February 10, 2007

Optimistic on the potentiality of "Ghost Rider" to create success in the market, producer Avi Arad has delivered delightful news for the fans of the superhero flick to cheer at. The man has announced at a press-event for the upcoming picture that that a sequel to the movie is now being in talks to be developed.

Joined by "Rider" director Mark Steven Johnson and producer Gary Foster, Arad also hinted that Nicolas Cage would once again be tipped to reprise his role as the titular character aka Johnny Blaze.

Wonder to know what it'll look like if Disney's animated classic "Fantasia" is turned into a live-action flick? Soon we will see it for sure as Nicolas Cage is set to bring up "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" for the company.

Variety has reported that the Oscar-winning actor has given agreement to produce the project via his Saturn Films with partner Norm Golightly. Also on board to take the same duty is Todd Garner who will carry out the task through his Broken Road Productions.

The sudden death of former Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith sure has bring such great shock towards public as well as those involved in show business, including in film industry that the last movie she starred was cancelled to be screened this month.

The flick, a B-grade comedy titled "Illegal Aliens", was supposed to have three screenings on Saturday night, February 10, in Johnstown, New York, and two more next week in Vermont, but the schedule was quickly terminated by director David Giancola in the wake of Smith's death.

Maintains its effort to recognize the best in British and international film talent, London Film Critics' Circle smoothly handed out its ALFS Awards to a number of acclaimed titles and names Thursday, February 8 at the award ceremony held in aid of the NSPCC charity at London's Dorchester Hotel.

In the international slot, 9/11 drama "United 93" successfully swept two top prizes of Film of the Year and Director of the Year for Paul Greengrass, in the meantime also scoring the man, Tim Bevan, and Eric Fellner the British Producer of the Year honor.

Apparently wanting to follow the recent critical success of both "The Queen" and "The Last King of Scotland", Martin Scorsese is re-teaming up with Initial Entertainment Group's Graham King to produce "The Young Victoria", a biographical feature of Queen Victoria, who was also the first Empress of India during her reign in British Empire.

Scorsese has been known to have a well-established relationship with King, who produced several of his directorial works like "The Departed", "The Aviator", and "Gangs of New York."

Gwen Stefani has no doubt at all about having another baby.

The singer told Ellen DeGeneres in an episode of DeGeneres's talk show airing Friday Feb 9th, she's ready to have another baby, saying "It's in the itinerary. I'm ready to go."

It sure will be a helluva big reunion at Lionsgate. Variety has reported that the studio is calling back the team behind "Saw" series to once again join forces for futuristic clone-age fantasy "Repo! The Genetic Opera" which is aimed to be brought up for under $25 million.

Twisted Pictures, the production company behind "Saw" franchice, returns to serve as Lionsgate's partner with "Saw 2" and "Saw III" director Darren Lynn Bousman getting onboard to helm. Duo Mark Burg and Oren Koules are also back to produce.

Setting up another comedy in its pit, Columbia has struck a deal to make an untitled flick of the genre as a starring vehicle for David Spade and Chris Rock, Variety has reported.

Written by Spade and Fred Wolf, the project depicts a turf battle between three families who vie for the same camping spot in a public park over a weekend. No word yet on the director, but it has been confirmed that Adam Sandler will produce via his Happy Madison Productions.

Mischa Barton and Cisco Adler officially over, it has been confirmed. Dvora Vener, publicist for Adler's band, Whitestarr, tells People "They have parted ways to concentrate on their careers."

A representative from Adler's record label insisted Wednesday Feb 7th the couple was still together, but Barton claims that is not the case. A representative for the actress tells Us Weekly magazine, "Mischa and Cisco have decided to part ways. Mischa is moving soon and they both have very demanding schedules."

Well, here comes another film feature set to be noted for its starry cast as it has successfully rounded out big names of Julia Roberts, Carrie-Anne Moss, Ryan Reynolds, and Emily Watson in the lineup.

Entitled "Fireflies in the Garden", the project is an ensemble family drama which focuses on the complexities of love and commitment in a family torn apart when faced by an unexpected tragedy.

