TIM ALLEN COMES BACK TO SITCOM WORLD! LAZY BULL "FERDINAND" GETS A FILM FROM "ICE AGE" DIRECTOR! SOFIA VERGARA, ALEX PETTYFER & BRADLEY COOPER IN "PAPERBOY"

Now, this is nice news: the favourite comedian of our childhoods (back in the days when humor was witty, kind and appropriate an not vulgar and unrefined like today), Tim Allen is coming back to

the world of sitcoms. The star of cult show HOME IMPROVEMENT will join ABC again in an untitled sitcom (it was called THE LAST DAYS OF MAN previously) about a man who is struggling to survive in a world where females dominate most aspects of life. The new pilot comes from the producer of 30 ROCK.

SHORT HEADLINES *OMG  do you remember our favourite childhood animated character the lazy bull Ferdinand  who would rather graze in a pasture and smell the flowers than fight matadors? :) Well, he's coming back! Fox has bought the rights to the original book THE STORY OF FERDINAND and Carlos Saldanha (we shall his parrot film RIO this year, and he also did all three ICE AGE movies for the studio) will direct the adaptation.*Summit is preparing

THE SECRET LIFE OF HOUDINI which will be a mix of Sherlock Holmes and Indiana Jones and will center on the famous magician and illusionist who was also a British spy.

Now, here's a nice (or shall I say sexy) cast: according to "MovieWeb" Sofia Vergara (trying to sell you some coffee in the pic), Alex Pettyfer and Bradley Cooper could all join THE PAPERBOY, which will follow the lazy son of a newspaper publisher who gets dragged into a murder investigation by his big brother, a seasoned journalist. They try to determine whether or not the man sentence to death row for the crime is truly responsible. Alex Pettyfer will play the younger slacker, Bradley Cooper will portray the big brother journalist, and Sofía Vergara will play the wife of a death row inmate.The film will be directed by Lee Daniels (PRECIOUS).

CHARMING TRAILER FOR "SOMETHING BORROWED" WITH KATE HUDSON & JOHN KRASINSKI. EDDIE REDMAYNE & BLAKE LIVELY IN "HICK". STEVE CARELL & MERYL STREEP IN "GREAT HOPE SPRINGS"

Charismatic young Brit Eddie Redmayne (whom we loved in THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH and BLACK DEATH) has joined equally charismatic beauty Blake Lively in HICK. An adaptation of the novel that follows a 13-year-old girl running away from Nebraska to Las Vegas will have Lively playing a grifter who meets the girl on the road and takes her under her wing, while Redmayne will play another loner who tries luring the girl away and also shares a past with Lively. Eddie Redmayne will also be seen in MY WEEK WITH MARYLIN alongside Michelle Williams next year.

SHORT HEADLINES *Steve Carell might join GREAT HOPE SPRINGS a film in which Meryl Streep will be part of a married couple of 31 years who have lost the spark in their marriage.

They escape for a weekend therapy trip to try and rekindle their love for one another and Carell might play their marriage councilor. *For some reason MGM is planning tones of new remakes including ROBOCOP, POLTERGEIST, MR.MOM (the classic with Michael Keaton) and HERCULES (the cheesy epic with Lou Ferrigno).* CLASH OF THE TITANS director Louis Leterrier will direct NOW YOU SEE ME  a film about a crack FBI squad in a game of cat-and-mouse against a super-team of the world's greatest illusionists, who pull off a series of daring bank heists during their performances and shower the profits onto their audiences.

Today you can check out the first trailer for romantic drama SOMETHING BORROWED about Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) a talented attorney at a top New York law firm, a generous and loyal friend and, unhappily, still single... as her engaged best friend Darcy (Kate Hudson) is constantly reminding her. But after one drink too many at her 30th birthday party, good girl Rachel unexpectedly ends up in bed with the guy she's had a crush on since law school, Dex (Colin Egglesfield), who just happens to be Darcy's fiancé. When Rachel and Darcy's lifelong friendship collides with true love, it leads to unexpected complications and potentially explosive romantic revelations. Meanwhile, Ethan (John Krasinski), who has been Rachel's constant confidante and sometimes conscience, has been harboring a secret of his own. The charming film is out this May.

JAMES FRANCO & MILA KUNIS JOIN "OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL"! WILL TIMOTHY OLYPHANT JOIN JOHNNY DEPP IN "LONE RANGER"? CLINT EASTWOOD & JACK NICHOLSON AS OLD SUPERHEROES IN "THE GOLDEN AGE"?

