TERRIFYING TRAILER FOR SEAN BEAN'S EPIC "BLACK DEATH"

HOLLYWOOD SPY has written before about Sean Bean's new historical action "Black Death" coming to UK cinemas later this May, but now you can check out the trailer.
Here's the plot: Plague-ridden medieval England: Bodies lie scattered in their hundreds, the country is in turmoil. One hope remains, rumours of a village that is unaffected by the deadly disease. As Gods ambassador, young monk Osmund (Eddie Redmayne) is tasked in leading the fearsome knight Ulrich (Sean Bean) and his group of mercenaries to the remote village. Their quest is to hunt down a necromancer - someone able to bring the dead back to life. Their journey is treacherous and filled with danger, encountering deadly bandits and vicious witch-burnings that will put their faith to the ultimate test. Though its upon entering the village that their true horror begins... This is a brutal and terrifying epic that guarantees to chill the blood and stir the soul.

RON HOWARD TO DIRECT STEPHEN KING'S "THE DARK TOWER"

Now, this news will make Stephen King's fans happy, and I know there are quite a lot of them among our beloved readers. According to "Variety" Akiva Goldsman's "Weed Road" and Brian Grazer and Ron Howard's "Imagine Entertainment" are planning to buy the rights for the adaptation of Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" fantasy series consisting of seven books.
"The Dark Tower" is set in alternate world resembling the Old West and focuses on the last member of an ancient order of gunslingers and his quest toward a tower that's also the center of all universes.
This mix of fantasy fiction, science fantasy, horror and western has also been turned into a comic series by Marvel. Apparently the plan is to condense the seven book story into a trilogy on film, with Ron Howard in the director's seat.

FIRST PICTURE OF CHRIS HEMSWORTH AS THOR

After yesterday's unofficial photo of The Destroyer from Kenneth Branagh's upcoming super hero blockbuster, today we have the first exclusive and official photo of Thor himself. Check out charismatic Chris Hemsworth as the Norse God. Premiering May 6th, 2011 "Thor" stars Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård, Ray Stevenson, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson and Jaimie Alexander.
What do you think? As far as I can see around the Net, the fans are getting hyped over the adaptation, and everybody likes the first pictures of The Destroyer and Chris Hemsworth as Thor. I'm not sure, but I think the studio has decided to quickly release this first picture of Thor in order to cover up yesterday's leaked picture of Destroyer.

THE FIRST LOOK AT THE DESTROYER IN "THOR"

Latino Review has published the first exclusive image from Kenneth Branagh's movie adaptation of "Thor". The picture gives the first glimpse at The Destroyer. The Destroyer is an enchanted suit of armor forged by Odin, and was used by Thor's arch-foe Loki on several occasions when he was trying to kill Thor. The armor has the ability to project blasts of energy or heat, emit a disintegration beam activated via its visor, manipulate electro-magnetism and molecules and achieve flight.

The movie itself will go from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard following The Mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

NEW ROLES FOR SHIA LABEOUF, GREG KINNEAR, DWAYNE JOHNSON AND TOPHER GRACE

Today, HOLLYWOOD SPY brings you a bunch of casting news, with new projects for some of our favourite Tinseltown boys.
Young Shia LaBeouf will star in "The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman", a romantic action movie about a boy who falls in love with the one girl who will probably get him killed, and who has already been claimed by an insanely violent crime boss with a gang of thugs at his disposal. Using just his wit and charm he will woo the girl and save her from troubles.

Greg Kinnear will take the lead in The History Channel's mini-series "The Kennedys". He will portray President John F. Kennedy, Katie Holmes will play first lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Barry Pepper will play Robert Kennedy while Tom Wilkinson will play John and Robert's father, Joe Kennedy Sr.

Dwayne Johnson will star in "Protection" as a mercenary Mexico City security operative forced to smuggle the daughter of an under-threat, high ranking judge and the judge's chief legal counsel across the border while being pursued by corrupt cops, drug lords and white collar U.S. criminal forces.

Charming Topher Grace will join Richard Gere in "The Double", a film which describes the murder of a U.S. Senator by a shadowy Russian assassin long thought to be dead. Richard Gere will play a retired spy who made a career after hunting the Russian assassin, who now comes back to partner up with a young FBI agent played by Topher Grace.

