The Warriors Three Cast For Thor

UPDATE: Now Variety has put the original article in question back up this morning. Um, whatever. Weird.

More casting has gone down for Thor leading up to its January start-date.

Last night, Variety reported actors Tadanobu Asano, Ray Stevenson and Stuart Townsend signed on the dotted line to join the production. They’re to play the Warriors Three, the adventure-seeking god buddies of our hammer-carrying hero. Remember, Chuck’s Zachary Levi was originally cast as one of the members Fandral, but had to drop out.

Then a funny thing happened. The trades pulled the article. As if it never happened. Weird, huh? Why did they yank it to begin with? *Shrugs*

Nonetheless, Coming Soon has the original details so they’re the ones I’m crediting for the story. You can take it for what it’s worth until more info rears its head.

Disney Sinks The Nautilus

Captain Nemo’s days were numbers when the Disney D23 convention came and went without a single word uttered about it. Adding insult to injury was Tron: Legacy getting a prime Christmas 2010 release date which was previously intended for the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea prequel.

Now Variety confirms what everyone already knew. Disney has killed the project. Slight correction, it’s been “halted indefinitely.” As we all know, that’s an apolitical way of saying, “Never gonna happen.”

At the start of this year, it was considered a major coup on Disney’s part getting McG on-board. Terminator: Salvation was expected to dominant the summer box-office (Star Trek? The Hangover? What the Hell are those?) with projections ranging from $220-250 million domestically. After it tanked stateside, the chances of Nemo happening died with the Terminator franchise.

Harsh words? Sure. But it’s the truth. For those months leading up to Salvation’s May opening, McG was the Golden boy of Hollywood. It was going to be the film to prove he was more than just a stupid nick-name. Alas. I’d be surprised if any studio lets him take the reign on another mega-property now.

Rachel McAdams Denies Spider-Man 4 Rumors

If there’s any truth to those Rachel McAdams for Spider-Man 4 rumors from last week, don’t expect her to spill the beans. Entertainment Weekly caught up with the Sherlock Holmes actress (presumably beginning her press rounds for the Christmas tentpole) who categorically denied the story:

“I was hanging out in Toronto the other day and someone came up to me and said, ‘I just heard you’re doing Spider-Man 4.’ And I said, ‘Really? No one told me!’ It’s not true. It’s an Internet rumor, as so many things are these days.”

Fair enough. She could be telling the truth. So I’ll just nod and give her the benefit of the doubt.

However I would direct the jury to what happened to Bradley Cooper. IESB leaked details that he would appear as Face in The A-Team months before it was officially announced. What happened when he was asked by the site point-blank? He initially confirmed it only to quickly deny the Hell out of it to CHUD.

There’s also the chance that an actress could come out of nowhere to get the role (assuming the Black Cat does in fact appear in Spider-Man 4).

Remember how many actors were leaked by movie-news sites to be meeting with Warner Brothers for Green Lantern? A LOT. And none of them were Ryan Reynolds.

Just saying, folks…

Fanboys 2 - The Revenge of McG

He’ll claim it’s not personal, but who’s he kidding? McG was practically crucified by the fanboy community for Terminator: Salvation. However unlike people like Brett Ratner, he brought the criticism all to himself. What with the constant lying and all.

However now that that tidal wave has passed, he can finally reap his revenge on those who shit on him (and his name). Variety reports the director and comedy writer/producer Larry Charles are developing an untitled pilot for NBC about (what else?) fanboys.

The potential comedy series (with this pilot being described as a “prototype”) involves a team of fanboys who decide to scrape up the money and shoot episodes of their favorite science fiction series after it’s cancelled by the network. So they’re basically making fun of Star Trek: Phase II from that description.

Will Peter Parker Be Changing Spider-Diapers?

I know that Sam Raimi said he loved Superman Returns. But it's safe to say no one thought he'd head in a direction not unlike Bryan Singer did with the Man of Steel. And we all know how overwhelmingly positive that movie was received by everyone.

SpoilerTV has apprehended a casting notice for Spider-Man 4 with the following name and description:

[TODDLER BOY]

2 or 3 year old boy to play 2 year old, Caucasian with RED HAIR, an adorable toddler with an engaging personality, on set experience preferred. IDENTICAL TWINS ONLY

Well, this would definitely advance Peter Parker since we last saw him at the end of Spider-Man 3. It would also make some sense when the trades stated that James Vanderbilt's Spider-Man 5 and 6 screenplays could be used as reboots to the franchises. Ending on Spider-Man swinging his little one to Superhero Daycare would be hard to avoid to a sequel.

That said, I would list this under "Rumor" for the time being. But I wouldn't put it past Raimi to do this for his swan-song from the series.

Chuck Versus Thor

This news gives an indication towards whether or not Kenneth Branagh knows what the Hell he’s doing with Thor.

Chuck star Zachary Levi revealed to USA Weekend he was cast in the forthcoming Marvel Comics adaptation. In fact, the recent news of NBC ordering an additional 6 episodes for its third season (before a single show has aired) resulted in him having to give up his role. So what was he going to play - the God of Thunder’s wise-cracking human sidekick or something? That would be an epic No.

