Here is the latest in Movie News, Movie Casting, Movie Rumors from the last week in the Film Industry

Not surprisingly, this past week has been much about The Avengers, which broke the all-time opening weekend box office record for money earned this past week.

Also, to nobody’s surprise, Marvel/Disney announced that a sequel to the film is in the works. This was what they term in basketball as a “bunny”. No brainer.

Cameron Diaz is stepping into the “femme fatale” role inhabited by Angelina Jolie in Cormac McCarthy’s The Counselor. Remember The Road? Yeah, that was Cormac.

This guy is going to be joining Martin Scorcese’s The Wolf of Wall Street, opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. I never knew his name before.

There is a 10 Things I Hate About You sequel, which advances the original storyline, but stars Captain America‘s Hayley Atwell. I really liked the first film…13 years ago.

Here is a breakdown of the jury that will be deciding the Palme D’or at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Among the, Diane Jruger, Ewan McGregor and Alexander Payne. Diverse group.

Here is the latest in Movie News, Movie Casting, Movie Rumors from the last week in the Film Industry

Twi-hard’s can rejoice in the news that Robert Pattison has signed on for upcoming film Mission: Blacklist about the team that searched for and captured Saddam Hussein.

Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov has signed on to helm a blacklisted script Current War. It’s about a fight between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse over the development of electricity. Sounds an odd choice of director. Bekmambetov’s next film is due out in June, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

Jon Favreau is acting again. He joins the cast of Identity Thief. He’ll work with Jason Bateman, Amanda Peet in the Seth Gordon pic.

Pierce Brosnan joins Owen Wilson in The Coup. A thriller set in the middle east. Brosnan will be a mysterious government operative.

During this set visit of the upcoming James Bond film Skyfall, directed by Sam Mendes, Naomie Harris has a lot to say.

A Dukes of Hazzard reboot is in the works, with Jody Hill (“Eastbound & Down” creator) set to direct. Who doesn’t want to see this?

There is some news on a possible star in Michael Bay’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise reboot. So timely. Vanilla Ice may be back as well.

Here is the latest in Movie News, Movie Casting, Movie Rumors from the last week in the Film Industry

Elizabeth Banks is in – what is being billed as a pissing contest – with one of her first directors over the choice and quality of film. I don’t see this as that big of a deal.

Rooney Mara, star of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, has a lot on her plate. Now she takes over Carey Mulligan’s role in Spike Jonze’s next film.

Robert Rodriguez will direct Fire and Ice after he completes Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For. He also has said that Machete 2 will be happening.

ScarJo is not going to be in Iron Man 3, and Jessica Chastain is in talks to take her place it appears. ScarJo would like a Black Widow spin-off. I would like ScarJo’s top off as it turns out.

Owen Wilson is set up for an action drama The Coup, in which he’ll play a father in a foreign country embroiled in a coup. Well then…

CinemaCon moviegoers rip The Hobbit footage. Too bad, but there is plenty of time for improvement, me thinks.

Brother of Jeremy, Justin Lin, director of Fast and Furious, will direct and produce rom-com Chinglish. If a white guy were to direct this, there would be an uproar. Just sayin’.

Here is the latest in Movie News, Movie Casting, Movie Rumors from the last week in the Film Industry

In what should be shocking to noone, “Netflix subscriber growth may disappoint” stockholders. Considering their lame price hikes and PR blunders by Reed Hastings, not a surprise. Go Amazon Watch Instantly.

If you haven’t already seen Mel Gibson’s latest film Get The Gringo (which you haven’t – unless you saw it’s one night theatrical run last night) then you can on VOD starting May 1st.

Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom will open the Cannes film festival. The full list of films playing in competition is here.

Conversely, Woody Allen’s new foreign opus To Rome, With Love will open the Los Angeles Film Festival. If its anything like Vicky Cristina Barcelona, I’m there.

Gerard Butler is rumored to be close to signing on for Manhunt, about a guy with survivalist skills hiding out from the FBI in the wilderness, from The Crazies director.

Sin City 2, the sequel to the animated Robert Rodriguez hit, has Mickey Rourke and Rosario Dawson confirmed to return.

Last Vegas, a Hangover type of film written by Crazy. Stupid. Love. scribe Dan Fogelman is set to star Michael Douglas and Robert DeNiro. Good casting.

Christian Bale and Bradley Cooper look to talk some American Bullshit, with director David O. Russell in talks to direct.

Here is the latest in Movie News, Movie Casting, Movie Rumors from the last week in the Film Industry

The lead story of the week is that Gary Ross, who was rumored to be out of directing the Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire, is now officially out. Details abound.

Supermodel Kate Upton’s bikini in The Three Stooges is causing an uproar with The Catholic League. As someone who was raised catholic, I have no qualms with this typical nun attire. Very CCD-esque.

Children of Men director Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity, due later this year, has a 17-minute opening shot. Very intriguing, and odd, since we just discussed this topic here.

Mel Gibson’s Maccabee which was set to film has been put on hold due to conflicts with the script. Warner Bros may shelve the project or bring in a new writer. Stay tuned.

3 Mississippi, the football comedy that will reteam Will Ferrell with Mark Wahlberg (The Other Guys) lands a writer and director in Sean Anders and John Morris.

District 9 star Sharlto Copley has been offered a role in the Old Boy remake. He would be a villain opposite lead Josh Brolin. Spike Lee is on to direct, which worries us all.

Here is the latest in Movie News, Movie Casting, Movie Rumors from the last week in the Film Industry

Despite huge box office success, the Hunger Games sequel may not have writer/director Gary Ross back. This is very similar to Twilight‘s ouster of Catherine Hardwicke, should it happen.

A documentary on New York Knicks basketball sensation Jeremy Lin is being pitched to CAA by a filmmaker and friend of Lin’s. Though Linsanity has died down, a film on him is really all but inevitable in some form.

