Fantastic Fest is Honoring Martial Arts Legend Yuen Woo-Ping« FirstShowing.net

Another great announcement regardingFantastic Festnext month. Fantastic Fest will honor director and master fight choreographerYuen Woo-Pingwith a Lifetime Achievement Award at the world premiere of his new martial arts fantasyTrue Legend(photo above), starring Vincent Zhao (Dragon Gets Angry) Zhou Xun (The Emperor and the Assassin) with Michelle Yeoh (Babylon A.D.) and the late David Carradine (Kill Bill). We actuallyfeatured a trailerforTrue Legendlate last year, which you can stillwatch right here. That movie will play as part of a double feature withSnake in the Eagle's Shadow, Woo-Ping's directorial debut.

Besides the numerous films he's directed, Yuen Woo-Ping is also known as one of the greatest martial arts choreographers of all-time who has choreographed many of the unforgettable fights in films likeThe Matrixtrilogy,Kill Bill Vol. 1& 2,Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,Iron Monkey,Drunken Master,Once Upon a Time in China,Fist of LegendandKung Fu Hustle. This is an incredible opportunity for fans of Woo-Ping to not only see him in person at his first ever US festival appearance, but also see his newest filmandhis first film (from 1978 starring Jackie Chan!) on the big screen at the Paramount Theatre down in Austin, Texas.

If you're interested in attending, you can buy tickets for this event specifically starting September 7th on theFantastic Fest website."We are thrilled to have a filmmaker of Mr. Yuen's incredible talent and filmography attend our festival to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award,"stated Fantastic Fest's Tim League."A large part of our programming at Fantastic Fest is devoted to a genre of which Mr. Yuen represents thepinnacle of quality."I'm very excited to attend this event and will definitely be there on Saturday,September 25thfor the double feature. I have never seenSnake in the Eagle's ShadowandTrue Legendlooks awesome, too.

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A Buddy Cop Comedy with Ryan Reynolds and Bradley Cooper« FirstShowing.net

Just because a whole slew of projects already haveRyan Reynoldsattached, that's not going to stop him from adding another project to his future slate.RiskyBizreports Reynolds is going to team-up withBradley Cooperfor abuddy cop action comedyfrom screenwriterSheldon Turnerwho was nominated for an Academy Award for writingUp in the Airwith director Jason Reitman. The currently untitled film would see Cooper and Reynolds as two San Francisco cops and friends, whose fathers were once partners on the police force. Things get interesting when they have to bring their fathers out of retirement to help crack a new case.

Surely plenty of its comedy will come from the difference between the two generations of police officers, but with Turner writing, there's bound to be some genuine drama in there somewhere, too. Apparently the tone is something akin to aLethal Weaponpolice comedy and will be in R-rated territory. Apparently this project was once attempted five years ago (back then it was calledBlowback) and had Dwayne Johnson attached to star. This new version from producers Neal Moritz (Fast Five,Green Hornet) and Andrew Panay (Wedding Crashers) isn't yet set up at any studio yet, but with names like Cooper/Reynolds involved, it should only be a matter of time. I definitely think it has potential, but the question is how soon this will get off the ground with Reynolds' (who will also produce) schedule filling up rather quickly. Stay tuned as the project develops.

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Impossible Choice: Patton, German, Kreuk all MI4 Candidates« FirstShowing.net

I'm not normally one to post about casting news that isn't finalized, but this is a good story about three very beautiful actresses fighting for one role. Paramount is trying to get things moving onMission: Impossible IV(whichwon't even be called that) and withJeremy Renneras the male lead, their focus has shifted to finding a female lead. Yesterday,Deadline(viaSlashFilm) namedLauren German(Hostel: Part II, Dark Country),Paula Patton(Deja Vu, Swing Vote, Precious) andKristin Kreuk(Euro Trip, Street Fighter,"Smallville") as at least three of the actresses who are testing for the role. Quite a wonderful line-up, right?

We don't know much about the story or the characters that will be in it, except that this role is for"ayoung female operative."Other than that, we know Tom Cruise will be back but may not be playing Ethan Hunt for too long. Renner is also in a lead role and both Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg will be reprising their roles forM:I3. Shooting is expected to begin this fall in Vancouver, Prague, Dubai and the US. The latest draft of the script was written by Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec (both of shows like"Happy Town"and"Life of Mars"). Paramount has already set a lateDecember 16th, 2011release date forMission: Impossible IV.

SlashFilm's Russ hopes thatPaula Pattonlands the role, but I'm fine with any of them. We'll let you know who they decide to go with or if someone else ends up getting it instead of these three.Who doyouwant?

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Neil Marshall to Direct Weird-Sounding Thriller 'Undergound'« FirstShowing.net

After heading back in time for hisRoman epicCenturion, directorNeil Marshallis moving on to a project that sounds completely off-the-wall and almost laughable.Deadlinereports that the filmmaker is now set to directUnderground, a horror thriller from writer David Cohen set in the world of gourmet underground supper clubs. Yes, you read that right: underground supper clubs. But that's not all. Apparently the film is supposed to follow an ambitious young chef who ventures into the terrifying underbelly of extreme cuisine. Now I know things can get a bit crazy withGordon Ramsayor"Iron Chef,"but extreme cuisine?Seriously?

Maybe this is something I just don't full understand yet, but I find myself simultaneously intrigued, baffled and full of laughter. Maybe these chefs use only the most rare of cooking ingredients like the meat of endangered species or maybe even people (I'm thinkingthatis more what this is about). Perhaps there's competitions where the chef's must simultaneously cook a meal while surviving a deadly battle with another chef. I'm just spit-balling, and your guess (no matter how ridiculous) is as good as mine. Marshall certainly is an interesting British auteur, so I'm sure he's got something fun up his sleeves.Isanyoneinterested?

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John Cusack Starring in James McTeigue's Thriller 'The Raven'« FirstShowing.net

Cusack asEdgar Allan Poe? Okay, I'll bite, I like the sound of that. ActorJohn Cusackconfirmed on hisown Twitter(viaComingSoon) this morning that he will"play Edgar Allen Poe in fall-a-film {sic} calledThe Raven."If we can put two-and-two together, this means Cusack is starring as Poe inV for Vendettadirector James McTeigue's new filmThe Raven, a period piece about the last five days before Poe's odd death, in which the poet is in pursuit of a serial killer whose murders mirror those in his stories. It sounds like a dark, mysterious project and I'm excited to see Cusack take this on, especially because I'm a fan of McTeigue, too.

Cusack didn't specifically mention McTeigue in his tweet, but did say to"send any poe- gold - my way as I begin this journey into the abyss."Sounds like he's even mentally preparing himself for a very dark project, which is exactly what I'm interested in seeing. It wasrevealed in FebruarythatJeremy Rennerwas also set to star inThe Raven, but we're not sure if this means he's been replaced (because ofThe AvengersandMission: Impossible IV) or playing someone else, like the villain.IMDbalso has Ewan McGregor on the cast list, but we have no clue if he's still a part of this or not. Hopefully all this casting will get cleared up soon!

The Ravenis inspired by the famous Edgar Allen Poepoem. McTeigueexplained to us last yearthat it's"an amalgamation of Poe's stories crossed withSe7en. It's about a serial killer loose in 1850s Baltimore."As for the actual plot, he stated that"at each murder that he does, the killer leaves aclue, and basically Poe is set against the clock to find someone before they die."I love the sound of it and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing McTeigue's vision with Cusack at the front. We'll keep you updated onThe Raven, so stay tuned.

