Obligatory Michael Caine/Batman 3 Statement #5123456224

Oh Lord, Michael Caine is talking about The Dark Knight Rises. Yet again.

OK, so it sounds like he's not A) blowing smoke up the interviewer's ass and/or B) has no idea what he's talking about and rattling on. No, actually this sounds legit – probably because it's info we've all guesstimated/assumed as time has rolled along on the third Batman movie.

Long story short, he told Empire:

"Emma [Thomas], the producer, said we'd get the script in January. Christopher said: 'Script in January, shoot in May, finish in November.'"

Basically this seemingly confirms our suspicions both The Dark Knight Rises and Superman: The Man of Steel (both scheduled for 2012 releases) will be filming concurrently. So don't expect to see much of Christopher Nolan on the Superman set – probably a drop-by visit, and I'd guarantee there'll be a picture taken (and posted everywhere online next year) of Nolan, Zack Snyder and whomever is the new Supes in costumes on set.

In the meantime, enjoy this most humorous Caine-off as you wait for both comic tentpoles to begin lensing.

Bill the Butcher Freed the Slaves

WOW.

In a great surprise not only is Lincoln going to be Steven Spielberg's next directorial go-around after all, but they've secured their honest Abe: Daniel Day-Lewis. Dare I say is that an upgrade from Liam Neeson, who would have done good work, or what? That's some brilliant casting!

All of us were under the planned biopic on the 16^th U.S. President had fallen the wayside after Neeson (who'd be attached to play the title role for years) dropped out. Spielberg's schedules was also pretty full with his current post-production work on Tintin and Warhorse (both hitting next Christmas stateside) and his plans to direct Robopocalypse in early 2012.

Production will commence next fall for a reported fourth-quarter 2012 release date. Translation: Christmas 2012 in time for awards consideration.

Superman Casting Underway!

According to the fine folks at Toldja! the casting for the new Superman reboot is currently underway. Which may not come as much surprise, but what may shock and even disappoint some is the age bracket they apparently plan to stay in and around. Their plan is to cast a relatively unknown actor in and around 28-32. Both Chris Reeve and Brandon Routh fit the same bill when cast as the Man of Steel in their previous efforts as well. As much as a few fans would love to see it doesn't however seem like there's a chance in hell of Routh returning to the role for the reboot. What also might bum a few people out is the alleged age bracket will actually disqualify John Hamm as a possible candidate as previously reported here first.

Among the names of the actors mentioned in the report were my personal favorite for the role Joe Manganiello of the popular HBO series True Blood, Armie Hammer who was most recently in The Social Network and was at one point cast as Batman in the thankfully now dead Justice League Mortal, and the least known and literally smallest was Ian Somerhalder of The Vampire Diaries.

Regardless of who's cast in the role I'm definately confident in Snyder's ability to cast based on authenticity, just look at Watchmen as a perfect example of a graphic novel literally brought to life. I'm expecting we'll likely hear something more concrete before the new year, however I think it's also easily possible that they'll hold off on announcing anything else until after more news regarding The Dark Knight Rises or even more likely next years Green Lantern surfaces first.

Harry Potter Stars Go American

In a welcome change from hearing reporters ask the Harry Potter cast for the umpteenth time this week how sad they are now that the movies are nearly at the end, MTV's Josh Horowitz had some fun asking the film's British stars to have a go at saying random phrases with American accents, providing much hilarity:

My respect for Daniel Radcliffe definitely went up a few points at his reluctance to say "Glenn Beck" in any accent.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 arrives in theaters in just a few short hours now and is looking at a monster opening weekend at the box offce, having sold out more than 3000 midnight screenings across the US and selling more than $30 million in advance tickets.  Should be interesting to see how many records it manages to break this weekend.

Movie Moan TV - 'In Bruges' (2007)

Queen Kristina finally joins the 'moan of the week' club with her pick of the hilarious, touching, morbid, absurd, violent and very, very sweary film 'In Bruges'.

Join her, Phil Gee and Jamie Williams for an in-depth look at one of the best films about depressed Irish hitmen ever made (definitely within the top three anyhow):

Robert Downey Jr. Vacates Gravity

Scheduling conflicts have stopped Robert Downey Jr. from participating in Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity, Heat Vision reports.

