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Latest Video: FilmCrunch 067: Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, Premonition reviewed

Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, and Premonition in this episode of FilmCrunch.
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Selena Gomez to Star in ‘The Sky Is Everywhere’

Selena GomezSelena Gomez will star in and produce in new movie The Sky Is Everywhere. The Wizards of Waverly Place actress has optioned the novel of the same name by Jandy Nelson through her production company July Moon and will take on the lead role of Lennie Walker, a shy girl whose life is turned upside down when her beloved older sister dies.

According to the synopsis of the book, "Lennie plays second clarinet in the school orchestra and has always happily been second fiddle to her charismatic older sister, Bailey. Then Bailey dies suddenly, and Lennie is left at sea without her anchor. Overcome by emotion, Lennie soon finds herself torn between two boys: Bailey's boyfriend, Toby, and Joe, the charming and musically gifted new boy in town. While Toby can't see her without seeing Bailey and Joe sees her only for herself, each offers Lennie something she desperately needs. But ultimately, it's up to Lennie to find her own way toward what she really needs - without Bailey."

Click to continue reading Selena Gomez to Star in ‘The Sky Is Everywhere’


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The Dark Knight Rises Extra Dies on Set

Filming The Dark Knight Rises

Tragedy strikes during production of The Dark Knight Rises. Warner Brothers confirmed that an unidentified male extra passed away from natural causes on the set of the new Batman film.

"The studio can confirm that a male extra passed away while on a break during an off-set crowd rehearsal for a sequence with several hundred extras in early November. The production crew fully cooperated with the authorities' investigation, which established that he died of natural causes," a studio representative said.

Sources reveal that the man's unconscious body was found after he had walked away from the other extras; a medical crew was called immediately. "He was taken to the hospital straight away... It was during a period when the film was shooting a huge sequence with several hundred extras in the Wall Street area," a source said.

Read More | Daily Mail

Ben Kingsley in Talks for Ender’s Game

Ben KingsleySir Ben Kingsley is in talks to join Ender's Game. The British actor would appear alongside his Hugo co-star Asa Butterfield should he sign up to the project, an adaptation of the sci-fi novel by Orson Scott Card.

The book tells the tale of an earth under attack from an insect-like alien species, where bullied youngster Ender Wiggin (Asa) proves to have hidden talents which could help save the human race. Ben would play a former war hero who is presumed to be long-dead in the movie, which is being produced by Star Trek scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Gavin Hood is directing the project, which is set to go into production in February 2012, although no release date is yet planned.

Oscar-winner Ben - who can currently be seen in Martin Scorsese's family film Hugo - has a number of roles set to hit cinemas in 2012, including a part in Sacha Baron Cohen's The Dictator.


Kristen Stewart For Akira Role?

Kristen StewartKristen Stewart has been approached to take on the main female role in the reimagining of Akira.

The live-action adaptation of the iconic magna comic is set to start shooting in March following a script rewrite by Steve Kloves, and bosses have offered the Twilight: Saga beauty the part of Kei, a young medium who becomes the love interest for the main character, teen biker gang member Kaneda.

The original story - focusing on Kaneda and his friend Tetsuo (who has yet to be cast) - was set in post-nuclear war Tokyo in 2019, while the new movie is expected to take place in New York. Andrew Garfield, James McAvoy and Kristen's boyfriend and Twilight: Saga co-star Robert Pattinson have all been approached for the role of Tetsuo - who is saved from a medical experiment by his friend.

Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way production company is working on the $300 million project for Warner Brothers with Allen and Albert Hughes directing. The intention is to make two films, each covering three books in the six-part series. An animated version of Akira has already been made, released in Japan in 1988.


Casey Affleck Joins Paradise Lost

Casey AffleckCasey Affleck has signed up to star in Paradise Lost. The 36-year-old actor will star alongside Bradley Cooper and Benjamin Walker in the movie, which tells the tale of the battle between good and evil.

