Arnold Schwarzenegger Says 'Terminator 5' Offer Among 15 Films

Since the end of his term as governor of California in January, former action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger has been open and honest about his return to Hollywood.

Just weeks after the end of his political career, 63-year-old Schwarzeneggerspoke of three scriptshe was considering, including the WWII dramaWith Wings as Eaglescentered on an experienced, highly-decorated Nazi soldier named Klaus Ostermann who becomes disillusioned with the war and opts to help a concentration camp full of POWs.

At the time, many speculated that the other two projects wereThe Expendables 2, the inevitable sequel to Sly Stallone’s macho ensemble flick, andTerminator 5. The rumor strengthened when Universalreportedlyexpressed interest in purchasing rights to the series forFast& Furiousdirector Justin Lin andFast Fivescreenwriter Chris Morgan.

Naturally, Arnold’s name surfaced for a proper return to the franchise, particularly since it coincided with the former Governator’s tweet in early February,“Exciting news. My friends at CAA have been asking me for 7 years when they can take offers seriously. Gave them the green light today.”

Which brings us to this past Sunday, when Schwarzenegger took questions from the audience at The Arnold Classic, an annual bodybuilding competition. TheArnoldFansasked for clarification about his three scripts and Schwarzenegger responded candidly,“Well, first of all it’s more like 15 films, obvious ones from The Terminator to remakes of Predator and The Running Man and all of those things. Then also a lot of original stuff too. But I am also packaging a Comic Book character right now. I’m going to announce that sometime by the end of March or the beginning of April.”

We’ve heard about another Terminator movie, but a reboot ofPredator? I was under the impression the studio just tried that.  A remake ofThe Running Man? Wasn’t that titledGamer? Plus, what happened to Fox’sremake ofCommandothat had fans up in arms?

Lastly, a comic book character and Arnold seem like a natural fit. The actor left Hollywood circa 2003, just as the subgenre was returning with X-Men, Spider-Man, and Batman, so it’s no surprise he wants to get in the game while it’s still hot and, frankly, while he’s still fit enough to do so. That being said, no one has any idea what comic Schwarzenegger is eying and the possibilities are rather endless.  Let’s just hope it’s not a Mr. Freeze spin-off.

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Channing Tatum Attached to 'Peter Pan Begins'

G.I. Joestar Channing Tatumis attached to yet another fairy tale re-imagining titledPeter Pan Begins, a pitch package that went out to studios on Tuesday.

Screenwriter Billy Ray, who wroteBreachand the upcoming adaptation ofThe Hunger Games, is on board, according to theHollywood Reporter, as well as producer Joe Roth, who is already working on a few other fairy tale re-visitations, includingOz the Great and Powerful(with director Sam Raimi and stars James Franco and Mila Kunis) andSnow White and the Huntsman(with stars Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart).

Details on the project are limited for now, but it’s only a matter of time before a logline or a draft makes its way online. I’m curious to see how a musclebound Tatum, 30, factors into the origins of a never-aging boy who sneaks into girls’ windows. Not in a creepy way, but in amagicalway. Of course, Steven Spielberg already mined the after story with the quasi sequelHookthat posited“what if Peter Pan grew up and became Robin Williams?”

The pitch is part of Hollywood’s recent push to return to the lands of magic, myth and public domain and avoid the costs of comic book license fees or producing a (gasp) entirely original work.  Which explains why there are at least three Snow White movies in production, four Oz re-imaginings, a grown-upHansel& Gretel, Red Riding Hood, a Mulan redo, a new Little Mermaid take, and even an origin story ofTinkerbellwith Elizabeth Banks attached to star.

In fact, another Peter Pan movie already exists. Screenwriter Ben Magid soldPanto New Line in 2006 and recently Ben Hibon, who helmed the magnificent animated sequence inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows– Part 1, agreed in Novemberto direct. That story centers on a retired police captain named Hook who goes in search of a missing boy with the help of a former kidnap victim named Wendy.

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List of Actors Considered for 'The Bourne Legacy'

Universal and writer-director Tony Gilroy are currently searching for a new lead to headlineThe Bourne Legacy, a spin-off of the action-packed trilogy starring Matt Damon.