Reports first surfaced last month of his exiting the supporting role, but the studio was quick to cry "Bullshit!" But what else were they going to say? So here we are today, and the space-set thriller officially has no big-name second banana. He's instead circling a film-version of How to Talk to Girls at Fox – remember that non-fiction book written by a 10 year old who was shitting his britches when Downey was having his troubles a decade ago?

Adding further troubles to Gravity, a deal has still not been finalized with Sandra Bullock to star after a long search for the lead including Angelina Jolie (rejected offers at least twice, that we know of, right off the bat) and Natalie Portman (who also said, "Thanks, but no thanks!")

Perhaps I'm jumping the gun. But my gut says Gravity ultimately won't happen, and that's very disappointing. Prove me wrong, movie gods!

Robert Zemeckis Isn't Headed For Oz

Remaking a perfect movie? Not the best idea in the world.

When we're talking about a universally beloved movie (one that generations have grown up adoring since the 1940s), that's when you hear genuine groans from both nerds like us and the general public alike when the term "remake" is batted around. And that was just the reaction when news hit the fan of Robert Zemeckis being in talks with Warner Brothers for a Wizard of Oz remake, itself a remake if we're going to get specific.

But if any filmmaker is off-their-rocker enough to take on an Oz remake, it won't be Bob Z. His publicist whole-heartedly confirmed he won't be taking directing duties to Entertainment Weekly. Although a meeting between him and the studios occurred – which was basically what "TOLDJA" (where the item originated) said.

If he rejected Superman like he claims (Get the impression it was the other way around), what would make a Wizard of Oz remake better? He'll instead focus his attention on a project of equal "Ugh, really?" status – the motion-capture Yellow Submarine update at Disney.

"The Kids Are All Right" DVD Release Party

“One critic described THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT as ‘overflowing with love’.  I love that description, how it captures the emotional authenticity and feeling of the film. And I think that truthfulness along with the extraordinary quality of the filmmaking and acting and the fact the movie is highly entertaining make it a must own Blu-ray this holiday season.”  - David Brooks, President Worldwide Marketing, Focus Features

The Kids Are All Right is a “generous, nearly note-perfect portrait of a modern family” (Manohla Dargis, The New York Times).  Directed by Lisa Cholodenko (Laurel Canyon) from an original screenplay that she wrote with Stuart Blumberg (Keeping the Faith), The Kids Are All Right stars Academy Award® nominees Annette Bening (American Beauty) and Julianne Moore (Boogie Nights).  Nic (Bening) and Jules (Moore) are a suburban couple raising their two teens, Joni (Mia Wasikowska, Alice in Wonderland) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson, Journey to the Center of the Earth), in Southern California.  But when the kids track down their “donor dad” Paul (Mark Ruffalo, Shutter Island), an unexpected new chapter begins for everyone as family ties are defined, re-defined and then re-re-defined.

Acclaimed as “funny, smart and sexy” (Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly), the Focus Features release The Kids Are All Right debuts on Blu-RayTM, DVD, Digital Download and On-Demand on November 16, 2010 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.  Prepare to fall in love with the big-hearted hit comedy that critics are calling “one of the best films of the year” (Michael Phillips, At the Movies).

Denis Leary To Captain "Spider-Man"

The interesting casting for "Spider-Man Starts" is getting even more interesting. According to the eye scorchers over at Heat Vision, Boston area's own Denis Leary is set to play the role of Captain Stacy in the upcoming reboot. The Captain is the father of Gwen Stacy who Emma Stone's funny ass will be playing.

Nobody is really sure how involved Leary's character will be in the script. That is because the script is somewhere in the bowels of Hollywood and Marc Webb has the key surgically stitched into his abdomen. There are some self-proclaimed insiders on minor league forums who would like you to think they read it, but they're blowing smoke.

Speaking of smoke, funny that Leary is going from a firefighter to a cop. What a gentleman. Can we expect a Lenny Clarke cameo?

Shocker! Paranormal Activity 3 Is On The Way

Well it shouldn't surprise anyone that Oren Peli has some more home video mayhem planned for next year:  Dread Central is reporting that Paranormal Activity 3 is not only officially happening, it's already got a release date:  October 21, 2011.

A third film makes total sense.  With a reported budget of just $3 million, Paranormal Activity 2 has already grossed a stellar $156 million worldwide.  Domestically it's earned nearly twice that of the latest Saw film.  It's got a solid fanbase that will certainly show up again to find out whatever happened to creepy possessed Katie and baby Hunter. 

And if we're lucky, they'll leave Micah out completely this time.