The Rock is in the building!  Dwayne Johnson is set to take over where Brendan Fraser left off by starring in the Journey to the Center of the Earth movie sequel.  The surprise 2008 hit has earned a sequel titled Journey 2: The Mysterious Island which will be shot in 3-D.

Fraser will not be returning due to scheduling conflicts (a little strange to me, since he doesn’t seem to be that busy these days), so DJ steps in.  Brad Peyton is on board to direct and Josh Hutcherson will still star as explorer on the cusp, Sean Anderson.  Heat Vision has more:

Johnson will play the boyfriend of Hutcherson’s mom, who Hutcherson is forced to bring on a trip to a mythical and monstrous island to find his missing grandfather. The script is loosely based on Jules Verne’s “The Mysterious Island.”

Three other characters will be introduced in the movie and cast during the next few weeks. Production is eyeing a late October start in North Carolina and Hawaii.

I’m thinking the quote from HV has the name of Hutcherson wrong, and it should be Anderson but not sure.  I never saw the ‘08 film (or the 1959 original for that matter), which grossed almost $250 million worldwide.  I’m a little surprised that they would go forward without Fraser, but The Rock has similar experience in his repertoire these days and I like Johnson enough that he would appear a reasonable alternative.  If you saw the original, let me know what you think of the new casting.

Louis Letterier, who helmed both Hulk and Clash of the Titans has been replaced for the sequel to the April blockbuster.  Clash of the Titans 2 is to be directed by Jonathan Liebesman of the yet to be released Battle: Los Angeles.  While Titans semi-disappointed stateside, due to its reported $125 million budget, it still has grossed almost $500 million worldwide, making it an undeniable success, so word of a sequel is now less surprising.  Heat Vision says:

Liebesman, repped by CAA and Principato-Young, nabbed the gig from the strong footage execs saw of “Battle: Los Angeles,” the director’s upcoming “Black Hawk Down”-style alien invasion movie from Columbia, which showed he could handle large-scale action and intense visual effects. The footage also impressed at Comic-Con, where is stood out from forthcoming wave of alien invasion flicks.

The original remake of the 1981 film, whose stars were Sam Worthington (Avatar) and Gemma Arterton, are among some of the actors who are expected to return for the sequel.

Liebesman is a minor surprise as a choice because his film has yet to be released, but Warners could see a coup in nabbing him early as well.  Additionally, those who saw the first film will be glad to know it will be shot entirely in 3-D, as opposed to the semi-generic process of adding in 3D after the film was shot on regular stock.  It remains to be seen how this project will shape out, we’ll let you know more as it does.

Fresh off his third straight Emmy victory last night for Best Actor in a Dramatic TV Series for “Breaking Bad,” Bryan Cranston is set to tackle a role on the larger screen.  He and “Southland” star Michael Cudlitz are joining the cast of The Grief Tourist for Vision Entertainment Group.  About the new movie, from Variety:

Story centers on a troubled soul who retraces the footsteps of serial killers who fascinate him as his hobby. His dark obsession with past killers soon becomes his reality and leads viewers on a menacing and horrific journey inside his twisted mind.

I’ll be honest, I don’t watch much TV outside of sports, so I have never seen Cranston’s work in Breaking Bad, but it is obviously regularly lauded, and those close to me, hold it in incredibly high esteem.  I’d probably watch if I was planning on watching something on the tele, so that’s high enough praise for me.  While the story for The Grief Tourist doesn’t specify, it is assumed (wrong or right) that Cranston is the “troubled soul” in the clip above.  (It might be Cudlitz, so if you clarify, let me know).

Anyway, it actually sounds potentially intriguing and Cranston’s popularity power position seems ripe for the ubiquitous jump to the big screen that TV stars have traditionally taken.  This role seems to suit him (from what I’ve heard).  Let me know what you think.

Here are some recent casting news updates from inside the Hollywood circle.

First off, EW is telling all that Dustin Hoffman is going to be reprising his role in the third Focker film, Little Fockers.  Originally, he was supposedly written out of the movie, but he is now confirmed to be back in.

Hoffman will be in four scenes, some indeed with Streisand, a studio source confirms. These were shot during one week of additional photography, after Hoffman had seen the movie and wanted to be a part of it. The source also confirms that the reason for Hoffman’s initial unavailability was not salary-related.

While I thought the first film Meet The Parents was pretty strong for a comedy, its sequel was unwatchable, so this news comes with little entusiasm here.

Up next, Jessica Alba (who is working with Robert Rodriguez in his upcoming Machete, will also star in the latest in his Spy Kids series, Spy Kids 4.  Considering Spy Kids probably doesn’t require great acting (I haven’t seen any of them but I feel strongly in this guess), Alba is perfectly cast as a retired spy.  I could totally see her in that. HeatVision says of Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World:

The Dimension movie is a reboot of sorts for the moneymaking franchise, which initially starred Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara as the kids of superspy parents (Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino). Rodriguez wrote and directed each installment.

