'Wolverine 2' Production Begins In November, Not In Japan

It's likely Darren Aronofsky didn't know about this change of plan, but would he have stayed on as director had he known? Either way, we won't get to see his vision for Wolverine this time. Instead, James Mangold (director of 3:10 to Yuma) will be taking over directing duties for the Hugh Jackman starring Wolverine 2 and it will be shooting in Vancouver.

Click to read more ...

Fox Narrows Directorial Search for 'The Wolverine' Down to 8

Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky turned the down The Wolverine follow-up gig months ago, and now Fox has finally picked up the pace in the directorial hunt again.  The studio sent Variety a shortlist of filmmakers they're eyeing to helm Chris McQuarrie's script, including some names you wouldn't ordinarily associate with big blockbuster action films.

Here's the list of potential directors reportedly being courted for the vacancy and some of their previous/upcoming work.

Click to read more ...

First 'Knight and Day' Trailer with Cruise and Diaz

We've mentioned the trailer for Knight and Day a couple of times in the past few days, and now it's finally online. It was in theaters last weekend, and several days later, it's finally here for you.

The movie was called Wichita until about a month ago, and I preferred that, even though that's not a great name, either. But the trailer's OK, more entertaining that I would have imagined. They're clearly going for a Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibe with it, but I don't think audiences will have the innate curiosity about Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz that they did Brangelina while that whole thing was bubbling to the surface. But it's an action comedy; that much is clear. Maybe too much comedy, given the principals.

Click to read more ...

Maggie Grace Heads to 'Wichita' with Diaz and Cruise

Maggie Grace, best remembered as the stuck up hot chick from the first season (or two) of Lost and worst remembered for her way too childish teenager in this year's Taken, has been cast as Cameron Diaz' sister in the James Mangold spy thrilla, Wichita, that also stars Tom Cruise.

The casting announcement also sheds a little more light on the story, which was a bit of an unknown before. According to reports, Diaz plays a woman stuck in a listless life before going on a blind date with Cruise. He's a spy, and they get caught up in a web of international intrigue, thus breaking the monotony of her day-to-day life. At risk: "a powerful battery that holds the key to an infinite power source." Hmm. That might need a re-write.

Click to read more ...

Cruise, Diaz Head to 'Wichita'

The continued Phoenix-from-the-ashes story continues for Tom Cruise. Once a lead pipe lock in Hollywood, Cruise suffered a major public image crisis beginning in 2005, exacerbated it the next year, and looked like a fading star after Lions for Lambs - the first film released by Cruise the studio head - became his worst-performing wide release ever in the fall of 2007.

It's amazing what a cameo can do, though. Tropic Thunder showed a different side of Cruise and audiences responded. So, too, have studios and producers. Although you couldn't call Valkyrie a blockbuster, Cruise has lined up a few projects in the past several months, including The Matarese Circle, a Robert Ludlum adaptation to be directed by David Cronenberg. And now, Cruise is going to Wichita. Said to be an action comedy, Wichita will re-team Cruise with Cameron Diaz, who also isn't the star she used to be. James Mangold (Walk the Line) will direct a script that has been thoroughly worked over, according to Variety, and 20th Century Fox is targeting a summer 2010 release.

Click to read more ...