Movie News Wrap Up: June 30th, 2012

This week:

The Human Fly takes flight; Michael J. Williams shackles himself to Twelve Years A Slave; Rose Byrne is one of the Interns and Kevin Hart asks a few questions About Last Night.

It looks like The Human Fly is about to be buzzing in the direction of the box office. The rights to the former Marvel character (what did he do, retire?) have been bought by Paramount Pictures-based Eisenberg-Fisher Productions, who plan to produce the feature independently.

The Bill Mantlo created character, who only lasted for nineteen issues, but it looks like the thirst for superhero material means that even third and fourth-tier characters are being mined for potential box office gold.

I'm still waiting on a Bat-Mite movie!

Source: Deadline

 

Michael K. Williams has joined the cast of Steve McQueen's Twelve Years A Slave.

Williams, who is best known for his work on The Wire and Boardwalk Empire will star alongside Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Paul Dano and Chiwetel Ejiofor in the adaptation of Solomon Northup's novel.

Twelve Years A Slave is McQueen's third pairing with Fassbender, having directed the Irish actor in emotionally taxing Hunger and Shame.

Source: Deadline

 

Rose Byrne is pondering signing on the dotted line to laugh-it-up with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn in Interns.

The X-Men: First Class actress would 'play a high-ranking executive who starts a relationship with Wilson's character' in the Shawn Levy-directed film which starts shooting on July 9th. Don't worry about Vaughn though; he has JoAnna Garcia as his love interest.

Interns reunites the Wedding Crashing duo of Wilson and Vaughn, a combination which grossed over $209 million at the US box office in 2005.

Source: Source: EW

 

Think Like A Man star Kevin Hart is the first actor to sign on to the remake of About Last Night. Hart takes on the role that was played by James Belushi in the original Demi Moore/Rob Lowe film.

The 1986 film was based on the David Mamet play, Sexual Perversity in Chicago. Leslye Headland will write a script for this 21st Century redo. Rewriting Mamet ' that's a tough call.

Source: THR

 

That's it for now. See you at the movies.

Rumor Patrol: Another Character Returns for 'The Dark Knight Rises'?

Anyone who has seen a Christopher Nolan film knows to expect the unexpected. From Inception to The Dark Knight, twists and turns have become par for the course with each of his films, but now it seems that one of the mysteries surrounding The Dark Knight Rises may be solved.

It goes without saying that the following story contains SPOILERS for The Dark Knight Rises ' so, if you're trying to remain unspoiled, look away now!

Earlier this month, Cillian Murphy refused to address rumors that he would reprise his role as Scarecrow in The Dark Knight Rises.

However, now Hey U Guys has received a press release that indicates Murphy will, in fact, factor into the action-heavy plot of the final chapter of Nolan's Batman saga.

The release aims to inform the media of the film's European premiere and mentions that the following cast members are scheduled to attend the premiere:

Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Liam Neeson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine.

Neeson's attendance isn't much of a surprise, considering what we've already heard regarding how his character factors into the film. However, at this point, there's no telling if the release includes Murphy in the cast list simply because of his past involvement in the series or if he will indeed appear in The Dark Knight Rises. Murphy has long mentioned that he would return to the role, if asked, so the real question is whether or not Nolan felt this third film had a role for Scarecrow.

Some fans have speculated that Bane's mask may somehow be tied to the fear-inducing toxin that Scarecrow used in Batman Begins, and others think that the character will again wander the streets of Gotham in the midst of Bane's attacks on the city. There's a lot about this film we still don't know ' so there are any number of explanations for how Scarecrow could conceivably be involved.

Murphy's reappearance could be looked at as repetitive, but it does make sense from a narrative standpoint. At this point, The Joker is the only previously introduced villain who has been confirmed to not feature into the plot, and Nolan has been making every attempt to tie narrative threads in his trilogy together with this last film. A Scarecrow appearance would only serve to perpetuate that goal.

The way things are going, fans will likely only know the truth for sure when the film is finally released.

The Dark Knight Rises, of course, hits theaters on July 20, 2012.

Source: HeyUGuys

'Magic Mike' Cast & Director Talk Strip Club Movie-Making

Director Steven Soderbergh's Magic Mike opens in theaters this weekend (read our review). The film follows the story of Mike (Channing Tatum), who is hustling his way though several different jobs, projects and side ventures, in pursuit of his dream to open a custom furniture business. 'But wait, I thought this was about male strippers' you say?

Ostensibly speaking it is, but this is a Soderbergh offering ' so you're going to discover that if you want to, you can find number of other themes, ideas and interesting elements in the film. Fear not, however, Mike's central source of both income and distraction is, indeed, stripping. When he is tasked with mentoring a protege (Alex Pettyfer), Mike has to confront who he's become and where he wants to go. In the midst of all this, there is plenty of male-dancing, butt-shaking, abtacular fun to be had.

Inspired by Tatum's own experience as a male stripper, Soderbergh tasked the actor and first time screenwriter Reid Carolin with the creation of the script that he would direct from. We recently had the opportunity to attend the Los Angeles press conference for the film with the director and cast. Take a look at the full transcript from the event below:

There are a lot of dance montages in this movie. Are we going to see the full numbers on the DVD, like Matt's Ken Doll number? And Channing, can you talk about dressing like Marilyn Monroe and are you ready for a cameo on Smash?

Channing Tatum: 'Do you have any cash on you? Do you have any one dollar bills?'

Steven Soderbergh: 'We have edited together the full-length versions of all the routines. They're pretty disturbing. Honestly, it's very'we sent them all to Sue Kroll at Warner Brothers and she said, 'I really like these a lot.' I think it's not for men, these things. It made me really uncomfortable to watch them. We did 10 or 12, [and] to watch them all back to back was really disturbing. So, I don't know.'

Channing Tatum: 'I don't think that people get that they all end the exact same way. [...] They all start clothed and end naked, and there's no really cool editing happening to miss the really gory parts. But Marilyn, as far as that goes, I don't think Lee wants me on that show. That would just be a bad idea, but I would do it. I'll have you stand in.'

Matt Bomer: 'I'm there.'

What did you think about the outfit and dressing up in it?

Channing Tatum: 'Yeah, I did that to a buddy of mine on his birthday. He was eating at a restaurant and I walked in as Marilyn and basically sang him happy birthday and embarrassed the hell out of him. So, we just decided to put it in this movie for fun.'

Matthew, what does your new wife think about this movie, and can you talk about your dance routine? Were you nervous?

Matthew McConaughey: 'Sure. My wife now, girlfriend at the time, actually showed up, snuck in quite a few days and she gave me the thumbs up and said, 'Go for it, baby.' So, she's going to like it.

