I won't denigrate— I liked the first one, but it was almost like a fairy tale. Almost like a Disney fairy tale interpretation of Faust. This one is completely re-conceived, it'snot even connected to the first one, it's a different origin sequence. But I think it will be a brand new experience. It hasmore adrenalineinvolved in the film making process itself, and in the movie when you see it. Again, I think the stuff we're able to get into with Ghost Rider is going to be a lot more abstract and not like anything you've seen before. So I'm very excited by it."

Sounds a little more like a franchise reboot than a sequel, and that's just fine with me. As far as his character goes, Cage says,"{Johnny Blaze has} becomea lot more sarcastic, now that his head has been ignited. Unlike the first one where he was trying to keep it at bay. Now he's been living with the Ghost Rider for some time, there's a lotmore ironywith the character. His outlook isn't as quite naive as it once was."It sounds like this is going to be the action-packed adaptation that fans deserved the first time around. Neveldine and Taylor certainly have an off-the-wall visual style, and I think they're the right team to finally do justice to Ghost Rider.What do you guys think?

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'Zombieland' Writers Reese and Wernick to Direct 'Doc and Howie'« FirstShowing.net

Now this is an interesting turn of events. Screenwriting duoRhett ReeseandPaul Wernick, who wroteZombielandand are working on the newG.I. Joesequel andDeadpoolscripts as well as theCowboy Ninja Vikingadaptation at Disney, are to make their feature directing debut a script that, oddly, is not their own. THR'sRiskyBizreports that the project is a comedy calledDoc and Howie, which was shortened from its original longer descriptive titleDoc and Howie Whack a Grannywhen it was on theBlack List. TV writer& producerSteve Leffwrote the original screenplay. Interested to see what these guys can do as directors next.

Described as being in the tone ofHarold and Kumar,Doc and Howieis about two guys - Doc and Howie - who accidentally kill an elderly woman when they neglect to help her carry her groceries up the stairs. In a"fortuitous twist,"the incident brings them into contact with the woman's hot granddaughters (of course), and they struggle with the dilemma of whether to tell them the truth. Montecito Picture Co is producing. I'm not really sure what to think about this yet, as it honestly sounds like some wacky Farrelly Brothers kind of comedy, not something I'd expect to see Reese/Wernick interested directing, but I should wait to see or hear more about it. It's a bit too early to criticize this now, as it might still be good!What do you guys think?

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Billy Bob Thornton Talks 'Bad Santa' Sequel& New Directing Gig« FirstShowing.net

Soon we'll see him co-starring with Dwayne Johnson in the action flickFaster, but it's the future career ofBilly Bob Thornton, in both acting and directing, that is a point of interest for us now. Thornton recently sat down with our friends atColliderfor a quick interview, and while the complete Q&A is still forthcoming, they did reveal some buzzworthy info on a couple future projects for the actor/director. First of all, Thornton revealed he recently completed a script titledJane Mansfield's Carwith his old writing partnerTom Epperson. He didn't reveal any details on that project, but he did speak briefly about asequelto the raunchy holiday comedyBad Santa.

While Thornton says they're looking to shootJane Mansfield's Car, which he'll be directing himself, in the spring, you might be a little more interested in his talk about the potential for theBad Santasequel. While it doesn't sound like it's a guarantee, Thornton does say the idea has certainly been thrown around. Here's what he had to say:

"'Bad Santa' {has} become like a classic Christmas movie. People watch 'It’s a Wonderful Life' and 'Miracle on 34th St.' and Bad Santa now is sort of the box set. And there’s been talk of making a sequel to it, which I actually would like to do. I’ve never done a sequel to one of my movies, but that one makes sense to me to do it."

As far as avoiding another debacle that would again result in a more tame, less bold R-rated theatrical cut, Thornton says they should,"Probably get a director who’s got the juice to, with whoever makes it, you know puts up the money to get it in blood. That’s the way you have to do it, and hopefully it’ll work."So it sounds like a sequel to the holiday comedy might be a long ways off, but if the demand is out there and a filmmaker is willing to get down and dirty with Thornton's drunk, dirty Santa Claus, then a decent Christmas gift just might make its way to theaters.Anyone out there want aBad Santasequel?

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Malin Akerman Replaces Lindsay Lohan in Linda Lovelace Biopic« FirstShowing.net

Throughout her trials (literally and figuratively), tribulations and troubles, directorMatthew WilderwasoptimisticaboutkeepingLindsay LohanonboardInferno, the biopic surrounding famedDeep Throatporn starLinda Lovelace. The actressreplaced Anna Farison the project back in May, but since then she's been faced with a myriad of issues in court, rehab and more. Now that Lohan is supposed to remain in rehab until 2011, Wilder has been forced to replace her.The WrapreportsMalin Akermanhas stepped up to take on the role which has been described as tawdry, but containing potential for a powerful, and darkly dramatic performance.

As for the risque nature of the role itself, if you've seen Akerman's work inThe Heartbreak Kid,WatchmenorHarold and Kumar Go to White Castle, you know that the actress doesn't have much of a problem taking her clothes off on camera. Frankly, I don't have a problem with it either, but in this case, much of the nudity will likely be part of something more disturbing rather than sexy, and that's what makes the move quite bold. Wilder confirmed Akerman's participation on hisFacebook pagecomplete with a profile picture of Akerman in her Silk Spectre costume fromWatchmen. This will certainly be a challenge for the actress who has mostly dabbled in cute supporting roles, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she can do.How about you?

