Rihanna Boards Battleship

 

For better or worse, a fair share of chart topping singers have turned to Hollywood to broaden their horizons by adding "actress" to their resume. Madonna, Cher, Alica Keys and Mariah Carey are just a few singers who have dabbled in the film industry, and now Variety reports that Rihanna will join the ranks as she'll make her feature film debut in Peter Perg's adaptation of the board game Battleship. There weren't any specifics mentioned regarding her character, but she'll join Alexander Skarsgard and Taylor Kitsch in a story taking place across the seas, the skies and over land in a battle for planetary survival against a superior alien force.

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Daniel Craig Confirmed for Dragon Tattoo and Sequels

ComingSoon.net has confirmed that Daniel Craig will star in David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on Stieg Larsson's posthumously published crime thriller trilogy, "The Millennium Series." The deal includes two sequels based on The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest.

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Scarlett Johansson to Star Opposite Robert Downey Jr. in Alfonso Cuarón’s GRAVITY

It looks like Scarlett Johansson will assume the role previously earmarked for Angelina Jolie in the 3D sci-fi flick Gravity.  NY Daily News [via Bleeding Cool] reports that Johannson has “verbally agreed” to star opposite Robert Downey Jr. in the film.  Directed by Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men), Gravity follows “a woman as she attempts to make her way back to earth after a satellite crash sets off a chain reaction of further crashes.”

More Gravity details after the break:

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Brad Pitt Cast in World War Z Movie

Both Bleeding Cool and MTV heard straight from World War Z author Max Brooks tonight that not only is the big screen version of the bestselling zombie book World War Z finally moving forward, set to hit theaters in summer 2012, but that Brad Pitt is officially signed on to star. You may remember that Pitt's production company Plan B was the one that picked up the rights and has been developing this, with Quantum of Solace's Marc Forster still attached to direct (presumably after he finishes Disconnect).

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Daniel Radcliffe Confirmed for THE WOMAN IN BLACK

One of the best things about the Harry Potter series of films has been watching Daniel Radcliffe grow into a real actor. With the Potter films all but done, there’s no small amount of interest in what Radcliffe will next do on film. He’s tapped for the version of All Quiet on the Western Front that might shoot in 2012, but before that he’ll take the lead in the 3D Hammer horror film Woman in Black.

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X-MEN: FIRST CLASS PICKS A WINTER'S BONE

 X-Men: First Class has an actress to play Mystique, and a very good one at that: Jennifer Lawrence, who is currently impressing the hell out of everyone who sees Winter’s Bone. Amber Heard was previously said to be in talks for the role.

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Edward Norton Releases Statement About Marvel’s Casting Decisions for The Avengers

Obviously over the weekend the news Edward Norton won't be playing the Incredible Hulk in Marvel's The Avengers got a bit heated as Marvel Studios' President of Production Kevin Feige said one thing and Norton's agent said another. Well, today Norton has replied via his Facebook page in a statement that pretty much dowses the fires allowing things to move on…

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Jet Li Reunites With Tsui Hark

It's eighteen years since the two last collaborated, but Tsui Hark and Jet Li are set to re-team for the 3D action-fest New Dragon Gate Inn, according to China Radio International (well-spotted JoBlo).

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It’s Offical, The New Spiderman is …

Well wait is finally over the new Spiderman has been named! it’s… Andrew Garfield!

Garfield will pack his pens in his bag head off to College as the nerdy young Peter Parker and when danger calls he’ll be Spiderman in Marc Webb’s rebooted 2012 upcoming version. Yes folks this aint rumours no more , its the truth and Sony confirmed/announced via twitter but also check below the annoucement video (thanks to Traileraddict) of Garfield’s appointment.

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Serkis to Star as Caesar in Planet of the Apes!

Great news for anyone who love British actor Andy Serkis. Or for anyone looking forward to Fox's Planet of the Apes prequel Rise of the Apes. Fox just launched an official Twitter feed today with a bit of news: "Gollum reteams with Weta. Andy Serkis to star as Caesar in Rise of the Apes, portraying chimp who leads the simian revolt." Serkis has already "played" another ape before - King Kong in Peter Jackson's remake from 2005. As we know, Weta is creating all of the apes digitally, but it's great to hear they've got someone talented behind the very vital role of Caesar. James Franco stars in the movie and Rupert Wyatt is directing.

