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Ferrell, Pitt voicing 'Oobermind'

Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill have been added to the voice cast of DreamWorks superhero comedy Oobermind, says Variety.

The movie focuses on an evil mastermind (Ferrell) who finds that his life becomes dull when he defeats his rival Metro Man (Pitt). Jonah Hill will voice a new superhero created by Oobermind, while Tina Fey is playing a reporter who tracks the caped crimefighters.

Ferrell replaces Robert Downey Jr in the villain role.

Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons penned the script for Oobermind, which is scheduled for release in November 2010.

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Pitt to play 'Holmes' villain Moriarty?

Brad Pitt is reportedly reuniting with director Guy Ritchie to play Professor Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes.

According to The Mirror, Warner Bros executives asked Ritchie to place the character in the movie after Holmes's arch nemesis was absent from the initial cut. Ritchie recruited his Snatch star for the part and will allegedly film Pitt's scenes this week in the UK.

"It's a huge coup to have Brad joining the cast," a source said. "He has worked for Guy before and said if he could, he would do anything to help out. It was an oversight in the film not to make a bigger deal about Moriarty. He is mentioned as Holmes's arch enemy, but the bosses wanted Guy to make more of him."

Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law have already filmed their scenes, but may be asked back for the ten days of additional shooting with Pitt.

"Brad is expected to be filming all over London," added the insider. "Cliveden House has been earmarked as a location for Moriarty’s home. There will be scenes shot at Royal Victoria Dock, Pontoon Docks, Pinewood and Chatham Docks in Kent. And they will be using clips around the City of London to set the scene."

Sherlock Holmes is scheduled for release on December 26, though the tabloid report claims that it has been pushed back "until after Christmas".

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Vanderbilt tapped to pen 'Spider-Man' sequels

James Vanderbilt has been hired to write the scripts for Spider-Man 5 and Spider-Man 6, reports Variety.

The Zodiac screenwriter, who did early work on Spider-Man 4, is to pen an interconnecting story for the fifth and sixth instalments in Sony's superhero franchise.

Vanderbilt had initially designed Spider-Man 4 and 5 as back-to-back features, but those plans were shelved when stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst and director Sam Raimi only agreed to make one film.

Sony is considering using Vanderbilt's new storyline to reboot the franchise, with Raimi's involvement in further Spider-Man films uncertain after he signed up to direct a Warcraft movie.

The fourth Spider-Man is scheduled to open in summer 2011.

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Universal acquires 'Criminal Macabre'

Universal has acquired the film rights to Steve Niles's Criminal Macabre comic.

The script to the forthcoming film will be written by Kyle Ward, who is currently working on the sequel to Fox's Hitman, reports Variety.

Criminal Macabre centres around Cal McDonald, an unsavoury paranormal detective who takes on cases involving vampires, ghosts and other supernatural monsters.

This is not the first time that a Criminal Macabre film has been considered. "We had it set up at MGM years ago, and it just didn't quite take," Niles told MTV News. "[Criminal Macabre] went through a lot. The first instance, everyone was like, 'Clean [Cal] up, we can't have a character like this'."

Niles's comic 30 Days of Night was adapted into a movie starring Josh Hartnett in 2007.

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Cyrus rep 'denies SATC rumours'

Miley Cyrus's spokesperson has denied that the 16-year-old is to appear in the Sex And The City sequel.

The Hannah Montana star was said to be considering a part in the follow-up to take her acting career into the next level by securing more adult roles.

A source was quoted as saying: "Miley sees this as a transition from teen stardom to more adult roles. We’re all wondering how long it will take Kim [Cattrall] to have Miley knocking back Cosmos and ogling all the men. Seriously though, all the girls are excited to have Miley on board."

The singer-actress had just completed filming on her latest movie The Last Song, in which she plays a rebellious teenager, when she was linked to co-star with Sarah Jessica Parker via an internet rumour, Gossip Cop reports.

However, representative for Cyrus refuted the claims, saying that the story was "not true".

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Tarantino inspired by exiled directors

Quentin Tarantino has revealed that he was inspired by foreign filmmakers exiled to the US during World War II when making Inglourious Basterds.

The director told reporters at the press conference for the movie that while he initially thought about "guys on a mission" films like Where Eagles Dare and Dirty Dozen, his true inspiration came from the likes of Jean Renoir, Fritz Lang, Jules Dassin, Douglas Sirk, Leonide Moguy and Ernst Lubitsch.

Tarantino said: "What I found so inspirational when I was doing the movie was watching a lot of the movies made in the '40s that people disparagingly call American propaganda movies.

"I don't like that term, because I really like those movies. Most of them were really done by foreign directors who were living in Hollywood because they couldn't live in their home countries when the Nazis occupied them.

"These were movies made exactly at the time of World War II, when the Nazis weren't this theoretical evil boogieman from the past, but were actually a threat. This was actually going on on the planet Earth."

