You Shouldn't Be Surprised: Lindsay Lohan Off Gotti Biopic

UPDATE: Plot twist! It looks like LiLo is back on Gotti: Three Generations says Variety. Until she's not (again) that will occur in another couple of days if not hours.

You see, kids? Old Unc knew what he was talking about. For once and probably never again.

Yesterday I remarked it was inevitable Lindsay Lohan wouldn't be sticking around for Gotti: Three Generations. Cut to this hot afternoon, and People confirms what truthfully everyone knew was going to go down for the biopic: no more LiLo.

Producer Marc Fiore skirted around the issue of what specifically caused talks to cease:

"She a wonderful person. Her legal case has nothing to do with it. We just couldn't reach terms."

At least this frees her up for The Man of Steel now, right?

X-Men: First Class Trailer Goes from Russian to English - Whatever

My pal Rob Keyes tells me this is the English-language version of that Russian trailer from a month or so back. That would explain why this "latest" X-Men: First Class trailer looks like I've seen it before. Because I have! Remember because Hey! U Guys first spotted it.

But no, this one is totally different. It has a couple of extra seconds of muttie-action. Enjoy?

Writer You’ve Never Heard of Before Rewriting Ouija

Screenwriter Evan Spiliotopoulos (whose biggest credit outside of direct-to-video animated fare for Disney is the not-gonna-happen sequel to Wanted) is onboard for Ouija, reports Variety.

He's on rewrite patrol for the fantasy adventure from Universal and Platinum Dunes (Oh boy...) and McG as the director if you'll remember from a few months back (Oh boy, again...) So far, it appears they're sticking to their planned November 9, 2012 release.

I will say for all the shit Universal's been getting for jumping on the "Hasbro movie adaptation" bandwagon (Stretch Armstrong in 3D starring Taylor Lautner? Battleship with aliens?) Ouija sounds like the one that could legitimately work. Even despite McG at the helm. Honest.

Vin Diesel Still Talking XXX 3 – Might Have to “Settle” for Terminator 5?

It's that special time, children. When Vin Diesel has a new movie about to open and he yaps on about one of three films: Hannibal the Conqueror, Riddick 3 and XXX 3: The Return of Xander Cage.

At this juncture in his career, I don't think any of 'em are going to happen personally. But you never know how badly Universal will find a way to please his royal Dieselness to return for The Fast & the Furious 6 (and they lose even more letters from the original to title the next one – Fast/Furious, F&F 6, etc.) beyond a paycheck.

Movie Hole apprehended Diesel at the Fast Five junket and he insists it's still happening. Even though last update we got Rob Cohen, cheese-baron director having worked with him on The Fast & the Furious and XXX, was returning, and that was quite a ways back. We'll see, although I'm still not going to hold my breath.

And while we're on the subject, our pal Clint also reports Diesel's name is being thrown around for Terminator 5 – the same sequel set up at Universal with Fast alum Justin Lin eyed to direct. When asked directed about a possible Arnie/Diesel face-off (Since McG and Christian Bale will be known as "those who shall not be named"), the answer was a classically non-committal/non-answer:

"You never know."

All due respect to Lin and Diesel, but haven't audiences voted enough times with their wallets that they've had enough with Terminator?

So THAT’S Who Levitt & Cotillard Are Playing in The Dark Knight Rises

Well, that puts to bed whether or not Marion Cotillard was joining The Dark Knight Rises. It would also appear EW was dead-on despite how shady their "NU-UH!" report came off initially. But when you're right, you're right. So props to them.

Gotta say though, I'm with El Mayimbe, John Bierly and Variety on this. I feel like Nolan & Co. are still dicking with us. Here's the press release

"BURBANK, CA. April 19, 2011 - Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Oscar^® winner Marion Cotillard ('La Vie en Rose') and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have joined the cast of 'The Dark Knight Rises,' the epic conclusion to the Dark Knight legend.

Cotillard will appear as Miranda Tate, a Wayne Enterprises board member eager to help a still-grieving Bruce Wayne resume his father's philanthropic endeavors for Gotham.

Gordon-Levitt will play John Blake, a Gotham City beat cop assigned to special duty under the command of Commissioner Gordon.

The film reunites the actors with Christopher Nolan, who recently directed them in the award-winning blockbuster 'Inception.'

The director stated, 'When you collaborate with people as talented as Marion and Joe, it comes as no surprise that you would want to repeat the experience. I immediately thought of them for the roles of Miranda and Blake, and I am looking forward to working with both of them again.'

