Jimmy Hayward

Josh Brolin is attached to star in the western-centric film, which previously had Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor ("Crank") on board as directors. The duo, who penned the script, bowed out over creative differences in November.

Hex is a DC Comics character known for having the right side of his face disfigured and wearing a Confederate army uniform. He’s a rough-and-tumble gunslinger and part-time bounty hunter whose adventures always ended in blood. There’s also a supernatural element to the character.

Quite the difference from "Horton"! And yeah, I can totally see Josh Brolin in that role.

"Jonah Hex" is scheduled for a 2010 release date.

Image: Jimmy Hayward, Horton Hears a Who, 20th Century Fox Film Corp., 2008; Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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GRAN TORINO
In theatres on December 12 (NY & LA)
December 19 (Expansion)
December 25 (Expansion)
January 9 (Wide)
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Village Roadshow Pictures)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Writers: Screenplay by Nick Schenk, Story by Dave Johannson & Nick Schenk
Producers: Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Bill Gerber
Executive Producers: Jenette Kahn, Adam Richman, Tim Moore, Bruce Berman
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Ahney Her, Christopher Carley, John Carroll Lynch

Drama. Clint Eastwood stars in "Gran Torino," marking his first film role since his Oscar®-winning "Million Dollar Baby." Eastwood plays retired auto worker Walt Kowalski, an iron-willed veteran living in a changing world, who is forced by his immigrant neighbors to confront his own long-held prejudices. The people he once called his neighbors have all moved or passed away, replaced by Hmong immigrants, from Southeast Asia, he despises. Resentful of virtually everything and everyone he sees, Walt is just waiting out the rest of his life…until the night his teenage neighbor Thao tries to steal his prized `72 Gran Torino, under pressure from Hmong gang-bangers. But Walt stands in the way of both the heist and the gang, making him the reluctant hero of the neighborhood–especially to Thao’s mother and older sister, Sue, who insist that Thao work for Walt as a way to make amends. Though he initially wants nothing to do with these people, Walt eventually gives in and puts the boy to work, setting into motion an unlikely friendship that will change both their lives.
This film has been rated R by the MPAA for language throughout and some violence.

www.thegrantorino.com

More after the jump…

THE DARK KNIGHT
Re-release in theatres and IMAX on January 23
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan
Story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer
Based upon "Batman" characters created by Bob Kane and published by DC Comics
Producers: Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan
Executive Producers: Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy, Thomas Tull
Cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman

Action Drama. "The Dark Knight" reunites director Christopher Nolan with star Christian Bale, who returns to continue Batman’s war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker, who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces The Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante.
This film has been rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace.

www.thedarkknight.com

INKHEART
In theatres on January 23
(New Line Cinema)
Director: Iain Softley
Writers: Screenplay by David Lindsay-Abaire
Based on the Book by Cornelia Funke
Producers: Iain Softley, Diana Pokorny, Cornelia Funke
Executive Producers: Toby Emmerich, Mark Ordesky, Ileen Maisel, Andy Licht
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren, Jim Broadbent, Andy Serkis, Sienna Guillory, Eliza Hope Bennett, Rafi Gavron

Fantasy Adventure. Mortimer "Mo" Folchart and his 12-year-old daughter, Meggie, share an extraordinary gift for bringing characters from books to life when they read aloud. But there is a danger: when a character is brought to life from a book, a real person disappears into its pages. On one of their trips to a secondhand book shop, Mo locates a book he’s been searching for since Meggie was three years old, when her mother, Resa, vanished into its mystical world. But Mo’s plan to use the book to find and rescue Resa is thwarted when Capricorn, the evil villain of Inkheart, kidnaps Meggie and, discovering she has inherited her father’s gift, demands that she bring to life his most powerful ally, the Shadow. Determined to rescue his daughter and send the fictional characters back where they belong, Mo assembles a small group of friends and family–some from the real world, some from the pages of books–and embarks on a daring and perilous journey to set things right.
This film has been rated PG for fantasy adventure action, some scary moments and brief language.

