Bridget Jones 3 Is/Isn't In Trouble

Just goes to show you studios will cry foul, any time any info of any troubled projects get out, even the smaller-scale, non-popcorn summer crowd-pleasers that don't have hundreds of millions of dollars into the productions and tie-in deals with McDonalds and Coca-Cola.

THR leaked trouble was amiss on Bridget Jones' Baby, the third Bridget Jones movie with Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant that they figured they'd trick you into wanting to see eight years after the crappy The Edge of Reason. The Intel is the script isn't working to the point of a number of key players, with Grant, leading the charge, asking for a delay of their start-date (lensing was supposed to start in a couple of weeks):

"According to several insiders, Grant has been especially vocal in his displeasure with the script, credited to David Nicholls and author Helen Fielding. It's unclear whether he refused to shoot the film (his deal is signed, says a source) or whether he simply expressed his dissatisfaction. Regardless, producers have decided not to proceed until the issues can be resolved."

Cut to barrage of "NU-UH!" reports coming officially out of Working Title Films, here from Coming Soon:

"Reports that Hugh Grant has exited 'Bridget Jones's Baby' are untrue. We are still working on the script, hence the delay to the start of production, but the film is going ahead as planned."

Fellas, the trades never said Grant quit the movie and, outside of that, you just confirmed everything they scooped? It looks like Working Title may have just showed their hand. Or they could be telling the truth since studios never, ever lie about these kind of things. Ever.

The Evil Dead Remake Will Swallow Shiloh Fernandez's Soul

There's a new male lead set for The Evil Dead. His name isn't Ash nor is he being played by an actor distinguishable by his chin, machismo charm and being physically abused by Sam Raimi.

Variety says Shiloh Fernandez will fight off his friends-turned-Deadites in the horror remake. Still remains to be seen who will play the female lead Mia (originally lined up for Lily Collins, now vacant, said to be the main character of the piece) and while the trades don't go into the specifics of his character, like his name. We're all under the impression the Red Riding Hood actor is playing Mia's brother David.

If You Watched the First Hunger Games Trailer, Then You've Seen the Second One Already

Seeing the first Hunger Games theatrical trailer in front of several films this Holiday season made me rethink my negative first-reaction. While it relies solely on all build-up/no pay-off of the actual Hunger Games (i.e. kids killing one another), the more I saw it on the big screen, the more I was intrigued. Still not so sure that was a wise decision, marketing wise, but I've come around to admit I was wrong with how I initially felt with the footage.

With that said, I assumed the second theatrical trailer, dropped closer to its March 23 release, would sell the action this time to the many still unsure of its pre-ordained hugness status, something I myself am guilty of doing. Well, here is that trailer, courtesy of Yahoo! Movies, falling a little over a month until its theatrical release for your viewing pleasure:

Not to be cynical or lone voice of descent, but what we just watched was nothing more than a condensed version of the trailer we've had available to see for months. Lionsgate will probably unleash one more action-geared trailer at the start of next month if I had to guess. But why that risk this late into the game?

Russell Crowe Up for Darren Aronofsky's Noah

I get the distant impression if his career wasn't where it is now (Your hot-headedness and general "difficulty" to work with bleeding into bad PR and thus your box-office track-record is in the toilet), we wouldn’t be seeing Russell Crowe in The Man of Steels and, per our pal Jeff Sneider, possibly Robocops. I mean, wasn't this the same guy who, allegedly, shot down playing Wolverine circa 1999? Maybe I'm dead wrong and he loves commercial fluff full of explosions, special effects and one-liners for reasons past the exposure and fat paychecks, but looking at his resume doesn't suggest it.

He's said to be Darren Aronofsky's pick to play the title role in his Noah's Ark epic, the appropriately-titled Noah, reports "TOLDJA." This, on the other hand, I could see Crowe doing ten years ago back during his career salad-days of winning Oscars and running around with Meg Ryan. Not a done deal, but signs are pointing in that direction.

Given Crowe's baggage these days, you have to tip your hat to the investors willing to take the risk putting this squarely on his shoulders. Then again, he's always been a great actor. Maybe if he plays nice long enough, his bad image will blow over?

Does Switch Really Have to be a Jackie Brown Prequel?

Not trying to step on Variety's toes here. The guys running the ship since Fleming bailed are doing a great job running neck-in-neck against TOLDJA in the scoopage department. I'm just wondering if...well...the trades report indie actor John Hawles will star alongside Yasiin Bey (the artist formerly known as Mos Def) in Switch, an adaptation of the novel by Elmore Leonard, for screenwriter/director Dan Schechter.