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Swiss Director Ben Hibon Set to Helm Supernatural Thriller 'Pan'« FirstShowing.net

If youjoined the massesthis weekend in theaters to watchHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I, then you're already familiar with the work ofSwiss directorBen Hibon. Sure franchise helmer David Yates directed the film itself, but Hibbon is responsible for that sweet animated sequence where Hermione tellsThe Tale of The Three Brothersand the history/myth of the Deathly Hallows. Now Hibon is set to direct his own fantasy action thriller asVarietyreports he's set to helmPan, a story which we haven't heard about in nearly four years, that takes the classic fairy tale of Peter Pan and turns it completely on its head.Read on!

Ben Magid wrote the script which waspicked up by New Linein 2006 and apparently was once considered to be a directing vehicle for Guillermo del Toro. The story uses J.M. Barrie's classic characters but with a twist: Captain Hook is the hero, a haunted former police detective, while Peter Pan is some sort of childlike kidnapper. Having read the script, I can tell you that the idea is quite brilliant, but the execution of it leaves something to be desired. I feel like the story (at least in the draft that I read) is a missed opportunity that takes a great concept but just turns it into another generic thriller. Hopefully there's been some rewrites on the script, and Ben Hibon can bring some of the magic that he used inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Iinto the live-action realm.Interested?

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'Another Brick In The Wall' Kids' Story Being Made into a Movie« FirstShowing.net

"We don't need no education… We don't need no thought control…"So check this out!Deadlineis reporting that British producerAndy Harries(The Queen, The Damned United) is working on a project based on the Pink Floyd song"Another Brick In The Wall."You might think of either themusic videoor Alan Parker's moviePink Floyd'sThe Wall, but this new movie won't be anything like either of those. Harries optioned the life story of music teacherAlan Renshawin order to tell the true story of the school children who sang the chorus in the 1979 song and their"maverick"teacher. It will be"Dead Poets SocietymeetsSchool of Rock."

Now this sounds pretty damn cool. If only they could getRichard Curtisto direct, things would be perfect. Harries apparently doesn't even have the rights to the song yet, but is hunting downRoger Watersto get them. Newcomer Steve Thompson is writing the script for Left Bank and BBC Films. Renshaw, the teacher, arrived at a"struggling north London comprehensive (public) school"in the late 70s, determined to shake things up. His class eventually ends up singing the chorus on Pink Floyd's"Another Brick In The Wall"and he ends up getting fired for it. Sounds like a good story kind of reminiscent of Richard Curtis'Pirate Radioanyway. Obviously this is all still in early development, but we'll be following it and will keep you updated!

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Stephen King Picks His Top 10 of 2010 Already - Let Me In is #1!« FirstShowing.net

It's a yearly tradition (see last year's) for legendary authorStephen Kingto publish his always strange yet fantastic list of favorite films from the past year, mostly because he chooses some very peculiar films, 2010 being no different. King just published his list in the latest ssue ofEntertainment WeeklyandSlashFilmgot the scoop on what he chose. As expected, it's a very odd list, yet I'm going to have defend him on some of his choices - especially Matt Reeves'Let Me Inbeing #1. I loved that movie and thought it was indeed a perfect counterpart to the Swedish version. Anyway, you can find the rest of King's 2010 list below, so check it out!

10. Green Zone
9. Jackass 3D
8. Monsters
7. Splice
6. Kick-Ass
5. Takers
4. The Social Network
3. Inception
2. The Town
1. Let Me In
List FromEW

One movie that really sticks out is obviouslyTakers- uh did anyone evenseethat movie? He explains:"This satisfyingly complex cops-'n'-robbers movie features great performances… and the armored-car heist is the best action sequence I've seen this year."Wow - anyone agree with him? Additionally, I'm very happy to seeSpliceandMonsters, but what aboutJackass 3D? Now I know it's supposed to be an awesome use of 3D, but this just seems like random filler. Did he not see other amazing movies this year likeThe King's SpeechorBlack Swan? Other comments he makes are aboutThe Social Network:"succeeds where Michael Douglas' Wall Street sequel fails"andThe Town:"bad title, fantastic movie… a strangely intimate film."Thoughts?

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Disney Starts the Engine on Techno Action Thriller 'Hovercar 3D'« FirstShowing.net

Apparently Disney is still high on the fast-paced action of light cycles from the forthcomingTron Legacyas the studio has just lined up another high-speed techno action thriller.24 Framesreports the Mouse House have been developingHovercar 3D, an adaptation of ayoung adult book seriesfrom authorMatthew Reilly. Apparently the property was picked up six years ago with the creators of Smallville behind the project, but development has started all over once again. Much likeTron Legacy, a relatively unknown director is being brought onboard inFredrik Bond, who recentlysigned on to directYear 12, a new sci-fi action film.Read on!

The first book in the series sounds like anotherSpeed Racer(which still makes me think that the Wackowski siblings film was ahead of its time) meets thevideo game seriesF-Zero, but I'll let the official summary do the talking:

In the world of the near future, the most popular sport in the world is hover car racing. Superfast and dangerous, its heroes are the racers: part fighter pilot, part race-car driver, all superstar.

But to get to the Pro Circuit, you must first pass through the International Race School, a brutal cauldron of wild races on even wilder courses, where only the best of the best will survive.

This is the story of Jason Chaser, a talented young racer selected to attend the Race School. He’s younger than the other students. He’s smaller. His trusty car, the Argonaut, is older. But Jason Chaser is no ordinary racer. And as he races against the best drivers in the world he will learn that at Race School winning is everything, that not everyone in this world fights fair, and that you never ever have any friends on the track.

Strap on your seatbelts and hold on tight because the pace of reading just went supersonic!

That's pretty much right up Disney's alley, and apparently the story and challenges in the series have been compared toHarry Potter, a good snag for the studio as the popular Warner Bros. franchise comes to an end. As for director Fredrik Bond, well you can get a good look at his work by checking out thiscollection of his commercialsthanks to SlashFilm. He's got some unique style, and he really makes a commercial easier to watch. He's also been attached to directorHack/Slashand a remake ofThe Hostfor awhile, so he's been waiting for his feature film debut for a little while now. If Bond can make a big splash at Disney in the same way that Joe Kosinski has been blowing minds withTron Legacy, then he'll have quite a career ahead of him.What do you guys think?