OLGA KURYLENKO JOINS CHINA'S BIGGEST 3D ADVENTURE "EMPIRES OF THE DEEP"

Almost a year ago, HOLLYWOOD SPY reported how China is planning to make a huge underwater blockbuster with mermaids and all kinds of sea monsters with Monica Bellucci as the lead actress and Pitof as director. Now, with the shooting already begun, it seems a lot of changes have taken place in the whole production.
"Empires of the Deep", with the $100 million budget, has already made a record as the largest 3D production in China's film history. This fantasy adventure is co-directed by Michael French and Jonathan Lawrence, and according to the latest news instead of Bellucci, the film will have stunning Olga Kurylenko as the Queen of the Mermaid Empire alongside male lead Steve Polites and Liang Yanfei. Anthony Arendt, virtual camera operator in "Avatar" has also come aboard the film.
"Empires of the Deep" will follow a young man's journey through a mythical underwater mermaid kingdom, where he is trying to rescue his father, while encountering some of the most ferocious creatures the sea kingdom has to offer.

'HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON" GETTING A SEQUEL

Hear ye, hear ye, the Dragons shall fly again! DreamWorks Animation has announced today that their sensational hit film "How to Train Your Dragon" will get a sequel in 2013. After the movie has won the hearts of the audience and received great reviews from experts, bringing back some warmth and fun into cinemas, and grossing almost $375 million so far in worldwide box office "How to Train Your Dragon" has become DreamWorks Animation's next franchise. I'm sure this news will excite a lot of HOLLYWOOD SPY's readers, since I know that many of you have enjoyed the movie this month falling in love with its charming characters, stunning animation and inspiring story.

WARNER BROS. PREPARES "LEONARDO DA VINCI AND THE SOLDIERS OF FOREVER" AND "THIEVES OF BAGHDAD"

According to "MovieWeb" Warner Bros. is preparing some interesting adventure movies for us.
HOLLYWOOD SPY has already mentioned the project which will portray Leonardo Da Vinci as an action hero. Now, the reports state that Warner Bros. has hired Marc Guggenheim to write the script for "Leonardo Da Vinci and the Soldiers of Forever" which describes an alternative history in which Da Vinci is a member of a secret society who falls headlong into a supernatural adventure that pits the man against Biblical demons in a story involving secret codes, lost civilizations, hidden fortresses and fallen angels. The movie is scheduled for 2013.

After he finishes that script, Marc Guggenheim will also pen "Thieves of Baghdad" also for Warner Bros. In this epic adventure Sinbad, Ali Baba and all the greatest scoundrels from the classic Arabic folk tales team up to pull off the biggest heist of their criminal careers.
I must admit I can't wait to see the casting for both of these exciting projects.

GERARD BUTLER TAKEN TO A BELGRADE CLINIC DUE TO EXCESSIVE ENJOYMENT IN SERBIAN FOOD AND BRANDY

Now this is what happens to celebrities who do not read HOLLYWOOD SPY. How many times have I told you people, that when you come to Serbia you can't drink slivovitz (lethal Serbian plum brandy) like you'd drink whiskey, vodka or any other poisonous liquid.
According to Serbian press, Gerard Butler, who is currently filming "Coriolanus" in Belgrade, has been taken to a private clinic yesterday by producers and his security. After blood testing, doctors have diagnosed a high blood pressure, and Gerard was given an IV. According to doctors, the high blood pressure was the result of Gerard's excessive enjoyment in Serbian delicacies and domestic brandy which led to mild food and alcohol poisoning. We don't have to mention that beside too much food and drink, Gerard has also exhausted his organism with too much work and too much partying, since Serbians have been seeing him in Belgrade clubs almost each night this week.
But at least the stories about Gerard being a great lad, have been proved again, since the clinic staff was more than impressed by his friendly attitude and positive character.

MATTHEW GOODE IS HOLLYWOOD SPY'S BEST BRITISH LAD. NEW POLL: SF BEAUTIES!!!

