Update: Nicolas Cage Exits Trespass at Zero Hour & Then Returns!

UPDATE: He's had some time to clear his thoughts from vacation and now "TOLDJA" says Nicolas Cage has returned to the production. Nobody seems to know what was running through his head when he initially jumped ship. But that's in the past. He made the right decision and local LA film crews can continue to work.

I take back whatever mean/nasty things I said.

Nicolas Cage must not be doing that bad with his finances. Those castles don't pay for themselves, you know!

Two weeks shy of its start, "TOLDJA" reports Cage has abruptly exited the hostage thriller Trespass. Nicole Kidman is to play his better-half onscreen and Joel Schumacher the director. So you just know with those threads of commercial and creative poison, we can’t expect the best.

Back on point, I don't care how stressed out the dude is. That's a dick move considering the local crews will be on their asses without work if this gets delayed or worse falls apart. Bad, Cage! Bad!

New Clip "The Expendables"

Lionsgate has released a new clip from their upcoming 80's action-fest The Expendables starring writer director Stallone himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, and Jet Li, Jason Statham, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, and Steve Austin.

Besides a simple fuck yeah, not a lot can be said about the clip which reveals very little of the actual plot. I personally can't wait for The Expendables the same as I'm sure anyone else who either grew up in or was around during the 80's action genre would feel the same. The greatest thing about action movies from that era is they never let a little thing like story or plot get in the way of the senseless violence and action.

Final Twilight Movie Sets November 2012 Release

It was either going to be June or November 2012. Summit has chosen the latter. Can't say it’s a foolish call when you look at the number of big-dick tentpoles opposing studios will unleash.

Summit has officially set a November 16, 2012 release date for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part II. That'll make it two days shy of a year when the next-to-last will hit your multiplexes in 2011. That time period has also been kind to the franchise in the past with the successes of the first two Twilight flicks.

My only question is will the "Twilight phenomenon" have died down by the time the swan-song is released? Plenty would love to see it crash and burn simply because *Ick!* girls like Twilight. But it's perfectly fine when fanboys jerk off to a franchise. A strange breed they are, indeed.

"Captain America: The First Avenger" Filming Locations

The blokes over at BBC News have done some digging and come across the shooting locations for "Captain America: First Avenger". I have to say I am looking forward to this one, I think it might surprise some people. However, I've been wrong before. Many a time.

America's First Avenger will battle his foes on the streets of Manchester and Liverpool during filming on the big-budget superhero film.

Manchester's Northern Quarter is to be transformed into 1940s New York for a dramatic car chase in Captain America: The First Avenger.

Producers chose the Northern Quarter to recreate New York because of its towering buildings and pre-war architecture.

The location was organised through the Vision+Media film office, based at Mediacity in Salford Quays, which brought the big budget production of Sherlock Holmes to Manchester and Liverpool.

Susan Williams, drama liaison manager, said the company was approached by the studio, which is also behind the successful Spider Man and Hulk films, in February.

"We suggested the area to Marvel as its wide streets, towering buildings and pre-war architecture will make the perfect 1940s New York."

Residents, local businesses and Manchester City Council have all been consulted about the production, which will last about two weeks from mid September.

Details of scenes due to be filmed at Liverpool's Stanley Dock are yet to be finalised.

Jay Baruchel Talks "Justice League: Mortal"

It seems so long ago that fans were fighting over whether or not "Justice League: Mortal" was a good or bad thing for their favorite characters. Whatever your viewpoint might have been, we all know what ended up happening. A combination of script issues, budget issues, tax issues, casting issues, and any other issue you can't think of grounded the project. The folks over at Digital Spy had a chance to ask Jay Baruchel about George Miller's failed project while he was doing a press tour for "The Sorcerer's Apprentice".

Do you think it would have won around the blogosphere?

"I'll just say this, if we had been able to make the movie that we had gone down [to Australia] to rehearse, if you had seen the production art I'd seen... it would've been the coolest thing ever. It would have been the neatest vision of Batman and the coolest vision of Superman you've ever seen. It would have been dark and fairly brutal and quite gory and just f**king epic."

What was the problem?