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'Dark Knight' Producer Behind 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Reboot« FirstShowing.net

Previously we'd heard about thepotential of a new takeonBuffy the Vampire Slayerwithout Joss Whedon being involved at all. Though the series creator wasn't bitter about the project, he just said hewouldn't be a part of it. Since then we haven't heard any new details. But today Atlas Entertainment, the company run byThe Dark KnightproducerCharles Roven, announced they are behind the project along with Warner Bros. They also revealed relatively inexperienced screenwriterWhit Andersonis behind the screenplay. No details on the story whatsoever have been revealed but having Roven behind the project certainly doesn't hurt.Read on!

Here's what the producer had to say on the project:

“Whit approached us with an exciting idea about how to update Buffy. There is an active fan base eagerly awaiting this character’s return to the big screen. We’re thrilled to team up with Doug and Roy on a re-imagining of Buffy and the world she inhabits. Details of the film are being keptunder wraps, but I can say while this is not your high school Buffy, she’ll be just as witty, tough, and sexy as we all remember her to be.”

Hero Complexalso spoke to Anderson about the project where she revealed she's"fighting through"the script right now. Since there's many Buffy fans out there who are undoubtedly worried about their beloved characters and universe Whedon so carefully constructed, here's her trying to tell us how much she loves the series:

”I didn’t really watch much television at all, but Ialwayswatched 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' that was the one show I would watch when I got home. I just loved this character. I was the same age as Buffy and it was so rare to have a female lead character on TV in those days who was strong and capable and smart but also allowed to be feminine.”

It's always somewhat worrisome when the only thing a writer, producer, actor or director can say is how big of a fan they are without offering any real evidence outside of the usual praise of the character, series, etc. I want to hear specifics about what you loved, why you loved it, and how you're going to try and bring that to your own take on the property in question. I might be a big fan of something, but I'm not the one giving it a complete overhaul for a major motion picture.  For now, I guess we can take solace in the fact that a producer like Roven who gathered Christopher Nolan and his entire creative team to bring Batman back to life, but somehow, I don't think it'll be enough for some fans to have faith (especially for those who loved Sarah Michelle Gellar and therest of the series' cast).How about you?

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'Hot Tub Time Machine' Director Behind 'Toxic Avenger' Remake« FirstShowing.net

Back in April we found out thatThe Toxic Avengerwas gettingtossed in the remake machinefor a family friendly PG-13 action comedy similar toThe Maskstarring Jim Carrey. NowDeadlinehas word that directorSteve Pink, the seemingly familyunfriendlyfilmmaker ofHot Tub Time Machinewill helm the"green"remake for these environmentally conscious times. No new details on the story for this new adaptation have surfaced, but the original focused on a mop-wielding simpleton named Melvin, whose trusting ways made him easy prey for gym thugs who tossed him into a vat of toxic waste, thus turning him into The Toxic Avenger.

A transformation gave him rippling muscles and despite a rather grotesque exterior appearance, some beautiful ladies finally started noticing Melvin. The deal for the remake included the acquisition ofthe 1984 original film, four sequels, an animated TV series and comic books, so rather than a straight up adaptation of one of these iterations, the new film will likely use all of them as inspiration. It's not clear if the director will tackle this before continuing development on therecently announced adaptationofHow to Survive a Robot Uprisingbut Pink says,""The Toxic Avenger is exactly what the country–wait, that's not big enough–what theworldneeds right now."A bit theatrical, but I guess you can't expect much less for a hero that could save the world with his mop and bucket.Anyone excited about this news?

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Jeremy Renner Starring in Paramount's Mission: Impossible IV« FirstShowing.net

Although a casting search began this week, Paramount has castJeremy Renneras the lead opposite Tom Cruise in the upcomingMission: Impossible IV, being directed by Pixar's Brad Bird.Deadlineexplains:"Paramount has struggled to find the right co-star to play an operative opposite Cruise, and one factor was selecting an actor who could potentially carry the series down the line, should Cruise's Ethan Hunt character not continue."That might happen sooner than later, so Renner would replace Hunt. Actors like Tom Hardy and Chris Pine were considered, so they chose Renner who"has the grit, maturity and chops"for the role.

Between playing Hawkeye inThe Avengers, Ben Affleck'sThe Town, and now this, Jeremy Renner is set to explode into the mainstream after his Oscar nominated role inThe Hurt Locker. The studio felt that Renner had a"Daniel Craig quality"that they liked, so you can obviously see the direction they want to take this series. Shooting is expected to begin this fall in Vancouver, Prague, Dubai and the US. The latest draft of the screenplay was written by Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec (both of shows like"Happy Town"and"Life of Mars"). Paramount has already scheduled a release date forMission: Impossible IVinDecember 2011. I like Renner, he's a great actor, I just hope he fits perfectly into theMission: Impossibleworld.Your thoughts?

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New Back to the Future Poster for UK's Theatrical Re-Release« FirstShowing.net

From time to time I wonder what it would have been like to be caught up in the world of movie news during the times ofStar WarsandIndiana Jones. Unless (heaven forbid) a remake of those films comes along, my writing on those topics is usually limited to pop culture references and random regurgitation of videos and infographics. However, today I'm lucky enough to direct your attention to a brand new (yet familiar) postervia EmpireforBack to the Future, a favorite of mine which is getting a theatrical re-release this October in the United Kingdom only to celebrate the25th Anniversaryof Marty McFly's adventures through time.

Don't forget that in addition to this re-release, theBack to the FutureTrilogy on Blu-Rayarrives in October!

