***Ben Affleck Will Also Star in His Next Directorial Feature, ARGO ***Jamie Chung and Scoot McNairy to Star in EDEN, an Indie Drama About Human Trafficking ***Haley Joel Osment to Star in Frankenstein Retelling WAKE THE DEAD ***Carey Mulligan and Gary Ross Will Travel to the OUTBACK

Ben Affleck Will Also Star in His Next Directorial Feature, ARGO

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: June 27th, 2011

Director Ben Affleck first started considering Argo as his next project in February.  In the months since, Affleck cast Alan Arkin and John Goodman in two supporting roles.  Until tonight, Affleck had yet to announce the man to play Tony Mendez, “the CIA exfiltration expert who created a fake Hollywood production to get six Americans who were hiding out at the Canadian ambassador’s out of Iran.”  According to Variety, Affleck will assume the lead role himself.  Affleck, Arkin, and Goodman make a formidable trio at the top of the playbill.
George Clooney and Grant Heslov are on board as producers under their Smokehouse banner.  Chris Terrio (Heights) wrote the script based on a Wired magazine article titled “How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran.”  Read more about the truly movie-worthy subject matter after the break. http://collider.com/ben-affleck-argo-movie/99176/

Jamie Chung and Scoot McNairy to Star in EDEN, an Indie Drama About Human Trafficking

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: June 27th, 2011

Most recently seen playing Ed Helms’ fiancée in The Hangover Part II, Jamie Chung is quickly becoming one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. Early roles in such clunkers as Dragonball: Evolution and Sorority Row led Chung to small parts in the widely viewed Adam Sandler/Kevin James flicks I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry and Grown Ups. Now, Chung has a chance to topline in Eden, an indie flick directed by Megan Griffiths (The Off Hours), in a true-to-life story about a Korean-American girl who is abducted by human traffickers and sold into prostitution. Eden tells not only the story of her abduction, but also how she spent two years of imprisonment manipulating and influencing her captors to gain power and stay alive.
Scoot McNairy, who starred in Griffith’s The Off Hours, is in negotiations to co-star alongside Chung. The script, written by Griffiths and Richard B. Phillips is based on a story by Phillips and Chong Kim. Shooting is planned for August of this year in Seattle and eastern Washington state. Hit the jump for more on Chung and McNairy’s current projects. http://collider.com/jamie-chung-scoot-mcnairy-eden/99161/

Haley Joel Osment to Star in Frankenstein Retelling WAKE THE DEAD

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: June 27th, 2011

After an eight year hiatus from the movies, Haley Joel Osment is making a return to acting with three independent projects.  The first two are in post-production, with no release set and truly unfortunate titles: Sassy Pants and Montana Amazon.  The third has a fine title (Wake the Dead) and should have no trouble finding distribution given the marketability.  Variety reports that Osment will play Victor Franklin, a college student who experiments with raising the dead in a present-day retelling of Frankenstein.
Wake the Dead is set up at Slasher Films, a production company launched by Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash.  Jay Russell (The Water Horse) will direct from a script he co-wrote with James V. Hart (August Rush), based on Steve Niles comic of the same name.  Wake the Dead is one of many upcoming projects based on the Frankenstein tale.  Hit the jump for a recap. http://collider.com/haley-joel-osment-wake-the-dead-frankenstein/99139/

Carey Mulligan and Gary Ross Will Travel to the OUTBACK

by Jason Barr    Posted: June 27th, 2011

Oscar-nominees Carey Mulligan (An Education) and Gary Ross (Pleasantville) will join forces in the sci-fi action pic Outback. Per Variety, Nissar Modi (Z for Zachariah) will pen the script based upon an original idea developed by he and Ross. Tobey Maguire will co-produce Outbreak alongside Ross. Graham King and Tim Headington will also co-produce under King’s GK Films moniker. Details regarding the film are close to the vest at this point with the report only divulging that it will be set in the Australian outback.

