Terminator: The Franchise Refusing to Die

We can already imagine the narrative they'll go with in order to sell this:

"You see, we realized that when people think of Terminator, they'll always think of Arnold Schwarzenegger and since he wasn’t in the last movie and that TV show, that's why they didn't do well!"

Technically, he was in Terminator: Salvation (Motion-capture technology with the help of look-alike actor Roland Kickinger). Then there was Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, the first film in the series without writer/director James Cameron but still headlined by Schwarzenegger. That didn't light a fire at the box-office either. People were throwing around terms like "underperformer" and "disappointment" when that was released back in July 2003. Terminator's time in the zeitgeist is over. But that continues to fall on deaf ears when there's a buck (hypothetical or real) to be made...

Last month, What's Playing first reported interest was picking up for a fifth installment by Universal, with Arnold playing multiple characters and a "certain director known for helming one of their franchises."

"TOLDJA" confirms their scoop (minus giving due credit, of course, and you wonder why I refuse to link them) and reveals the identity of their franchise helmer: Justin Lin. They're high on him after delivering two Fast & the Furious installments and his third Fast Five will likely continue the trend of eating up money when it drops on April 29.

Another Terminator movie is inevitable at the rate studios are going. Looking around for any and all properties with name-brand recognition and the least amount of difficulty to sell to movie-goers. But again, did they just sleep through the past eight years? Two expensive films, either of which were mega-hits, and a television series that failed despite an initial strong start. I'd say that's proof in the pudding people just aren't high on Terminator anymore.

Find something else, fellas...

The Spider-Man Reboot Has an "Amazing" Title

We can stop calling it "Marc Webb’s 3D Spider-Man reboot!"

The redo will hence forth be known as The Amazing Spider-Man, Sony today confirms. It's a title most of us suspected they'd go with. It makes sense given just how much the new web-slinger Englishman Andrew Garfield looks like the classic early 60s era Peter Parker.

Speaking of...Sony also went ahead and gave us a 100% full on look at young lad Andy in complete Webhead gear (i.e. mask on and all). Looks good just like the first look at him in suit we already got not too far back.

Shane Black Could Write/Direct Iron Man 3

I feel like Jim Carrey in The Truman Show. Are you there, Ed Harris? It feels like it...

Heat Vision is hearing the world may get that Kiss Kiss Bang Bang reunion we've all been clamoring for. Its writer/director Shane Black, also behind penning the first two Lethal Weapons – you know, the ones we keep going back to, has met with Marvel executives about taking on Iron Man 3.

Be for warned, the job is yet his and other filmmakers (unnamed at this time) are additionally in contention. That said, as stated upon the news of Jon Favreau's exit, star Robert Downey Jr. has directorial approval before anything else can move forward on the third Shellhead adventure already slated for a May 2013 release.

Make this happen, movie gods.

Dominic Monaghan Returns to Middle Earth for The Hobbit

Cate Blancett, Orlando Bloom, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, and (knock on wood) Hugo Weaving - whether or not their characters were prominent in J.R.R. Tolkien's book, they'll appear in some fashion in The Hobbit as we've heard over the last several months.

ThinkMcflyThink has received word of another Lord of the Rings alum joining the cast: Dominic Monaghan. No word on how big or, most likely, small his appearance will be or if we can also expect to see Sean Astin or Billy Boyd as well.

I can't argue against the logic of getting as many original LOTR cast-members as possible to return. It's all there from a marketing standpoint. Bring them down to New Zealand, throw good money their way and get them onscreen for a couple of minutes. Then you can slap them on all the trailers and TV spots and thus be easier to re-familiarize audiences with the franchise and segue into their new protagonist, Martin Freeman.

Production is slated to begin on March 21^st.

Shawn Levy Directing 3D Fantastic Voyage Remake

Weird to think when your short-list included people like Darren Aronofsky, Timur Bekmambetov, Louis Leterrier and Jonathan Mostow, you settle on Shawn Levy. Or the fact that he was even included with that circle. I don't have blind nerd rage against the guy. But it just shows how random these things can be sometimes.

Levy, longtime alum of 20^th Century Fox having made them a lot of money off family-friendly fare like Night at the Museum and Cheaper by the Dozen, has been selected to direct Fantastic Voyage according to "TOLDJA."