The poster uses imagery reminiscent of Drew Struzan'soriginal posters(including the famous stylized title font) but with a sharper photographic edge. Honestly, since this is one of my favorite movies of all-time, I'm beyond frustrated that the US won't be privy to a theatrical re-release of this classic flick. I mean ifGreasegets a damn sing-along theatrical re-release (after it already hit theatersagainover ten years ago) then why the hell shouldn'tBack to the Futureget the same respect here in the US? While there are special events likeWe're Going Back: Celebrating the 25th Anniversarybeing held in Burbank, those of us in the US will just have to settle for theBlu-Ray release of the trilogywhen it hits shelves inOctober. That's nottoobad, is it?

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TWC Finds a Writer for 'American Werewolf in London' Remake« FirstShowing.net

I don't get it. Universal'sThe Wolfmanflopped hard to barely earn$62 millionthis year, and just because Taylor Lautner is"hot"right now doesn't mean werewolves are the in thing. Yet, Hollywood keeps it coming, and they keep making these damn movies just becauseTwilightis the in thing and remakes are the safe way (really?) to earn some cash from making movies. It wasofficially confirmedlast summer that The Weinstein Company (akaTWC) had acquired the remake rights and was developing a remake to John Landis' seminal horror-comedy classicAn American Werewolf in London, but that's about all we knew about it then.

Today's update, to make things even worse, comes from24 Framesand is another one of those sketchy"it's not really newsyet, but it almost is"kind of stories. They say that Dimension Films, the production arm of TWC, is"in talks"with writerFernley Phillips(of onlyThe Number 23previously) to write the remake's script. They also add that he'll give it a"modern spin."Bloody-Disgustingalso adds that"our own sources tell us that Bob and Harvey Weinstein are really looking todepartfrom John Landis' 1981 horror comedy."Ugh, I'm already sick of hearing this. Why, why, why? That's all I can think about. The original is perfect!

When I firstwrote about this remakelast year, I admittedly hadn't seenAn American Werewolf in London, but that was a problem I needed to fix so I fired up the Blu-Ray just a few months later. I'm now proud to say that Landis' horror-comedy classic is actually one of my favorite horror movies of all-time, it really was perfect, totally enjoyable from start to finish, anddamndid it look good on Blu-Ray (get it you haven't yet!). I'm sure they can sucker a few people in to see this when it comes out, but really, I'm not expecting anything good and I'm frustrated that this"modern"remake is even being considered. Can we evenhopefor the best?

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Steve Carell& Sandra Bullock Cast in 'The Abstinence Teacher'« FirstShowing.net

Back in December of 2006it was announcedthe directing duo ofJonathan DaytonandValerie Faris' would be following up their indie hitLittle Miss Sunshinewith an adaptation ofTom Perrotta's novelThe Abstinence Teacherfor Warner Independent, but since that section of WB has sincegone belly-up, the project has been in limbo. NowProduction Weeklyreports (viaThe Playlist) the project seems to be back in working order asSteve CarellandSandra Bullockare now attached to the story of a woman who works as a sex-ed teacher in Middle America whose values conflict with the conservative nature of where she lives.

Set in a town of good schools, wholesome family values and a thriving real estate climate, Ruth Ramsey (the role likely for Bullock), a human sexuality teacher, finds herself under fire for believing"pleasure is good, shame is bad, and knowledge is power."Meanwhile, her daughter's soccer coach and former rocker/stoner Tim Mason (the role presumably for Carell) belongs to an evangelical church that isn't too fond of Ruth's teaching style. In defense of her own beliefs, Ruth charges that the church shouldn't be taking its message outside of the church itself. And so Ruth and Tim are pitted against each other in a small-town culture war.

Sounds like something different for both Carell and Bullock, so I'm certainly interested. However, it remains to be seen how soon Dayton and Faris will get to this project since theirother comedy projectWill, starring Zach Galifianakis and Paul Rudd, is also on their slate.Little Miss Sunshinewas one of my favorite indies a few years ago, so I can't wait to see what Dayton and Faris have in store with their sophomore effort.Cool?

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Shawn Levy and the 'Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day'« FirstShowing.net

In the line of cinematic adaptations of some of my favorite childhood books, I am sad to say that I've never been completely satisfied with one.How the Grinch Stole Christmas(the live-action one) completely missed the mark,Jumanjihas its moments and despite all the hipster hype,Where the Wild Things Arejust didn't move me as much as I'd hoped. Consequently, I'm a little apprehensive asVarietyreports 20th Century Fox andShawn Levy(Night at the Museum,Date Night) are developing an adaptation ofthe children's bookAlexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Dayas a high-concept family comedy.

Judith Viorst'sbookfollows on hell of a terrible day for youngster Alexander as he wakes up with gum in his hair, doesn't get a prize in his cereal, finds out he has a cavity, has lima beans for dinner and gets demoted to third best friend by his buddy Paul. There are plenty more terrible things that happen throughout his day, but we won't list them all here. Apparently The Jim Henson Co. held the rights to the film and has assigned them to Fox for the adaptation. I'm not exactly sure what will make the film so high-concept, but apparently it involves Alexander's entire family collectively enduring the worst day of their lives (wait, what?). Though The Jim Henson Co. brought the project to Levy's 21 Laps production banner for their success with family films, the project isn't necessarily being set up as a directing gig for Levy (but it'snotfully ruled out either).

I've been a Shawn Levy apologist for awhile, and I maintain that he has a great eye for family entertainment. In addition, without saying too much, I have confidence that plenty of you will be surprised with what Levy can do with material outside of the fluffy family fare wheelhouse when more ofReal Steelis revealed in the coming year or so. Levy is a guy who doesn't have a problem delivering softer material to an age appropriate audience, but can also deliver something grittier with more substance. I'm sure we'll be hearing more about Levy's future endeavors including this adaptation and more, so stay tuned!Anyone else excited for this?

