Caffeinated Clint
Dean DeBlois, co-director of “How to Train Your Dragon“, says he expects the sequel, which he’s currently writing, will be the middle part of a trilogy. “It’s going to be quite epic. We are treating How To Train Your Dragon as the first act in a much larger story. As we head into this one, the world expands. Everything is much bigger with still the heartfelt qualities that made the first one resonate so much with audiences. There are no longer restrictions to this tiny island in the North Sea. They have the entire Northern hemisphere within their grasp.” He continued: “The only way of tracing the story is to draw on elements that were in the first movie and set up elements for a third movie, so it doesn’t feel like a random adventure with the same five or six characters. This truly is a second chapter in a larger story.” Hiccup and Toothless will return, along with “some new characters”. [THR]
“We’re trying to come up with a script for ‘Taken 2’” Liam Neeson said of a potential follow-up to his 2008 kidnap caper thriller. “We think it’s going to be set in Istanbul, believe it or not.” [Access Hollywood]
Tanit Phoenix (“Death Race 2”, “Lost Boys : The Thirst”) has signed on to star opposite Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds in “Safe House“. The film, centering on a young CIA agent (Reynolds) who must transport a dangerous criminal (Washington) to safety after both are attacked at a safe house, films in South Africa next week. [What’s Playing]
Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson star in HBO Films’ “The Sunset Limited” exclusively on HBO at 9:00-10:30 p.m ET/PT on Saturday. Based on the play of the same name by eminent Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Cormac McCarthy, said pic is directed and executive produced by Tommy Lee Jones and written by McCarthy.
Nathan Fillion has been cast as the Green Lantern…. in an animated movie. Fillion provides the voice of Hal Jordan in the direct-to-DVD release “Green Lantern : Emerald Knights“. “I was always reading the comic books, I was always a spectator. Now I feel like I own a little piece of Green Lantern”, says the “Castle” star. “He’s a great guy, a gem, deserves all the success that he’s getting, so it’s neat to have a little piece and share it with someone you know.” [TV Guide]
Has “Chuck” star Yvonne Strahovski been cast as Mrs Marvel in the upcoming “Avengers” movie? [Strahovski]
The official website for Tom Shadyac’s “I Am” is up. In addition, Shadyac has launched his very own blog. There you’ll find writings, photos, and other entries from Tom about the making-of and future of his new documentary.
Paramount Pictures has teamed with Livestream to present the live movie premiere of “Justin Bieber : Never Say Never“. The live 2 ½-hour purple carpet event will begin airing online tomorrow, February 8th, at 5:00 p.m. PT, here.
That comic book movie project that Darren Aronofsky is working on? Not “RoboCop”, and not “Batman : Year One”, but his long gestating adaptation of the “Noah’s Ark,” story. [The Playlist]
The first day of principal photography on Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” is set for March 21, 2011. Shooting will take place at Stone Street Studios in Miramar and on location around New Zealand. [TheOneRing.net]
In a film-comp first, the producers of the new Aussie killer shark movie “The Reef” (directed by Andrew Traucki; released in March) are offering two thrill seekers the chance to swim with a Great White Shark! The prize trip includes; flights for 2 people to Port Lincoln from their nearest Australian capital city, 1 night of accommodation and Calypso Star Charters Great White one-day tour for 2 people. To find out more go to www.reefmovie.com and you can check out the trailer for “The Reef” here!
Warner Bros looks set to acquire “Harker“, a spec script by Lee Shipman & Brian McGreevy to be directed by “Unknown” helmer Jaume Collet-Serra. Leonardo Di Caprio is onboard to produce. [Deadline]
The final episode of “Smallville” – a special two-hour finale – will air on Friday May 13, The CW announced this morning.
Richard Gere looks set to join Richard Gere and Eva Green in “Arbitrage“, a Nicholas Jarecki-directed drama about a troubled hedge fund magnate desperate to complete the sale of his trading empire makes an error that forces him to turn to an unlikely person for help. [Deadline]
As previously rumoured, seems it’s now official that Cobie Smulders has snagged the role of Maria Hill in “The Avengers“. [THR]
Debra Messing is set to star in the new NBC TV series “Smash“, a drama about the trials and tribulations of putting on a Broadway musical. Messing will play a lyricist. [Deadline]
Sandler-movie regular Rob Schneider had his cameo cut from Sandler’s latest laffer, “Just Go With It“. [Hollywood Insider]
Michael Moore is suing the Weinsteins over profits he said were hidden from him after the success of their film “Fahrenheit 911” [THR]
Mike Newell (“Prince of Persia”) will direct a new version of “Great Expectations” to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens birth next year. [THR]