Unfortunately, Damon will not be returning for the fourth installment of the series as Jason Bourne due to his friendship with departing director Paul Greengrass and his increasingly busy schedule. “This is nota reboot or a recast or a prequel,” Gilroy said inOctober. ”No one’s replacing Matt Damon. There will be a whole new hero, a whole new chapter…this is a stand-alone project.” Gilroy, who wrote or co-wrote the first three films, called it an expansion of the spy universe established by those movies directed by Doug Liman and Greengrass.

According toVariety, Gilroy has an idea of the kind of actor he wants, but Universal is, of course, providing their own suggestions. This means the“short” list of names being considered amounts to a who’s who of late 20s, early 30s actors, many of whom you’ll recognize right away. But Gilroy insists on screen-testing each of the candidates, regardless of“A-list” status, which could be an issue for the prima donnas. To which I say, good, Bourne fans don’t want to see someone fill the role that isn’t willing to put in the effort.

Variety’s list includes: the Prince of Persia Jake Gyllenhaal, former Spider-ManTobey Maguire, Tron: Legacy starGarrett Hedlund, X-Men Origins: Wolverine’s GambitTaylor Kitsch, and Twilight vampireKellen Lutz.

Deadlineadds a few more names to the mix: Animal Kingdom actorJoel Edgerton, Black Hawk Down starJosh Hartnett, There Will Be Blood’sPaul Dano(what?),“Boardwalk Empire” starMichael Pitt, Guatemalan actor and Body of Lies actor Oscar Isaac, the new MagnetoMichael Fassbender, Clash of the Titans actorLuke Evans, I Am Number Four heartthrobAlex Pettyfer, and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter leadBenjamin Walker.

So basically everyone. While a few of them seem downright ridiculous (no way will it be Dano), others such as Pitt and Gyllenhaal seem like worthy picks for the continuation.  Sure, Hartnett and Hedlund have a female following due to their rakish good looks, but they generally flat on screen and would mean a significant step down from Damon.  We’ll hopefully know more soon but, for now, do you have a favorite among the potential stars?

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'The Dark Knight Rises' Against Talia al Ghul?

Speculation on Christopher Nolan’s third and final Batman installment,The Dark Knight Rises, has been rampant for months now, dating back toSummer 2010rumors thatJoseph Gordon-Levittwas on board to play The Riddler. While Nolan later debunkedJGL’s enigmatic involvement, the young star wound up part of the production after all, reportedly accepting an undisclosed role that reunites him with much of theInceptionteam.

Thus, in this cyclical rumor mill where no one quite knows anything for sure, more fan casting rises again. This time it involves Inceptionfemme fataleMarion Cotillard, who is also somewhat-confirmed for the sequel, and her secretive part.

BadAss Digestsays“a good source near the Batcamp” believes the main antagonist is Talia al Ghul, the daughter of Liam Neeson’s Ra’s al Ghul fromBatman Begins. If the Cotillard rumors are true, it’s a strong possibility she’ll be playing Talia. Furthermore, she has assumed leadership of the“League of Shadows,” the clandestine organization Batman battled in the first film, and Bane (Tom Hardy) will be her muscle/possible love interest.

Update: For what it’s worth,Batman-on-Film.comconfirms these rumors.

Their sources didn’t know for sure who Gordon-Levitt will play— though persistent rumors have him pegged as eitherBlack MaskorAlberto Falcone— but his villainous character is reportedly part of the League as well. I’m betting on young mobster Falcone myself.

As for Anne Hathaway, who nearly confirmedafter the Oscarsthat she will transform from Selina Kyle into Catwoman, her character will ultimately become Batman’s ally.

Again, details are not confirmed at this point and, in typical Nolan fashion, these plot elements will not be official until there is a formal studio announcement. However, if this is true, the return of the League is certainly a fantastic way to tie together the trilogy from Batman’s origins to his continued guardianship of Gotham. What do you think?

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Julianne Hough to Star in 'Rock of Ages' with Tom Cruise

Former“Dancing with the Stars” professionalJulianne Houghis taking another step into her own Hollywood stardom withRock of Ages, the Adam Shankman-directed’80s jukebox musical and adaptation of the Broadway production.

Hough, 22, will play the lead, Sherrie Christian, an actress from Kansas looking to make it in California who meets an aspiring rocker named Drew (who remains uncast, thus far). The role attracted the attention of several multi-talented entertainers, like Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, but Shankman called Hough“nothing short of a miracle” after her audition, according to theHollywood Reporter.

