**Jennifer Lawrence Lands THE HUNGER GAMES **Is Jennifer Lawrence Now The Frontrunner For The Hunger Games? **Two-Face May Return in "The Dark Knight Rises"? **Baz Luhrmann Says He's Not Doing Great Gatsby Right Now, Comments On 3D And Australia **Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass and Jake Johnson Set for SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED

Jennifer Lawrence Lands THE HUNGER GAMES
by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub Posted: March 11th, 2011 at 8:57 pm


To say that director Gary Ross’ (Pleasantville) adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games is being followed closely by fans is a bit of an understatement. Absolutely pivotal to the success of the film adaptation is the casting of the series’ lead role of Katniss. When describing what they were looking for in actresses for the role, Ross previously stated that what makes the character attractive is her strength, assuredness, defiance “and ultimately her compassion.”


The powers that be are currently searching for the right actress, and it looks like Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) has landed the role after a lengthy search that included Hailee Steinfeld and Abigail Breslin. According to Variety, Lionsgate is getting ready to make Lawrence an offer next week. Age appears to have been a deciding factor, as Ross and Lionsgate decided that casting a recognizable male lead in his 20s would be easier than trying to find a teenager to star opposite Steinfeld or Breslin. More after the jump:
.....read more; http://collider.com/jennifer-lawrence-hunger-games/80213/

 

Is Jennifer Lawrence Now The Frontrunner For The Hunger Games?
published: 2011-03-11 20:54:32 Author: Eric Eisenberg
In the past few weeks few things in the movie world have befuddled me more than the casting for Gary Ross' The Hunger Games. Since the hunt for an actress to play Katniss Everdeen began, many names have been floated, including the likes of True Grit's Hailee Steinfeld and Abigail Breslin. One name that has gotten a lot of press, however, has been Jennifer Lawrence, who is coming off an Oscar nominated performance in Winter's Bone. Why is this weird? Lawrence is a 20-year-old blonde Caucasian while Katniss is 16 and is described as having dark hair and an olive complexion. What's only going to make this weirder? Lawrence is apparently the frontrunner.


Variety is reporting that Lionsgate is close to sending Lawrence an offer for the lead role in the Suzanne Collins adaptation. (Deadline is reporting a similar story, though when they reached out to Lawrence's representation and Lionsgate neither would confirm the story). The movie is set in the future where teenagers are selected from one of twelve districts to be put in an arena and fight to the death. Billy Ray (Volcano, Flightplan) wrote the script.


I haven't read the books so I really don't have a dog in this race, but considering how drastically different Lawrence is from the character, even with her considerable talent, I can't imagine that fans would be too pleased - but then again that may just be me talking out of my ass. What do you think? Do you want Katniss to be played by Jennifer Lawrence?
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Is-Jennifer-Lawrence-Now-The-Frontrunner-For-The-Hunger-Games-23613.html

 

Baz Luhrmann Says He's Not Doing Great Gatsby Right Now, Comments On 3D And Australia
published: 2011-03-11 18:25:51 Author: Eric Eisenberg
When I found out that Baz Luhrmann would be directing an adaptation of The Great Gatsby, one of the greatest books of all time, I was actually happy. The book has never been given a proper film and with a cast that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire, Luhrman seemed on pace to do just that. Then he announced that he would be making the movie in 3D and filming it not on Long Island but, rather, in his native Australia. Naturally, as a fan of the book for many years, I was disgusted by this prospect. Luckily it may all not be true.


Vulture recently caught up with the Moulin Rouge director who, while being insanely coy about the whole thing, said that he's actually delayed the production because of the massive amount of speculation and lack of facts floating around about the project. When asked directly about why he would make the movie in Australia, he responded, "Despite what might be out there, I have made no comment about anything. So until I say it, it's not said." When asked about whether the film would actually be in 3D, he seemed to take a step back from it, while also feeding the same line, saying "I'm in the middle of my own foolish-to-be-talking-about-anything-in-any-regard stage, before you truly have something to express." Going further, Luhrman said that he's still focusing on absorbing the material, "the DNA of his world, his life, [and] the world of the novel."


Like I said: coy. Outside of saying that the production isn't going to be happening any time soon, he didn't really confirm or deny anything, just commenting on the fact that there is plenty of talk in the air about the project. Is it still possible that he plans on making a 3D, Australian-filmed version of The Great Gatsby? Absolutely. But he also might not be.


http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Baz-Luhrmann-Says-He-s-Not-Doing-Great-Gatsby-Right-Now-Comments-On-3D-And-Australia-23612.html








Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass and Jake Johnson Set for SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED
by Adam Chitwood Posted: March 11th, 2011 at 6:21 pm


A trio of actors are set to star in the indie comedy Safety Not Guaranteed. Aubrey Plaza (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), Mark Duplass (Humpday) and Jake Johnson (No Strings Attached) will star in the flick written and directed by Colin Trevorrow. The film was spawned from a real-life classified ad taken out by a man who was very seriously seeking a time travel companion who must bring their own weapons. The ad closes with “safety not guaranteed” and earned its own Internet meme. Johnson recently spoke with The Playlist about the film:


“It’s the story of my character who is a writer for a magazine in Seattle that decides go….and get an interview with this guy and make fun of him a little bit. And I bring one of my interns, who’s Aubrey, and it’s kind of her story, meeting this guy and this guy’s effect on us and it turns into its own little world. And Mark plays the guy the guy from the classified ad.”


Plaza is the gift that keeps on giving each week on Parks and Recreation and Duplass has become somewhat of an indie A-lister after writing, producing, directing and starring in a number of indie gems. He and his brother Jay will produce Safety Not Guaranteed. The cast sounds terrific, and the plot described has a great deal of potential. I’m quite interested to see how this one turns out.
.........read more; http://collider.com/aubrey-plaza-mark-duplass-jake-johnson-safety-not-guaranteed/80195/



 

Two-Face May Return in "The Dark Knight Rises"?
Posted: March 11th, 2011 by WorstPreviews.com Staff


Aaron Eckhart has been saying that he will not return as Harvey Dent/Two-Face in "The Dark Knight Rises," but now during an interview with CBS, the actor is hinting that there might be a role for him in the movie after all.


CBS asked: "Just to be clear, we're not going to see Harvey Dent ever again, not in a flashback, someone's imagination. You're not returning to that role, right?"


Eckhart responded coyly: "I'm not?" When pressed further, the actor added: "I could not possibly say."


It's possible that Eckhart is tired of answering that question and is just playing around, but it's also possible that Christopher Nolan may want him back. Watch the video below and judge for yourself.




Read more: http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=20935&count=0