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Affleck: 'Superman is fine without me'

Ben Affleck has spoken out about his decision to decline directing Christopher Nolan's Superman reboot.

Affleck, who recently helmed the critically-acclaimed The Town, talked with Deadline about turning down the opportunity, stating that he was reluctant to take on a big movie.

"The one benefit of having done all kinds of movies as an actor is, you learn the pros and cons of being tempted to do a really big movie because it costs a lot of money," Affleck said.

"With Superman, I think they're going to do a great version. Chris Nolan is brilliant and they've got a great director for it."

Affleck revealed that he would love to take on a big-budget film some day, but only if the story is first-rate.

"I'd love to do something like Blade Runner, but a lesson I've learned is to not look at movies based on budget, how much they'll spend on effects or where they will shoot."

He added: "Story is what's important. Also, there are a lot of guys ahead of me on the list to do epic effects movies."

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Franco, Hathaway to host 2011 Oscars?

James Franco and Anne Hathaway are rumoured to have accepted an offer to next year's Academy Awards ceremony together.

According to Deadline, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently made the offer to the young actors, who have since agreed to host the industry showcase.

The report claims an official announcement regarding next year's hosting situation is expected as early as this week.

Franco recently received rave reviews for his performance in 127 Hours, while Hathaway's latest film Love And Other Drugs was released this week.

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards are scheduled to take place February 27, 2011.

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Michael Douglas 'begins work on Liberace'

Michael Douglas has revealed that he is starting to prepare for his role in the Liberace biopic.

The Wall Street star - who recently completed his prescribed treatment for throat cancer - told The Hollywood Reporter that he will require prosthetics and musical training to portray pianist Wladziu Valentino Liberace in director Steven Soderbergh's movie.

"I've got a bunch of tapes of performances," Douglas said. "I'm thinking; I'm a blank slate. Everything shows me he was a lovely man - I just want to reconfirm that."

Douglas confirmed that shooting is currently being planned for May or June next year.

Liberace will co-star Matt Damon as Scott Thorson, the flamboyant entertainer's long-time companion who sued for $113 million in palimony in 1982.

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'Aquaman' movie rumours intensify

DC Comics and Warner Bros are allegedly planning to bring Aquaman to the big screen.

According to Paul Young at Screen Rant, an inside source at Warner Bros revealed that the comic book adaptation has been discussed, but may be some years away.

"I spoke with a source at Warner Bros and they are indeed planning an Aquaman film… but it's certainly not going to be released in 2013," Young wrote.

"In fact, they are looking at a release date closer to 2015 or 2016 if everything goes according to plan. Warner Bros will team up with Leo DiCaprio's production studio Appian Way (Red Riding Hood, Shutter Island) to make the underwater film a reality."

However, Young went on to say that the project is unlikely to move forward until new movies featuring other DC properties have found box office success.

"Before Aquaman fans can see the classic orange and green streaking through the ocean's waves, they will have to wait for another Batman and Superman film, as well as The Flash, Wonder Woman and even Green Lantern 2 to be released first," he said.

Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger in 1941, Aquaman debuted in More Fun Comics #73. The character has gone on to feature in numerous DC titles and various other media.

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Renner: 'No truth to Escape rumours'

Jeremy Renner has denied rumours claiming that he is in talks to star in the Escape From New York remake.

Several outlets reported earlier this month that the Hurt Locker star was close to landing the lead role of Snake Plissken in the project.

However, speaking to MTV, Renner said that there is "no truth" to the rumours.

"Someone told me about it and then I saw it online. I was like, 'That's news to me as well.' I didn't know anything about it," the Oscar nominee explained.

Renner is starring with Tom Cruise in the upcoming Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.

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Exec wants full cast for 'American Pie 4'

American Pie producer Craig Perry has revealed that he is hopeful of bringing back the original cast for the fourth film in the series, despite it being seven years since the release of American Pie: The Wedding.

Speaking to Comingsoon.net, Perry also said that he was aware scheduling could be a major issue.

"A lot of it has to do with scheduling of the actors because they're all busy. Alyson [Hannigan's] got the show [How I Met Your Mother] and the baby, so she's got plenty on her plate," he stated. "I think if we get a script - which I think we will - that everybody is excited about, then it's going to be about the schedule, because it's going to be really hard to get that gang back together."

On which characters could be returning, given that not all of them were involved in The Wedding, Perry added: "For me, it makes sense to bring everybody back, because at a certain point, if you start winding it down, it isn't what it's meant to be. I feel like those characters have become part of the cultural lexicon. You kind of know who they are, and I think there's an interest in seeing where they are, because they haven't been on screen for seven years."

