Mission: Impossible 4 is Officially a Ghost Protocol

Doesn't Brad Bird's face say it all?

"That really isn't the title, right Tom? *Silence* Oh..."

Alright, I'm being harsh. But I'd be lying if I said I haven't spent my (rather busy) day laughing at the title for the currently-filming fourth Mission: Impossible film revealed today at a press conference via The Associated Press – Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.

That's not to say I'm suddenly not looking forward to it – I am, and seeing the two-time Oscar-winning Pixar alum stepping behind the camera for his first live-action feature has my interests.

But for reasons possibly amusing solely by me that title tickled my funny bone.

First Look at the First Avenger

"I'm sorry? Johnny Storm? Afraid I don't know who that is."

It's one of the biggest comic-book movie gambles (which remains to be seen if it works or not) having an actor already associated with one superhero franchise doing the same for another. Ryan Reynolds wanted to be the first guy to pull it off, but it appears that distinction goes to Chris Evans – first of the Fantastic Four series and now Captain America.

Entertainment Weekly has the official "First Look" at Evans in the star-spangled suit (minus the mask) on the front-cover of their latest issue. As much as the notion of John Krasinski intrigued me, I have to admit Evans was always the best choice of the (many) actors we heard in contention. He certainly looks like he belongs in the 1940s here.

Let's just hope the movie (opening on July 22, 2011: aka the week after Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows – Part II) works.

Batman 3 Officially Titled The Dark Knight Rises

Alright, Christopher Nolan crossed out Mr. Freeze from the list of potential Batman 3 heavies awhile back. Now he's done so to another: the Riddler. At this point, I'm fine with whomever he, his brother Jonah and David Goyer chose as the next villain(s). But I'm also relieved they're not going the expected route with Edward Nigma. Then again, there are still those Catwoman rumors...

In an interview with Hero Complex, Nolan officially unveiled the title for his third (and final) go-around in Gotham City will be The Dark Knight Rises. No, I doubt it concerns Bruce Wayne's morning wood as a buddy of mine tweeted a few minutes ago. On the other hand, Nolan has such clout at Warner Brothers right now I'm sure he could make the argument for it (I'm kidding!)

I say that bad joke because Nolan also confirmed not to expect to see the Tumbler jumping out of theatre screens in 3D - thank God. Nice to see he was able to sway the top-level WB executives ouf ot the gimmick. At this point, it doesn't need the tacked ticket-costs in order to make a fortune come July 2012.

This mixed together with our recent scoop of the production headed to New Orleans and Movie Hole reporting the current search for new leading lady makes for exciting times for Batman fans, and nerd/geeks/fanboys in general.

Avatar Sequels Coming December 2014 and 2015

Every time James Cameron directs a sequel, it works out - Aliens and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. That is if you don't count Piranha 2: The Spawning. But I don't recall how much of that flick was actually his at the end of day. But that's beside the point.

There's been plenty of talk about how Cameron would follow up "biggest movie ever" Avatar. We knew Fox obviously wanted a sequel, and that Cameron would direct it...eventually. The most recent rumors suggested Cameron would helm two sequels back-to-back while others pegged him eyeing Sony's 3D Cleopatra with Angelina Jolie. That would most certainly have thrown a monkey wrench in Fox's plans for more Pandora-set follow-ups. I wasn't fond of Cameron's 3D sci-fi epic (putting it lightly). So the whole thing is indifferent to me.

Well, the trades confirm Cameron has made his decision. He'll start officially banging out the scripts for Avatar 2 and Avatar 3 early next year, and if things go smoothly (Do they ever with Cameron productions?), production could get going by year's end. Whether or not they'll be shot back-to-back hasn’t been determined as of now.

Fox and Cameron have also set December 2014 and 2015 release dates for both perspective sequels.

New Zealand is Officially (Still) Middle Earth

Just when logic and common sense dictated the next step for The Hobbit and its troubled path to the silver screen, here comes another surprise.

After several days of intense negotiations (and various television/radio interviews painting the bleakest of pictures), the two Hobbit films will stay in its home-stead of New Zealand after all, according to THR. Color me shocked.

Things were getting quite ugly in the press and the multiple statements from the likes of Peter Jackson and Kiwi officials suggested the writing was on the wall and the Lord of the Rings prequel was headed the fuck out of there ASAP. Had these arguments been kept to a faint pulse away from the press (and handled at the very start of the dispute with the local New Zealand actors' unions), then perhaps I'd have been more optimistic.

