***Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Katherine Heigl, and Amanda Seyfried Sign for Indie Comedy GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM ***Andrew Niccol Once Again Set to Direct THE HOST **Casting Call: Penelope Cruz and Emile Hirsch Are TWICE BORN; Jeff Garlin and Mary Lynn Rajskub Join SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED; Three More to SKINNY DIP

Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Katherine Heigl, and Amanda Seyfried Sign for Indie Comedy GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM
by Matt Goldberg Posted: May 12th, 2011 at 12:58 pm

Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Katherine Heigl, and Amanda Seyfried are set to star in the indie comedy Gently Down the Stream for writer-director Justin Zackham (The Bucket List). According to Variety, “De Niro and Keaton play a long-divorced couple who, for the sake of their adopted son’s wedding and his biological mother, pretend they are still married. They quickly learn that acting the part isn’t easy, especially when their past, present and future unravel for all to see.” While all these actors have done good work (and in De Niro and Keaton’s case, unforgettable work) in the past, these days the presence of De Niro and Heigl is like putting a giant “Warning: This Movie Will Likely Be Terrible” sign on the poster. You can dismiss my negativity, but how many terrible films do you need to see them in before you say “I see a disturbing pattern developing.”
But hey, maybe this will break the streak. Now Lucy, get ready for me to kick that football. Production begins this July in Greenwich, Connecticut.
http://collider.com/de-niro-keaton-heigl-seyfried-gently-down-the-stream/90510/






Andrew Niccol Once Again Set to Direct THE HOST
by Matt Goldberg Posted: May 12th, 2011 at 2:15 pm


Andrew Niccol (Gattaca) was once attached to write and direct the adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s novel The Host. However, while Niccol completed the screenplay, he decided to make his next directorial feature the sci-fi flick Next (formerly titled I’M.Mortal, then titled Now, and according to Deadline, now titled “Next“). But with shooting on Next completed, Niccol has now returned to The Host and will direct from his original screenplay. As we previously reported, Saoirse Ronan has signed on to star as Melanie Stryder, a young freedom fighter in a post-apocalyptic Earth who’s implanted with an alien life form known as a “Soul”. The “Soul” (named “Wanderer”) wants the location of the woman’s compatriots, but instead begins to become overwhelmed with Melanie’s memories and emotions and starts to connect with her host’s old life, including a romantic entanglement with Melanie’s boyfriend. I’ll leave it for you to decide if that counts as cheating on the boyfriend’s part.
Niccol’s Next or Now or whatever-the-hell-it’s-called stars Amanda Seyfried, Justin Timberlake, and Cillian Murphy and is set to open on October 28th. The Host is currently picking up financing at Cannes. Hit the jump for a synopsis of the novel.
http://collider.com/andrew-niccol-direct-the-host/90520/








Casting Call: Penelope Cruz and Emile Hirsch Are TWICE BORN; Jeff Garlin and Mary Lynn Rajskub Join SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED; Three More to SKINNY DIP
by Jackson Cresswell Posted: May 12th, 2011 at 2:43 pm

We have three bits of casting news to bring you way this afternoon. First up, writer/director Sergio Castellitto (perhaps best-known to American audiences for his role as Miraz in Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian) added a pair of A-list names to his latest project. According to ScreenDaily, Penelope Cruz and Emile Hirsch have agreed to star in Venuto al Mondo aka Twice Born for our English-speaking readers. The film, a drama based on a novel, tells the story of a single mother (probably played by Cruz) who brings her son to Saravejo, where his father died fighting in the Bosnian war years ago. There’s no word yet on what role Hirsch will play, but expect it to be a major one.
Next, and on a more comedic note, Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Mary Lynn Rajskub, whose probably best-known for her role as Chloe on 24 have joined the growing cast of Safety Not Guaranteed, along with lesser-known actors Lynn Shelton, Karan Soni, and Jenica Bergere. Safety not Guaranteed is based on a true story… well, a true classified ad and tells the story of three reporters investigating an ad seeking a partner for a time traveling mission. According to the press release, one of the investigators(Aubrey Plaza) develops feelings for the “paranoid but compelling loner.” Big Beach, the company behind Little Miss Sunshine is producing along with the Duplass Bros.
For our final piece of casting news, hit the jump to learn about Pam Grier, Michael Madsen, and Brigitte Nelson joining Skinny Dip.
http://collider.com/penelope-cruz-emile-hirsch-twice-born-jeff-garlin-mary-lynn-rajskub-safety-not-guaranteed-skinny-dip/90521/

