Search Begins for Batman 3 Female Lead

In typical Nolan-fashion, only the keyest of key players know the full dynamics of his latest production – in this case, Batman 3.

Movie Hole reports Nolan is meeting this week with candidates for what is always the most thankless role of any comic-tentpole: the female lead.

Said actresses are going in blind with nary a clue of what role they're up for. Maybe Nolan is going to use Catwoman as often speculated or another love-interest for Bruce Wayne or someone else entirely?

Things are so air-tight on Camp Nolan's end not even Clint's WB moles are entirely certain what he has cooking upstairs for the third Batman installment. I'm sure visions of hundreds of millions of dollars are dancing in their head instead when it hits in July 2012.

Mark Wahlberg Hearts Crap

Was The Other Guys a fluke? Ever since his Oscar-nominated turn in The Departed, Mark Wahlberg has done nothing but crap. I thought one had to actually win the damn award before any curses set in.

Pajiba reported two weeks back Wahlberg was eyeing the lead in Seth MacFarlane's live-action directorial debut, Ted. Of course, it's amusing to see the same item "exclusively" reported yesterday afternoon (via "TOLDJA") that Wahlberg is onboard without giving Pajiba their props. Shocking.

The comedy (from the sounds of it in the same league as MacFarlane's money-printing garbage Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show and whatever else he concocts for Fox) concerns a grown man’s Teddy Bear coming to life and fucking up his personal and professional life, mixed together with the typical MacFarlane-brand of humor. That is to say across-the-board stereotypes, tasteless gags and more political grandstanding – because there's nothing his frat-boy fanbase wants to see more than MacFarlane standing on a soapbox and proclaiming how conservatives and independents are fucktards. I can hardly contain myself seeing an actor pissing away his talents for crap like this.

Hey, maybe The Fighter will be good?

God (or J.J. Abrams) Listened: No Khan in Star Trek 2

Short version: Thank. God!

Long version: As much as fandom drooled over the prospects, they really don't want to see Khan tackled in Star Trek 2. Its way too soon into this rebooted franchise and there are so many directions Team Abrams can head to just settle on the safest route possible because "that's what fans want."

Hey, fans initially balked when the plot of J.J. Abrams' 2009 Trek reboot leaked and how they intended to restart the universe while adhering to continuity. It sounded hokey, and honestly, stupid. But damn, did it work spectacularly.

Badass Digest reports the genetically engineered tyrant won't be making an appearance in the untitled Trek follow-up for June 2012. Neither are Abrams and producers/screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci centering on "a traditional 'villain'" adding:

"It's definitely a character that will make fans of TOS excited. Think along the lines of Harry Mudd or Trelane or Gary Mitchell or the Talosians or the Horta. Actually it's one of those that I named."

Of those characters, I'm only aware of the Talosians – was never religiously involved with any of the series, but I did watch the two-parter The Menagerie. Them I could see being trouble for Chris Pine's Captain Kirk, Zachary Quinto's Spock and the rest of the U.S.S. Enterprise.

I'm sure some won't be pleased with this development. But the man in glasses and K&O should be able to do whatever they so please with Trek 2 and we should just nod and say, "Thank you, Sir. May I have another?" because they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt.

Robert Downey Jr. Co-Starring in Gravity Looking Doubtful

Like The Hobbit, the single sure thing about Gravity is suddenly in great doubt. Although the reasoning is free from any dickhead actors' unions causing trouble for everyone else.

Robert Downey Jr. may have to back out of the 3D space-set thriller thanks to several scheduling conflicts (read: The Avengers), according to "TOLDJA." Production has been delayed several times as Warner Brothers and director Alfonso Cuaron looked for an actress bankable enough to justify the complex production's hefty budget.

Angelina Jolie turned them down until her face turned red and an attempt to commit a post-Black Swan Natalie Portman proved fruitless. It wasn't until Sandra Bullock (fresh off an Oscar and rejuvenated box-office clout) agreed to headline that things were finally turning around.

WB is downplaying Downey's probable exit (of course, they are) and stating their intent to sorting out a new suitable schedule to retain his services (again, of course, they are).

Yes, it's blue-balls to the production. But, as widely known for some time, the make or break of Gravity will be on Bullock's shoulders and not Downey's – his role is that of supporting, and by process of elimination would suggest he doesn't last too terribly into the film. It sucks to lose Downey, but this by no means suggests the project is fucked. Hell, I'm glad things are finally commencing on it.

Steven Spielberg Leading the Robopocalypse

You just can't keep Steven Spielberg away from helming a blockbuster, and to be fair, he still very much has the skill. So despite me personally wanting him to further explore a side we saw with Munich, he's going to continue down the path of pop-munching, crowd-pleasers. As long as they're of quality, I suppose I could shut up about it. But knowing me, I probably won't.

"TOLDJA" confirms, after having watched its development since the beginning of this year, the Beard has decided to make Robopocalypse his next.

The film, adapted by Drew Goddard from an as-yet-published novel due out next summer, centers on mankind's survival in the midst of a robot uprising. That's all we know so far, but please lose that title.

Production will start in January 2012 (after his latest directorial endeavors War Horse and The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn are released next December) for a 2013 release.

Warner Brothers Would Love To Dream Up Inception 2

By their own admission, this leans on the "non-news" side of things, but it's an interesting reminder that profitability trumps creativity any day of the week at studios.

