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Latest 'Shrek' to be last in series

The latest Shrek movie will reportedly be the last in the series.

Shrek Forever After, debuting on May 21 next year in 3D, will again feature the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz.

"All that was loved about Shrek in the first film is brought to the final film," DreamWorks head of creative production Bill Damaschke told USA Today.

Director Mike Mitchell revealed that the animated comedy will mix the Brothers Grimm with James Stewart's Christmas classic It's A Wonderful Life.

"[Shrek] has lost his roar," Mitchell explained. "It used to send villagers running away in terror. Now they run to him and ask him to sign their pitchforks and torches."

A Shrek spinoff focusing on the Antonio Banderas-voiced Puss in Boots character is in the works for a 2011 release.

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Stephen King confirms 'Shining' sequel

Stephen King has revealed that he has started work on a sequel to his book The Shining.

The 1977 novel was adapted for the big screen three years later, directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Jack Nicholson.

According to Contactmusic, King confirmed that he is writing the follow-up during an appearance in Toronto this week. The story will apparently be set 40 years later and focuses on the lead character Jack Torrance's son Danny.

The update is currently going under the working title of Doctor Sleep.

King also admitted that he is nervous about penning the sequel to one of his best known works, adding: "Maybe if I keep talking about it I won't have to write it."

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Sam Worthington signs for 'Avatar' trilogy

Sam Worthington has revealed that he plans to star in two sequels to forthcoming sci-fi movie Avatar.

The Australian actor was relatively unknown when he was recruited in 2007 to play a paraplegic ex-soldier in the project, which director James Cameron has been planning since 1994.

Worthington claimed that because the shoot was so long and exhausting, he does not expect to finish the next two instalments until his twilight years.

He told Total Film: "You work 18-hour days. I was on it for 14 months. Jim's still editing. We'll still be filming it up to the day it's released - probably after the movie comes out, knowing Jim! That commitment is what makes him the man he is. It's life or death. It's war. That's how he approaches movies.

"We're signed for a trilogy. But I think I'll be 94 by the time it finishes, to be honest. I know Jim's got some ideas in his big head."

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Dirk Benedict to cameo in 'A-Team' movie

Dirk Benedict will make an appearance in 20th Century Fox's big screen revival of The A-Team.

Benedict, who played Templeton 'Faceman' Peck in the '80s TV series, announced the cameo role through his official website Dirk Benedict Central.

Original A-Team actor Dwight Schultz ('Howling Mad' Murdock) will also feature in the Joe Carnahan-directed action film, which is currently shooting in Vancouver for a June, 2010 release.

Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley and Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson are starring as the soldiers of fortune, while Jessica Biel and Patrick Wilson are among the supporting cast.

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Sarandon not interested in 'Bones' fantasy

Susan Sarandon has admitted that the fantastical elements of Peter Jackson's latest film The Lovely Bones did not appeal to her.

The actress stars as Grandma Lynn in the Alice Sebold adaptation, taking charge of the Salmon family after the murder of their eldest daughter Susie.

"I'm really curious to see it again because the first time you see it all you notice is the things that are missing, you can't really enjoy it," Sarandon said at the film's world premiere in London.

"When I read the book I wasn't interested in heaven or the in-between, so it was interesting to see how [Jackson] saw it. My mind didn't go there at all, I was totally identifying with the family."

The Lovely Bones opens in US cinemas on December 11 and January 29 in the UK.

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'Lovely Bones' cast praise Jackson

The stars of The Lovely Bones have heaped praise on the film's director Peter Jackson.

Michael Imperioli, who plays detective Len Fenerman in the movie, claimed that Lord Of The Rings helmer Jackson wins fans with his "passion" and "excitement" for cinema.

"He loves to go to the movies for escapism, to be transported. I think he's found a way to make that happen for his fans in a very unique and singular way," the actor told DS at the movie's Royal premiere.

New Zealand actress Rose McIver, who plays Lindsey Salmon, remarked: "To be able to work with a fellow Kiwi was definitely a very exciting part of it. He is just somebody you only dream you'll end up working with."

