New "Smurfs" Poster

The forest creatures stumble upon a magic portal that transports them to Central Park in a modern day New York City. They run into a married couple and beg them for help to escape the evil Gargamel  who’s trying to capture them so they can be used in his magic.

Smurfs Poster Courtesy Of Coming Soon

"Battle: Los Angeles" Poster

For years, there have been documented cases of UFO sightings around the world – Buenos Aires, Seoul, France, Germany, China. But in 2011, what were once just sightings will become a terrifying reality when Earth is attacked by unknown forces. As people everywhere watch the world's great cities fall, Los Angeles becomes the last stand for mankind in a battle no one expected. It's up to a Marine staff sergeant (Eckhart) and his new platoon to draw a line in the sand as they take on an enemy unlike any they've ever encountered before. 

Poster Courtesy Of Coming Soon

Tim McGraw Joins Safe House

Country-star Tim McGraw was one of those breed of singers/performers who shocked the Hell out of everyone and proved he legitimately had the chops. Of those films of his I've seen, he delivered the goods in Friday Night Lights, The Kingdom and even crap like Four Christmases. Also heard he was solid in last year's smash How to Train Your Black Man, or The Blind Side as it's called stateside.

He's currently in the midst of negotiating to join Daniel Espinosa's action-thriller Safe House, says THR. Our very-own Peter Georgiou read the script awhile back, and gave it good marks.

If a deal is reached, he'll play the mentor figure to Ryan Reynolds' CIA agent whose trying to take a highly-coveted prisoner (played by Denzel Washington) to a second safe house after their first is attacked.

Ten Year Filling Up Its Cast

Ironically, ran into an old high school pal the other day. Seeing him was a nice surprise in my daily routine. Which makes this item ironic because it shan’t be too long before yours truly has his ten year high school reunion. But beside a few people (including the afore-mentioned gentleman), I'm not keen to see old class mates married with pups while I'm...not.

Speaking of, Risky Business has casting updates on the ensemble drama Ten Year, from screenwriter Jamie Linden (We Are Marshall) making his directorial debut. It looks like the male side of the equation is filled with the likes of Brian Geraghty, Justin Long, Anthony Mackie, Chris Pratt, Chris Pine, Scott Porter and Channing Tatum onboard.

That still leaves those for the ladies, and Lynn Collins and Rosario Dawson are the latest to join along with Jenna Dewan, Anna Faris and Kate Mara.

Production starts this month down in New Mexico. Considering a number of cast-members have high-profile gigs on docket, this'll probably be a quick shoot.

Superman Headed to Canada

Logically speaking, I assumed either Canada or the United Kingdom would be the primary home for filming on Zack Snyder's Superman: The Man of Steel. Most of his productions (except for 300, correct me if I'm wrong) have lensed up in the Great White North, so most likely that's where the Man of Steel would return.

But you know logic be damned. I was hoping the new Superman reboot would come down here after Green Lantern (and The Dark Knight Rises coming damn close) went over so well.

Alas the Globe & Mail report that logic trumps all. Superman is headed to Canada – Vancouver, to be specific:

"'[Zack Snyder's] next feature's coming here,' said Peter Leitch, chair of the Motion Picture Production Industry Association of BC and president of North Shore Studios and Mammoth Studios.

Leitch would not name Superman: Man of Steel as the film in question, but a source has confirmed that the next film in the Superman franchise will be shot in Vancouver next year, with production likely beginning in the summer."

All I have to say to that is "Damn it" and I'm sure I'll hear more this coming Sunday from my pal Lou.

Paul Theatrical Trailer

The theatrical trailer for Paul is here courtesy of Yahoo! UK. There's no embed file, so you'll have to check it out over there.

I'll admit the initial teaser was enjoyable, and there's no denying the great talent involved – director Greg Mottola and starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kristen Wiig, Jason Bateman, Bill Hader and the voice of Seth Rogen, among others.

This new trailer is OK. I suppose.

My gut instinct is the Internet will once again over-blow expectations to 11. This feels like a "For Nerds Only" kinda movie. Not a bad thing to be, but the general public is going to have to show some interest or else, and I don't get the impression they will. Cut to: the loud cries of fans crying, "WHAT HAPPENED!?!" if the sci-fi comedy bombs next year.

