HOLLYWOOD SPY EXCLUSIVE SPOTLIGHT ON FUTURISTIC EPIC "NOAH" FROM DARREN ARONOFSKY WITH RUSSELL CROWE, ANTHONY HOPKINS, LOGAN LERMAN, DOUGLAS BOOTH, RAY WINSTONE, JENNIFER CONNELLY

  NOAH APOCALYPTIC EPIC

HELMED BY DARREN ARONOFSKY

The week behind us brought us first pictures from next year's science fiction epic NOAH depicting some of the main characters in the film played by Russell Crowe and Anthony Hopkins. Directed by Darren Aronofsky (FOUNTAIN, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM) the film continues (or even goes a bit further) with the trend of mass destruction, total apocalypse and grim future, which dominated most of the blockbusters in recent years. The film actually brings a futuristic and dark version of the famous Biblical tale of the flood and NOAH's ark. The film opens up in theatres in March 2014!

  THE STORY OF NOAH

 FLOOD AND SIX ARMED ANGELS

The story of science fiction epic NOAH is set in a world without hope, a world with no rain and no crops, dominated by warlords and their barbarian hordes. In this cruel world, Noah was a good man. Seasoned fighter, mage and healer but he only wanted peace for him and his family. Yet every night, NOAH was beset by visions of an endless flood, symbolizing the destruction of all life. Gradually, he began to understand the message sent him by the Creator. He had decided to punish the men and kill them until the last. But he gave NOAH a last chance to preserve life on Earth... Subject to divine visions foretelling the end of the world, NOAH attempts to tell his people to cease their mistreatment of the earth in order to be saved. No one listens to his warnings, and Noah and his family are cast out to fend for themselves in the wilderness. NOAH approaches a race of giant six-armed angels known as the "Watchers" to rally them to his cause!

  THE CAST OF NOAH

RUSSELL CROWE, ANTHONY HOPKINS, LOGAN LERMAN, DOUGLAS BOOTH 
Russell Crowe takes the lead role of Noah, while Jennifer Connelly is Naameh, Noah's wife. Anthony Hopkins appears in the film as Methuselah, Noah's grandfather. Young stars Logan Lerman and Douglas Booth play Noah's sons Ham and Shem. Action star Kevin Durand appears in the movie as an Og, a Watcher who helps Noah and his family. Ray Winstone portrays Tubal-cain, Noah's nemesis! Marton Csokas is Lamech. Madison Davenport is Na'el, the wife of Ham and Mark Margolis is Samyaza, a fallen angel!

  NOAH TIDBITS

 TROUBLESOME PRODUCTION

The production of the expensive $130 million epic was rather troublesome! Darren Aronofsky and the producers had difficult times finding stars for the film since actors kept refusing them: Michael Fassbender and Christian Bale both refused the title role, Dakota Fanning and Saoirse Ronan were supposed to play NOAH's adopted daughter, Julianne Moore was originally meant for the role of Naameh, while Liam Neeson and Val Kilmer were offered the nemesis role. When the production finally started it had to be delayed a couple of times, once because Russell got lost while kayaking and then also because of infamous hurricane Sandy. The film is actually based on a French graphic novel NOE which Aronofsky wrote together with Niko Henrichon!

CAMERON DIAZ IS MISS HANNIGAN IN "ANNIE" REMAKE! IS VIN DIESEL MARVEL'S NEW "BLACK PANTHER"? "ESCAPE PLAN" TRAILER WITH SYLVESTER STALLONE & ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

  CAMERON DIAZ IS

MISS HANNIGAN IN "ANNIE" REMAKE

After Sandra Bullock has recently declined an offer to play crazy Miss Hannigan in the big screen remake of famous musical ANNIE, Columbia Pictures has replaced her with Cameron Diaz. The new version has a contemporary setting with the story following an orphan named Annie (Quvenzhané Wallis), who is confined to an orphanage run by a cruel supervisor named Agatha Hannigan (Cameron Diaz). She is sent to Oliver Warbucks' (Jamie Foxx) home for a short time and convinces the wealthy industrialist to help her find her parents. Along the way, Miss Hannigan, her evil brother, Rooster, and a female partner scheme up a plan to impersonate her family and gain the rewards. It was also revealed recently that we shall also watch Cameron's BAD TEACHER in a movie sequel after it gets its television version this Autumn in a form of sitcom.