Heading the cast of 'The Dark Knight Rises,' Christian Bale stars as Bruce Wayne/Batman. The main cast also includes Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle and Tom Hardy as Bane.

Nolan will direct the film from a screenplay he wrote with Jonathan Nolan, from a story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer. Christopher Nolan will also produce the film with his longtime producing partner, Emma Thomas, and Charles Roven.

'The Dark Knight Rises' is slated for release on July 20, 2012. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company."

Now please let me finish my Chicken Pot Pie, will ya?

Chris Klein Gets Works - Returning for American Reunion

Could have sworn we already got confirmation of this.

To be fair, I probably just lumped in all the out-of-work American Pie actors into one group. One or two of them might have gotten a side-job at some L.A. coffee-shop or something.

People says Chris Klein (who may very well be the greatest actor of his generation single-handedly based on his Mamma Mia! "audition") is set to return for American Reunion.

Hmm, I feel a disturbance in the Force. I sense...Klein will also be in G.I. Joe 2: Cobra Strikes. That and next season on Dancing with the Stars.

OK, I kid around. But God remember when all these actors were the shit?

New X-Men: First Class One-Sheet - Now with Funny Looking Michael Fassbender Action!

What is up with Michael Fassbender in these latest X-Men: First Class promo pictures?

That photo in this past week's issue of EW (courtesy of X-Men Movies Facebook) looks like he suffers from violent hemorrhoids or something. He could have used Preparation H, and now Empire has this new one-sheet. Who is he giving that funny look to; someone off-camera? Maybe he's eyeing his buddy/soon-to-be-rival Charlie Xavier.

Is this a hint at sexual tension audiences can expect in the skirt-chasing, boos-drinking, 60s-era X-Men prequel? I mean, it is the worst kept secret that this is all one big parable about being "different" – whether that be gay, black, Muslim, a midget, etc.

Nick Cassavetes Whacked from Gotti Biopic

This must be an independent production. How else could they explain why anyone would make the effort to hire Lindsey Lohan?

But while LiLo's casting appears to be for real (until the inevitable "They fired her uninsurable/trouble-making ass" story breaks), someone who we know for certain won't be around when cameras roll is its director.

Variety reports Nick Cassavetes (although Black Film got this out there first if memory serves me correct – so I'll credit both outlets) has vacated from helming Gotti: Three Generations.

The age-old, and eternally questionable, "scheduling conflicts" issue is the official reasoning here. Cassavetes is pre-committed to another indie drama, Yellow. Curious what’s the real culprit behind this one?

Ah well, at least he still has that Hangover Part II gig.

The Awesome Elizabeth Banks Gets Role in The Hunger Games

As the title suggests, I dig Elizabeth Banks and I’d love to think one of these days she'll move past the "Hey, it's that person!" phase of her career and general audiences will know her by name. Thus setting the stage for her rise to stardom. Alas I don’t think that's going to happen.

She'll have to settle on getting steady work in supporting turns in comedies, dramas and what not while the less-talented types (that is to say, most actresses who aren't Elizabeth Banks) get all the press and plum roles. Fuckers – as much as I love Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and what brilliant casting was that, damn was Banks pitch-perfect for that role?

Anyway, Variety reports Banks is in talks for the highest profile film of her career, up to this point, with The Hunger Games. The film adaptation of the popular book trilogy is mounting up for a release next March with a solid slate of actors in the leads (Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth), a good director (Gary Ross) and writer (Billy Ray) pulling the strings.

Banks will play "flaky bureaucrat" Effie Trinket.

Matt Reeves Keeps His Vampire Thing Going

It was only last week Matt Reeves got the job to adapt Eight O'Clock in the Morning (itself was previously made into the classic John Carpenter film/Roddy Piper v. Keith David beat-down They Live).

However Heat Vision says that isn't enough to keep Reeves busy from banging on his keyboard. The Cloverfield helmer will also stick with the vampire genre (Christ, how much longer 'till this fad dies?) post Let Me In with The Passage.

Ridley Scott will produce and it's set at 20^th Century Fox, via their Fox 2000 outlet. The project is an adaptation of the 2009 novel by Justin Cronin. According to the description, the plot is the classic "science gone horribly wrong" theme – this time set in the future and people turning into vampires thanks to a government-sponsored virus.

Yep, they can turn us into blood-suckers but they can't get us through the DMV any faster. Typical government at work.