My dance routine, was I nervous? I was very nervous, yeah. Before going out on the stage to dance, even if you're not taking your clothes off, for everyone live, is kind of nerve-wracking, but then knowing you have to strip down ' very nerve-wracking. Then after doing it once, God, I wanted to get up there and do it again. That was a lot of fun. When I first talked to Steven, he called to offer the role of Dallas to me. He had pitched the story and told me who this guy was and I was laughing really hard on the phone and said yes. I said, 'Can you give me one line just so I can hang up the phone and walk away here and imagination can go somewhere?' He said, 'Well, this guy Dallas is pretty connected with UFOs, man.' So, that was a great launch pad. It was a pretty roofless bit of direction on the phone in the beginning and so I knew that I was going to be able to fly. That was really fun to play someone so committed in many ways.'

It seems that if you made a movie about female strippers and men reacting excitedly that it'd be lascivious. What is it that differentiates those two experiences that allows us to enjoy this experience and see this as fun?

Matthew McConaughey: 'Channing does a very good impersonation of men at female strip joints.'

Channing Tatum: [growling and drooling]. 'No, I just think we're trying to do our part to objectify men for the first time in movies.'

Is there something about shooting that enables that celebratory thing?

Steven Soderbergh: 'I just can't believe we're having a press conference for a stripper movie. It's really hard to be serious. Look, now that people are starting to see the film, I think there might've been a concern for men who were having to see the film that really the movie was so driven towards the female audience, that there would be nothing in it for them to sort of latch onto. Of course I knew that wasn't what I wanted to do, that in point of fact some of the issues that the male characters are going through are issues that all men confront about what they want. Men tend to define themselves by what they do, and so if you're dealing with a character who's trying to figure that out, or multiple characters, then there's something there for guys, too. When we tested the film the female scores were not significantly bigger than the male scores. I mean, guys liked it. The trick is, I think, getting them to come, but we'll see what happens.'

Joe Manganiello: 'I think if you're a smart, single guy you're going to go see this on a Friday or Saturday night because guess who's going to be in the theater?'

Channing Tatum: 'And if you're really smart, you'll wear a fireman's outfit and you just might go home with a few numbers, or even better, someone.'

Joe Manganiello: 'Don't forget your axe.'

Would you say that Dallas is kind of delusional when you talk about him communicating with UFOs, him saying, 'I want to bring you to the universe?'

Matthew McConaughey: '[...]I'm going to speak as Dallas here, okay? Absolutely not delusional. Dallas is working his ass off to be the messiah of the male revue universe, as he says, 'The moon is merely a chip shot away, baby. We're going lunar.' He doesn't just want to take over the male revue on the planet earth. He wants to control the solar system.'

Channing Tatum: 'Dubai is next.'

Matthew McConaughey: 'Dubai is a start, yes. We start with four thousand square feet of prime real-estate in South Beach and then move to Dubai, and like he says, he's got a great idea, 'We're going to simulcast.' He's a big thinker, that Dallas. So, no, not delusional, at least not in his mind, whatsoever.'

Matthew, you have more movies coming out this year than Channing does'

Matthew McConaughey: 'Is that possible?'

Do you feel this is a renaissance year for you?

Matthew McConaughey: 'Well, I made five in a row last year. I went back to back to back to back to back, and it was my most creative, constructive and fun working year I've ever had. I did not have one single day in all five films where I was not excited to get out of bed in the morning and go to work. I didn't have one hour of complacency in any of the work I did in five films, and I'm happy to be able to say that because that's not always been the case. It's fortunate to be able to say that, and I got to work with a lot of very interesting directors and some very interesting stories and all characters that didn't really pander or placate to any laws, government, parental guidance, what have you. When I say committed characters, that's really fun because it's boundless how far you can go, almost four dimensionally. I mean, with Dallas, in this role, I couldn't get pinned down with writing down ideas and things and sending off emails. The verbiage of this guy's mind just kind of flew.'

NEXT: Grabby-hand Extras'

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Open Discussion ' June 29, 2012

As usual ' talk about whatever you like as long as it's related to movies, TV or Screen Rant itself ' just remember to play nice.

'Ted' Review

Despite a batch of live-action guest appearances on shows ranging from Gilmore Girls to Star Trek: Enterprise, writer, director, and producer Seth MacFarlane is known best for his contributions to TV animation. MacFarlane is responsible for the creation of fan-favorite animated series including Family Guy, American Dad!, and The Cleveland Show ' not to mention, the voice work behind iconic characters such as Brian and Stewie Griffin, as well as Stan Smith.

In Ted, MacFarlane is taking the talking animal shtick he's perfected with Brian (not to mention Tim the Bear) on TV, and delivering similar, albeit even cruder, comedy hijinks on the silver screen. Does MacFarlane, paired with Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis, successfully make a jump to the live-action movie arena with an enjoyable  - albeit campy ' comedy offering?

Fortunately, MacFarlane's trademark mix of cutting satire and slapstick comedy setups is working its charm in Ted, delivering plenty of laughs, and even a little heart, for anyone who can handle the film's risque onscreen escapades.

At first glance, audiences might mistake the movie for little more than a crude exploitation of 1980s megatoy, Teddy Ruxpin, but MacFarlane (who makes his feature directorial debut with the film) successfully balances the absurd and over-the-top elements of Ted with a number of grounded, albeit familiar, statements on love and friendship. That said, despite presenting a number of genuinely sweet moments, the film isn't going to be for everyone and moviegoers who aren't interested in watching a stuffed Teddy Bear hump a grocery card keypad (which is only the tip of the iceberg) should probably look elsewhere.

Seth MacFarlane voices Ted

As mentioned, many of Ted's biggest laughs play on the absurdity of an undisciplined talking Teddy Bear who, despite his cute and cuddly exterior, is more interested in hookers and smoking weed than hugs and snuggling. The film kicks off with eight-year-old John Bennett who, despite his best efforts, has trouble making friends and instead wishes his Teddy Bear, Ted, into life. The 'miracle' is quickly picked up by national news agencies and Ted becomes an '80s icon. Over two decades pass and John (Mark Wahlberg) is in a steady relationship with girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis) ' while Ted, who still lives with the couple, spends the majority of his time getting high and watching reruns of twenty-year-old television shows. Despite his best efforts as a partner, Lori calls John out for failing to grow up and encourages him to move Ted out. Ted agrees, but the move has unexpected ramifications ' putting strain on the trio's relationship, as well as exposing the celebrity bear to harm from the outside world.

