The Bourne Legacy Targeting August 2012 Release

I'm cool with Tony Gilroy expanding the Bourne universe without the ex-spy himself showing up in The Bourne Legacy.

But I guarantee audiences will be livid paying their $10 (or whatever it costs in your neck of the woods, I don't know!) for a Jason Bourne movie and, low and behold, he never pops up. Universal has to be aware of this, right?

"TOLDJA" says Universal is gunning for the Gilroy-directed fourth installment to be out by August 2012. Additionally (and confirming the obvious, by this point), Matt Damon most certainly isn't showing up for Legacy. But the key players involved remain hopeful he might return down the road – possibly for Bourne 5. That's assuming he wavers his "I won't do it with Paul Greengrass" stance. The man deserves epic props for loyalty.

This approach of bringing in a new hero (said to be another agent in the vein of Mr. Bourne) will only work commercially if the filmmakers' net a big-name in the role. At least there, you've got someone to lure the audience in – some might even suspect said actor is playing Bourne. Either way, it shan't be too long before people getting name-dropped.

Bruce Willis Aiming to Die Harder, Hardest & Hardestest

If you don't succeed, try again.

Or in the case of Bruce Willis and 20^th Century Fox, you push your luck. Live Free or Die Hard was a surprisingly enjoyable sequel in a mostly lackluster summer that the public and overall critical consensus favored. Most important, it earned some nice shiny pennies at the box-office. So it's Die Hard 5 to the rescue for a studio drying up every property at their disposal.

Who needs to wait for Die Hard 5 when there's still Die Hard 6? If Willis has his way (as he tells Showbiz Spy) he'll do two more installment and then retirement from the franchise for good. You know, don't want to wear out your welcome!

Truthfully, there's still an active interest in seeing Willis knocking people's teeth in. For you naysayers out there spouting out him being 55 years old, check out Red. That movie was a blast, and proved Bruno still has it. It also added another hit on his belt, and I'm surprised they haven’t forthright started development on a follow-up yet.

But regarding John McClane, just walk away, Bruce.

Alien Prequel Catches Two More Talents in Its Tractor-Beam

With all these big names being bantered about for Ridley Scott's Alien prequel, perhaps my pessimism isn't justified here. Wouldn't be the first time, but this is one of those flicks that's just going to have to win me over. And you know what, maybe it will.

But the notion of filling in the blanks for bits like the space-jockey sounds silly to me. If Fox is so Hell-bent on chugging this universe along, go the route of Universal with the Jason Bourne franchise and begin sometime after Alien: Resurrection and go from there with new characters.

So anyway it looks like we're getting the damn prequel regardless of my (or your) preference. Bloody-Disgusting reports two additional names are in the "interested" category of joining the production – Anne Hathaway and James Franco.

Now Franco's a solid character-actor and loveable odd-ball. There's just no gage of what movies he'll pick, and, for me at least, that’s part of his appeal/charm. Thing is he's already partaken in a high-profile "prequel to a decades-old sci-fi classic" sub-genre with Caesar: Rise of the Apes. Is he trying to test his batting average?

Hathaway, on the other hand, has been careful with her filmography since leaving behind the Princess Diary franchise that first made her a star (I still think she'll wind up headlining a third installment in a couple of years). For the most part, she's made the right choices (Brokeback Mountain, The Devil Wears Prada, Rachel Getting Married, Get Smart). It's like my issue/concern with Natalie Portman. It doesn't seem like a good career move to get into the prequel business.

But again maybe I’m wrong and the movie will kick all kinds of ass.

Heather Graham Out of Hangover 2 & a Surprise Cameo Revealed?

Well, it appears not everyone will be returning for The Hangover 2.

E! Online reports Heather Graham won't be back as Ed Helms' stripper/escort girlfriend for the 2011 sequel. Warner Brothers confirmed the tidbit with this official excuse/statement:

"Unfortunately Heather won't be in the sequel—they way the story unfolds doesn't allow any room for her character to show up. I don't want to reveal to much of the film, but once you see it you'll understand."