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Alice Eve Cast as Emma Frost in X-Men: First Class

Heat Vision and Deadline report that Alice Eve, last seen as the hottie in She's Out of My League, has joined the cast of 20th Century Fox's X-Men: First Class, which is being directed by Matthew Vaughn. Eve will play Emma Frost, the "White Queen" who eventually became a member of the X-Men and was seen briefly in some of the earlier X-Men movies (in Wolverine as played by Tahyna Tozzi).

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Rise of the Apes Casting

This cast is shaping quite nicely. We already know that James Franco will star in Fox's Planet of the Apes: Rise of the Apes prequel that Rupert Wyatt is directing this summer up in Vancouver. But besides Franco, no other cast members have been announced yet, although we do know they'll be using Weta to create CGI apes instead of using men in suits. Bloody-Disgusting, of all places, is reporting that offers have been made (read: they're not signed yet) to actors Don Cheadle (last seen in Iron Man 2) and Freida Pinto (last seen in Slumdog Millionaire) for roles in the movie. But as of now, it's unconfirmed if these two will be joining.

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DiCaprio Signs On J. Edgar Hoover Biopic

 Back in late March, Leonardo DiCaprio was in early negotiations to star in Clint Eastwood’s biopic about the controversial former heard of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover.  It looks like those negotiations have wrapped up as Deadline reports that DiCaprio is now officially on board.  The film has been on the fast track ever since producer Brian Grazer brought Dustin Lance Black’s script to Clint Eastwood in mid-February.  And only Deadline could say that it’s great DiCaprio “is getting out of his Marty Scorsese rut,” as if working with the legendary director is such an awful fate that’s really brought down the actor’s career.

Hit the jump to learn more about Hoover.

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Fantastic Cast for Cloud Atlas

Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, James McAvoy, Ian McKellen, and Natalie Portman have been offered roles in Tom Tykwer’s adaptation of David Mitchell’s novel Cloud Atlas.  The book spans thousands of years, several genres, and has six leading characters.  In their article, The Playlist notes that the material appears to be un-filmable.  But that hasn’t stopped Tykwer before.  He managed to tackle Perfume: The Story of a Murderer when author Patrick Süskind thought that only Stanley Kubrick or Milos Forman would have the skill to do it.  Production Weekly notes that production is gearing up for a spring 2011 start, so the cast has plenty of lead time to put this in their schedule should they decide to sign on.

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Gemma Ward Boards PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES

It’s a good time to be a supermodel with thespian aspirations in Hollywood.  (Although, was it ever really a bad time?)  Transformers 3 found its female lead in the pages of Victoria’s Secret, while Australian bombshell Gemma Ward has just landed a role in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.  The Daily Telegraph reports that Ward has landed a small speaking part as a mermaid in the fourth film of the swashbuckling franchise. [via /Film]

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Dakota Fanning Cast in New Moon

It’s been the worst-kept secret in Hollywood (well, apart from the one about [CENSORED] being massively [CENSORED]) for months, but finally it’s been officially confirmed that Dakota Fanning has joined the cast of Twilight sequel, New Moon. You now have permission to squeal with excitement, Twilight fans.

The extraordinarily precocious Fanning – no relation to Irish music journo Dave Fanning, we presume – will play ancient and morally ambiguous bloodsucker Jane in the Chris Weitz-directed movie, which had better start filming soon, given that it’s got a November release date.

Jane, of course, is a member of the Volturi, a clan of Italian vampires that I knew all about and didn’t have to look up on Wikipedia, honest. Immortal peacekeepers that protect the secret of vampirism, they factor into the plot when Robert Pattinson’s Edward Cullen [Spoiler Alert] takes his massive hair to Italy, moping over the apparent loss of his soulmate, Bella (Kristen Stewart), and yearning for death. Or a new stylist.

The child-like Jane is one of the more prominent members of the clan, and has the ability to create illusions of pain. It seems that Fanning – who has admitted to being a big fan of the Stephenie Meyer novels on which the film series is based – may well be perfect casting for the role.

Other members of the Volturi, including their leader Aro, who can read thoughts once he’s touched the person involved, Marcus, who senses relationships (what a spectacularly useless power), and Alec, who can block senses, have yet to be cast. But expect firm announcements on those fronts very soon.

