Captain America‘s Bucky is Cast: I’m sorry, but the fact Captain America features a Robin-like character named Bucky is just silliness to me. However, it doesn’t matter, those are the facts of the matter and Sebastian Stan (“Gossip Girl”) will play the sidekick to the hero Captain America (Chris Evans) in the Joe Johnston directed The First Avenger: Captain America. Stan was at one time said to be in the running for the lead role, but will now play Bucky Barnes, a teenaged orphan, who was too young to join the army but became one camp’s mascot. When he discovered Captain America’s identity, he joined Captain America as a partner in his Nazi-fighting escapades. Insiders say Stan has signed for five to six movies, which I guess means he isn’t dying in this one as the character did in the early Captain comics only to come back in 2005 as a covert assassin named Winter Soldier (pictured). Filming begins this summer in Europe for a July 22, 2011 release. [Heat Vision]
Liman Boards Musketeers: Back in mid-February it was reported Peter Straughan (The Men Who Stare at Goats) was hired to script an update to Alexandre Dumas’ classic “The Three Musketeers” for Warner Bros. and give it something of an update similar to the studio’s Sherlock Holmes. Now, word is Doug Liman (Jumper) will direct that film all while Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil) preps his own 3D version of the tale for Summit. Liman was originally pegged as a candidate along with David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada). Liman’s Fair Game starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts will hit theaters next year and there is no telling if his upcoming Attica prison uprising feature penned by Precious scripter Geoffrey Fletcher will be his next or if he will go with Musketeers. [Variety]
xXx Goes 3D with Diesel, Cohen and Jackson: Back in 2008 a third xXx was reported Ericson Core (Invincible) would direct, but he’s all gone now as well.
Now, Medievel has stalled and Cohen is back on track as xXx 3 has left Columbia Pictures and negotiations are underway for Paramount to take over the franchise with Diesel back in the lead, Cohen in the director’s chair and even Samuel L. Jackson expected to reprise his role as Agent Augustus Gibbons. The story is said to follow Xander Cage (Diesel) who’s been left for dead, but returns to execute a very difficult assignment that only he can pull off. The film is expected to be released in 3D, of which Cohen is already getting a taste of while directing Coke’s first ever 3D commercial right now. [Deadline]
Stiller and Baumbach Consider Popping Penguins: Noah Baumbach is in talks to direct a feature adaptation of Richard and Florence Atwater’s 1938 children’s book “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” for 20th Century Fox with the current screenplay having been penned by Sean Anders and John Morris. Ben Stiller is in discussions to star in the film reuniting the Greenberg duo. The book tells the story of Mr. Popper, the small-town housepainter who dreamed of exploring Antarctic regions, and Captain Cook, the redoubtable penguin who turned Mr. Popper’s world upside down. [Variety]
Daldry Directing Extremely Loud: I guess Summit can go ahead and forget about Stephen Daldry (The Reader) as a THR]
Number Four for February 2011: Alex Pettyfer will star in I am Number Four for D.J. Caruso with a script by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar based on the novel by James Frey and Jobie Hughes. The sci-fi story follows a group of nine earthbound aliens who escaped their planet just before it was annihilated by a rival species. Hiding out on Earth, disguised as a human teenager in high school, the title character (Pettyfer) discovers that he is being hunted by the enemy that destroyed his planet. The film will be released on February 18, 2011 by DreamWorks under their new deal with Disney.
American Pie 4 Becoming a Reality: It’s weird to think of a new report of an American Pie 4 as legit considering they have released several American Pie films straight to DVD. However, since this new incarnation is said to be bringing back the original cast (because we’ve all been asking for that) it is considered something of an official, theatrical entry and Harold and Kumar creators Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg have boarded the project as directors. The duo are also writing the script, which also means they won’t be directing A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas as those duties now fall on the shoulders of first time helmer Todd Strauss Schulson with John Cho and Kal Penn set to reprise their roles as the title characters. [Risky Business]
Ryan Reynolds Gets R.I.P.D.: Ryan Reynolds is ready to play yet another comic book character as he has reportedly signed on to star as one half of a deceased cop team who keep ghosts in line for R.I.P.D. (Rest in Peace Department) adapted from Peter M Lenkov’s 1999 Dark Horse title by writers Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi. Producer Neil Moritz was quoted saying, “It’s about two cops, one recently dead and a gunslinger who’s been dead for hundreds of years that work on the Rest in Peace department – which is the police department of the dead. It takes place on a normal day and it’s about trying to keep the spirits quiet.” Filming is expected to begin in January. Reynolds is currently filming Green Lantern and will film The Change-Up in October. Will the Deadpool spin-off ever get off the ground? Will Reynolds be featured in Wolverine 2? He will also be adding his voice to the animated film The Croods, so chalk that one up as well. [Collider]
