News Archive

Official synopsis for Ridley Scott's Prometheus lands

Remember all that confusion about Ridley Scott's next project and whether it is an Alien prequel? Well, be confused no more as the official synopsis for Prometheus has arrived from 20th Century Fox.

See what you make of it: "Visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott returns to the genre he helped define, creating an original science fiction epic set in the most dangerous corners of the universe. The film takes a team of scientists and explorers on a thrilling journey that will test their physical and mental limits and strand them on a distant world, where they will discover the answers to our most profound questions and to life's ultimate mystery."

Clearly still holding their cards close to their chest, Fox haven't given us the most informative synopsis we've ever read, but our appetites are certainly whetted. Meanwhile, JoBlo reports that the versatile Ben Foster (actor, not accident-prone goalkeeper) is "confirmed" to star in the film, but no official announcement has been made yet. If Foster came aboard, he'd join the likes of Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender and Idris Elba on the film.

Thor sequel swings into action

After the healthy critical and commercial response to Thor back in April, Marvel have decided to bring their hammer-wielding hero back for another adventure. The studio and corporate owners Disney have even gone so far as to set a July 26, 2013 release date for more Thor.

According to Deadline, Chris Hemsworth will return as the titular hero, but director Kenneth Branagh and the studio have parted ways with no details yet about who dumped whom. The caped one will, of course, be duking it out with his fellow Avengers next year before the sequel lands. Hemsworth is currently filming the superhero epic alongside Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo and co.

Being the in-demand Hollywood star that he is now, Hemsworth also has Kristen Stewart and Snow White and the Huntsman in his sights before Thor 2 begins production.

Transformers 3 explodes into US No. 1 spot

The classic 'transforming alien robots plus hot woman' formula worked a treat for director Michael Bay once more as Transformers: Dark Of The Moon robot-danced its way to the top of the US Box Office chart. Earning $97.4 million, Transformers stole the crown of the highest-grossing opening weekend of 2011 from Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Cars 2 was forced to tap its breaks and settle for runners up, while Cameron Diaz in Bad Teacher earned a prize for merit in third. Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts could only muster a fourth-placed debut for Larry Crowne, with shamelessly tween rom com Monte Carlo opening in fifth.

Super 8's train began to pull into the platform at six; Green Lantern shone a little less brightly at seven; and Mr Popper's Penguins were given the cold shoulder at eight. Elsewhere, Bridesmaids should be off on honeymoon soon at nine, while the sun was setting on Midnight In Paris at ten.

Snow White and the three films?

It's got a cast to set tongues wagging, and it seems that the team behind Snow White And The Huntsman feel there's no point wasting all that talent on just one film. Producer Joe Roth has been airing the idea that Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart and Thor's Chris Hemsworth will be returning for what will be a trilogy of films.

Roth told Entertainment Weekly (via The Playlist): "It's meant to be the first in a series of films. This story will end, but there will be questions remaining for these three characters."

"We retain the basic story, a young girl meant to be the queen who is cast out," Roth said. "The Huntsman is a mercenary, in the sense that he's a guy who is very able in the woods, more able than most anyone. His job is to capture runaway girls, who are all fleeing the kingdom because of the queen. He's a nondescript bounty hunter, as we first meet him."

Director Rupert Sanders begins filming Snow White and the Huntsman in August, with a release date set for June 1 2012.

Dark Of The Moon lights up UK Box Office

It was Bay-hem at cinemas up and down the land this weekend as film fans (ok, mainly teenage boys) fought to get a glimpse of those transforming robots. Debuting in the number one spot, Transformers: Dark Of The Moon earned an impressive £10.7 million at the UK Box Office. The considerably less CGI-oriented Bridesmaids slipped to second, with Kung Fu Panda 2 losing energy in third. Cameron Diaz proved to be a high achiever after staying put in fourth, while Tom Hanks' charm could only secure a spot at number five for Larry Crowne.

The Hangover Part II remained sozzled at six; Green Lantern was feeling the heat at seven; and X-Men: First Class needed to summon all of their powers to drop no further than eighth. Bollywood comedy Delhi Belly bounced into the chart at nine, while Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides came into dock at ten.