As you know, Gore Verbinski (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN) is planning a film adaptation of LONE RANGER, the story of a masked cowboy  riding a white stallion named Silver who, with the help of his Native American sidekick Tonto,  tries to

bring  unscrupulous gangs and others of that ilk to justice. Johnny Depp has been set to play Tonto from the beginning, and although there were some rumors that George Clooney might play the Ranger, there are new reports which say that the director has cast his eye on ultra charismatic Timothy Olyphant as the possible lead hero.

This is not my cup of tea, but I'm sure some of you will enjoy it :) - Matthew Vaughn (X-MEN: FIRST CLASS) wants to do another super hero film. Entitled THE GOLDEN AGE the film will focus on a retirement facility for superheroes past their prime who are trying to help their grandchildren after their parents have turned the world into chaos. Now, here's the crazy part: Vaughn wants Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty in the three lead roles.

Sam Raimi has found his two lead stars for OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL the film which will describe the origin of Oz  and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, Evanorah, the Wicked Witch of the East, and her sister, Theodorah, the Wicked Witch of the West. Since there are obviously no other young actors but him in Hollywood these days, James Franco

will play Oz instead of Robert Downey Jr who was kicked out of the project, while Mila Kunis will play The Wicked Witch of the West.

And people, don't forget to join Arlee Bird's A-Z CHALLENGE, it's the most massive event in the blogosphere with half a thousand of participants and you don't want to be left out :)

ADRIANNE PALICKI IS THE NEW "WONDER WOMAN"! IOAN GRUFFUDD JOINS SARAH M. GELLAR IN "RINGER". CHER AS NUN IN "THE 3 STOOGES"! SAFFRON BURROWS IN "BONES" SPIN-OFF "THE LOCATOR"!

I have no idea who she is, but she's the new WONDER WOMAN. David E. Kelley has chosen Adrianne Palicki to take the lead role in NBC's pilot on WONDER WOMAN. As you know the show will focus on Diana Prince, an L.A. corporate executive who also

moonlights as the powerful crime fighter Wonder Woman. The story will revolve around Prince trying to juggle her busy life as a businesswoman and crime-fighting vigilante. Gorgeous Palicki has apparently appeared before in FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, and I only remember her from LEGION. Maybe you will remember her better if you click and see this pic of hers :)

I've mentioned some time ago that Sarah Michelle Gellar is coming back to TV in RINGER, a show about a young woman who is on the run from the mob, and now our favourite Welsh star Ioan Gruffudd will join the show as her husband. Sarah's character

in the show will unwittingly assume the role of her wealthy twin sister, only to discover that her sibling has an ungodly price on her head.

SHORT HEADLINES *Gorgeous Alice Eve has joined MAN IN BLACK III. *Warner Bros. is moving on with the production of futuristic epic SAMSON,  in which the biblical character is granted superhuman strength by God to combat his enemies. *The new adaptation of THE THREE STOOGES by Farrelly brothers with Benicio del Toro, Johnny Knoxville and Andy Samberg wants Cher to play a nun, mother superior. Oh, blessed freaks :) *Here's another sitcom with an interesting title - DON'T TRUST THE BITCH will have James Van Der Beek in ABC's comedy about an obnoxious New York party girl who causes trouble for her roommate and neighbors.

If you liked BONES (haven't watched it much myself) you might like its spin-off THE FINDER. It will be based on THE LOCATOR books by Richard Greener and will star charming Geoff Stults (whom I keep mixing with his brother George) as a former member of the military police who has the ability to find anything. Michael Clarke Duncan is set to play his partner, while super gorgeous and ultra talented Saffron Burrows (TROY, BOSTON LEGAL) shall play their side-kick as a resourceful bar owner who can fly a helicopter and drive a boat :)

GUY RITCHIE TO DIRECT "XERXES" INSTEAD OF ZACK SNYDER? IS OLIVIA WILDE NEW LARA CROFT? LAURA PREPON IN "ARE YOU THERE VODKA? IT'S ME, CHELSEA"!

