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Characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation have been rumoured to appear in J.J. Abrams's upcoming prequel movie for the franchise.

At the IDW conference at WonderCon, Latino Review claimed that a panellist suggested the plot from the recent Countdown comics would lead into Star Trek.

The panellist reportedly said: "The end of issue four is a cliffhanger and is going to continue in the first few minutes of the movie."

When asked if that meant Next Generation cast or characters would appear in the film, the panel member responded: "I really cannot say anything about that."

However, fansite TrekMovie claims that its sources confirmed that there would be no Next Generation cameos in the upcoming film.

Last month, Abrams said that the new film was "not made for Trekkies", but instead designed for future fans of the series.

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Barry Sonnenfeld has been linked to direct a remake of Korean movie Scandal Makers.

The Men In Black director is currently looking for a major studio to develop and release the English-language project.

Scandal Makers tells the story of a pop musician whose life is turned upside down when he finds out that he has a daughter and grandson, according to Variety.

"I was immediately attracted to Scandal Makers because of its universal themes," said Sonnenfeld. "It is funny, intelligent and full of heart."

The original film topped the South Korean 2008 box office chart, taking $36 million.

Sonnenfeld's credits include The Addams Family, Wild Wild West and Pushing Daisies.

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Bill Pullman has admitted that he prefers starring in low-budget movies such as this week's Surveillance to blockbusters like Independence Day.

Speaking to DS, Pullman said that his experience working on the dark indie thriller was more rewarding than his turn as the President in the 1996 box office hit due to his long-standing relationship with director Jennifer Lynch.

He said: "This is the kind of movie where, because I've known Jennifer for so long, because I feel like it was a full-blooded film... It wasn't compromised in any way from her vision, she's a strong visionary, tapping it out everyday.

"The kind of challenges that come with independent film, keeping the money going and seeing the limitations as an opportunity are a really great thing. You don't often have the journey that Surveillance has - opening up at Cannes with a standing ovation and you're standing there with a great friend, it's a deeply satisfying thing."

Pullman added that he almost turned down the film because he felt it was too brutal, saying: "I was not planning to do the movie and an actor dropped out towards the start of filming and I had told [Lynch] that I was not feeling ready for that turf but she said, 'You've gotta think about it'.

"Somehow, looking at the script again in a braver moment, I said, 'Let's do it'. I'm really glad I did because it was a really rich experience on a lot of different levels."

Surveillance is released in cinemas this Friday.

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Brad Pitt's upcoming project with Terrence Malick, The Tree Of Life, will reportedly be presented as three different movies.

Speaking about the film to Empire, visual effects guru Mike Fink (The Golden Compass, Tropic Thunder) said that he has just started work on the ambitious project, which is being slated for release on IMAX screens.

"There's going to be a 35mm release, a shorter IMAX version, and then they're talking about another shorter 35mm version which isn't quite the IMAX version but not the feature length one either," he explained.

"We're animating dinosaurs, but it's not Jurassic Park. The attempt is to treat it as if somehow a camera wound up in the middle of these periods when dinosaurs roamed the earth and creatures first started to emerge from the sea onto the land. The first mammals appearing.

"We're doing a number of creatures all seriously scientifically based. I think when it's finished it'll be something that's referred to for years."

Malick, a notoriously slow director, has allegedly revamped a movie he was working on in the '70s (titled Q) into Tree Of Life. Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain co-star with Pitt in the movie, which involves a young man in the US Midwest who grows up to become a disenchanted adult.

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Woody Allen's latest film has been selected to open this year's Tribeca Film Festival.

Whatever Works, starring Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood, will premiere at the April 22 opening night.

Co-founder Jane Rosenthal said: "I fell in love with New York through Woody Allen’s movies... Whatever Works is a uniquely funny addition to his body of work."

The dark comedy, which was shot in New York, revolves around a man (David) who gets caught up in a series of love stories involving a young girl (Wood).

Speaking about the honour, Allen said: "A lovely idea of showing my film in a film festival in my own city. It's very exciting."

The annual festival runs from April 22 to May 3.

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Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut has been named the most underrated film of all time.

The psychological drama, which starred then-couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, beat competition from Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas to top the poll carried out by Total Film.

Other movies to make the top 20 included Heath Ledger's 10 Things I Hate About You, Arnold Schwarzenegger's Christmas film Jingle All The Way and Cast Away, starring Tom Hanks.

The top ten most underrated films of all time are:

1. Eyes Wide Shut
2. Jackie Brown
3. Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas
4. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
5. Vanilla Sky
6. Superman III
7. 10 Things I Hate About You
8. Strange Days
9. 1941
10. The Mist

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Disney has revealed that High School Musical 4 will introduce a new cast of characters.

In a statement, the studio confirmed that original stars including Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens are unlikely to return for the fourth instalment in the popular franchise.