Without question, the core Ted story will be especially familiar to anyone who has seen a bromance film or a similar thirty-something coming of age tale before. Had the movie not featured a sex-crazed talking stuffed animal, it'd be easy to write Ted off as a formulaic and predictable series of events that fails to offer anything but formulaic characters in service of one comedy setup after another. However, watching the surprisingly lifelike animated Teddy Bear performing even the most basic actions (such as driving a car) never gets old, and as a result, even the formulaic elements of the plot are easily heightened by the unabashed absurdity of the setup. Of course, there are also plenty of fresh comedy gags as well ' not to mention loads of '80s throwbacks that pull double duty in providing a number of laugh out loud setups, as well as humanizing the stuffed protagonist (i.e. he's really into Flash Gordon).

The cast includes plenty of stilted interactions, especially between Wahlberg and Ted, but none of these moments detract from the overall enjoyment of the experience ' since everyone on screen is clearly operating with their tongue firmly planted against the side of their cheek. Mila Kunis once again successfully flexes her comedy muscle and, despite serving in a supporting role this round, has some of the more enjoyable (and heartfelt) scenes with the bear. Joel McHale's Rex and Giovanni Ribisi's Donny are equally entertaining, albeit exceptionally one-note, which describes most of the characters in the film: thin but entertaining vehicles for either physical or one-liner comedy.

Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis in 'Ted'

Interestingly enough, MacFarlane's Ted, who was brought to onscreen life through the director's motion capture and animation work by Tippett Studio, is the most realized of the characters (not to mention hauntingly real-looking), offering a fun relief from the bloated sea of scaly alien creatures we usually see CGI'd into existence.

Ultimately, Ted successfully manages to move from one comedy set piece to the next with an adequate fantasy character drama stitched into the mix. The thematic elements are thin and the points hammered again and again by the film aren't going to encourage moviegoers to ponder the nature of friendship and growing up while on their way home from the theater; however, anyone familiar with MacFarlane's brand of comedy knows that social satire and over-the-top gags come first. As a result, it's a relief that he spent time injecting heart into the mix at all, even if the emotional cues are funneled through familiar story beats.

While it's not going to be for everyone, moviegoers who are onboard with Ted's campy premise and crude antics will likely find that MacFarlane has delivered an entertaining live-action comedy debut. Outside of the premise, the scene to scene narrative elements don't offer many surprises, but considering they revolve around an R-Rated talking Teddy Bear, most scenes still manage to present plenty of fresh laughs and, from time to time, heart/stuffing-warming character moments.

If you're still on the fence about Ted, check out the red-band trailer below:

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Let us know what you thought of the film in the comment section below.

Follow me on Twitter @benkendrick for future reviews, as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.

Ted is Rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, and some drug use. Now playing in theaters.

Our Rating:

3.5 out of 5

10 Actors Marvel Should Consider For 'Ant-Man'

Barely a day after officially announcing plans to host an Iron Man 3 panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2012, Marvel Studios had what are likely meant to be surprise announcements leak out as if the floodgates had opened. Yesterday came confirmation that Guardians of the Galaxy is the next film on their slate to release in the summer of 2014, and after analyzing rumors that Ant-Man could appear in Iron Man 3, it was also confirmed that director Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim) just completed a week of shooting test footage for Ant-Man.

So, with an Ant-Man's script by Wright and Joe Cornish (Attack the Block) done, test footage shot, and an official announcement imminent (potentially putting to rest years of rumors), let's examine 10 potential stars Marvel could sign (or have signed already) to play Henry Pym, aka Ant-Man.

'Dallas' Season 1, Episode 4: 'The Last Hurrah' Recap

So far this season, Dallas been about all the little schemes the characters have been cooking up in order to get their piece of the pie. Whether that pie is Southfork, a patent on methane extraction or just a little extra cash, the show has certainly had a lot of balls in the air. Now, with the fourth episode, it looks as though ' in classic Dallas fashion ' some of the allegiances that made these schemes a possibility are beginning to fall apart.

The big question, however, still revolves around the pending sale of Southfork. Since underhanded lawyer Mitch Lobell (Richard Dillard) has held up the delivery of the very documents that will finalize the sale (and effectively put Southfork in the hands of J.R.), the actual fate of the ranch has yet to be determined. Thankfully, John Ross (Josh Henderson) and his father, J.R. (Larry Hagman), are on hand to constantly remind one another ' and by extension, the viewers ' exactly what's at stake.

While 'The Last Hurrah' is superficially concerned with what appears to be the final days of Bobby (Patrick Duffy) and Ann (Brenda Strong) in Southfork, the episode just uses that as a cover to further darken the already murky morality of nearly everyone on the show. Between John Ross and his father double-dealing against the family, then each other ' which is then followed by them making nice with one another, just so that they can do it all over again ' Dallas has more fluctuating coalitions than the government sees in an election year. Once you figure in scheming siblings, Tommy (Callard Harris) and Rebecca (Julie Gonzalo), fake Marta Del Sol (Leonor Varela) ' henceforth known by her real name Veronica Martinez ' and the Sue-Ellen-seducing Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval), the amount of underhandedly opportunistic individuals likely exceeds broadcast television standards. But then that's probably why the show is on cable now.

With all the digging J.R. has been up to since making a miraculous recovery from a near-catatonic state, it's unsurprising he's managed to come up with the dirt needed to make his move against not only Lobell, but John Ross as well. By uncovering the true identity of Marta (Veronica), J.R. has become privy to her less-than-pleasant romantic history apparently brought on by bipolar disorder (because heaven forbid the condition be portrayed with any more seriousness or complexity than a crazy ex-girlfriend). Now, Veronica has gone from potential high-stakes con artist to ticking, emotional time bomb ' just in time for the final Southfork BBQ, too.

Meanwhile, Lobell's son, Rick, is John Ross' new assignment from his father. Not wanting to use Veronica, John Ross segues into the world of blackmail by threatening to reveal the origin of the email that broke up Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) and Elena (Jordana Brewster). So far, John Ross has performed as the villain in a sort of perfunctory manner, going from task to task and sulking, yelling or backstabbing after whatever he's trying to accomplish falls through. Now, for the first time, we see some kind of enjoyment in being the baddie on John Ross' face ' either that or he simply can't believe his scheme worked. So coaxing an emotion out of John Ross beyond reflexive anger should be considered a small victory.

For her part, Rebecca catches up with Rick after an AA meeting, but bails on her attempt to lure him back into doing drugs after he talks about getting his life back together for love. Returning home, she's confronted by Tommy, who presses her to move quicker on their plan to steal Christopher's methane patent. With all the plots she's just trying to back out of, Rebecca has proven herself to be way more interesting than Elena ' if only there were a way to show Christopher the real her, then he wouldn't be having second thoughts about his former fiancée.