Anna Massey dies aged 73

British actress Anna Massey, a stalwart of the stage and screen whose career spanned over 50 years, has died aged 73 following a battle with cancer.

Born into a theatrical family in West Sussex in 1937, Massey got her first big breaks working in the likes of Michael Powell's Peeping Tom and Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy. One of her finest moments came in 1986 when she won the Best Actress BAFTA award for her role in TV's Hotel du Lac. More recently, she has appeared in several costume dramas, including 2002's The Importance Of Being Earnest and 2008's Tess of the D'Urbervilles. She did, however, also play the slightly surprising role of Christian Bale's landlady in The Machinist.

Anna Massey is survived by her husband, Uri Andres, and son, Dan Huggins.

Serkis more equal than others in Animal Farm?

Andy Serkis likes nothing more than to dress up in head-to-toe latex, smother himself in ping pong balls and go absolutely apesh*t. True story. To wit, his current mo-cap work on Rise of The Planet of The Apes already adds to his impressive, simian-filled CV (see King Kong...or rather don't and stick to the original). So news that Serkis' studio The Imaginarium (pioneers in this mo-cap malarkey, obviously) will team up with Apes director Rupert Wyatt on an adaptation of George Orwell's Animal Farm just makes a whole lot of sense.

For those of you who weren't subjected to Orwell's 'masterpiece' in High School English Lit, Animal Farm is the story of a revolutionary uprising among the animals of a country farm, a thinly veiled critique of the rise of Stalin and the more aggressive tendencies of communism.

Empire has the full scoop and suggest that Serkis, who's likely to play every part (we joke, but that's quite, quite possible), and Wyatt are ready to pull the trigger on a contemporary, animated take on the beloved story.

Johnny Depp in talks for Pirates 5

Who knew?! It would seem that a fair chunk of this planet really do like watching Johnny Depp stumble about as Cap'n Jack Sparrow. Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has officially become the seventh highest grossing film of all time having sashayed passed the $1 billion with consummate ease. It's the Mouse House's fourth title to break this fabled barrier joining the likes of Alice In Wonderland (Depp again) and Toy Story 3.

It's Disney's biggest international release ever and reached $500 million worldwide in record-setting time (just 14 days, that's 14 DAYS!!) and spent six straight weeks sitting atop the Japanese Box Office - a near-unsurpassable record for a non-domestic release.

Latest reports suggest that Depp has made the princely sum of $350 million from the franchise thus far and is currently locked in negotiations to return to his most iconic role for a fifth instalment in the series.

Seth Rogen plans trip to Jamaica

Like an unruly child, we've been hearing more of Seth Rogen than we've been seeing recently thanks to his vocal work in Paul and Kung Fu Panda 2. The Canadian actor is taking a step even further behind the camera as he is set to team up again with his Pineapple Express co-executive producer Evan Goldberg for new comedy, Jamaica.

Mandate Pictures has confirmed that the pair will be producing a semi-autobiographical script from Will Reiser loosely based on a vacation that he took with his grandmother as a teenager. Jonathan Levine (director) is attached to direct, while Rogen and Goldberg will once again produce from their Point Grey Pictures production arm. The team behind Jamaica also recently collaborated on 50/50, a 'cancer comedy' starring Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Daniel Craig on Dragon Tattoo: "Fincher's not holding back"

Daniel Craig has been revealing the full extent of the 'adult' nature of director David Fincher's upcoming remake of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Craig plays journalist Mikael Blomkvist in the film based on the wildly popular book by Stieg Larsson, while Rooney Mara is the titular heroine, computer hacker Lisbeth Salander.

The current 007 and newly married star was shown a cut of the film by Fincher, and claims it's not for the faint of heart. "It's not that he simply showed me footage that was horribly graphic," Craig said. "It was stuff that was happening, or had happened. And somehow you don't see it.

"There's more than one way to sense violence. Much more powerful ways than seeing it step-by-step. It's as adult as you can possibly make it. This is adult drama. I grew up, as we f****** all did, watching The Godfather and that, movies that were made for adults. And this is a $100 million R-rated movie. Nobody makes those anymore."