www.inkheartmovie.com

HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU
In theatres on February 6
(New Line Cinema)
Director: Ken Kwapis
Writers: Abby Kohn & Marc Silverstein
Based on the Book by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo
Producer: Nancy Juvonen
Executive Producers: Drew Barrymore, Toby Emmerich, Michele Weiss, Michael Beugg
Cast: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson, Kris Kristofferson, Justin Long

Romantic Comedy. An all-star cast is featured in the stories of a group of interconnected, Baltimore-based twenty- and thirtysomethings as they navigate their various relationships from the shallow end of the dating pool through the deep, murky waters of married life. Trying to read the signs of the opposite sex, each hopes to be the exception to the "no exceptions" rule.
This film has been rated PG-13 for sexual content and brief strong language.

www.hesjustnotthatintoyoumovie.com

FRIDAY THE 13TH
In theatres on February 13
(New Line Cinema/Paramount)
Director: Marcus Nispel
Writers: Screenplay by Damian Shannon & Mark Swift
Story by Damian Shannon & Mark Swift and Mark Wheaton
Producers: Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, Sean Cunningham
Executive Producers: Walter Hamada, Guy Stodel, Brian Witten
Cast: Jared Padalecki, Danielle Panabaker, Aaron Yoo, Amanda Righetti, Travis Van Winkle, Derek Mears

Horror. In this re-imagining of the classic horror film, Clay searches for his missing sister in the eerie woods of legendary Crystal Lake, where he stumbles on the creaky remains of rotting old cabins behind moss-covered trees. And that’s not the only thing lying in wait under the brush. Against the advice of police and cautions from the locals, Clay pursues what few leads he has, with the help of a young woman he meets among a group of college kids up for an all-thrills weekend. But they are about to find much more than they bargained for. Little do they know, they’ve entered the domain of one of the most terrifying specters in American film history–the infamous killer who haunts Crystal Lake, armed with a razor-sharp machete…Jason Voorhees.

www.fridaythe13thmovie.com

UNDER THE SEA 3D
Exclusively in IMAX on February 13
(IMAX)
Director: Howard Hall
Producers: Toni Myers, Michele Hall
Executive Producer: Graeme Ferguson
Narrator: Jim Carrey

Documentary Adventure. This new IMAX adventure transports moviegoers to some of the most exotic and isolated undersea locations on Earth, including Southern Australia, New Guinea and others in the Indo-Pacific region, allowing them to experience face-to-face encounters with some of the most mysterious and stunning creatures of the sea. It offers a uniquely inspirational and entertaining way to explore the beauty and natural wonder of the oceans, as well as the impact of global climate change. In IMAX 3D, the images will literally leap off the screen and float around the theatre, putting the audience in the movie.

WATCHMEN
In theatres on March 6
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures/Paramount)
Director: Zack Snyder
Writers: Screenplay by David Hayter and Alex Tse
Based on the graphic novel illustrated by Dave Gibbons and published by DC Comics
Producers: Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin, Deborah Snyder
Executive Producers: Herbert W. Gains, Thomas Tull
Cast: Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson

Action/Sci-Fi. A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, the film is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the "Doomsday Clock" - which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union - is set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion - a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers - Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity…but who is watching the Watchmen?
This film has been rated R for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language.

www.watchmenmovie.com

OBSERVE AND REPORT
In theatres on April 10
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures)
Director: Jody Hill
Writer: Jody Hill
Producer: Donald De Line
Executive Producers: Andrew Haas, Marty Ewing, Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni
Cast: Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, Michael Pena, Ray Liotta

