***Set Photos of Robert Pattinson in David Cronenberg’s COSMOPOLIS ***Bryan Cranston in Talks for GANGSTER SQUAD ***Diablo Cody to Make Directorial Debut with LAMB OF GOD ***Chris Hemsworth to Star in Sony Action Pic SHADOW RUNNER ***Hugh Jackman Says THE WOLVERINE Starts Filming This October ***New Posters for FINAL DESTINATION 5, KILLER ELITE, and 30 MINUTES OR LESS

Bryan Cranston in Talks for GANGSTER SQUAD

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: June 29th, 2011

The beloved Bryan Cranston is in talks to star opposite Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Michael Pena, and Anthony Mackie in the period crime drama Gangster Sqad.  Will Beall (Castle) adapted the script from the LA Times’ seven-part series “Tales from the Gangster Squad,” the original title of the movie.  The articles chronicle the LAPD’s formation of the Gangster Squad in the 1940s to combat organized crime in Los Angeles.  Variety pins Cranston to the role of Max Kennard, “a laconic LAPD officer from Texas who enforces the law ambitiously.”  (Variety also refers to the movie as “The Gangster Squad,” so be prepared for a slight title adjustment if future coverage follows suit.)  Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) will direct the Warner Bros/Village Roadshow production.

Cranston is doing a splendid job parlaying is multiple Breaking Bad Emmy wins into fancy movie roles.  Larry Crowne opens this Friday, followed by Contagion (September 9) and Drive (September 16) in the fall.  2012 holds Rock of Ages, John Carter, Total Recall, and likely Red Tails.  Additionally, Cranston recently entered negotiations to star in Argo.  Time continues to pass way too slowly until season four of Breaking Bad premieres on July 17.  Cranston forever! http://collider.com/bryan-cranston-gangster-squad/99651/

Set Photos of Robert Pattinson in David Cronenberg’s COSMOPOLIS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 29th, 2011

A few set images from David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis have hit the web. The images gives us a look at Robert Pattinson and Sarah Gadon (as well as Kevin Durand’s head). Based on the Don DeLillo novel, the film tells the story of a newlywed billionaire (Pattinson) who ends up losing his bride and his billions in a single day. Cosmopolis stars Pattinson, Gadon, Durand, Jay Baruchel, Samantha Morton, Juliette Binoche, Paul Giamatti and Mathieu Amalric. Hit the jump to check out the images.

http://collider.com/cosmopolis-set-images-robert-pattinson/99639/

Diablo Cody to Make Directorial Debut with LAMB OF GOD

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 29th, 2011

Screenwriter Diablo Cody, who won an Oscar for her debut script Juno, is ready to try her hand at directing. The scribe is poised to make her directorial debut with Lamb of God, a comedy that she also wrote. The story centers on a young conservative religious woman who, after losing her faith following a plane crash, heads to Las Vegas to “live the life of a sinner.” However, during her new life of sin, she somehow regains her faith.

Mandate Pictures acquired the screenplay, and Mason Novick (500 Days of Summer) will produce. Cody recently re-teamed with Juno director Jason Reitman for Young Adult, which stars Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, and Patton Oswalt. Hit the jump to read the full press release regarding Lamb of God. http://collider.com/diablo-cody-lamb-of-god/99617/

Chris Hemsworth to Star in Sony Action Pic SHADOW RUNNER

by Jason Barr    Posted: June 29th, 2011

Perhaps impressed by the critical and financial success of his first blockbuster lead, Thor, Sony Pictures has tapped Chris Hemsworth to star in their recently acquired actioner, Shadow Runner. According to Deadline, the studio picked up the pitch for the action/thriller which is based on an idea from Drive scribe Hossein Amini who will executive produce. Beau Flynn, Tripp Vinson, and Will Ward will co-produce the pic which is believed to require Hemsworth to “lead an elite team of operatives who take on impossible tasks.” Let’s hope they only seem impossible, or else moviegoers could be in for a frustrating 90 minutes.

