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'Avatar' runs more than 2.5 hours

James Cameron's eagerly-awaited blockbuster Avatar has a running time of more than two and a half hours.

The big-budget science fiction epic is 161 minutes long, according to the British Board Of Film Classification (BBFC).

The film has also been granted a 12A certificate for "moderate violence and intense battle scenes". It carries a PG-13 rating in the US.

The running time is still half an hour less than Cameron's last movie Titanic, which clocked in at a lengthy 194 minutes.

Avatar, starring Sam Worthington and Sigourney Weaver, debuts on IMAX screens and in conventional cinemas on December 17.

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Nude Radcliffe scenes for last 'Potter'?

David Yates has reportedly revealed that Daniel Radcliffe will appear naked twice in the upcoming Harry Potter finale.

Despite recent denials of such scenes by Radcliffe's representative, the director has since told La Vibra that the movies will also feature scenes not present in the original J.K. Rowling novel, SnitchSeeker translates.

"Well, Dan has appeared nude in the past, but there are a couple of scenes in the new film in which he will undress, but we're still thinking about how we present it.

"It's a fascinating scene in which Harry and Ron are trying to destroy a Horcrux. It tries to defend itself and creates an image of Voldemort's soul, that has a series of images where Harry and Hermione are kissing and embracing."

He added: "We will create something that feels very sexy and very intriguing to bring about a reaction in Rupert [Grint].

"There is another scene in Kings Cross Station, where Harry almost dies and sees Dumbledore. In that scene he will also be naked."

Yates explained to Video Business: "A Horcrux defends itself by producing nightmarish visions, and one shows Hermione and Harry embracing and kissing. It's something intriguing and sensual for Rupert to react to, and Dan will be bare for that."

The first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is due for release in November 2010. The second instalment is planned for July 2011.

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Jennifer Hudson casting angers Africans?

Jennifer Hudson's casting as the wife of Nelson Mandela has reportedly upset South African actors.

Agence France Presse reports that the Creative Workers' Union of South Africa believes that casting the American singer and actress as Winnie Mandela in upcoming biopic Winnie undermines the development of a film industry in the country.

"It can't happen that we want to develop our own Hollywood and yet bring in imports," the union's president Mabutho Sithole said.

The group now plans to advocate for a meeting with the departments of arts and culture, the trade industry and home affairs.

"This decision must be reversed, it must be stopped now. If the matter doesn't come up for discussion, we will push for a moratorium to be placed on the film being cast in South Africa. We are being undermined, there is no respect at all," union secretary general Oupa Lebogo added.

The criticism precedes the opening of Clint Eastwood's Invictus, another film centred on Nelson Mandela's role in South Africa's Rugby World Cup victory in 1995.

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'The Hunter' for big screen adaptation

Scarlet Fire Entertainment is to produce a feature adaptation of Dare Comics series The Hunter.

The comic, created by British scribe Adam Hamdy in 2007, centres on a CIA agent who uses superpowers to battle terrorists and organised crime.

Hamdy is producing the adaptation along with Scarlet Fire's Allan Loeb and Steven Pearl.

"Not only is Adam an accomplished writer, he is an innovative entrepreneur," said Pearl.

He added: "He's succeeded in building a new superhero brand virtually single-handed in a market that is dominated by big companies with very deep pockets."

Hamdy is to create an original Hunter story for the film.

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Mel Gibson to shoot in Mexican prison

Mel Gibson will shoot scenes for his next movie in a Mexican prison, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The Oscar-winning director-actor will return to eastern Mexico, where he shot Apocalypto, for his new film, according to Veracruz governor Fidel Herrera.

Herrera said that part of a Veracruz prison is to be emptied in January "because a grand production will be filmed there with our friend, the actor and producer Mel Gibson".

Prisoners will be transferred from the Ignacio Allende prison to other state facilities to make way for filming, the governor added.

Gibson visited the detention centre in 2008. Herrera did not offer details about the film project.

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Burton's 'Dark Shadows' to film in 2010

Tim Burton's forthcoming Dark Shadows revamp will reportedly start production in 2010.

Speaking to Sci Fi Wire, producer Graham King confirmed that the movie, starring Johnny Depp, will begin filming next fall.

"We're actually going to shoot that film next September/October with Tim Burton and Johnny," King said.

King also stated that a script for the vampire drama is being finalised.

"We've been given a script. John August wrote the first screenplay. We're making some changes, but the film's going to be in production, as I say, September or October of next year."