I mean Graham was perfectly fine. But it's odd considering just about everyone else is showing back up. Speaking of which, Sasha Barrese (who played Justin Bartha's wife/Zach Galifianakis' sister, and yes will also be in the sequel) blabbed that there will be an "unbelievable" surprise cameo and that "It's a guy."

Just who is this "guy?" Perhaps an A-list movie-star/Oscar-winning director turned publicly-hated bigot still in desperate need of good PR? The New York Post (via What's Playing) says Mel Gibson will cameo as a tattoo artist.

Isn't it a tad "too little, too late" for Gibson to get back in people's good graces? More important question, will this top Gibson’s cameo from the comedy classic Father's Day?

Paul Teaser Trailer

I've heard about Paul on and off. Just going off the plot synopsis, I wasn't impressed – even despite the great talent involved. Two nerds (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) on the road in between comic-conventions encounter an alien (voiced by Seth Rogen) and get into adventures – with a high probability nerd culture references get spiced in here and there.

Honestly that reeked of fan-wanking especially considering some of the people in the cast – some known, others intended to be a surprise. Nevertheless, MSN has released the teaser trailer for the Greg Mottola-directed sci-fi comedy, and damn it was I charmed by it. Even though, we're only talking about a minute or so worth of footage. It looks like a lot of fun.

Curious to see how many fans will think Edgar Wright helmed this given the headlining Pegg and Frost.

Update - From There & Back Again: The Hobbit Greenlit

UPDATE: It's officially official. Steve Cooper, Toby Emmerich and Alan Horn (the respective big-cheeses of New Line Cinema, Warner Brothers and MGM) have confirmed The Hobbit's greenlight status as well as Peter Jackson directing as per THR.

We've heard variations of this before. So I can't help but have a knee-jerk reaction and claim bullshit. Truth to be told, there's something that doesn't add up. But I'm nonetheless prepared to eat my words live on the next edition of Movie Moan!

Two separate outlets (The Wrap and New York Times) are reporting The Hobbit got its greenlight after an eternity of set-backs with studios' in financial shambles, directors jumping ship, plenty of casting rumors and everything else in between. Warner Brothers and MGM gave the go-ahead on the two-film Lord of the Rings prequel with a deal finalized to get Peter Jackson back in the director's chair (he was already onboard as the producer and screenwriter). Just where the cash-strapped MGM got their stash is anyone's guess.

Interestingly, the labor issues with New Zealand remain unresolved and both studios are still holding back on officially announcing the greenlight until everything's settled. Were they to opt to back out and head elsewhere (plenty of other countries have made offers, and frankly the Kiwis would be fucking retarded if they don't find common-ground with Jackson and the studios), a further delay from the now-projected February start would occur. As of this moment, they're still gunning for December 2012 (the 19^th to be exact), but again I remain skeptical. We've heard this before.

But if they pull it off (I still think it'd be a surpise if it isn't delayed another year), Warner Brothers would officially own the month of December that year with both The Hobbit – Part I and Superman: The Man of Steel. Maybe this means we'll finally get shit going on something I'm far more interested in – the third James Bond installment with Daniel Craig.

And because there's always room for casting rumblings, Heat Vision states Martin Freeman is "expected" to headline as Bilbo Baggins with "TOLDJA" adding he'll "soon be set" for the role. Funny, 'cause just last week he let the cat out of the bag those tabloid reportings of his having to turn down an offer were dead-on. The fact that he even confessed of his candidacy didn't suggest he was still in the running.

While they're on the subject, the latter also adds Michael Fassbender, Jimmy Nesbitt and David Tennant (ironic considering he was a rumored Bilbo candidate at one time) have been offered unspecified roles along with the returning Sir Ian McKellan and Andy Serkis.

James Cameron Considering 3D Cleopatra Epic

This might result in James Cameron cancelling those plane tickets to Pandora. Honestly, that Avatar follow-up sounds like a better idea than this. Yeah, go ahead and boo me! If Cameron's name wasn't linked to this, most of you wouldn't give two shits about it.