"The High School Musical trilogy introduced a new generation to the celebrated genre of movie musicals," said Gary Marsh, president of Disney Channels Worldwide.

"In crafting this next iteration, we've challenged the entire creative team to raise the bar again and create something truly worthy of this extraordinary global phenomenon."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the storyline will revolve around a love triangle set against the backdrop of a school rivalry between the East High Wildcats and the West High Knights.

Peter Barsocchini, who wrote the previous three instalments, has been hired to pen the script.

Production is slated to begin later this year, with the movie scheduled to air on The Disney Channel in 2010.

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Leonardo DiCaprio has reportedly signed up to star in Christopher Nolan's upcoming movie Inception.

Nolan set up his first film since The Dark Knight a month ago with Warner Bros.

Production is expected to begin later this year, with the movie released to theatres in summer 2010.

The film will be produced by Chris and Emma Thomas via Warners-based Syncopy Films, The Hollywood Reporter says.

It has been described as "a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind".

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Zack Snyder has revealed that he will never make a follow-up to superhero movie Watchmen.

Speaking to Access Hollywood, the director claimed that making a sequel to the blockbuster would not "make sense" because it would "miss the entire point" of what the film is about.

"There’s no way I would be involved in a sequel or prequel," he said. "Will they make one? I have no idea how you would. The work is the work. This movie is about ideas."

Based on the twelve-issue limited edition graphic novels by illustrator Dave Gibbons and writer Alan Moore, the film tells the story of a group of vigilantes working in the Cold War period of 1985.

"To continue is to either rehash the same idea again or you’re going to try to fix the characters, which goes against everything the book stands for," Snyder continued. "Or you could pick up new characters - or I don’t know what. To me, philosophically, it just doesn’t make sense."

Despite being contractually obligated to participate in a follow-up, the stars of the movie have also voiced their doubts about the likelihood of a sequel.

"The fans would kill us if we tried to go and do something else," said Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who plays The Comedian.

"If we tried to do a prequel that wasn’t written by Alan Moore, we’d get crucified. We couldn’t walk down the street. Unless Warner Brothers wants all of their actors to get killed, I think it’s a bad idea."

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Megan Fox will star in comic book Western Jonah Hex and underwater adventure Fathom, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Transformers actress is close to agreeing a deal to appear opposite Josh Brolin's disfigured gunslinger in DC Comics movie Hex. Her character Leila joins the eponymous bounty hunter to stop a Southern plantation owner (John Malkovich) from raising an army of the undead.

Production on Hex will begin this April with Jimmy Hayward directing.

In Fathom, meanwhile, Fox will portray Aspen, a young woman who discovers that she is a member of an underwater race with the ability to control water.

The 22-year-old became a fan of the Fathom comic when it was released in 1998. She has tracked down the movie rights to the property with producer Peter Safran, and will develop the adaptation with writer Jordan Mechner.

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Ricky Gervais will change the title of his new movie The Man From The Pru to avoid offending staff at Prudential, according to The Sun.

The comedy, which Gervais is writing with regular collaborator Stephen Merchant, pokes fun at staff working at the insurance firm in the 1970s.

"It was going to be called The Man From The Pru but the Prudential didn't like how we portrayed them," the comic is quoted as saying. "So we've got to change the title."

A rumoured new title for the film is All The Young Dudes. Shooting on the project is expected to start in June.

Gervais has just finished work on the movie This Side Of The Truth, which will star Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Tina Fey and Christopher Guest. He has confirmed that the movie will be released in the US in September.

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Vanessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish, Evan Rachel Wood and Emma Stone are in talks to join Amanda Seyfried in Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch.

Last week Watchmen helmer Snyder revealed that he was in talks with Seyfried (Mamma Mia!) to lead the all-girl cast.

Set in the 1950s, action fantasy Sucker Punch centres on institutionalised girl Babydoll (Seyfried) who slips into a fantasy world of dragons, B-52 bombers and brothels.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hudgens, Cornish, Wood and Stone are in talks to play mental institution residents Blondie, Sweet Pea, Rocket and Amber.

Snyder will direct Sucker Punch from a script he co-wrote with Steve Shibuya.

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Michel Gondry has said that his work with Icelandic musician Bjork has made him a better director.

The cult filmmaker told The Guardian that the singer did not care if she looked good or bad in the videos she made to promote her music.

Gondry said: "With her it's pure creativity. And sometimes I'm the one to tell her 'You can't show that on MTV, you can't reflect badly on you,' and she says 'I don't care'.

"She just thinks the video is an extension of the creativity she puts into her music, and she educated me to be a better director."

He added that the job of a music promo director is to find a way to make the video not look like a commercial.

Gondry was recently revealed as the new director of Seth Rogen's The Green Hornet.

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Slumdog Milionaire has returned to the top of the UK box office over the weekend.

