Random News of the Week (April 6, 2009 - April 12, 2009)

Tom Cruise and John Travolta are in talks to do an update to the seminal classic BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID. Tom Cruise is hoping to produce. He would play Sundance while Travolta will play Cassidy, a role made famous by Paul Newman. Word is that Cruise has been wanting to make this film for years now and obtained Paul Newman’s blessing before he died.

Christian Bale is looking to join Mark Wahlberg in PRISONERS which Bryan Singer is eyeing as his next flick. script follows a small-town carpenter who butts heads with a young, brash detective in charge of the investigation of his missing six-year-old daughter and her friend. The father is a Bible-reading, deer-hunting survivalist. The cop, meanwhile, can't wait to get to the city. Feeling failed by the law, the father captures the man he believes responsible and begins to torture him in a desperate attempt to find out what he did with the girls, whom he's convinced are still alive.

George Lucas has a director and cast for his RED TAILS film. Rick McCallum (Lucas’ ultimate “yes” man) will be producing. Anthony Hemingway (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) is directing. Cuba Gooding Jr is starring along with Terrence Howard, Bryan Cranston, and various others. Lucas says, “I’ve been wanting to do Red Tails for 20 years, and we’ve finally got the means to showcase the skill of the Tuskegee pilots,” said Lucas. “We’re working on techniques which will give us the first true look at the aerial dogfighting of the era. And our top-notch cast will really make this story special.” “I’m thrilled to have such a fantastic cast of actors and such a talented director to work with,” said McCallum. “The story of the Tuskegee Airmen represents a milestone in American history, and we’re all proud to be paying tribute to their heroic efforts. That cultural significance is not lost on anyone in this great young cast.”

"I think that’s still happening. I think they’re still going to do a limited run of it, or they’re still talking about it anyway" says Director Zack Snyder about the limited theatrical release in July of the 190-minute cut of WATCHMEN.

Michael Caine thinks that the next Batman film will likely not be until 2012.

Andrew Stanton’s JOHN CARTER OF MARS is apparently hoping to begin production next year. Adelaide is one of the locations Disney scouted for the shoot.

Richard Kelly talked in detail about his next film THE BOX. WB is releasing the film on October 30, 2009. The film takes place predominantly in Virginia, 1976. There are more than 300 visual effects shots, which required eight months of post-production. Arcade Fire recorded the soundtrack with over 90 minutes of music. This is my most personal film to date, and I'm very proud of how it turned out.

Rick Moranis may be up for GHOSTBUSTERS 3 (please!!!). According to Ramis, who cowrote and starred in the first two Ghostbusters, a third journey into the comedic supernatural is in the cards. And yes, the original cast will return: Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis, and even the elusive Bill Murray. "Everybody said they'd do it," says Ramis. Moranis’ return to the role of accountant Louis Tully is big and exciting news. The SCTV vet hasn’t appeared in a movie since 1996’s “Big Bully.” A few other tidbits are out as well. The script won’t be finished earlier than summer. Ramis is not intending to direct but will be in it.