The story follows homicide detective John Callisto (Morgan), now a retired recluse after being nearly murdered by a serial killer, who’s tracked down by a relentless journalist. Dark secrets from both of their pasts come to light.

Hmmm, not a lot to go on there. I have to wonder if his character will end up dead, though, since he seems to gravitate towards “dead guy” roles. I just started watching The CW’s ‘Supernatural’ on DVD, and am wondering if his dad character is actually dead (don’t tell me!).

And of course, there was his dead guy on ‘Watchmen’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ Anyway, we’ll see how ‘The Unblinking Eye’ pans out. Bassett doesn’t have a ton of projects to his credit, but he did direct ‘Solomon Kane,’ ‘Wilderness,’ and ‘Deathwatch.’

It’s set to start shooting in May.

Image: Bauer-Griffin; Source: Hollywood Reporter

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She’s in negotiations to join Johnny Depp and sail the seven seas in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,’ the fourth installment of the franchise being directed by Rob Marshall. It’s scheduled for a May 20, 2011 release date.

Depp, of course, will be back as Captain Jack Sparrow, and while plot details are buried deeper than Blackbeard’s treasure, we do know that the story revolves around the Fountain of Youth.

All we know about Cruz’s character – should the deal go through – is that she’ll be Sparrow’s foil and equal. Female pirate!

The role will also reunite her with Marshall, who directed her in ‘Nine.’

Image: Bauer-Griffin; Source: THR’s HeatVision Blog

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One hopeful who’s read for the part and is ready and willing to slap that big A on his forehead is Ryan McPartlin, best known as “Captain Awesome” on NBC’s ‘Chuck.’

McPartlin told Moviehole, “It is in the casting process and like many other actors, I read for it, so we’ll wait and see what happens. Regardless, I’m pretty psyched to be Captain Awesome for the time being.”

Well, he is darn awesome on ‘Chuck,’ though I can see him as Captain America, too.

Other names being bandied about include Chad Michael Murray, Alexander Skarsgaard (Eric on ‘True Blood’ – can’t really see it), Jensen Ackles, Matt Damon, Cam Gigandet, Chris Pine, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Bruce Campbell.

Hopefully, we’ll know who scores the big role in the next few weeks.

Image: © NBC Universal, Inc.

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So how will Webb, known mainly for directing “Summer,” as well as several music videos (Green Day and 3 Doors Down, among them), fare after Sam Raimi’s work on the previous three “Spider-Man” movies? Webb has an interesting take on it.

“This is a dream come true and I couldn’t be more aware of the challenge, responsibility, or opportunity,” said Webb. “Sam Raimi’s virtuoso rendering of Spider-Man is a humbling precedent to follow and build upon. The first three films are beloved for good reason. But I think the Spider-Man mythology transcends not only generations but directors as well. I am signing on not to ‘take over’ from Sam. That would be impossible. Not to mention arrogant. I’m here because there’s an opportunity for ideas, stories, and histories that will add a new dimension, canvas, and creative voice to Spider-Man.”

Good answer! Stan Lee, co-creator of Spider-Man, added, "I’m excited that Sony has chosen a director with a real penchant and understanding for the character. This is a brave, bold direction for the franchise, and I can’t wait to see what Marc comes up with next.”

Hmmm … I wonder if “brave, bold direction” could be translated as “What the heck is Marvel doing hiring a romantic comedy director to helm “Spider-Man”?

But hey, I’m excited to see where it goes, because I feel like the franchise needs a serious reboot. Something bold and brave!

Image: Sony Pictures Entertainment; Source: Coming Soon

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Warner Bros.’ "Green Lantern" is on track with Martin Campbell directing, and now the film has a villain in Peter Sarsgaard. Most recently, he starred with Carey Mulligan in “An Education” (see image below). That was a more serious film!

Ryan Reynolds is starring as Hal Jordan, the test pilot who finds a downed spacecraft with a dying alien who passes him a powerful ring, introducing Jordan to an interstellar police force known as the Green Lanterns.