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Christopher McQuarrie to Adapt British Miniseries 'Unforgiven'« FirstShowing.net

Recently producerGraham Kinghas established a solid working relationship with A-list actressAngelina Jolie. Not only is his GK Films banner financing her new thrillerThe Tourist, but he's also producing theBosnian War love storyfor her directorial debut. Now it looks like he's lining up yet another project for her asDeadlinereports GK Films is developing a big-screen adaptation of theBritish miniseriesUnforgivenwith writer Christopher McQuarrie (Valkyrie) penning the script specifically for Jolie to star in. The story follows a woman as she rejoins society after serving a 15-year jail sentence for murdering two policemen.

Apparently the deaths happened when the policemen came to evict her family from their farmhouse. Upon her release from prision she faces the daunting task of rebuilding her life while continuing to be haunted by the ghosts of her past, as two sons from one of her victims plot their revenge. However, Jolie doesn't like to commit to a project until the script is done (honestly, we can't blame her), so it doesn't sound like this is a done deal even if the project is being fast-tracked. In addition, Jolie is a busy woman with quite thesizablepotentialprojectloadon her slate. We'll be waiting to see which flicks actually stick with Jolie in the future.

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Kristen Bell& Anna Paquin Join the Body Count of Scream 4« FirstShowing.net

Though shooting has already started up in Ann Arbor, Michigan last month,USA Todaydiscovered a couple more additions to the cast of Wes Craven's new sequelScream 4. Apparently young starletsKristen Bell(Fanboys) andAnna Paquin("True Blood") will appear, but likely only in the form of expected cameos of characters who will quickly bite the dust. Drew Barrymore was the first cameo who (spoiler alert!) ended up dead meat in the opening sequence of the originalScream. Her execution was an homage to Janet Leigh's surprise death inPsycho, and what better way to raise the stakes than with a couple of lovely young girls?

There's still a chance that Paquin and Bellmayactually have more than a cameo role, but we're going with the obvious since the two have been added very late into production. They join original franchise survivors Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette not to mention lots of new cast members like Hayden Panetierre, Alison Brie, Mary McDonnell, Emma Roberts, Adam Brody, Marley Shelton and Erik Knudsen. Though we've heard aboutsome script problems, maybe fans can still take solace in the fact that The Ghost Face Killer'soriginal voice will be backfor this new installment. We'll keep you updated as production onScream 4continues until its release inApril 2011. Is the buzz continuing to build for this?Who's excited?

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Sam Worthington Cast in Australian Indie Surfing Drama 'Drift'« FirstShowing.net

A whole slew of projects haveSam Worthingtonattached to star in the coming years, but a new film will take him back to his stomping grounds of Western Australia. A newspaper down under,The West Australian(viaThe Playlist), reports Worthington will return home to star inDrift, a surfing-centric drama which will see the actor as a photographer and journalist instrumental in the evolution of surfing from a pastime to a global industry. Combine Worthington's passion for surfing with a return to his homeland, and maybe we'll actually get a decent, heartfelt performance out of him that he's yet to deliver in any of his other endeavors.

Worthington explains his interest in the project:"There's something pure and true about surfing, and there is something pure and true about this script."This is certainly one of the smallest films the actor will have done in recent times with a budget of only $11 million. The actor comments,"I'm a WA boy at heart and to go back there and put something back into my home town is something I am really looking forward to."The project is supposed to shoot in the fall (which in Australia is like spring in the United States) of next year to take advantage of some killer waves and maybe theMargaret River Prosurfing event. Sydney based director Morgan O'Neill and sports specialist Ben Nott will be helming the project together.Anyone interested?

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Paul Verhoeven Next Adapting Dutch Novel 'The Hidden Force'« FirstShowing.net

It's been about four years since directorPaul Verhoeven(RoboCop,Starship Troopers) directed anything. His last film was the WWII dramaBlack Bookin 2006, but the filmmaker recently revealed his next project (viaSlashFilm) on the Dutch television show"Zomergasten"(or"Summer Guest"). The project comes fromBlack BookscreenwriterGerard Soeteman, and is essentially an adaptation ofLouis Couperus' 1900 Dutch novelDe stille kracht, orThe Hidden Force. Rougly translated, Verhoeven says the story follows rebellion against colonial rule, the emergence of fundamentalist Islam, adultery and evenpsychic powers.Whoa!

If you're looking for a little more than bullet points on the story, here's the synopsis from theFoundation for the Production and Translation of Dutch Literature:

In'The Hidden Force'the decline and fall of the Dutch resident Van Oudyck is caused by his inability to see further than his own Western rationalism. He is blind and deaf to the slumbering powers of the East Indian people and countryside. The black magic, bird calls, vegetation, heat and the mysterious, hostile attitude of their Javanese subjects prove stronger than the cool power of the colonials.

That sounds relatively interesting, and maybe even more so with Verhoeven being the one bringing the book to life. We're not sure what this means for a couple ofotherin the worksprojectsthat have been mentioned with Verhoeven involved, but it sounds like this adaptation will be his very next project. Though Verhoeven has gone from great hits likeTotal RecallandRoboCopto complete misses likeShowgirls(despite being a cult classic) andHollow Man, plenty of film fans are still excited about the prospect of his next feature (just like we are!). We'll keep you posted with updates on Verhoeven's future projects, so stick around as always.

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Jim Carrey Could Be Rocking Out in 'Under Cover' for Summit« FirstShowing.net

It feels like it's been forever since we've seen a greatJim Carreyfilm . I can't speak forA Christmas CarolorI Love You, Phillip Morrissince both eluded me for different reasons, butYes Man,The Number 23, andFun with Dick and Janewere all duds. It sounds like Carrey is looking tomake a comebackstarring in Larry Charles' outrageous comedyPierre, Pierre, and it looks like he has another comedy on the horizon.Pajibareports that Summit is trying to snag Carrey to to leadUnder Cover, the story of a recently divorced father of two who joins a youthful cover band to raise money to win the custody battle against his ex-wife.Read on!

Seems kind of likeThe Rocker(which I don't think anyone saw?) meetsKramer vs Kramer, which sounds strange just thinking about it. Carrey has rocked out before in different forms in films likeThe Cable Guy(where he sangSomebody to Love) andYes Man(where he went acoustic with Third Eye Blind'sJumper) and he'll even eventually be taking on a full fledged musical withDamn Yankees. Hopefully Carrey's young cover band will take on some great tracks forUnder Cover. Surely Journey and Bon Jovi will be some great places to start and, who knows, maybe even the audience will want to sing along while they're watching it.

The script comes from Amy Talkington (who wrote thePrivate Benjaminremake coming soon), and being with unfamiliar with her other low profile projects from the past, I can't speak as to whether this is a good thing or bad. I guess we'll have to wait to see who's going to direct, as that's just as important.Interested?

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Carla Gugino is a Total 'MILF', But Not Exactly How You Think« FirstShowing.net

There's plenty of people, male and female alike, who'd agree thatCarla Guginois quite a beauty. Though she played mother to Malin Akerman (another hot lady) inWatchmen, Gugino is actually only seven years older than Akerman. Now24 Framesis reporting she'll take on another motherly role inMILF, but the role probably isn't in line with the dirty thoughts that are filling many fanboys' heads right now. In this case the acronym actually refers to"Mothers I'd Like to Fight"with a revenge story that follows a woman recently released from prison who returns to the street to take care of unfinished business. That's onebadmother!