Vega and Sabara are no longer kids — Vega is nearly 23 and recently engaged — but Rodriguez wanted to continue the series.

The new movie centers on Alba as a retired spy who has been reactivated. The actress, mother of a toddler in real life, will be playing the mother of a baby and two preteen stepchildren.

Makes complete sense that it is Spy “kids” with young 20 something actors in the roles.  Moving on…

The Passion of the Christ star Jim Caviezel (I thought he was gonna take off after that movie(?), I guess not) is set to star in Transit. Via THR

In the story line, thieves on the run from a bank robbery come across a suburban family on its way to a camping trip. When the criminals stash their stolen money in the family’s SUV at a rest stop, the road trippers, with Caviezel as the protective father, unwittingly draw the murderous band of outlaws on their trail.

Seems reasonably intriguing.

Comingsoon says Katie Holmes is joining the cast of Adam Sandler’s Jack and Jill.  Al Pacino and Sandler also star.

In the Dennis Dugan-directed script, a family man by the name of Jack deals with his twin sister, Jill, when she visits for Thanksgiving then won’t leave. Sandler will play both characters.

Holmes would play Sandler’s wife; Pacino is set to play himself.

BTW, Jack and Jill went up the hill with $1.25 a piece, Jill came down with $2.50.  Holmes is starting to re-take on roles after her married life has settled in it appears.  I like that Pacino is playing “himself”.  What does that mean these days? Does he even know how he really is in real life anymore?  A valid question.  If you have thoughts, share them.

Swingers and Bourne Identity director Doug Liman is set to direct All You Need Is Kill for Warner Brothers. The movie is to be based on the Japanese novel of the same name, authored by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. Variety reports:

Story centers on a new recruit in a war against aliens who finds himself caught in a time loop in which he wakes up in the past after having been killed on the battlefield. As the soldier’s death and resurrection repeat, his skills as a soldier grows as he attempts to change his fate.

Liman has some futuristic experience so to speak, when he helmed Jumper, so I guess he is a logical choice for an actioner such as this.  Liman’s Fair Game for which we have the trailer, is coming next.  The Naomi Watts thriller is set for theaters on November 5th.  Liman fans, chime in below.

In the, that didn’t take long at all department, Dimension Films announced today that a sequel to Piranha 3-D which made an estimated $10 million on its opening weekend (which ended yesterday) is in the works.  With Piranha being budgeted at a reoprted $24 million, this movie will not be a runaway success by any means, which makes the news and its timing all the more surprising.  This seems a potentially erroneous snap judgment on the part of Dimension, as juxtaposed to Sly Stallone’s earlier mentioning that he had a sequel in mind for the $30+ million opener The Expendables.  From Dimension’s press release, via comingsoon:

After earning rave reviews from top critics, wild cheers from audiences around the country, and $10 million in its opening weekend boxoffice, Dimension Films is pleased to announce that PIRANHA 3D – THE SEQUEL is in the works.

PIRANHA 3D producer Mark Canton stated, “We are thrilled that audiences are not just loving PIRANHA 3D, but cheering for it. And it’s fantastic that so many critics are really getting the movie and recommending it. We can’t wait to get to work on the sequel.”

PIRANHA 3D opened with fantastic reviews from top critics like the ASSOCIATED PRESS and REUTERS, enjoying a very FRESH rating of 80-82% favorable reviews on the popular movie review site ROTTEN TOMATOES throughout it’s opening weekend. The movie has captured the attention of movie fans as well as elite media outlets like The Wall St. Journal, The Daily Beast and The Huffington Post. And taking Hollywood by surprise, PIRANHA 3D – via a partnership with Funny Or Die – is the subject of a much-talked about campaign to be named Best Picture of the year. Funny Or Die’s “For Your Consideration” video for PIRANHA 3D took the nation by storm last week. And, as announced over the weekend, Academy Award ® nominee and Piranha 3D heroine Elisabeth Shue will debut a brand new video in the coming days on Funny Or Die.

You can laugh and debate this news at your own peril.

Not sure if British import Kelly Brook (pictured) made it through the pic alive, but you can be sure that she is part of the reason for the clams this movie has earned thus far.  Share your thoughts below if you wish, just don’t get gobbled up by any flesh eating fish.

The most coveted female role in Hollywood has gone to a relative unknown.  Rooney Mara, whom director David Fincher helmed in the upcoming The Social Network, is set to star in his next film, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.  Based on the best-selling Stieg Larsson novel, the film is slated to be part of a trilogy for both the director and studio Columbia Pictures.