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Will Smith Attached to Biblically-Inspired 'The Legend of Cain'« FirstShowing.net

After reporting that international superstarWill Smithhad addedyet another projectto his production company's future slate, we mentioned there wereno less than 30 projectshe was somehow involved in as either an actor or a producer. NowDeadlinethrows another one into they mix as they report that Smith is attached to star and produceThe Legend of Cain, a new retelling of the sibling rivalry between Biblical brothers Cain and Abel. However, rather than just picking up the Bible and adapting it, this apparently has some sort of twist involvingvampires. Oh no… Could Cain or Abel be from a long line of bloodsuckers?

It's unclear if Smith would become a vampire himself in this Biblically-inspired movie, or if maybe he'll be battling one. It wouldn't be too far off from his previous role as the lone surviving hero inI Am Legend. As much as I'd like to see an interesting twist on a familiar story as the conflict between Cain and Abel, does it really have to be vampires? Someone needs to bury a stake in the heart of this trend soon, because I don't think Will Smith can even make me interested in them again. This is still in the early stages of development though since no studio or director is attached, but we'll keep you posted as this one develops.Interested?

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Crank Directors Neveldine/Taylor Confirmed for Ghost Rider« FirstShowing.net

In Juneone big storythat caused quite a ruckus was aboutCrank 1& 2, GamerdirectorsMark NeveldineandBrain Taylor, collectively known as Neveldine/Taylor, directing theGhost Ridersequel titledGhost Rider: Spirit of Vengeanceat Sony. Obviously they're putting this one together more as a reboot than a direct sequel, and hiring Neveldine/Taylor for hopefully an R-ratedGhost Rideris a major step in the right direction. ApparentlyNicolas Cageappeared on Craig Ferguson'sLate, Late Showlast night (watchvideo here, viaComingSoon) and talked briefly about the sequel, confirming that Neveldine/Taylor are directing.

"There is going to be a new one,"Cage said."I justmade the dealtoday."A few sentences later, in a funky conversation, Ferguson asked"who's the director?"and Cage replied:"Well, they're the wonderful directors, the team fromCrank-NeveldineandTaylor- they're fantastic."That's some high praise. Unfortunately, Cage did not confirm if this means we'll actually get an R-ratedGhost Ridermovie, because I think that is one of the few ways they might be able to salvage this franchise. I'm hoping these two amp up the intensity, darkness, and violence, but I'm worried they're going to force them to make this PG-13. We'll find out soon.

We don't really know how soon thisGhost Rider: Spirit of Vengeancesequel will get underway, but I should remind you that last year,David S. Goyer talked a bit abouthis oldGhost Riderscreenplay that they're using for this sequel (at least as as starting point):"It was definitely written as a hard R… It was aBlade-type film. And now they want it to be PG-13."Let's hope now that Neveldine/Taylor are confirmed to direct, they can convince Sony otherwise, or else this might be another mistake in the making.What do you guys think?

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Aaron Sorkin's Directing Debut is a Biopic About John Edwards« FirstShowing.net

After writing many masterful screenplays with fully memorable and quotable lines of dialogue, screenwriterAaron Sorkinis now poised to make his directorial debut.Deadlinereports Sorkin has optioned rights toThe Politician: An Insider's Account of John Edwards's Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal That Brought Him Down,a non-fiction bookwritten by the former presidential candidate's one-time aide. Sorkin will be directing from a script which he will be writing himself. Though no studio is attached yet, with all the buzz his scripts forThe Social NetworkandMoneyballgathered, you know someone will bite on this soon.

The story of his fall from the climb for the US Presidency swept headlines across the nation as a promising Democratic frontrunner found himself amidst a huge scandal after a tabloid revealed the married senator had fathered an illegitimate child with another woman. Despite lots of denial, Edwards eventually admitted to the affair which birthed a child and his career went all Humpty Dumpty. Sorkin will pick up the pieces and I'm sure he'll put together another stellar drama which he calls,"anextraordinary storyfilled with motivations, decisions and consequences that would have lit Shakespeare up."That's some hyperbole, but I wouldn't expect anything less.

However, we know the man is talented on the page, but can he bring those pages to life through the camera? We'll have to wait and see, but I'm hoping for the best. In addition to his stellar work on those forthcoming films (Sorkin's dialogue drives thefirsttwotrailers forThe Social Network, which are almost entirely audio only), Sorkin has also scripted two of my favorite dramas(Charlie Wilson's WarandA Few Good Men) and two of my favorite TV series ("The West Wing"and"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"). I'll be looking forward to anything with Sorkin's involvement, and we'll keep you posted as this political project project develops.

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First Official Look Revealed: Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern« FirstShowing.net

It was only discovered yesterday that the official reveal of the costume fromGreen Lanternwould be on the cover of"next week's"issue ofEntertainment Weekly. Before it could even hit stands,EW has decidedto unveil the photo early, although it's not very high resolution. So below you will seeRyan Reynoldsas Hal Jordan in his CGI costume fromGreen Lantern."Will and imagination are his superpowers,"Reynolds says.“We need a circus of Timothy Learys to think of things Hal would invent with his ring."I'm sure many, many of you are going to have something to say about this, so let's get it all over with and let the discussion begin!

"Fanboys of the world, get ready to go green. As all of Hollywood (and many a costumed nerd) gears up for next week'sComic-Con conventionin San Diego, EW provides a behind-the-scenes look at the making of next summer's highly anticipated superhero movieGreen Lantern."It was alsodiscovered back in Aprilthat the costume would be fully CG, which means it's easier for them to shoot in privacy on set as Reynolds wears a motion capture suit, and it allows them to do more with his costume in the movie, as is evident now look at this costume reveal. This is only just a tease of what is to come at Comic-Con, so stick around.Thoughts?