Per the report, Amini’s original idea is inspired by a real-life event in which a 17-member team of Israeli assassins tracked and dispatched of a Hamas leader in the lobby of a five-star Dubai hotel. However, the film is not expected to mirror that event verbatim. In addition to Shadow Runner, Hemsworth also has a lead spot alongside Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron in Snow White and the Huntsman which is scheduled to hit theaters on June 1, 2012. The Thor star is currently filming The Avengers and will hopefully see his turns in the MGM back-logged films Red Dawn and Cabin in the Woods on the silver screen in the near future.

http://collider.com/chris-hemsworth-shadow-runner/99592/

Hugh Jackman Says THE WOLVERINE Starts Filming This October

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 29th, 2011

Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like The Wolverine is back on track. After Darren Aronofsky dropped out as director, and natural disasters ravaged Japan (the desired shooting location) it looked like Fox’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine sequel might be delayed for quite some time. After an extensive director search, James Mangold (3:10 to Yuma) was hired to helm the project, and now speaking with Toronto radio station CHFI (via The Playlist), Jackman stated that filming will commence this October:

“We shoot in October, so it will probably come out a year after that. That’s usually around the timeline.”

So not only is the film shooting this year, it may even hit theaters in 2012. Jackman also told the radio station that director Tom Hooper’s (The King’s Speech) big-budget musical adaptation of Les Miserables won’t shoot until next year. Hit the jump for more. http://collider.com/hugh-jackman-the-wolverine-filming/99585/ 

New Posters for FINAL DESTINATION 5, KILLER ELITE, and 30 MINUTES OR LESS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 29th, 2011

New posters have been release for Final Destination 5, Killer Elite, and 30 Minutes or Less.  What’s great about each of these posters?  Final Destination 5: You can’t go wrong with exploding skulls.  Killer Elite: Clive Owen ‘stache.  30 Minutes or Less: Absolutely nothing.
Hit the jump to check out the posters.  Final Destination 5 opens August 12th.  Killer Elite opens September 23rd.  30 Minutes or Less opens August 12th.
http://collider.com/final-destination-5-killer-elite-30-minutes-or-less-posters/99536/

***New Trailer and Images for KILLER ELITE Starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen, and Robert De Niro ***Viggo Mortensen to Star in THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY, the Directorial Debut of Hossein Amini ***Tom Wilkinson in Talks to Join THE LONE RANGER ***Emma Stone Offered Lead in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES ***Jamie Foxx Confirmed for Quentin Tarantino’s DJANGO UNCHAINED

New Trailer and Images for KILLER ELITE Starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen, and Robert De Niro

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: June 22nd, 2011

Open Road Films has released new images and the first trailer for the Jason Statham actioner Killer Elite.  It has everything a man could want: guns, explosions, a bikini butt closeup, “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” Clive Owen’s mustache… the list goes on.  I kid, mostly — the trailer is a blast.  Killer Elite looks like a treat for fans of pure action.
Statham plays an ex-special ops agent lured out of retirement to rescue his mentor, played by Robert De Niro: “To make the rescue, he must complete a near-impossible mission of killing three tough-as-nails assassins with a cunning leader (Owen).”  Yvonne Strahovski and Dominic Purcell also star.  Directed by Gary McKendry, Killer Elite hits theaters on September 23.  Hit the jump for the trailer and images.  http://collider.com/killer-elite-trailer-images/98180/

Viggo Mortensen to Star in THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY, the Directorial Debut of Hossein Amini

by Brendan Bettinger  Posted: June 22nd, 2011

Viggo Mortensen passed on Snow White and the Huntsman right around the time Hossein Amini entered negotiations to rewrite the script.  I suspect their paths crossed, as in the months since, Amini and Mortensen teamed to develop an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s The Two Faces of January.  The 1964 novel is a suspense thriller that centers on an American con artist, his wife, and a stranger in travelling in Athens.  A source tells 24 Frames Mortensen would assume one of the three starring roles, and this is intended to be the directorial debut of Amini.
Amini wields a powerful calling card right now with Drive — by all accounts from Cannes and LAFF, Drive is amazing.  We peons only have to wait three months for the September 16 theatrical release.  Cronenberg will next be seen playing Sigmund Freud in David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method, assuming it gets the late 2011 release we expect.  The first trailer, released yesterday, is wonderfully deranged.
Read the full synopsis for The Two Faces of January after the break. http://collider.com/viggo-mortensen-the-two-faces-of-january/98162/