Craig added: "Fincher, he's not holding back. They've given him free rein. He showed me some scenes recently, and my hand was over my mouth, going, 'Are you f****** serious?'"

Wahlberg and Hill form the Good Time Gang

Jonah Hill has often been compared to a younger, rounder Will Ferrell, so it somehow makes sense that he'll be starring with Ferrell's The Other Guys co-star, Mark Wahlberg, in upcoming action comedy Good Time Gang.

The LA Times reports that Hill and Wahlberg are signing on for the film, which follows two party-loving mercenaries with an unenthusiastic work ethic. However, when they become involved in a serious case involving a terrorist and discover that one of them is related to the evil target, they are forced to step up to the challenge.

Max Landis (son of legendary director John) has written the script and early word is that the story will put action before comedy antics. Hill has recently wrapped up on 21 Jump Street and the Brad Pitt-starring Moneyball, while Wahlberg has been exercising his comedy muscle in Seth McFarlane's Ted.

Shia LeBeouf turned down parts in The Social Network and 127 Hours

Shia LeBeouf would do well to take a long hard look in the mirror this morning - and then at his spacious awards shelves. The 25-year-old actor revealed that he turned down leading parts in The Social Network and 127 Hours.

He also decided to turn his back on talks to star in hotly anticipated blockbusters The Bourne Legacy and Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes. LeBeouf told Details magazine: "I'm looking for Warren Beatty-type game changers." Like Transformers: Dark Of The Moon, for example?

By turning down two of the most acclaimed, original - some might even say 'game-changing' - films of recent years, LeBeouf missed out on several awards opportunities and the chance to improve a reputation sullied by recent efforts, such as Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen and Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps. Meanwhile, The Social Network and 127 Hours were both garlanded with awards attention, earning their stars the status of current Hollywood darlings.

Fassbender joins Gleeson's Irish all-star directorial debut

Michael Fassbender isn't short of work at the moment, so it would have to be a pretty special project that persuades him to sign on. Brendan Gleeson's directorial debut, an adaptation of Flann O'Brien's 1939 novel, At Swim-Two-Birds, sounds special enough.

As well as being helmed by Gleeson and now starring Fassbender, the film already has Gabriel Byrne, Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy attached, with Gleeson and son Domhall set to appear too. Rumours that Bono has been approached to complete this Irish dream team are, apparently, unfounded.

Gleeson will not be making it easy for himself, however; according to The Playlist, the complicated plot follows a student who is writing a couple of stories that begin to intertwine, before the characters decide to turn against their creator. At Swim-Two-Birds is expected to start shooting in spring 2012, while Gleeson will next be seen in The Guard.

Transformers 3 puts opposition in the Dark in US

Michael Bay can add another large sack of cash to his pool filled with money after Transformers: Dark Of The Moon took a mightily impressive $47 million and the number one spot in the US Box Office in its second weekend. The director's third robots adventure beat the all-star cast of Horrible Bosses, which debuted at two, and fellow debutant Zookeeper at three. Cars 2 slowed down to take fourth place, while Cameron Diaz in Bad Teacher got a C this week for her mid-chart position at five.

Tom Hanks' irrefutable likeability couldn't prevent Larry Crowne from falling to six; Super 8 was at a not-so-super seven; and Monte Carlo is not as popular a destination as it hoped to be at eight. Green Lantern was getting mouldy at nine, while Mr Popper's Penguins ran out of tricks at ten.

Johnny Depp to become The Night Stalker?

Plundering box offices across the high seas clearly isn't enough for Captain Jack aka Johnny Depp as news reaches us that the actor has struck a deal with Disney to buy the rights to the 1970s TV film The Night Stalker.

Deadline reports that Depp would have his heart set on playing the role of Carl Kolchak made famous by Darren McGavin in any potential film. The curmudgeonly Las Vegas reporter tangles with the supernatural when he tracks down a vampire killing women on the Vegas strip. The TV movie, which also spawned a brief TV show, was extremely influential for the likes of The X- Files. Depp's Infinitum Nihil company would look to co-produce any eventual film with Disney.

