WB Considering Jon Hamm for Superman

Christopher Nolan is producing, David Goyer writing and Jonah Nolan possibly helming. That's enough to get fans excited and what not, but it doesn’t answer the question everyone wants to know, "Who will be the new Superman?"

With plans set for a December 2012 release, we've heard different names out in the open ranging from Chuck star Zachary Levi in the "Rumor Mill" department to True Blood actor Joe Manganiello publicly campaigning for the role. But who do the studios (in this case, Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures) have their eye on for mild-mannered Clark Kent and his red-and-blue suit wearing alter ego, or is it the other way around?

Sources tell TMT one such actor being "seriously considered" is Mad Men star Jon Hamm.

At thirty-nine (He'd be past forty when The Man of Steel opens), he's certainly older than who's regularly looked at for these franchises. Then again, look at Robert Downey Jr. He's starring in the Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes films (and then there's Avengers) and he's a few years older. Not to mention, Hamm happens to have been a fan-favorite for Kal-El for years now. Something that was suggested to him directly by Music Television and it wasn't like he immediately dismissed the notion.

Before anyone starts nerdgasming, keep in mind no deal is in place and there's no indication Hamm and/or his representation has met with WB, Legendary or the Nolan crew. He's one of several names being thrown around the Burbank offices to headline the new Superman franchise. But it gives you an idea of what direction they're looking at.

Willem Dafoe & Sam Neill Headlining The Hunter

Having recently appeared together in Daybreakers, Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill will soon reunite onscreen.

What's Playing reports the two will star in The Hunter, based on the book by Julia Leigh. Dafoe stars as a mercenary on a mission to find the last Tasmanian Tiger in 1927. Soon after, he encounters the family of a man missing in the wilderness and grows attached to them.

Having not read the book, I can only imagine the MIA husband/father rears his head and matters get sticky with everyone.

Although no specified, one can guesstimate Neill will portray the lost family-man.

Daniel Nettheim will direct.

The New Godzilla

Along with Batman 3, The Man of Steel and a Clash of the Titans sequel, Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures are hard-at-work on a new Godzilla movie. Weird to imagine it's been twelve years since the Roland Emmerich/Dean Devlin/Sony incarnation disappointed after all that hype. I can remember seeing the teaser trailer a year before it opened – common practice now, but unheard of at the time.

Coming Soon has a "First Look" at the new Godzilla (as designed by Talking Dog Studios) courtesy of tee-shirts being handed at this weekend's Comic-Con.

An unspecified 2012 release is currently on target.

Matt Reeves & Tony Scott Rumored as Wolverine 2 Directors

For awhile there, it looked like all we'd hear from X-Men was another solo Wolverine outing. For all intents and purposes, Hugh Jackman is the face of the franchise. I’m sure Fox executives were of the mind-set, "As long as we have Hugh, we have a movie." Which makes it rather odd (not that we’re complaining) when the studio slammed on the "Fast track" button for X-Men: First Class.

So while that prequel looks surprisingly more impressive (and our optimism going higher), it doesn’t seem like we’ve heard any concrete news on the Wolverine sequel since Chris McQuarrie’s being hired to write.

The Playlist says Fox has slashed its list of directors down to Matt Reeves and Tony Scott. The former is still on the "up and coming" list starting off as an alum of J.J. Abrams directing Cloverfield and Let Me In was met with strong praise at this weekend’s Comic-Con. And the former is, well, Tony Scott.

I could imagine Reeves being under consideration, but having a hard time seeing Scott take the reign on a comic-book prequel/sequel/whatever. Regardless, word is production (which was originally aimed to start this January) has been delayed to an as-yet-determined date.

Perhaps Fox is waiting to see the reception to First Class before committing to Wolverine 2.

Robocop Reboot R.I.P.

It's been all about The Hobbit and James Bond, but there are others with their heads in the sand during the MGM fiasco. You've got the near-completed Joss Whedon-produced Cabin in the Woods and the Red Dawn remake. Their fates for the time being involved them collecting dust on the shelves. Then there are properties that would have moved forward under less financially-dire circumstances like The Three Stooges.

Oh, and that Robocop reboot!

Speaking of which, Movie Hole got word on the status of Darren Aronofsky's planned-take of the 1987 sci-fi classic (some would say masterpiece, I would agree with those people):

"Gone. Kaput. Canceled. It was one of the first casualties. [Darren] has lost interest anyway, I believe. Think we're all just going to have to be happy with the three RoboCop movies that are out there".