Mara beat out other stars such as Kristen Stewart, who worked with Fincher on Panic Room, and Natalie Portman, who refused to audition for him for this role.  Smart move on her part.  I think not.  Mara is the sister of better known (and hotter) actress Kate Mara (Brokeback Mountain, Iron Man 2) and has a lineage in football (you can look it up, her name will give it away to true football fans).

The Millenium Series of Larsson books have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide.  You can add Rooney to the list of ladies who should be making a household name for herself, with the likelihood of her being penciled in for all three films in the possible series as well.  The studio has already secured thespian Daniel Craig to co-star in the film.  So, share your thoughts on the big deal for this coveted role.  Source: Variety

Sylvester Stallone continues to have a career that has defied odds and expectations.  His latest movie, The Expendables, opened to a career box office high for the 64-year old actor at $35 million.  This success has spawned the inevitable sequel talk already.  He tells THR that a sequel is a definite possibility. While Sly says it has not yet been written, you can pretty much bank on it happening.  He says (of the sequel):

It’s plotted out in my mind’s eye. I believe this group has to continue to evolve; it just can’t become the same people. So how do you get new people introduced into the group, and how do you have some of the other people leaving? Those are the challenges.

I would tell Stallone (and assume this is his own mind telling him the same thing. “Challenges?  Challenges be damned. You are Sly Stallone!  Your entire career plays like your own Rocky movie.  You will make this film.”

I haven’t seen his latest film, nor do I know that I will.  But, I respect Sylvester very, very much. I think he is a creator trapped in the body of an illegally-roided up body.  I’m being serious on both fronts.  You can totally see a sequel happening, and while it would be in its entire infancy, you can expect it will happen.

So, who would you like to see added to the cast?  Assuming some of these guys died in the film (assumption on my part, I don’t know), who can reasonably come in a replace them?  (And if Sly somehow died or appeared dead in the film, I nominate brother Frank to fill in for him.  Simple.

Share your thoughts and we can write Sly’s script for him in the comments section.  Later.

Paramount Studios has picked up the movie rights for the yet to be released graphic novel, Last Man Standing.  Somewhat surprising, given the fact that it hasn’t been read by fans yet.  Still, with graphic novels being hot properties and events like Comic-Con 2010 building hype into the movies based on a lot of these works, I guess its not entirely unfeasible for something like this to happen.  Since I don’t know what it is about, and you are likely in the same boat, here is Daniel LuVisi of Heavy Metal publishing (the publisher of the novel) on what LMS is about, via JoBlo:

“Last Man Standing, or LMS, takes place 600 years in the future, in an alternate universe and is about Gabriel, this invincible soldier, who’s been created to help win a war Earth got itself too deep into with Mars. After Gabe wins the war, he comes back down to Earth and is celebrated as this incredible hero. From there, he becomes somewhat of a celebrity, a Superman of this story, but then it all takes a quick turn. Gabriel is framed for an atrocious crime, by a terrorist organization known as Pandemonium and their leader, Dante. He is then sent to Level-9 Facility, where he’ll spend the next nine years in the worst prison of all time. Once Gabriel breaks out, only then does his true story begin, and the lies and twists unravel.”

Sounds like an interesting concept to be honest.  Some of the artwork which the JoBlo article has displayed, appears to be quality work.  (I am not entirely knowledgable on these things, but you can head over there and take a look if you don’t take my word for it.  What do you think of the concept?  Original enough, sound intriguing, or been there, done that?  Holla.

Gerard Butler, star of RockNRolla and Law Abiding Citizen is in discussions to star in Slide, a movie based on Little League baseball with the idea it will be reworked into a film about soccer.  Doesn’t this sound on the surface like Kicking & Screaming, the Will Ferrell vehicle from a few years back?  It does when you hear that Butler would be a coach (ala Ferrell) with a questionable past and is a, as 24Frames tells it:

character comedy that centers on a troubled father trying to make up for lost time by coaching his son’s team — but who finds himself in hot water after some of the local mothers take a little too much of a shine to him (and he to them).

Now, I never saw Ferrell’s comedy, but this sounds awfully familiar.  Whereas the original concept would have been akin to Bad News Bears.

Soccer films don’t have a great box office rep, but one would think if done well, there is always hope, as soccer is the biggest youth sport in America, by far (if I recall).  Butler on the other hand, really hasn’t shown he can be a box office force, though many of his films have at least seen respectable results (often in part due to the co-star).  If Butler were to rock the Lion-O mane like in the header picture, it might be more interesting.

Gabrielle Muccino, the Will Smith-led Pursuit of Happyness director, is interested in helming.  This would lead one to believe perhaps it wouldn’t be such a funny film.

Not sure what to make of all this, it is still in the development stages with nothing locked down, so if it happens, I’ll let you know and we can evaluate it further.