Dark Comedy. At the Forest Ridge Mall, head of security Ronnie Barnhardt patrols his jurisdiction with an iron fist, combating skateboarders, shoplifters and the occasional unruly customer while dreaming of the day when he can swap his flashlight for a badge and a gun. His delusions of grandeur are put to the test when the mall is struck by a flasher. Driven to protect and serve the mall and its patrons, Ronnie seizes the opportunity to showcase his underappreciated law enforcement talents on a grand scale, hoping his solution of this crime will earn a coveted spot at the police academy and the heart of his elusive dream girl Brandi, the hot make-up counter clerk who won’t give him the time of day. But his single-minded pursuit of glory launches a turf war with the equally competitive Detective Harrison of the Conway Police, and Ronnie is confronted with the challenge of not only catching the flasher, but getting him before the real cops do.
This film has been rated R for pervasive language, graphic nudity, drug use, sexual content and violence.

17 AGAIN
In theatres on April 17
(New Line Cinema)
Director: Burr Steers
Writer: Jason Filardi
Producers: Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot
Executive Producers: Toby Emmerich, Mark Kaufman, Keith Goldberg, Jason Barrett
Cast: Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Michelle Trachtenberg, Matthew Perry

Comedy. What would you do if you got a second shot at life? Class of 1989, Mike O’Donnell is a star on his high school basketball court with a college scout in the stands and a bright future in his grasp. But instead, he decides to throw it all away to share his life with his girlfriend Scarlett and the baby he just learned they are expecting. Almost 20 years later, Mike’s glory days are decidedly behind him. His marriage to Scarlett has fallen apart, he has been passed over for a promotion at work, his teenage kids think he is a loser, and he has been reduced to crashing with his high school nerd-turned-techno-billionaire best friend Ned. But Mike is given another chance when he is miraculously transformed back to the age of 17. Unfortunately, Mike may look 17 again, but his thirtysomething outlook is totally uncool in the class of 2009. And in trying to recapture his best years, Mike could lose the best things that ever happened to him.
This film has been rated PG-13 for language, some sexual material and teen partying.

www.17againmovie.com

GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST
In theatres on May 1
(New Line Cinema)
Director: Mark Waters
Writers: Jon Lucas & Scott Moore
Producers: Jon Shestack, Brad Epstein
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Lacey Chabert, Michael Douglas, Emma Stone, Anne Archer, Robert Forster

Romantic Comedy. Celebrity photographer Connor Mead loves freedom, fun and women…in that order. A committed bachelor who thinks nothing of breaking up with multiple women on a conference call, Connor’s mockery of romance proves a real buzz-kill for his kid brother, Paul, and a houseful of well wishers on the eve of Paul’s wedding. Just when it looks like Connor may single-handedly ruin the wedding, he is visited by the ghosts of his former jilted girlfriends, who take him on a revealing and hilarious odyssey through his failed relationships–past, present and future. Together they attempt to find out what turned Connor into such an insensitive jerk and whether there is still hope for him to find true love…or if he really is the lost cause everyone thinks he is.

TERMINATOR SALVATION
In theatres on May 22
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Sony Pictures/Halcyon)
Director: McG
Writers: Michael Ferris & John Brancato, Paul Haggis, Jonathan Nolan, Shaun Ryan, Anthony Zuiker
Producers: Moritz Borman, Derek Anderson, Victor Kubicek, Jeffrey Silver
Executive Producers: Peter D. Graves, Mario F. Kassar, Andrew G. Vajna, Joel B. Michaels, Dan Lin, Jeanne Allgood
Cast: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Bryce Dallas Howard, Moon Bloodgood, Common

Action/Sci-Fi. The highly anticipated new installment of "The Terminator" film franchise is set in post-apocalyptic 2018. John Connor is the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future that Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright, a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.

www.terminatorsalvation.com

THE HANGOVER
In theatres on June 12
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures)
Director: Todd Phillips
Writers: Screenplay by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore and Todd Phillips & Jeremy Garelick
Story by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore
Producers: Todd Phillips, Daniel Goldberg
Executive Producers: Scott Budnick, Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, William Fay, Chris Bender, J.C. Spink
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha, Jeffrey Tambor

Comedy. Two days before his wedding, Doug and his three friends drive to Las Vegas for a blow-out bachelor party they’ll never forget. But, in fact, when the three groomsmen wake up the next morning, they can’t remember a thing. For some reason, they find a tiger in the bathroom and a six-month-old baby in the closet of their suite at Caesars Palace. The one thing they can’t find is Doug. With no clue as to what transpired and little time to spare, the trio must retrace their hazy steps and all their bad decisions in order to figure out where things went wrong and hopefully get Doug back to L.A. in time to walk down the aisle.

