- Moviehole was at the "Invictus" junket today, and aside from quizzing star Matt Damon on his sensational new flick (It's guaranteed to be on the Oscar Best Film Ballot), had the opportunity to get the actor's thoughts on Paul Greengrass departing the fourth "Bourne", which was set to get up sometime next year. According to the actor, if Greengrass isn't going to do it, then he won't be either. Bummer.
- The Simon Wincer-directed "The Cup", the story of jockey Damien Oliver's miraculous win of the Melbourne Cup a few years back, will kick off principal photography in February. Not surprisingly, the picture will lens in Melbourne.
- Had a quick chat to ol' friend Doug Ellin, creator of HBO's "Entourage", about the 'movie' bombshell (a feature will follow the remaining two seasons) Mark Wahlberg dropped on the trades on Thursday. Let's just say it ain't a done deal yet, "we'll see in 24 months", Ellin says, adding that his main priority at the moment - as you'd expect - is just to end the series on a high. And from the sounds of it, the next season's going to be a beauty!
- New Line has picked up a pitch from David Lemke that reimagines the classic "The Nutcracker" as an action/adventure movie. Jesus, last time I remember reading about a new cinematic take on "The Nutcracker", Macauley Culkin was being courted for a role. Did that thing ever happen!? (Heat Vision).
- Moviehole's been tipped off that Gil Belows (TVs "Ally McBeal", the upcoming Sam Jackson thriller "Unthinkable") has joined the cast of the Stone Cold Steve Austin actioner "Hunt to Kill", now lensing in Vancouver.
- Dough-disabled Halycon tell Nikki Fenke that they hope to have a buyer for the "Terminator" franchise - which they're being forced to sell in order to pay off their debts; surely they had some old Manilow records they could've flogged off on ebay!? - by February 1, 2010. My money is on Summit.... or Sony. And speaking of all things "Terminator", I've been informed Christian Bale "likely won't be back" as John Connor for the next installment - in fact, anyone and everyone associated with "Salvation" will likely cash in their return tickets. But that probably won't surprise anyone - especially considering how woeful "Salvation" turned out, thus the likelihood that the new buyer of the franchise will be keen to 'start afresh'.
- AICN has premiered a new poster for Matthew Vaughn's "Kick-Ass" featuring Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Red Mist.
- Jack Black will headline the high-concepter "Cryptozoology", a Universal comedy that'll feature mythic and legendary creatures such as Bigfoot, the Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster (Heat Vision).
- The Yankee remake of Frank Oz's side-splitting "Death at a Funeral" has a trailer (and it looks atrocious). You can check it out at the official site.
- Oliver Stone let slip a few details about the highly-anticipated "Wall Street 2 : Money Never Sleeps" (I'm as excited as a cat around a pond for this one!) while talking to a class at an American University last week. The Economic Times has the report.
- Comeback [Scream] Queen Danielle Harris ("Halloween") will headline the sequel to Adam Green's "Hatchet 2", according to Bloody Disgusting.
- Bennett Miller ("Capote") has replaced Steven Soderbergh (how you can replace Soderbergh, I don't know!) on Columbia's troublesome "Moneyball". Pascal's pad has been working to get the project back on track after the big wig pulled the plug on the film just days before lensing was going to begin after reading Soderbergh's rewrite. Seems the project is back in the green, but one Steven short. Still, Brad Pitt remains attached to play Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, who defied conventional wisdom and even his own scouts by fielding a baseball team of castoffs to create the ultimate underdogs en route to one of the most unlikely winning streaks in the history of professional sports (Variety).
- Andy Milder (TVs "Weeds"), wrestler Bill Goldberg, and Elisabeth Rohm (TVs "Law and Order") have joined the cast of the Mark Hamill-led "Minkow".
- Aussies may be interested in this one. As a manager, I'm sent casting breakdowns daily... this one popped into my inbox today. "Chris Lilley Project. HBO. Non-Union. Shoot Dates: February-April, 2010 (in Australia). Characters - Lafonda: 18-25, female, African-American, model; Carter Sr.: 50-65, male, African-American; Corey: 16-20, male, Japanese-American professional skateboarder."
