Rumor du Jour: Idris Elba Coming to ‘Jurassic World’?

When you cast Idris Elba in your blockbuster, the badass quotient goes by by at least 25 per cent (just look at this past summer's Pacific Rim). So keeping that in mind, do you think it's a good idea to have an Elba-inflated Jurassic World cast? Well, if you do, that's the rumor of the day, but before you get too excited, some closer scrutiny might indicate that this news will remain firmly in the realm of the rumor.

News that Elba is circling Jurassic World comes courtesy of two sites: Jurassic Park IV and Jurassic World Movie News, as well as an independent website called Acting Auditions. Jurassic World Movie News says they have a source that is "fairly close to Jurassic World's development [in] terms of the casting updates," hence their veracity in having the straight scoop. Acting Auditions, meanwhile, looks to be recruiting extras for the shoots to take place in Hawaii and Louisiana, and lists not only confirmed (0r sort of conformed) actors like Ty Simpkins and Nick Robinson, but rumored additions to the cast like Josh Brolin, Bryce Dallas Howard, and, yes, Idris Elba.

However, and this is where things might get sticky, it's entirely possible that the scheduling math may preclude any possible involvement by Elba. According to Screen Rant's analysis, Elba currently has plans to star in and produce the film Beasts of No Nation for director Cary Fukunaga. Shooting on Beasts is currently set for March 2014, which will surely conflict in some way with Jurassic World, as it will likely begin shooting sometime in early 2014 as well. Screen Rant further points out that the synopsis that Acting Auditions is using is an old one that hasn't been updated to reflect the new script developed and co-written by director Colin Trevorrow.

So this means, what? Well, if you were all excited by the headline, and seeing Idris Elba wrestle a dinosaur or whatever, maybe just cool your jets a little and wait for the official studio confirmation, which, if true, will be forthcoming in the next couple of weeks. But seriously, it's not like you weren't going to see Jurassic World anyway, right nerds?

Jurassic World will be in theaters everywhere June 12, 2015.

Source: Screen Rant

Hugh Jackman’s New Job: Trying To Kill Peter Pan

OK, so we're only guessing at the whole "trying to kill Peter Pan" thing, but it would seem to be part of his job. Jackman's signed on to play Blackbeard in Pan Begins, oh, sorry, it's just called Pan.

Before you ask, yes, it is a Peter Pan origin story, where we find out where everybody's favorite child abductor came from. As for what Blackbeard has to do with it, and where Hook is, here's the plot summary according to Variety:

The origin story revolves around an orphan who is taken to the magical world of Neverland where he becomes a hero to the natives and leads a revolt against the evil pirates. The idea is that Blackbeard is the film's main antagonist while Hook would serve as Pan's close ally before turning bad.

So essentially it's The Last Samurai, except with children fighting pirates. Jackman is currently working on Neil Blomkamp's Chappie, which is basically "Hugh Jackman adopts a robot", and then he'll become Blackbeard.

Mostly we'll be curious to see how Warner Brothers expects to sell a Peter Pan movie. Despite the belief that every property people grew up with will be an instant hit, Peter Pan hasn't fared so well in the movies. Hook is a movie many look on with great affection, but let's face it, it's not Spielberg at his best. Similarly, the 2003 Peter Pan wasn't exactly a huge hit, although admittedly opening anywhere near The Lord Of The Rings will kind of limit your ability to make money. But, hey, in the long run, at least some of the money will go to sick children, so it's a win either way.

(Image courtesy of Gage Skidmore on Flickr)

‘Warcraft’ Casting to Feature Farrell and Patton?

As a reminder that Star Wars Episode VII isn't the only sci-fi/fantasy project casting right now, it seems that a pair of leads are being courted for the highly-anticipated World of Warcraft movie. Deadline is reporting that if all goes according to plan, then Colin Farrell (Total Recall) and Paula Patton (Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol) will headline the movie based on the massive online role-playing game.

The rub, according to Deadline is that they're not sure that "Farrell is going to make a deal-sources said it's 50/50." So Farrell may not end up being in the film after all, but perhaps he's the frontrunner and preference of director Duncan Jones for the part. Patton, meanwhile, is said to be in negotiations for a lead role, as Jones tests other potential leads in case Farrell doesn't work out.