Reece Ritchie, the love interest to Saoirse Ronan's Susie Salmon, added that Jackson refused to treat the younger actors any differently to the film's more experienced cast, headed by Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz and Susan Sarandon.

"Peter has this amazing inability to acknowledge stardom," Ritchie explained. "I think it's indicative of New Zealand, people just don't acknowledge the star system and the hierarchy crap that comes with this industry. That echoed on set."

The Lovely Bones is an adaptation of Alice Sebold's bestselling novel about a murdered 14-year-old girl who watches from heaven as her family come to terms with her death. The movie opens in the US in December before bowing in the UK on January 29.

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Christopher Lloyd up for 'Rabbit' sequel

Christopher Lloyd has said that he would love to reprise his role as Doctor Doom in a sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

The Santa Buddies star played Judge Doom in the Robert Zemeckis-directed 1988 fantasy comedy which combined traditional animation with live action.

When asked if he had been approached to appear in a mooted update, Lloyd told DS: "I haven't. I know Bob Zemeckis of course, we're sort of neighbours in California and I just saw him the other day.

"Some of the people that work for him, co-producers, have mentioned it but nobody's come to me to say, 'We're doing another one, we'd like you to be in it', yet. I would absolutely love to though, yes. No doubt about it."

Regarding the planned use of digital imaging and motion capture technology on a new Roger Rabbit movie, he added: "I'm not too aware of how it works, but that's cool.

"In this day and age you're not going to go back to painting each little part of each little frame. It's too expensive I'm sure - so I've got no complaints with it."

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Blake Lively 'lobbied Affleck for role'

Gossip Girl star Blake Lively has reportedly revealed that she lobbied Ben Affleck for a role in his upcoming movie The Town.

The 22-year-old actress, who plays Serena Van Der Woodsen in the CW drama, told Us Weekly that she was initially rejected for the character because she was too young.

"My part was supposed to be a 37-year-old. I was like, 'I have to play this.' And they're like, 'No, you're not 37,'" OK quotes her as saying.

"I took a train to Boston and auditioned for Ben and fought for the role, and he gave me the job on the spot. They rewrote it so I'm 29."

The Town is scheduled for release next year.

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Quesada: 'Thor' will defy preconceptions

Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada has spoken out against Thor skeptics, promising a movie that will redefine the superhero genre.

In his most recent Cup O' Joe blog, Quesada was asked about rumours that Kenneth Branagh's forthcoming adaptation would be a flop.

Quesada promised that Thor will offer fans something more than any other movie of that genre has done before.

"People are going to go into this movie with a preconceived idea about what it will be," he said. "If you're a comics fan, you'll have a preconceived notion of what you're going to get. If you're a non-comics fan, you'll have another notion of what the movie is all about.

"And what's really amazing is that both groups will walk away going, 'I've never seen anything like this before within the superhero genre'. It's so cool, and I don't want to use the word unusual, but it is unusual in the sense that it redefines what a superhero movie can be.

"It's not the expected story or settings. That part of it is incredibly exciting to me."

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist star Kat Dennings was the latest actor to be confirmed for the film. She will play Darcy, a co-worker of Natalie Portman's character Jane Foster.

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Jeremy Renner linked to Hawkeye role

The Hurt Locker star Jeremy Renner has been linked to the role of superhero Hawkeye.

Speaking to Empire, the actor revealed that he had held discussions about playing the Marvel Comics character, who is expected to appear in the upcoming films Thor and The Avengers.

"Hawkeye could be interesting," he said. "I'd love for that to happen. It'd be fun... I'm just happy to get considered for big franchise roles like that."

He continued: "[Marvel are] going to send me some stuff on it, see what it is, but I think they're pretty awesome, trying to make superhero movies almost plausible and not just some fantasy thing."

Hawkeye first appeared in a 1964 issue of Tales of Suspense. The character, real name Clint Barton, possesses no superpowers but is an accomplished archer.

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Freeman 'had fun making Grint movie'

Martin Freeman has said that he enjoyed making a film with Rupert Grint.