According to "TOLDJA," Cameron has had serious chats with Sony to direct a new Cleopatra film, adapted from the book Cleopatra: A Life. 3D, of course, plays a hand in this project and Angelina Jolie to star.

Word is the studio is hot to get things moving as soon as next year after Brian Helgeland handed in his script. So it sounds like if even Cameron decides otherwise (he’s already working on Avatar 2 as well as producing At the Mountains of Madness at Universal) Sony will look elsewhere.

But right now, Cameron's involvement remains on the "Maybe..." side of things.

Spider-Man Searching for Some Young-Uns

Everyone can stop biting their fingernails regarding the major casting-plays on Spider-Man. We have a new web-slinger (Andrew Garfield), a baddie (Rhys Ifans as the Lizard) and a female lead to cocktease our hero (Emma Stone as Gwen Stacey).

There are still more roles to be cast as production quickly approaches its December start like J. Jonah Jameson, Aunt May and so forth. Movie Hole says the filmmakers are in search of two youngsters – one for li'l Petey Parker and the other for Dr. Connors' boy, Billy.

There must be a flashback where he's first adopted by Uncle Ben and Aunt May since they're eyeing a 4-to-6 year old. Perhaps it's a scene where the doomed, but benevolent Unc first lectures Peter on "With great power comes great responsibly?" No clue, just thinking out loud here, kiddos.

Apparently, young Mr. Connors is a cancer survivor in the comics. Maybe he'll be the driving force behind dear old dad's mutation. AKA his search for a cure leads to a "science experiment gone horribly wrong"and thus the Lizard is born. Not that we've seen done in a Spider-Man movie before.

Oz, the Great & Powerful Skirt Chaser

From what Pajiba supplied, I could easily imagine Robert Downey Jr. in this role. On the other hand, the character gives off a Don Draper vibe.

The site has received plot details on the forthcoming Sam Raimi-directed "re-imagining" Oz, the Great & Powerful that will most likely star Downey as the title character:

"The Wizard — a snake-oil salesman posing as a magician — enter Oz via a hot-air balloon, which he uses to escape an angry husband who has found out that Oz slept with his wife. There, Oz — a fast-talking huckster who wears a velveteen frock coat (yes, I can see that) — falls in love with Glinda (the Good Witch), and the two combine forces to Fight the Evil Witches Evanora and Theodora. Theodora starts out as a good witch, but after Oz jilts her sexual advances, Evanora — the truly evil witch — convinces Theodora to become an evil witch with her and help her to rule all of Oz. Both Evanora and Theodora are described as incredibly attractive, seductive women, and Theodora likes to wear black, thigh-high boots. What is this? Oz porn?"

My thoughts exactly, Mr. Rowles. By that same token, this actually makes me want to see this now. Knowing me, I'd still see Oz even if it didn't sound like an episode of Mad Men.

Men In Black 3 Casting Up

My or anyone else's criticisms are irrelevant on this one. No matter how pointless we find the endeavor, Men in Black 3 is gonna makes a whole bunches of money. I’d go as far to say it's one of only three tentpoles for summer 2012 that are sure things (strictly speaking cash-flow here – quality isn’t in the equation) next to Batman 3 and Star Trek 2.

The loveable wiseasses over at Pajiba (that's a compliment, by the way – Dustin & Co. do great work!) are reporting casting is nearing completion as production will commence next month (once again Barry Sonnenfeld calling the shots). Negotiations are underway for Gemma Arterton, Alec Baldwin and Sharlto Copley to join the cast.

They're perceptively up for the roles of an MIB secretary, the big-cheese running the place and, not kidding here, a "fasting-talking Yoda type alien." Remember the 3D threequel takes Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones time-traveling to 1969 where Josh Brolin will play the young Jones. These new characters would belong in that time-period.

If it weren't for the Will Smith factor, I'd label Men in Black 3 as one of those "too late out the gate" sequels. Rush Hour 3 comes to mind. But he's the biggest movie-star in the world, and audiences paid top-dollar to bullshit like Hancock and even Seven Pounds. This will be no exception.