My dear and ever so gorgeous readers, I'm proud to announce that yet another of HOLLYWOOD SPY's polls has finished successfully showing your impeccable taste :) Scoring 32% out of the total 207 votes, Matthew Goode has won the title of your favourite BRITISH LAD. Other two great guys, Simon Woods and Henry Cavill have won the second and the third place with 41 and 40 votes.
I've personally noticed charming Matthew Goode some time before he became world wide famous with the role of dashing Ozymandias in one of the best sf movies "Watchmen" last year. His hypnotic charisma has caught my eye back in 2005 when he stared in the intriguing drama "Match Point". You've also had a chance to see this gifted British actor (who is by the way just nine days older than your dear Hollywood Spy ^_^) in "A Single Man", "Leap Year", "Chasing Liberty", "Brideshead Revisited"... Our beloved Goody (who is also a good friend with another British guy - Ben Whishaw) has also auditioned for the main role in "The Hobbit", and if he gets the role we might be seeing him in one of the biggest fantasy projects of this decade.

And now ladies and gentlemen, etiquette bids me to turn to the male population among our readers. I think they will be more than satisfied (literally as well:) ) with our new poll. In next two weeks we will be choosing your favourite SF BEAUTY. The list of gorgeous sf TV vixens includes: Jeri Ryan (the sexiest Borg from STAR TREK VOYAGER), Linda Park (adorable Hoshi Sato from STAR TREK ENTERPRISE), Morena Baccarin (refined and breathtaking Inara from FIREFLY), Jolene Blalock (steamy T'Pol from STAR TREK ENTERPRISE), Kari Wuhrer (lusty captain Maggie from SLIDERS) and Jewel Staite (sf cutie from FIREFLY and STARGATE ATLANTYS). You can vote and stare at their pictures as much as you like in the upcoming two weeks.

COLUMBIA TAKES OVER THE ADAPTATION OF "MAXIMUM RIDE"

According to "Movieweb" Universal has took over the adaptation of the bestselling James Patterson's young adult science fiction/fantasy book "Maximum Ride" from Columbia, but it seems that the helm is still secured for Catherine Hardwicke.

This highly successful fantasy saga chronicles six teens known as the Flock who are genetically altered so they are part human and part bird. Learning to fly, they escape the laboratory where they have been housed and are pursued by a pack of creatures called the Erasers that are part human and part wolf.

SAD NEWS: "LEGEND OF THE SEEKER" CANCELED!!!

Sad news, people, the story we had reported as a rumor at the beginning of the year, has been confirmed now: popular fantasy show "Legend of the Seeker" has been canceled which means that the upcoming second season finale will actually be the final end of the whole show. Although the second season brought interesting new characters, amazing sets and costumes, and entertaining plots, it seems that many countries have been dropping the series since winter, and the studio has lost too many markets for the show. According to "Ausiello Files" ABC, the producer of the show, has apparently tried to sell and offer "Legend of the Seeker" to possible buyers, but it seems no one was interested.
As you know, this refreshing series was the adaptation of Terry Goodkind's novels with the charming cast including Craig Horner, Bridget Regan, Tabrett Bethell and Craig Parker. It seems we won't be seeing their lovely faces anymore in this captivating action-adventure.

JASON STATHAM AND CLIVE OWEN ARE "THE KILLER ELITE"

Now, if you like genuine British hunks, you will enjoy this one. According to "Variety" Clive Owen and Jason Statham will star together in "The Killer Elite". The film centers on a group of British former special forces soldiers who become hunted by a team of ruthless assassins, lead by Jason Statham's character. Clive Owen will play a top field agent for a spy organization that protects the British soldiers and their families.
Since he obviously likes playing killers, after we see him this summer in "The Expendables" Jason Statham will also star in "The Mechanic" an action-thriller centered on an assassin and his apprentice (Ben Foster). On the other side, it seems Clive Owen adores playing cops and special agents, and if you go over to IMDB and check his list, you will see that all of his upcoming projects present him in detective or agent roles.

JUSTIN THEROUX WOULD LIKE TO BE HAWKEYE IN "THE AVENGERS"

Actor Justin Theroux, who was hired to write the screenplay for "Iron Man 2" after he had impressed Robert Downey Jr with writing "Tropic Thunder", got busy these days promoting the super-hero sequel coming to cinemas on May 7th. Speaking to "Movieweb" Justin Theroux has revealed that he wouldn't mind continuing his work with Marvel Studios.

Since the studio is also focusing on their super-hero group movie "The Avengers" he said that he won't have time to write the script for that film, but that he could consider starring in it, and he mentioned a role he would be particularly interested in. Apparently he could see himself as Hawkeye. Hawkeye has no superhuman powers, but he is a trained athlete and tactician who is very skilled with the bow and arrows. What do you think, could you see Theroux as Hawkeye?

