Jessica Alba Joins Spy Kids 4

A couple of months back (when we were mourning how the May movie line-up sucked), Movie Hole scored some major scoopage on Spy Kids 4: Armageddon, the reboot/sequel for the preteen spy franchise.

Some of the details included character break-downs such as the mother of our new batch of heroes:

"Jessica Wilson is Rebecca and Cecil's new step-mother (and, of course, she's a former agent). Rebecca's not exactly supportive of her father's new partner, and "utilizes her ingenious skills as a prankster to thwart her stepmother every step of the way". Cecil's a little less hard on Jessica, frequently asking his sis to cut her a break. Ultimately, Jessica and Rebecca have to put their differences aside when they're both called up for active-duty."

In a follow-up to that initial report, Heat Vision says Jessica Alba has secured the role. This will be her third collaboration with writer/producer/director/caterer Robert Rodriguez following Sin City and Machete.

Casting is far from over as Rodriguez searches for his new Spy Kids, their dear-old dad described as "a slightly nerdy investigative reporter" and the fourquel’s key baddie the Time Keeper.

WB Options David Goyer-Penned Trilogy

Warner Brothers has decideded to stay in the David Goyer business for the long-run. He's already involved with banging out Batman 3 and Superman: The Man of Steel – both under the control of the one they call Nolan and both for 2012 release.

"TOLDJA" reports the studio has purchased the film rights to Heaven's Shadow and its follow-ups Heaven's War and Heaven's Fall.

The thing is the first in this trilogy of books (authored by Goyer and Michael Cassutt) won't hit bookshelves until next July. The Brothers Warner nabbed up the rights thanks to Goyer's pitch and, most likely, because of their prior successful working relationship.

The books deal with an unidentified object hurtling towards the earth, the reaction from across the globe and, what else, aliens. Goyer will produce and in all probability have a hand in the writing process.

Adrien Brody & Jonathan Rhys Meyers in Contention for Fantastic Four Reboot

Can hiring quality actors for an admittedly silly comic-book movie (getting its third cinematic iteration) shut the nay-sayers up? No, but 20^th Century Fox is going for the gold anyway.

Our pals at Screen Rant report the studio is eyeing two actors for the egg-head, elastic leader of the Fantastic Four Reed Richards – Adrien Brody and Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

Both are indeed good actors. While neither pops out to mind as Reed, why not? It's just a thankless role I doubt would benefit either. Just ask Ioan Gruffudd who played the character in the two ill-received Tim Story-helmed Fantastic fests.

Their mole(s) also reveal the Fantastic Four Reborn title has been dropped in favor of...Untitled Fantastic Four Reboot, I guess. More assuming on my end with that last part, and the current target date is an unspecified summer 2012 date. As if that wasn't getting overcrowded as is – Batman 3, Star Trek 2, The Avengers, the Spider-Man reboot, Men in Black 3, etc.

X-Men Headed to the 60s for First Class

Harry Knowles (AICN big-cheese) got some clarity from Bryan Singer on what to expect from X-Men: First Class. Not an unwise move on Singer's part since we'll be bombarded with leaked set-photos, plot details (real or fake), etc. from now until when this hits our multiplexes next June.

We're looking at a Sliver-Age 1960s set story. Coincidentally I've been catching up with Mad Men and you gotta think Singer and director Matthew Vaughn were fans and collectively looked at each other saying, "Well...there's Emma Frost!" when watching January Jones. Already having visions of Xavier and Magneto drinking scotch while teaching in the Danger Room.

Speaking of which, the technology being used for this Camelot-set prequel will approach that of the James Bond franchise of the time and more "comic bookish" looking costumes.

Oh, and Kevin Bacon is playing Sebastian Shaw and the Hellfire Club will be the big baddies for Xavier, a pre-homo-sapien-hating Magneto and their freshman class of mutties. Some jackasses were running around claiming Bacon was actually going to be Mr. Sinister. Typical fake-fuck "insiders," how you make us all laugh.

Still doesn't put me at ease, but at least this latest update gives some context to First Class.

Mutt Williams Promises a "Crazy" Fifth Go-Around with Indiana Jones

More non-news quotes regarding the hypothetical Indiana Jones 5 hits the presses and, of course, we have to cover it. Because it's about Indiana Jones, dammit!

This time, the source comes from Henry Jones III (i.e. the Brando-wannabe Mutt Williams) Shia LeBeouf speaking to Show Biz Spy:

"They're script writing right now. I got called into Steven's office and he pitched a little bit to me and it sounds crazy, it sounds really cool."

Such a quote implies his tenure as Steven Spielberg's certified Golden Boy isn't over yet. I have a feeling if we get another Indy adventure, the Beard will fast-track the bastard for summer 2012 (as if that slate isn't full enough as is) once his latest War Horse is in the can – which knowing his work regimen will be sooner than most productions.

And who knows? Maybe us nerds won't bitch and enjoy what they deliver this time?