Mulligan is filming director Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby this summer with Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Isla Fisher. She can next be seen alongside Ryan Gosling in Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive which is slated to hit theaters on September 16th. As for Ross, the director is currently filming The Hunger Games for Lionsgate. http://collider.com/carey-mulligan-outback-gary-ross/99132/

**Jennifer Lawrence and Hailee Steinfeld Up for Lead in THE HUNGER GAMES [UPDATED] **Warner Bros. Based Alcon Entertainment Eyes Rights to BLADE RUNNER Prequels and Sequels **Possible Titles for Peter Jackson’s THE HOBBIT Revealed **Jake Gyllenhaal in Talks to Headline David Ayer Cop Drama END OF WATCH **Diane Lane Will Play Martha Kent in SUPERMAN

Jennifer Lawrence and Hailee Steinfeld Up for Lead in THE HUNGER GAMES [UPDATED]
by Adam Chitwood Posted: March 2nd, 2011 at 4:48 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 now word comes that two of this year’s Academy Award nominees, Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) and Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) are in the running. Speaking with MTV, Steinfeld confirmed that she’s met with Ross to discuss the role. For much more, including why Lawrence may be the frontrunner, hit the jump. [Update: Variety has confirmed that Lawrence and Steinfeld are vying for the role, with Lawrence generating the most interest. They also add 14-year-old Abigail Breslin to the list of actresses being considered for the part of Katniss.]
http://collider.com/jennifer-lawrence-hailee-steinfeld-the-hunger-games/78775/



Warner Bros. Based Alcon Entertainment Eyes Rights to BLADE RUNNER Prequels and Sequels
by Adam Chitwood Posted: March 2nd, 2011 at 5:05 pm

Alcon Entertainment, the Warner Bros. based financing and production company is now in final negotiations to acquire the rights to “film, television and ancillary” rights to produced sequels to Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner. Though the deal prevents them from directly remaking the original film, Alcon would be free to produce as many sequels and prequels involving the film’s universe as they like. Alcon co-founders/co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove had this to say:

“We are honored and excited to be in business with Bud Yorkin. This is a major acquisition for our company, and a personal favorite film for both of us. We recognize the responsibility we have to do justice to the memory of the original with any prequel or sequel we produce. We have long-term goals for the franchise, and are exploring multi-platform concepts, not just limiting ourselves to one medium only.”

If Alcon is spending all that money to nab the rights, you can bet that they definitely have a sequel/prequel story in mind. Only time will tell what it will involve/how closely related it will be to Scott’s original. Hit the jump for the full press release.

http://collider.com/blade-runner-prequel-sequel/78781/


Possible Titles for Peter Jackson’s THE HOBBIT Revealed
by Adam Chitwood Posted: March 2nd, 2011 at 7:10 pm

Director Peter Jackson is finally returning to Middle Earth later this month when filming begins on the two-film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit. While most assumed that the two-parter would simply be titled “The Hobbit”, it looks like there may in fact be a subtitle. TheOneRing.net was hipped to the fact that New Line Cinema recently registered two film titles: The Hobbit: There and Back Again and The Hobbit: An/The Unexpected Journey.

These sound about right. Though, when you tack on the Part One and Part Two, the titles become rather long (I guess Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring isn’t exactly curt). Nevertheless, Peter Jackson is directing The Hobbit, Howard Shore is returning for the score, and the cast includes Martin Freeman as Bilbo, Ian McKellan, Andy Serkis, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, and many more. Shot in 3D, the first part of The Hobbit is slated for a December 2012 release, with the second part following a year later in December 2013.

http://collider.com/the-hobbit-movie-possible-titles/78806/

Jake Gyllenhaal in Talks to Headline David Ayer Cop Drama END OF WATCH
by Brendan Bettinger Posted: March 2nd, 2011 at 7:27 pm

Jake Gyllenhaal is in early discussions to star in End of Watch, a gritty cop drama written and directed by David Ayer (Street Kings). Details are scarce, but Variety reports the story centers on the friendship between seasoned partners. Ayer will produce End of Watch with John Lesher; they’re currently putting together financing for the film. No word yet on a potential production date, nor who might play the other partner. The report descri

Gyllenhaal was recently mentioned as one of fifteen candidates for the lead role in The Bourne Legacy. Assuming Universal restricts their consideration to those 15 (they won’t), Gyllenhaal only has a 7% chance at the role. Apart from the generic title, End of Watch sounds like a fine backup plan, and there’s even a role set aside for a fellow Bourne reject. Gyllenhaal will next be seen in Source Code, which opens April 1.

http://collider.com/jake-gyllenhaal-end-of-watch/78805/


Diane Lane Will Play Martha Kent in SUPERMAN
by Brendan Bettinger Posted: March 2nd, 2011 at 8:24 pm

Diane Lane has signed on to play Martha Kent in the Zack Snyder-directed Superman movie. Snyder said in a statement:

“This was a very important piece of casting for me because Martha Kent is the woman whose values helped shape the man we know as Superman. We are thrilled to have Diane in the role because she can convey the wisdom and the wonder of a woman whose son has powers beyond her imagination.”