Danny Boyle's Oscar-winning drama climbs two places to knock Disney's Bolt from the number one spot, while Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino lands at number two.

Torino's £1.3 million weekend ticket sales makes it the most successful three-day UK haul for Eastwood. The drama has already made $138 million in the US, becoming the biggest box office hit of the legendary actor-director's five-decade career.

Elsewhere, the chart sees new entries from horror The Unborn (number three), action thriller The International (number six) and Renée Zellweger rom-com New In Town (number ten).

The UK top ten in full:

1. (3) Slumdog Millionaire - £1,676,508
2. (11) Gran Torino - £1,351,278
3. (-) The Unborn - £1,300,543
4. (1) Bolt - £1,299,199
5. (2) Confessions Of A Shopaholic - £1,290,595
6. (-) The International - £760,382
7. (4) Hotel For Dogs - £634,647
8. (6) He's Just Not That Into You - £522,381
9. (5) The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button - £493,201
10. (-) New In Town - £438,979

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Danny Boyle is reportedly in talks with Sony Pictures to helm the Emma Thompson-scripted My Fair Lady remake.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire director is pondering whether to next take on the musical or make teen-assassin movie Hanna, which he has been developing with writer Seth Lockhead.

Keira Knightley was in negotiations last year to star as Eliza Doolittle in the new version, although the actress' involvement in the project has not been confirmed.

My Fair Lady originated as a Broadway musical based on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. It was first adapted for the screen in 1964 - with Audrey Hepburn as the Cockney flower girl turned high society lady - and scooped eight Academy Awards.

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Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian star Ben Barnes has reportedly been cast in Ophelia, a new reworking of Shakespeare's Hamlet.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the actor has been tapped to star as the Danish prince in the forthcoming drama, which will retell the story from the perspective of his girlfriend.

Atonement actress Juno Temple will play the title character, a woman who is "slowly driven insane" by her desire for Hamlet.

The independently-financed film will be produced by Skeleton Key's Daniel Bobker and Ehren Kruger, while music video director Dawn Shadforth will helm the project.

Production is slated to start in early summer.

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Danny Boyle has ruled out directing the next James Bond adventure.

The Slumdog Millionaire filmmaker was linked with the director's chair for the 23rd instalment in the spy franchise earlier this week.

However, Boyle informed Entertainment Weekly that he has "no plans" to direct Daniel Craig's third 007 outing.

"I enjoy the Bond movies, always have and always will, but I have no plans to direct one," he said. "I don't know who came up with the story, but please tell them I'm very flattered to be thought of!"

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Jennifer Aniston's He's Just Not That Into You has retained its place at the top of the Australian box office.

The comedy's $1.5 million haul is enough for it to secure the top spot for the third week running ahead of Slumdog Millionaire.

Gran Torino holds its position at number three, followed by new release The Unborn at four and The International at five.

Elsewhere, Dustin Hoffman's Last Change Harvey debuts at number six.

The box office top ten in full (figures in Australian dollars):

1. (1) He's Just Not That Into You - $1,571,324
2. (4) Slumdog Millionaire - $1,411,879
3. (3) Gran Torino - $955,953
4. (-) The Unborn - $855,964
5. (2) The International - $688,348
6. (-) Last Chance Harvey - $605,479
7. (7) The Reader - $518,366
8. (5) Ghost Town - $472,499
9. (6) Zack And Miri Make A Porno - $406,293
10. (8) Changeling - $270,374

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A movie based on the life of controversial automobile executive John Z. DeLorean is in the works.

According to Variety, producers David Permut (Face/Off) and Steve Lee Jones have acquired the life rights to DeLorean, creator of the sports car made famous by the Back To The Future movies and owner of the short-lived DeLorean Motor Company (DMC).

DeLorean was arrested in 1982 accused of trafficking drugs in an attempt to raise money to save his failing company. He was freed two years later after proving that he was part of an entrapment plot devised by federal agents.

In 1999, DeLorean was declared bankrupt. He had fought more than 40 legal cases since the collapse of DMC in 1982.

DeLorean passed away from a stroke in 2005 at the age of 80.

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Scarlett Johansson has expressed concerns about her suitability for a part in upcoming movie The Amazon Warrior.

The actress told the Daily Telegraph that she is not sure if she is right for the lead role in the film, which is set in 200 BC.

Johansson said: "I think I'm supposed to be a gladiatrix. These film guys are crazy about gladiatrixes. But do I fit into the Amazon mould? I'm a Danish/Jewish girl from New York.

"I've done weapons-training. I've fired all kinds of guns: 9mm semi-automatics, machine-guns, shotguns. I've jumped off a 60ft building.

"I learnt to ride for The Horse Whisperer. But I've never done a full-on action role."

She added that she is still waiting for her "Cirque du Soleil moment".

Johansson is also said to be in discussions with Marvel to take on the part of leather-clad Russian spy the Black Widow in Iron Man 2.