Thankfully, Bobby's keen sense of when his son is in need of some fatherly advice allows him to broach the subject with Christopher. Either that or he didn't want to have to redo the section fence Christopher was haphazardly banging away at. After giving his father the lowdown on his romantic quandary, Christopher still seems unsure which direction his heart wants him to go. However, before any hasty decision can be made, Christopher learns a powerful lesson about choice and gains a new perspective on his own adoption through the death of a pregnant cow. We could all learn a thing or two from that cow.

Inspired by whatever oblique message he picked up essentially watching food be born, Christopher later hands Elena a check for $20k, attempting to end any future obligation (professional or otherwise) he has toward her. Once more returning to his new wife with a renewed interest in their relationship (that's twice in four episodes, for those counting), Christopher wants to show her the calf that motivated him to choose her, but Rebecca seems more interested in spilling the beans before John Ross can. We'll have to wait until next episode for the reveal on that.

Whatever machinations are going on in and around Southfork, they all pale in comparison to what J.R. has cooking. So hell-bent on claiming his birthright, he's now enlisted Marta/Veronica to do his bidding after allowing her to believe John Ross is still pursuing a relationship with Elena. That move allows him to deliver damning photos of Rick to Lobell, which in turn reveals J.R.'s intentions of cutting John Ross out of any potential ownership in Southfork.

As the season progresses and episodes go by where multiple characters are handed photos of themselves or people they care about in compromising positions, the question becomes: is the prying observation continually on display in Dallas an intentional reflection of what the audience seeks in watching the show, or is it purely happenstance? It's probably not what the writers are going for, but so far, that question has proven more interesting than the romantic predicament Christopher, Elena and John Ross find themselves in.

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Dallas continues next Wednesday with 'Truth and Consequences' @9pm on TNT. Check out a preview below:

True Blood's Joe Manganiello Talks 'Man of Steel' & 'Batman' Reboot

Joe Manganiello ' best known for his role as the werewolf with a heart of gold on True Blood - previously expressed an interest in playing Superman in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel on more than one occasion. Alas, as we all know, the part eventually went to Henry Cavill instead.

Manganiello recently opened up about the reason he wasn't cast in the role and his desire to play Batman in the inevitable reboot following The Dark Knight Rises.

On why he wasn't chosen to play Superman, courtesy of Ain't It Cool News:

'Well, I mean, the thing about Superman was it' I mean, I know the right one is out there for me' there wasn't anything I could do with Superman. There was interest from every single possible angle on that project, and the reason they were interested was because of 'True Blood.' From the director, to casting, to the producers involved, it was all because of 'True Blood,' that was why I was in the running. And at the end of the day, it was 'True Blood's' schedule that kept me from doing it. There's just no human way possible I could be in two places at once when I'm contracted to be on 'True Blood.''

He went on to say he was particularly interested in exploring what would make an alien want to protect humanity, and that he believed he could've brought something new and interesting to the character.

While I think that Manganiello is pretty good in True Blood - or at least as good as one can be in a role that requires little more than growling, brooding, piercing looks, and taking off one's shirt repeatedly ' he doesn't quite have 'the look' most people would associate with Superman. While you might hate the fact that Snyder cast a British actor in the role of all-American Clark Kent, you'd be hard-pressed to argue that Cavill doesn't very much look the part.

When asked whether or not he'd be interested in playing Batman in the forthcoming reboot ' and Justice League film ' Manganiello said:

'From your mouth to God's ears, man. I mean of course, I grew up ' as a kid, I read comic books and I watched every single comic book movie that ever' You know, I was a big sci-fi fan. I was just that kid. I'm a fanboy at heart. So, yeah, that is on my radar.'

I think we can interpret that as a 'yes.'

What say you, Screen Ranters? Do you want to see Alcide from True Blood play Batman/Bruce Wayne in a future Batman or Justice League film? Drop us a line in the comments.

The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters July 20th, 2012. Man of Steel hits theaters June 14th, 2013. True Blood airs Sundays on HBO @9pm.

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Follow me on Twitter @benandrewmoore.

Source: Ain't It Cool News

New 'Total Recall' Trailer is Totally Epic

In five weeks time, and two weeks before Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to the big screen for The Expendables 2, comes a remake of one of his most memorable films: Total Recall. The new adaptation of Philip K. Dick's short story 'We Can Remember It for You Wholesale' takes a vastly different approach in realizing a sci-fi dystopian near-future, dropping Mars and mutants in favor of a fight for land on a heavily polluted Earth.

The first Total Recall trailer caught our attention and re-familiarized us with the story of Douglas Quaid, while introducing the flashy new world created by director Len Wiseman and production designer Patrick Tatopoulos. The new Total Recall trailer however, simply aims to blow you away with more action, more spectacle and even more character bits.

Total Recall is about a man trying to find himself while questioning reality and the second Total Recall trailer ' like the first one ' again emphasizes Doug Quaid's origins as a man seemingly living an ordinary life when one fateful day, he wanted to experience something more, something exciting, and got more than he bargained for.

The trailer highlights Quaid's relationships with his wife Lori (Kate Beckinsale) and best pal Harry (Bokeem Woodbine) who are not who they seem, before moving on to showcasing the impressive visuals and concepts of the film's take on the future. There are shots featuring the unique aesthetics and cultures of both New Asia and the United Federation of Britain intermixed with plenty of action and a focus on tech, including our best look yet at the Synths (robotic police). They even threw in the three-breasted woman, something that would have been better served as a surprise for fans of the original.

The trailer looks impressive as it does exciting as an action thriller and we can only hope what we learned on our Total Recall set visit lends itself to a compelling story. Fore more details on the story, characters and world featured in Total Recall:

• Jessica Biel & Colin Farrell Interview.
• Toby Jaffe & Neal Moritz Interview.
• Welcome to Rekall: Detailing how Total Recall was made.

Total Recall stars Colin Farrell, Bryan Cranston, Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale, Bill Nighy, Ethan Hawke, John Cho and Bokeem Woodbine. It is directed by Len Wiseman off a screenplay by Kurt Wimmer and Mark Bomback.

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Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes.

Total Recall opens in theaters August 3, 2012.

Source: Yahoo! Movies

Ryan Reynolds Confirmed For 'Highlander' Reboot

After seemingly landing a pair of key roles in potential franchises as Wade Wilson/Deadpool for Twentieth Century Fox's X-Men series and as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern for the 'next big thing' for DC Entertainment and Warner Bros., star Ryan Reynolds seemingly has his comic book roles on the back burner.