Though Gugino's work as a badass female in front of the camera is an exciting prospect, the talent behind the camera leaves something to be desired.Franck Khalfoun, who directed the garage-set horror thrillerP2, will helm the revenge story withPiranha 3Ddirector Alex Aja taking on producing responsibilities. Sounds like this could be a great over-the-top action flick in the same vein as the forthcomingDrive Angry 3Dbut where a three-dimensional Nicolas Cage will be replaced by a two-dimensional Carla Gugino (at least for the time being). As much as I enjoy any Cage flick, good or bad, that is one trade Idon'tmind. In the meantime I'll be looking forward to Gugino's turn inSucker Punchalongside plenty of other kick-ass (younger) girls.

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David Slade Might Be Directing Hugh Jackman in Wolverine 2« FirstShowing.net

Just recently ourCasting Tidbitslet you know thatHugh Jackmanhad dropped out ofAvon Menin favor of getting back in hardcore shape for Fox's sequel toWolverine. Though we know Christopher McQuarrie wasscripting the spin-off sequel, a director still hasn't been chosen, butVulturejust got a scoop on who'll be sitting in the director's chair. Apparently the choice has been narrowed down toRobert Schwentke(The Time Traveler's Wife,RED) andDavid Slade(Twilight: Eclipse,Hard Candy), but an inside source claims the latter will be the top pick with Jackman making the final call after meeting with both of them next week.

Schwentke has a bit more variety in his resume, but Slade's cinematic material makes him a slightly better choice. With consistently darker material likeHard Candyand30 Days of Night(which also had plenty of action), that's probably just what thisWolverinesequel needs after being a little too generic the first time. Also, I've heard that the third installment ofThe Twilight Sagawas the best one, so anybody who can work a bit of magic with that franchise could probably work wonders forWolverine 2(or so we hope). Remember that this sequel will see Wolvie in Japan likely following a 1979 story arc that saw him getting caught up with samurai and Yakuza mob bosses. Hopefully they don't screw it up and Wolverine's claws don't look like toys.

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Alamo Drafthouse Named 'Best Overall Theatrical Experience'« FirstShowing.net

If you've ever spoken with anyone who has been to theAlamo Drafthousein Austin, TX, you'll know they love that theater chain and nothing comes close to matching it. I've been there many times and I completely agree, nothing comes close, it truly is one of the best theaters in the world. Now its been officially labeled as such as Fandango'sChuck Waltonfinished hisepic 100 day journeyaround the nation to see 100 movies in theaters in 100 days time,"in search of the perfect summer moviegoing experience."As you might have guessed, theAlamo Drafthousewas rated the"Best Overall Theatrical Experience"and it deserves it!

Chuck finished his 100 day journey with a viewing ofThe Expendablesand it sounds like he's exhausted (but how can anyone get tired of watching movies, I say?). You can readhis final blog entryon Fandango, where he also talks about the"Most Sentimental"experience (which was James Bond'sGoldfingerat Washington DC'sScreen on the Green), the"Best City"to see a summer movie (not-so-coincidentally it's Austin), or the"Best Outdoor"experience (Say Anythingin Brooklyn). Here's what he said about theAlamo Drafthouse:

"Hands down, and I know I'm not the first to recognize this, but the folks at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas, are on a level unto themselves when it comes touniqueandtruly inspiringmovie programming and presentation. From the themed menus to the cool trailers to the special features and thesheer love of filmespoused by the management and the patrons, there is just nothing else like it in America. We were lucky to witness the Cinepocalypse quadruple feature of Demolition Man, I Come in Peace, Die Hard and The Expendables (and anyone wondering, yes, that means I watched Expendables twice in theaters, as part of the 4-pack and on its own). Thankfully for all movie lovers, the Alamo Drafthouse chain could be expanding to your area."

We're obviously very big supporters of the theatrical experience (in fact, that's all we talk about) but it's not too often I get delve into that world and quote somebody about another theater that I love, too. I've always wanted to take a similar journey to visit all of the movie theaters I've never been to, but it's such a huge trip and I haven't had the time or money to put together yet (maybe one day!). I'm so happy to see someone like Walton embracing the best parts of the theatrical experience, because it's always a hot topic these days when some says that the theatrical experience is now dying or fading away. I, on the other hand, don't think it willeverdie and this is just proof that there will always be an incomparable love for amazing theaters like this.

If you've never been to any of the Drafthouses before and are a cinephile, I'd say it's almost worth making a pilgrimage down to movie mecca of Austin, but make sure you go when they're doing something awesome, likeFantastic FestorCinemapocalypse. They do so many cool events and classic (and cult) screenings all the time, that you could probably choose any weekend and stumble across something great. I hope one day they open a theater in Los Angeles or New York, and I think that's what Walton is hinting at with his ending:"the Alamo Drafthouse chain could be expanding to your area."Hopefully sooner than later, I already can't wait!

I couldn't finish this without giving a special shout outTim League(seen below), the founder and CEO of the world famous Alamo Drafthouse, whorecently gained ownership backof the brand that he partially sold off a few years ago. Tim is the heart and soul of the Drafthouse and is what makes every event, every movie, and every single Drafthouse location so amazing. If you're ever in Austin, you must stop by one of theAlamo Drafthouses, because as Walton says, it's truly one of the"Best Theatrical Experiences"in the entire world.

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Leaked Paramount Email Exposes Full Slate of Future Projects« FirstShowing.net

Yesterday we reported on anew Bad Robot projectfrom the mind of J.J. Abrams with"Lost"series director Jack Bender on board to helm the project which takes the make-out game7 Minutes in Heavenand gives it a deadly twist. Well, that project turned out to be one of dozens of projects in a leaked email from inside the offices ofParamount Pictureswhich was uncovered byThe Wrap. The email itself is just a list of projects the studio is working on with brief updates, and while many just confirm previous news, there's interesting developments involvingWill Smith,World War Z,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesand much more.

Priority Projects

Triple Frontier:
Last we heard about this project fromThe Hurt Lockerteam of directorKathryn Bigelowand writer Mark Boal was that the high stakes ensemble project was going tostart shooting early next year. It looks like the plan is to get it off the ground by December or January, but the best news is that Bigelow has been meeting withChristian BaleandWill Smithfor roles. In addition, thepreviously rumoredmeetings with Javier Bardem and Sean Penn are confirmed, but no mention of Denzel Washington.  This sounds like anAvengers-style collection of A-List actors, so I can't wait to see who finally gets cast.

Young Adult:
Paramount is looking to pick up thisnext new collaborationbetween directorJason Reitmanand writerDiablo CodywithCharlize Theronattached to star. Deals are being finalized with Mandate to figure out financing/producing responsibilities and they're hoping to start production in October or November. That pretty much confirms that this will be Reitman's very next project.

My Mother's Curse:
We've onlyheard about thiswacky new comedy briefly before, and there was no reason to suspect it was coming down the road anytime soon. But apparently it's a priority for Paramount withSeth RogenandBarbara Streisandstarring in what we previously heard was a road trip comedy.Anne Fletcher(The Proposal,27 Dresses) is set to direct, and Paramount is hoping for a November start date.

World War Z:
DirectorMarc ForsterandBrad Pittare stillvery much on boardto direct and star in this adaptation respectively, but the good update here is that the studiolovesthe new draft of the script fromMatthew Michael Carnahan(The Kingdom,State of Play), so it won't be too long before some solid progress is made.

Twilight Zones:
Though we weren't aware of a title when this project wasmentioned earlier this year,"The Sopranos"creator David Chase's coming-of-age rock drama (with apparently no relation to the seminal sci-fi series?) is moving forward with casting completely unknowns to play the young guys who form a rock band in the 1960's.