Henry Cavill (The Tudors) will star as Clark Kent/Superman. Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are producers on the film. David S. Goyer is writing the screenplay based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. The untitled Superman film is scheduled for a December 2012 release. Hit the jump for more on possible stars/characters.
http://collider.com/diane-lane-superman/78824/

***Gary Ross’ THE HUNGER GAMES Releases March 23, 2012 ***Emile Hirsch Likes THE MOTEL LIFE ***Naomi Watts Joins Leonardo DiCaprio in J. EDGAR

Gary Ross’ THE HUNGER GAMES Releases March 23, 2012

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 25th, 2011

Four-time Oscar-nominee Gary Ross’ (Pleasantville) The Hunger Games will hit theaters on March 23rd, 2012.  Lionsgate announced that it plans to roll out the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel (the first in a trilogy) on a weekend that, at present time, contains no competition for the high-profile project.  The film will most likely begin shooting later this year, either towards the end of spring or beginning of summer.

For those unfamiliar with the source material, Collins’ The Hunger Games is set in a post-apocalyptic America and follows the trials of 16-year-old protagonist Katniss Everdeen.  Per Heat Vision, Katniss “must participate in a fight-to-the-death annual event called the Hunger Games.”  While I haven’t read the book trilogy, Ross’ Pleasantville is one of my all-time favorite films and, as a result, each of his projects from here-on-out gets complimentary box-office dollars on my behalf.  For more on the project, hit the jump for a synopsis of the original novel.

Here’s the synopsis for Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games [via Amazon]:

.....

http://collider.com/the-hunger-games-release-date/72620/

Emile Hirsch Likes THE MOTEL LIFE

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 25th, 2011

In what will be his first leading role since making a turn as The Wachowski Brothers’ Speed Racer, Emile Hirsch has signed on to star in the film adaptation of The Motel Life.  Based on the Willy Vlautin novel of the same name, The Motel Life tells the story of two brothers who skip town (that town being Reno) after being involved in a fatal accident.  Hirsch is the first to join the project which currently lacks both a writer and/or director.  That in mind, with production on the film aiming to begin sometime this year, Variety reports that producers Alan and Gabe Polsky may still yet fill the aforementioned positions themselves.

For more on the project, hit the jump to read a synopsis for Vlautin’s novel.

http://collider.com/emile-hirsch-the-motel-life/72625/

Naomi Watts Joins Leonardo DiCaprio in J. EDGAR

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: January 25th, 2011

Clint Eastwood has spent the last few months rounding up an impressive cast for his next film, J. Edgar, a biopic based on the life of inaugural FBI director and alleged cross-dresser J. Edgar Hoover.  There’s Leonardo DiCaprio, Judi Dench, Josh Lucas, plus rising stars Armie Hammer (The Social Network) and Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl).  But the latest name to join the cast is the one that’s locked up this writer’s interest.

Variety reports Naomi Watts will play Helen Gandy, the role originally offered to Charlize Theron before she chose to do Snow White and the Huntsman instead.  Gandy was Hoover’s loyal secretary for 54 years from 1918-1972; Hoover once said of Gandy, “If there is anyone in this Bureau whose services are indispensable I consider Miss Gandy to be that person.”  More background on Gandy after the break:

Hoover biographer Curt Gentry describes Ms. Gandy:

Her genteel manner and pleasant voice contrasted sharply with this domineering presence. Yet behind the politeness was a resolute firmness not unlike his, and no small amount of influence. Many a career in the Bureau had been quietly manipulated by her.
Even those who disliked him, praised her, most often commenting on her remarkable ability to get along with all kinds of people. That she had held her position for fifty-four years was the best evidence of this, for it was a Bureau tradition that the closer you were to him, the more demanding he was. [Wikipedia]

Gandy was effectively the last line of defense for Hoover, who is said to have kept extensive secret files to blackmail the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt and Martin Luther King, Jr.  Gandy purposefully mislabeled some of the more sensitive material so that only she could navigate the files (e.g. President Nixon’s file was labeled “Obscene Matters.)  Upon Hoover’s death in May 1972, Gandy began destroying previously designated files within the hour.