Hugo Weaving on Transformers 2

But what is his role? Ah, only true Transformers fans may know this? In Transformers in 2007, Hugo Weaving provided the voice of Megatron. For a while it was thought that Megatron wouldn't return in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, with Michael Bay even going as far as to flat out say that Megatron is not in it. But Weaving revealed to the Australian site AdelaideNow that he is returning and that he has already recorded his voice for the role. "I've already done it," he said. "I had this strange conversation where [Bay] seemed to imply it was all a big secret. So there you go - I've given you the secret scoop."

So how is Megatron resurrected? Well, of course he's not going to tell us that, and I wouldn't dare write about it even if he did, but this is the answer he gave. "I think in the last one, doesn't Optimus Prime pick up a little bit of, a little shard of the cube, or the thing that's left, and he takes it with him. Maybe there's something there… but I don't know." Of course, the All Spark, it heals the robots, it fixed the little Frenzy guy when he got near it in the first movie. That would make sense, wouldn't it? Anyway, we're going to say that reveal for the actual movie, but it's good to hear one of my favorite actors is still back in action!

Snyder's Sucker Punch Cast Coming Together

300 and Watchmen director Zack Snyder is putting together the all-female cast for his next project, Sucker Punch, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Amanda Seyfried in negotiations to topline the project, while Vanessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish, Evan Rachel Wood and Emma Stone are in talks to star in the action fantasy.

Set in the 1950s, "Punch" follows a girl who is confined to a mental institution by her stepfather, who intends to have her lobotomized in five days. While there, she imagines an alternative reality to hide her from the pain, and in that world, she begins planning her escape, needing to steal five objects to help get her out before she is deflowered by a vile man.

Snyder, who co-wrote the script with Steve Shibuya, has described the fantasy world as " 'Alice in Wonderland' with machine guns," blending such elements as dragons, B-52 bombers and brothels.

Seyfried would play Babydoll, the institutionalized girl.

If deals are completed, the rest would play Seyfried's fellow inmates who also travel into the alternate reality. Hudgens would play a character named Blondie, Cornish would play Sweet Pea, Wood would play Rocket and Stone would play Amber.

Leo DiCaprio to star in 'Inception'

Leonardo DiCaprio is in final negotiations to star in Christopher Nolan’s Inception. As of right now, we know almost nothing about this film, other than that it is a contemporary sci-fi action movie set in “the architecture of the mind”, whatever that means. The plan is to begin shooting this Summer, with a July 16th 2010 release date.

It’s hard to really comment on this story since we know next to nothing. One thing is for sure, DiCaprio is a three-time Academy Award nominated actor, and very capable of turning out a good performance. Anyone have any idea what Inception is about? Last week, it was rumored that both DiCaprio and Ellen Page had been cast in the film (although, I can’t find the original source of this rumor), so might Page be next?

source: Variety

Keira Knightley Will Never Let Me Go

According to reports, Keira Knightley will star in the upcoming film “Never Let Me Go”, a movie apparently about cloning (haven’t we already seen this a few times in the last couple of years?)

The good folks over at ComingSoon give us the following:

Keira Knightley will star in the sci-fi thriller Never Let Me Go for Fox Searchlight Pictures, reports Variety. Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo) will direct the cloning-themed film, which will also star Andrew Garfield and Carey Mulligan. Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich are producing through their London-based DNA Films. Alex Garland, who wrote the screenplay, is producing as well. Film 4 is also involved as a producer.

Ok, let’s put the whole cloning gimmick aside for a moment and talk about Keira Knightley. There are times when I think this woman is just complete dead weight in a movie. Movies like Pirates of the Caribbean 2 & 3 and Domino were not just bad films… she was bad in them. No… horrible.

But then you catch her in something like The Duchess (not a very good film, but she was solid in it) or Atonement and she can blow you away. I’m starting to think that when you put her in anything other than a period piece where her lack of ability can be covered over by her natural accent and a good script, she’ll flop terribly. As a matter of fact, 2 of her upcoming projects (My Fair Lady and King Lear) put her once again in period pieces.

Or maybe she’s fantastic. We need to see her in more before we can really say.