The Dictator:
We already heard about this newSacha Baron Cohenprojectback in April, but now it has a title and the studio is just waiting on a script. If you don't recall, this comedy will see Cohen playing two different wacky characters: a goat herder and a deposed foreign dictator who gets lost in the United States. Apparently it's"in the spirit ofComing To AmericameetsTrading Places."That sounds just fine to me.

Meanwhile, other priority project updates include casting discussions (but with no names mentioned) for Tommy Wirkola'sHansel and Gretel: Witch Huntersdark project, as well asMission Impossible 4(though it's listed asMI3for some reason). Writing updates seeStar Trek 2in the midst of its first draft while the Chris Pine led Jack Ryan rebootMoscowis looking for a new writer to re-write the script before getting the greenlight. Also, we just heard Stephen Sommerswould returnfor the sequel, but apparently Paramount loves theG.I. Joe 2script written byZombieland'sco-writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.

Other Projects In Development

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:
Back in May we heard Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes wastaking over developmenton the new live-action adaptation, and now it looks like John Fusco's script wasn't all that great. A new writer is being sought as quick as possible since this is a huge property for the studio.

Hasbro Factory:
This project was first uncovered byPajiba back in May, but the prospect sounds like such a shitty way to sell more toys through a shoddy narrative that we just didn't care about it (back then or now). Apparently this project is a reality, though, that's described asNight at a Museumin a toy factory. Obviously there's going to be someToy Storyelements, too, but does anyone really care?

What Men Want:
This sequel will seeCameron Diazin the same shoes as Mel Gibson (hopefully not in real life) where her character will end up hearing the inner-most thoughts of men. The script needs to be polished but there's no mention of a director yet.

Nevada Smith:
Though the project sounds like it might be a parody ofIndiana Jones, the project is actually a remake of a 1966 film following a guy who tracks down everyone who has wronged him. Apparently it's likeThe FugitivemeetsTaken. Jamie Linden (We Are Marshall, Dear John) is currently writing the script.

Other projects in the writing phase includeZoolander 2,Max Steel(without Taylor Lautner, apparently) and sadly thataforementionedcomedicBaywatchmovie is also waiting on a first draft of the screenplay.

There's plenty of other projects on the list which you can see in its entirety over atThe Wrap, but it sounds like Paramount is pretty well set on its production slate for the next couple years, with a very wide variety of projects covering a lot of genres that sound both awesome and awful. While some certainly seem intriguing, I'm personally only mildly interested in most of them (with the exception ofWorld War Z,Triple FrontierandMission Impossible 4- which I'm definitely excited about). I guess we'll have to see how these projects pan out as they develop, so stick around for any updates.Which projects interest you guys the most?

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Toronto Film Festival Announces New Midnight Films& More« FirstShowing.net

The35th Toronto International Film Festivalhas announced an additional set of films as part of their line-up at this year's festival, which runs September 9th to 19th in Toronto, Canada. We announced thefirst half of the line-upback in July, and it was already full of a lot of awesome titles, but this just makes things even better. I know a few of you will be attending this fest as well, but for everyone else we'll definitely be bringing you some coverage from the fest, including early reviews of a lot of these films, interviews with cast and filmmakers, and so much more. You can find the latest list of new selections announced today below!

For more information and a closer look at the schedule and line-up, visit the official TIFF website:tiff.net

Galas:

Last Night
(dir. Massy Tadjedin, USA/France)
A married couple are apart for a night when the husband takes a business trip with a colleague to whom he's attracted. While he's away, his wife encounters her past love. The film stars Keira Knightley, Eva Mendes, Sam Worthington and Guillaume Canet.

Sarah’s Key
(dir. Gilles Paquet Brenner, France)
Based on Tatiana de Rosnay’s best-selling novel, Sarah’s Key tells the story of an American journalist on the brink of making big life decisions regarding her marriage and her unborn child. What starts off as research for an article about the Vel’d’Hiv Roundup in 1942 in France ends up as a journey towards self discovery as she stumbles upon a terrible secret. The film stars Kristin Scott Thomas, Mélusine Mayance, Niels Arestrup, Frédéric Pierrot, Michel Duchaussoy and Aidan Quinn.

Special Presentations:

127 Hours
(dir. Danny Boyle, USA)
The true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s (James Franco) remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himselfby any means necessary. The film also stars Clémence Poésy, Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara.

Amigo
(dir. John Sayles, USA)
At the beginning of the 20th Century, during the Philippine-American War, a garrison under the command of US Lieutenant Compton is left to‘protect’ San Isidro, a remote region located in the Philippines. Compton can only communicate with Rafael, the Head of the barrio, through the friar Hidalgo who bears a deep resentment towards Rafael. Neither side can understand or trust the other, but are forced to live together, trying to survive in the middle of a war. When the American occupation policy gets tougher, Rafael has to answer to both the Americans and the Filipino patriots.

Deep in the Woods
(dir. Benoît Jacquot, France/Germany)
France, 1865. A young vagabond, Timothée, arrives in a village and is given food and lodging by Doctor Hughes and his daughter Joséphine. Joséphine runs after him, leaving her home and father, driven by an uncontrollable force. Distraught, she follows this young man for whom she seems to feel only fear and disgust. Their pilgrimagewill reveal another truth.

Everything Must Go
(dir. Dan Rush, USA)
After 16 years spent devising motivational speeches that promise certain success, Nick Porter (Will Ferrell) is abruptly fired. He returns home to discover his wife has left him, changed the locks on their home and dumped all his possessions on the front yard. Nick puts it all on the line– or, more properly, on the lawn – with an absurdly escalating garage sale that becomes a unique strategy for survival. Nick comes face-to-face with a life turned inside out and discovers in total exposure an unexpected path to renewal.

Gorbaciòf - The Cashier who Liked Gambling
(dir. Stefano Incerti, Italy)
A compulsive gambler who works in the petty-cash office of the Poggioreale prison falls in love with Lily, an illegal immigrant, and tries to free both of them from their dead-end lives. The film stars Toni Servillo, Mi Yang and Nello Mascia.

Hereafter
(dir. Clint Eastwood, United Kingdom)
The story of three people haunted by mortality in different ways, Hereafter stars Matt Damon as a blue-collar American who has a special connection to the afterlife. On the other side of the world, a French journalist (Cécile de France), has a near-death experience that shakes her reality. And when London schoolboy Marcus (Frankie/George McLaren) loses the person closest to him, he needs answers. Each in search of the truth, their lives will intersect, forever changed by what might – or must – exist in the hereafter. The film also stars Jay Mohr, Bryce Dallas Howard, Marthe Keller, Thierry Neuvic and Derek Jacobi.

I’m Still Here
(dir. Casey Affleck, USA)
The directorial debut of Oscar-nominated actor Casey Affleck, I’m Still Here is a portrayal of a tumultuous year in the life of internationally acclaimed actor Joaquin Phoenix. With remarkable access, I’m Still Here follows the Oscar nominee as he announces his retirement from a successful film career in the fall of 2008 and sets off to reinvent himself asa hip hop musician. The film is a portrait of an artist at a crossroads. Defying expectations, it deftly explores notions of courage and creative reinvention, as well as the ramifications of a life spent in the public eye.

Julia’s Eyes
(dir. Guillem Morales, Spain)
Julia, a woman suffering from a degenerative eye disease, finds her blind twin sister Sara hanged in the basement of her house. Julia decides to investigate what she feels is a murder case, entering a dark world that seems to hide a mysterious presence. As Julia begins to uncover the terrifying truth about her sister's death, her sight deteriorates further, until a series of unexplained deaths and disappearances cross her path. The film stars Belén Rueda and Lluis Homar.