MY SISTER’S KEEPER
In theatres on June 26
(New Line Cinema)
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Writers: Jeremy Leven and Nick Cassavetes
Based on the novel by Jodi Picoult
Producers: Mark Johnson, Chuck Pacheco, Scott L. Goldman
Executive Producers: Diana Pokorny, Stephen Furst, Mendel Tropper, Toby Emmerich, Meredith Finn, Mark Kaufman
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Alec Baldwin, Sofia Vassilieva, Joan Cusack, Jason Patric

Drama. Sara and Brian live an idyllic life with their young son and daughter. But their family is rocked by sudden, heartbreaking news that forces them to make a difficult and unorthodox choice in order to save their baby girl’s life. The parents’ desperate decision raises both ethical and moral questions and rips away at the foundation of their relationship. Their actions ultimately set off a court case that threatens to tear the family apart, while revealing surprising truths that challenge everyone’s perceptions of love and loyalty and give new meaning to the definition of healing.

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
In theatres on July 17
(Warner Bros. Pictures)
Director: David Yates
Writers: Screenplay by Steve Kloves
Based on the novel by J.K. Rowling
Producers: David Heyman, David Barron
Executive Producer: Lionel Wigram
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis, Julie Walters, David Bradley, Jessie Cave, Frank Dillane, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Helen McCrory, Natalia Tena, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Bonnie Wright

Fantasy Adventure. Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort’s defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn’t counted on Romilda Vane’s chocolates! And then there’s Hermione, simmering with jealously but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again.
This film has been rated PG for scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality.

www.harrypotter.com

ORPHAN
In theatres on July 24
(Dark Castle Entertainment)
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Writers: Screenplay by David Leslie Johnson
Story by Alex Mace
Producers: Joel Silver, Susan Downey, Erik Olsen, Jennifer Davisson Killoran
Executive Producers: Don Carmody, Steve Richards
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, CCH Pounder

Horror Thriller. The tragic loss of their unborn child has devastated Kate and John, taking a toll on both their marriage and Kate’s fragile psyche as she is plagued by nightmares and haunted by demons from her past. Struggling to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives, the couple decides to adopt another child. At the local orphanage, both John and Kate find themselves strangely drawn to a young girl named Esther. Almost as soon as they welcome Esther into their home, however, an alarming series of events begins to unfold, leading Kate to believe that there’s something wrong with Esther–this seemingly angelic little girl is not what she appears to be. Concerned for the safety of her family, Kate tries to get John and others to see past Esther’s sweet facade. But her warnings go unheeded until it may be too late…for everyone.

SHORTS
In theatres on August 7
(Warner Bros. Pictures)
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Writer: Robert Rodriguez
Producers: Elizabeth Avellan, Robert Rodriguez
Executive Producers: Dan Lin, Hunt Lowry, Stacy Cohen
Cast: Jon Cryer, William H. Macy, Leslie Mann, James Spader, Jimmy Bennett, Kat Dennings, Trevor Gagnon, Leo Howard, Devon Gearhart, Rebel Rodriguez, Jake Short, Jolie Vanier