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Stan Lee confirms 'Thor' cameo

Stan Lee has confirmed that he will have a cameo in Marvel Studios' upcoming Thor adaptation.

The comic book creator revealed the news via his Twitter account earlier this week.

"Kenneth Branagh (of course I call him 'Ken!') said my cameo's set for the upcoming Thor movie. - To him, it's a cameo, to me - it's a ROLE!" Lee posted.

He added: "Can't tweet anymore. Due to Thor, I must start rehearsing my thee's and thou's. So, if thou objecteth not, I wish thee well! 'Nuff saideth'."

Lee has appeared in a number of Marvel comic book adaptations, including Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk.

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Mirren: 'I put my awards in the attic'

Dame Helen Mirren has revealed that she has stopped displaying her acting awards at home.

The 64-year-old actress, who has won many prizes throughout her film, television and stage career, said that she now puts all her awards in the attic.

Mirren told The Telegraph: "I have had so many funny [awards] over the years. I won Best Actress at the Rio Film Festival which doesn't exist anymore so it's probably a collector's item.

"But now I have put them in the attic to be discovered when I'm gone."

As well as various BAFTAs and Emmys, Mirren won an Oscar for her performance in 2007 movie The Queen.

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Dyer: 'I'm tired of being typecast'

Danny Dyer has revealed that he is tired of being cast as a London hardman in films.

The actor, who was recently asked to appear in a film called Cockneys Vs Zombies, said that he didn't even bother reading the script because he was insulted by the typecasting.

Dyer told Bang Showbiz: "I turned down a movie recently called Cockneys Vs Zombies. I thought 'F**k me, for f**k's sake'. That's the final nail in the coffin for me. The fact they even had the front to use that title. I didn't even turn the first page of the script.

"I'm learning, like I said, when you struggle as an actor for so long, and being an actor is about rejection, being told no all the time, so when you get on a run, and people start writing parts for you, you can get a bit carried away with that and say yes to everything."

Dyer added: "I've had a bit of a spell of going, 'Yeah, OK, I feel privileged that you want me in your film'. You've got to rein that in and say 'No, it's not going to test me, it's not going to challenge me, it's nothing new."

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Vallee to helm Bosworth's 'Love Hotels'

Young Victoria director Jean-Marc Vallee has signed up to helm Kate Bosworth's Lost Girls And Love Hotels.

Bosworth will star in and produce the project, which is based on Catherine Hanrahan's 2006 novel about an American woman who attempts to forget her past while working in Tokyo.

The Superman Returns actress snapped up the film rights to the book last year and will oversee its big screen transition with Relativity Media, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Vallee, who previously directed the cult French Canadian film C.R.A.Z.Y., opens The Young Victoria in the US on December 18.

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Wood, Williams to return for 'Happy Feet 2'

Elijah Wood and Robin Williams are in negotiations to reprise their roles in the Happy Feet sequel.

Director George Miller is returning to helm the new animated film, which will bring together the cast in Australia early next year to record the voice roles, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Wood will again play dancing penguin Mumble. Williams is coming back to voice South American penguin Ramon and baritone-voiced Lovelace.

The original Happy Feet grossed more than $380m (£231m) at the worldwide box office and scooped the Oscar for 'Best Animated Feature' in 2007.

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Jackson: 'Hobbit starts casting this week'

Casting on Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro's adaptation of The Hobbit will begin this week.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Jackson revealed that producers are recruiting for every role in the movie with the exception of wizard Gandalf, who will again be played by Lord Of The Rings star Sir Ian McKellen.

"We're auditioning for every role," Jackson said, noting that he is looking to unearth new stars for the fantasy film. "What we've done over the years is discover a lot of interesting actors, like Orlando Bloom, Kate Winslet, Saoirse Ronan. So if you start looking and auditioning seriously, it's amazing what incredible talent you'll find out there."

Jackson added that, contrary to rumours, production on the two-part JRR Tolkien adaptation has not been delayed.

"We were always planning to shoot around April or May next year, and as far as I'm aware, we're pretty much on target for that," he explained. "It depends on how quickly the studio greenlights the film. It's not in our hands. But as long as we're shooting next year, we're fine."

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Tom Waits up for role in 'The Hobbit?'

Tom Waits is rumoured to be involved in the forthcoming film adaptation of The Hobbit.

According to Total Film, the singer-songwriter could play the voice of Smaug - the dragon Bilbo Baggins faces off with at the climax of the classic tale.

Other potential roles for Waits include Beorn, a dwarf who turns into a bear or Thorin Oakenshield, the dwarf leader.