Tom Wilkinson in Talks to Join THE LONE RANGER

by Jason Barr   Posted: June 22nd, 2011

Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton) is in talks to join Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s adaptation of The Lone Ranger. Per Variety, the two-time Oscar nominee would take on the “prominent” role of a railroad tycoon. If the deal goes through, Wilkinson would join a cast that already includes Armie Hammer in the title slot and Johnny Depp as his sidekick, Tonto. Gore Verbinski (Rango) is directing the pic which is scheduled to begin shooting after Depp finishes Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows adaptation and Hammer wraps Tarsem Singh’s (Immortals) untitled Snow White pic alongside Julia Roberts.

The Lone Ranger script comes courtesy of Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio, and Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road). In addition to his potential role in Lone Ranger, the usually excellent Wilkinson can next be seen alongside Helen Mirren and Sam Worthington in director John Madden’s (Shakespeare in Love) drama/thriller The Debt which is due out on August 31st. The thesp also signed on to join Samuel L. Jackson in the indie thriller The Samaritan back in April.

http://collider.com/tom-wilkinson-lone-ranger/98163/

Emma Stone Offered Lead in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES

by Jason Barr   Posted: June 22nd, 2011

After testing the waters with Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, and Scarlett Johansson, Lionsgate has offered the female lead in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to Emma Stone. Heat Vision reports on the offer to play Elizabeth Bennet, a zombie-killing heroine who sees her quest to save England from the undead made more difficult by the arrival of Fitzwilliam Darcy. The role was originally filled by Natalie Portman and has been vacant since the Oscar-winning actress decided to act solely in a producing capacity on the pic. Craig Gillespie (Fright Night remake) will direct Pride from an updated script by Fright Night scribe Marti Noxon.

For more on the project, hit the jump to check out a synopsis of Seth Grahame-Smith’s book which the film will adapt. If Stone accepts Lionsgate’s offer, Pride would be another high-profile pic for the actress who recently wrapped director Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man. She can also be seen alongside Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell in Crazy, Stupid, Love. due out July 29th and stars in The Help which is slated to hit theaters on August 12th. http://collider.com/emma-stone-pride-and-prejudice-and-zombies/98155/

Jamie Foxx Confirmed for Quentin Tarantino’s DJANGO UNCHAINED

by Jason Barr    Posted: June 22nd, 2011

Earlier today, we reported on the tweet rumor that Jamie Foxx had landed the title role in Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming Django Unchained. We now have confirmation on the matter as Variety reports that Foxx will indeed star in the pic alongside Leonard DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, and most likely Samuel L. Jackson as well. As has been well documented, Tarantino originally offered the surefire controversial part to Will Smith. After Smith passed, the writer/director met with Idris Elba, Terrence Howard, and Chris Tucker before offering the gig to Foxx.

For those unaware, Django Unchained centers on a freed slave (Foxx) who joins forces with a German bounty hunter (Waltz) as part of a plan to save the former’s love from an evil plantation owner (DiCaprio). The film is slated to hit theaters on December 25th, 2012. As for Foxx, the Oscar-winner can next be seen alongside Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Jason Sudeikis, and Charlie Day in the comedy Horrible Bosses opening July 8th.

http://collider.com/jamie-foxx-django-unchained-2/98147/

***New Posters for PUSS IN BOOTS and CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE ***Full Cast for Woody Allen’s Next Film THE BOP DECAMERON Announced, Includes Jesse Eisenberg, Alec Baldwin and Ellen Page ***Darren Aronofsky Talks NOAH, Calls it His “Big Event Film” ***Exclusive New Image from KILLER ELITE Starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro ***Evangeline Lilly and Barry Humphries Join THE HOBBIT