The Last Circus
(dir. Álex de la Iglesia, Spain/France)
Álex de la Iglesia's genius for dark humour is at its most eloquent in his latest parody about the Spanish Civil War. Two clowns attack and disfigure one another in jealous rages over a beautiful dancer. In the name of love, they destroy the very object of their affection.

Let Me In
(dir. Matt Reeves, United Kingdom / USA)
Chloë Moretz (Kick-Ass) stars as Abby, a mysterious 12-year-old girl, who moves next door to Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Road), a social outcast who is viciously bullied at school. As a string of grisly murders occupy the town, Owen has to confront the reality that this seemingly innocent girl is really a savage vampire. Let Me In is based on the best-selling Swedish novel Låt den Rätte Komma (Let The Right One In), and the highly acclaimed film of the same name.

The House by the Medlar Tree
(dir. Pasquale Scimeca, Italy)
The Malavoglia are a family of fishermen: Grandfather Padron 'Ntoni, his son Bastianazzo and wife Maruzza, and their children 'Ntoni, Mena, Alessi and Lia. One night Bastianazzo dies in a boating accident, leaving the family on the verge of a break down.

Mothers
(dir. Milcho Manchevski, Macedonia/France/Bulgaria)
A child's friend is accosted by a flasher so she decides to go to the police herself; a film crew sets out to find the old traditions and discovers a grandmother living alone in an abandoned village; retired cleaning women are found raped and strangled in a small town. The innovative structure of Mothers highlights the delicate nature of truth and fiction, of drama and documentary.

Passion
(dir. John Turturro, Italy)
Passion journeys through Napoli, one of the biggest jukeboxes in the world with a treasure chest of songs from the 1200s to present day. Each song conjures distant stories and myths that speak of love, sex, jealousy, crime, poverty, irony, superstition, and social protest.

Passion Play
(dir. Mitch Glazer, USA)
Set in the desert and laced with the deep elements of a modern fable, Passion Play tells the tale of Nate (Mickey Rourke), a down-on-his-luck jazz trumpet player who forms a bond with Lily (Megan Fox), a woman born with wings who has wound up as a carnival sideshow attraction. Together these two damaged souls undertake a turbulent romantic journey while trying to avoid the witty and menacing Happy (Bill Murray), a local gangster.

The Poll Diaries
(dir. Chris Kraus, Germany/Austria/Estonia)
On the eve of World War I, a 14-year-old German girl returns to her home on the Baltic coast, a place uneasily shared by Germans, Russians and Estonians. While her morbid scientist father controls the family with a cruel hand, the passionate young girl secretly nurses a wounded Estonian anarchist back to health– an act of curiosity and then of defiance that could set off an uncontrollable chain reaction.

Rio Sex Comedy
(dir. Jonathan Nossiter, France/Brazil)
Rio Sex Comedy charts the misadventures of expatriates in Rio in their search for both personal pleasures and social justice. Charlotte Rampling is an English plastic surgeon determined to subvert anyone from going near the knife. Irène Jacob is a French anthropologist whose political correctness is upstaged by more carnal ambitions. Bill Pullman is a befuddled American ambassador who flees from his responsibilities into one of Rio’s most dangerous favelas. There he becomes co-opted by the schemes of Fisher Stevens, favela tour operator and romantic huckster.

Special Treatment
(dir. Jeanne Labrune, France/Luxembourg/Belgium)
A high-class prostitute and a pre-eminent psychoanalyst discover that they share many things in common. They are both unhappy with their professions, seeking a way out that involves unique contact with each other's worlds.

What's Wrong With Virginia
(dir. Dustin Lance Black, USA)
Jennifer Connelly stars as Virginia, a charming yet mentally ill mother whose greatest love is her protector and illegitimate son, Emmett (Harrison Gilbertson). Richard Tipton (Ed Harris), the local married Mormon sheriff, who is running for public office, might very well be Emmett’s father. Their boardwalk town’s peculiar secrets are threatened when Virginia’s son begins a romantic relationship with Tipton’s daughter (Emma Roberts) sending mother and son on a mad dash to seize their own brand of the American Dream – guns blazing.

Midnight Madness:

Bunraku
(dir. Guy Moshe, USA)
In a world with no guns, a mysterious drifter (Josh Hartnett), a young samurai and a bartender (Woody Harrelson) plot revenge against a ruthless leader (Ron Perlman) and his army of thugs, headed by nine diverse and deadly assassins. This visually stunning film is filled with uniquely choreographed action sequences of a new style that melds east with west and old school with new. The film also stars Demi Moore.

The Butcher, The Chef and the Swordsman
(dir. Wuershan, Hong Kong, China/USA)
A group of misfits become mixed up in the struggle to own a deadly kitchen cleaver made from the top five swords of the martial arts world in this wild and brash action comedy that is sure to have audiences running to Chinatown after the film for a late night snack.

Fire of Conscience
(dir. Dante Lam, Hong Kong, China)
Dante Lam proves himself to be a talent to look out for in this slam bang action film where robbers and gunrunners battle with cops on the busy urban streets of Hong Kong. Starring Leon Lai, Fire of Conscience is easily one of loudest action films from Hong Kong in recent memory, with an orchestra of exploding grenades and machine gun rounds.

Insidious
(dir. James Wan, USA)
When proud parents take possession of an old house, an accident results in one of their sons falling into a coma. The tragedy doesn't stop there when they are beset by vengeful spirits from another realm in this new chiller by the director and writer of Saw and by the producers of Paranormal Activity. The film stars Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey and Patrick Wilson.

Red Nights
(dir. Julien Carbon, Laurent Courtiaud, Hong Kong, China/France)
This shocking debut by director duo Carbon and Courtiaud is a seductive cat-and-mouse thriller set in Hong Kong, about a woman's obsessive desire to own a rare object that hides a deadly and perverse secret.

Stake Land
(dir. Jim Mickle, USA)
In the aftermath of a vampire epidemic, a teen is taken in by a grizzled vampire hunter on a road trip through a post-apocalyptic America, battling both the bloodsuckers and a fundamentalist militia that interprets the plague as the Lord’s work.

Super
(dir. James Gunn, USA)
After his wife (Liv Tyler) leaves him for a drug dealer (Kevin Bacon), a frustrated husband (Rainn Wilson) decides he will win her back as Crimson Bolt, a costumed vigilante armed with a monkey wrench. His actions bring him an admirer, an overeager comic store clerk (Ellen Page) who wants to be his sidekick.

Vanishing on 7th Street
(dir. Brad Anderson, USA)
When a massive power blackout causes the population to inexplicably vanish, a small handful of survivors (Hayden Christensen, Thandie Newton, John Leguizamo) band together inside a desolate tavern, struggling to survive as the darkness hones in on them. From director Brad Anderson (The Machinist, Transsiberian) comes an apocalyptic thriller with a terrifying vision of our world's end and a story that wrestles with the nature of existence itself.

The Ward
(dir. John Carpenter, USA)
Acclaimed director John Carpenter (Halloween, The Thing) makes his long-awaited return to the screen with a thriller about a young woman (Amber Heard) in a 1960s mental institution who becomes terrorized by malevolent unseen forces.

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Watch Director Danny Boyle Talk About Shooting '127 Hours'« FirstShowing.net

Thanks especially to his recent filmsSlumdog MillionaireandSunshine,Danny Boyleis one of my favorite filmmakers currently working. Not only do his movies have a style to them unlike anything, he's a wonderful guy that I've had the pleasure of meeting once or twice. I'm anxiously awaiting the opportunity to see newest film,127 Hours, a mostly one-man effort about a mountain climber in Utah who had to amputate his own arm, starring James Franco as that climber.Empirerecently held their"Movie-Con"event and debuted the trailer and chatted with Boyle. They've released a short clip of the on-stage chat which you can watch below.