NBC is preparing a new sitcom with the coolest title ever: ARE YOU THERE VODKA? IT'S ME, CHELSEA will be a hilarious new comedy show about a free spirited and very opinionated cocktail waitress who loves alcohol and one-night stands. The sitcom will be the adaptation of the best selling Chelsea Handler's novel produced by DHARMA AND GREG producers,  and will have charming Laura Prepon (THAT 70'S SHOW) in the title role. It's interesting, that besides acting and looking lovely, Laura is also a writer, and she recently sold her web series NEIGHBROS to an unknown network.

Bad, bad news people, it seems that the long awaited prequel to famous 300 Spartan epic XERXES won't be directed by Zack Snyder but by Guy Ritchie. I'm personally horrified, to say the least. Since Zack's SUPERMAN should start shooting at about the same time as XERXES it seems he won't take the helm :( As you remember, XERXES will follow Themistocles at the Battle of Artemisium, which coincidentally happens on the exact same three days as the Battle of Thermopylae, describing the causes of the Persian wars. It starts off at the Battle of Marathon and then it goes back to Themistocles finding out that Persians are invading again. At the same time, the film will tell the story of Persian king Xerxes (played by amazing Rodrigo Santoro in 300, but I'm not sure if he will play him in this one too).

JUDE LAW TO GO ON "THE LAST VOYAGE OF DEMETER"! MICHELLE PFEIFFER & HELENA BONHAM CARTER IN TIM BURTON'S "DARK SHADOWS". DARREN ARONOFSKY DIRECTING SF EPIC "NOAH"! JEREMY IRONS & KIM CATTRALL IN "THE TREEHOUSE"

Oooh, this is super exciting, my favourite Jude Law has just scored the lead role in THE LAST VOYAGE OF DEMETER,  a spooky period vampire adventure following the ship called Demeter, which is transporting Dracula's coffin from Transylvania to London. Along the way, passengers and crew members are brutally murdered. When the ship washes up on shore, only one survivor remains: Count Dracula. Ben Kingsley will probably play the Dracula himself, who will, according to "MovieWeb", be similar to the xenomorph in the sci-fi film ALIEN.

SHORT HEADLINES *Wentworth Miller will star in ANALOG, a film about an introverted genius who tries to find a love connection in an increasingly digital world. * Here's a lovely cast - Jeremy Irons, Kim Cattrall and Tom Sturridge will star in THE TREEHOUSE, a film set in pre-World War I Germany following a failed student, his glamorous cousin, her mother and the student's father.* Peter Greenaway will direct 4 STORMS AND 2 BABIES, a film which centers on a woman who becomes pregnant after a night of three-way sex with two different men. Intriguing! * Darren Aronofsky is preparing NOAH, a sci-fi adaptation of the Noah’s Ark tale from the Book of Genesis, but since it will be an adaptation of a graphic novel, it will be dark, shocking and not at all clean-cut.

It seems that Tim Burton is moving on with casting the actors for his remake of vampire classic DARK SHADOWS. After signing Johnny Depp in the lead role of a crazy vampire, he now wants Michelle Pfeiffer and his wife Helena Bonham Carter too. Pfeiffer will play the owner of the Collinwood estate where the story takes place, while Bonham Carter could play Dr. Julia Hoffman, who specializes in rare blood disorders and moves into the estate. As you remember, the original was a highly atmospheric, spooky TV soap-opera that featured vampires, monsters, witches, werewolves, ghosts and zombies.

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S READERS SAY EMILY BLUNT SHOULD BE LOIS LANE IN THE NEW "SUPERMAN"

 Our latest poll in which we were choosing WHO SHOULD BE NEW LOIS LANE is over, and Emily Blunt won with stunning 42% votes, leaving Mila Kunis as the first runner up with 16%, and Alexis Bledel on the third spot with 7%.
Now, although the chances that she could get the Lois Lane role in the new SUPERMAN beside Henry Cavill are very small, since she wasn't mentioned in the lists of actresses who already

auditioned for the role, it's true that Emily and Henry would make the best possible couple ever being both gorgeous, extremely talented and profoundly charismatic.
British beauty Emily Blunt has won our MOST STARLICIOUS YOUNG ACTRESS poll two years ago here at HOLLYWOOD SPY, and as we can see today, she really is ready to take over the Hollywood throne some time in the future. Having Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep (who said herself that Emily is the best young actress she's ever worked with) and Nicole Kidman as her favourite actresses, Emily has also shown their elegant and versatile acting talent combined with the refined, almost angelic looks and spellbinding charisma. You've seen her in DEVIL WEARS PRADA where she basically stole the show from Anne Hathaway portraying Meryl Streep's snobbish but lovable and charmingly neurotic assistant.

