Robert Downey Jr. Vacates Gravity

Scheduling conflicts have stopped Robert Downey Jr. from participating in Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity, Heat Vision reports.

Reports first surfaced last month of his exiting the supporting role, but the studio was quick to cry "Bullshit!" But what else were they going to say? So here we are today, and the space-set thriller officially has no big-name second banana. He's instead circling a film-version of How to Talk to Girls at Fox – remember that non-fiction book written by a 10 year old who was shitting his britches when Downey was having his troubles a decade ago?

Adding further troubles to Gravity, a deal has still not been finalized with Sandra Bullock to star after a long search for the lead including Angelina Jolie (rejected offers at least twice, that we know of, right off the bat) and Natalie Portman (who also said, "Thanks, but no thanks!")

Perhaps I'm jumping the gun. But my gut says Gravity ultimately won't happen, and that's very disappointing. Prove me wrong, movie gods!

Robert Zemeckis Isn't Headed For Oz

Remaking a perfect movie? Not the best idea in the world.

When we're talking about a universally beloved movie (one that generations have grown up adoring since the 1940s), that's when you hear genuine groans from both nerds like us and the general public alike when the term "remake" is batted around. And that was just the reaction when news hit the fan of Robert Zemeckis being in talks with Warner Brothers for a Wizard of Oz remake, itself a remake if we're going to get specific.

But if any filmmaker is off-their-rocker enough to take on an Oz remake, it won't be Bob Z. His publicist whole-heartedly confirmed he won't be taking directing duties to Entertainment Weekly. Although a meeting between him and the studios occurred – which was basically what "TOLDJA" (where the item originated) said.

If he rejected Superman like he claims (Get the impression it was the other way around), what would make a Wizard of Oz remake better? He'll instead focus his attention on a project of equal "Ugh, really?" status – the motion-capture Yellow Submarine update at Disney.

Cowboys & Aliens Teaser Trailer

The teaser trailer for Jon Favreau's Cowboys & Aliens is here thanks to Yahoo! Movies.

If we never see Daniel Craig in the tuxedo and sporting the license to kill again, he'll be fine career-wise from the looks of this. Similiar to Green Lantern, it's a concept that just sounds goofy and has to be handled with the right care.

But that doesn't appear to be a concern here unlike the Emerald Knight. Very good trailer and my money's on this being one of the big surprise hits of next summer.

Update - Green Lantern Trailer

UPDATE: Took down the initial espanol-friendly trailer and replace it with this HD one. Enjoy. Or bitch about it in the Comments section. Either one is fine by me.

We all slobbered over a mere 30 seconds worth of (talked over) Green Lantern footage last week. How about the real McCoy now?

The trailer's online – albeit clearly leaked earlier than intended (Now in Quicktime!), with Spanish subtitles and is it just me or is the video a bit wonky? Regardless check it out. It certainly isn't as comedy-centric as the earlier footage implied (although it still feels like they're aiming for Iron Man) and Ryan Reynolds might actually pull off his much-hyped leading man persona.

But the CG suit still looks awful.

Your Highness Red-Band Trailer

The good folks over at IGN have the red-band trailer for David Gordon Green's fantasy/comedy Your Highness up.

There's definitely concern that in a three-and-a-half minute trailer, a sizeable portion of the jokes, one-liners, etc. were given away. Something we've seen happen plenty of times in the past.

But I laughed. A lot. So consider my ticket sold when this hits next April.  

Don't Answer the Door! It's Seth Rogen!

Seth Rogen & writing partner-in-crime Evan Goldberg got another gig.

Heat Vision reports the duo is on rewrite duties for 20^th Century Fox and their comedy Neighborhood Watch. The story centers on a neighborhood watch group (nothing but a scam for the local guys to dick around away from their family duties) accidentally discovering a plot for world domination.

Peter Segal (most recently of Get Smart and forever known for helming Tommy Boy) is attached to direct, and it is a rather funny premise, I'll confess. Then again, so was Hall Pass and look at how awful that looks.

Right now, Rogen's only involved in a writing capacity. Seems inevitable before we hear about him appearing onscreen – which is the last thing he needs to be doing right now. Been harping on this since my Screen Rant days, but God love him, the dude has done way too many movies under such a reasonably short period.

HULK SMAAAAAAAAASH NIELSEN RATINGS!

After two bites at the gamma radiated apple, Marvel seems have gotten the message. Audiences don't give a damn about a Hulk film franchise. So why not go to the format where the angry green giant first exploded with the general public – television.

As per "TOLDJA," Marvel and ABC Studios are collaborating on a new live-action Hulk series with fan-favorite Guillermo del Toro and Battlestar Galactica executive producer David Eick as the creative force behind the project aiming for Fall 2012. The two will develop the story and, if scheduling permits it, del Toro may sit in the director's chair for the pilot.

Considering this is network television we're talking, don't expect a 100% CG Hulk every week. Instead the goal will involve a mixture of make-up effects, puppets and computer technology. Even with those plans, it sounds pretty damn expensive for a weekly series. Were we talking, say AMC, this could work for 6-13 episodes. But we'd, no doubt, be looking at 22 episodes a year were this is click with viewers.

I love the pairing (Should have been done back in 2003), but don't know if this is going to work.

Cars 2 Trailer

We have the trailer for Cars 2 upon us. Still not seeing the need for a sequel, but this is Pixar we're talking about and I admittedly quite enjoyed the 2006 original.

Haven't they delivered the goods enough times to earn the benefit of the doubt? The answer, of course, is yes. So shut the fuck up, and have a little faith.

Men in Black 3 Taking Rewrite Break In Middle of Production

Bitched plenty of times here, and elsewhere, about how audiences will likely shun the forthcoming Spider-Man reboot and additional X-Men prequels on the basis of being burned too severely by the previous installments. That is to say they'll under-perform (by no means will they tank).

But that won't be the case for Men in Black 3, solely because it stars the galaxy’s only movie-star Will Smith. It’s gonna make bank. Whether it will suck, nobody knows for the time being.

But this report from 24 Frames implies chances are iffy.

While production starts today and will go into Christmas week, the filmmakers have opted for a highly unorthodox move. Things won't recommence until the middle of February 2011, and in the two month period between screenwriter Jeff Nathanson will focus his attention of on the threequel's heavy time-travel elements. Will Smith's Agent Jay goes back to 1969 and teams with Josh Brolin's youthful Agent Kay.

That doesn't exactly speak wonders for the script especially when we're talking a big expensive tentpole and the fact that the crews will reporedly continue being parid during the two-month break. Even after those set of rewrites are finished, they'll be additional rewrites on set too. Most likely, there will be – which, to be fair, is standard operating procedure.

Pirates of the Caribbean 4 Teaser Poster Looking JUST Like The Others

Whaaaaaat?! A teaser poster for a big franchise movie that looks just like its predecessors?

Oh, it's for a Pirates of the Caribbean movie. That figures.

IP Awards has it for the next May's On Stranger Tides, and once again, I'm imagining another two-and-half hour romp full of overblown visual effects, eighteen or so thinly-written plots being sloppily pasted together and the Jack Sparrow character being stretched out even further than done with the last two sequels.