Michael Aussiello Jumps From EW To MMC

In a move that strategically aligns two of the entertainment industry’s most influential emerging brands, Michael Ausiello will be leaving Entertainment Weekly and EW.com to launch a new consumer TV focused property with media and publishing company MMC. Founded by its Chairman & CEO, Jay Penske, MMC owns entertainment properties Deadline.com led by Nikki Finke, HollywoodLife.com led by Bonnie Fuller, and Movieline.com led by Charles Runnette. The yet-to-be-named website will debut in January 2011, and top reporters will be added to complement Ausiello in MMC’s and Ausiello’s quest to build the finest TV site in the world.

Ausiello’s first role will be to spearhead the design and development of the TV property, and the partnership will soon announce the upcoming hires.  Ausiello's legions of diehard followers will still be able to get the best breaking news during the creation of this new property by following Ausiello on Twitter.  Once launched, Michael will become the Editor-in-Chief of the new MMC property.

"True Grit" Trailer

14-year-old Mattie Ross's (Hailee Steinfeld) father has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to justice. Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out with him -- over his objections -- to hunt down Chaney. Her father's blood demands that she pursue the criminal into Indian territory and find him before a Texas Ranger named LeBoeuf (Matt Damon) catches him and brings him back to Texas for the murder of another man.

Screen Gems Developing Mortal Instruments

Screen Gems has teamed with Constantin Film and Unique Features to develop the motion picture franchise "Mortal Instruments"  based on The New York Times best-selling book series "The Mortal Instruments" by Cassandra Clare.

Jessica Postigo wrote the script which is based on the first book in the series, "City of Bones." Constantin Film's head of Film & TV Martin Moszkowicz will executive produce and Robert Kulzer will produce the project via the Constantin Film banner along with producing partners Michael Lynne, Robert Shaye, and executive producer Dylan Sellers via their Unique Features banner.

In "City of Bones," set in contemporary New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager Clary Fray, discovers she is the descendant of a line of Shadowhunters, a secret cadre of warriors dedicated to driving demons out of our world. When Clary's mother disappears, she must join a daring group of young Shadowhunters on an adventure, which leads her through a city filled with mischievous fairies, eccentric warlocks, werewolf gangs and other strange creatures.

"The Mortal Instruments" is a series of four novels published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., including "City of Bones," "City of Ashes," "City of Glass," and the upcoming "City of Fallen Angels."

Clint Culpepper, Screen Gems' President, and Eric Paquette, Screen Gems' SVP of Production, will oversee the project for the studio.



Superman To "Kneel Before Zod" Again

I remember when there were rumors that Zod would be a villain in "Superman Returns" and the possible sequel the geekdom on the forums and other parts of the interwebs weren't exactly geeked. It will be interesting to see their reaction now.

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that General Zod is going to be the main villain in the upcoming Superman film that we now know is being directed by Zack Snyder.

I am just as surprised about this bit of news as I was that Zack Snyder is going to be directing the new version of Superman. Fans have been clamoring for villain such as Brainiac and Doomsday since "Superman Returns" took flight in 2006.

I think they can really make Zod interesting, but you wonder if there will be another villain joining Zod such as Metallo. I personally think we'll be seeing Zod, Lex, leading up to Brainiac.

This news also brings the question to the table, will this new film have any connection to the Donner films which featured Zod? What about "Superman Returns?

Maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and find out that this whole Zod thing is some kind of elaborate red herring.

We are now getting a lot of answers, but with these answers come a lot of questions. I don't know about you but I can't wait to find out.

Zack & Nolan Make A "Superman"

I didn't think this would happen so quickly, but here we are with a little help from the scoopers over at TOLDJA! The Brothers Warner and The Brothers Nolan along with the good people at Legendary Pictures have selected Zack Snyder as the director of the new "Superman" film.

Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas were at the forefront of the director "auditions" and Snyder beat out other worthy opponents including; Tony Scott, Matt Reeves, Jonathan Liebesman, and Duncan Jones.

I have to say I do not think that Snyder is as inspired a choice as Jones or even Reeves, but this guy will bring the action and the visuals, that you can't argue. Directing another person's vision, ie Team Nolan, could help the process.

Snyder also brings geek-cred to the table, with both "300" and "Watchmen" under his belt.  Although "Watchmen" didn't really bring the noise for the general public, see it's low box office versus the big budget. That being said Snyder did a lot with short money and green screen for "300", look for more of the same here.

Here is what Snyder had to say about the subject:

"I've been a big fan of the character for a long time, he's definitely the king of all superheroes, he's the one. It's early yet, but I can tell you that what David [Goyer] and Chris [Nolan] have done with the story so far definitely has given me a great insight into a way to make him feel modern. I've always felt he was kind of awesome. I'll finish 'Sucker Punch' and get right at it."

So it begins. Now the question is, who will be donning the cape?

Bourne 4 to be directed by Tony Gilroy

The folks over at TOLDJA! are reporting that Tony Gilroy will be taking over the director's chair for the fourth installment of the Bourne franchise. Tentatively titled The Bourne Legacy.  Gilroy wrote all three bourne films as well as directing such films as Duplicity and Michael Clayton.  

The interesting part of this news is the fact that the studio seems to be prepared to move ahead with or without Matt Damon.  Part of me feels that this is just a tactic. I don't see how you could make another Bourne film so soon without carrying over it's lead.  Considering Damon's relationship with Gilroy, I wouldn't be surprised if he was willing to return to the character.  

While I feel that the last film served as a fantastic finish to the story, I have no problem with Jason Bourne coming out of hiding to once again do his thing.  

"The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest" Trailer

In THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNETS’ NEST – the final installment of the “Millenium Trilogy” – Lisbeth Salander is fighting for her life in more ways than one. In intensive care and charged with three murders, she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life. Once upon a time, she was a victim. Now Salander is fighting back.

THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST opens in theaters October 29, 2010.and available on-Demand and on DVD October 26, 2010.

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"Gulliver's Travels" Poster

In a contemporary re–imagining of the classic tale, Jack 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.

"Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1" Poster

The first installment of the two-film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows follows Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) as they search for the pieces of Voldemort's (Ralph Fiennes) soul that he extracted from his being and hid in obscure locations both far and wide. If the trio is unable to locate and destroy them all, Voldemort will remain immortal. Despite their long friendship, a combination of dark forces, romantic tensions, and long-held secrets threaten to sabotage the mission.

X-Men: First Class Recreating Opening from First Film

This finally puts an end to the "Is it a prequel or reboot?" question posed for X-Men: First Class. It's the former.

Bleeding Cool says director Matthew Vaughn & Co. are recreating the opening to Bryan Singer's original ten years ago. That sequence (of a young pre-Magneto Eric Lensherr witnessing his family being carted away by the Nazis) made it clear this world (at least, under Singer's watch) wasn't one-liners with over-muscled stunt guys in silly costumes. I even remember my sister asking in horror, "Oh my God, this is a comic-book movie?"

Vaughn's team are reshooting the actor near shot-to-shot (with new actors, duh), but apparently deviates with "some very dramatic twists." Hmmm.

Thankfully, we know this is a prequel now – not that that suddenly makes this is my Must-See tentpole for next summer. But consider me intrigued.