***Casting Call: Chuck Hittinger Joins AMERICAN REUNION; Alison Brie, Lizzy Caplan, Martin Starr, and Geoffrey Arend Star in SAVE THE DATE ***Ryan Gosling Pulls Out of Directing and Starring in THE IDOLMAKER Remake ***Olivia Wilde, J.K. Simmons and Ben Barnes Join Bradley Cooper in THE WORDS ***Mary Harron to Direct WICKED LOVELY

Casting Call: Chuck Hittinger Joins AMERICAN REUNION; Alison Brie, Lizzy Caplan, Martin Starr, and Geoffrey Arend Star in SAVE THE DATE

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: June 2nd, 2011

American Pie stars Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Mena Suvari, and Shannon Elizabeth all promptly signed on to return for American Reunion, the third Pie sequel.  Makes sense: those kids came off the surprise hit with serious heat in 1999, but none has achieved the true stardom that seemed within reach.  Writer/directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) added a few new faces to the mix, including Dania Ramirez and Katrina Bowden.  According to Variety, Chuck Hittinger (Pretty Little Liars) will represent the new male blood at the East Great Falls High School class reunion.  Hittinger plays Marco, “a jock and a bully who takes his girlfriend for granted.”  Production is currently underway in Atlanta for an April 6, 2012 release.
Hit the jump for details on Save the Date, an indie romantic comedy that just signed Alison Brie, Lizzy Caplan, Martin Starr, and Geoffrey Arend. http://collider.com/chuck-hittinger-american-reunion-alison-brie-save-the-date/94478/

Ryan Gosling Pulls Out of Directing and Starring in THE IDOLMAKER Remake

by Adam Chitwood   Posted: June 2nd, 2011

Just last month, it was reported that Ryan Gosling would be starring in and making his directorial debut on a remake of the 1980 musical drama The Idolmaker. Well, now it looks like he won’t be involved in the project after all. At least for now. Deadline reports that the actor has informed MGM that he’s currently too busy to take the film on at the moment. He just wrapped the George Clooney-directed political drama The Ides of March and is currently on pre-production on Beyond the Pines, a drama co-starring Bradley Cooper that will reteam Gosling with Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance.
After Beyond the Pines, Gosling is set to start filming Ruben Fleischer’s (Zombieland) 1940s crime-drama Gangster Squad alongside Sean Penn, Josh Brolin and Anthony Mackie. Needless to say, he’s a busy guy at the moment. While MGM is set on developing The Idolmaker, if the film is still in the early stages when Gosling’s schedule clears up, he could feasibly return to the project. The actor has two other high-profile projects currently in the can besides The Ides of March: Drive starring Carey Mulligan debuted to high praise at Cannes and will be released on September 16^th, and the dramedy Crazy, Stupid, Love starring Steve Carell and Emma Stone is getting some serious positive buzz. That film hits theaters July 29^th. http://collider.com/ryan-gosling-the-idolmaker-2/94435/

Olivia Wilde, J.K. Simmons and Ben Barnes Join Bradley Cooper in THE WORDS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 2nd, 2011

The cast for Tron: Legacy scribes Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal’s directorial debut The Words continues to grow. Olivia Wilde, J.K. Simmons and Ben Barnes (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian) have joined a cast that also includes Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, Zoe Saldana and Dennis Quaid. The drama centers on a writer at the peak of his success (Cooper) who must pay the price for stealing the work of another author (Irons). Not much else is known about the project at this time, but the cast is looking pretty impressive. Filming is set to get underway this month. Wilde will be dominating theaters this year, as she’s starring in Jon Favreau’s Cowboys and Aliens, the Jason Bateman/Ryan Reynolds body-swap comedy The Change-Up and Andrew Niccol’s sci-fi thriller In Time. Hit the jump to read the full press release.  http://collider.com/olivia-wilde-j-k-simmons-ben-barnes-the-words/94418/

Mary Harron to Direct WICKED LOVELY

by Adam Chitwood   Posted: June 2nd, 2011

Yet another teen fantasy/adventure series is set to become a possible film franchise. Universal is in talks with director Mary Harron (American Psycho) to direct an adaptation of Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely. The book is the first in a series of novels and centers on a teenage girl who discovers a faery world, only to become torn between a Faery king and a mortal boy, both vying for her love, as is known to happen when teenagers get involved with faery worlds. THR reports that Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands) wrote the screenplay and Vince Vaughn is producing through his Wild West Picture Show Productions banner. Hit the jump to read a synopsis of the novel. http://collider.com/director-mary-harron-to-direct-wicked-lovely/94403/

Olivia Wilde, Zoe Saldana And More Join Bradley Cooper In The Words

published: 2011-06-02 20:50:29 Author: Katey Rich
Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Irons have been set since early February to star in The Words, a drama in which Cooper plays an author accused of plagiarism; along with his role in The Place Beyond the Pines, it seems to be another effort from Cooper to prove he's not just that loutish dude from The Hangover. Now he's got a lot more castrates to help him in that quest; Olivia Wilde, Zoe Saldana, Ben Barnes, J.K. Simmons and Dennis Quaid have all been confirmed for roles in the film as well.