Action/Adventure Comedy. "Shorts" is set in the suburb of Black Falls, where all the houses look the same and everyone works for BLACK BOX Unlimited Worldwide Industries Incorporated, whose Mr. Black’s BLACK BOX is the ultimate communication and do-it-all gadget that’s sweeping the nation. Other than keeping his parents employed, however, Mr. Black’s BLACK BOX has done nothing for 11-year-old Toe Thompson, who just wants to make a few friends…until a mysterious rainbow-colored rock falls from the sky, hits him in the head and changes everything. The Rainbow Rock does Mr. Black’s BLACK BOX one better: it grants wishes to anyone who holds it. Before long, wishes-gone-wrong have left the neighborhood swarming with tiny spaceships, crocodile armies, giant boogers…and outrageous magical mayhem around every corner. But it’s not until the grown-ups get their hands on the Rock that the trouble really starts. Now Toe and his newfound friends must join forces to save their town from itself, discovering along the way that what you wish for is not always what you want.

FINAL DESTINATION: DEATH TRIP 3D
In theatres on August 21
(New Line Cinema)
Director: David R. Ellis
Writer: Eric Bress
Producers: Craig Perry, Warren Zide
Executive Producers: Sheila Hanahan Taylor, Richard Brener, Walter Hamada
Cast: Shantel VanSanten, Bobby Campo, Haley Webb, Nick Zano, Krista Allen, Andrew Fiscella, Richard T. Jones, Mykelti Williamson

Horror. On what should have been a fun-filled day at the races, Nick O’Bannon has a horrific premonition in which a bizarre sequence of events causes multiple race cars to crash, sending flaming debris into the stands, brutally killing his friends and causing the upper deck of the stands to collapse on him. When he comes out of this grisly nightmare Nick panics, persuading his girlfriend, Lori, and their friends, Janet and Hunt, to leave… escaping seconds before Nick’s frightening vision becomes a terrible reality. Thinking they’ve cheated death, the group has a new lease on life, but unfortunately for Nick and Lori, it is only the beginning. As his premonitions continue and the crash survivors begin to die one-by-one–in increasingly gruesome ways–Nick must figure out how to cheat death once and for all before he, too, reaches his final destination. The film marks the latest in the highly popular "Final Destination" series, and its first 3D installment, giving horror fans an especially visceral thrill ride.

WHITEOUT
In theatres on September 11
(Dark Castle Entertainment)
Director: Dominic Sena
Writers: Screenplay by Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber and Chad Hayes & Carey W. Hayes
Based on the graphic novel by Greg Rucka, illustrated by Steve Lieber
Producers: Joel Silver, Susan Downey, David Gambino
Executive Producers: Steve Richards, Don Carmody, Greg Rucka
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Columbus Short, Alex O’Loughlin, Shawn Doyle, Tom Skerritt

Suspense Thriller. Carrie Stetko, the lone U.S. Marshal assigned to Antarctica, is investigating the continent’s first murder, which draws her into a shocking mystery. Now, with only three days until winter, Carrie must solve the crime before Antarctica is plunged into darkness and she is stranded with the killer.
This film has been rated R for violence, grisly images, brief strong language and some nudity.

www.whiteoutmovie.com

THE INFORMANT
In theatres on September 18
(Warner Bros. Pictures)
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writers: Screenplay by Scott Z. Burns
Based on the book The Informant (A True Story) by Kurt Eichenwald
Producers: Gregory Jacobs, Jennifer Fox, Howard Braunstein, Kurt Eichenwald
Executive Producers: George Clooney, Jeff Skoll, Michael London
Cast: Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale, Melanie Lynskey

Offbeat Comedy. What was Mark Whitacre thinking? A rising star at agri-industry giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Whitacre suddenly turns whistleblower. Even as he exposes his company’s multi-national price-fixing conspiracy to the FBI, Whitacre envisions himself being hailed as a hero of the common man and handed a promotion. But before all that can happen, the FBI needs evidence, so Whitacre eagerly agrees to wear a wire and carry a hidden tape recorder in his briefcase, imagining himself as a kind of de facto secret agent. Unfortunately for the FBI, their lead witness hasn’t been quite so forthcoming about helping himself to the corporate coffers. Whitacre’s ever-changing account frustrates the agents and threatens the case against ADM as it becomes almost impossible to decipher what is real and what is the product of Whitacre’s rambling imagination. Based on the true story of the highest-ranking corporate whistleblower in U.S. history.