VANESSA HUDGENS AS SPIDER-WOMAN???

Now, here's a, both interesting and disturbing, rumor I've just read over at "Aceshowbiz": the star of the upcoming movie "Beastly", young Vanessa Hudgens might be wearing the Spider-Woman costume in the future. She is apparently in talks with filmmakers to star in a film which will focus on the super heroine who first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1944.
They plan to make a fun, comedic movie in which Spider-Woman is strong and sexy but also funny and according to rumors Vanessa is very interested in the whole idea. So, what do you think about this? The same scary news as Taylor Swift possibly playing Supergirl?!?

LEONA LEWIS AND JENNIFER HUDSON'S DUET "LOVE IS YOUR COLOUR" IN "SEX AND THE CITY 2"

If you are anxiously waiting to see the upcoming summer movie "Sex and teh City 2", wait till you hear this - the theme song for the movie, titled "Love is Your Colour" is a duet between two sensational singers - Leona Lewis and Jennifer Hudson. As you know, Jennifer Hudson had a role in the first movie as Carrie Bradshaw’s assistant, while Leona Lewis already has some soundtrack experience since she sang the mesmerizing theme song "I See You" for "Avatar" and she had a song in "Precious".
"Sex and the City 2" soundtrack will also feature Beyonce's "Single Ladies" but this time performed by Liza Minnelli, who will most probably sing the song during Stanford Blatch and Anthony Marantino's gay wedding in the film. The songs from Alicia Keys, Dido and Erykah Badu will also appear in the movie.

BREATHTAKING NEW TRAILER FOR "THE LAST AIRBENDER"

Now you must see this - the third full-length trailer for the upcoming fantasy adventure "The Last Airbender", which is by far the best of all we've seen in recent few months. The number of breathtaking scenes in this trailer is simply overwhelming. Be careful not to miss all the water and ice bending scenes and the flying dragons, and the sensational one-to-one element-bending battle between Aang and prince Zuko.
Coming out July 2nd, 2010, "The Last Airbender" will be shown both in 2D and 3D.

SF UPDATES: RIDLEY SCOTT'S "ALIEN" PREQUEL, CAMERON'S "BATTLE ANGEL" AND "ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK" REMAKE

Saturday brings us a bunch of exclusive news for the fans of sf.
Following the new trend of remakes, Breck Eisner ("Sahara") has decided to direct the remake of "Escape From New York". It will be a hybrid of the original movie which was set in a dystopian 1997 where all of Manhattan was turned into a prison reserved for the criminal elite and, when the current President's plane crashed on the island, the classic anti-hero Snake Plissken was forced into undertaking a rescue mission. Breck is also scheduled to direct the remake of "Flash Gordon".

Ridley Scott has reveled that his "Alien" prequel, scheduled for 2012, will be set in 2085, about 30 years before Sigourney Weaver's character Ellen Ripley was born. The prequel will fundamentally try to find out who was the guy who was sitting in the seat of the alien vehicle in the original movie. The main character will again be a woman.

James Cameron has recently reveled why could "Battle Angel Alita" be his next project: the main character is this little girl that everybody kind of ignores. She's got such a heroic heart on the inside, I've always loved that character. "Battle Angel", I think, is a science fiction movie that begs the question 'What does it mean to be human?'It takes place in a future world, a world that has cyborgs, but are you human if you have a mind, if you have a heart, if you have a soul? It's a journey of a young girl who tries to discover herself and what she learns upon that journey.

A BUNCH OF NEW IMAGES FROM "ROBIN HOOD"

By clicking on these two pictures, you will see a whole new set of images from the upcoming historical action "Robin Hood" directed by Ridley Scott. Starring Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, Kevin Durand, Danny Huston, Matthew Macfadyen, Max von Sydow, William Hurt ... the film premieres May 14th.

