Yes, it’s true. Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams are teaming up for a fourth “Mission: Impossible” movie for Paramount. They’re looking at a 2011 release date.

I enjoyed all of the “M:I” movies, but the first was probably my favorite. By the box office numbers: “MI:1” - $452 million; “MI:2” - $545 million; and “MI:3” - $395 million.

I’ll look forward to seeing what they do with a fourth movie. Abrams has been successful rebooting “Star Trek,” so I expect he’ll bring back “Mission: Impossible” from its low numbers on the third movie.

And interesting that so many of these franchises are coming back with the original stars, like Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones” and Bruce Willis in “Die Hard,” to name two.

Any thoughts on this? Are you onboard for a fourth “Mission: Impossible” movie?

Image: © Paramount Pictures; Source: Hollywood Reporter

“Public Enemies” hits theaters July 1, 2009, and it’s one of my most anticipated movies of the year.

Directed by Michael Mann, it tells the story of charismatic gangster John Dillinger (Johnny Depp), whose bank raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) and his fledgling FBI, including agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale).

The story also delves into Dillinger’s girlfriend Bill Frechette (Marion Cotillard), and his gang, including Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) and Alvin Karpis (Giovanni Ribisi). Hoover made Dillinger America’s first “Public Enemy Number One” and sent in Purvis, the dashing “Clark Gable of the FBI.’’ 

If it seems like an old West shootout, you’re not far off. Purvis brought in a crew of Western ex-lawmen and orchestrated multiple betrayals, from the infamous “Lady in Red’’ to Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti.

Are you looking forward to this movie as much as I am?

More pics after the jump…

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The 23rd James Bond film is in a go mode! No word on the plot, but the film has three writers on board: Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who co-wrote the past four Bond films, and Peter Morgan, who wrote "Frost/Nixon."

Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of Eon Productions Ltd. will produce.

The movie will once again star Daniel Craig as Agent 007, and the three-writers theme melds with the last two pictures, "Casino Royale" and "Quantum of Solace." Purvis and Wade drafted the script, which then got the onceover from "Crash" writer-director Paul Haggis.

Interesting that Morgan has quite a few period movies on his IMDB page, including "Henry VIII," "The Last King of Scotland," "The Queen," and "The Other Boleyn Girl." Not sure if that means anything in terms of Bond, though.

At any rate, it can’t get here soon enough for me. I’m already suffering from Bond withdrawal.

Image: Sony Pictures, 2008; Source: Hollywood Reporter

Attention, anyone looking to play Seth or Leah in "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"!

There’s an open casting call listed for these two characters at EclipseOpenCasting.com. Thanks to Nieko in Film Gecko’s "New Moon Casting News & Rumors" thread for the heads up!

From the Open Casting site:

Seth Clearwater: Seth is a Quileute Indian and the youngest member of the La Push wolf pack. He is a tall, gangly limbed boy with a huge, happy grin, the son of Harry and Sue Clearwater and the younger brother of Leah. Seth idolizes Jacob, and is always eager to please. NOTE: This is an excellent opportunity for Native American and First Nations actors. Seeking age 14-19 to play age 15.

Leah Clearwater: Leah is a Quileute Indian and the only female member of the La Push wolf pack. She is tall and slender with beautiful skin and short cropped black hair. She would be considered gorgeous if not for the perpetual scowl she carries due to a broken heart and her anger issues. She is the daughter of Harry and Sue Clearwater and the protective older sister of Seth. NOTE: This is an excellent opportunity for Native American and First Nations actors. Seeking age 18-25 to play 19.

Auditions are due by June 30, 2009. Again, visit the Eclipse Open Casting site for more info and to submit your audition.

Good luck, everyone! First dibs on interviewing the lucky actors who make it!

Image: TM and © 2009 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Must every cheesy 1980s show be made into a movie? Apparently, so. Now “The A-Team” is jumping on the feature film bandwagon. The story will follow the original plot about a group of framed, on-the-run war vets who pull capers while evading the military.

Bradley Cooper has been rumored for a while to play Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck, originally played by Dirk Benedict in the NBC series helmed by Stephen J. Cannell.

Liam Neeson is in talks to take on the role of Col. John “Hannibal” Smith, played by George Peppard in the TV series. The roles of "Howling Mad" Murdock (originally Dwight Schultz) and "B.A." Baracus (Mr. T) are yet to be cast. Original writer Stephen Cannell is on board for the script, with Ridley Scott and Tony Scott producing.

Directed by Joe Carnahan (”Smokin’ Aces”) from a screenplay by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt (”Wanted”), the big-budget flick already has a June 11, 2010, release date.