David Slade is the Front-Runner for Wolverine Sequel

According to many, he's responsible for the single good Twilight movie with this past summer's Eclipse. Yours truly can't confirm or deny said feelings since I haven't seen any of them. He also reportedly didn't get along too well with the producers and as a result wasn't asked back for the swan-song Breaking Dawn.

But could David Slade perform the same magic on Wolverine 2?

Vulture reports he's the front-runner to helm Fox's planned Wolverine sequel/prequel. Mind you, he hasn't been hired (Hugh Jackman has to give the adamantium claws up or down) and his direct competition for the gig is Robert Schwentke (who just as of last week was a top-contender for Universal's R.I.P.D. with Ryan Reynolds). But as per their insider(s), "It's going to be Slade."

Good for him if the job goes his way. He still has my vote of confidence thanks to the brilliant Hard Candy - even despite 30 Days of Night being his follow-up. But by Crom am I bored with the X-Men franchise these days. Even the Matthew Vaughn-directed, Bryan Singer-produced First Class can barely muster a "Meh!" out of me with its ever-increasing cast, non-clarity regarding whether this is a reboot or prequel and the fast-tracked nature of getting it out for next June.

Red Hill Trailer

Ryan Kwanten will get his shot at stepping outside of the sleazily-watchable world of True Blood and into the thriller Red Hill. To be honest, the guy totally had me fooled into believing he was a fellow Southerner on the HBO series. He's either that good of an actor or I'm that big a dumbass - probably the latter.

Movie Hole has the trailer for the "modern outlaw thriller" co-starring Steve Bisley (Mad Max) and Tom E. Lewis (The Proposition). It hits Australian cinemas this coming Christmas. Check it out.

Hugh Jackman Prepares For Wolverine Sequel - Drops Out of Avon Man

Hugh Jackman appears to have accepted his fate. He'll always be Wolverine in the eyes of the public. So when the opportunity to go "snick, snick" arises, he'd be wise to take the nice paycheck and grow out those side-burns for a fifth time.

"TOLDJA" reports Fox is eyeing an early 2011 start for the Wolverine sequel/prequel. Once X-Men: First Class became the bigger priority, I wondered if a second Logan solo movie would permanently sit on the back-burner. True, Wolverine earned a profit. But it was the second lowest-earner in the X-Men brand-name. As always, there was still a couple of extra bucks to squeeze out, and by that conclusion a couple of cats in the world who didn't find Wolverine to be utter dog-shit. So yes, my feelings were unfounded.

Jackman was supposed to headline the comedy Avon Man following his turn in Lee Daniels' Selma - both to shoot this fall. But he's dropped out of the former (He'll remain involved as a producer) and the latter is still struggling to get financing. So he'll instead spend the end of this year getting into shape for another go-around in the merry world of mutants.

Fox hasn't found some poor schmuck in need of money (or a blind attempt to prove their skills) to direct. That however won't be a problem for long.

Rose Byrne & Jason Flemying Board X-Men: First Class

X-Men: First Class gets going pretty soon, and it's finalizing the cast just before cameras roll in the UK.

Two more reliably-solid character-actors are filling in secondary roles. As per THR, Rose Byrne (from Damages, i.e. one of the best television shows on right now – God bless you, DirecTV!) will play Moira MacTaggert, an ex-flame of James McAvoy's young (and possibly pre-hair challenged) Chucky Xavier.

If you didn't think there weren't enough "connect the dots" characters (because who needs to figure shit out for themselves), Jason Flemyng is onboard as Azazel, the demonic-looking teleporter who turns out to be Nightcrawler's daddy. This comes via Coming Soon. No word if we'll have a scene where Mystique runs out of birth-control and shrugs, "Eh, what’s the worst that could happen?"

The more I hear about First Class, I truthfully am getting less and less inclined to be confident in its quality. Feels like they're throwing in as many characters as they can (just as they did for the last two rather unpopular X-flicks).

Ryan Reynolds is the Favorite for Safe House with Denzel Washington

As reported last month, Denzel Washington will star in Safe House, the thriller where its David Guggenheim-penned script went through a bidding war awhile back before settling in Universal's lap (and reviewed by our very own Peter Georgiou during our Inland Empire Strikes Back tenure).

Heat Vision reports the role of Matt Weston (the protagonist of the piece) will soon be filled and the front-runner appears to be Ryan Reynolds. An actor who's been very busy lately (just wrapped Green Lantern, about to start filming The Change-Up and R.I.P.D. looks to start up early next year), and as a matter of fact, has been referenced (in one form or another) in the last three articles I've written now. Is today "Ryan Reynolds Day" or something?

He'd play the rookie agent assigned to watch an ex-agent (Washington, who will no doubt do a great job here) in a CIA safe house. When their house is compromised, the two are forced on the run. Peter had pretty good things to say about the script and I like this pairing of Washington/Reynolds – assuming the deal goes through.

Daniel Espinosa (Snabba Cash) will direct.