www.theinformantmovie.com

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
In theatres on October 16
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures/Village Roadshow Pictures)
Director: Spike Jonze
Writers: Screenplay by Spike Jonze & Dave Eggers
Based on the book by Maurice Sendak
Producers: Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Maurice Sendak, John Carls, Vincent Landay
Executive Producers: Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Bruce Berman
Cast: Catherine Keener, Max Records, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose, James Gandolfini, Catherine O’Hara, Forest Whitaker

Adventure. Maurice Sendak’s classic book Where the Wild Things Are comes to the big screen in an adventure tale for every generation.

www.wherethewildthingsare.com

THE BOX
In theatres on November 6
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Radar Pictures)
Director: Richard Kelly
Writers: Screenplay by Richard Kelly
Based upon the short story "Button, Button" by Richard Matheson
Producers: Sean McKittrick, Richard Kelly, Dan Lin
Executive Producers: Sue Baden-Powell, Ted Field, Paris Kasidokostas Latsis,
Terry Dougas, Edward H. Hamm Jr.
Cast: Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella

Thriller. Norma and Arthur Lewis are a suburban couple with a young child who receive an anonymous gift bearing fatal and irrevocable consequences. A simple wooden box, it promises to deliver its owner $1 million with the press of a button. However, pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world…someone they don’t know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the crosshairs of a startling moral dilemma and face the true nature of their humanity.
This film has been rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some violence and disturbing images.

SHERLOCK HOLMES
In theatres on November 20
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Village Roadshow Pictures)
Director: Guy Ritchie
Writers: Screenplay by Michael Johnson, Anthony Peckham, Guy Ritchie
Story by Lionel Wigram
Producers: Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey, Dan Lin, Steve Clark-Hall
Executive Producers: Michael Tadross, Bruce Berman
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Kelly Reilly

Action/Adventure Mystery. In a dynamic new portrayal of Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous characters, "Sherlock Holmes" sends Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson on their latest challenge. Revealing fighting skills as lethal as his legendary intellect, Holmes will battle as never before to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy the country.

UNTITLED CLINT EASTWOOD PROJECT
In theatres December 2009
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Spyglass Entertainment)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Writers: Screenplay by Anthony Peckham
Based on the book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation by John Carlin
Producers: Clint Eastwood, Lori McCreary, Robert Lorenz, Mace Neufeld
Executive Producers: Morgan Freeman, Tim Moore, Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum
Cast: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon

Drama. The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa’s underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.

NINJA ASSASSIN
In theatres 2009
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Dark Castle Entertainment/Legendary Pictures)
Director: James McTeigue
Writers: Screenplay by Matthew Sand and J. Michael Straczynski
Story by Matthew Sand
Producers: Joel Silver, Larry Wachowski, Andy Wachowski, Grant Hill
Executive Producers: Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, William Fay
Cast: Rain, Naomie Harris, Ben Miles, Sho Kosugi, Rick Yune

Action. Raizo is one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them…and vanishes. Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge. In Berlin, Europol agent Mika Coretti has stumbled upon a money trail linking several political murders to an underground network of untraceable assassins from the Far East. Defying the orders of her superior, Ryan Maslow, Mika digs into top secret agency files to learn the truth behind the murders. Her investigation makes her a target, and the Ozunu Clan sends a team of killers, led by the lethal Takeshi, to silence her forever. Raizo saves Mika from her attackers, but he knows that the Clan will not rest until they are both eliminated. Now, entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse through the streets of Europe, Raizo and Mika must trust one another if they hope to survive…and finally bring down the elusive Ozunu Clan.