 IS VIN DIESEL

MARVEL'S BLACK PANTHER? 
You have probably already heard the hot news: Vin Diesel is apparently in secret negotiations to take the role of BLACK PANTHER! And it's not a gossip, since Vin revealed at his own Facebook page that Marvel has requested a meeting with him and that his fans will easily guess what for. He might be wanted for some of the roles in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY  and AVENGERS 2 as well or even in DR STRANGE. BLACK PANTHER is a superhero and a chief of the Panther Tribe of the powerful nation of Wakanda in Africa! Vin has the third part in his RIDDICK sf saga coming out this September and you've recently seen him in huge blockbuster FAST AND FURIOUS 7!

  ESCAPE PLAN TRAILER

 SYLVESTER STALLONE & ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

Well, it is official - fallen action stars from the 80's and 90's are back and it appears they have an ESCAPE PLAN! Check out the first trailer for new action film in which two old action rivals Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger form a team together. The story follows Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone), a security expert framed for a crime and sent to the very prison he designed. With the help of longtime inmate Swan Rottmayer (Arnold Schwarzenegger), Ray hatches a plan to break out of this one-of-a-kind floating prison at sea, and clear his name. The cast also includes James Caviezel, Vincent D'Onofrio, Sam Neill, Vinnie Jones, and that nasty rapper 50 Cent and they're all ready to put their ESCAPE PLAN into reality this October!

SPOTLIGHT ON NEW HBO'S POSTAPOCALYPTIC SERIES "THE LEFTOVERS" WITH JUSTIN THEROUX & CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON! FICTIONAL ROYAL FAMILY IN NEW TV SHOW "THE ROYAL"! STARZ GREENLITS "OUTLANDER" EPIC SHOW! "THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS" MINI SERIES

   HBO POSTAPOCALYPTIC SHOW

WITH JUSTIN THEROUX AND CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON

One of the most talked about future television projects is definitely HBO drama pilot THE LEFTOVERS which is currently casting a slate of stars for all the roles. Since we are currently enjoying a trend of post apocalyptic shows THE LEFTOVERS takes place after the Rapture happens but not quite like it’s supposed to. It is the story of the people who didn’t make the cut… and a world that will never be the same. Justin Theroux will play chief of police Kevin Garvey, a father of two who is trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy in a world that is starting to completely reject that notion. DR WHO star Christopher Eccleston will play a former Reverend and current editor of his self-published tabloid. Carrie Coon will play Nora Durst, a wife and mother who is suddenly neither. Ann Dowd will play the leader of the local chapter of the Guilty Remnant, an organization that is somewhere between a cult and a movement.

  The story of THE LEFTOVERS is based on the bestselling book by Tom Perrotta from 2011. It will be directed by director and actor Peter Berg and produced by Damon Lindelof.

Emily Meade will play an uninhibited high school student who seemingly takes the apocalypse in stride. She is joined by Jake Robinson from CARRIE DIARIES who plays a popular High School jock.  While Chris Zylka will be a college drop out who takes a refuge with the guru of the mysterious sect.  Twins Charlie and Max Carver from DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES will play happy-go-lucky identical twins who are friends of Justin Theroux' daughter, whose laid-back demeanour brings levity to a dark world. LORD OF THE RINGS star Liv Tyler will be a young woman on the verge of getting married, but needing an escape. As a result, she becomes a target for recruitment by members of an enigmatic cult. Amanda Warren plays the take-no-prisoners mayor of Mapleton, the town in which the story is set. PRIVATE PRACTICE star Amy Brenneman will play Justin Theroux' wife who left him and their kids to join the mysterious cult.

  UPDATES ON NEW TV SHOWS

SONGBYRD, THE ROYALS AND EPIC OUTLANDER & THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS 
In other TV news today, E! is venturing into making their own scripted shows! Beside SONGBYRD, a show which will follow the life of a famous music hitmaker, they are also planning THE ROYALS, a contemporary drama inspired by the life of British royal family and Shakespeare's HAMLET. It will follow a fictional royal family in a tale of men and women corrupted by power, wealth and desire. Meanwhile Starz has officially greenlit 16 episodes of epic show OUTLANDER which will start shooting later this year to air in 2014 based on Diana Gabaldon book saga. We also have news on FX developing mini series on THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS! Exploring the origins of America as a nation, the show will be based on James Fenimore Cooper's novel from 1826!