"The problem was that, had it gone to production, it would have been the single most expensive movie in the history of movies. Sometimes people are reticent to spend upwards of $300 million. It was a fun two weeks in Sydney and I got to hang out with one of my idols, George Miller."

Did you get as far as seeing the Justice League heroes in costume?

"I did. My friends, who were training to be Batman and Superman, they were down there for three months training and going to Weta in New Zealand to get their costumes. Weta, which is arguably the greatest special effects house on Earth, they had to cancel everything else. They were doing nothing but our movie. It was going to be f**king dope!"

Sounds like Baruchel, who was lined up to play Max Lord, is painting a pretty picture of what seemed like a troubled project. That being said, I am really interested in seeing the concept art and/or costumes, but by the time that happens I will be in diapers yet again.

Teaser trailer "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark"

Miramax has released the teaser trailer for the upcoming horror remake Don't Be Afraid of the Dark from writer/producer Guillermo del Toro starring Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce and Bailee Madison.

The film centers on a young girl (Madison), sent to live with her father (Peirce) and his new girlfriend (Holmes), who discovers sinister creatures that live underneath the stairs. the girl is fascinated by the creatures, until they prove dangerous. Her father is an author who's frustrated by his daughter's tales of monsters, he doesn't believe her even after his girlfriend reassures him the creatures are real.

Hard to tell from the trailer, but this looks pretty damn awesome. Not very often does a horror remake come along that does the original justice or gives you a new spin on the legend, Del Toro is one smart man.

Two Tv Spots "The American"

Two Tv spots have been released online for Focus Features upcoming film The American starring George Clooney, Violante Placido, Thekla Reuten, Irina Björklund, and Bruce Altman.

Academy Award winner George Clooney stars in the title role of this suspense thriller, filmed on location in Italy. Alone among assassins, Jack (played by Mr. Clooney) is a master craftsman. When a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, he vows to his contact Larry (Bruce Altman) that his next assignment will be his last.

Jack reports to the Italian countryside, where he holes up in a small town and relishes being away from death for a spell. The assignment, as specified by a Belgian woman, Mathilde (Thekla Reuten of "In Bruges"), is in the offing as a weapon is constructed. Surprising himself, Jack seeks out the friendship of local priest Father Benedetto (Italian stage and screen veteran Paolo Bonacelli) and pursues romance with local woman Clara (Italian leading lady Violante Placido). But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate.

A new Focking poster

I've never seen any of the movies in this franchise nor do I intend to, but it's a slow news day as Pete mentioned earlier and this was a title that felt right as I sat here contemplating the world and lime juice with lemonade.

Good old Empire got the scoop!

MGM Hires Writers for Outer Limits Movie

No resolution in sight for their debt, few studios appear to want them, money-making properties like Bond and The Hobbit are chasing their tail and Cabin in the Woods and Red Dawn are praying for the day they'll be released. But hey, at least MGM has enough dough for an Outer Limits movie.

Common sense would say to the contrary. But the trades report that hasn't stopped the studio from commissioning writers to adapt the revered anthology series. Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton (alumni of the "soon to be ending" Saw franchise – like that'll stick!) are onboard.

Their script is due by this October whereupon maybe things are a tad clearer on the lion's future. Doubtful, we'll still be writing articles on how Peter Jackson insists The Hobbit is still happening for Christmas 2012 (Boy, did that ship sail awhile back!) and Daniel Craig remains committed to waiting for his third 007 outing.

And no, this Outer Limits flick (regardless of the quality of D&M's screenplay) won't happen either.

"Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions" Clip

Activision sent SuperHeroHype with this new behind-the-scenes clip for "Spider-Man: Shattered Dimension" that features the vocal stylings of narrator Stan Lee.

Coming September 7 for the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and Nintendo DS, "Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions" is a thrilling action-packed adventure set in four dramatically different universes from legendary Spider-Man lore, each with a distinct Spider-Man armed with unique skills and strengths, in one original storyline.  Players will be transported to new locations never before seen in a Spider-Man game, from lush jungles and dusty deserts to various urban terrains.  Acclaimed Marvel comic book writer Dan Slott takes players on a mission to contain the magical energy of the Tablet of Order and Chaos, which has been shattered and sent hurtling across parallel universes, and battle fan-favorite villains in a quest to restore the fabric of reality.