I just love hearing Boyle talk about filmmaking, he's such a great guy and so damn talented. And I can't wait to see a trailer next!"We want it to be achallengefor you guys as well… to see if you can watch it."Bring it on. In thefirst look post, Boyle said"you willwanthim to cut off his arm by the end."In addition to Franco, the cast includes Lizzy Caplan, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn and the lovely Clémence Poésy. It also had two cinematographers, Anthony Dod Mantle and Enrique Chediak, who follow Franco through first-person POV dialogue in some scenes. Fox Searchlight scheduled127 Hoursfor limited release startingNovember 5th.

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Jason Flemyng Cast as Azazel in Matthew Vaughn's New X-Men« FirstShowing.net

Now this is mainly for the hardcore comic fans.Empirecaught up withJason Flemyngat the"Movie-Con"the other day and got confirmation from the actor himself that he'll be appearing inX-Men: First Class."Matthew showed me my costume just the other day. Now I swore I'd never be in heavy make-up again, but this role is going to involve it,"he said."I amAzazel, and I can teleport by waving my arms {gestures like a cross between a flamenco dancer and Bollywood star}."As comic fans already know,Azazelis a teleporting creature from another dimension who's also Nightcrawler's father."Don't worry, we'll add the tail in post."

Flemyng is one of Vaughn's regulars, having appeared in all of his movies to date (he was the"Lobby Goon"inKick-Assor you'll recognize him as Thomas Button fromThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button). Empire confirmed with Flemyng that Azazel will beredMatthew Vaughn's upcomingX-Menmovie, and Vaughn is sure people"can figure it out from the tail and pointed ears"that he's connected to Nightcrawler from Bryan Singer'sX-Men 2(who was one of my favorite characters). Otherwise, no one knows how big (or small) of a role Azazel has, but it's pretty damn cool to hear that he's in it and that a great actor like Jason Flemyng will be laying on tons of make-up for the part. I'm still excited for this newX-Men. Stay tuned for more updates!

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Pixar's Toy Story 3 Now Highest Grossing Animated Movie Ever« FirstShowing.net

"In 1995, the talented team at Pixar introduced a cowboy, a space ranger and their friends who have gone on to become some of the most beloved characters in the world,"started Rich Ross, Chairman of Disney."The success ofToy Storyis due to the tremendously creative and innovative team atPixar, led by John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, and our incredible marketing and distribution teams around the world."It was officially announced (via press release) today thatPixar'sToy Story 3is now the highest-grossing animated movie of all time taking in more than$920 millionat the global box office to date.Damnthat's a solid number.

We already reported back in mid-July thatToy Story 3had become thehighest grossing Pixar movie, but it's of course great to see it continue to perform strong in theaters, even into August."Toy Story 3continues to charm audiences around the world, tallying more than$518 millionto date {worldwide}, and is expected become Disney's largest international animated release this weekend."Toy Story 3is one movie that I think truly deserves every penny it makes, a fantastic movie that wraps up a beloved franchise in a truly wonderful way. Sure, these numbers are pretty much nothing more than bragging rights, but I'm happy to report them!

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Michael Jai White Starting Work on a Sequel to 'Black Dynamite'« FirstShowing.net

Freeze, turkeys! After knocking out a conspiracy that went all the way up to Richard"Tricky Dick"Nixon in The White House, blaxploitation heroBlack Dynamiteis looking to kick some more (and get some more) ass.The Mirror(viaFilm School Rejects) spoke to actor/writerMichael Jai Whitewho revealed that he's working on a sequel to the blaxploitation action parodyBlack Dynamite. White said,"I've had the idea forBlack Dynamite 2for quite a while now, and it's gonna start whereBlack Dynamiteleft off . There's lots of things we didn't get a chance to do in the first one."After pimp-slapping the First Lady, what else is there?

White wasn't exactly forthcoming with details, but did say:"You know howBlack Dynamitejust grows in ridiculousness? Well, this will be a fitting sequel."So who knows what kinda crazy action and jive turkeysBlack Dynamitewill encounter. I enjoyed the hell out of the first one, but I'll admit that after the first hour or so, it gets a bit repetitive with different variations of the same jokes. Hopefully the sequel changes things up, but keeps the edge and hilarity of the first. I mean where else are you going to hear treasured dialogue like,"Your knowledge of scientific biological transmogrification is only outmatched by your zest for kung-fu treachery!"That's just classic. Count me cautiously optimistic for this sequel.Anyone else excited for it?

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Casting Bits: Ethan Hawke, Christina Hendricks& Ving Rhames« FirstShowing.net

Ok, this is me, planting an idea in your mind. I say: don't think aboutcasting. What are you thinking about?Casting Tidbits?Right, but it's not your idea. The dreamer can always remember the genesis of the idea. True inspiration is impossible to fake. First,VarietyreportsEthan Hawke(Daybreakers,Training Day) has signed on to star inA Late Quartet, which follows a musical group whose members have performed together for 25 years who must adjust to one of them retiring due to Parkinson's disease.Yaron Zilbermanis directing from a script co-written withSeth Grossman. Don't count on any"world's smallest violin"jokes.

Second,THRreports the voluptuousChristina Hendrickshas joined the indie dramaDetachment, the story of a normally detached substitute teacher (Adrien Brody) who becomes invested in the students and teachers at the troubled school where he works and grows close to a homeless teen working as a prostitute.Lucy Liu&William Petersenhave also joined an ensemble cast which already includes Bryan Cranston, James Caan and Marcia Gay Harden as well. Hendricks (who is sadly not playing another prostitute in the film) will play a teacher who urges Brody to commit to teaching full-time, Petersen will play a Vietnam veteran who teaches history and Liu will play a school psychologist who grows frustrated with her students' incompetence. Director Tony Kaye (American History X) is helming the project.

Next,Film School Rejectsheard straight from filmmaker Nicholas Winding Refn thatBryan Cranston("Breaking Bad") will have a part in his adaptation ofDrivestarring Ryan Gosling. No specifics on his role, but the film will be Refn's first foray into a Hollywood sanctioned film and Goslings first role as an action star. The story follows a Hollywood stunt driver (Gosling) who moonlights as a getaway driver in heists. Though there's beensome fluctuationas to his next directing gig, Refnfinally chosethe adaptation ofJames Sallis' novelhis next project sometime back in June. Definitely looking forward to seeing how this one turns out.

Next,DeadlinereportsRobin Wrightwill joinrecently castStellan Skarsgard and lead actor Daniel Craig in the American adaptation ofThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the first installment ofThe Millennium Trilogy. Wright will play Erika Berger, the publisher of crusading finance magazine Millennium, and the occasional lover of journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Craig). Director David Fincher and producer Scott Rudin are taking their time to find the right lead actress to play Lisbeth Salander (my current favorite choice is Carey Mulligan), but with a supporting cast coming together, once they find their lead female, production should move rather quickly.

Also,ComingSoonnoticed that in an appearance on Lopez Tonight, actorVing Rhamesrevealed that he will be reprising his role as Luther Stickell inMission Impossible 4. He's been in all of the franchise's flicks to date. Just recently it was reported that Tom Cruise was only going to bepaid scale for the projectin order to reduce the overall film's budget and make Paramount Pictures feel a little less uneasy about relying on Cruise's star power which some argue (and I don't agree) has been fading as of late. Tom Cruise wasn't the problem with Knight and Day, it was the script and a tired concept that was played out about 4 other times this year already.