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Mark Ruffalo in Discussions to Play the Hulk in The Avengers« FirstShowing.net

After the debacle that tookEdward Nortonaway from his role asHulkfor the superhero ensembleThe Avengers, aside from the back and forth between Marvel, Norton's agent, andfinally Norton himself, there were rumors swirling about potential replacements.Hero Complexmentions names like Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, David Tennant and Joss Whedon favorite Nathan Fillion, butDeadlinehas a report out of left field that pegsMark Ruffaloas being in"late-stage discussions"between Marvel and his agency to become the new Incredible Hulk. As crappy as Norton's situation was, Ruffalo is one hell of an amazing replacement.

Just yesterday I was in the middle of a discussion about Norton's potential replacement, andMark Ruffalowas at the top of my list. He's a great actor that a lot of people probably know by his looks the most, but not necessarily his name. Not only is he currently getting great reviews for his role inThe Kids Are All Right, but he's had great turns in films likeShutter Island,Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,We Don't Live Here Anymoreand of course,The Brothers Bloom. I've sung his praises plenty before, and I'm really glad to see a big role like this coming his way. But I'll tell you who is not going to be happy with this revelation:Marvel.

No doubt, this casting announcement was going to be their big opportunity for a bit of damage control and hopefully the start of a new hype machine atComic-Connext week, but this kind of leaves them out in the wind (even though it's not official). That's what they get for doingpost-production 3-D conversionforThorandCaptain America.So what do you think of Mark Ruffalo as the new Hulk inThe Avengers?

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Amanda Seyfried Joins Andrew Niccol's New Sci-Fi I'm.mortal« FirstShowing.net

I'm not entirely sure why, butAndrew Niccol(ofGattaca,Lord of WarandS1m0ne) has been laying low for the last few years. He tried to get a sci-fi project calledThe Crossinto production with Orlando Bloom, but it fell apart. Thankfully he's set to direct a"high priority"film for 20th Century Fox calledI'm.mortal. The sci-fi thriller is set in the"not-too-distant"future where the aging gene has been switched off. To avoid overpopulation, time has become currency and the way people pay for luxuries and necessities, and aging stops at the age of 25.Varietysays that 24-year-old actressAmanda Seyfriedhas been cast in the lead.

Variety adds to the plot: InI'm.mortal, time has become the currency. The rich are immortal, while the rest struggle to stay alive. When a"rebel"from the ghetto is falsely accused of murdering a wealthy man for his time, he is forced to go on the run with beautiful hostage (Seyfried). Together, they rage against the system, living minute to minute. They discover that love is more powerful than all the time in the world. Man, what a cheesy logline, but coming from Niccol, it'll be much better on screen. I loveGattaca, one of my all-time fave sci-fi flicks, and I've been waiting for him to return to the genre with something similar - this may be it.

Amanda Seyfried has been starring in lots of chic flicks recently, fromMamma MiatoDear JohntoLetters to Juliet, but she's very talented, quite beautiful, I'm looking forward to seeing her lead this. No other roles have been cast yet, but I'm sure we'll hear more on it soon. Hopefully production stays on track this time!

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Casting Tidbits: Walken, Laurence Fishburne, Gillian Anderson« FirstShowing.net

Peter - I swear to you wherever you go, wherever you are, Ivowthere will always be Casting Tidbits buried in notes signed James Hook. They will be flung into doors of your children's, children's, children, do you hear me? First up,Deadlineis reporting that the lovelyGillian Andersonis heading back into action as a field agent. No, she's not suiting up as Agent Scully, but rather as MI7 secret agent Pamela Head in the silly sequelJohnny English Reborn. Rowan Atkinson is returning as the clumsy British spy as he embarks on a search for traitors within Her Majesty's Secret Service. Here's to hoping she shoots English in the head.

Next up,VarietyreportsLaurence Fishburneis being tossed into an already impressive cast for Steven Soderbergh's new thrillerContagion. Fishburne joins Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Winslet in a story following the threat posed by a deadly disease, with multiple plotlines running through the film like Soderbergh'sTraffic. Soderbergh took an indie break for awhile focusing on films likeThe Girlfriend ExperienceandBubble, but I'm glad to see in back in the thick of big budget flicks with A-List ensemble casts.

Finally,Le Parisienreports (viaThe Playlist) reports thatChristopher WalkenandJohnny Hallydayare joining the cast of Tony Scott's crime dramaPotsdamer Platz. In addition, they also confirm thatJavier BardemandMickey Rourkeare officially along for the ride as well. No word on whether Jason Statham will end up being involved since he was mentioned around the time Bardem and Rourke were in talks to join the project. In addition, Scott was looking to bring in Al Pacino or maybe even bringing Gene Hackman out of retirement for a role, but we haven't heard any progress on either of them.Potsdamer Platztells the story of two soldiers in a New Jersey-based crime family who try to expand internationally.

Well, that's all for this edition ofCasting Tidbits. Be sure to stay tuned for more casting updates on the way.

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Denzel Washington Finds Shelter in New 'Safe House' Thriller« FirstShowing.net

Most people love when their favorite leading man takes on the role of a hero in any given story, whether it's something as fantastical as a superhero or as grounded as anethicalpassionate lawyer. But sometimes, it's even more enjoyable to see that same actor take on the role of a diabolical villain.Denzel Washingtonhas found a couple of his finest performances inTraining DayandAmerican Gangsterby playing the bad guy. NowVulturereports he might go back to crime withSafe House, an original thriller that sees him playing a dangerous criminal who's on the run from a young CIA agent after his"safe house"comes under attack.