**First Clip from PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES **Justin Bartha On Set Interview THE HANGOVER PART II **THE HANGOVER PART II On Set Interview with Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Director Todd Phillips **Saoirse Ronan to Star in Adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s THE HOST

First Clip from PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 3rd, 2011

Disney has released the first clip from Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.  I’ve always felt like I was in the minority of being interested in a new Pirates film since I don’t know many folks who enjoy the sequels (they’re big, bombastic, and don’t always hit their mark, but they take a lot of chances that pay off).  However, last week, Company Town reported that On Stranger Tides could be the year’s first $100m+ opening weekend because the film is tracking so well.
But this first clip from the film gives me pause.  The way Jack frees himself from the guards with a simple flip of the wrists looks silly and for an escape from the palace, I’m confused as to why he’s going away from the window.  Of course, the big problem with clips is that they lack context, so hopefully this scene will work better when I see the film.  Hit the jump to check out the clip.  The film stars Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, and Geoffrey Rush.  Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides opens in 3D on May 20th.
.......... http://collider.com/pirates-4-movie-clip/88711/

Justin Bartha On Set Interview THE HANGOVER PART II

by Andre Dellamorte   Posted: May 3rd, 2011

For The Hangover Justin Bartha’s Doug was the impetus for the story, but he spent much of the movie sidelined as his disappearance fueled the story. For the sequel, The Hangover Part II, Bartha returns as Doug and from his own words has a bit more to do this time out. We got a chance to talk to him as the movie was filming – he wasn’t on set the day we visited, and he talked about his character in the film, The Hangover’s cultural resonance and what it’s like to return to a character. Check out our interview after the jump.
........ http://collider.com/justin-bartha-interview-the-hangover-part-2/88445/

THE HANGOVER PART II On Set Interview with Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Director Todd Phillips

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: May 3rd, 2011

For the set visit to The Hangover Part II, secrecy was critical. What we saw we were told not to write about until now, and what we were told was minimal. Though now the general premise and storyline has been outed by the trailer, when we came on all that was known was that the boys would be going to the Far East for their adventures.
When we went to the Warner Brothers lot, it was dressed as a shitty Thai apartment, where Ed Helms was running around in his underwear with a tattoo on his face, Zach Galifianakis had a shaved head, and Bradley Cooper was wrestling with a monkey. Even that was deemed too much new information. Check after the jump for more.
........... http://collider.com/the-hangover-2-interview-bradley-cooper-ed-helms-zach-galifianakis/88442/

Saoirse Ronan to Star in Adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s THE HOST

by Matt Goldberg   Posted: May 3rd, 2011

Saoirse Ronan is one of the best young actors working today and she’s managed to give impressive performances regardless of whether she’s in a great film (Hanna) or an atrocious one (The Lovely Bones).  Here’s hoping that The Host is the former because Deadline is reporting that Ronan has landed the lead role.  Based on the novel by Twilight author Stephanie Meyer, The Host is about an alien species called “Souls” that latch on to human hosts, destroy their consciousness, and erase their personalities.  Ronan would play Melanie Stryder, one of the remaining free humans who is captured by the aliens and implanted with a Soul called “Wanderer”.  Wanderer intends to make Stryder give up the location of her cohorts, but instead becomes impressed by Melanie’s unwillingness to surrender her consciousness, and Wanderer becomes driven to connect the young woman to her former life.
Writer Andrew Niccol (The Truman Show) wrote the script and was set to direct before moving on to the sci-fi drama Now starring Amanda Seyfried and Justin Timberlake.  But since that film is now mostly finished, it’s possible that Niccol may return to The Host.  Hit the jump for a synopsis of the novel.
.......... http://collider.com/soairse-ronan-the-host-stephanie-meyer/88722/