AMANDA SEYFRIED JOINED BY JULIE CHRISTIE, GARY OLDMAN, MAX IRONS AND SHILOH FERNANDEZ IN "THE GIRL WITH THE RED RIDING HOOD"

I'm not quite sure whether Catherine Hardwicke thinks that love and monsters always go together, but as HOLLYWOOD SPY reported this week, the "Twilight" director's new project is "The Girl with the Red Riding Hood" a Gothic re-imagining of "Little Red Riding Hood" by the Brothers Grimm. The new version of the story in which a wolf disguises himself to fool a girl delivering food to her sick grandmother in the forest will follow earlier oral versions of the tale, which date back to the Middle Ages, and are far darker involving a werewolf rather than a wolf.
As we already reported blond angel Amanda Seyfriend will play the main role, but this week the cast of the movie became a lot bigger. Amanda will be the center of a romantic triangle between two young actors Max Irons and Shiloh Fernandez. Gary Oldman will portray Father Solomon, who is the Witchmaster General in charge of finding and killing the werewolf that has been stalking Amanda Seyfried's character, while legendary Julie Christie will probably play Seyfried's grandmother, who passes the time by knitting with silver needles.

MICKEY ROURKE TO STAR IN "GENGHIS KHAN" BY JOHN MILIUS

The good news - we are getting a new epic, the bad news - Mickey Rourke will take the lead role. Talking to "Orlando Sentinel",he has revealed that he might play the fearsome Mongol leader in "Genghis Khan" a film written by John Milius. Here's what Rourke said:
I read his script and you know, the man is known for his tough writing. He wrote "Conan" and "Dirty Harry" and "Apocalypse Now", and it'll be interesting to see how he works behind the camera. I'm playing Genghis. John wrote it as a piece told from the son and grandson's point of view, how they saw this mythic figure from their family. You see him in flashbacks, back when he was in his mid-40s. And back then, being in your mid-40s was being really old. It'll be a fascinating experience, maybe shooting in parts of India, they tell me, and China. I've never worked in either of those countries, so that'll be new. Historically, if you read about the guy, he was a mystery. There's a lot of myths surrounding him, but also some true stories. Milius went through that in prepping this, so he'll be a fascinating character to play.
It's interesting how out of a sudden, Rourke has gone all epic, since before doing the Genghis Khan, he will play a king in Tarsem's mythological epic "Immortals".

MARVEL TO MAKE CHEAPER FILMS WITH THEIR LESS POPULAR HEROES

Although Marvel Studios are preparing for us a number of expensive comic book adaptations like "Thor", "Captain America: The First Avenger" and "The Avengers", according to "CHUD" they are also planning to make films with modest budgets, from $20 million to $40 million. Such movies would follow some of the less popular Marvel's characters such as Doctor Strange, Ka-Zar, Luke Cage, Dazzler and Power Pack. This would apparently give Marvel much more flexibility, since such movies with the budget of 20-40 million could bring them money if made right. And at a lower budget these movies don't need to be quite so mainstream. A 20 million dollar film can take much bigger risks than one that costs a hundred million more than that, as seen currently with "Kick-Ass".

CHRIS PINE TO JOIN REESE WITHERSPOON IN "THIS MEANS WAR"?

According to latest rumors, Reese Witherspoon could finally get her male partners in the upcoming comedy "This Means War" directed by McG. Some sites report that Chris Pine could be one of the two male leads, with the second role supposedly being offered to Seth Rogen instead of James Franco as the first news stated.
Premiering next year "This Means War" follows two best friends, inseparable since childhood, who fall in love with the same woman played by Reese Witherspoon. The two men's bond disintegrates and their ensuing battle escalates to mammoth proportions, with New York City demolished in their wake.

SHEKHAR KAPUR TO DIRECT "MALLORY" BIOPIC

Profoundly talented director Shekhar Kapur, the author of such legendary masterpieces as "Elizabeth", "The Four Feathers" and "Elizabeth the Golden Age", will use his emotional, expressive and epic style to direct "Mallory", a film which will describe George Mallory's attempt to climb Mount Everest. According to "Variety" the film will be set in post-World War I England and will focus on Mallory's obsession with Mount Everest and how it affected his marriage. In 1924, Mallory disappeared while climbing Mount Everest, just 800 feet from the summit.
Julia Roberts will be one of the producers, but I really hope she has no intention of "trying" to act in it as well.