New Posters for PUSS IN BOOTS and CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE

by Adam Chitwood   Posted: June 20th, 2011

New posters for Puss in Boots and Crazy, Stupid, Love have been released today. A spinoff of the Shrek franchise, Puss in Boots features the voices of Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, and Zach Galifianakis. Guillermo del Toro serves as a consultant on the film, and when Steve saw some footage earlier this year he was very impressed. The poster for Puss in Boots features a cat walking away from an explosion, so it’s automatically better than any other poster ever. The film opens in 3D on November 4^th.
A poster for the dramedy Crazy, Stupid, Love has also been released. Steve Carell stars as a man still reeling from his divorce when he begins taking advice from a ladies man played by Ryan Gosling. In addition to Carell and Gosling, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, and Kevin Bacon also star. Crazy, Stupid, Love hits theaters July 29^th. Hit the jump to check out the posters:  http://collider.com/puss-in-boots-movie-poster-crazy-stupid-love/97574/

Full Cast for Woody Allen’s Next Film THE BOP DECAMERON Announced, Includes Jesse Eisenberg, Alec Baldwin and Ellen Page

by Adam Chitwood   Posted: June 20th, 2011

Midnight in Paris is the best film Woody Allen has made in years. Whimsical, delightful and enchanting, it’s also one of the best times you’ll have at the movies all year. It’s this charm that I’m hoping Allen maintains for his next film The Bop Decameron, for which the full cast was just announced. Allen himself described this next effort as a “broad comedy,” and it’s set to shoot in Rome next month.
The cast for The Bop Decameron includes Allen himself, Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni, Penélope Cruz, Judy Davis, Jesse Eisenberg, Greta Gerwig and Ellen Page, with Alison Pill, Alessandra Mastronardi and more set to co-star. Hit the jump to read the full press release, which includes the full cast listing. http://collider.com/woody-allen-the-bop-decameron-cast/97570/

Darren Aronofsky Talks NOAH, Calls it His “Big Event Film”

by Adam Chitwood   Posted: June 20th, 2011

Coming off the major success of Black Swan, director Darren Aronofsky is looking to go a little bigger. While he left The Wolverine for personal reasons, he’s now trying to get his long-in-the-works passion project Noah financed, with Christian Bale reportedly being eyed for the lead. Based on the biblical tale, John Logan is currently re-writing the script while the project is being shopped around Hollywood. Recently, the director talked a bit about his idea for the project, calling it “a big event film.” Hit the jump to see what else he had to say regarding Noah. http://collider.com/darren-aronofsky-noah/97560/

Exclusive New Image from KILLER ELITE Starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro

by Adam Chitwood   Posted: June 20th, 2011

Open Road Films has provided us with an exclusive image from their upcoming release Killer Elite.  Based on a true story, the film centers on an ex-special ops agent (Jason Statham) who is tasked with rescuing his mentor (Robert De Niro).  Directed by Gary McKendry, the film stars Statham, De Niro, Clive Owen and Yvonne Strahovski.  Hit the jump to check out the image, featuring Statham and Owen going toe-to-toe. Killer Elite hits theaters on September 23^rd. http://collider.com/killer-elite-image-jason-statham-clive-owen/97403/

Evangeline Lilly and Barry Humphries Join THE HOBBIT

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 20th, 2011

Peter Jackson has added two more to the cast of The Hobbit. Evangeline Lilly (Lost) and Australian actor Barry Humphries have joined the cast of the two-part adaptation, currently filming in New Zealand. Lilly will be playing a new character—The Woodland Elf, Tauriel. Beyond the name, Jackson is remiss to reveal any other information about the role. Humphries, a talented voice actor and comedian, will be playing the Goblin King using motion-capture, akin to Andy Serkis’ performance of Gollum.
Hit the jump to read Jackson’s fully statement on the casting news. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released on December 14^th, 2012, with The Hobbit: There and Back Again hitting theaters on December 13^th, 2013. http://collider.com/evangeline-lilly-barry-humphries-the-hobbit/97486/

***Zach Galifianakis Talks THE HANGOVER PART III ***KILLER ELITE, Starring Jason Statham and Clive Owen, Slated for September 23rd ***Quasi-Casting Call: Jolie May Star in O. Russell’s THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK; Williams May Join HYDE PARK ON THE HUDSON

KILLER ELITE, Starring Jason Statham and Clive Owen, Slated for September 23rd

by Matt Goldberg   Posted: June 8th, 2011

Open Road Films, the new surprisingly-legal distribution company created by AMC Entertainment and Regal Entertainment, has set the release date for its first film.  THR reports that Gary McKendry Killer Elite will open on September 23rd.  The film, which is based on a true story, stars Jason Statham as “a former special ops agent who is lured out of retirement to rescue his mentor (Robert De Niro). But first he must most complete a near-impossible mission and take down three assassins with a cunning leader (Clive Owen).”