Affleck will play the angel Gabriel in the project, which sees Bradley star as vengeful Lucifer, who raises a hellish army after he is cast out of heaven. Dijmon Hounsou is also set to star as the angel of death Abdiel in the film, which is being directed Alex Proyas. The movie - which is set to come to cinemas in 2013 - is expected to have a particularly unique visual appeal, and will be shot in 3-D.

"I've sometimes thought that only an insane person would want to make this movie, because it's visually audacious and has to live up to a classic poem that is so beloved. I don't think the visuals could have been done justice until now, which is the great fun of being a film director in this modern age of visual effects," Proyas said.


Rhys Ifans Reinvents Villain Role in The Amazing Spider-Man

Rhys IfansRhys Ifans is a "new" type of villain in The Amazing Spider-Man. The Welsh actor takes on the role of Dr. Curt Connors and his evil alter-ego The Lizard in the film, and director Marc Webb says he's done a "fantastic" job of bringing something different to the franchise.

"I can tell you this much - it's a new villain, something we haven't seen before and villains help define the story in a very specific way. Marvel villains - and Spider-Man villains in particular - are rich and complicated and interesting and Rhys has done just a fantastic job in translating that and there will be a lot of new things to explore for the fans. They're tragic in the Greek sense, meaning it's a competing idea of what's good. They're not just guys, they're people trying to do good or to do the right thing and on that journey that effort becomes subverted or manipulated or it sours. It makes for a much more compelling adversary," said Webb.

Click to continue reading Rhys Ifans Reinvents Villain Role in The Amazing Spider-Man


Blake Lively Expects to Be in Future Green Lantern Films

Blake Lively in The Green LanternGossip Girl Blake Lively is "confident" she will appear in more Green Lantern movies.

The 23-year-old actress portrays Carol Ferris in the forthcoming comic book film and is hopeful to get the chance to play the character, and her villainous alter ego Star Sapphire again in the future.

"Carol is a very strong woman. I really appreciated not being the damsel in distress. She has this relationship with Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds), they're each other's first love. "If we did a few more films, I'm pretty confident Star Sapphire would show up."

Blake was asked to audition for the movie after impressing studio bosses with her performance in The Town and she was pleased to be recognized for her acting abilities rather than her appearance. "I made The Town with Warner Bros. and they said to me, 'We want you to look at Green Lantern.' It was really nice that this was a studio that wasn't looking for some girl to have her legs greased up and her boobs out and that's all that mattered."


Helena Bonham Carter to Play Famous Literary Screwball

Helena Bonham Carter

We’ve got Great Expectations for the newest Dickens adaptation. Helena Bonham Carter is in talks to play Miss Havisham, the lonely spinster who rattles around her house wearing an old wedding gown.

The story revolves around the young couple Estella and Pip, who suffer the pangs of love and heartbreak thanks to Miss Havisham’s influence. Jeremy Irvine is up for the role of Pip.

Read More | Huffington Post

VIDEO: See the Conan the Barbarian Trailer

The official trailer for the new Conan the Barbarian film adaptation is out… and it looks kind of awesome. Purists will be pleased to know the new, 3D film is a brand-new adaptation of the Robert E. Howard books, not a remake of the Schwarzenegger movie.

Conan the Barbarian comes to theaters in August.

Read More | Perez Hilton

Julia Roberts Will Play Snow White’s Evil Queen

Jula RobertsWe’ve never really seen her be a villain . . . but, we’re pretty sure she’ll nail it. Hollywood A-lister Julia Roberts has just signed up to play the evil Queen in the new film adaptation of Snow White -- and no, this isn’t voice-over work.

Relativity Media isn’t making this one for young kids and family audiences. Their version of the well-known fairy tale will "will eschew the traditional story in favor of a more modern tale full of comedy and adventure." And while that sounds pretty dismal to us, we’re willing to hold off on judgment and hold out hope. After all, Julia Roberts is involved.

Snow White is about to get a huge boost in popular culture, which may be good news for those who are tired of Disney’s animated 1937 joint. Charlize Theron will play the Queen in Universal's Snow White and The Huntsman, and Disney is also planning a new adaptation of the original German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.

Roberts will go to work on the film sometime in April, and it’s scheduled for release in June 2012.

Read More | The Huffington Post

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