That's not all for Depp, however; he's also confirmed to be attached to a film about Paul Revere, the colonial American and his famous midnight ride who was recently brought to light again after former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin bumbled over the facts of what Revere did. Lee and Janet Batchler are working on the script, while Depp also has Disney's The Lone Ranger on his plate for 2012 and is close to sealing a deal for a fifth Pirates Of The Caribbean film.

Transformers 3 fends off competition in UK Box Office

They may be transforming robots, but Michael Bay's creations decided to stay still for their second week in the UK Box Office, retaining their place at number one. Earning an impressive £4.75 million, Transformers: Dark Of The Moon headed an unchanged top four as Bridesmaids (second), Kung Fu Panda 2 (third) and Bad Teacher (fourth) all remained unmoved. Meanwhile, the pat on the back this week goes to The Guard, starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle, which debuted at fifth based on its Irish release alone.

Despite its star names and largely superlative broadsheet reviews, The Tree Of Life failed to blossom in its first week, debuting at six. The Hangover Part II continued its AA meetings at seven; Larry Crowne plummeted to eighth in its second week; and X-Men: First Class was losing its powers at nine. Meanwhile, Ryan Reynolds was forced to swap his Green Lantern for a wooden spoon at ten.

Ed Norton on for Bourne baddie?

There were many doubters when a Bourne minus Matt Damon was mooted, but with Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz locked in and now Ed Norton in negotiations to star in the film, we can hear the audible sound of relief.

Variety reports that Norton is set to join The Bourne Legacy as the villain of the piece, opposite Renner's Bourne-esque hero. Details on the plot are still confidential, however, with director and regular series screenwriter Tony Gilroy keeping his cards close to his chest, but the story will take place in the same world as the original Bourne trilogy. The Bourne Legacy is due for release in August 2012.

Chris Pine-ing for RoboCop role?

24 years after director Paul Verhoeven's original tale about a crime-ridden Detroit brought in line by a figure who was part man, part machine, all cop, it seems we (well, film studios) just can't get enough. Yes, RoboCop is getting a fresh rebooting - that's despite a trilogy of films and a TV mini-series already in existence - with Chris Pine heading the pack to play the title role.

Twitch reports that MGM are eyeing the Star Trek star to lead their film in the role played by Peter Weller in the 1987 original. Brazilian director Jose Padilha has taken the reins from Darren Aronofsky for the reboot, while Pine is not confirmed to star just yet. In the meantime, the 30-year-old actor will next be seen in This Means War with Reese Witherspoon and Tom Hardy, and has the small matter of a Star Trek sequel on the cards too.

Tarantino prepares to star in a Western

Not content with directing his own Western with the likes of Jamie Foxx, Samuel L. Jackson and Leonardo DiCaprio set to star in Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino has reportedly joined forces with legendary Italian actor Franco Nero to appear in his film too.

Nero, of course, played the original Django in Sergio Corbucci's 1966 film, and, initially, it was thought that he would appear in Tarantino's film, then rumoured to be called The Angel, The Brute And The Wise. Now, Box Office Magazine (via The Film Stage) report Nero has stated that this is the title of his own film - a tribute to the likes of Sergio Leone and John Huston - in which QT will appear in a cameo as one of three bandits killed by Nero with a gold coin-loaded shotgun.

Nero explained: "He [Tarantino] said 'Oh yeah! I can come with Robert Rodriguez and my friends to play them!'" Tarantino hasn't signed a contract with Nero, but has provided him with "a letter of intent". Nero added, "Every time Tarantino and I speak he wants to know everything about Sergio Corbucci, the director of Django. I hope that Quentin will ask me to be in the movie. I would be very happy, of course."

Diablo Cody rewriting Evil Dead remake

Despite the mixed reception to Jennifer's Body, it did show that Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody had an eye for horror. Now, she will get a chance to summon up a few more scares as she sets about rewriting the script for The Evil Dead remake.