This remake of the 1966 film will be Fox's next big 3D affair and be produced by their unofficial Lord and Master James Cameron. Not much else to add at the moment since we don’t know of when they want Voyage out by and the recent news of the studio purchasing an untitled adventure project Levy will direct with Hugh Jackman.

The Hobbit Starts Filming Next Month - Until the Next Problem Arises

Until another disaster strikes (Sources will neither confirm nor deny it's been cursed by a gypsy), cameras will officially roll on Peter Jackson's two Hobbit films by the end of March reports One Ring. That'd be the 21^st of March to be exact.

Representatives of Warner Brothers and director Jackson down-played what feels like the trillionth delay of filming after the director was rushed to the hospital a few weeks ago. It wound up being an ulcer, and yes, we can imagine it came from the stress the man’s endured to get this damn thing up and running.

Middle-Earth fans should start practicing their victory dances when the inevitable press release (You just know they'll send them out) is issued next month. Might not be a bad idea to include pictures taken from the set too. Just to prove "See! We are making The Hobbit!" to understandably cynical naysayers.

Everyone remains on script that the first installment will hit cinema-houses by next Christmas. But come on, guys, stop jerking fans around. You know it’s being pushed back to 2013.

James Franco Up for Oz: The Great & Powerful

James Franco is trying to become the 1990s era Johnny Depp.

Think back those of you old enough to remember. Few of Depp's films during that time were rocking the box-office charts. But people looked on in curiosity. There was no way to gage what he was going to do next. Same thing going on with Franco these days.

As per Heat Vision, his journey continues as Disney is eyeing the soon-to-be Oscar host for Oz: The Great & Powerful for the title role. He doesn't jump to mind for a big $200 million tentpole. But again neither did Depp for Pirates of the Caribbean, and see how well that worked out.

Talks between Franco and the studio are so early at this stage he hasn't even met with his former Spider-Man helmer Sam Raimi just yet. So this could easily fall apart.

Ursa Will Appear in Superman Reboot

Further proof a lot of people following the movie-news scene lack reading comprehension skills.

British actresses Alice Eve and Rosemund Pike and German actress Diane Kruger were reported (via the trades) to be up for the female lead in Zack Snyder's Superman reboot for next Christmas. But in a twist, they stated the role in question wasn’t for Lois Lane.

For some reason, that translated, by many, to "Oh my God! Lois Lane isn't in the reboot?!?" Even though the trade publication never once stated or implied the Daily Planet reporter with a thing for Kryptonian superheroes masquerading as bumbling, but loveable, dorks wouldn't appear.

Latino Review got to digging and found out what's up. So what did their Burbank moles squeal?

First, Lois is in the reboot so chill out fanboys. Second, this phantom lady paraded about for Eve, Kruger and Pike (God knows there could be others before things are definite) is Ursa, the Kryptonian villainess from the first two Christopher Reeve movies.

Since we know she'll be flying around the Earth causing grief for the new Man of Steel (UK actor Henry Cavill), sounds like those General Zod rumors were for real. Yeah, yeah, I remember Zack Snyder denying that last year. Because as we all know, actors, filmmakers, etc. never ever lie about information that gets out early.

Spider-Man Versus Crotch Rot!

This is exactly why Sony (wisely) went ahead and released an official photo of Andrew Garfield as the new Spider-Man.

A handful of gossip sites (Daily Mail, Holy Moly, Pop Sugar) have their own set of pictures taken from the exterior Los Angeles set. That appears to be Garfield in action in his new threads. He appears to be fighting not a mugger, of some sorts, but also what looks to be crotch rot.

Damn, that looks bad. It just goes to show you these superhero costumes can look great or terrible given the proper context and thanks to the advent of Photoshop. It also just reminds me even more as to why Star Trek 2 is going to kick their ass next June.

Captain America Poster!

Don't me interpret what "Avenge" means. You guys know I have a dirty mind. Too late...

Maybe Steve Rogers gives an angry fuck? "Aveeeeeeeeeeeenge! Bitch!" Maybe followed by a quick "Excelsior!" He's a germaphobe considering the extra thick gloves and all that flying dirt in the background?

Seriously though, that final Captain America suit showcased a few days back looks bad ass.