The actor told BBC Newsbeat that he had not yet seen a final cut of the movie featuring Grint, who plays Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films.

Freeman said: "It's called Wild Target. We filmed that this time last year. I don't know about a release date on that. Rupert Grint's in it, Emily Blunt, Bill Nighy, Rupert Everett, Eileen Atkins.

"It's very good and it's directed by Jonathan Lynn who was behind things like Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. I've not seen it yet but I had good fun doing it. I hope it's good."

Grint recently starred alongside Robert Sheehan, Kimberley Nixon and James Nesbitt in the low-budget Cherrybomb, which was given a distribution deal after a petition from fans.

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Downey 'has two Sherlock sequels planned'

Robert Downey Jr has said that storylines for two Sherlock Holmes sequels have already been figured out.

The actor told Empire that he would be happy to continue making Iron Man and Holmes movies should both film franchises prove successful.

"Between Guy and me, the missus (producer Susan Downey) and Joel Silver (producer), we definitely know what we would like to do for the next two sequels," Downey Jr said. "But I want to add a massive disclaimer: I'm just generally a confident person. I've no idea where anything is going to go.

"To tell you the truth, I would be happy to bounce back and forth between Sherlock Holmes and Tony Stark until I am forcibly retired. And also, fortunately, not unlike Iron Man, there is a way to continue along the lines of it and not become increasingly embarrassed by my greying hair and ropey muscles."

Holmes director Guy Ritchie added that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation provides "a reservoir of narrative that doesn't dry up over a hot summer".

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Biel: 'Filming Texas Chainsaw was hard'

Jessica Biel has admitted that filming horror movie The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was one of her most difficult experiences.

The actress starred in the 2003 remake of the iconic slasher, which revolved around a group of college students being killed in rural Texas.

Speaking to The Independent, she said: "[It was] probably one of the hardest experiences for me, emotionally and creatively.

"It was intense because I was at this high level of freak-out for about a month. It was just so not this world."

The 27-year-old went on to say that she found making new project Planet 51 - an animated comedy about aliens - a "relief" in comparison.

"[It] was just fun. I wanted to do it because it was speaking to my inner child. Yes, I want to be an alien. Yes, I want to be green!"

Planet 51 is in cinemas in the US and released in the UK next month.

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Travolta 'can't watch wife's sex scenes'

John Travolta has admitted that he struggles to watch his wife's movies.

The actor, who has been married to Kelly Preston for 18 years, explained that he doesn't like to see her sex scenes.

"I have been jealous of many of her co-stars," Showbiz Spy quotes him as saying. "I didn't like her making love to Tom Cruise. I didn't like her making love to Kevin Costner in Love of the Game. It was hard to watch."

However, Travolta added that he didn't mind watching Preston's lovemaking scenes with Robin Williams in new film Old Dogs.

"All I can say is thank God for Robin," he joked. "I adore Robin so it was okay with him."

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Downey Jr reworking 'Iron Man 2' script

Robert Downey Jr is so determined for Iron Man 2 to be a success that he is apparently helping to rewrite its script.

The 44-year-old actor plays industrialist Tony Stark and his metal-suited alter ego in the original blockbuster, which has made more than £366 million worldwide since its 2008 release.

Director Jon Favreau described Downey Jr as a "real partner" in an interview with Empire. "He's been very involved in the screenplay. When he went away to do Sherlock Holmes he was still part of our creative process," he said.

"Even in the first film, where he was originally a hired gun playing the role, he really stepped up to rewrite scenes - he's a great writer, too. So we really are sharing the responsibilities."

Downey Jr said that producers have resisted the urge to "skate through a sequel".

"We are grinding our minds and hearts in the ground on this movie," he said.

Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Mickey Rourke and Samuel L. Jackson co-star in the film, which is scheduled to be released next year.

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Mendes 'visits call girls for research'

Eva Mendes has revealed that she visited call girls to prepare for a film role.

The actress, who plays a prostitute in the new movie Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call, has said that speaking to the women made her understand the part better.

The 35-year-old told TV Movie: "I met with call girls, the type who met clients in grand apartments. I learned quite a bit."