HILARIOUS PUSS IN BOOTS VIDEO FROM "SHREK FOREVER AFTER"

Now, ya people know how I don't give a shrek about "Shrek" movies, but at least they say that the Ogre will be gone "Forever After" when this sequel ends, so let's just take a look at my favourite character in the upcoming movie, the Puss in Boots, off course :) I nearly burst out laughing watching the adorable kitty in this short video from "Shrek Forever After". Check it out. As you know Antonio Banderas is the voice behind Puss in Boots who is having some weight issues in the final sequel which comes to cinemas on May 21st. Enjoy :))

OCEANS OF PANDORA IN "AVATAR 2" - SAYS JAMES CAMERON

If you thought "Avatar" couldn't get any more blue, you were mistaken. According to the big boss himself, the sequel to the most successful movie of all times will dive deep down into the oceans of Pandora. Here's what James Cameron said to "L.A. Times" about the next movie in the "Avatar" series:
We created a broad canvas for the environment of film. That's not just on Pandora, but throughout the Alpha Centauri AB system. And we expand out across that system and incorporate more into the story, not necessarily in the second film, but more toward a third film. I've already announced this, so I might as well say it: Part of my focus in the second film is in creating a different environment, a different setting within Pandora. And I'm going to be focusing on the ocean on Pandora, which will be equally rich and diverse and crazy and imaginative, but it just won't be a rain forest. I'm not saying we won't see what we've already seen - we'll see more of that as well.
It is expected that "Avatar II" will premiere sometime in 2014.

GERARD BUTLER ARRIVES TO THE SET OF "CORIOLANUS" IN SERBIA. RALPH FIENNES SEDUCING SEXY SINGERS IN BELGRADE.

After some delays because of the volcanic eruption over at Iceland Gerard Butler has arrived to Serbia yesterday, where the crew of Ralph Fiennes' "Coriolanus" has already started filming the movie. Butler will stay in Belgrade probably till the end of the week, filming the mass scenes as Tullus Aufidius, the main enemy of Coriolanus played by Ralph Fiennes in this modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare's famous play. Here you can see the first pic of Gerard at the set. It's interesting that the first audition Butler ever went to in his life was for "Coriolanus" as well, so he jokes that it took him a decade to finally get the role.

Meanwhile, Serbian tabloids have caught Ralph Fiennes in one of the luxurious Belgrade restaurants with one of Serbia's most popular singers Danijela Vranic. At first he was staring at her, mesmerized by her beauty and probably by her breasts, and she even said a few angry words to him, irritated by his rude staring, but at the end, according to tabloids, Ralph and Danijela finished the evening by exchanging their phone numbers. If you want to see for yourself how Ralph Fiennes has a lot of taste, check out the video for Danijela's most popular song bellow :)

NEW ROLES FOR CAMERON DIAZ, BRAD PITT, AMANDA SEYFRIED, ADRIEN BRODY, SHARON STONE, NATALIE PORTMAN AND BENICIO DEL TORO

Today, HOLLYWOOD SPY brings you the latest casting updates, here's what will some of our favourite stars be working on in the future. I warn you that some of the following casting choices and combinations are more than weird.
Cameron Diaz will pair up with Benicio Del Toro in "An Ex to Grind", the story in which Del Toro is a famous athlete who will do anything to support his waitress wife, but after his career is cut short by an injury, the tables have turned and she's now a successful businesswoman and he's a lazy couch potato. She files for a divorce, but is stunned that she will have to pay him alimony, so she tries to set him up with a future wife, only to see him become the man she once loved again with the replacement, and now she wants him back. I really don't understand why would someone put Del Toro in this movie?

Another extremely strange couple are Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman in "Important Artifacts", in which the story follows the fictional estate auction catalog full of personal items and photographs from the four-year romance between a male photographer and a younger food columnist. It will be a love story, in all its tenderness and struggle, shown from the evidence that has been left behind.

Catherine Hardwicke will direct the gothic retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood" in which Amanda Seyfried will play a woman in a medieval village being terrorized by a werewolf. "The Girl with the Red Riding Hood" will have young Shiloh Fernandez as Amanda's romantic partner.

Kurt Russell, Adrien Brody and Sharon Stone will star in "Waco", a film which will delve into the Branch Davidian compound disaster outside of Waco in 1993. The film will explore the events of the ATF raid on Mt. Carmel, the 51-day siege that followed, and the devastating compound fire that resulted in the deaths of 81 civilians. The movie cuts between ATF special agents, FBI Negotiators, the Davidians on the inside, the tactical Hostage Rescue Team leaders, and the political machinations in Washington DC.