NEW EPIC SHOW SET IN LOUIS XIV "VERSAILLES"! TOBY KEBBELL OR JACK HUSTON TO JOIN DANIEL RADCLIFFE IN "FRANKENSTEIN"! SPECTACULAR "STALINGRAD" WW2 EPIC TRAILER WITH THOMAS KRETSCHMANN

  FRANKENSTEIN

 TOBY KEBBELL & JACK HUSTON FOR THE LEAD ROLE

After vampires, zombies and mutants, good old Frankie is next on Hollywood's list of trendy characters. Beside Aaron Eckhart's I, FRANKENSTEIN horror movie which hits cinemas next January, sometime in the future we shall also watch FRANKEN- STEIN directed by SHERLOCK's Paul McGuigan with Daniel Radcliffe leading the cast. But as I reported before, Daniel won't play Frankie, but ugly Igor, the hunchback assistant to the mad doctor Frankenstein. Deadline now reports that Jack Huston from BOARDWALK EMPIRE and Viking epic OUTLANDER and Toby Kebbell from WRATH OF TITANS are in the run to play the titular character!

  NEW HISTORICAL SERIES

  LOUIS XIV's 'VERSAILLES'
And it seems we're getting a new period set series, people! After CW's REIGN premieres this Autumn depicting Mary Queen of Scot's early days at the French court, we shall see French nobles and their intrigues in VERSAILLES too! Deadline reports that British writers and producers Simon Mirren and David Wolstencroft have been hired by French Canal Plus to pen the 12-episode series, set at the Court of French King Louis XIV, and the show will be shot in English language! The production should start early next year and will have Anne Thomopoulos as the producer. She scored success with BORGIAS series (not the Showtime's but the European, much better, version). Leonardo DiCaprio played Louis in MAN IN THE IRON MASK. He was the longest ruling monarch ever of any major country and he ruled the country in the 17th and early 18th century. He pacified French aristocracy by making most of the nobles live in VERSAILLES which means the show will not lack in interesting characters!

  SPECTACULAR TRAILER FOR

 RUSSIAN "STALINGRAD" WORLD WAR 2 EPIC

When it comes to clips, your treat for today is the spectacular trailer for Russian World War II epic STALINGRAD which is scheduled to premier in Russia this Autumn. One of the most expensive Russian films with the budget of $30 million is a 3D epic love story set during the devastating World War II battle for the Russian city of Stalingrad that lasted more than six months and ended with the German army surrendering in 1943. There is also a dramatic love story against the backdrop of the grand battle! Depicting the bravery of Russian people in the heroic city during the war, the movie is directed by Fedor Bondarchuk (we still remember his great sf epic INHABITED ISLAND) and stars German star Thomas  Kretschmann in the lead role. It took more than six months to construct the colossal scenery used in the movie and some battle scenes involve thousands of actors. This is also the first full 3D Russian film and the first non American movie ever to be made in IMAX format.

JURRASIC PARK 4 TO HAVE UNDERWATER DINOSAURS! TOBIAS SANTELMANN JOINS DWAYNE JOHNSON, RUFUS SEWELL, IAN MCSHANE, JOSEPH FIENNES, REBECCA FERGUSON IN "HERCULES THRACIAN WARS"! "DA VINCI'S DEMONS" AT LEAST 5 SEASONS! "WALKING DEAD" PRISON UPGRADED

  TOBIAS SANTELMANN JOINS

 DWAYNE JOHNSON, RUFUS SEWELL, JOSEPH FIENNES IN HERCULES

According to "The Hollywood Reporter" Scandinavian actor Tobias Santelmann is the latest one to join the cast of Brett Ratner's HERCULES: THE THRACIAN WARS. The epic adventure has Dwayne Johnson (who will have a long hair in the film) in the lead role of the son of Zeus who leaves the gods behind to live in exile as a mercenary for hire, along with his six trusted companions and is put to the test that makes him question everything he once believed. Tobias Santelmann (whom you've seen in KON TIKI and who will also star in NORTHMEN A VIKING SAGA) will play Rhesus, a barbarian revolutionary who faces off against the legendary hero. Rufus Sewell will play Autolycus the son of the messenger god Hermes. Aksel Hennie is playing Hercules' axe-wielding sidekick Tydeus while Ian McShane will play Amphiarus, a priest, prophet, and warrior who serves as Hercules' adviser. Joseph Fiennes will play the pampered king who assigns Hercules his labours. John Hurt will play the weary ruler of Thrace, while Rebecca Ferguson (the lead in current TV hit THE WHITE QUEEN) will play his daughter, a healer. Gorgeous Russian top model Irina Shayk will play Megara!