Last seen in Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium Of Dr Parnassus as the Devil, Waits can next be found co-starring with Denzel Washington in The Book Of Eli.

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Hugh Grant: 'I took anxiety pills'

Hugh Grant has revealed that he was taking anti-anxiety drugs on the set of Music And Lyrics.

The Four Weddings And A Funeral star told WENN that he was chewing Lorazepam while shooting with co-star Drew Barrymore.

"I did the whole film on Lorazepam... it was scary," he said.

The actor opened up about his frequent panic attacks, which began on the set of the 1999 film Notting Hill with Julia Roberts.

He said: "They've [the panic attacks] been growing over the years. There would always be two or three during a film and on Music And Lyrics I had a lot. I don't really know why.

"They would come and go during the easiest scenes. I'll go in there, rehearse, think it's going to be good and then suddenly they turn the camera round for a close-up and I freeze like a rabbit. It's humiliating and it's so bad I can barely speak so they have to throw the scene away."

Grant can next be seen in the upcoming romantic comedy Did You Hear About the Morgans? with Sarah Jessica Parker.

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Norton, De Niro to star in 'Stone'

Robert De Niro and Ed Norton have both been confirmed to star in Stone.

According to Cinema Blend, Overture Films has picked up the US distribution rights to the film, about a convicted arsonist (Norton) who attempts to ensure his release by manipulating his parole officer (De Niro) into sleeping with his wife, played by Resident Evil's Mila Jovovich.

The movie will be helmed by John Curran and written by Junebug's Angus MacLachlan, and currently has a US release date of May 7, 2010.

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Malkovich, Hathaway for 'Spider-Man 4'?

John Malkovich and Anne Hathaway are reportedly in talks to appear in Spider-Man 4.

According to Movieline, Malkovich has been approached to play villain Vulture in the superhero sequel.

Hathaway, who was rumoured for the role of Black Cat, is expected to star as Felicia Hardy, also known as Vulturess.

Julia Stiles, Rachel McAdams and Romola Garai have all been linked to the film in recent months, but both McAdams and Garai have ruled out appearing in the project.

Spider-Man 4, directed by Sam Raimi, is due in cinemas on May 5, 2011.

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Langella joins 'Unknown White Male'

Frank Langella has signed on for Dark Castle thriller Unknown White Male, says Variety.

The Oscar-nominated actor joins Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger and January Jones in the film, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.

Langella has been cast as Cole, a colleague of a man who awakens from a coma to find that his identity has been stolen. Neeson plays the coma victim.

Production is to begin in January in Berlin. Warner Bros will distribute the film, produced by Joel Silver, Leonard Goldberg and Andrew Rona.

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John & Edward to audition for 'Hobbit'?

John & Edward could audition for parts as dwarves in Guillermo del Toro's upcoming movie adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien's The Hobbit.

According to The Sun, the former X Factor singers were approached by representatives of producer Peter Jackson to appear in the Lord Of The Rings prequel.

It has been suggested that the twins could play dwarves Fili and Kili who accompany Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf on their journey "there and back again".

An insider said: "Peter is keen to see if Jedward have any acting ability. He needs twins for these parts and they have a perfect look for the film.

"But the characters have very prominent roles. They are the youngest dwarves and are sent out scouting a lot."

They added: "The big question is whether Jedward could settle down on a major shoot because they are so excitable and hyperactive."

Tom Waits has been rumoured for the role of Smaug the dragon in the two-part movie. Filming is due to start next spring.

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Cameron planning 'Doomsday Protocol'?

James Cameron is reportedly developing a new science fiction film at 20th Century Fox.

According to Production Weekly, the Avatar director is working on "a sci-fi action script for, described as an 'event' film set in the future".

The project is likely to be Doomsday Protocol, which Armageddon scribe Salerno sold to Fox last year. The story is inspired by The Seven Samurai and sees aliens and humans teaming up to save Earth.

Cameron's latest film Avatar opens in cinemas on December 17.

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Aniston to play Sandler's 'Pretend Wife'

Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler are in talks to star in romantic comedy Pretend Wife, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Dennis Dugan, the director of Sandler's You Don't Mess With The Zohan, is the frontrunner to helm the Allan Loeb and Tom Dowling-scripted film.

Aniston can next be seen opposite Gerard Butler in The Bounty, while Sandler's ensemble comedy Grown Ups opens next summer.

Pretend Wife is being eyed for release on February 11, 2011.

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