The star of this year's Safe House and next year's R.I.P.D. has also landed what may be another long-term franchise role as the next Highlander, to be directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later).

We first heard of the possibility of Reynolds becoming the next member of the Clan MacLeod back in March when the Canadian actor emerged the front-runner for the coveted role. The 'confirmation' comes from The Tracking Board who claim that negotiations are complete and that Reynolds has officially secured the gig.

Christopher Lambert famously starred in the original cult hit Highlander and its two sequels, before passing the torch to TV star Adrian Paul for the six-season Highlander TV series following the character of Duncan MacLeod and its unsuccessful spin-off Highlander: The Raven with Amanda Darieux. Lambert and Paul joined forces, officially merging the continuities of their characters and stories for Highlander: Endgame, before the franchise sizzled away after Paul and his TV co-stars returned for one last go with Highlander: The Source.

Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul in Highlander: Endgame

With the Lionsgate-Summit Entertainment merger promising a larger focus on franchising key brands, producers Neal Moritz ' who's working with Reynolds on R.I.P.D. and did so with The Change-Up and Peter Davis ' the man behind all of the Highlander projects, aim to make Highlander and its story about sword-wielding immortals a mainstream hit with Reynolds as their leading man.

For fans of Reynolds' other work, we wonder what this means for any potential of him suiting up soon for that other buzzed about project with a hard-to-kill sword-swinging protagonist: Deadpool. And more importantly, are we going to see Reynolds sport long locks like his predecessor? Is he going to rock a fake Scottish accent in flashbacks as part of the Clan MacLeod?

We can at least say Highlander has a director and leading man who can both deliver action. The question is if they can deliver a story and a character we're willing to care about for years to come.

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Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes.

Source: The Tracking Board

Open Discussion ' June 27, 2012

As usual ' talk about whatever you like as long as it's related to movies, TV or Screen Rant itself ' just remember to play nice.

Writer & Director Nora Ephron Passes Away at 71

Screenwriter and director Nora Ephron, whose smart romantic comedies made her a Hollywood legend, has died at the age of 71. Ephron passed away from complications related to the blood disorder myelodysplasia, which she was diagnosed with in 2006.

Ephron is best known for writing the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally and also for writing and directing the 1993 film Sleepless in Seattle. (Both films are ranked in the American Film Institute's Top Ten Romantic Comedies of all time.) Most recently, Ephron wrote and directed the critically-acclaimed 2009 film Julie & Julia.

Outside of her film career, Ephron was also known for her work as a journalist in the 1960s and her marriage to journalist Carl Bernstein, who, along with Bob Woodward, was responsible for breaking the Watergate scandal in the 1970s. Interestingly, it was Ephron's work rewriting William Goldman's screenplay for All the President's Men, which details the Watergate scandal, that helped launch her career in Hollywood.

One of the things that made Ephron such a successful filmmaker was the way her movies were both modern and old-fashioned at the same time. She was able to capture a certain sweetness and simplicity that recalled movies from the 1950s, while delivering witty dialogue that reflected the times.

Meg Ryan in 'When Harry Met Sally'

Ephron was also incredibly successful at making movies that transcended time. Consider When Harry Met Sally. The film is 23 years old, but it's still beloved by women (and men) around the world. If you don't laugh at the punchline of Meg Ryan's famous diner scene, then you've got problems.

In an industry dominated by men, Ephron stood out not by being a writer and director of 'chick flicks,' but for creating compelling characters, telling moving stories, and making audiences laugh, cry, and cheer time and time again. Her legacy as one of Hollywood's greats will not soon be forgotten.

Ephron is survived by her sons and her third husband, author and screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi.

Screen Rant would like to express our sincere condolences to the friends and family of Nora Ephron in this difficult time.

R.I.P. Nora Ephron: May 19th, 1941 ' June 26th, 2012.

Jena Malone Considered For Johanna Mason Role in 'Hunger Games: Catching Fire'

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is easily one of the most anticipated films of 2012, which is why it's no wonder that so many young actors are vying to join the franchise. After opening to strong critical praise, The Hunger Games earned more than $660 million worldwide. Who wouldn't want to get in on some of that action?

Late last month, we shared the news that Taylor Kitsch (Battleship), Garrett Hedlund (TRON Legacy), and Armie Hammer (The Lone Ranger) were in talks for the fan-favorite role of Finnick Odair. Today, we have some news to share about another fan-favorite character: Johanna Mason.

According to an exclusive report from Entertainment Weekly, actress Jena Malone (Sucker Punch) is being considered for the important role of Mason in the sequel. For those who haven't read the books, Mason is a former Hunger Games victor from District 7, who won by pretending to be weak and then slaughtering the other combatants.

Malone isn't the only actress allegedly in talks for the part. Model Zoe Aggeliki was recently rumored to be a contender for the role and actress Kristen Bell has made no secret of her desire to star in the movie as well. That said, Malone wouldn't be a bad choice for the part (although she doesn't quite match the way I pictured the character in my head).

Malone, who was seen most recently in the History Channel special Hatfields & McCoys, is roughly the right age for Mason and could bring a certain level of familiarity to the role for audiences without overshadowing some of the more prominent characters.

If Malone does get the part, she'll be in good company. Academy Award nominee Jennifer Lawrence will be returning to play heroine Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson will return as Peeta Mellark, rising star Liam Hemsworth (The Expendables 2) will get an expanded role as Gale Hawthorne, and Woody Harrelson is set for another round as mentor Haymitch Abernathy. That's not including Academy Award nominee Philip Seymour Hoffman, who was recently offered the role of Plutarch Heavensbee.

What do you think of Jena Malone possible playing Johanna Mason? Is the actress a good fit for the part?

Source: EW

'Alex Cross' Trailer & Poster: Tyler Perry Hunts Sadist Killer Matthew Fox

Alex Cross is a reboot of the film franchise based on James Patterson's novel series featuring the titular detective Cross ' a character who has already been portrayed onscreen by Morgan Freeman in films like Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. The idea was to take the story back to the earlier days of Cross, casting a younger face to portray the younger version of the detective. For a moment there, Luther and Prometheus star Idris Elba was the man to take up the mantle ' before the role was passed to writer/director/producer/mogul Tyler Perry.

Fan reaction has teetered between skepticism and disappointment, with many people still pining for Elba. But with today's Alex Cross trailer, Perry will get his first chance to turn the tide of fan opinion to his side.