  NEW SEQUELS FOR

 JURASSIC PARK, WORLD WAR Z, INDEPENDENCE DAY

You probably already know that up in 2015 we can expect new prehistoric adventures in JURASSIC PARK 4, but I bet you didn't know this charming little detail: the new movie will feature underwater dinosaurs! The film will be set at the Sea World-style resort on Isla Nublar, where dinosaurs such as velociraptors and tyrannosaurus rexes will be tamed and muzzled, while in one sequence a giant underwater beast will allegedly jump out of a lagoon and eat a strung-up great white shark. Another 90's blockbuster INDEPENDENCE DAY is also getting its sequel in 2015 with Bill Pullman and Jeff Goldblum, but without Will Smith who asked for too much money. And current blockubster WORLD WAR Z, which earned more than $100 million in its opening weekend worldwide, is also getting a sequel at Paramount. The movie, which was originally planned as a trilogy, will have Brad Pitt again in the lead role.

  DA VINCI'S DEMONS FOR 5 SEASONS

 'WALKING DEAD' PRISON UPGRADED

In today's television news, David S. Goyer, the creator of this year's biggest television hit DA VINCI'S DEMONS has revealed that the story of  Leonardo Da Vinci, genius and inventor played by Tom Riley in the show, will be told in five seasons! The second run of the show, which is aired in more than 150 countries around the world, has been greenlit after the successful airing of the first opening episode back in April! The first three seasons are apparently already meticulously mapped out. Meanwhile, another worldwide sensation THE WALKING DEAD (aired in almost 180 countries around the world within the same week) will get an improved prison in the fourth season! Since the previous run culminated with dozens and dozens of new people joining Rick and his group in the

prison, the structure will be expanded and upgraded to fit the survivors of the zombie outbreak. They will need shelter since it was also announced that the zombies will become much freakier and more threatening from this Autumn!

FIRST PICTURES FROM "HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2"! CILLIAN MURPHY JOINS CHRIS HEMSWORTH & BENJAMIN WALKER IN "IN THE HEART OF THE SEA"! THRANDUIL, LEGOLAS, TAURIEL ON NEW "EMPIRE" ELVEN COVER

CILLIAN MURPHY JOINS

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA

In casting news today, people, the latest one to join the hunky cast of new epic adventure IN THE HEART OF THE SEA is Irish star Cillian Murphy. Ron Howard directed movie adaptation of Nathaniel Philbrick book already has Chris Hemsworth and Benjamin Walker! The book follows famous ship Essex which served as an inspiration for Herman Melville's MOBY DICK. "Deadline" reports that Murphy will play Matthew Joy, second mate on the whale ship Essex. Citing reports of cannibals in the Society Islands, Joy and first mate Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth) convince first time Captain Pollard (Benjamin Walker) to sail to South America after an enraged sperm whale rams and sinks the Essex, leaving 21 crew members adrift in small boats, 3,000 miles from land.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2

 FIRST PICS SHOW A GROWN UP HICCUP

One of the very special cinematic treats today are the lovely first pictures showing our favourite heroes Hiccup and Astrid in HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2! As you remember the end of the beloved animated blockbuster which earned hundreds of millions of dollars a few years ago had seen Hiccup a hero left without his leg which made him similar to his  friend dragon Toothless. New pictures show Hiccup as a grown up teenager and another new thing are dragon races which have become popular on his island in the meantime. In the sequel,  Hiccup and Toothless, who spend their time going on journeys and adventures, will discover a cave that is home to hundredsof wild new dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider. They will have to do everything to protect the peace in their land. The film is supposed to hit theatres June next year with Gerard Butler, Jay Baruchel, America Ferera, Craig Ferguson lending their voices to our heroes again!

  ELVES RULE ON THE NEW

 THE HOBBIT DESOLATION OF SMAUG EMPIRE COVER

And check out stunning new EMPIRE cover for their Elven edition dedicated to THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG! Thranduil, Legolas and Tauriel for some Elven power. For more on the film check out HOLLYWOOD SPY's exclusive spotlight on the epic adventure! 