I count Watts among Hollywood’s most dynamic actresses, and I can’t wait to see her play Gandy, who sounds like a spitfire of a woman.  Watts will next be seen opposite Ewan McGregor in The Impossible, and alongside Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz in Dream House, scheduled for release September 30.

http://collider.com/naomi-watts-j-edgar/72657/

***Michael Fassbender Eyes Sean Penn Starrer GENIUS ***Gary Ross Talks THE HUNGER GAMES; Says Film Will Be PG-13 ***HBO Finally Sets Premiere Dates for GAME OF THRONES and MILDRED PIERCE ***Elijah Wood Set to Star in TREASURE ISLAND

Michael Fassbender Eyes Sean Penn Starrer GENIUS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 7th, 2011

Following his breakout role in Inglorious Basterds, Michael Fassbender has been courted for a number of films. The latest project that his name has been mentioned with is the adaptation of the National Book Award-winning non-fiction book Max Perkins: Editor of Genius. The film version, titled Genius, is being scripted by John Logan (Gladiator), and Sean Penn has been circling the starring role for some time now.

Perkins worked as a literary editor for such literary greats as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and Thomas Wolfe. Penn would portray Perkins, while Fassbender is eyeing the role of Wolfe, with whom Perkins shared a complicated relationship in which they fought constantly. The Playlist reports that producer Bill Pohlad is set to direct, and the filmmakers are looking to get the project going soon, so expect official casting announcements sooner rather than later. Fassbender is currently filming X-Men: First Class with director Matthew Vaughn and will next be seen in Jane Eyre.

http://collider.com/michael-fassbender-genius/68793/

Gary Ross Talks THE HUNGER GAMES; Says Film Will Be PG-13

by Bill Graham    Posted: January 7th, 2011

Sometimes people forget the target audiences of feature films and the novels that inspired them. Suzanne Collins’ acclaimed and best selling trilogy of novels are marketed and sold toward the Young Adult demographic, but older fans have been clamoring for an R-rated adaptation. However, that all changed today when director Gary Ross made it abundantly clear that Hunger Games would not forget the children that have fueled the series. Hit the jump for the full quotes and why this is a win for fans of the books.

Ross talked with Entertainment Weekly about the rating and made it clear the film would be PG-13:

It’s not going to be an R-rated movie because I want the 12- and 13- and 14-year-old-fans to be able to go see it. This book means too much to too many teenagers for it not to be PG-13. It’s their story and they deserve to be able to access it completely.

Ross clearly understands that the core audience of the film are teenagers and won’t create a violent film that forgets that.

Of course, the reason so many people have likely rooted for an R-rating is because adults have devoured the books just as much as the younger audiences it was aimed at. Then again, the film does deal with difficult material. Ross said that Suzanne hasn’t “written in any way an overly graphic book. Even things like the Tracker Jacker sequence, while horrific, it’s the ideas that Suzanne has created that are so harrowing.”

For more on the film and how producer Nina Jacobson reacts to the Twilight comparison, check out the full EW article. What do you think? Are Suzanne Collins’ books ripe for an R-rating or does a PG-13 film fit as well? Let us know in the comments below.

http://collider.com/gary-ross-hunger-games-pg-13/68807/

HBO Finally Sets Premiere Dates for GAME OF THRONES and MILDRED PIERCE

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: January 7th, 2011

More news straight out of the Television Critics Association press tour has HBO finally announcing the premiere dates for two of its anticipated project in 2011. First, the new medieval series (watch the trailer here Game of Thrones has been promoted all over the cable network, and now they’ve finally announced the series will premiere on April 17th. Based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire the sprawling tale set in the mythical land of Westeros tells the story of the noble Stark family who become caught up in high court intrigue when patriarch Eddard (played by Sean Bean) becomes the king’s new right-hand man.