Federico 'Fede' Alvarez is taking care of directing duties for the update of Sam Raimi's 1981 horror classic with Raimi and original producing partners Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell serving as producers. The trio commented: "We are committed to making this movie and are inspired by the enduring popularity and enthusiasm for the 'Evil Dead' series. We can't wait to scare a new generation of moviegoers using filmmaking techniques that were not available to us thirty years ago as well as Fede bringing a fresh eye to the film's original elements."

The original film told the story of a group of twenty-something friends in a remote cabin who become possessed by demons until only one of them is left to fight for survival. Alvarez with Rodo Sayagues originally wrote the script for the remake before Diablo Cody was brought on board. She commented via Twitter: "Fede Alvarez wrote a brilliant script. My job is easy. Have no fear. (Wait, do have fear.)"

Timberlake to become Fully Automatic?

He can dance, he can sing, he can (almost) get away with saying things like "Don't fear me baby, it's Justin", and, in The Social Network, he proved he can also act. With all that talent, JT may have decided to go Fully Automatic for a new buddy cop action thriller.

Fully Automatic follows two new officers who team up with a female Delta Force operative to take down a crazed mercenary with evil plans. Vulture is suggesting that Timberlake could be playing one of the leads. The script for Automatic has been doing the rounds for a while with Running Scared director Wayne Kramer originally down to helm the project in 2009. He doesn't appear to be attached any longer, however, while Joel Silver has been the one looking to get things rolling recently.

Justin, the lucky boy, will next be seen opposite Mila Kunis in Friends With Benefits, released on 9th September. Bet he never thought it would end up this way. Drums.

Could Tom Hardy be stepping up as Al Capone?

Tom Hardy's no stranger to playing a criminal, but he could be about to surpass all of his previous efforts if he were to land the role of Al Capone. The sought-after actor has reportedly attached himself to Cicero, a film about the rise of Al Capone.

Interestingly, Vulture also reports that Harry Potter director David Yates has been clamouring to get a piece of the action. Warner Bros. are behind this one, while the script, which focuses on Capone's rise to the top of the criminal echelons, has been adapted by Wild Bunch writer Walon Green from his own unused TV pilot.

Warners are apparently hoping to launch a trilogy of films charting Capone's journey, echoing another crime trilogy about Italian-Americans that was fairly popular. Hardy is being kept busy at the moment as he films The Dark Knight Rises with his role as Mad Max in Fury Road also yet to come.

Harry Potter breaks Box Office records! (try and act surprised!!)

Just like the final showdown between Harry and Voldemort, this has been on the cards for some time. The Potter franchise to date has broken many a Box Office record or twelve on its way to the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and this past weekend was no exception. The final instalment in the wizarding tale scooped an almighty $168,550,000 - the biggest three-day opening weekend of all time.

Deathly Hallows: Part 2 bested The Half-Blood Prince's previous world record as the biggest worldwide debut in history. Already Potter 7.5 has made nigh on $475 million at the Global Box Office.

It goes without saying that previous champ Transformers: Dark of The Moon falls down a place to 2 this week in the US Charts alongside Horrible Bosses at 3. Kevin James continues to talk the talk (...with the animals) with The Zookeeper at 4 and Pixar's Cars 2 drops down a gear, and a position, to 5.

Winnie The Pooh finds himself down at 6 and Cameron Diaz is having a hard time of it too at 7 with Bad Teacher. Tom Hanks' Larry Crowne drops to 8 and, speaking of '8s', JJ Abrams' Super 8 is this week's 9 just ahead of Midnight In Paris at 10.

Avengers teased post-Captain America!!

The interweb has been positively buzzing with rumours about one teaser trailer or another. The Dark Knight Rises is due to air imminently online whilst early word has it that The Amazing Spider-Man's very first teaser will appear attached to prints of Captain America: First Avenger. Well, speaking of Cap and his Mighty Shield, there's one trailer that threatens to overshadow both of these iconic heroes and that's the first glimpse of The Avengers.

Fans lucky enough to catch advance previews of Cap in the States have been busily tweeting away about the obligatory post-credits sequence. Rather than the usual character reveal, this sequence is a full-blown teaser for next year's superhero mash up featuring Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Hawkeye and the agents of SHIELD.