'though that might not be an accomplishment this first trailer can claim. The two biggest takeaways (for me at least) are:

1. Lost star Matthew Fox looks crazy as the serial killer/sadist, Picasso. And not in a good way.
2. Tyler Perry's speech about 'Meeting [Picasso's] soul at the gates of hell,' just sounds strange coming out of the mouth of Tyler Perry. Oddly enough, it would sound much better coming from Madea.

Matthew Fox in 'Alex Cross'

Director Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious, xXx) is directing the film, and on the whole, it looks like a standard action/thriller ' featuring a crazy skinny Matthew Fox. However, considering the quality of Kiss the Girls (and to lesser extent, Along Came a Spider), a 'standard action/thriller' is something of a letdown.

The previous Cross films were bolstered by the acting talent of Morgan Freeman, who crafted a wise and cunning detective (as only he can). Perry yells a lot, and runs a lot, and his Cross does a lot of a action stunts' which pretty much puts him in league with a dozen other action movie hero cop detectives, rather than being the distinguished and unique Cross of the Freeman era. But hey, if it worked for Sherlock Holmes'

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

Alex Cross will be in theaters on October 19, 2012.

Source: Amazon

Three 'Avatar' Sequels To Shoot Back-To-Back, Says Sigourney Weaver

Fans of James Cameron's Avatar have been eagerly awaiting a sequel since the film was released in 2009. Cameron has been teasing us with the slightest details of what the next Pandora-set adventures might involve, but he has been very coy about story specifics and start dates. However, it now looks like Cameron is finally about to start shooting THREE new Avatar movies back-to-back.

Avatar SPOILERS follow.

Sigourney Weaver divulged the details to Showbiz 441 at the premiere of her new Clinton 'inspired series, Political Animals. The actress stated that once she completes work on the series, she will feature in a short run of a Christopher Durang play and then segue into James Cameron's three Avatar sequels. This again confirms Weaver's involvement in the Avatar world ' even though her character died in the last film. It should be noted that when the actress was asked about a timeline for the production of these movies, she said that she didn't know, replying 'I just show up'. However, it does look like a second series of the six-part Political Animals will have to wait until Cameron completes work on this new trilogy.

This mammoth undertaking is probably one of the reasons why Avatar 2 was bumped from its intended Christmas 2014 release date, and it gels with what we heard last month when Cameron said:

'I'm not interested in developing anything. I'm in the Avatar business. Period. That's it. I'm making Avatar 2, Avatar 3, maybe Avatar 4, and I'm not going to produce other people's movies for them.'

The move to shoot three Avatar sequels at the same time makes sense for a number of reasons. Avatar wasn't cheap to produce (over $200 million), and three films would come at a reduced cost if Cameron concentrated on one extended shoot, rather than dismantling everything only to have to rebuild (and re-hire) a few months later. Peter Jackson shot the Lord of the Rings trilogy at the same time, a move which kept costs to a minimum ' and we all know how that turned out. The move also ensures the availability of cast and crew. One blocked time-frame means that you may not have to recast roles, or shoot around actors who are busy elsewhere (hence the reason why Political Animals will have to wait for Weaver).

However, there could be a downside to this plan. Avatar was so successful ($2.7 billion globally) because audiences had never seen anything like it before ' it was a 'game changer'. The effects, coupled with the use of 3D, made it a true cinematic experience, but Cameron risks cheapening the brand, (if you will) by flooding the market with too many Avatar films. Sure, there is pent-up demand for Avatar 2 now, but will fans be so willing to part with their cash to see parts three and four in quick succession?

Screen Rant readers will know that Cameron likes to keep his Avatar cards close to his chest and this should be treated as speculation until it is confirmed or denied by the director. After all, how many times has Tom Arnold said that True Lies 2 was on the way?

Source: Showbiz411

Weekend Box Office Wrap Up: June 24, 2012

Disney/Pixar's Brave (read our review) topped the box office over the weekend, grossing an estimated $66.7 million. The Celtic 'toon's launch was in line with expectations and it shows that the Pixar brand is still alive and kicking. The debut (Pixar's 13th straight number one debut) is similar to that of 2009's Up, a film that went on to gross over $293 million at the domestic box office. Reviews for the $185 million animated film have been mixed, but it should continue to do well in the coming weeks ' and then make another fortune when it hits DVD and Blu-Ray.

Fellow animated adventure Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted dropped to second place, grossing $20.2 million. This gives the threequel an total gross of $157.5 million.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter failed to hunt down much audience love. The historical/vampire/action film should see the sun come up on Monday morning with a weak $16.5 million. Reviews for the $69 million genre-blend film have ranged from mediocre to Abe-solutely terrible (read ours) so don't expect this to hang around in the top 10 for long. I also wouldn't get my hopes up for Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies anytime soon.

Prometheus should bank another $10 million, a number which raises its cume to over $108 million. It's the first Alien saga film to hit the magic century number and the $260 million global gross should mean that the planned sequel can finally get underway.

Tom Cruise musical Rock of Ages will sing up an additional $8 million for a $28.7 million total cume. Maybe they could re-title the $75 million film Flop of Ages for its Blu-ray release. Just a thought.

Snow White and the Huntsman should score another $8 million, raising the fairy tale's total to $137 million. It looks like those with gross point profit participation will live happily ever after.

Adam Sandler's That's My Boy grossed just $7.9 million on its second weekend, giving the comedy film a lacklustre $28 million total. That's nothing to be proud of.

The mighty Avengers should see another $5.7 million come Monday morning, raising the Marvel movie's total to $598 million. It'll hit $600 million (U.S.) by next weekend.

Men In Black 3 banked in the region of $5.6 million for a $163 million domestic total. The $225 million Will Smith starrer has now accumulated over $550 million worldwide, which is more than $100 million more than the previous instalment grossed a decade ago.

Seeking A Friend for the End of the World (read our review) cracked the top 10, grossing $3.8 million from a little over sixteen hundred screens. The Steve Carell and Keira Knightley film carries a production budget of just $10 million.

That's it for now. See you at the movies.

Source: Box Office Mojo

Tags: abraham lincoln vampire hunter, alien, avengers, box office, brave, madagascar 3, men in, prometheus, rock of ages, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, snow white and the huntsman, thats my boy

Open Discussion ' June 25, 2012

As usual ' talk about whatever you like as long as it's related to movies, TV or Screen Rant itself ' just remember to play nice.

BTW, at the top of the page, note the return of our snappy slogan!