The other three films set to open the weekend of September 23rd are the Taylor Lautner thriller Abduction, the family flick Dolphin Tale 3D, and Bennett Miller’s Moneyball starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. http://collider.com/killer-elite-release-date/95333/

First Image from Season Two of THE WALKING DEAD

by Ethan Anderton   Posted: June 8th, 2011

Though the second season of AMC’s acclaimed zombie-centric series The Walking Dead won’t hit the air until this Halloween, we already have our first look at the second season of powerful drama (and yes, we know it’s not the image above). Though it’s nothing more than your standard zombie image, the eyes on the walker at the forefront of the image just creep me the hell out. Frank Darabont provides some publicity fluff with the photo by saying, “At this moment, I’m standing on a stretch of post-apocalypse interstate in Georgia, littered with abandoned cars and blessing my good luck to be reunited with our amazing cast, and our fantastic directors and crew. Across the board, there are none better. It’s great to be shooting again. I think we’ve embarked on a great season.” Plenty of viewers, myself included, can’t wait to see what happens when the second season takes off in October. See the first look at the second season of The Walking Dead after the jump.

 http://collider.com/walking-dead-season-2-image/95325/

Quasi-Casting Call: Jolie May Star in O. Russell’s THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK; Williams May Join HYDE PARK ON THE HUDSON

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 8th, 2011

We have two stories that are almost casting news, but nothing has been confirmed for either film.  First up, Angelina Jolie hasn’t settled on her next acting project yet.  Her directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey is set for December 23rd, she’s attached to star in Cleopatra, and Salt 2 recently got the greenlight.  Now Just Jared reports that Jolie is meeting with director David O. Russell to discuss his adaptation of The Silver Linings Playbook.  Mark Wahlberg is already attached to play at Pat Peoples, a former high school history teacher who has just been released from a mental institution and plans on reconciling with his estranged wife.  However, Pat believes he’s only been in the institution for a few months, when actually he’s been inside for several years.  Presumably, Jolie is interested in playing Peoples’ wife.  However, even if she takes the role, it’s unknown where it fall into her schedule.  Cleopatra and Salt 2 are both looking for directors.

Hit the jump for casting news regarding Hyde Park on the Hudson.

Deadline reports that Olivia Williams (Hanna) is the frontrunner to play Eleanor Roosevelt in Roger Michell’s Hyde Park on the Hudson.  The plot centers on King George VI to Hyde Park, the upstate New York home of the Roosevelt family in 1939.  In addition to the high stakes of the looming war, Eleanor discovers her husband FDR (Bill Murray) has been having an affair with his cousin.  After this discovery, no politician ever cheated on his wife again.

 http://collider.com/jolie-silver-linings-playbook-olivia-williams-hyde-park-hudson/95321/

Zach Galifianakis Talks THE HANGOVER PART III

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 8th, 2011

My largest issue with The Hangover Part II is that it wasn’t so much a sequel as a remake.  Director Todd Phillips has pledged to take the finale of the trilogy in a different direction and hopefully screenwriter Craig Mazin will deliver on that promise.  It sounds like ideas are already being hammered out as Zach Galifianakis tells Rolling Stone [via The Playlist] that he’s heard the plot involves Alan escaping from a mental hospital with help from Stu and Phil.

The interview with Zach Galifianakis also reveals that he doesn’t like taking pictures with people (“I’m a giant baby about it. They treat you like a cartoon.”), why he didn’t get the job as a Nike spokesman (“”The first thing I said was, ‘So, do you guys still have seven-year-olds making your stuff?’”), and that when he got hired to write for Saturday Night Live ten years ago, he pitched a sketch where in which host Britney Spears was doing an interview for Entertainment Tonight and she suddenly starts bleeding from the mouth for no reason.  She didn’t find the idea amusing, but Galifanakis’ fans will instantly recognize that the idea would fit perfectly into his ongoing sketch series Between Two Ferns. http://collider.com/zach-galifianakis-hangover-3-plot/95316/