Basically, a repeat of what we just went through with Kick-Ass and Scott Pilgrim.

Eric Bana Up For Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Just this morning it was reported (via NOLA) that New Orleans would be the primary shooting location for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Doesn't sound like a particularly good idea for a movie in my opinion, and yes, I'm aware it's based on a popular novel. But if that means jobs for my local film economy, then bring it on.

With such a short time to go, that would imply director Timur Bekmambetov has either secured his honest Abe or coming damn-close to doing so.

According to The Wrap, it's the latter with Eric Bana circling the role and expected to meet with Bekmambetov soon enough.

My real concern here, as I suggested on the Hole Cast, is by the time this hits cinemas (June 22, 2012) along with the controversial Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot and the final Twilight movie will the vampire craze have died out? Don't know if the notion of our 16th President going all Wesley Snipes (killing the undead - not tax evasion) will be that intriguing for audiences.

George Clooney Boards Gravity

All that talk about losing Robert Downey Jr. looked to be the killing stroke for Gravity, Alfonso Cuaron's space-set thriller. Even with a big-name like Sandra Bullock headlining, Warner Brothers rightfully wanted someone else to help sell the project abroad and Downey's forced exit (The old "conflicting schedules" predicament, gentlemen) was the latest of many hurdles it's faced. It just looked like it would forever rot in Development Hell.

But salvation has come in the form of a leading man both Cuaron and Warner Brothers have agreed upon and now George Clooney has stepped into the role, reports Heat Vision.

Production is aiming for a spring 2011 start once Clooney wraps on his next directorial feature, Ides of March with Paul Giamatti and Ryan Gosling.

What's ironic about this (although don't interpret this as me bitching) is Clooney isn't really that big a box-office draw. That in itself makes you scratch your head about WB's justifiably Hell-bent position of wanting mega-stars to ensure this expensive, and ambitious, movie will make money.

But again I'm not complaining. I've been looking forward to anything Cuaron has cooking upstairs.

Miramax & Weinsteins Developing Sequels to Stock-Library Hits

The Disney-less Miramax has struck a deal with The Weinstein Company to produce sequels across-the-board to past glories like Bad Santa, Rounders and Shakespeare in Love, among others. Said agreement also includes a multitude of potential theatrical and direct-to-video follow-ups or television-incarnations of properties ranging from Bridget Jones's Diary, Swingers and Clerks.

As our pals at Pajiba pointed out, just how many of these actually get made is the real question. The two have Scream 4 and Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World set for release next year. Perhaps they're waiting to see if either click with audiences like they once did a decade prior: the former doubtful, the latter I could see doing well.

You can't help but smell that reek of desperation. Television has become a dominant force for quality writing with many arguing its trumped theatrical releases. It's not hard to imagine watching Bridget Jones as a BBC series or even Kevin Smith's Clerks.

But giving the world Shakespeare in Love 2? Come on, guys.

Superman Lives Test Footage! Your Eyes Will Bleed!

Sometimes when things are tough in life, I get down on my knees and say, "Well, at least Tim Burton didn’t make Superman!"

It's getting repetitive reporting on the latest batch of photos coming from FX artist Steve Johnson. But still it's mind-numbingly fascinating to see such a disaster in front of our eyes and wonder if the filmmakers involved realized that. Or were they genuinely shocked when Warner Brothers pulled the plug on the unmade Superman Lives, to be directed by Burton and starring Nicolas Cage in the title role, back in 1997.

This time, Johnson has provided video test footage from one of several suits, to be used in the film, in action (via Topless Robot and Collider). Marvel in its sheer level of "What the fuck were they thinking?"

Meanwhile back to the rational side of things Superman-related, Zachary Levi reaffirmed his non-status as the next cinematic Man of Steel to Movie Hole in a tongue-in-cheek manner:

"I've already turned them down. Seems like kinda a stiff part!"

Not exactly who I think will end up wearing the red cape, but he has the charm (and acting) factor in his favor. Also being tall and lanky didn't stop Christopher Reeve from being dismissed either – fuck you very much, picky fanboys.