WriterDavid Guggenheimpenned the script, which is described as a mix ofCollateralandThree Days of the Condor, and started a bidding war for the project last winter.Deadlinehas a bit more info on it, as they reportSnabba CashdirectorDaniel Espinosawill direct the thriller. The real question now is who they'll get to star opposite the intimidating Washington. Personally, at the risk of making an original script a little less original, I think it would be kind of interesting to see Ethan Hawke take the agent role thus creating a kind of makeshift sequel toTraining Day. Frankly, I'm surprised that studios haven't already thought of that idea with all the brand/name recognition they've been going for. Maybe I shouldn't say anything.Interested?

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Casting Tidbits: Michael Madsen, Marcia Cross& Ralph Fiennes« FirstShowing.net

They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the Casting Tidbits are down, these civilized people, they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve. First up,VarietyreportsMichael Madsen(Reservoir Dogs,Sin City) will lead the indie zombie flickInfected, with a story that focuses on a father and son who have to fight to survive against a deadly, rapidly spreading blood virus. Sounds like typical zombie fare, and something tells me Madsen doesn't exactly carefully select his projects since he hasaround 30 projectsthat are either in pre/post production or currently filming and that'sinsane.

Next,Varietyconfirms what we'dheard earlierregarding casting for spy thrillerTinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spywith one exception.Gary Oldman,Colin FirthandMichael Fassbenderare indeed signed on to star in Tomas Alfredson's adaptation ofJohn Le Carre's 1974 novelof the same name, but it seems David Thewlis (who was negotiating at the time) has been replaced withRalph Fiennes. As much as I love Thewlis and his unique choices is roles, Fiennes is a fine replacement in my book. The story takes place in the Cold War following a spy hunt within the highest echelons of the British Secret Intelligence Service. Peter Morgan wrote the screenplay which has been referred to as the"anti-James Bond."

Finally,VarietyreportsMarcia Cross("Desperate Housewives") will star opposite Milla Jovovich in the indie dramaBringing Up Bobby. Actress Fake Janssen (X-Men) is making her feature directorial debut working from a script which she also wrote herself. The film tells the story of a European con artist and her 10-year-old son who find themselves in Oklahoma in an effort to escape her past and build a better future. The two move quite successfully through a myriad of adventures until the mother's criminal past catches up with her. Cross plays a woman who's able to deal with the loss of her own child by becoming the adoptive mother of the son, andBill Pullmanplays her husband.

Well, that's all for this edition ofCasting Tidbits. Be sure to stay tuned for more casting updates on the way.

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Disney May Have Finally Found Someone to Purchase Miramax« FirstShowing.net

Back towards the beginning of the year, we got the sad news thatMiramax, the indie distributor based out of Disney, was officiallyclosing its doorsafter 31 years of working in the motion picture business. Since then there's beenfailed talksabout the company's founding members,Bob& Harvey Weinstein, buying back the company, and most recently heavily disliked executiveDavid Bergsteinwas said to beteaming withconstruction magnateRon Tutorto purchase the studio. Well, word on the street is Tutorisstill involved, but apparently the team he's bringing into the deal has changed a bit, and the deal is"95% just about done."

Tutor has been leading the pack on the deal, but Bergstein seems to be out asColony Capitol, a private international investment firm, has been brought in to provide $300 million in equity (towards what will be around a $700 million purchase). Also joining the deal to provide more financing isJames Robinson, a chairman of Morgan Creek Productions, and Gulf Capital, an investment firm based out of Abu Dhabi (you know, that place Garfield always tried to send Nermal).Richard Nanula, a former CFO at Disney, is acting as Colony's principal to oversee the deal, but there's a chance that it could still fall through because around $200 million still needs to be raised in the form of debt, and some banks have resisted participating because of questions about the valuation, especially without the cooperation of Bob and Harvey Weinstein any more.

The buyers have entered a period of due diligence, in which they'll get a more detailed look at the Miramax books, and the deal could close as early asJuly 28th. However, there may be some troubles on the horizon because the buyers not onlydon'tbelieve they need the Weinsteins to sign off on the deal, but they don't need permission from them for remakes of the franchise films in their library of 611 titles. But a source close to the Weinstein camp says that their 2005 exit agreement with Disney gave them consultation and remake rights to more than two dozen of those franchises likeHalloween,Children of the Corn, etc. Obviously, the Weinsteinsaren't happyabout this and are still prepared to bid again for Miramax if this deal falls apart.

There's a lot of business mumbo jumbo to sort through and a lot of it isn't for typical movie fans to absorb. What's important though is that Miramax has the right guidance and team to bring Miramax back from the dead so that certain properties don't fall to the wayside. We've already seen what can happen to some of our beloved franchises with MGM's financial woes delaying production onThe Hobbit,James Bondand who knows what else. It's bad news when a company goes under, but it would be even worse if that company was brought back with the wrong people. As for Miramax's future, I'm not sure if it's better to have a new team in Tutor's assembly of financiers and execs, or if it's better with the Weinsteins again.Only time will tell.

Details on this deal were culminated from various news reports found onTHR,DeadlineandLA Times.

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Barry Levinson Directing Biopic on Rights Activist Jack Healey« FirstShowing.net

Though it seems in the past decade directorBarry Levinsonhas had some trouble grasping the amazing filmmaker's eye he once displayed with films likeLiberty Heights,Rain Man,Good Morning, VietnamandThe Natural, I've heard that he's made quite a film for HBO with the Jack Kevorkian biopicYou Don't Know Jack. Let's hope he can bring that energy and success back to the big screen as Columbia Picts announced, via press release, that Levinson has been attached to directBrother Jack, a biopic aboutJack Healey, a world-renowned human rights activist who left the priesthood for a life on the streets to fight for the people.