In the meantime, Warcraft is still on schedule to start shooting this January in Vancouver for a 2015 release date. The project is set up at Legendary Pictures, and although no studio is attached yet, it's widely expected that the film will be released through Legendary's new partner, Universal.

More news as it develops.

Source: IGN

Who’s Going To Be The Next Batman in The ‘Man of Steel’ Sequel?

With people losing their minds these last few weeks over the announced Batman vs. Superman movie, the real question isn't how the movie will do, but rather who is going to be Batman. Man of Steel star Henry Cavill is set to return, but former Batman Christian Bale has decided on a more permanent "eight year break" leaving the cowl open to a new dark knight. Let fly the Hollywood rumor mill!

Last week the L.A. Times posted a popularity contest of stars, each of who have the potential to be the next Batman. The list included actors like Jensen Ackles and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It appears, though, a young squirt isn't quite what Warner Bros. and DC are looking for. Sources say the script, which is in way early development, will be inspired from Frank Miller's 1980s ground-breaking mini-series The Dark Knight Returns. The Batman featured is older and more rugged. A battle hardened hero.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed some top names that are being thrown around to play the tough old bats. Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Joe Manganiello, Richard Armitage, Max Martini and Matthew Goode are the front-runners.

Alright, Brolin... now that's a good pick! Regardless of who's names are surfacing, we're still in the early stages of development. The script is still being written. There's no way the casting process has even remotely started. So, take all of this as hearsay. Theoretical casting stories to get your nerd gears moving.

Would do you think would be a good fit to replace Bale as the new Batman? Let's hear what you think in the comment section below.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Is Marvel Looking to Gordon-Levitt to Play ‘Dr. Strange?’

There seems to be a lot of Doctor Strange news/rumor mongering making the rounds lately, and I guess it was only a matter of time before "sources" started to float the idea about who might play the Sorcerer Supreme in an upcoming film. Well internet, let me introduce you to this concept: Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Doctor Stephen Strange.

Our source once again is Latino Review who says that "Marvel execs internally are discussing that Levitt is who they figure would be ideal." That's problematic both grammatically and logically. While Gordon-Levitt is certainly an impressive actor, at 32 years young isn't a little youthful to be playing Doctor Strange, who's always shown to have a little grey in his hair. I suppose there is such a thing as artistic license, but Marvel's usually played it pretty straight with their adaptations so far.

Of course, this wouldn't be the first brush for Gordon-Levitt with something comic book-y. He played John Blake, AKA: Robin, in The Dark Knight Rises, and was (sort of) Cobra Commander in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

Keep in mind that there's still nothing official about a Doctor Strange movie other than talk, so this one, for now, goes strictly in the "rumor" folder.

But seriously, do you Bastards think JGL would make a good Doctor Strange? Sound off below.

Source: Comic Book Movie

James Gunn Writes Words on the Internet & Denies Casting Rumors

Beset by casting rumors that indicated that former Chuck star Zachary Levi might get another role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (he plays Fandral in the upcoming Thor: The Dark World), Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn took to the internet to deny the latest speculation… and then he wrote about cumming in Levi’s face, only he didn’t because that was just a bit of humor and some cutting edge satire.

It’s cool everybody! Take down the petition to get me fired. Just some satire, nothing to see here. Anyway… here’s Gunn’s actual, disappointingly PG statement:

“Almost everything in that Variety article on the Guardians of the Galaxy casting (and all the following articles based on it) was/is completely inaccurate. Just for the record.”

Gunn said this on Facebook by the way, and then, utilizing the advanced technology of the digital age, he deleted it, because he really likes to write things on the internet and then delete them.

So, who will play Peter Quill, aka Starlord? Based on Gunn’s magical disappearing statement, one would think that no one has a beat on it but GeekTyrant states:

“Joel Edgerton (The Warrior), Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire), Jim Sturgess (Cloud Atlas), Lee Pace (Lincoln and The Hobbit), Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables), Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy), James Marsden (X-Men) and Sullivan Stapleton (Animal Kingdom) were all originally rumored to be in the running. Chances are one of them will end up getting the part.”

So either they have some fresh information or they’re committing the sin of speculation and they really want James Gunn to mention them on Facebook.

Sources: Variety, Geek Tyrant