In Avatar 2 news, based on producer speak, it appears that the Christmas 2014 hopeful release date is no longer feasible.

Liam Neeson, who’s star is continuing to loom ever larger, consequently seems to be doing more cheesy fare. He is set to star in Non-Stop about a flight gone awry that he is on. I actually hope his cheesy roles, ala Battleship, do stop.

The Mummy is getting a reboot to it’s sterling franchise in a “dark, scary” way with plans to open it all on an “epic scale.”

Barry Levinson is looking at doing a Hammerin’ Hank Aaron biopic, about the “former” home run baseball King. All records are now held by superior hitter Barry Bonds, even if cream and clear aided him.

It’s been reported that Ashton Kutcher is set to play recently deceased Apple head Steve Jobs and “NO, I don’t like it one bit.” This is a horrendous casting idea. Truly sad.

Elisha Cuthbert tells THR that the long planned 24 movie, based on the hit TV series, has been delayed yet again. She reports that it “doesn’t mean that it’s not going to happen.”

Here is the latest in Movie News, Movie Casting, Movie Rumors from the last week in the Film Industry

It gets no better than a sequel to hallowed film Twins with Triplets in the works. The original starred obvious twins Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Twins sequel Triplets will have an even more obvious third sibling, Eddie Murphy. Hilarity will ensue.

The Captain America sequel has a shortlist of directors who are in line to helm the potential hit. The finalists include: George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau), F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job), and Anthony and Joseph Russo (Welcome to Collinwood).

Grown Ups 2, another sequel to a comedy “hit”…Adam Sandler’s Grown Ups, adds Project X actor Oliver Cooper to the cast. Yawn.

Ben Affleck will star in political film Nathan Decker. This was a role that originally had Tom Cruise attached. Affleck will play a rising politico star whose career tumbles after news of an affair breaks.

Will Ferrell announces an Anchorman sequel on Conan O’Brien show. Anchorman 2 would be a sequel to what is probably the actors most beloved film.

The creator of AMC’s adored “Mad Men” will direct an Owen Wilson and Zack Galifiniakis romantic comedy called You Are Here. I don’t think it is to be confused with the seminal Are We There Yet? with Ice Cube, but you never know.

Here is the latest in Movie News, Movie Casting, Movie Rumors from the last week in the Film Industry

Jurassic Park 3D is coming to theaters next year. This continues what will undoubtedly be a trend of older films being rereleased with the new technology, despite not being shot in the native format. See Titanic 3D for more.

The sexy Jessica Biel joins Scarlett Johannson and Anthony Hopkins for upcoming self-explanatory titled film Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho.

Director Darren Aronofsky will begin shooting Noah in July with Russell Crowe set to star as the fabled ark owner. Aronofsky also wrote the film, which should be cool to see with him putting a unique spin on the classic tale.

In comedy news, there is Hell Baby, a film about a demonic baby in the womb of star Leslie Bibb and husband Rob Corddry. Sounds like a hoot.

Comedians Kevin Hart and Seth Rogen are set to star in a buddy cop film about “the first (fictional) interracial police partners, who infiltrate the post-World War II jazz scene to investigate a drug ring,” Great.

Chronicle director Josh Trank is on board to helm video game and graphic novel adaptation The Red Star at Warner Bros. While you’re hot, you gotta cash in.

Here is the latest in Movie News, Movie Casting, Movie Rumors from the last week in the Film Industry

It’s always great when you see a column stating that the losses of a movie may not be “as bad as feared.” Such is the case with the debacle known as Disney’s John Carter.

And just like that, Jake Gyllenhaal is out of Albert Hughes’ Motor City and Jeremy Renner is talking about taking the lead. Does anyone want this role? First Chris Evans, the Dominic Cooper, then Jake…

Speaking of Renner, he was in talks for the role Brad Pitt is now eyeballing. That of Cormac McCarthy’s The Counselor lead Westray, to be directed by Ridley Scott. And it’s those last words that make me feel down about the project.

More dudes in the news, as Colin Farrell (now underrated as an actor) is looking to fill a lead role in Arthur and Lancelot. Directed by David Dobkin from his own script.

Independent filmmakers can take note of the success of The Duplass Brothers. They eschew convention to create their own path. Their latest Jeff, Who Lives at Home continues to serve notice.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorcese remain co-conspirators with them both committing to The Wolf of Wall Street for an August start date. Good news I suspect.

Here is the latest in Movie News, Movie Casting, Movie Rumors from the last week in the Film Industry

And just like that, Project X and Journey to the Center of the Earth are getting sequels. No brainer on the first I assume, but the latter will be on it’s thirs leg now.

Jake Gyllenhaal is set to replace Dominic Cooper in Motor City, directed by Albert Hughes. The revenge flick cast already includes Gary Oldman and Amber Heard.

To add another potential thorn in Netflix’s side David Fincher, who is set to direct the first two episodes of House of Cards, which Netflix ordered 26 total episodes of in their attempted move into the content business, is pissed and ready to walk over $$.

Emma Watson gets Judd Apatow’s wife Leslie Mann added to the cast for Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring. The film is about a gang of thieves who rob the Beverly Hills elite (me!) to gain fame.

Canada is giving Bully a PG rating, even though MPAA has it rated R in the U.S.A. Recently, 200,00 signatures from U.S. citizens were given to the MPAA to change the rating. This batttle still doesn’t sound like it’s over.

Forest Whitaker will play the titular role in The Butler, directed by Lee Daniels, who helmed Precious. Oprah is also rumored to be interested in a role about the White House butler.

In older news, Jason Statham will star in Brian DePalma’s Heat, a remake of the ’86 film, not Michael Mann’s beloved classic.