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Ray Wise joins 'X-Men: First Class'

Ray Wise has confirmed that he has been cast in X-Men: First Class.

Speaking to IGN, the Twin Peaks actor revealed that he will play a US statesman in the comic book adaptation.

"I'm playing the secretary of state of the United States," he said. "I'll be going over [to the film's London set] in the next couple of weeks."

Directed by Matthew Vaughn, First Class takes place in the 1960s and focuses on young incarnations of Professor Xavier and Magneto. James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon and January Jones will star in the movie.

X-Men: First Class arrives in theatres on June 3, 2011.

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Nolan shoots down Ledger Joker rumours

Christopher Nolan has dismissed recent rumours that unseen footage of Heath Ledger is to feature in The Dark Knight Rises.

A New Zealand website had alleged that the director was considering whether to include unused scenes from Ledger's turn as The Joker from The Dark Knight in the new Batman film.

However, Nolan and producer wife Emma Thomas shot down the reports at an awards season party for their Oscar contender Inception

Thomas told The Hollywood Reporter: "I heard the rumour. We're not doing that."

The couple again denied that Ledger would appear in the film at all and expressed a desire for his performance as the manic villain to remain confined to the 2008 film.

Nolan recently reiterated that The Dark Knight Rises will be his last Batman picture

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Nolan confirms 'Batman' departure

Christopher Nolan has confirmed that The Dark Knight Rises will be his last Batman film.

The upcoming movie will bring an end to the trilogy of Christian Bale-starring films helmed by the Inception director.

"I must say that I'm glad - I'm very, very glad - to be embarking on the last chapter of our Batman saga without any sense of obligation or duty to the studio," Nolan told Entertainment Weekly.

"They did very well with Inception. So I'm able to go into finishing our story in a very enthusiastic way."

He added: "I feel very glad that I'm doing another Batman film. I think it would have been daunting to sit down and write an original script after Inception.

"I love working within the realm and rules of our Batman world. It's kind of nice to have someplace to go that I'm super-excited about."

The Warner Bros and DC Entertainment movie is due for release in summer 2012

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Dunst 'wanted fourth Spider-Man film'

Kirsten Dunst has expressed regret that director Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy will never receive a "proper ending".

The actress told Reuters that she supports the upcoming big screen Spider-Man reboot, but she would have relished the chance to return to the film franchise.

"I really like [the reboot's stars] Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield a lot. I think they'll be great," she said. "It's just sad that there wasn't a proper ending [for the trilogy]."

She continued: "We didn't know when we shot the third one that it would be the last. I wish we would have known. Maybe we would have cherished that time a bit more, knowing it would be the last one for all of us."

Dunst added that she believed that work would begin on a fourth instalment of Raimi's series until fairly recently.

"They were starting to put together a fourth but then it was like, 'Oh, okay, I guess we're not doing it'. But in the long run, it's great we have these three movies. It was a very special time for all of us."

Dunst recently explained that she tried ensure that her character in the upcoming film All Good Things was not portrayed as a victim.

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Ben Foster joins Wahlberg in 'Contraband'

Ben Foster has joined the cast of forthcoming drama Contraband.

The X-Men: The Last Stand actor will star with Mark Wahlberg and Kate Beckinsale in the Universal project, reports Deadline.

Contraband is an English-language remake of Reykjavik-Rotterdam, a 2008 Icelandic film.

The director of the original, Baltasar Kormakur, has signed to helm the update.

The movie will star Wahlberg as a smuggler trying to live a crime-free life as a night security guard. His wife's brother, who drags him back to the world of crime, complicates his plans.

Foster has signed to play Wahlberg's character's best friend.

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Ben Stiller, James Franco for 'Young'?

Ben Stiller and James Franco are reportedly in talks to star in an upcoming dramatic comedy.

The project, from director Noah Baumbach, is titled While We're Young, according to New York Magazine.

Cate Blanchett is also attached to the movie, produced by Baumbach and Scott Rudin.

The movie would centre on a couple who inspire a documentarian and his wife to become more free-spirited.

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Ricky Gervais, Emily Blunt join 'Muppets' film

Ricky Gervais and Emily Blunt have joined the cast of the upcoming Muppets movie.

The British actors join a growing list of stars to have been confirmed for the film, which has been written by Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller.

The picture will be fronted by Segel and Amy Adams, but will also feature appearances from Jack Black, Billy Crystal, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Alan Arkin, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones and Zach Galifianakis.