Finally,THRreportsTaraji P. Henson(Curious Case of Benjamin Button) has signed on to star inFrom the Rough, a fictionalized tale inspired byDr. Catana Starks, the first female head coach of an NCAA Div. 1 men's gold team. Henson will play Cassandra Turner (meant to be Starks) as she moves from a women's wim team to scouring Europe, Australia and Asia for hidden golf talents and a racially diverse team. Sounds like an interesting twist on an inspiring sports ensemble with a female leading the pack this time.

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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Sly Stallone is Already Thinking About An 'Expendables' Sequel« FirstShowing.net

Though the testosterone fueled action rompThe Expendablesisn't hitting theaters for a few more days,24 Framessays the film's writer/director/starSylvester Stallonehas already been contemplating an idea for asequel(but that's it). However, the legendary action star is not arrogantly assuming his movie will perform well enough at the box office to warrant a sequel, but he's just thinking ahead. Stallone said,"If this does perform, I think it will open a little more liquidity in funding the sequel."Maybe if it does well enough, Stallone could bring Danny Trejo into the mix afterpulling the rug from under his feetthe first time around.

As far as the story goes, it sounds like Stallone has something wild in mind, but he wasn't forthcoming with any details. He said:"I have an idea ready to go. People think doing a sequel is easy, but it's not because you need the element of surprise. I'm going to try to do something that'squite radical."Despite the muscular cast, Stallone had some difficulty getting funding, but like he said, if the sequel does well this weekend, then he shouldn't have too much trouble getting another one off the ground. The real question is, what will Sly do to top cameos from the likes of Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

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Green Lantern Wrapped + Harry Potter Writer Boards Sequel« FirstShowing.net

Back in February, production began on DC Entertainment's, Martin Campbell-directed adaptation ofGreen Lanternstarring Ryan Reynolds. Now just over one hundred days later DC Entertainment's CCO and comic book writerGeoff Johnswroteon Twitterthat principal photography had wrapped for the superhero flick and,"as co-producer of the film, I am very, veryproudof what we’ve got in store. Much more to come."As DC moves into the effects heavy post-production process,Varietyreports that writerMichael Goldenberg(Harry Potter& the Order of the Phoenix) has been brought in to write thealready in developmentsequel.

Having adapted the longest book in theHarry Potterseries, Goldenberg is no stranger to adapting a story with extensive mythology and rabid fans and making it fit into a very nice cinematic package.Order of the Phoenixwas a hard book to cram into a two-and-a-half hour movie, and I can't imagine an entire collection of comics being any easier to adapt. It sounds like he's the right man for the job though. Aside from his work in theHarry Potterfranchise, Goldenberg also worked on a re-write for the originalGreen Lanternscript, so he's not entirely fresh meat for the comic book property. Glad to see WB and DC making good decisions.

Warner Bros had already ordered Greg Berlanti, Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim (who wrote the first Green Lantern) towrite a treatment for the sequel, but this rapid progress with almost an entire year before the franchise even launches means the studio has taken a Green Lantern oath of its own. That trio of writers were also working on a treatment forThe Flashas well, but would have to choose only one of the projects for which they would write the actual script (hint, hint). So with Goldenberg's boardingGreen Lantern 2as writer, it sounds like they've chosen to write the full screenplay forThe Flashas their next job.Excited?

Meanwhile, actorTemuera Morrison(who plays Abin Sur in the movie ) hasalready talked about plansto bring his character back for a sequel, so we've got a slight idea of where Goldenberg will be heading with the script, plus there's Sinestro's inevitable path. Stay tuned as moreGreen Lanternupdates become available.

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Cillian Murphy Cast in 'I'm.mortal' with Timberlake& Seyfried« FirstShowing.net

After living in Chris Nolan's dream world in this summer's runaway hitInception,Heat VisionsaysCillian Murphywill next be living forever in the sci-fi dramaI'm.mortal. Andrew Niccol (Gattaca,Lord of War) is directing with Amanda Seyfried and Justin Timberlake already signed on to star in this story set in the future when the aging gene has been switched off. To avoid overpopulation, time has become the currency and the way people pay for luxuries and necessities. The rich can live forever, and the rest try to negotiate for their immortality. And with this, Murphy continues his trend of choosing unique and interesting roles.

The plot follows a poor man named Will (Timberlake) who suddenly receives a fortune (oftimeI assume?), but becomes the target of a murder investigation. While on the run he kidnaps an heiress (Seyfried) which doesn't seem like the best idea to help his case. Meanwhile, Murphy will play an officer from an organization known asTimekeeperswho is apparently"as precise as the time he keeps."This sounds like an incredibly unique sci-fi story but, likeInception(or Niccol'sGattacabefore this) still somewhat grounded in nature. We'll definitely be paying close attention to this for more updates, that is for sure.Anyone interested?

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James Cameron Delivers Updates on Avatar 2 and Re-Release« FirstShowing.net

Yep,James CameronandAvatarare back in the news again, but don't get too upset because it's honestly been a while since we last talked about him or his biggest movie ever. The man himself,"Jimmy C"as I like to call him, recently talked withMarketSawand gave them a lot of updates. First, he confirmed that he is producing Guillermo del Toro'sAt the Mountains of Madness(announced a few weeks ago) and that they'll shoot it in native 3D using next generation 3D cameras. He also confirmed that there's 9 extra minutes in theAvatarre-release at the end of the month and he's still working on the script forAvatar 2.Read on!

You can obviously listen to theirentire chat on MarketSaw(healso talked with MTV) but we're highlighting the more important news to come out of the interview. First off, James Cameron's connection withAt the Mountains of Madnessonly came about in the last two or three weeks. As they explain:"Cameron asked about if del Toro was still interested in it. As del Toro was clearly excited to do it, Cameron said 'let's do it.' They took it to Universal with both of them attached to the fast tracked project."It's SO great that these two are working together,Mountains of Madnessis definitely going to be a big highlight of the next few years.

We don't exactly knowwhatCameron will be directing next, but if you're wondering what he's been up to recently, he's been getting inspiration forAvatar 2by traveling down to South America and meeting with native tribes."I have an overall narrative arc for {Avatar} 2 and 3, and there are some modifications to that based on my experiences in the last few months from having gone down to the Amazon and actually hung out with various indigenous groups who are actually living this type of story for real… but it's not changing the overall pattern,"he said."I haven't gotten the script done yet; that's going to be a ways out."From that, it sounds likeAvatar 2won't happensoon, and I'd be willing to bet Cameron will direct something else first.

Finally, Cameron talked about convertingTitanicto 3D and also complained about how terrible theClash of the Titans3D conversion was (as we all know). The conversion will take somewhere from 8 months to a year to complete, which is why some are saying we won't see that until 2012. As forTitans, well,"{it} showed a fundamental lack of knowledge about stereo {3D} space, in addition to the shoddy work that comes from rushing."Exactly! But he's obviously paying close attention toTitanic."You just can't cut out edges, you're going to get flat people moving around,"he said. For all of Cameron's updates, visitMarketSawandMTV!

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Jack Black& Shirley MacClaine Join Richard Linklater's 'Bernie'« FirstShowing.net

It seems like the past few years have seen directorRichard Linklaterbeing"dazed and confused"by the shelving ofThat's What I'm Talking About(his unofficial sequel toDazed and Confused) andLiars A-E, a story following some girls on a road trip to President Obama's inauguration. But now it looks like Linklater may finally have a follow-up toMe and Orson Welles, the drama ambitiously led by Zac Efron. A month ago, Linklater revealed he was working on aFargo-esque true crime story calledBernie. Now an extras casting call fromShort Film Texas(viaBleedingCool) revealsJack BlackandShirley MacClainewill be starring.

