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Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire out of 'Spider-Man 4': Sony confirms

It’s official: director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire will not continue on with the fourth installment of the uber-successful Spider-Man franchise. The news comes after several weeks of wrangling between Sony and Raimi.

There is no word yet on a new director or star.

Now Sony will proceed with a new filmmaking team for Spider-Man 4, with a script from James Vanderbilt that puts the conflicted young super hero back in high school.

In a statement Raimi said, “Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction, and I know they will do a terrific job.” The fourth installment of Peter Parker’s travails will now come out in summer 2012 instead of the previously planned summer 2011.

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Ford: 'I'd return to Indiana Jones'

Harrison Ford has said that he would like to reprise the role of Indiana Jones for a fifth outing.

Speaking to Cinematical, the 67-year-old said that he'd jump at the chance to develop the character further in another film along with producers George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. All three collaborated on 2008's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

"If we find another story to do and we develop the character a little further and I get a chance to do another one, I'd be happy as pie to do it," he said.

Ford added that the Indiana Jones series is the only big film franchise he has any interest in returning to.

"I don't think there's any other franchise films that I'd want to go back to," he said.

Ford can next be seen in Extraordinary Measures, opening in US cinemas January 22.

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Chan: 'Karate Kid features heavy drama'

Jackie Chan has revealed that the forthcoming Karate Kid update is full of "heavy drama".

Speaking to Moviefone, Chan said that the film will give audiences a look at his little-seen dramatic side with his performance as karate master Mr Han.

"[I am a] master with the white hair, and I walk like this, and even speak slow. Crying, heavy drama," he said.

He added: "You can see everything. Karate Kid is adult; also for the children, but more older adult."

Karate Kid, based on the 1984 movie of the same name, also stars Jaden Smith. It opens June 11 in US cinemas.

Chan can next be seen in The Spy Next Door, due to hit theatres January 15.

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Tom Hanks directing 'Larry Crowne'

Tom Hanks has signed to star and direct upcoming comedy Larry Crowne.

The Oscar-winning actor will play the title role in the film, which he also wrote, reports Deadline Hollywood.

Julia Roberts will reportedly co-star with Hanks.

Larry Crowne centres on Hanks's character, a man in search of a new career who wants to reinvent himself.

The film marks the star's first directing effort since 1996's That Thing You Do.

Production begins in April in Los Angeles.

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Robert Downey Jr. opts out of 'Cowboys & Aliens' for 'Sherlock Holmes sequel'

Robert Downey Jr. has dropped out of Cowboys & Aliens, the Dreamworks/Universal sci-fi project that would have reunited the actor with his Iron Man director Jon Favreau. The news was first reported by the Los Angeles Times but only speculated on why Downey had left the project, which pits Old West cowboys and indians against a group of aliens with superior technology. Now, a source inside the production tells EW.com that the star has a scheduling conflict with a Sherlock Holmes sequel. That film has not yet been greenlit by Warner Bros., but it is being fast-tracked based on the success of the first film. (Sherlock’s worldwide gross is fast approaching $300 million.) Warner Bros. commissioned a script by Kieran and Michele Mulroney back in September and is now locking down the cast for a June start date, exactly the time when Cowboys & Aliens is set to begin principal photography. Producers behind Cowboys & Aliens are sticking with original plans and are now looking for a new lead to play cowboy Zeke Jackson, the hero of the 2006 graphic novel from Platinum Studios.

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Webb, Bay rumoured for 'Spider-Man' reboot

Marc Webb, Michael Bay and Gary Ross have been linked to the director's chair for the Spider-Man reboot, reports Entertainment Weekly.

Studio Sony yesterday confirmed that director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire will be replaced in the superhero's next big screen adventure, which will revamp the character in favour of continuing with the established incarnation.

Webb is the director of recent rom-com (500) Days Of Summer, Bay has steered the big budget Transformers series, and Seabiscuit helmer Ross worked on a draft of the script for the aborted Spider-Man 4.

The new director will work from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt (Zodiac). The story reportedly puts Peter Parker "in a more contemporary setting, as a teenager battling today's issues".

The Spider-Man reboot will open in cinemas in 2012.

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Denzel Washington: 'I'm not a leading man'

Denzel Washington has said that he does not see himself as a "leading man".

The Book Of Eli star told Parade that he initially just hoped to earn enough money to get by when he started acting.

Washington said: "I'm not a leading man. I'm an actor. You get a part and you interpret the part. But the characters I play don't touch me after I'm finished. I just shake them off.

"Maybe when you step into other people's shoes a little piece of them stays with you because you've sort of lived their lives. But I don't take it home with me."