The movie, directed by Flight of the Conchords' James Bobin, is due for release on Christmas Day 2011.

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Nolan leaves Snyder to helm 'Superman'

Christopher Nolan has reportedly opted to have no further involvement with the Superman reboot, leaving Zack Snyder in charge.

Speaking to HitFix, Nolan's wife and producer Emma Thomas revealed that the Inception director is "handing [the project] off to him" to fully focus on The Dark Knight Rises, the final film in Nolan's Batman trilogy.

Thomas also said that Nolan had brought the reboot "to an appropriate screenplay".

It was previously reported that composer Hans Zimmer will provide the soundtrack to the film.

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Copley 'not confirmed for Men in Black 3'

Sharlto Copley has revealed that he is not yet confirmed to appear in upcoming comedy sci-fi sequel Men In Black 3.

The District 9 star told DS that fans should not believe what they read online about him being a certainty for a role.

Copley said: "I haven't confirmed it yet and they're still doing some changes to the script and a bunch of things, so we'll see what happens.

"I'm definitely looking at it, but nothing's been decided either way yet."

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Oldman, Yeoh join 'Kung Fu Panda 2'

Gary Oldman, Michelle Yeoh, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Victor Garber have all joined the voice cast for Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Boom.

According to DreamWorks Animation, Oldman will play the character of Lord Shen, a peacock who will be the main villain of the sequel, while Yeoh has been cast as The Soothsayer, a goat.

Van Damme is to assume the role of Master Croc, with Garber voicing Master Thundering Rhino.

DreamWorks also announced that the film will now be released on May 27, 2011.

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Eckhart 'won't do Dark Knight Rising'

Aaron Eckhart has confirmed that he will not appear in Dark Knight Rising.

Talking to MTV News, the actor - who plays villain Harvey Dent - admitted that he was disappointed at learning that he would no longer be taking part in the Batman franchise during a recent meeting with director Christopher Nolan.

"Chris and I had a meeting, on the beach, just the two of us," he explained.

"I said, 'Chris, a lot of people are asking me if I'm in the next Batman'. And Chris said, 'Yes?' I said, 'Am I?' He looked at me and he said, 'No'."

Eckhart added: "We found ourselves alone on the beach together on a stormy day and he delivered the news to me.

"And I was heartbroken. I was heartbroken. But Chris has his reasons and my life must go on."

Dark Knight Rising will hit theatres in July 2012.

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Spider-Man's parents to appear in film

Spider-Man's parents will reportedly make an appearance in the new Marc Webb reboot of the film series.

Campbell Scott has already been signed to play Richard Parker, while Julianne Nicholson is currently in talks to play Mary Parker, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Parker's parents have only made sporadic appearances in the comic series, following Peter's discovery that they were secret agents who were murdered shortly after his birth.

The report also suggests that Irrfan Khan and Annie Parisse are in negotiations to play a pair of super-villains.

The new Spider-Man film will be released in 3D on July 3, 2012.

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Liefeld: "Deadpool should be filthy"

Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld has warned US studio Fox against being too cautious with its proposed film adaptation of the character.

According to Cinemablend, Liefeld has posted a string of Twitter messages aimed at Fox advising it on how to make sure the spinoff is a success.

"Dear Fox Studios, get your act together. Deadpool is not Green Lantern, not a family film," Liefeld wrote. "Deadpool is 'filthy', think The Expendables.

"Also, Fox, find your balls and film the script from Rheese and Wernick, you will make loads of money and thank yourself later."

The studio is currently in the development stages of the proposed Wolverine spinoff and it was recently announced that Zombieland writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick had submitted an initial script.

Ryan Reynolds is expected to reprise is role as Wade Wilson/Deadpool if the film goes ahead.

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Simpsons Movie' sequel 'is possible'

The Simpsons Movie may reportedly get a sequel in the near future.

According to Coming Soon, the show's executive producer James L. Brooks has said that a follow-up to the 2007 film may be on the way.

Brooks revealed that Simpsons producers are "open" to the possibility of a Simpsons Movie 2, but admitted that starting the first film was tough in itself.

He said: "It was much harder than we anticipated. It took us a year to try and get to the point because we're all so scared of 'What are we going to do to the Simpsons?' and 'What if the movie is no good?'

"We were all so scared about that and I thought it took us a solid year of looking at each other to get to the point where we can get to the point where we don't give a s**t."

Brooks added: "We have a beginning notion if we want to do it, but the series always comes first with us. The series is always primary to us."

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