ANNA KENDRICK IS CINDERELLA IN "INTO THE WOODS" WITH MERYL STREEP, EMILY BLUNT, JOHNNY DEPP, CHRIS PINE! DWAYNE JOHNSON IS "TERMINATOR 5"? "EMPIRE STATE" TRAILER WITH DWAYNE JOHNSON, LIAM HEMSWORTH

ANNA KENDRICK IS 

CINDERELLA IN "INTO THE WOODS" 

One of the numerous fairy tale movies coming to cinemas in the future, movie adaptation of Broadway musical INTO THE WOODS has a new cast member! Stunningly stellar cast which already has Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Johnny Deep, Chris Pine, Jake Gyllenhaal has added Anna Kendrick who will play Cinderella making a very strange casting choice! To be directed by Rob Marshall (MEMOIRS OF GEISHA, CHICAGO) Disney's musical will follow a baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) who head into the woods to confront an evil witch (Meryl Streep), whose curse prevents the couple from ever having children. Travelling through the forest they encounter several classic fairy tale characters from Cinderella (Anna Kendrick) and the Big Bad Wolf (Johnny Depp), to Cinderella's and Rapunzel's princes (Chris Pine and Jake Gyllenhaal)! Tracey Ullman is the mother of Jack the Giant Killer while Christine Baranski is portraying Cinderella's mean stepmother.

DWAYNE JOHNSON 

IS TERMINATOR 5
And you have probably heard by now, that Dwayne Johnson, who is currently shooting his new historical epic HERCULES: THRACIAN WARS, might take the lead role in TERMINATOR 5! Arnold Schwarzenegger is also supposed to play in the film which would be a kind of a prequel  in which Arnold would play a human, who protects the parents of Sarah Connor in the 1940s and 1950s. Apparently his ability to protect Sarah's parents with outdated equipment, lead to the machines building a Terminator in his likeness, which was sent back to the year 1984 to kill Sarah Connor in the original Terminator. Laeta Kalogridis (PATHFINDER, ALEXANDER) is writing the script.

EMPIRE STATE TRAILER

 DWAYNE JOHNSON & LIAM HEMSWORTH

Speaking of Dwayne Johnson, check out the new trailer for his new film EMPIRE STATE in which plays a good cop next to Liam Hemsworth. The script of the action movie is based upon a true story which happened back in 1982 when two childhood friends from Astoria, N.Y., were planning to rob an armoured car depository. Dwayne Johnson plays a NYPD cop who stands in their way together with local  crime bosses who want to find out who pulled out the gig on their own turf! This heist drama, directed by Dito Montiel, also stars Emma Roberts and Michael Angarano.

HOLLYWOOD SPY EXCLUSIVE SPOTLIGHT ON NEW FANTASY SHOW "SLEEPY HOLLOW" COMING TO FOX THIS AUTUMN WITH TOM MISON, NICOLE BEHARIE & ORLANDO JONES

SLEEPY HOLLOW SHOW

FROM STAR TREK AUTHORS

In a whole avalanche of new shows coming to television this Autumn season, there will be lots of those flirting with history and fantasy and sf. One of the series which will mix both history and fantasy in an unusual way is SLEEPY HOLLOW which will offer a new take on the famous legend over at Fox! The new show will air on Monday evenings as a supernatural mystery thriller coming from famous producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.

SLEEPY HOLLOW STORY

 ICHABOD CRANE'S TIME TRAVEL!

A modern retelling of the classic 1820 short story THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW by Washington Irving, the show  brings up the question: What if you suddenly woke up from the throes of death 250 years in the future to find the world is on the brink of destruction, caused by unimaginable events, and you are humanity's last hope?  Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison, "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen") is resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time to unravel a mystery that dates all the way back to the founding fathers. Revived alongside Ichabod is the infamous Headless Horseman who is on a murderous rampage in present-day SLEEPY HOLLOW. Bound to the Headless Horseman by a blood spell cast on the battlefield of the American Revolution, Ichabod quickly realizes that stopping Headless is just the beginning, as the resurrected rider is but the first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. As this re-invented Ichabod finds himself in present-day SLEEPY HOLLOW, he discovers a town and a world he no longer recognizes. All that is brutally familiar are Headless and Ichabod's determination to annihilate this immortal being. It's a mission he must complete quickly, as Headless already has viciously slain Sheriff August Corbin (guest star Clancy Brown). He served both as mentor and father figure to Detective Abbie Mills  (Nicole Beharie), a young cop whose own supernatural experiences help her form an unlikely bond with Ichabod. But SLEEPY HOLLOW's head of police, Captain Frank Irving (Orlando Jones), isn't buying any of this. In fact, the only person who is on Abbie's side is Ichabod. His extensive first-hand knowledge of secret American history, coupled with her superior profiling and modern threat assessment skills, will make them a formidable duo as they work together to triumph over evil. The complex pasts of Ichabod and Abbie, from Ichabod's inclusion in the powerful and secretive Freemasons Society and the ghostly appearance of his late wife, Katrina (Katia Winter), to Abbie's childhood visions, will help them solve the intricate puzzles of SLEEPY HOLLOW in order to protect its future. As history repeats itself, the oddly-linked pair will draw on the real stories and hallowed secrets the nation was founded on in their quest to stop an increasingly vicious cycle of evil.