Sarsgaard will play Dr. Hector Hammond, the pathologist son of a senator who’s a big disappointment to his dad. He becomes infused with psychic powers when he discovers a meteor and, well, it doesn’t go well – at least not for his enemies.

Blake Lively has already been cast as Reynolds’ love interest, Carol Ferris. The “Green Lantern” characters were created by John Broome and Gil Kane in the early 1960s.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter; Image: Sony Pictures Classics

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That’s great news, since the Oscar winner has either directed and/or produced such films as “Revolutionary Road,” “The Kite Runner,” and “American Beauty.” It’s a given that any James Bond film will include plenty of action, but with Mendes on board, it will most likely be a thoughtful film, too.

Mendes, of course, is married to actress Kate Winslet (hmmm, could she score a starring role in the movie? that would be interesting!), and according to The Hollywood Reporter, his participation is contingent on the final script and production schedule.

Despite a possible sale of MGM, the film is being fast-tracked and could begin production as early as June with an eye toward a 2011 release.

Fast Facts:

Bond 23 is being written by regular Bond duo Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, and "The Queen" and "Frost/Nixon" scribe Peter Morgan.

Daniel Craig will play 007 for the third time, with Dame Judi Dench returning as MI6 chief ‘M’. David Arnold will compose his sixth 007 movie score.

It will be produced by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson under EON Productions.

Image: INF

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“Cancun” follows an out-of-place college kid who travels with a girl to Cancun on break. While there, the girl and her friends are taken hostage by a drug cartel, and he’s forced to save them.

The film will make the most of Lautner’s martial arts skills, which he displayed on “Saturday Night Live” last weekend.

“Cancun” is also the first project for the new production company he shares with his dad, Dan Lautner.

Image: Newscom; Source: Hollywood Reporter

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But he’s obviously a genius because he’s got the likes of “High School Musical” and “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” to his name, not to mention a whole bunch of other box office hits.

Now he’s attached to direct Universal’s adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical “In the Heights.” The story follows three days in New York City’s Dominican-American neighborhood of Washington Heights, and features hip-hop, salsa, merengue and soul music.

It’s always dicey when you take a successful Broadway musical and adapt it for the screen, and the pressure is on with this one, since it was nominated for 13 Tonys, winning the award for best musical.

I think Ortega is up to the task, though.

Image: Bauer-Griffin

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“The world of ‘The Hobbit’ takes place 60 years before ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” Jackson said. “So, not a lot of the characters [such as Aragorn, Frodo, Legolas and Gimli] actually feature, because they weren’t around yet.”

Ian McKellen will be back to play Gandalf, the 2,000-year-old wizard, but Hugo Weaving and Cate Blanchett, who played Elrond and Galadriel in the other movies, have not yet signed. They’re elves, which means they’re immortal and don’t age and can thus be featured in “The Hobbit.”

The central character of Bilbo Baggins has not been cast yet, but likely won’t be played by Ian Holm, who played the role in the other movies. No word on whether Andy Serkis will return as the creature Gollum, but I can’t imagine anyone else in the role.

While Guillermo Del Toro is directing, Jackson is involved in writing the script, a task he savors. “Screenwriting is my favorite part of the whole process. I’m very happy being one of the writing team on ‘The Hobbit’ … it’s two movies, and we’ve written the first script, which the studio responded well to. And we’re now halfway through the second script. At this rate, we’re on target to begin shooting the first half of next year.”

Image: New Line Productions; All Rights Reserved.

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“Moneyball” stars Brad Pitt as Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane, and tells the story of his successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget, by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.

I’m guessing the Brad Pitt thing will bring in females and the baseball thing will bring in guys. Perfect date movie? We’ll see.

Steven Soderbergh was the original director on this project, but was yanked off the film just days before principal shooting, reportedly due to a rewrite snafu. The script is being penned by Steve Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, based on Michael Lewis’s best-selling book.

Image: Bennett Miller on the set of “Capote,” Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

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