There have been so many set-backs for The Hobbit it's hard to imagine there won't be another problem on the horizon. For their sake, I hope that isn't the case. Nonetheless, its great news for the local hard-working film economy that would have, no doubt, been crippled had the production up and moved to the UK as many of us suspected.

Exclusive: Batman 3 IS Headed to the Big Easy

A few weeks back, Coming Soon/Super Hero Hype reported rumblings of New Orleans as a potential shooting location for Batman 3. Nothing was concrete, but Warner Brothers was wrapping up on the long Green Lantern shoot down here, and things went relatively smooth on the effects-heavy tentpole. So why not stay in business with folks one gets along with?

TMT has now received word from our sources that Christopher Nolan & Co. are in fact bringing the third Batman installment down to the Big Easy. Although it appears this will be entirely for interior shoots. Like Batman Begins and The Dark Knight before it, Chicago will once again be used for exterior filming.

So I wouldn't expect to see Christian Bale walking outside New Orleans wearing whatever new suits Team Nolan concoct. He'd have a real reason to yell at the crew with the intense humidity. Nor does this suddenly refuel those silly Killer Croc rumors.

Zach Galifianakis Joining New Muppet Movie

This (almost) makes up for his (reported) hypocrisy that led to Mel Gibson's The Hangover 2 firing.

E! Online reports Zach Galifianakis is in talks to co-star in the still untitled new Muppet movie. We can all thank his Due Date co-star Robert Downey Jr. for letting the cat out of the bag. Check out Galifianakis' reaction when Downey reveals the scoop – made me laugh.

He'll join Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Rashida Jones and Chris Cooper, and the Muppets, of course. James Bobin (writer/producer/director behind Flight of the Conchords) will direct.

Jason Bourne Didn’t Get the Memo

That report from two weeks back painting a friendly picture between Universal and Matt Damon might not be entirely on point.

In an interview with Parade, the actor is asked for his two-cents on the Jason Bourne-absent fourth installment The Bourne Legacy. He didn't off like a happy camper.

"I found out they're making another when somebody saw it on the Internet. Nobody bothered to call me. I'm not in it, but even so, they'll work Bourne into the title I guess. Universal just wants to call everything the Bourne something. So I guess they are trying to make another franchise and as they say, 'It isn't over until it's over.'"

To be fair to the studio and filmmakers, Damon painted himself in a corner with his public "I won't return without Paul Greengrass" declaration. Plus, maybe he's full of crap and was fully aware of Universal and writer/director Tony Gilroy’s plans. Hey, actors lie.

Lucasfilm Strapped for Cash - Indiana Jones Headed to 3D

Most of us are above wasting away our time bashing George Lucas and proclaiming how he's lost his ever-flipping mind. But when you look at his actions with properties once held the highest of esteems and making even the hard-core fans sigh and go, "Really George?" then it’s understandable.

Hot off the announcement of both Star Wars trilogies being theatrically rereleased and post-converted to 3D (because they haven't rung out every penny left in fans' pockets), Blue Sky Disney says Lucasfilm is planning to do the same for the four Indiana Jones films.

This should be expected of Lucas at this point. My only disappointment is Steven Spielberg signing off on this. Doesn't any move like this require his approval or something?

Don't get me wrong, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of my all-time favorites, and as a kid, I wanted to grow up to be Indy - still do. I'd love nothing more than to see Raiders on the big screen. But slapping the 3D gimmick on a near-perfect film is turn-off.

Spider-Man Reboot Looking for its J. Jonah Jameson

If they thought finding Andrew Garfield for the Spider-Man redo was a bitch, I'd imagine finding a new J. Jonah Jameson, in the eyes of many fans, will be an almost-impossible task to pull off. J.K. Simmons' portrayal was one of those rare cases where a character stepped out of the comic-book panels and came to life. But it has to be done especially with the December start of filming looming.

Among the reported dozen or so actors in contention as the cigar-eating, Daily Bugle editor (via What's Playing) are Mad Men star John Slattery, who in a "Six Degrees of Stan Lee" connection, just played Tony Stark's deceased 70s era papa in Iron Man 2. Also name-dropped is Sam Elliott, who trumps Slattery in the bad Marvel movies department having appeared in Ang Lee's Hulk misfire and Ghost Rider.

Having an easier time imagining Elliott (A friend of mine thinks of him as the sexiest thing on two legs – curious to see her reaction were he to be cast) than Slattery. Although truthfully neither fully gel in my mind as Jonah. I'd be shocked as all Hell if it happened, but Hugh Laurie gets my vote and my buddy/Movie Moan partner-in-crime Phil wants James Woods, also a strong choice.

Then again, they could always throw caution to the wind and just rehire Simmons.