PLUS FACT Star Trek superstar John Cho will guest star as detective Andy Dunn, while Richard Cetrone will appear as the Headless Horseman!

HELENA BONHAM CARTER IS FAIRY GODMOTHER IN "CINDERELLA"! SMURFILICIOUS "THE SMURFS 2" TRAILER WITH NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, CHRISTINA RICCI, KATY PERRY! HILARIOUS "FREE BIRDS" TRAILER WITH WOODY HARELLSON & OWEN WILSON AS TURKEYS!

THE SMURFS 2 TRAILER

SMURFS ARE GOING TO PARIS!

We're going a bit juvenile today at HOLLYWOOD SPY with two trailers for delightful animated features. First, a trailer for a sequel kids around the world have been waiting with great excitement - THE SMURFS 2! Coming to theatres July 31st, the film will see Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris) and Grace (Jayma Mays) teaming up with THE SMURFS again on an important adventure. The evil Gargamel (Hank Azaria) has captured Smurfette (Katy Perry), with the help of his new creation, Smurflike creatures known as The Naughties (Christina Ricci and J.B. Smoove). As the Smurfs try to rescue their beloved Smurfette, she develops a "naughty" streak of her own in this animated adventure from director Raja Gosnell. Sofia Vergara, Anton Yelchin and Brendan Gleeson are also in the cast! The first film has earned almost $150 million only in USA back in 2011!

SMURF THIS Alan Cumming lends his voice to Gutsy Smurf, Mario Lopez is Social Smurf, George Lopez is Grouchy and Anton Yelchin Clumsy Smurf! Katy Perry isn't the only flimsy pop tart in this project: Britney Spears will sing the "Ooh La La" song for the film! I'm guessing Adele wasn't free :)

HELENA BONHAM CARTER

 IS FAIRY GODMOTHER IN CINDERELLA
And speaking of stories for kids, we have new casting info from the production of CINDERELLA which is getting its live action version helmed by famous Kenneth Branagh. The cast which already includes Cate Blanchett as the evil Stepmother, Richard Madden as the Prince, Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera as Stepsisters and Lily James as the CINDERELLA, has now added Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy GodMother! We've recently watched Helena in LES MISERABLES and will watch her soon this summer next to Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp in THE LONE RANGER! Back in their early days, Helena was actually Kenneth's girfriend for a few years!

FREE BIRDS TRAILER

 TURKEYS DO SOME TIME TRAVEL

The second trailer is for another crazy hilarious adventure coming to cinemas somewhere around Thanksgiving later this November. FREE BIRDS will see Woody Harellson and Owen Wilson lending voices to two birds who go on an epic adventure with time travel involved in order to prevent their feathery brothers and sisters becoming a festive diner for humans. In this hilarious, adventurous buddy comedy for audiences of all ages, directed by Jimmy Hayward (Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who), two turkeys from  opposite sides of the tracks must put aside their differences and team up to travel back in time to change the course of history - and get turkey off the Thanksgiving menu for good.