I dunno … I guess I can see it, but they’re going to have to pull out all the stops on stunts and special effects to get my interest. We’ll see who they get for the remaining roles. That’s pretty cool that Stephen J. Cannell is onboard, though!

Image: Amazon.com

James Franco is one of those actors who’s done so many types of roles, it’s hard to pin him down to one genre or character. That’s a good thing in the world of acting, because it opens actors up to any sort of role. They don’t get tied to one thing. 

James Franco has played a comic book character in “Spider-Man 3,” a stoner in “Pineapple Express,” and a sergeant in “In the Valley of Elah.”

Now he’s set to star in "In Praise of Shadows," an indie drama written and directed by Jay Anania, whose other credits include “Day on Fire” and “Her Name is Carla.”

According to the Variety story, Anania is head of the directing program at the graduate film school at NYU. Franco just completed his first year there, while also completing his master’s degree in English at Columbia University. And yet, he still continues to make movies; he’s got way more energy than I do.

In “In Praise of Shadows,” Franco plays William Vincent, a man who returns to New York City after four years in exile to rescue the woman he loves from a crime syndicate.

After this movie, Franco will head off to Ireland to star opposite his "Pineapple Express" co-star Danny McBride and Natalie Portman in "Your Highness.” Then it’s back to fall classes. More power to ya!

Image: INF; Source: Variety.com

A friend just sent this note along. TalentHunter.com has a note saying they”re casting extras for "Twilight." You can register for free and apply online here.

I assume they’re talking about "New Moon" and possibly "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn," but they don’t specify in the ad. Anyone know anything about this site, or whether they’re legit?

This particular ad says: "No experience is needed. All looks and types wanted. Make $150-$300 per day."

If anyone knows anything about this site, tell us in the comments below!

Image: TM and © 2009 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

There couldn’t be a better time for a sequel to “Wall Street,” the 1987 movie about greed, corruption and financial excess that starred Michael Douglas as tycoon Gordon Gekko. Ripped from the headlines, for sure.

“Wall Street 2” (working title: “Money Never Sleeps”) will star Shia LaBeouf as an ambitious young trader who’s engaged to Gekko’s estranged daughter. And, in fact, Michael Douglas will be in this movie, too – and he’ll just be getting out of prison.

Looks like the movie still start shooting Aug. 24, 2009, for a Feb. 2010 release date. LaBeouf’s character will seek out Gekko’s advice when he suspects that a successful hedge fund manager is to blame for his mentor’s suicide.

Rumors are swirling that Javier Bardem has been cast as the villainous hedge trader. I’m a big fan of both LaBeouf and Bardem, and think they’ll do a fantastic job with this movie. Oliver Stone, who directed the first one, will helm this movie, as well.

Image: Bauer-Griffin

Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan are "A Couple of Dicks." Or at least, they play dicks in the movies. Then again, they may be dicks in real life, too, though I prefer to think of them as nice guys.

Seann William Scott (pictured) and Adam Brody are joining them in "A Couple of Dicks" (I just like writing that), a buddy action flick directed by Kevin Smith.

Willis plays a maverick cop (he’s never played THAT role before!), who along with his partner (Morgan) track a valuable stolen baseball card, scuffle with a gangster who’s obsessed with memorabilia, and rescue a beautiful Mexican woman who holds the secret to millions in laundered money.

Not sure if this is fun or just icky: Scott plays a thief known as the Shit Bandit (because of the "souvenirs" he leaves at his robberies – I’ll go with icky). Brody is a detective who’s not thrilled to be working with Willis and Morgan.

Hmmm, definitely sounds like a movie for teenage guys or adults guys who think they’re still teenagers. But I’m a Bruce Willis fan, so of course, I’ll have to check it out. It’s set for release on Feb. 26, 2010.

Image: INF

You know, Al Pacino sort of looks like Jack Kevorkian. That, coupled with the fact that he can play pretty much any role he wants and do a fine job with it, makes him a good choice for ‘You Don’t Know Jack," an HBO Films biopic about Dr. Jack Kevorkian that Barry Levinson will direct.

Jack “Dr. Death” Kevorkian grew to fame by assisting in more than 150 suicides. Not only that, he bucked the court system several times, but was finally convicted after sending a tape of himself assisting in a suicide to “60 Minutes.” Convicted of second-degree murder in 1999, he’s serving his sentence in a maximum-security prison in Michigan.

I’m sure the movie will spark a lot of debate on assisted suicide. Should a person be allowed to die? I used to think not, but after seeing friends and family suffer horrible, terminal diseases, I’m starting to change my tune on that. I think I’d like to have that option in that situation. What about you?

Image: INF