Linklater'sBernieis a dark comedy about a fussy, but beloved assistant funeral home director as well as the town’s domineering"grande dame"who just happens to be a very rich 81 year-old widow. But I'll letTexas Monthlyexplain why this relationship goes awry and why this project sounds quite interesting:

This past August, however, Carthage captured the attention of the entire country when the news broke that the town's richest and snootiest widow, 81-year-old Mrs. Marjorie Nugent, had been found in the bottom of a large freezer in her home. What made the story peculiar was that Mrs. Nugent had been dead for almost nine months before people began searching for her. What made the story truly bizarre was the way many of the townspeople rallied around the 39-year-old man who had admitted to killing her and stealing her money— the soft-spoken, chubby-cheeked Bernie Tiede, the former assistant funeral director at Hawthorn Funeral Home who had gotten close to Mrs. Nugent when he supervised her husband's funeral.

Frankly I'm surprised the Coen Brothers didn't grab this story but there you have it. If anything, this is good news simply because Linklater is getting back in the director's chair, not to mention that the director worked wonders with Jack Black inSchool of Rock, a truly fantastic family comedy. This time around Black will have to be much more subtle and put on his big boy pants to star opposite the legendary Shirley MacClaine. As for the rest of the actors (including extras called for at Short Film Texas) Linklater says,"I’m trying to make as authentic a portrayal of small town East Texas life as possible, so I’m looking for the real deal –funnyandinterestingfolks."So check outthat casting call, and if you're from the area, maybe you could be an extra.

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McG Wants to Direct Ryan Reynolds in Adaptation of R.I.P.D.« FirstShowing.net

Despite the fact that he's had his fair share of problemsgettingasolidcasttogetherfor the action comedyThis Means War, it looks likeMcGis already trying to line-up a follow-up project.Pajibareports that the director ofCharlie's AngelsandTerminator Salvationis circling an adaptation of the Dark Horse graphic novelR.I.P.D.(or Rest in Peace Department), a project weheard about back in April. At the time,Ryan Reynoldswas attached to star (and that still seems to be the case) in this story of a dead cop who makes a deal to work one hundred years in divine law enforcement in exchange for a shot at finding who killed him.

Though Reynolds would be the lead,R.I.P.D.will actually be a buddy-cop action comedy and Universal has high hopes of gettingZach Galifianakisto star opposite Reynolds. Of course that's justwish-casting, and though it'd be interested to see these two working together, I'm standing by the fact that Galifiankis is either going to get overexposed or just become really tired from working so much in just a couple years. However, ifR.I.P.D.would really be McG's follow-up toThis Means War, then it's surely a couple years away. For now the project is still in early development with all the involved talent being incredible busy and not necessarily locked in to play yet. For now count me intrigued, but I'm waiting for more official news first.Thoughts?

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Viggo Mortensen and Amy Adams Taking a Trip 'On the Road'« FirstShowing.net

Within the past few months we've seen plenty ofpromisingcastingnewsto indicate Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of Jack Kerouac'sclassic novelOn the Roadwould finally get off the ground after a 30-year gestation period.Walter Sallesis preparing to shoot later this month with Sam Riley leading and Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart and Kirsten Dunst filling prominent supporting roles. But the casting wasn't done yet asDeadlinereportsViggo MortensonandAmy Adamswill also appear in the film which follows one of Kerouac's autobiographical characters who sets off upon a cross country journey to simplysee the world.

Mortensen will play Old Bull Lee, a character loosely based on novelistWilliam S. Burroughs, while Adams plays Jane (an incarnationJoan Vollmer), the damaged junkie mother of two kids, and Lee's wife. These two characters are encountered once Sal Paradise (who is essentially Kerouac himself) is inspired by his friend Dean Morarity (Hedlund) to go out and see America. It sounds a bit likeInto the Wild, butKerouac's bookwill certainly bring a unique feel to the property. In addition, the film already has a working documentary on the way as Salles traveled across the U.S. in Kerouac's footsteps and gathered enough material for a feature. It sounds like we have a pretty good two-for-one deal on the way with the adaptation.Anyone interested?

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Sean Penn Playing Famous Story Editor Max Perkins in 'Genius'« FirstShowing.net

In his preparation to return to acting after a self-imposed sabbatical,Sean Pennhas been lining up a fair share of upcoming roles. We recently heard he was going tohit some wavesfor a biopic about iconic surfer Dorian"Doc"Paskowitz. But now he's moving into completely different territory asTHRreports the praised yet publicly abrasive actor will star in a film calledGenius, telling the story of literary editorMax Perkinswho worked with legendary authors like Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Thomas Wolfe. River Road Ent. producer/financierBill Pohladwill finally direct the drama after many others have tried before.

Pohlad hasn't directed a feature since 1990 (something calledOld Explorers), so this seems like a risk, but he's been in the business as a producer (he's worked on films likeBrokeback MountainandInto the Wild) long enough to know what's going on, even if his vision hasn't exactly been prominent on-screen. Previously, directors like Michael London and Lawrence Kasdan have been attached through various incarnations, but it never got off the ground. This has more sure footing because Penn and Pohlad have a history not only withInto the Wild, but other recent soon-to-be-released films starring Penn likeFair GameandThe Tree of Life.

The story comes from A. Scott Berg's biographyMax Perkins: Editor of Genius, which chronicles the life and work of the eccentric editor as he found him at theScribner publishing housein New York overseeing some of literature's most famous works from the best of the best authors (Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Vonnegut, etc). The bulk of the story will deal with Perkins relationship with a youngerThomas Wolfe, with lots of cameos from other known literary types. It doesn't sound like the most thrilling of stories, but if directors have been trying to get it off the ground for awhile, there's got to be something worthwhile in the story.Sound good?

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Demme May Direct De Niro/Cooper in 'Honeymoon with Harry'« FirstShowing.net

In the past few years, directorJonathan Demmefollowed his acclaimed indieRachel Getting Marriedwith turns directing documentaries about legendary musical artists like Neil Young and Bob Marley. NowDeadlinereports that Demme is circling the highly praised Paul Haggis written scriptHoneymoon with Harryas a potential directing gig. In addition,Robert De NiroandBradley Cooperapparently read for the lead roles in a recent meeting organized by New Line at De Niro's Tribeca Productions offices. The script has regularly been mentioned as one of the best unproduced screenplays over the past six years.Read on!

Though the script is highly praised, apparently the problem lies in the fact that it has very strong comedic and dramatic elements, but can't be strictly defined (or rather marketed) as one or the other. Cooper's role sees him as a formerly self-centered womanizing booze-hound who changed his ways when he met a girl and fell in love, while De Niro would play the role of the girl's father, who recognizes himself in the young man, and tries to break them up. The two get engaged anyway, but when the girl passes away just before their wedding, Cooper goes on their honeymoon to drink his problems (any maybe his life) away. But wouldn't you know it, he ends up meeting De Niro who has come to spread his daughter's ashes on her favorite beach.

This is reminiscent of James L. Brooks in its approach to two characters who despise one another but find themselves stuck with each at a time when they're each at their lowest. The story comes from the purchase of an unpublished novel byBart Bakerwhich Haggis was brought in to adapt beforeCrashorMillion Dollar Babywere even in production. At one time Vince Vaughn and Jack Nicholson were attached to star with Haggis directing, but budget problems killed it. Now Cooper and De Niro's collaboration onThe Dark Fieldshas them wanting to work together, and this just might be it. However, nothing is official yet, so stay tuned.

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