SUPERHERO SITCOM "NO HEROICS" WITH FREDDY PRINZE JR AT ABC!

Crazy British sitcom "No Heroics" about a group of B-list superheroes, who would rather get drunk and commiserate on their lack of superiority in their local superheroes-only pub, will go across the ocean straight to ABC. ABC has hired writer-producer Jeff Greenstein ("Will & Grace", "Desperate Housewives") to pen the pilot-episode for the American version. They've already found the main actors.Freddie Prinze Jr. will play the main role of Bradley, aka Ultimatum, who is actually a good guy and the world's most powerful super-hero, but who enjoys picking on B-Grade super-hero Chillout who will be played by Paul Campbell ("Battlestar Galactica"), a ridiculous superhero only capable of freezing small objects. Arielle Kebbel will be the group's sweetheart, while Eliza Coupe ("Scrubs", "Samantha Who") will play a bad girl that can turn invisible.

It's interesting that in the British version the leads are a man who can see 60 seconds into the future and loves hardcore pornography and drugs, a woman who can manipulate machines (for free smokes or cash), and a man who can summon fire, often with disastrous results. You can see the original British cast in the picture above :)

NEW POSTERS FOR "ROBIN HOOD" AND "THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE"

Boring Monday brings us just two new movie posters. Another poster for Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood" finally shows some Cate Blanchett. The movie is out May 14th. If you click on the image above you will also see the first poster for Nicolas Cage's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", fantasy adventure coming out to cinemas July 16th.

SHEKHAR KAPUR'S AND DEEPAK CHOPRA'S "RAMAYAN AD" SF EPIC

Here's a story I wrote quite a long time ago, but never got to publish it. Reading it now, it seems these characters from Shekhar Kapur's and Deepak Chopra's "Ramayan AD" might have been one of those projects which gave an inspiration to James Cameron and his "Avatar". Click on the image bellow to read this interesting story, and let me know what you think.

SAM CLAFLIN AND ASTRID BERGES FRISBEY IN "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES"

So if like me, you aren't a fan of Penelope Cruz, than beside crazy Johnny Depp, you will at least have some lovely new faces to look at in Disney's sequel "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides". Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Rob Marshall have selected young Sam Claflin to star in the key role of Philip, a youthful missionary. Britain's own Sam Claflin has graduated at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and you will be seeing him in the historical mini-series "The Pillars of the Earth" over at Starz this summer. Beside him, another new member of the "Pirates" cast is French actress Astrid Berges-Frisbey in the role of Syrena. Her character in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" will actually be a mermaid, which sounds very interesting.
To read more about Sam Claflin and see more of his lovely pic, visit HOLLYWOOD SPY's spotlight on him!

"MAD MEN" TO FINISH AFTER SIXTH SEASON

To me personally, "Mad Men" is one of those peculiar shows which I don't find attractive at all, and I would never purposely sit in front of my TV to watch it, but for some reason whenever I come across it while surfing the channels, it always lures me into watching the episode till the end, although I don't really know what is going on, who the main characters are or what the whole plot is about. There's just something hypnotizing in it, something that glues you right to your TV.
But, alas, it seems the "Men" won't be "Mad" for too long. Even though it still is one of the most popular shows with great reputation among the critics, according to Matthew Weiner, the creator, "Mad Men" already have their ending planned. Weiner has recently revealed that AMC hit series will probably end after its sixth season because he could not see himself writing or continuing the series after that. As you know, the fourth season is scheduled to debut on AMC this summer, so we will be watching its retro-characters for only two more seasons.

PETER JACKSON SAYS "THE HOBBIT" HASN'T EVEN BEEN GREENLIT YET!!!

Although all the movie magazines, websites and the numerous fans of the "Lord of the Rings" franchise have been talking about the plot, casting and all other production details for Guillermo del Toro's "The Hobbit" proclaiming it the biggest movie of 2011, it appears the studio hasn't even greenlit the long awaited movie!!! This was revealed by Peter Jackson himself in an interview given to "Moviefone" a few days ago:
The film hasn't really been delayed, because we've never announced the date. I mean it's sort of interesting because the studio has never greenlit "The Hobbit", so therefore "The Hobbit" has never been officially announced as a "go" project, nor have we ever announced a date. But there's so much interest that people, newspapers and magazines, of their own account, say, ah, it's likely to film in May, it's likely to film in June, it's likely to film in September. People make this stuff up. And then if it's not filming in June, you get a story saying, "The Hobbit" has been delayed. But it's never actually been announced.
To bring some optimism into this shocking news, Peter also said that they've officially delivered the script for both parts ("The Hobbit" is planned as a two part movie), and that if the film was greenlit in the next few months they would be making some casting announcements by the middle of the year.

