"Arthur Christmas" Voice Cast Revealed

James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, and Ashley Jensen, have joined the voice cast of the 3D, CG-animated family comedy, Arthur Christmas. The film, produced by Aardman Animations for Sony Pictures Animation, is slated for release November 23, 2011.

Set on Christmas night, the story of Arthur Christmas at last reveals the incredible, never-before seen answer to every child's question: 'So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?' The answer: Santa's exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But at the heart of the film is a story with the ingredients of a Christmas classic – a family in a state of comic dysfunction and an unlikely hero, Arthur, with an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns.

McAvoy leads the cast as Arthur, the good-natured but clumsy younger son of Santa. Arthur LOVES everything to do with Christmas; indeed, he is the only one in his family still captivated by the magic of the holiday. Laurie will play Arthur's older brother Steve, heir to the reins, a cool, incredibly capable guy who has given the North Pole high-tech efficiency, military-style precision. Broadbent plays Santa, who pictures himself as the guy in charge at the North Pole, but is now more of a figurehead as the operation has outgrown him. Nighy plays Santa's 136-year-old father, Grandsanta, a cranky old codger who hates the modern world, is always grumbling that Christmas 'was better when I was Santa' and has a tense relationship with Steve, who he calls 'A postman with a spaceship.' Jensen will play Bryony, a lowly elf from the Giftwrap Battalion, with an eager-to-please attitude and an obsession with wrapping and bows. Imelda Staunton rounds out the cast as Mrs. Santa, dedicated wife and mother to her husband and sons.

The director of Arthur Christmas is Sarah Smith. The screenplay is by Peter Baynham and Sarah Smith. Barry Cook is Co-Director. Producer is Steve Pegram. Production Designer is Evgeni Tomov. Executive Producers are Carla Shelley, Peter Lord and David Sproxton. Michael Giacchino and Adam Cohen are the composers.

Commenting on the announcement, Smith said, "We are thrilled to have assembled such a phenomenal group of actors for 'Arthur Christmas.' Not only are they all terrifically funny, charming and characterful but they have also brought an emotional subtlety and depth that gives the film great heart."

"Resident Evil: Damnation" Trailer

G4's flagship show, Attack Of The Show, debuted the trailer for "Resident Evil: Damnation" trailer last night. The flick is the animated follow up to 2008's "Resident Evil: Degeneration" Enjoy the animated visceral experience below.

Charlie Sheen Up for Expendables 2?

He might have troubles in his personal life - once again. But it doesn't appear to have fucked up Charlie Sheen's professional one. The public is still eating up Two & a Half Men, and plenty of people in high places want to stay in the Chuck Sheen business.

Translation: as long as you can make someone lots and lots of money, they'll put up with whatever bullshit you have.

Word from What's Playing is Sylvester Stallone is looking to utilize Sheen for "a washed-up-but-usual CIA type" helping the gang track down glorified cameo-turned-baddie Bruce Willis in The Expendables 2. I guess this means Sly has secured Willis to return for full-time villain duties this time around as well as the core cast like Jason Statham, Jett Li and Mickey Rourke.

By the time the Expendables sequel is released, it'll be 2012 (most likely) and his sitcom, as popular as it remains even into its eighth season now (Good lord, people!) could very well be dead by then. Appearing in a high-profile to a crowd-pleasing hit is a never-so-stupid career move, and, hey, it's a pay-check, Chuck. Not that he needs the dough thanks to that sitcom.

New Trailer 'Gullivers Travels'

20th Century Fox has released the new trailer for Gulliver's Travels, opening in 3D and 2D theaters on December 22. Directed by Rob Letterman, the fantasy comedy adventure stars Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly, James Gorden, Catherine Tate and Chris O'Dowd.

In a contemporary re–imagining of the classic tale, Black stars as Gulliver, a big–talking mailroom clerk who, after he's mistakenly assigned a travel piece on the Bermuda Triangle, suddenly finds himself a giant among men when he washes ashore on the hidden island of Lilliput, home to a population of very tiny people. At first enslaved by the diminutive and industrious Liliputians, and later declared their hero, Gulliver comes to learn that it's how big you are on the inside that counts.

The Hangover 2 Adds Jamie Chung

No, it's not just you. I too have grown tired reporting on Hangover 2, its latest castings and various hypocritical cast-members.

The trades report Jamie Chung (soon to appear in Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch) is onboard for the filming-right-now sequel. She'll play the fiancé of Stu, Ed Helms' character. That explains the absence of Heather Graham.