So, Cap fans, be sure to stay tuned then until after the credits roll to see your first sighting of The Avengers ahead of their May 2012 bow.

Spielberg: We have a Jurassic Park IV story

Of all the news coming out of Comic-Con in San Diego this weekend, this surely has to be the story that will get people talking the most: Steven Spielberg has confirmed that he has been working on Jurassic Park IV and that there is a story for the film.

In his first ever visit to the geek heaven of Comic-Con, Spielberg was asked directly about the project while sitting on the panel for Tintin, following rumours that plot ideas were being discussed last month. "We have a story, I can happily announce," Spielberg happily announced. "We have a writer who is writing the treatment and hopefully we are going to make Jurassic Park IV in all of your foreseeable futures - all of our foreseeable futures - hopefully, in the next two or three years."

Recent reports have suggested that the writer in question is I Am Legend scribe Mark Protosevich, but Spielberg wouldn't be drawn on the name of the writer. Meanwhile, details on the plot are yet to be revealed.

Captain America steals US summit from Potter

Harry Potter's wand was no match for Captain America's shield this weekend as the First Avenger took a mightily impressive $65.83 million at the US Box Office to earn the number one spot. Meanwhile, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows - Part 2 fell to second despite its $48 million haul. Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis will be feeling a lot friendlier to each other after Friends With Benefits debuted at third, while Transformers: Dark Of The Moon received the cold shoulder at four. Jason Bateman and his friends were left cursing their Horrible Bosses at five.

At number six, Kevin James' stint as a Zookeeper did not prove so popular in its third week; Cars 2 slowed down for traffic at seven; and Winnie The Pooh was running out of honey at eight. Cameron Diaz's grades dropped further with Bad Teacher at nine, and Midnight In Paris enjoyed an Indian Summer at ten.

Efron and Rogen buddy up for new R-Rated comedy

You can't swing and miss R-Rated comedies these days. Ever since The Hangover proved that 'gross out' usually results in top-heavy Box Office, Hollywood has been spewing out lewder and cruder chuckle fests like they're going out of fashion.

Step forward then another such entry in this particular canon, this time an as yet untitled buddy comedy starring, as unlikely as it sounds, Zac Efron and Seth Rogen.

Produced by Judd Apatow (aren't they all?!?!), this one will see Efron playing a foul-mouthed frat boy whose straight-laced neighbour (Rogen) starts to tire of the younger man's all-night exploits.

Cars 2 fails to break Potter's spell

Cars 2, the latest fun-filled animation from Pixar, failed to overtake the behemoth that is Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2. Despite boasting the vocal talents of Sir Michael Caine, Lewis Hamilton and Owen Wilson, the automobile extravaganza had to settle for the runner up spot, mustering £3.5million in its opening week, while Potter has magicked up an impressive £44million in just two weeks.

Elsewhere murderous comedy Horrible Bosses butchered its way to third spot on its debut, while Bridesmaids slunk slowly down the aisle to four and Transformers: Dark Of The Moon rolled out to fifth spot.

Kung Fu Panda 2 still showed it had some moves at six, while Irish comedy The Guard stands watch at seven. The Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer comedy drama Beginners starts life at eight, while Zindaga Ni Milegi Dobara and The Tree Of Life are rooted to the bottom.

Sam Jackson to bring Afro Samurai to life

To many he's the Coolest Man Alive (TM), to some of us he's the eye patch-wearing fella who pops up in all of those superhero films and, to a select few of us, he'll forever be the voice behind Afro Samurai.

The cult revenge tale starring the big-haired sword-wielder is already an acclaimed anime and now Samual L. Jackson, along with The Indomina Group, are bringing Afro to life in a live-action offering.

The announcement was made at this year's San Diego Comic Con where Jackson was on hand to big-up his involvement with the project to date and gush about the forthcoming feature-length version.

"This has been one of my very favourite properties ever since our amazing debut at Comic Con with the original series pilot out of Japan. I can't wait to produce the epic feature film version with our new partners at The Indomina Group" said Jackson.

