Writer Michael Arndt (“Toy Story 3”) and Production Designer John Myhre (“Memoirs of a Geisha”) have been added to the crew callsheet on Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven“. The Francis Lawrence directed project, which Disney has been developing since 2002, centers on a 19th century Englishwoman who returns to her Hong Kong home for her father’s funeral, only to discover that her stepmother is plotting against her. She escapes to mainland China, finding solace among a rogue band of seven international warriors. Natalie Portman has been long attached to star but her pregnancy might’ve thrown a spanner in the works. [THR]
Aussie actor Damon Herriman says he was cast in Clint Eastwood’s “J.Edgar” on tape. “It was much like auditioning for anything else really. Although the casting director, Fiona Weir created an amazing environment for auditioning. She took so much time and made me feel completely at ease. Very rare to find that. I didn’t meet Clint Eastwood, but I believe he usually casts off tape.” [SandwichJohnFilms]
Relativity is eyeing a Summer release date for “Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer“, based on Megan McDonald’s children’s book series. [THR]
Despite what the comedian says, Ricky Gervais has NOT been asked to host the Golden Globes next year. [THR]
Akiva Goldsman‘s directorial debut “Winter’s Tale” has gotten the greenlight at Warner Bros. The film, which centers around a thief, a dying girl and a flying white horse in 19th Century and contemporary Manhattan, is gearing up for a Spring 2012 start. [Deadline]
Kodi Smit-McPhee (“Let Me In”) will join Danny Huston, Paul Giamatti and Harvey Keitel in Ari Folman’s next, “The Congress” [We Got This Covered]
There’s a new pic of Alison Brie (“Community”) in “Scream 4” at Bloody Disgusting; Meanwhile, the film’s new one-sheet is up at Yahoo! Movies
Tony Todd says that if the next “Final Destination” opens at number.1, there’ll be a further two sequels. ”They expanded my part [in “Final Destination 5″], and the producer told me as we were leaving Vancouver that if it opens at Number 1 – which statistically it has – they’re going to shoot the next two simultaneously.” [Dread Central]
The ‘Sundance flop’ “Son of No One“, directed by Dito Montiel and starring Al Pacino, Katie Holmes and Channing Tatum, has been picked up by Anchor Bay [Deadline]
Summit Entertainment is bringing “Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein”, a novel by Kenneth Oppel, to the big screen. The book has Victor Frankenstein on a mission to locate some magical ingredients for an elixir that will fix the scientist’s ailing brother. [Deadline]
“We learn the whole idea of where Stark Industries comes from, which is out of pure curiosity and creative juices and excitement towards thinking of the future and developing things for good. He’s a Howard Hughes. He’s a guy that loves inventing, that’s extremely intelligent, and that loves his lifestyle as well” – Dominic Cooper talks about how his character, Howard Stark, fits into “Captain America : The First Avenger” [Vulture]
Baz Luhrmann may back out of “The Great Gatsby“. The Aussie filmmaker was gearing up to shoot a 3D version of the literary classic, with Leonardo Di Caprio and Tobey Maguire, but now says he’s undecided. ”I think I’ve been a bit shaded out because I want everything to be perfectly positioned on it, there will be news by the end of the week”. [Vulture]
Javier Bardem has confirmed reports that he’s been offered a starring role in the next James Bond film. The self-confessed 007 fan says, “They’re changing the whole thing, the whole dynamic… I’d be playing Bond’s nemesis, yes, but it’s not that obvious. Everything is more nuanced. It’s very intriguing.” [The L.A Times]