In the period drama THE YOUNG VICTORIA she truly shined playing the righteous British monarch, and her chemistry with Rupert Friend was almost unbelievable. She was probably the only good thing in the Victorian horror THE WOLFMAN, she was forced to star in GULLIVER'S TRAVELS due to her contract with the studio.  You can hear her lovely voice currently  in GNOMEO AND JULIET. And we shall be seeing her in THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU with Matt Damon, in SALMON FISHING IN YEMEN with Ewan McGregor, and in LOOPER beside Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon Levitt. The roles she was considered for but didn't get them, include films such as IRON MAN, THE DARK KNIGHT, MY FAIR LADY, CAPTAIN AMERICA THE FIRST AVENGER ...
 As you know she is married to actor John Krasinski (she was engaged to singer Michael Buble before that and her and John's wedding was held in George Clooney's villa in Italy), and her best friend is Anne Hathaway. She's won a Golden Globe and was nominated for Oscars and Baftas.

So let us move to the final part of WHO SHOULD BE NEW JAMES BOND poll. Richard Armitage and Henry Cavill won first two rounds, so lets see who will win it this time: shall we have a naughty 007 Matthew Goode (WATCHMEN, LEAP YEAR), kind 007 Hugh Jackman (AUSTRALIA, WOLVERINE), adorable 007 Lee Pace (PUSHING DAISIES, THE FALL), blond 007 Paul Bettany (LEGION, PRIEST), magnetic 007 Toby Stephens (DIE ANOTHER DAY, JANE EYRE), sexy 007 Michael Fassbender (CENTURION, 300),  dashing 007 James Purefoy (ROME, SOLOMON KANE) or a German 007 Thomas Kretschmann (WANTED, THE YOUNG VICTORIA, VALKYRIE). You can vote as much as you want next two weeks.

JAMES MCAVOY TO PLAY ELTON JOHN IN A MUSICAL BIOPIC! KATHERINE MCPHEE IN NBC'S NEW MUSICAL SHOW "SMASH". JESSE METCALFE & JOSH HENDERSON AS MAIN HUNKS IN NEW "DALLAS"

You've probably already heard that sir Elton John is planning to make a film about his life, and since his life was quite crazy and wild, the biopic will actually be a surreal musical similar to the famous MOULIN ROUGE  movie. And since the producers are hunting for an actor who knows how to act and sing, Elton has admitted that they have offered the title role to no one else but James McAvoy! I kinda love the idea of McAvoy doing what Ewan McGregor did in MOULIN ROUGE!

You already know that, after the success of GLEE, NBC is now preparing their own musical TV show, which will be called SMASH and will follow a set of characters who come together to mount a Broadway musical inspired by the silver screen icon Marylin Monroe. The lead actress in the

cast will be gorgeous Katharine McPhee, the singer and AMERICAN IDOL star, who will play a beautiful struggling actress who tries to get the role of Marylin. Produced by Stephen Spielberg, SMASH will also have Debra Messing (WILL AND GRACE) playing a coreographer, and Jack Davenport (COUPLING) as a lyricist.

HOLLYWOOD SPY has informed you recently that the famous DALLAS soap will continue soon over at TNT, and that some of the original cast member will be returning almost twenty years after the series finale: Larry Hagman will play evil JR again, Linda Gray will again be his wife Sue Ellen while Patrick Duffy will play Bobby Ewing in the new show. I've also told you that young Jordana Brewster will play the girl

stuck in a love triangle between JR's and Bobby's sons, and according to latest news the two sons, the main stars of the new show, will be played by two megahunks - Josh Henderson and Jesse  Metcalfe (both from DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES). I'm

already sold :)

The upcoming fantasy horror ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER has added a new female member to its cast. Gorgeous Australian actress Robin McLeavy will join Benjamin Walker (as Lincoln) and Dominic Cooper (As his mentor in vampire slaying) in the role of Mary Todd, Lincoln's wife, in the story of the American president who, in his free time, hunts down and kills vampires, while Mary stays at home to take care of the family. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, the film should arrive to cinemas summer 2012.