'Falling Skies' Season 2, Episode 3: 'Compass' Recap

It's hard to not to snicker when the characters on any show not set in Westeros utter the slightest word regarding the inevitable approach of winter. In Falling Skies, though, the writers' use of the pending weather change to drive the characters into the main story for season 2 is as good a reason as any to fear a few falling flakes. Besides, Game of Thrones doesn't wholly own the season of winter, does it?

After the season 2 premiere did such a solid job of getting the ball rolling, 'Compass' is one of those episodes burdened with the unfortunate task of slowing things down so that the pieces can be properly aligned and ready to go when the larger story really kicks off. Of course, that means the 2nd Mass eventually running to a (supposedly) larger, more organized unit that, unlike the now 176 survivors led by Captain Weaver (Will Patton), is certain of the direction in which it is headed.

That direction is very clear, and it's one regarded by Tom Mason (Noah Wyle) as the right way to go. Understandably, Weaver is concerned about his crew, and considering the losses the 2nd Mass has suffered recently, it's no wonder his mind is occupied with the preservation of life, and not continuing to engage the invading aliens in conflict. Weaver uses winter as an excuse, feeling it would be better waited out in the relative seclusion of the Catskills ' where his troops might be able to rest, recuperate and live to fight another day. Like Tom says, though, ''if we're resting, we're not resisting.' Yes, it's hokey dialogue (and not the last to be showcased in 'Compass'), but it does get the point across in an episode whose sole job is to get the audience prepared for the rest of the season.

One of the key points is that after leaving the relative safety of the school they occupied during season 1, the 2nd Mass now has to stay mobile if they want to stay alive. That is made clear time and again, and has served (so far) to make the danger of season 2 feel more much more palpable and real than it was in season 1.  But, as hinted by the title of the episode, Weaver is going need some help in deciding which direction is best for his band of survivors.

The scruffy, ponytailed captain isn't the only one in the group who may have lost his sense of direction, however. In fact, the episode hints somewhat that everyone in the 2nd Mass is a little lost in the woods at the moment. Whether it's the confusion brought on by a thirst for vengeance and the blindness that accompanies hate ' as is the case with Ben (Connor Jessup) ' or the hopelessness of grief that has Anne (Moon Bloodgood) counting the days on the calendar, there is a feeling that, in all the fighting, many have begun to walk aimlessly. And so, because it has Saving Private Ryan and The Patriot in its DNA, Falling Skies decides the best way to get everyone as close to the same page as possible is to remove a well-liked, but slightly unnecessary character.

Jimmy (Dylan Authors) always served as a tool to help ground Weaver without giving him too much to be concerned about. Weaver can't rightly be using one of the three Mason boys to replace his lost child, but he also can't be seen palling around with some kid, so the orphaned Jimmy, who comes and goes as he pleases, was really the best way to showcase Weaver's humanity.

Considering Ben's bloodlust is largely responsible for Jimmy being impaled on a tree ' by Red Eye, no less ' it's expected that his response to the boy's passing would be as emotional, if not more so than Weaver's. Instead, Weaver reserves his emotions for a charming, if inelegant eulogy, while Ben responds by acting like a self-destructive, cagey weirdo; thereby ensuring the rest of the group will continue to think of him as such.

If the response to Jimmy's death felt off, then Tom's decision to join the Berserkers after Pope (Colin Cunningham) dragged him into the woods and accused him of being an alien stooge was off the charts bizarre. Maybe it was all deliberately related to the episode's core theme, or simply an easier way to justify Tom and Pope eventually duking it out, but it all came off a little clunky.

The fallout of the Tom/Pope brawl is even more problematic, as it places Falling Skies back into the familiar territory of a show without one of its biggest agitators and fascinating presences. Perhaps due to the Berserkers staying behind, Pope's solo adventures will be short lived. On the other hand, since Anthony (Mpho Koaho) decides to travel with him (mostly to ensure Pope doesn't return seeking vengeance for his bruised ego and face), it would suggest Pope's time away from the 2nd Mass may be an adventure all it's own ' which could either be compelling or detrimental to the rest of the season's story arc.

And it looks like that arc revolves around a Continental Congress that's been set up in Charleston. The group learns this information from a pilot, Avery Churchill (Camille Sullivan), who lands her tiny airplane smack dab in the middle of their not terribly inconspicuous camp. As far as information, Avery seems short on precise details, but she has plenty of kind words for Weaver and Tom, as well as the promise of hot water for the rest of the survivors. Weaver is naturally justified in his skepticism, but after weighing the option of waiting out the winter alone, or giving his people a fighting chance in Charleston, he chooses the latter.

Hopefully, the time 'Compass' took to set up the direction of the next few episodes will be utilized to the fullest extent, so that Falling Skies doesn't have to stop to check it's bearings like this too often.

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Falling Skies returns next Sunday @9pm with 'Young Bloods' on TNT. Check out a preview below:

'The Walking Dead' Season 3: Carl Grows Up

Along with the enormous fan base enjoyed by The Walking Dead ' in both television and comic book formats ' comes a vocal group of detractors looking to air their displeasure at aspects of the show they may find annoying or incomprehensible. One facet that constantly earned the derision of zombie fans everywhere was the characterization of Carl (Chandler Riggs), and his increased irresponsibility ' even while facing mortal danger.

Carl's inability to remain in one place (like the house) or under the less-than-watchful eye of his mother, Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies), became such a constant in the show that it ' along with many other facets ' led to the creation of a number of Internet memes. While most fans were laughing, many called for the removal of Carl and Lori from the show based on the characters' flagrant ineptitude at surviving in a fictional zombie apocalypse.

Well, fans, executive producer Glen Mazzarra has heard the complaints, and in a recent interview with TV Guide, says the days of Carl wandering in and out of dangerous situations, or inadvertently contributing to the deaths of righteously indignant characters, are at an end. What exactly brings about this change in character is unknown; perhaps Carl has learned from his blunders on Hershel's farm, or perhaps he comes to realize that in a world where the dead roam the streets and people like The Governor (David Morrissey) exist, it's simply time to do away with childish behavior.

Mazzara stated:

'We're interested in exploring Carl as a child soldier in this war against the walkers. He becomes a very, very effective, strong part of the group. He's no longer the young child who needs to be cared for and who needs to be minded. That Carl is gone.'

While many might cringe at the term 'child soldier,' the intent is clear: Carl's season 3 story arc will revolve around him being a productive member of the group that his father Rick (Andrew Lincoln) is trying so hard to keep alive. Whether or not that will do anything to quiet critics of the character is another question entirely, but Mazzara would like to offer some explanation for Carl's actions.