Word from What's Playing is Warner Brothers very-much wants a sequel to Christopher Nolan's acclaimed dream-centric action-epic Inception. Looking back at this summer, it's amazing how audiences and critics were in such agreement over the film, and that closing shot will be debated till the end of time. Or Nolan pulls a Ridley Scott in twenty years and blabs what it means.

Its box-office numbers were also considerably higher than anyone even with the most optimistic predictions had ($290 million domestically and $810 million worldwide) and with the awards-circuit approaching Inception is viewed as a sure thing to be nominated for "Best Picture" and "Best Director" Oscars.

So yeah why not do a sequel, Warner Brothers?

That's right. It doesn't really lend itself to one. Their sources' also stress WB heir-to-the-throne Jeff Robinov doesn't want to upset Nolan by greenlighting a sequel to his pet project-turned-smash hit behind his back, and we all know how much the folks over at Burbank love Chris. Essentially, this is something tinkering 100% on WB's side.

For now, file this under "What are you, high?"

Oskar Schindler Will Next Save The Hangover 2

This is genius.

Who could Todd Phillips & Co. think up to fill in for just-fired anti-Semite Mel Gibson in the tattooist artist cameo for The Hangover 2? Why, Oskar Schindler, of course.

The trades report Liam Neeson has been flown out to Thailand (where production is well underway) for the bit part.

That's fine, I guess. He's a solid actor who everyone seems to like. It's just amusing how everyone (and I'm certainly guilty of this) has paid such close attention the last few days to what's otherwise a little cameo for the audience to scream, "Hey, it's that guy!" out loud when The Hangover 2 opens next May.

BREAKING! Someone Will Be Cast as Superman!

Because we needed another Superman: The Man of Steel casting rumor to hear fanboys bitching about "So and so sucks! It has to be Tom Welling or fans will protest the movie!" Goddamn, they can be stupid and delusional.

So anyway, Vulture spoke with Armie Hammer and the subject of his being a favorite for the role was brought up. The Social Network co-star threw a curveball with his reply stating he wasn't exactly what Warner Brothers, Legendary Pictures and director Zack Snyder were looking for:

"I did talk to my people recently about that for the first time, and I think they're going a little older with Superman. I hear they're going 35, 40."

Cut to everyone assuming his word is gold and "that means Jon Hamm might be Superman after all!"

I'd love nothing more than Hamm to be secured in the role if for no other reason than stroking my ego and bragging rights, and that's notwithstanding how he'd be great.

But people need to remember Hammer is a reported contender (as per Movie Hole), and you know what, he could be just diverting the attention away from himself. Or maybe the kid is telling the truth. I don't know.

As 2012 comes to a close (and potentially the end of mankind, if you're an idiot and genuinely believe that crap), we know for certain that someone will wear the iconic red-and-blue suit. Best thing to do, fellas, is prepare for even more rumors until we officially know otherwise.

Mad Mel Won't Be Hungover

There goes our chance to either laugh or groan at Mel Gibson in The Hangover 2.

TMZ reports his cameo's been axed thanks to the cast being perturbed at the prospects of mugging onscreen next to the controversial actor/director. Essentially, this confirms speculation arisen days ago (from a Vulture article) of co-star Zach Galifianakis being unhappy with the decision to include Gibson in the first place.

So director Todd Phillips throws up an "I really wanted Gibson, but I don’t want to piss off the guys" statement to the press and here we are.

Gibson's certainly an ass. But I'm curious if the cast/crew had problems bullshitting on set with living saint Mike Tyson? On the other hand, Phillips should have damn-well known throwing Gibson in the mix would upset someone working on the sequel. Thus neither side looks particularly good. But it's for the best anyway. The whole deal sounded stupid.

Don't Be Shocked If The Hobbit Vacates New Zealand

I have a theory on where this nasty public squabbling over the New Zealand actors' union over The Hobbit originated.

As word seeped around the greenlight was slowly, but surely, approaching the productions, some geniuses upstairs thought they could strong-arm Warner Brothers & Peter Jackson to meet the terms of whatever they demanded in order to avoid yet another massive headache – especially as things were finally turning around for the project and with all work done on the films already set up there. The problem is the studios and Jackson weren't willing to bargain, and here we are.

So congratulations are in order to those responsible for this mess. You've cost many hard-working people in New Zealand steady, good-paying work over the next couple of years on the two Hobbit movies. Yes, that looming boycott has been nipped in the bud, but it doesn't resolve where The Hobbit will film.

At this stage, I'd be shocked if Warner Brothers (who will make the final decision) decide to stay put there after how ugly this got dragged out in the press. Judging by the multiple interviews Jackson and screenwriter/producer Philippa Boyens have given to the Kiwi press recently (one below and the other here), they know this is where it's headed.

So where might they go for a new Middle Earth? It's not a secret that other countries are vying to succeed where New Zealand fucked up, and it appears the most likely new location would be London and the WB-owned Leavesden Film Studios (home to all the Harry Potter films) according to producer/screenwriter/Jackson's wife Fran Walsh in an interview conducted with Radio New Zealand National.

Ultimately, what does this latest round of bullshit mean for Hobbit fans anxiously awaiting the films? More delays on its start-date and confirmation of the obvious that it's not hitting 2012.