Aiming to spark more videogame-based movies after "Resident Evil" franchise, Sony Pictures is about to make "Metal Gear Solid ", a live-action adaptation of the Konami's hit videogame franchise, the company itself has confirmed through vice chairman Yair Landau.

"We're working with the Metal Gear guys," so Landau said following his D.I.C.E. summit keynote address in Las Vegas. "It's a very cinematic game, it really lends itself to movie telling."

Making an express move to extend their onscreen collaboration after that in the upcoming "Brand Hauser: Stuff Happens", John Cusack and Hilary Duff will both come together again in a big screen project entitled "Talking with Dog", Moviehole has revealed.

Described as a cross between "Mad Max" and "Blue Velvet", the project is set in a post apocalyptic future where man has suffered the wrath of global warning, and woman have suffered the inability to have children. Into this condition arrives a young man who is able to show that love, in a dying world, is still alive and that there is always hope, even over greed.

Finally able to slip behind the camera, William H. Macy is set to make his feature directorial debut in "Keep Coming Back", which ContentFilm has secured for international sales.

A coming-of-age drama, the picture centers on a teenage boy with a weak heart and sheltered life who discovers new horizons upon becoming infatuated with an alcoholic ex-stripper. Rounding out the cast are Salma Hayek, Steve Buscemi, Mos Def and Macy himself.

It's another 'Sunshine' for Alan Arkin. The Oscar-nominated "Little Miss Sunshine" star has been picked up for a role in indie flick "Sunshine Cleaning", a production of Big Beach Films where "Little" was also produced.

Also starring Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, and Clifton Collins Jr., the project takes a look on Rose Lorkowski who forms a business of doing biohazard removal and crime scene clean up accompanied by her unreliable sister Norah. In the process of their new business, the sisters come to terms with the messiness of their own lives and begin to move beyond it.

It will cost you expensive to get Cameron Diaz promoting your product. The actress reportedly has collected a $3 million paycheck for appearing in a commercial for a Japanese cell phone company.

The commercial, filmed in Los Angeles in January, portrays Diaz in a super-short bright-green dress and high heels, and is talking on her cell phone on what seems to be a New York City street.

Known to take special interest in horror films, Dimension Films has satisfyingly obtained to rights to "Buried Alive", a new work of the genre coming from F/X maven Robert Kurtzman, who also handles the make-up and special effects for the movie.

Currently close to completion, the flick focuses on a sorority hazing ritual that takes students to an abandoned house while involving "an empty coffin, a fatal curse and a ghost who seeks vengeance on his family's bloodline." Art Monterastelli wrote the screenplay with Tobin Bell and Terence Jay starring.

Filling up the remaining roles, Patrick Fugit, Lou Taylor Pucci, Barry Shabaka Henley, Neal McDonough, and Peter Stormare are all positive to star in crime thriller "The Horsemen", joining Dennis Quaid, Zhang Ziyi, and Clifton Collins Jr. in the cast.

A production of Mandate Pictures, the picture follows a detective, who has grown increasingly distant from his two young sons since his wife's death, as he finds himself thrust into an investigation of serial killings rooted in the Biblical prophecy of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

The flow of movie remake is working its way in Warner Bros. Pictures this time. Moviehole has reported that the giant company is aiming to develop "Spies Like Us", a remake of John Landis' 1985 comedy of the same title.

Also on board to bring the project into life are Thunder Road and Imagine Entertainment of which exec Brian Grazer is set to produce. Name to direct has not yet known, but Warner is said to have already appointed "Eurotrip" writing team Alec Berg, Jeff Schaffer, and Dave Mandel to work on the screenplay.

Looking for a perfect vehicle to start her foray into directing field, Natalie Portman has shown her interest in helming a big screen adaptation of Israeli writer Amos Oz's internationally acclaimed autobiography "A Tale of Love and Darkness."

The beauty, who was recently seen playing the female lead in "V for Vendetta", is also said to possibly take starring role in if the project gets a green light to be developed, Jerusalem Capital Studios spokesman Danny Levy told Reuters.