‘Spidey 2’ Looks for ‘Athletic, Good Looking’ Actors, ‘Insidious 2’ a Go, and Mendes Back for ‘Bond 24’?

1.) When news came out The Amazing Spider-Man 2, the report noted the studio was taking a “dark and edgy” turn with the character.

Well, they seem to have balked on that and are now testing actors who excel in the “athleticism and good looks” department (read: James Franco types). The names include Sam Claflin (Snow White and the Huntsman), Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables), Douglas Booth (Noah) and Boyd Holbrook (The Host). Personally, I thought the first approach sounded more interesting, but I am one and teenage girls are many. [THR]

2.) Universal Pictures is in talks to acquire Straight Outta Compton, a biopic about West Coast hip hop group N.W.A. from director F. Gary Gray (Friday, The Negotiator). The pic will look at the rise of the group (which included Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren, Arabian Prince and DJ Yella) from growing up in poor Los Angeles neighborhoods to the breaking up of the band. Ice Cube is attached as one of the producers. [The Wrap]

3.) All of the key players are returning for Insidious Chapter 2, the sequel to the surprise horror hit that grossed $97 million on a $1.5 million budget. That includes director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell, as well as the principal cast of Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins and Lin Shaye. The film is aiming for a January production start and an August 30, 2013 release. [Deadline]

4.) Rumblings have already begun that Skyfall helmer Sam Mendes could return to direct Bond 24. This is mostly thanks to this quote from long-time Bond writer Robert Wade, who issued a press release to confirm the departure of himself and writing partner Neal Purvis from the series:

We’re very happy to have done five Bond movies, I think we’ve gotten it to a good place. I know that John Logan and Sam Mendes have come up with a plot for another one, which takes the pressure off because these films take up a lot of time.

Meanwhile, the studio released a series of seven images featuring Sam Mendes on the set of Skyfall and a few of them are pretty great, click on the thumbnails below to browse through the gallery.

5.) The Skin I Live In is probably the closest thing Pedro Almodovar has ever made to a “genre film,” but that could soon change. The Spanish helmer is now talking about making a sci-fi film, inspired by his love of ’50s pics like Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Incredible Shrinking Man.

“The way I would like to do it is present something impossible in a real, domestic way,” he said. “One of the scripts on my desk is of that genre, so i hope to make that.” We obviously wouldn’t see the film for a few years as Almodovar is first getting back to his trademark dark comedy with next year’s I’m So Excited now in post-production, but it’s an exciting proposition nonetheless. [Variety]

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