He added: "I never set out to be a movie star. I remember when I was an actor in New York after growing up in Harlem, I was just hoping to [get] $300 a week. When I achieved that I thought I was on top of the world.

"Now, I'm starting rehearsals to head back to Broadway in August Wilson's Fences with Viola Davis, which opens this spring. I can't wait. I couldn't go to sleep for a few nights just thinking about getting ready to start."

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Pattinson in line for 'Spider-Man 4'?

Robert Pattinson is favourite to replace Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man, it has been claimed.

Maguire, who starred as Peter Parker in the franchise's first three films, announced his departure from the project earlier this week.

Following news that director Sam Raimi and Kirsten Dunst have also been dropped from the latest instalment, speculation is rife over who will replace them.

Twilight star Pattinson is currently looking the most likely to assume the lead role, says the Daily Record.

However, the 23-year-old is believed to be facing serious competition from Michael Cera.

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Affleck 'didn't know who Blake Lively was'

Ben Affleck has revealed that he didn't know who Blake Lively was when he hired her for his next movie.

In an interview with Esquire, the actor-director admitted that he hadn't seen her on Gossip Girl, but was so stunned by her talent that he rewrote a part just for her.

"The whole movie kind of hinges in a lot of ways on her performance, and I knew it was going to be the hardest part to cast. This girl came in, and no-one had said to me beforehand, 'Hey, look for this person'," he said. "And obviously she was really attractive, and so I thought, 'Oh, here comes some blonde girl'. She came in, did one reading, and just crushed it."

The star continued: "I was sort of stunned. I said, 'Jeez, you know, that was really f**king good. Who are you?' She didn’t mention that she was on a television show."

Affleck added that all other actresses up for the role were subsequently nixed from the list and Lively was moved to top consideration.

"I just said, 'Look, there's no alternative. I don't have a second choice'. I want to be on the record because I think she's really going to blow up, and I want to look like the smart guy," he said. "I didn't quite discover her, but at least I want to say I bought the stock when it wasn't $500 (£310) a share."

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Sarsgaard for 'Green Lantern' villain?

Peter Sarsgaard is in talks to join the cast of Green Lantern.

The 38-year-old is attached to play the villain in Warner Bros' DC Comics adaptation, directed by Martin Campbell, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Sarsgaard would portray Dr Hector Hammond, a pathologist and senator's son who obtains psychic powers after discovering a meteor.

Ryan Reynolds was previously cast as Hal Jordan, the test pilot who becomes superhero Green Lantern. Gossip Girl star Blake Lively is to play Jordan's love interest Carol Ferris.

Production on Green Lantern is to start in March in New Orleans.

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Stallone posts X-ray of broken neck

Sylvester Stallone has sought to prove that he fractured his neck while filming The Expendables by posting an X-ray image of his injury complete with metal plate and screws.

The actor sent the photographs and a letter to the StalloneZone website after some fans questioned his account of the on-screen fight.

Stallone said: "For the doubters and the haters, a picture is worth a thousand words. You walk the walk, you pay a price. But, as bad as it was at least we have it on film. Keep punchin'. Sly.

"P.S. To the haters, I don't need to invent pain, there's enough of it out there to go around. P.S.S. The reason I was never seen in a neck brace is because I stayed home for three weeks to heal."

He added: "P.S.S.S. Van Damme may mean a great deal to some of you, but what he's putting forth is not truthful."

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Director returns to Jolie, Depp's 'Tourist'

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck has returned to the director's chair for Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp's thriller The Tourist.

The German filmmaker, who helmed Oscar-winning drama The Lives Of Others, had previously been attached to make the movie with Tom Cruise but dropped out during script development, reports Entertainment Weekly.

Bharat Nalluri and Harry Potter helmer Alfonso Cuaron have also been linked to the project in recent months.

The movie centres on an Interpol agent (Jolie) who manipulates an American tourist (Depp) to out a known criminal. It is based on the 2005 French film Anthony Zimmer.

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Ivan Reitman to direct 'Ghostbusters 3'

Director Ivan Reitman has confirmed plans to direct Ghostbusters 3.

Speaking to MTV, the filmmaker stated that he will be helming the second Ghostbusters sequel, as has been speculated.

Reitman also said that the film's script, penned by Year One writers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, has been completed and a second draft is currently in the works.

When asked about alleged story spoilers revealed by Ghostbusters star Sigourney Weaver, Reitman said: "I'm not going to comment on what's in the script and on what Sigourney may or may not have said."

He added that he hopes to start shooting the film in 2011.