That's some good work, Carl

In a separate interview with The Los Angeles Times, Mazzara pointed out that the writers took a risk portraying Carl the way that they did, and at the end of the day, the littlest Grimes is just a boy, prone to do foolish boy things. Mazzara said:

'Everyone wants to know why Carl's not in the house. Well, it's boring to sit in a house. And he's a little boy and he wants to mix it up and stuff. And he's walking through the woods and finds a zombie trapped in the mud and he starts doing what any Huck Finn would do and starts throwing rocks at the monster. And then later that is the same zombie that pulls itself free and kills Dale. And the writers were very nervous about that, you know? It feels earned, but it's a risk. Because Dale is a beloved character and if this other character is involved and responsible for that death, is the audience going to now hate Carl? But I thought the story was worth the chance.'

Season 2 wasn't without its faults, but it did noticeably pick up in later episodes ' which should be credited to Mazzara's steering of the ship. Also, the showrunner's willingness to address the concerns/complaints of fans without simply kowtowing to the masses is a sign that season 3 of The Walking Dead is likely in the right hands.

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The Walking Dead season 3 will premiere this fall on AMC.

Source: TV Guide, The Los Angeles Times

Release Dates: 'Bourne Legacy', 'Alex Cross', 'Dead Man Down' & 'Scary Movie 5'

Universal has slightly pushed back the release of its fourth Bourne movie (the first without Matt Damon), The Bourne Legacy, while Summit has nudged forward its release date for Alex Cross.

Meanwhile, FilmDistrict has settled on an early April 2013 date for Dead Man Down, and Dimension will release Scary Movie 5 (the first without Anna Faris) shortly thereafter ' a three-month delay from the horror movie parody's original date.

It appears that Universal has learned its lesson, after releasing Battleship too close to The Avengers. The studio has shifted Bourne Legacy's date back a week this summer to August 10th, in order to make room for Dark Knight Rises' run at the box office.

Bourne Legacy stars Jeremy Renner, who's hot off the one-two punch of Mission: Impossible ' Ghost Protocol and Avengers. The Legacy trailer has successfully established that this film is not a reboot; it takes place in the Bourne universe and ties directly into the events of its predecessors (in a cleaner fashion than the Alien spinoff, Prometheus). Test screenings for Legacy are said to have gone over well, in the aftermath of pickup shoots earlier this month.

Overall, Bourne Legacy appears to be in good shape. The film should benefit from not opening against the Total Recall remake ' and making room for TDKR's reign.

Source: Deadline

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Madea creator Tyler Perry will make his screen debut as James Patterson's popular detective character in Alex Cross. The new Cross installment (technically, a reboot ' don't tell anyone!) opens later this year on October 19th, rather than the 26th, and goes up against Paranormal Activity 4.

We're still waiting on a trailer to provide an early sense of whether the outside-the-box casting of Perry as Cross (over the original, fan-fave candidate, Idris Elba) was a brilliant maneuver ' or unintended misstep.

In the meantime, our Alex Cross screenshot gallery provides a preliminary look at the film's various characters ' with a schockingly-ripped Matthew Fox stealing the show, playing the killer Picasso (based on infamous Cross villain Michael Sullivan).

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Dead Man Down has been scheduled for a U.S. theatrical release, beginning April 5th, 2013. The film reunites Swedish Girl with the Dragon Tattoo director Niels Arden Oplev and star Noomi Rapace ' who co-headlines the movie with Colin Farrell.

Plot-wise, Dead Man Down is a neo-Noir thriller about a New York crime lord's confidant (Ferrell) who assists one of his boss' victims (Rapace) in her quest for vengeance (morality, seduction, and blackmail are all factors that affect Ferrell's decision).

The Dead Man Down cast is rounded out by Oscar-nominee Terrence Howard (Iron Man) and Dominic Cooper (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter), with Oplev directing from a script penned by Fringe writer/co-showrunner J. H. Wyman. It certainly sounds like an intriguing combination of talents, no?

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Scary Movie 5 (there's an audience for that' right?) has been delayed by over three months. It will now open two weeks after Dead Man Down, on April 19th of next year ' and one week before Tom Cruise's Oblivion arrives.

Disney Channel alum Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical, Suite Life of Zack and Cody) will take over leading lady duties from Scary Movie stalwart Anna Faris in the fifth installment. Malcolm Lee (Undercover Brother) will likewise inherit helmer duties from Scary Movie 3 & 4 director David Zucker, who's still co-writing and producing the (theoretically) funny flick.

Maybe some fresh blood is exactly what the faltering Scary Movie franchise needs to be re-energized. Hey, it can't be any worse than Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer's recent entries in the parody sub-genre (Vampires Suck, Meet the Spartans)' right? Right?

Source: Box Office Mojo

Comic Book Scribe Alan Moore Penning Short Film Series

Anyone who's read a comic book or graphic novel in the last 30 years likely knows the name Alan Moore. The British writer is responsible for some of the medium's greatest achievements, including V for Vendetta, Batman: The Killing Joke (a major inspiration for Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning performance in The Dark Knight) and the game-changing Watchmen (the only graphic novel on Time's 'ALL-TIME 100 Greatest Novels' list).

Inevitably, many of Moore's stories were given the film treatment ' such as From Hell, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, as well as the aforementioned V for Vendetta and Watchmen. A long-discussed Swamp Thing movie, based on Moore's beloved 1980s series, may eventually gain traction, as well. Moore has developed a reputation for publicly bashing big-screen adaptations of his work; in fairness, almost none of them have really done justice to the source material, but Moore also roundly dismisses modern mainstream cinema in general.

Given his adversarial relationship with the movie industry, few would have anticipated the recent announcement that Moore is apparently hard at work on an independent film series with photographer and friend Mitch Jenkins. According to Slashfilm, the project is called Show Pieces, and will consist of several short films, all following a 'multi-layered, multi-episode narrative.'

At this point, actual details on the overarching plot and tone are few and far between, but the first installment in the series, titled Act of Faith, has reportedly been completed. All that's known is that it was shot in London, and stars Irish actress Siobhan Hewlett (Moore supposedly wrote the part specifically for Hewlett after seeing her in a previous role). Part two, titled Jimmy's End, will reportedly begin filming in Northampton, U.K., later this summer, and will also feature Hewlett, presumably portraying the same character.

Act of Faith and Jimmy's End are scheduled to premiere this October in New York, during a 'cultural festival' hosted by The Creator's Project, which showcases various innovative applications of art and technology around the world. These first two episodes will eventually be available to the general public through TheCreatorsProject.com, but the timetable for the rest of the series remains unclear.

Stay tuned for future updates regarding Alan Moore's Show Pieces.

Source: Slashfilm