It’s been quite a while since the world’s most famous rapper Eminem, made his acting debut in the smash hit 8 Mile in 2002.  Remarkably, even though the film was successful and his performance was widely praised, he has not hit the big screen since.  That might all be about to change with a report from Production Weekly’s twitter feed stating that:

Eminem & Frances McDormand are in talks to join Rachel Weisz & Anthony Hopkins in the Fernando Meirelles sex-themed drama ‘360’

This is merely a tweet, which has subsequently been removed but it is certainly an intriguing one at that.  Eminem, McDormand, Weisz, Hopkins make for a potentially wild cast.  Throw in the “sex-theme’, Meirelles strong, avant-garde filmmaking (with his City of God among the finer films of the last decade), and who knows what might come out of it.

At this point nothing is concrete, so it has to be chalked up to rumor and speculation. Still, intriguing news for film and Eminem fans.  Let me know what you think of the rumor.

Since the debut of Sherlock Holmes last year, the re-imagined classic character cum-action film by Guy Ritchie (RockNRolla), there has been rampant speculation about who will play the character of Moriarity in the sequel.  The most common rumor was that Brad Pitt had been tapped for the role, and that he even had a cameo in the original, but nobody ever knew it because he was constantly in the shadows and you could never tell with certainty.  Alas, that was indeed hearsay as the role has gone to none other than, wait for it, wait for it…Jared Harris.  Yes, that household name.

Well, if you don’t know, Harris has had roles in a number of films, including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (a Pitt-led film coincidentally) but is most known for his role in AMC’s Mad Men (on the idiot box).  The details via Deadline:

The website Latino Review got the drop on the festering question of who would play arch-nemesis Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes 2. It will be Jared Harris, the son of Richard Harris and a Mad Men cast member. Rumors were the studio was looking to star cast for the role, with Daniel Day-Lewis and Colin Firth mentioned. Jude Law reprises, while Noomi Rapace and Stephen Fry are in the cast, the latter playing Holmes’ older brother…

This has to be a bit of a letdown for many, who were hoping that Pitt or even Day-Lewis would add some star wattage to the sequel, but alas, I guess Robert Downey Jr. will be fending off the villainous ways of Harris instead.  Let me know what you think of the casting choice, since I really don’t know much about the man or his skills.

Underworld, the werewolves and vampires actoin-horror franchise is set to return for its forth movie installment.  With that triumphant move, Kate Beckinsale, who was absent from the last film in the series, replaced by Rhona Mitra, is set to make a return to the series as well in Underworld 4.  There is yet to be a director attached to the film and there is a casting search for someone to play the daughter of Seline (Beckinsale’s character).  Shooting is set to start in March 2011.

The series essentially launched Kate’s career, at least into a greater stratosphere, but interestingly, she still has yet to truly breakout.  You still see her in more complimentary roles or in smaller films, and her attempt at anchoring the graphic novel Whiteout fizzled badly as if caught in a snowstorm.  I guess audiences find her “just interesting enough” as it were.

I think the recent box office success of Milla Jovovich’s Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D has probably got the wheels turning faster on this project.  It makes sense that Kate would return, the franchise has grossed more than $300 million worldwide and production budgets have generally been held at no more than $35 million.  I’ll let you know if any more interesting developments take place regarding the film.  Source: HVB

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.

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.

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

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.

While we still don’t know who is going to be cast in the red-hot female lead role in the upcoming David Fincher film The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, we do know that Daniel Craig has been added to the cast for the possible trilogy.  From Comingsoon:

ComingSoon.net has confirmed that Daniel Craig will star in David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on Stieg Larsson’s posthumously published crime thriller trilogy, “The Millennium Series.” The deal includes two sequels based on The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest.

Craig will play a key journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, in the films.  As journalists are want to do, he stirs up dirt and generally uncovers of a lot of corruption in the film.

Craig is a fine addition to any cast, so this is just another feather in the cap of the film at this point.  I’ll keep you abreast of more news on the project as it makes its way to me.

Edward Norton‘s Bruce Banner is no more.  Oh, wait, we already knew that?  Fine.  But what we didn’t know was who was going to step into the role of Banner and alter ego The Hulk for the upcoming The Avengers movie and quite possibly more films.  That answer has now been made known to us. The Hulk is Mark Ruffalo, of Shutter Island fame.  Deadline Hollywood‘s Nikki Finke reports:

I’ve just learned the ink is drying on the deal reached by Brillstein Entertainment Partners with Marvel. (There’s no official confirmation yet from Marvel whose reps aren’t available for their usual “No comment”.) So it looks like Marvel movie mastermind Kevin Feige may pull this off and bring Ruffalo along with other of The Avengers superheroes and director Joss Whedon to tomorrow night’s panel at Comic-Con.

It doesn’t matter what anyone is saying on record, this is in all likelihood, very much a done deal.  So, while I was sad to see Norton go, I give Marvel kudos for the addition of Ruffalo, a solid actor, who lacks the star-punch of other names but still should be very capable in the role.  The history of The Hulk role in films has now seen Eric Bana, Edward Norton and Mark Ruffalo, all playing the Hulk in a matter of less than a decade.  Not so good in terms of continuity, but not so bad in terms of quality of actor.  I hesitate to suggest that Ruffalo is a step up above Norton, but he is also not a significant step down, if at all.  So, I think this is in overall terms, pretty good news.

Additionally, you probably noted in Finke’s statement, Joss Whedon will direct The Avengers.  I admittedly met this news with a shrug.  I don’t know much about him.  How could I, when he is known for TV’s Buffy The Vampire Slayer.  You don’t expect me to have intimate knowledge of that fluff, do you?  Feel free to chime in with your thoughts on The Avengers director and Hulk’s new star.  I am curious to hear what you think.