A full cast announcement for the project has not been made.

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J.J. Abrams reacts to 'Spider-Man' reboot

J.J. Abrams has commented on Sony's plans to reboot the Spider-Man film franchise.

Speaking to MTV, the Star Trek director joked about his reaction to the news of a new Spider-Man film.

"I think, as the director of Mission Impossible 3 and Star Trek 15 or whatever it is, I'm probably the last one to speak badly about a reboot of anything. So... 'Yay! Reboots!'" Abrams said.

When asked for advice on how the studio should approach the reboot, the 43-year old jested: "Definitely cast [Star Trek stars] Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto."

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Daniel Craig in talks for 'Cowboys & Aliens'

Daniel Craig is in talks to lead the cast of comic book adaptation Cowboys & Aliens.

According to Collider, Craig is the frontrunner to replace Robert Downey Jr, who dropped out to concentrate on making a Sherlock Holmes sequel.

Iron Man helmer Jon Favreau is still on board to steer the project from a script by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof.

Platinum Studios' Cowboys & Aliens graphic novel centres on Zeke Jackson, a Western settler who teams up with Apache Indians when aliens crash in their city.

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Johnston talks new 'Jurassic Park' trilogy

Director Joe Johnston has confirmed that Jurassic Park IV is in the works and revealed plans for a new trilogy.

Speaking to Box Office, the Jurassic Park III helmer said that the fourth film in the franchise will be "unlike anything you've ever seen".

"It breaks away from the first three - it's essentially the beginning of the second Jurassic Park trilogy. It's going to be done in a completely different way," he said.

He added: "We don't want to make sequel after sequel just because there's a market for it. We want to tell different, interesting stories."

In November, Johnston said that he was hoping to make the next Jurassic Park movie because it has "a great story".

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Johnson: 'I believed in tooth fairy'

Dwayne Johnson has claimed that he believed in the tooth fairy when he was a child.

The wrestler-turned-actor plays the title role in upcoming Fox comedy The Tooth Fairy.

Johnson told Parade: "I absolutely believed when I was young because the tooth fairy was always good to me. The tooth fairy generally left me a dollar or two dollars and, as a kid, that was a lot of money.

"Now, with inflation, I guess maybe the price has gone up and sometimes there's more money under the pillow, but then sometimes it can be a treat, something cool. What if the tooth fairy left an iPod? That would be cool, wouldn't it?"

Of his parents' attempts not to deceive him, he added: "Even when times were tough, they really did a wonderful job of keeping the notion alive of Santa Claus, the Easter bunny and the tooth fairy, the spirit of what that means - giving and giving back.

"I was really fortunate to have a mum and dad in my life who believed in my own potential, even when I didn't see it at that point. Now, I can look back and reflect and be grateful for those people in my life."

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Weaver reconsiders 'Ghostbusters' sequel?

Sigourney Weaver has allegedly been reconsidering reprising her role in the third Ghostbusters film.

According to WENN, the actress had second thoughts about returning to the franchise after she learned all of her original castmates will be coming back.

She said: "I haven't read the script but you know, why not? I don't know any details actually but I'm looking forward to reading it. It'll be fun."

The new film will reportedly show the original Ghostbusters handing over control of their spook-chasing responsibilities to a team of hot young ladies.

It was recently reported that first Ghostbusters filmmaker Ivan Reitman has signed on to direct.

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J.J. Abrams talks 'Cloverfield' sequel

J.J. Abrams has offered an update on the status of his Cloverfield sequel.

Speaking to MTV, the producer revealed that the follow-up to the 2008 monster movie is currently in development.

"We're working on something right now with that and again, you know, it's early stages," Abrams said.

The director also joked that the sequel to his Star Trek reboot would focus on the Gorn, a race of lizard people featured in the original series.

"We just thought it would be fun... to go Gorn," he jested.

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Strong to play 'Green Lantern' villain?

Sherlock Holmes star Mark Strong is reportedly in talks to play villain Sinestro in Green Lantern.

Speaking to MTV, Green Lantern director Martin Campbell dismissed rumours that Jackie Earl Haley was in line to portray the role.

"In fact, we're in negotiations with Mark Strong to play Sinestro," Campbell said.

He added: "If you look up old pictures of Sinestro, he's (Strong) very like him. The Jackie Earle Haley thing, somebody told me about it this morning; I had never heard it before in my life."

The helmer also offered a list of DC Comics characters that will appear in the superhero film, including Kilowag, Tomar-Re and Abin Sur.

Peter Sarsgaard is attached to star as villain Dr Hector Hammond.

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