Mendes also insisted that she had been looking forward to working with director Werner Herzog.

She said: "I was bitterly disappointed. There were no tantrums, no shouting, no crazy demands. It was almost boring."

The star also compared the movie to the work of artist Pablo Picasso.

"It's like a piece of art to me. It really is. When you go to the museum and you see a Picasso, and you can't quite pinpoint what it is, but you know you're attracted to it, and you accept it as art."

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Wright Penn: 'Love scenes are difficult'

Robin Wright Penn has admitted that she finds filming sex scenes difficult.

The actress has said that she was relieved that it only took one take to film the love scene with Keanu Reeves in The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee.

Speaking to USA Today, Wright Penn said: "Any kind of vulnerability is always hard to do. Just being exposed in that way is difficult. People say it's hard to do those scenes revealing the blood and soul of your heart, crying.

"That's easy-peasy for me. Intimacy is far more challenging. Thank God we did it in one take."

The 43-year-old also admitted that she wants fans to remember her for new movies rather than 1994's Forrest Gump and 1987's The Princess Bride.

She added: "I love those movies, and they're going to go down in history. They're iconic. And I love that I'm a part of film history. But, it's so then, and we're now. It's 20, 22 years ago. I'm interested in doing other things."

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Penelope Cruz 'discovers musical muscles'

Penelope Cruz has revealed that she had to use muscles she hadn't used since she was a teenager for her new film Nine.

The actress has said that she had to put weeks of training to film a particular scene where she had to slide down a rope.

The 35-year-old told the Daily Mail: "They mapped it out and showed me how it was done. I said I would never be able to do it but I worked and worked and regained the memory of muscles in my legs I hadn't used since I was a teenager studying ballet."

Cruz, who rehearsed the rope scene for three months, was left with calluses on her hands and bleeding fingers from repeatingly sliding down the rope.

She said: "I was stretching, running and going to the gym to get my arms strong to support me on the ropes. But with my hands, after a while you don't feel the pain. I had the wounds dressed and carried on."

Nine is to be released in the UK on December 18 and in the US on December 25.

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Jessica Biel: 'I was a rebellious teen'

Jessica Biel has admitted that she was troublesome as an adolescent.

The actress, who voices the character Neera in the animated movie Planet 51, has said that she related to the role because she recalls being rebellious and opinionated as a teenager.

The 27-year-old told The Independent: "I think I was just trying to create that person that I felt like I was when I was 16, which was confident, but insecure.

"Not that the filmmakers would have known this about me, but I so related to my character because when I was 16, I was also pushing things with my parents and the world. I thought I had it going on.

"I thought I knew everything so I related to her feeling of risk-taking but I had a little bit more of a bad attitude as a 16-year-old. Neera is way more of a positive, charitable person than I was."

Biel also insisted that she noticed physical similarities between herself and her 16-year-old character.

She added: "I also noticed some physical things I do myself. It was so weird to hear my voice coming out of the character."

Planet 51 is currently playing in the US and is to be released in the UK on December 4.

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Ryan Reynolds talks 'Green Lantern'

Ryan Reynolds has lifted the lid on starring in upcoming comic book adaptations Green Lantern and Deadpool.

Reynolds described the past year as one of "the most unbelievable" of his life and picked out seeing the prototypes for the Green Lantern costume as "a huge moment".

The actor told MTV: "I fell in love with the character when I met with [director] Martin Campbell.

"When I sat down with him, I really got what it is that this guy is all about. When you have a guy like Martin Campbell, part of his charm is that he has balls of titanium, and the other part is that he's slightly crazy, and you have to be to take on something with the scope of Green Lantern."

When asked about Deadpool, Reynolds admitted that he shared some frustrations held by fans about the portrayal of the character in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

He said: "I had a kind of ham-fisted attitude that it had to be perfect, but it doesn't. The movie's called Wolverine, it's not called Deadpool or Wade. I thought it was a nice little wink and tip of the hat to things to come."

Deadpool, which currently has no director attached, is out in 2011. Green Lantern will be released in June 2011.

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