Tom Cruiselocked in last month to play Stacee Jaxx, an obnoxious hair-band rocker and temptation to both Drew (professionally) and Sherrie (sexually), which means he’ll be belting out Bon Jovi’s“Wanted Dead or Alive” and a duet to Foreigner’s“I Wanna Know What Love Is.” Thepreviously announcedMary J. Bligeis set as Justice, the sassy owner of a nearby strip joint who sings a cover of Poison’s“Every Rose Has Its Thorn.”

Russell Brand,who worked with Shankman on the god-awful family comedy Bedtime Stories, continues to circle the part of Lonnie, the bar manager of The Bourbon.  Alec Baldwinis considering the role of the owner, Dennis. Together, they would sing a duet of REO Speedwagon’s“Can’t Fight This Feeling.” Anne Hathawayis no longer in talks to play a journalist that sleeps with Cruise’s character.

The two-time“Dancing with the Stars” winner and budding actress had a supporting role in the Christina Aguilera song-and-dance dramaBurlesqueand is playing the female lead in Paramount’sFootlooseremakealongside“Gossip Girl” actor Chace Crawford.

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Diane Lane Joins 'Superman' as Martha Kent

Warner Bros announced Diane Lane has officially joined the cast of Zack Snyder’s newSupermanmovie, tentatively titledMan of Steel. She will play Martha Kent, the adoptive mother of Clark Kent (a.k.a. Superman) played byHenry Cavill.

Kevin Costner wasrecently rumoredfor Jonathan Kent, Martha’s husband and Clark’s father, but he has not been confirmed yet. Meanwhile, the search is still on for General Zod (Viggo Mortensen is on the shortlist), his female sidekick Ursa (there are three actressesvying for that role), and, presumably, Non, the third villainous Kryptonian featured inSuperman II. Snyder is also meeting with several named actresses for the part of Lois Lane.

Due to a ruling by a federal judge in August 2009, the rights to Superman’s origins reverted back the estate of creators Joel Schuster and Jerry Siegel, which includes any references to Krypton (but Kryptonite is okay), his biological parents (Jor-el and Lara), and his trip from the alien planet to his crash-landing on Earth.  Barring any further legal wrangling, Superman’s rights will fully revert to the estate in 2013 (hence the urgency to produce another installment).  The new Superman movie is scheduled for December 2012.

“This was a very important piece of casting for me because Martha Kent is the woman whose values helped shape the man we know as Superman,” Snyder said in the official studio press release.“We are thrilled to have Diane in the role because she can convey the wisdom and the wonder of a woman whose son has powers beyond her imagination.” Lane, 46 and still absolutely stunning, was last on screen in Disney’sSecretariatin 2010.

Ironically, Lane starred in 2006’s Hollywoodlandabout the mysterious death of TV Superman George Reeves.

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Viggo Mortensen Sought for 'Superman' Villain

Viggo Mortensen is reportedly a“person of interest” to play the villain in Zack Snyder’sSuperman: Man of Steel.

According to theHollywood Reporter, the oft-rumored baddie for the comic book reboot is none other than General Zod, a fellow Kryptonian with superhuman powers and a passing desire to rule Earth. Mortensen is on the top of the list to play the supervillain, originally portrayed by Terence Stamp in Superman I and as the main antagonist in Superman II.

His“person of interest” status means no formal negotiations have begun, and may not ever start if Mortensen closes his deal to star in Universal’sSnow White and the Huntsmanopposite Charlize Theron and potentially Kristen Stewart.

Kevin Costner, who was mentionedlast weekas a possibility for Jonathan Kent (Superman’s adoptive father), is also merely being discussed at this point.

Snyder has been busy meeting with and considering potential cast members in February after signing British actorHenry Cavillfor the lead the month before. In addition to Zod and the Kents, there are three female roles to cast: Superman love interest and intrepid reporterLois Lane, General Zod groupieUrsa, and an unknown lady.

Mortensen is a commanding presence on screen, whether he’s playing an evil character or not, and would make a fine addition to a studio tentpole looking to re-establish a lucrative franchise. Cavill, Costner, and Mortensen working with Snyder and producer Christopher Nolan?  When can we see it?  Oh, right, December 2012.

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