Also, HBO announced their miniseries Mildred Pierce, starring Kate Winslet, will debut on March 27th. You can watch the trailer right here but for a quick refresher, the miniseries (directed by Far from Heaven helmer Todd Haynes and based on James M. Cain’s novel) follows a proud, single mother (Winslet) struggling to earn her daughter’s love during the depression in middle-class Los Angeles. As with pretty much all of HBO’s projects, both look very promising, and I’m looking forward to see them in the spring. How about you?

http://collider.com/hbo-premiere-date-game-of-thrones-mildred-pierce/68824/

Elijah Wood Set to Star in TREASURE ISLAND

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 7th, 2011

Along with confirmation of our story from earlier today that Elijah Wood will appear in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, we’ve received a press release announcing that Wood will also star in the miniseries adaptation of Treasure Island. The 2-part/4-hour miniseries is being directed by Steve Barron (Merlin) and will air on SKY TV in the UK. Wood will play Ben Gunn in the adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure tale, which also stars Eddie Izzard. Hit the jump to read the full press release.

ELIJAH WOOD joins “The Hobbit” and “Treasure Island”

Wood is confirmed to star in Peter Jackson’s “THE HOBBIT” to be shot in New Zealand. In addition, he has signed on to play “Ben Gunn” in Stewart Harcourt’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s TREASURE ISLAND along side Eddie Izzard. The 2 part/ 4 hour miniseries will be airing on SKY TV in the UK.  Alan Moloney is producing with Steve Barron directing.

Wood is repped by Nicole David at WME and Joanne Colonna at Brillstein Partners.

Wood will next be seen this summer in FX’s new series “Wilfred”, as well as lending his voice to Warner Bros. “Happy Feet 2” set for release November 18^th as well as Disney XD’s “Tron: Uprising” (2012),   In addition, he is starring in the Sundance short “Fight for your Right Revisited” directed by Adam Yauch and starring John C. Reilly and Seth Rogen.

http://collider.com/elijah-wood-treasure-island/68828/

***Director Gary Ross Talks THE HUNGER GAMES ***New Posters for THE GREEN HORNET and DYLAN DOG: DEAD OF NIGHT ***Dennis Quaid Joins BENEATH THE DARKNESS; Sienna Miller and Danny Huston Take on TWO JACKS

Director Gary Ross Talks THE HUNGER GAMES

by Tommy Cook    Posted: December 17th, 2010

Last month, director Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) was announced as the director to Suzanne Collins’ acclaimed novel The Hunger Games.  Ross recently sat down with EW to talk about his approach to the adaptation. Ross played rather coy about the project in the interview but did offer up some choice words in regards to the heroine of the novel Katniss:

“What makes Katniss attractive is her strength and her assuredness and her defiance and ultimately her compassion. And I don’t mean just physical strength. I mean a real strength as a human being. She knows her own truth. She feels deeply and fiercely. And this is something that the actress has to bring with her.”

The Hunger Games is part one of a trilogy focusing on an eighteen-year-old girl, who in a dystopian future must fight to the death against various other teenagers (a la Battle Royale). In the wake of Twilight, The Hunger Games has seemingly become the new “it” young adult novel. I must admit that in an effort to remain current – I too have begun to read the novel. I’m only fifty or so pages in the book; but it does show some actual literary value – something of which I couldn’t say about Stephanie Myer’s opus. For more on The Hunger Games, including some quotes from Ross in regards to casting the film as well as an official book synopsis, hit the jump.

With regards to casting, Ross remained cryptic about whether he would be casting an unknown or an established actress in the lead role of Katniss:

“We’ll cast the right person for the part. Lionsgate has been great in the respect that they don’t feel that this needs a movie star in Katniss’ role. The greatest thing about the franchise and the books being the star is that we can cast whomever we want. So we all feel like we’re just going to cast the right person.”

This to me feels like code for semi famous actress whose face you know but whose name you don’t (see Alex Pettyfer in I Am Number Four for proof of this phenomenon). Somewhere in between Amanda Seyfried and Second Girl on the left in [insert title] Michael Bay film. If I were to throw out names, how about Haley Bennett (from Joe Dante’s still unreleased The Hole) or Juno Temple (Year One).