The press release describes Mr. Healey as"an effective and innovative leader in the human rights movement for over 25 years"as he"helped move the topic of human rights from closed-door diplomatic negotiations to widespread awareness, public debate, and direct citizen action."Apparently he's credited for making human rights a huge point of focus for governments and advocacy organizations around the world, and he's been referred to as"Mr. Human Rights"byU.S. News& World Report. This is an interesting, dramatic film from Mosaic, the company behind comedies such asStep Brothers,Semi-Proand this summer'sThe Other Guys.

No word on how soon this will go into production since Harley Patton's script is being re-written byKelly Masterson. In addition, Levinson has afewotherprojectsin his future as well, and we're not sure ifBrother Jackwill take precedence or not. Hopefully we'll see some casting news come our way soon to find out who will be stepping into Healey's shoes. Since Will Ferrell is based at Mosaic and they've obviously produced a lot of his projects, is there a chance he could make a move for this more dramatic role? We'll find out soon.

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Plans for Phil Lord& Chris Miller's Big Lego Movie Uncovered« FirstShowing.net

Early last weekit was announcedthatCloudy With a Chance of MeatballsdirectorsPhil LordandChris Millerwould be writing and directing Warner Bros'Legomovie. I'm excited by this news because Lord and Miller are two incredibly creative individuals and I knew they had a unique take on aLegomovie that would be pretty cool to see. Well, that definitely seems to be the case, asColliderspoke withPhil Lordand got the lowdown on what they're planning for it. Essentially, they're making a"super large scale brick film,"like one ofthose YouTube Lego moviesbut on a feature scale using hyper stop-motion. Sounds pretty awesome, no?

It was reported originally that Lord and Miller created a proposal that won over both the Warner Bros execs and the Lego execs. Lord explains:"Basically we came up with a treatment that was about a40-page crazy treatmentwith a lot of images and stuff and that got everybody excited and then we were off to the races trying to make a deal for the last four months."But what made their presentation so unique? What will their Lego movie look like? Well, he doesn't explain the complete concept infull, but this is what Lord reveals:

"We always sparked to the idea that you could make asuper large scale brick film. Have you seen those brick films online? There's a zillion of them. People literally make them in their basements with little Lego mini-figs and they build elaborate sets and they range from being like the most low production value to some of them people have spent years on and they look beautiful and they're really intricately detailed.

And we kept thinking, gosh there's got to be a way to take… if somebody wants to make a Lego movie they should make one of those on an enormous scale where you could actually buildenormous, beautiful Lego setsand put a camera on the deck at mini-fig eye level and bring the kind of bravado that like the contemporary action-adventure film does, but do it on like this micro-scale. So we always sparked to that idea and it was just about trying to crack the character story to carry that."

Nowthatsounds pretty damn cool, but it doesn't top there. Lord explains that Lego wants"to make asuper high qualityproduct. They want to make something that not only appeals to young kids but also appeals to families and grown-ups and people like you and me who just like to go see movies."If you've seenCloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, you certainly know these two are capable of developing a great film like that, plus this Lego concept just sounds totally awesome anyway. Lord continues:

"I don't know we're exactly are going to execute it but I would say the vast majority of the film takes place in animmersive all-Lego environment. So it's going to star mini-figs and we've created these really cool characters and a really nice character story between these mini-figs. And it's going to take place in a universe that's made entirely out of Lego to the point where if there's water or clouds or like a big explosion, that will be made out ofanimated Legos. And our goal was to make it look like a super charged stop-motion. Something like ifMichael Bay kidnapped Henry Selickto make a movie for him."

Okay, I want to see this rightnow, that sounds incredible! It kind of reminds me of a mix of thatPixels viral videoand theYouTube Lego movies, but on a massive scale. There can never be enough stop-motion movies anyway and I'd love to see them just go all-out creatively with this in every sense. Unfortunately, from the interview, it sounds like Lord and Miller are still gearing up to start shooting their R-rated21 Jump Streetfor Sony first before they get to thisLegomovie. So it will probably be a few years until we see this, but I'm really liking the concept so far and I can't wait to see what this looks like finished. Bring it on!Thoughts?

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MGM Cancels Sam Mendes' Bond 23, No More Daniel Craig?« FirstShowing.net

With every new James Bond, it reaches a point where audiences lose interest and the franchise restarts. I didn't think we'd reach that point withDaniel Craigfor a long, long time, because audiences seem to love him and there's a different storyline (starting with his origin inCasino Royale). The latest movie,Bond 23, was set to be directed by Oscar winnerSam Mendes(ofAmerican Beauty, Away We Go) from a script by Oscar nominated writerPeter Morgan(The Queen, Frost/Nixon). We already knew it wasdelayedbecause of MGM's ongoing financial troubles, but we're now receiving word that the entire thing has been canceled.

This news comes mainly fromHarry at AICNand theUK'sMirror(both viaThe Playlist). Harry Knowles says that"apparently all development on the next James Bond flick isdead. They've actually fucked MGM up so much that right now, they've canned development of a newJames Bondfilm."Oh I know, it's very sad.Mirrorconfirms:"Members of the production crew have been told the Bond film has been canned. There is a lot of bad feeling as a lot of time, money and hard work has already gone into this."Apparently this is not just another delay, it sounds like MGM is canceling all projects in development until they figure out how to get back into the moviemaking business, which may be never (if things keep going the same way they are).

The big question now is if this also means the end of Daniel Craig as James Bond. No onereallyknows how long Craig's contract runs or how many films he was signed to be in, but I'm sure MGM is pulling some crazy tricks in order to cancel any and everything, and that could include Craig's contract. But, of course, there's always the optimistic folks who think it's just a matter of time until we see Craig return as James Bond, and I think I'll side with them until further notice."This doesn't mean the end of the Bond films. The question ishow longit will take to make another one."Let's just hope we don't have to waittoolong for it.Thoughts?

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