The press release doesn't specify what roles they'll all play, but there's something else to be interested in here-- the movie will be the directorial debut of Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal, two of the many writers who participated in the mess that was the Tron: Legacy screenplay. They brought the script for The Words through the Sundance Screenwriter's Lab, which pretty much guarantees it will be in better shape than the giant Disney project; presumably the number of talented actors who have signed on know that too. It's also nice to see them bringing in Tron: Legacy's Olivia Wilde; even bad blockbusters can make for relationships that pay off down the line. http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Olivia-Wilde-Zoe-Saldana-And-More-Join-Bradley-Cooper-In-The-Words-25033.html

***Sundance 2011: First Images from THE DETAILS Starring Tobey Maguire and THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED Starring J.K. Simmons and Lou Taylor Pucci ***New Trailer and Poster for YOUR HIGHNESS

Sundance 2011: First Images from THE DETAILS Starring Tobey Maguire and THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED Starring J.K. Simmons and Lou Taylor Pucci

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 21st, 2010

While the Sundance Film Festival doesn’t begin until January, we’re bringing you the first images from films that will be screened at the festival. Today we bring you two films that will premiere out-of-competition at the festival: The Details and The Music Never Stopped. The Details stars Tobey Maguire, Elizabeth Banks, Laura Linney, Ray Liotta, and Dennis Haysbert. The film tells the story of the chain reaction of events that occur following the discovery of worms living under the sod in a couple’s backyard by raccoons.

The Music Never Stopped stars J.K. Simmons, Julia Ormond, Cara Seymour, Lou Taylor Pucci, and Mia Maestro. The film centers on a father attempting to connect with his son, whose brain tumor prevents him from forming new memories. Hit the jump to check out images, as well as a brief synopsis for both films. The 2011 Sundance Film Festival runs from January 20 – 30th.

THE DETAILS

(Director and screenwriter: Jacob Aaron Estes) – When hungry raccoons discover worms living under the sod in a young couple’s backyard, the pest problem sets off a wild and absurd chain reaction of domestic tension, infidelity, organ donation and murder by way of bow and arrow. Cast: Tobey Maguire, Elizabeth Banks, Laura Linney, Ray Liotta, Dennis Haysbert.

THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED

(Director: Jim Kohlberg; Screenwriters: Gwyn Lurie and Gary Marks, based on the story “The Last Hippie” by Oliver Sacks) – A father struggles to bond with his estranged son who suffers a brain tumor that prevents him from forming new memories. He learns to embrace his son’s choices and to try to connect with him through the power of music. Cast: J.K. Simmons, Julia Ormond, Cara Seymour, Lou Taylor Pucci, Mia Maestro. SALT LAKE CITY GALA FILM

http://collider.com/the-details-movie-images-music-never-stopped-movie-images/66028/

New Trailer and Poster for YOUR HIGHNESS

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: December 21st, 2010

If you like your fantasy adventure movies with a dash of contemporary, low-brow humor (and I know I do), then you’ll definitely want to check out Your Highness. The classic tale of a chivalrous quest to save a kidnapped princess is turned on its head in this story, written by Danny McBride and Ben Best (Eastbound & Down). McBride stars as a deadbeat prince who must accompany his valiant brother Fabious (James Franco) in an effort to rescue the dashing prince’s bride-to-be (Zooey Deschanel). The two brothers are joined in their quest by the rogue warrior, Isabel (Natalie Portman). Your Highness is directed by David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express) and produced by Scott Stuber (Scott Pilgrim vs the World).

In addition, we’ve got an exclusive interview with screenwriter Justin Theroux here and a more vulgar (and somehow less effective) red band trailer here. Hit the jump to see the newly cut green band trailer and full synopsis:

Watch the trailer in HD on Apple

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Synopsis:

Throughout history, tales of chivalry have burnished the legends of brave, handsome knights who rescue fair damsels, slay dragons and conquer evil.  But behind many a hero is a good-for-nothing younger brother trying just to stay out of the way of those dragons, evil and trouble in general.  Danny McBride and James Franco team up for an epic comedy adventure set in a fantastical world—Your Highness.  As two princes on a daring mission to save their land, they must rescue the heir apparent’s fiancée before their kingdom is destroyed.

Thadeous (McBride) has spent his life watching his perfect older brother Fabious (Franco) embark upon valiant journeys and win the hearts of his people.  Tired of being passed over for adventure, adoration and the throne, he’s settled for a life of wizard’s weed, hard booze and easy maidens.  But when Fabious’ bride-to-be, Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel), gets kidnapped by the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux),the king gives his deadbeat son an ultimatum: Man up and help rescue her or get cut off.

Half-assedly embarking upon his first quest, Thadeous joins Fabious to trek across the perilous outlands and free the princess.  Joined by Isabel (Natalie Portman)—an elusive warrior with a dangerous agenda of her own—the brothers must vanquish horrific creatures and traitorous knights before they can reach Belladonna.  If Thadeous can find his inner hero, he can help his brother prevent the destruction of his land.  Stay a slacker, and not only does he die a coward, he gets front row seats to the dawn of an all-new Dark Ages.

Genre: Comedy adventure

Release Date: April 8, 2011

Cast: Danny McBride, James Franco, Natalie Portman, Zooey Deschanel, Justin Theroux, Toby Jones, Damian Lewis

Written by: Danny R. McBride & Ben Best

Directed by: David Gordon Green

Produced by: Scott Stuber

Executive Producers: Danny McBride, Andrew Z. Davis, Jonathan Mone, Mark Huffam

YOUR HIGHNESS – get your quest on, April 8, 2011 !

http://collider.com/your-highness-trailer-poster/66085/