Ross also shot down rumors that Robert Downey Jr. or Hugh Laurie would be appearing in the film:

“No…It would be wrong I think to announce [them] before we’ve actually cast them or spoken to them.”

Anyways, Gary Ross is a fine filmmaker – yes, Seabiscuit is a bit schmaltzy but Pleasantville is more than enjoyable. It should be interesting to watch the filmmaker of such “heartwarming” films, try his hand at the darker and more disturbing undertones of the novel.

Book Synopsis of The Hunger Games from The School Library Journal via Amazon:

In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss’ young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district’s female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.

http://www.collider.com/2010/12/17/the-hunger-games-gary-ross/

New Posters for THE GREEN HORNET and DYLAN DOG: DEAD OF NIGHT

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 17th, 2010

New posters have gone online for The Green Hornet and Dylan Dog: Dead of Night.  The poster Green Hornet isn’t all that spectacular, but I’m hearing positive buzz on the film, which stars Seth Rogen and Jay Chou as guys who masquerade as heroes masquerading as villains.  They also wear masks.  As for Dylan Dog, it’s an Italian teaser poster with the letters “DD” on it instead of the full title.  However, due to the character’s popularity in Italy (the film is based on one of the best-selling Italian comic books), that shouldn’t be a problem.  If the film shows up in the U.S., the marketing is going to have to be a bit more explicit.

Hit the jump to check out both posters.  Directed by Michel Gondry (Be Kind Rewind), The Green Hornet also stars Christoph Waltz and Cameron Diaz.  The film opens in 3D on January 14, 2011.  Dylan Dog: Dead of Night was directed by Kevin Munroe (TMNT) and stars Brandon Routh and Sam Huntington.  It’s set to open in Italy in March.

Poster via IMP Awards:

Here’s the official synopsis for The Green Hornet:

Britt Reid (Seth Rogen), son and heir to Los Angeles’ largest newspaper fortune, is a rich, spoiled playboy who has been happy to maintain a direction-less existence. When his father James Reid (Tom Wilkinson) dies, Britt meets an impressive and resourceful company employee, Kato (Jay Chou). They realize that they have the resources to do something worthwhile with their lives and finally step out of James Reid’s shadow. Kato builds the ultimate weapon, The Black Beauty, an indestructible car with every weapon imaginable and Britt decides that in order to be heroes, they will pose as villains. With the help of Britt’s new secretary, Lenore Case (Cameron Diaz), they learn that the chief criminal in the city is named Benjamin Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz). He has united all the gangs under his power, and he quickly sees that the Green Hornet is a direct threat to the prosperous criminal underworld he controls.

http://www.collider.com/2010/12/17/the-green-hornet-dylan-dog-dead-of-night-poster/

Dennis Quaid Joins BENEATH THE DARKNESS; Sienna Miller and Danny Huston Take on TWO JACKS

by Jason Barr    Posted: December 17th, 2010

We have a few bits of casting news for you this morning.  First up, Dennis Quaid has signed on to star in the indie thriller Beneath the Darkness.  Directed by Martin Guigui, Darkness is set in Texas (where it is currently shooting) and focuses on a teen who attempts to expose the deep, dark secrets of a house owned by Quaid’s character.  Speaking of which, per Variety, the actor is set to make a turn as a well-respected mortician (the best kind of mortician, in my opinion).  Quaid joins a cast that features Aimee Teegarden, Tony Oller, and Stephen Lunsford.

Next up, Sienna Miller and Danny Huston have agreed to take on Bernard Rose’s (Candyman) indie drama Two Jacks.  Based on the Tolstoy short story The Two Hussars, Jacks tells the story of an aging film director who returns to Hollywood to earn financing for his new project.  According to Variety, the director’s return is filled with “a series of wild adventures, in which he boozes, seduces a beautiful woman and fights with studio execs, winning the money he needs in a poker game.”  Given that the film spans two generations of one family, the project will also flash-forward twenty years later to focus on said director’s son (played by Jack Huston of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire) as he attempts to follow in his father’s directorial footsteps.  No details regarding Miller or Huston’s roles are available as of now.

http://www.collider.com/2010/12/17/dennis-quaid-beneath-the-darkness-sienna-miller-danny-huston-two-jacks/