SALMA HAYEK, LIAM NEESON, JOHN KRASINSKI IN "THE PROPHET" ANIMATED ADAPTATION! RUSSELL CROWE TO DIRECT "THE WATER DIVINER" WW1 DRAMA! PICS FROM "TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE" WITH MICHAEL FASSBENDER, BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, BRAD PITT

SALMA HAYEK AND LIAM NEESON

"THE PROPHET" ANIMATED MOVIE

Deadline writes that one of the bestselling books ever, THE PROPHET by Kahlil Gibran, which so far got sold in more than 100 million copies worldwide, is getting an animated movie adaptation produced by Salma Hayek. To be directed by Roger Allers, who previously worked on Disney’s "The Lion King", "Aladdin", "Beauty And The Beast", and "The Little Mermaid", the film will be based on Gibran's poems and will have individual chapters directed by many other directors. Salma Hayek has already gathered a strong voice cast  including herself, Liam Neeson, John Krasinski, Frank Langella, Alfred Molina! The book contains THE PROPHETs opinions on love, marriage, children, giving, eating and drinking, crime and punishment, laws, freedom, reason and passion, teaching, friendship, beauty, religion, and death.

RUSSELL CROWE

DIRECTS "THE WATER DIVINER" WW1 DRAMA
While he's scoring success with extreme worldwide blockbuster MAN OF STEEL in which he plays Superman's Daddy, Australian grumpster Russell Crowe is also preparing his first directorial effort. Later this year he will begin shooting THE WATER DIVINER, a historical drama which will be set in 1919 and will follow and Australian father that travels to Turkey to locate his two sons. The brothers went missing during the battle of Gallipoli, which was an unsuccessful attempt by the Allied Powers to control the sea route from Europe to Russia during World War I.

TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE

 MICHAEL FASSBENDER, BRAD PITT, BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH

The first pictures have been released for this December's historical drama TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE featuring a stellar cast including  Michael Fassbender, Paul Giamatti, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scoot McNairy, Brad Pitt and Chiwetel Ejiofor.  Based on an incredible true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom it is set in the pre-Civil War United States, where Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty, as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life!

BRENDAN GLEESON, DAVID THEWLIS JOIN KATE BECKINSALE, JIM STURGESS, BEN KINGSLEY, MICHAEL CAINE IN "ELIZA GRAVES"! NEW "MORTAL INSTRUMENTS" TRAILER WITH LILY COLLINS, JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS, AIDAN TURNER

ELIZA GRAVES

KATE BECKINSALE, BRENDAN GLEESON, JIM STURGESS, MICHAEL CAINE

Two more acting legends have joined the already stellar cast of new thriller ELIZA GRAVES which is a movie adaptation of of an Edgar Allan Poe story. According to "Deadline" Brendan Gleeson and David Thewlis have joined Kate Beckinsale, Jim Sturgess, Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley. Sturgess plays a young doctor who comes to apprentice at a mental institution and meets a beautiful patient (Beckinsale) that he falls in love with amidst a set of difficult circumstances, which may be more complicated than they seem. What he doesn't know is that patients are playing doctors in the asylum! Sometime this year Kate Beckinsale will star in the lead role in THE TRIALS OF CATE MCCALL as a former hotshot lawyer, now in recovery and estranged from her family, who, in order to be reinstated at the bar and recover custody of her daughter, must take on the appeal of a woman wrongfully convicted of murder.

NICK ZANO IN

NEW SITCOM NICKY

Deadline also reports that Channing Tatum will join his best friend Nick Zano (BROKE GIRLS, HAPPY ENDINGS) in producing a new sitcom NICKY which will try to put a humorous spin on the true life story of Zano's growing up in a multi generational house of seven women in New Jersey. He will play 30-year old Nicky, who is trying to finally move out of the house only to realize he needs to stay and help raise his youngest sister. Channing Tatum has already put the story of his own youth in a film when he depicted his early stripper days in MAGIC MIKE blockbuster. He just had his first daughter Everly a few weeks ago with Jenna Dewan Tatum.

MORTAL INSTRUMENTS TRAILER

 LILY COLLINS, JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS, AIDAN TURNER

A new trailer has arrived for upcoming fantasy movie adaptation of famous bestseller THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES. Starring delightful Lily Collins in the lead role of a young girl drawn into a frightening world of angels and demons, the movie hits cinemas this August. Lily portrays Clary Fray, an ordinary teenager living in New York who discovers that she is a Shadowhunter - a supernatural warrior destined to battle the forces of darkness. She then joins a group of fellow Shadowhunters to thwart a plot to conquer the world following the disappearance of her mother (Lena Headey). The rest of the cast in the adaptation of a Cassandra Clare novel is quite stellar including Irish superstars Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Aidan Turner, action star Kevin Durand and young heartthrob Kevin Zeggers.