Ron Howard won't direct The Lost Symbol

Together, they've made over $1.2 billion worldwide, but Ron Howard seems to have called time on his involvement in Dan Brown's series. The director, who helmed The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, will not direct the third book in the Robert Langdon series, The Lost Symbol.

A source informed Deadline: "Ron told Amy Pascal and Michael Lynton that he was not going to be directing Dan Brown's novels anymore. He just didn't want to do that thing over and over, the same character and the same stories."

Tom Hanks is also not confirmed to return yet, but Sony will be looking to sign him up soon, along with a new director.

Cage and Cusack consider walking The Frozen Ground

In what could be a titanic battle of the high foreheads, Nicolas Cage and John Cusack are both in talks to star as the leads in a new crime thriller. Writer/director Scott Walker is looking to pair the actors up for The Frozen Ground.

The film will be based on real events, following the story of the seemingly stable, normal Robert Hansen who abducted more than 12 women over 24 years and flew them to the Alaskan wilderness, where he hunted and slaughtered them. Surprisingly, given their usual choice of parts, Deadline reports that Cusack is in talks for this role, while Cage will look to play the straight-laced state trooper out to stop him.

Neither has signed on the dotted line just yet, but we're already intrigued by the prospect.

Dawson and Cassel en-Tranced by Boyle's new film

Danny Boyle's latest film continues to whet our appetites with news that Rosario Dawson and Vincent Cassel are poised to appear in Trance. The pair will join James McAvoy who replaced Michael Fassbender as the lead.

The story follows McAvoy who plays an assistant at an art auction house who is the inside man during a heist that goes badly wrong, leaving him with amnesia about where the loot is being hidden. His dangerous accomplice (Cassel) uses a hypnotist to extract the information from him.

According to Deadline, Dawson will play the main female character who develops an usual relationship with both McAvoy and Cassel. As previously reported, Trance begins shooting in the autumn, with Boyle due to shelve the footage and return to it after he has finished his duties on the London Olympic opening ceremony, ready for a March 2013 release.

JJ Abrams starts talks to direct Star Trek 2

While it would seem like a no-brainer for most people to direct the sequel of one of the most critically and commercially successful films of recent years, JJ Abrams has been biding his time over Star Trek 2. Although he hasn't formally committed himself to the project yet, the director is in talks to take the job.

Deadline reports that Abrams' indecision (plus his commitment to several other projects, including new film Super 8) has meant that Paramount have replaced the Trek sequel's release date of June 2012 with G.I. Joe: Retaliation. The cast are all locked in to return and the studio are aiming to start shooting in January next year with the aim of getting it in cinemas for late 2012 or summer 2013.

Olivia Wilde to play a porn star?

Easy, gentlemen, nothing's been confirmed yet! Olivia Wilde is considering starring as adult film legend Linda Lovelace in a new biopic. The Deep Throat star who is credited with helping to bring porn to the mainstream in the 1970s already has one biopic in the works, starring Malin Akerman, but this is a new project from co-directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman.

E! Online are reporting that Wilde is keen to take the role, but wants to be sure it's right for her. "It would be a tremendous honor," she said. "It's such a cool role. She was a fascinating woman - with where she came from to Deep Throat to then working with Gloria Steinem and Nora Ephron. It's really fascinating."

She added: "I'm being very careful about my next project since I'm now in a position where I can be really picky - thank God, finally." Epstein and Friedman, who worked with James Franco for Howl, were reported as also trying to lure the 127 Hours actor to star in the film earlier in the year. However, with Franco's 958 other projects on the go, maybe they should just focus on Wilde for now.

Kevin Bacon getting R.I.P.D. for new role

After thoroughly impressing as the evil Sebastian Shaw in X-Men: First Class, Kevin Bacon is getting set to twirl his villain's moustache once again in comic book adaptation R.I.P.D.

The film, which has been adapted from the Dark Horse graphic novel, follows the story of Ryan Reynolds' recently deceased policeman who is assigned to a squad of officers who police the spirit world. Jeff Bridges is also on board to star as Reynolds' experienced partner, while Variety report that Bacon will be the main antagonist of the piece.

The script comes courtesy of Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi, while Red director Robert Schwentke will start shooting later this year.