He screen-tested for and was originally cast as Fandral, a member of the Warriors Three. If you’re not immediately familiar with the character, he was a blonde haired Errol Flynn-esque, adventure-seeking, womanizing god. That doesn’t exactly sounds like our favorite Nerd Herding hero from Chuck. To be fair, Levi apparently got into superhero shape for his test and I’m assuming that might show up in these future episodes of his show.

I won’t lie. This sounds strange beyond belief, but I’m giving Branagh the benefit of the doubt. That and it’s not like we’ll ever see Levi's screen-test. We’ll just to have to use our imagination.

Movie Moan - Phil and Jamie Blew Their Money On 2012

Despite stating he wouldn't, Jamie turned out to be a lying asshole - shocking ten people. Yes, he paid money to see 2012 this weekend. Phil did as well, but he made no such statements the previous weekend thus putting him in the clear. Their reaction to Roland Emmerich's latest destruction porn epic is discussed on this week's Movie Moan.

Along with Mr. Ed Hocken, our heroes chat up the latest news of the week including the final nail in the coffin that is MGM, Phil's ill-fated Thor audition, Marty being the precursor to The 40 Year-Old Virgin and Jane Lynch. Spider-Man 4 casting rumors have been swinging left and right as the guys also discuss the "interesting" similarities between the Spider-Man and Superman films. Phil gives his final Avatar predictions and trailer-reactions to Kick-Ass and Clash of the Titans.

And what would any podcast be without mentioning Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans? AKA how Nicolas Cage likes to kill your grandmother!

Movie Moan - Phil and Jamie Blew Their Money On 2012

Friday the 13th Sequel Will Be Jason’s Swan Song

In other breaking news, DNA results just revealed I am in fact the spawn of James Cameron. What can I say? He couldn’t keep his hands off my mom. Fuck you, bitch-monkeys. I’m outta here! I’ll spend the rest of my life living up coke and whore habits off Titanic money.

But seriously, Pajiba has some updates regarding next year’s Friday the 13^th sequel which doesn’t have a greenlight or director assigned (more on that below). But it does have an August 13^th release date looming over it. So it’s time to think up new ways to off horny, pot-smoking camp counselors.

Their source(s) state screenwriters Damian Shannon and Mark Swift have specifically instructed they are to kill off Jason Voorhees – thus concluding the franchise. For real. Yeah, I totally believe that too. I mean it’s not like they’ve ever sworn up and down, “This is it! We swear!” Someone involved in the entertainment industry lying? The Hell you say. Friday the 13^th: The Final Chapter, anyone?

As for who will replace Marcus Nispel in the director’s chair, they point to visual-effects artist Richard Wardlow as the “most likely” choice. Now this, I can believe. His filmography includes Dogma, X-Men, Looney Tunes: Back in Action and Drag Me to Hell. He also has experience with 3-D, and this “final installment” will partake of that gimmick…err...technology. What a coincidence.

Grown Ups Trailer

They're kidding us, right? It's not that I was expecting quality picture-making with Grown Ups. But I thought they'd be a little bit of effort into the trailer at least. That was asking too much on my part. Me = Fail.

Don't know the last time a trailer was as voice-over heavy as this. When it wasn't spelling it all out for us dip-shit movie-goers, it also relied on the good old "Comedy 101" jokes. Why there's Fatty Make A Funny (Kevin James), Horny Old Fart (Rob Schneider's wife), Smartass Little White Fella (David Spade) and Token Black Guy (Chris Rock). And then there's Adam Sandler (as Adam Sander), of course.

Oh excuse me, they didn't have Rock saying, "Snap!" after Fatty made his funny. I stand corrected.

By the Hammer of Thor! Filming Starts In January!

As I write this post, there will probably be another famous non-American actor cast in Thor. Hey, that’s not a bad thing, boys and girls. Phil is still banging down Kenneth Branagh’s door to watch his screen-test. Don’t judge him yet, Ken. It’s pretty good actually. Then again, I directed it. So I’m biased.

Kidding notwithstanding, the Marvel hero and his big-ass hammer are looking to be more and more of a force to be reckoned with when it is released on May 20, 2011. I know that summer is stuffed more than Kevin James in stretch pants (I only kid!) But like Star Trek this past summer and Iron Man in 2008, I have a hunch it’s going to surprise the hell outta the general public. We’ll see.

Production Weekly (via their Twitter account) reveals that filming will start up this coming January in Los Angeles. The shoot will then move to Santa Fe, New Mexico by March and wrap up in April. At least, the filmmakers are anticipating this to be done by then. You know how these mega productions can sometimes go into overtime for unforeseen circumstances (read: shit happens).

With things clearly going forward on Thor, what the Hell is up with Captain America? It opens at the end of July 2011 (merely two months after Thor) and yet we’ve heard nothing about it. Is trouble brewing for the Sentinel of Liberty? Maybe he’s been pushed back to summer 2012?