Hawles and Bey are playing Louis Gara and Ordel Robbie. This is of significance since those characters later appeared in the Leonard novel Rum Punch. You may know better by its cinematic version Jackie Brown, as penned and helmed by Quentin Tarantino, with Louis and Ordel played, memorably I'd add, by Robert De Niro and Samuel L. Jackson.

They're saying this film, centering on Louis and Ordel's ill-fated kidnapping of a real estate developer's wife, will be a direct prequel to the Tarantino film, and if you've seen it, you know what becomes of the criminals. Don't see the point of "bridging" this to Jackie Brown when it isn't necessary.

Just wondering if this will ultimately be as linked to Jackie Brown as say Manhunter is connected to Silence of the Lambs.

Phantom Menace in 3D: The Kids Are Gonna Love It

It's hard to believe that Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is nearly 13 years old...probably because so many people are still bitching about like it just came out yesterday.  But even more unbelievable is that we have reached the point where there is now an entire generation of Star Wars-loving kids who have never seen this movie (or any of the others) on the big screen. 

These little Padawans live in a world where there have always been six Star Wars movies, where Greedo has always shot first, where Hayden Christensen's ghostly image appears at the end of Return of the Jedi, and where the Death Star has always had that stupid ring around it when it blows up.  They have Star Wars Legos, and a kickass weekly animated series.  And they will also always correct me every damn time that I refer to Episode IV as "the first one".

But having been a Star Wars-loving kid myself, I do get a kick of how much they love it now.  Frankly, they're much more fun to talk Star Wars with than the 40-year-old in the Boba Fett pajamas still crying about Jar Jar.  And they will finally be getting their chance to see the movies on the big screen - in glorious 3D, no less - starting next week when Phantom Menace returns to theaters.

The official Star Wars YouTube Channel has posted this super kid-friendly trailer for the movie to get them (and maybe some of us big kids) excited for the 3D re-release.  The preview is not in 3D, obviously...but just envision the podracers coming right at you and you'll get the general idea of how this will look in 3D:

And for those of you groaning that we have to put up with the prequels in 3D:  patience, young Jedi.  We will be getting the original films re-released in 3D as well.  Granted, that won't happen until 2015, so...have a lot of patience, young Jedi.

Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace 3D opens in theaters on February 10th.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation Super Bowl Spot Is More of the Same - In A Good Way

Doesn't matter what I, your never-so-humble correspondent or any other movie-news writer/commentator online, think of G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Most of us were pre-sold on it, and that trailer with visions of dead Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson taking over, mountain-climbing ninja duels and Cobra taking over the White House planting their flag and all, sealed the deal.

But it will be interesting to see how Joe Sixpack reacts to this Super Bowl spot highlighting more Johnson, more Bruce Willis (No cholesterol puns, thankfully) and the wonders of Jay-Z. And yeah look, there's Cobra Commander too!

The Dictator Super Bowl Spot Is As Unfunny As Trailer

Don't expect a red-band, filth-ridden commercial with Sacha Baron Cohen doing anything outrageous.

Except for referencing Transformers, the Super Bowl and NBC, this Dictator ad is no different from the trailer Paramount released last Christmas, and just as unfunny.

Robocop Remake Is Being Written

The Robocop remake, that when you take a cold hard look can't be any worse than anything they've ever done to the franchise since the original Paul Verhoeven film from '87, has a writer. Nick Schenk, according to Heat Vision, will put pen to paper about flesh and steel for helmer Jose Padilha.

Presumably dosed with over-the-top violence, satire and all the Christ-allegory for everyone's taste, except he'll run this time?

Bane Ready to Destroy Gotham After His Diaper Change

Could you imagine how the public would react to Bane breaking Batman's back or Catwoman stealing stuff in The Dark Knight Rises if they looks like this?! Audiences would be more likely coo them than be intimidated.

The toys, pictures courtesy of Hero Complex, come from a line called Pop! Heroes, and since I'm childless, I have no idea what those are. It's intentionally making these character look babyish, right? Might have to ask my buddy Justin and his wife Deborah if they know anything about this, being they're geek parents themselves.

Just goes to show you not only matter how dark Christopher Nolan, and every filmmakers to follow after him, takes Batman, there's still a buck to made from little kids (and their parents buying the crap for them) who don't associate the character with being dark.