CHECK OUT MORE PREVIEWS:

Sony Pictures 2009 Film Preview

Paramount Pictures 2009 Film Preview

Image: "Gran Torino," Warner Bros., 2009

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I’m especially looking forward to "The Pink Panther 2," "The Ugly Truth," "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans," and "Angels & Demons." And I’m REALLY curious about "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," because that was one of my kids’ favorite books.

Which of these movies are YOU most looking forward to?  

"Not Easily Broken" – Jan. 9, 2009

"Paul Blart: Mall Cop" – Jan. 16, 2009

"Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" – Jan. 23, 2009

"The Pink Panther 2" – Feb. 6, 2009

"The International" – Feb. 13, 2009

"Fired Up" – Feb. 20, 2009

More after the jump…

"The Ugly Truth" – April 3, 2009

"Obsessed" – April 24, 2009

"Angels & Demons" – May 15, 2009

"The Taking of Pelham 123" – June 12, 2009

"Year One" – June 19, 2009

"2012" – July 10, 2009

"Julie & Julia" – Aug. 7, 2009

"District 9" – Aug. 14, 2009

"Mardi Gras" – Aug. 28, 2009

"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" – Sept. 18, 2009

"Armored" – Sept. 18, 2009

"Zombieland" – Oct. 9, 2009

"The Stepfather" – Oct. 16, 2009

"Planet 51" – Nov. 20, 2009

Image: The Pink Panther 2, Columbia Pictures, 2009

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Here’s a bonus clip on the DVD (released Dec. 21, 2008) that tells a little about how they made Brad Pitt look dorky. No small feat, I’m sure.

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Directed by Michael Mann (more bonus points), the movie follows the feds as they try to take down the notorious gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) and Pretty Boy Floyd (Channing Tatum) during a booming crime wave in the 1930’s.

Also stars Billy Crudup as J. Edgar Hoover, Stephen Dorff as Homer Van Meter, and Stephen Lang as Charles Winstead. He played attorney David Abrams in one of my favorite Michael Mann TV shows, "Crime Story."

"Public Enemies" hits theaters July 1, 2009.

More images after the jump…

Images: Public Enemies, Universal Pictures, 2009

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He stars as a single, suburban dad, trying to make ends meet as a security officer at a New Jersey mall. Though no one else takes his job seriously, Paul considers himself on the front lines of safety. When a heist shuts down the megaplex, Jersey’s most formidable mall cop will have to become a REAL cop to save the day. In theaters Jan. 16, 2009. Rated PG for some violence, mild crude and suggestive humor, and language. [Official site]

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Image: Newscom

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Wow, I really can’t see her in the role at all. What do you guys think about this? Maybe I need to stop thinking of her in terms of the HSM movies, since those are pretty much a done deal. I mean, she has to move on, right?

The "Twilight" sequel is in the works, with Chris Weitz in as director and filming scheduled to begin in March. Look for the vampire movie to be theaters on Nov. 20, 2009.

And if you haven’t yet checked out our "New Moon Casting News and Rumors" discussion, get over there and check it out!

Image: Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron; Newscom

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Simon Pegg

At the time, it sounded more like a rumor than anything, but Ain’t It Cool News is reporting that it’s a done deal: "According to a reliable source not at all involved in the production, those rumblings we heard last fall about Simon Pegg and Nick Frost being cast as the Thomson and Thompson were right on the money. They’re in."

Ok, these guys don’t exactly look like twins (they’re pictured, in "Shaun of the Dead"), but word is that Spielberg will use motion capture technology, so we may not actually see them on screen, but will hear their voices and see their performances. Hmmm … it’ll be interesting to see how that shakes out.

More after the jump…

Filming is scheduled to begin shortly. Andy Serkis is already confirmed for Captain Haddock, so I’m sure we’ll be hearing casting news for "Tintin" and the rest of the characters over the next few weeks. Written by Herge between 1942 and 1944, "Tintin" follows the adventures of popular Belgian comic-strip hero Tintin and his faithful dog Snowy.

Images: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Shaun of the Dead, Focus Features, 2004

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