SECOND POSTER FOR "SEX AND THE CITY 2" LOOKS MUCH BETTER THAN THE FIRST ONE

I know that most of you didn't like the first poster for "Sex and the City II" (you know, the one in which Sarah Jessica Parker looks like a mix of Terminator, Drag Queen and a big fly dipped into silver and gold) the new one is much more gentle to your eyes. It shows Sarah Jessica Parker sporting a sensational sparkly haute couture gown in the middle of Arabian desert. Off, course you probably shouldn't stare into her face, since it's freshly photo-shopped and a bit scary to look at :) I'm not really sure why aren't they giving us a poster with all the girls.
The long awaited sequel "Sex and the City II" is coming to cinemas near you May 27th bringing the new adventures of our four girls with some unexpected weddings, journeys and plot-twists.

IS BRAD PITT GOING TO PLAY PROFESSOR MORIARTY IN "SHERLOCK HOLMES II"?

While the latest rumors circling around say that Angelina Jolie doesn't really like the way Brad Pitt is aging (but if the rumors about her nasty nature are also true, then it's not really easy aging gracefully beside her), and wants him to visit a plastic surgeon, it seems he doesn't have problems on the professional front.
Michele and Kieran Mulroney who were hired by Warner Bros. to write a "Sherlock Holmes" sequel have mentioned in their interview for "Collider" that Brad Pitt could be playing Professor Moriarty in "Sherlock Holmes 2":
Well, of course, we're gigantic Brad Pitt fans. I think he's a brilliant actor and a particularly brilliant character actor. And certainly the role that you're talking about of Professor Moriarty is a big character to bite off. I hope Brad likes it. Let's leave it at that. To be political, we should say nothing.
So what do you think about this? You know I'm not very interested in the movie since I can't stand Robert Downey Jr, but I know this movie has a lot of fans out there among you.

HOLLYWOOD SPY CELEBRATES ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY AT BLOGSPOT AND ITS 50,000 VISITORS!

Eh, so it seems you mischievous and curious people have been lurking around our headquarters and doing a bit spying on your Hollywood Spy way too much and thus your favourite movie blog has reached 50,000 visitors yesterday. Since HOLLYWOOD SPY is also celebrating its first birthday here at Blogspot this month (April 27th), I wanted to thank you for the devotion, love and attention you've been sending us throughout this time. So here's the deal - if you promise to stay positive, witty and gorgeous as you are, and if you promise you'll keep on reading and commenting my stories, I promise I shall stay naughty, exclusive and creative, just the way you like it :))

NEW ROLES FOR TONI COLLETTE, IOAN GRUFFUDD, SCARLETT JOHANSSON, SAM ROCKWELL AND RACHEL WEISZ

A number of casting news have appeared around the Net today, so here are some of the most interesting ones:
Toni Collette and Ioan Gruffudd will make a great duo in Jonathan Newman's movie "Foster" where they will play a married couple who tragically lost their five-year-old son years ago and haven't quite come to grips with it yet. As they try to adopt a new child, a boy named Eli suddenly appears on their doorstep.

Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell have signed on to star in "Lunatic at Large" a long lost project from the late Stanley Kubrick. Set in 1956 New York it centres on an ex-carnival worker with serious anger-management issues and a nervous, attractive barfly he picks up. The movie's central conceit is that the audience must try to work out which of the many characters is an axe murderer escaped from an asylum.

Darren Aronofsky is going to direct "Jackie" a film which describes the days following president Kennedy's assassination and he gave the main role to his fiancee Rachel Weisz who will play the late former first lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. As "MovieWeb" reports this project had initially been rumored to be a Steven Spielberg-produced telefilm for HBO. However, the director is not involved in any way. This film marks the second time that Rachel Weisz and Darren Aronofsky have worked together. They did "The Fountain" in 2006.