For her sake, I hope she hasn't said anything lurid in the past. We don't need Zack Galifianakis starting another uprising – unless she turns out to be a convicted rapist. Then everything's hunky-dory.

James Nesbitt Joins The Hobbit

Obligatory Hobbit casting post today, kids.

Two more will join the ranks with Martin Freeman, Sir Ian McKellen (when he signs a contract, that is) & Co. Irish character-actor James Nesbitt and newbie Adam Brown are the latest editions. They'll play the roles of dwarfs Bofur and Ori, a part of the Dwarf Company.

I'll admit to not reading the book. Although it's widely known to be a kids' book and relatively light on pages. Maybe even a retard like yours truly could sit down and enjoy it?

Seriously I tried reading J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy back in high-school – a couple of months before The Fellowship of the Ring opened. Sorry to say, I couldn't get through it. Tons of folks love those books (and they led to Peter Jackson's film trilogy, which I loved) and that's great. But it honestly read like detailed rambling to me. Go ahead and curse my name.

Ghostbusters 3 Filming May 2011?

Perhaps Bill Murray's Scream Awards appearance was a "subtle" hint of things to come? I thought he was just fucking with people.

Production Weekly says Sony plans to roll cameras on Ghostbusters 3 by May 2011. Ivan Reitman will direct/produce again, and most of the cast (minus Murray) have shown nothing but enthusiasm for a third installment.

Were this tweet made a year ago, maybe two, I'd raise an eyebrow. Unfortunately, we've heard oodles of reports (mostly leaning towards non-newsy, and coming from Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis) before to make me suddenly think this isn't more of the same. Plus that Vulture report, back in March, made it loud and clear the studio wanted fresh blood in charge instead of the returning, and greatly in need of a hit, Reitman.

That's all irreverent as we all know as Murray has been the lone holdout from it happening for years. Sony dumped enough money in his backyard to change his mind?

God love him, but seeing Murray in that outfit confirms why I don't want to see the old gang back together. They're way too past their expiration to be running around chasing ghosts again.

Walking Dead Scores

So did everyone watch the premiere of The Walking Dead on AMC last night?  And more importantly, is anyone still feeling bad for that poor horse?

According to Deadline, the first episode of new weekly zombie thriller was a hit, earning an estimated 5.3 million viewers.  That's the largest audience to date for an AMC series (don't worry Mad Men, we still love you), and subsequent repeats of the pilot at 11:30 and 1am managed an additional 8.1 million viewers. 

This must come as a sigh of relief to AMC, who launched a huge marketing campaign to promote the Frank Darabont-directed horror series.  The original Robert Kirkman comic on which the show is based had a big following going in, but it's still difficult to know whether or not a show that features extensive shots of splattered zombie brains and a character being followed around by a multilated torso will really catch on with everyone else. 

Apparently, it has, although we'll know for sure next week just how many people they scared away with the pilot.  But for now, Walking Dead's future is looking pretty good.  Says AMC president Charlie Collier, "It's a good day to be dead.  We are so proud of this series, its depth of storytelling, and remarkable talent attached."

"Red State" Poster

I didn't even think this movie was still being made. I thought Kevin Smith might have went into hiding and would return to civilization with a rough cut of "Clerks 3" done using the families of Chilean miners.

Alas, that isn't the case. Instead "Red State" is coming out in 2011 which was written and is being directed by Smith. The flick features the acting chops of Michael Angarano, Kyle Gallner, Stephen Root, Melissa Leo, Michael Parks, John Goodman and Ralph Garman and deals with outsiders who confront fundamentalism gone wrong in the heart of America.

First Look At "Tintin"

I have to say, when our very own Jamie Williams told me this morning that these photos were released, I went on a rant about how I don't care and nobody else should about this weirdo movie. It was epic.

Now upon seeing the stills and the Empire cover shot, I think it looks fantastic. Not sure how to explain such an up and down reaction to a film. Maybe a male case of MENopause?

Fuck what I say, here is what Peter Jackson had to say about the project:

“With live action you’re going to have actors pretending to be Captain Haddock and Tintin. You’d be casting people to look like them. It’s not really going to feel like the Tintin Hergé drew. It’s going to be somewhat different. With CGI we can bring Hergé’s world to life, keep the stylised caricatured faces, keep everything looking like Hergé’s artwork, but make it photo-real.”