I feel like I can speak for many when I say Aronofsky's involvement was the only reason I even cared to hear of an updated Robocop. Anything related to Officer Murphy without the name "Paul Verhoeven" has been crap. This, on the other hand, could have been the exception. Alas.

Mark Ruffalo Inches Closer To Going Green in The Avengers

Although it's not 100% signed, sealed and delivered, it looks like we'll be seeing Mark Ruffalo sporting purple pants, tearing up perfectly-nice shirts and going all Mel Gibson in The Avengers. This is according to The Wrap.

Ever since the "shocking" exit of Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/Hulk (Because we all know how much studios love when their leads hold their breath and refuse to promote their high-profile releases!), it's been a scrambled search to find his replacement.

Not surprisingly, Marvel wants everything finalized yesterday as to hop Ruffalo on a plane just in time for their big Comic-Con panel tomorrow. Equally far-from-shocking is the current bump in the road with negotiations – money and just how many damn movies he'll be contractually committed to. The House of Ideas/Mouse is big on continuity after all (hence firing Norton and Terence Howard's uncooperative asses) and wants to call on Ruffalo in the drop of a hat for anything. His representation obviously wants something a little less restricting.

Guess we'll find out if everything goes north for both sides in the next 24 hours.

Predators Sequel Could Be In Our Future

Robert Rodriguez may have that reputation for churning out movies fast and on the cheap. But will 20^th Century Fox spend some extra bucks on a Predators sequel? After its higher-than-expected $25 million opening, we all nodded and said "Duh!"

Then again, it dropped a whopping 72% the following weekend. That doesn't send the message to Fox people want to see more of Adrian Brody, Alice Braga and "those ugly motherfuckers."

Nevertheless Rodriguez tells to IGN Movies he has "an idea" for a follow-up. That doesn't necessarily translate to "Yes we're going to make another one!" But it's….something, and that's a plus, right? *Shrugs* The next course of action he says is hearing pitches from writers and go from there.

Again none of these sounds like a ringing endorsement and/or confirmation that we're getting a sequel to the sequel to the original 1987 favorite.

First Look at Nicolas Cage in Drive Angry

With each new performance, audiences ask "How messed up will Nicolas Cage's hair be this time?" And he's yet to disappoint us!

HitFix has the exclusive "First Look" at Cage in Patrick Lussier's 3D action/revenge thriller Drive Angry. Cage plays an ex-con hell bent on taking revenge out the cult responsible for his daughter's death and kidnapping his grandchild.

Wonder if Cage will accompany his latest "wacky hair" with an odd accent or some speech impediment.

Steven Seagal Versus Television!

Every time I think of Steven Seagal, Will Sasso's impression always pops in my head. I'm sorry, but never found the dude to be a bad-ass or threatening. Truth be told, can't think of that many Segal flicks of quality – Under Siege and Executive Decision. Everything else belongs in the direct-to-video bin.

But as Machete is about to hit (Are the masses really excited about that one? That last trailer sucked, let's be honest!), Segal is looking for his chance at a career revival – especially in the midst of this 80s nostalgia fest going on.

Word from Movie Hole is he's going the television procedural route. CSI: Seagal, perhaps? The 13-episode series is called Southern Justice (will apparently go by True Justice elsewhere) and showcases Seagal as the big-cheese in a team of undercover cops going after the bad guys in Seattle. There are always worse places than that!

And hey, who knows? Look what procedural "murder of the week" drama did for David Caruso.

Brad Pitt Starring in World War Z

With Comic-Con upon us, sounds like Max Brooks couldn't contain his excitement. Considering this news, can anyone blame the guy?

The World War Z author let the cat out of the bag to Music Television. The film version of his acclaimed zombie novel is not only moving forward with director Marc Forster still attached. But it has a big name actor (arguably one of the few Movie-Stars on this planet) attached – Brad Pitt.

Paramount has their sights set on a summer 2012 release where it would join The Avengers and Star Trek 2. That'd certainly be one Helluva slate, fellas.

Brooks' novel takes an unorthodox angle on the traditional "zombie holocaust" story made famous by the great George Romero. Here it's a series of testimonial interviews from survivors ten years after the fact and their encounters with the flesh-eaters.