RYAN GOSLING GOES SF IN "LOGAN'S RUN". JUDI DENCH JOINS "BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY". NICOLE KIDMAN & COLIN FIRTH IN WENTWORTH MILLER'S "STOKER"

Attention all sf lovers! According to "MovieWeb" Ryan Gosling is close to signing the deal to take the lead role in the remake of the sf classic LOGAN'S RUN 

set in a domed utopian society which is protected from the fallout of the 23rd Century apocalypse. Although the residents live in utter peace and harmony, everyone is required to die at age 30. Gosling will play Logan 5, a man whose job is to catch those who try to escape their requisite death. As Logan 5 approaches his own death sentence, he goes on the run from his coworkers.

Now, I've told you before that my favourite Wentworth Miller is also a screenwriter, and  now his script STOKER will be made into a film

with Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth. It will be a mystery-drama about a moody teenager whose mysterious uncle (Firth) comes back into her family's lives after the death of her father. Kidman will play the mother. The film will be directed by famous Korean director Park Chan-wook.

According to "Playlist" her imperial majesty Judi Dench (everybody bow immediately) has joined BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY, a strange new thriller about a pharmacist (Jeremy Renner) who begins a prescription drug-fueled affair with a trophy wife (Jennifer Garner) that leads to the two plotting to kill her husband.

SHORT HEADLINES *Novel THE HOST, which Stephenie Meyer wrote after TWILIGHT saga, will be adapted by Andrew Niccol,  following a girl who discovers her body has become a host for an alien soul. *Well, if you ask me, from a possible blockbuster, the casting choice has turned ABRAHAM LINCOLN THE VAMPIRE HUNTER into just another vampire flick. After choosing unknown Benjamin Walker instead of Eric Bana or Tom Hardy for the lead role, the producers have now chosen Dominic Cooper (not that we don't like him) instead of  Joaquin Phoenix as Abraham's teacher in fighting vampires.

And HOLLYWOOD SPY expects you to make some sweet sweet love today (if possible many times) since it's St Valentines. So go on and seduce your wives, hubs, girlfriends, boyfriends ... or some sexy strangers if you find a volunteer :) HOLLYWOOD SPY loves you and there's nothing you can do about it!

CATHERINE ZETA JONES, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE & BRUCE WILLIS IN A GAMBLING FILM. JULIANNE MOORE & ABIGAIL BRESLIN FIGHTING VAMPIRES IN "INNOCENCE" ! DO YOU WANT A "MILLI VANILLI" FILM?

Ooooh, now this is a dream team for me - my beloved Justin Timberlake and my beloved Catherine Zeta Jones in the same film together. They will join Bruce Willis in Stephen Frears' (whom we also love heaps - THE QUEEN, CHERI, DANGEROUS LIAISONS, MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS) LAY THE FAVOURITE, TAKE THE DOG a film about Internet gambling and off-shore sports betting, which will follow a woman who becomes involved with a group of fifty something math geeks in Queens who have worked out a way to rig the sports books in Vegas. Justin Timberlake and Bruce Willis will play gambling experts while our dear Catherine Zeta-Jones will play Bruce's wife, Tulip, in the film.

SHORT HEADLINES *Contrary to yesterday rumors, Michael Rosenbaum will officially appear in the SMALLVILLE series finale. *This might shock you or make you laugh or scream, but Hollywood is preparing a film on MILLI VANILLI and their famous lip-syncing scandal. Ralph Fiennes' epic adaptation of Shakespeare's famous historical play about a power thirsty Roman general CORIOLANUS with Gerard Butler, shot last year at the locations in Serbia, has found its distributor for USA in the Weinstein Company.

Check out stunning new image from HOLLYWOOD SPY's most anticipated film of 2011 - ancient Greek epic IMMORTALS directed by Tarsem Singh. The new image shows Kellan Lutz as

the God Poseidon. Starring  Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, Stephen Dorff and Freida Pinto, the film will follow Theseus who has to undergo numerous adventures in order to save his country from evil king Hyperion. Click here to read HOLLYWOOD SPY's long post on the film.

Here's an interesting tandem - Julianne Moore and young Abigail Breslin (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, NIM'S ISLAND) will star in INNOCENCE, according to "Variety". The movie adaptation of the book by Jane Mandelsohn will follow a teenage girl grieving after the death of her mother who discovers that her private school is home to a nest of vampires (story of your life? :). Moore will probably play a school nurse who seduces the girl's father and actually wants the virgin blood of his daughter.