He added: "Not only that, many of these directors actually had personal experience with the Nazis. All of these directors had people they were concerned about back in their home countries. Yet these movies are entertaining, they can be thrilling, they're exciting. Many of them have quite a lot of humour in them.

"These are the movies that I got a tremendous amount of inspiration from. Not that I did anything stylistically that was like them - I didn't shoot them in black and white, I didn't try to recreate them. But those were the ones that I found myself very inspired by."

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Warner Bros remakes 'Brewster's Millions'

Warner Bros has signed up two writers for a new take on George Barr McCutcheon's 1902 novel Brewster's Millions.

The movie will be the eighth big screen outing for the book, with a 1945 version starring Dennis O'Keefe and 1985's Richard Pryor and John Candy comedy proving the most popular.

McCutcheon's story follows a man who is given $1 million from a rich grandfather and $7 million from a rich uncle. However, the uncle's money will only be given to him on the condition that he spends all his grandfather's money within a year and does not end up with any assets.

Michael Diliberti and Matthew Sullivan, who are friends from John Hopkins University, will pen the script. Sullivan has a background in stand-up comedy, while Diliberti is a former assistant to producer Scott Rudin.

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Wayans bros 'developing White Chicks sequel'

Marlon and Shawn Wayans have started work on a sequel to White Chicks with Sony, it has been reported.

The siblings will be directed by older brother Keenan Ivory on the follow-up to the 2004 comedy, in which they were FBI agents masquerading as the titular women, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

All three brothers are to write the screenplay, while Rick Alvarez will produce along with Joe Roth under his Revolution Studios banner.

The original movie was made with a budget of $37m (£22.5m) and took in a domestic gross of $70m (£42.7m).

Marlon currently stars in this summer's GI Joe: The Rise Of Cobra.

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Studio denies Pitt joining 'Sherlock Holmes'

Warner Bros has reportedly denied speculation that Brad Pitt has been offered a small role in Guy Ritchie's upcoming Sherlock Holmes.

It had been alleged that Pitt had signed on to play Holmes's arch nemesis Professor Moriarty after the studio expressed disappointment that the character had been cut from the first draft of the film.

In a statement to Us Weekly, the studio said: "The report in today's Mirror is completely inaccurate. Brad Pitt is not joining the cast of Sherlock Holmes and we're extremely pleased with the production of the film.

"In order to complete the movie, we've scheduled a few days on set to shoot a couple of additional scenes, obtain pick-up shots, and perfect some of the visual effects elements, all of which is standard filmmaking practice."

Warner Bros added that the movie is still on target for a Christmas release.

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Johnny Marr for film cameo?

Cribs guitarist Johnny Marr is to make a cameo appearance in a new film about the rise and fall of a Manchester rock group, it has been reported.

According to NME, the ex-Smiths icon will star alongside Liam Boyle, Ralph Little and Lily Allen's brother Alfie in the movie, while model Agyness Deyn has also been confirmed for a guest role.

Shooting for the film, an adaptation of Kevin Sampson's novel Powder, is scheduled to begin at the V Festival in Staffordshire on August 22.

The film is due for release in early 2011.

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Williams 'confirms Happy Feet 2'

Robin Williams has announced that a sequel to Happy Feet is in the works, according to reports.

The 58-year-old actor, who voiced two animated penguins in the original film, said that director George Miller is already preparing the follow-up.

He told Sci-Fi Wire: "I go to Australia in January. He's going to record there, which is great. He's a very sweet man. He goes, 'Robin, I think we're gonna do another one'. Great, George.

"It's so great, because you realise George Miller, he did all those Road Warrior movies, and then he does this penguin movie."

Williams also explained that he has no plans to branch out and articulate any additional characters for the new movie, and is happy to stick with South American penguin Ramon and baritone-voiced Lovelace.

He added: "Just two, I think. Just Lovelace, who I love doing because it's kind of based on Barry White, and then Ramon, who is the Argentinean macho penguin."

The star also vocalised characterisation for animated projects Aladdin, Robots and an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants.

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Lionsgate acquires 'Kick-Ass' rights

Lionsgate has acquired the North American distribution rights to Matthew Vaughan's Kick-Ass movie.

Three companies had been competing for the right to distribute the film adaptation of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr's comic.

Director Vaughan (Stardust) financed the film himself after studios proved unwilling to pick up the violent film at the script stage.

Kick-Ass follows the adventures of a teenager without any special powers who transforms himself into a superhero.

The project will be released in 2010 and stars Nicolas Cage, Aaron Johnson and Chloe Moretz.

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Redford pips Spielberg to Lincoln movie

Robert Redford has signed up to direct The Conspirator, a movie about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

James Solomon penned the script for the project, which centres on Mary Surratt and her involvement with Lincoln's killer John Wilkes Booth. Surratt was a Washington boardinghouse owner who is alleged to have supplied Wilkes Booth and his accomplice David Herold with weapons after he shot the president at Ford's Theatre in April 1865.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, James McAvoy is the top choice to take on a lead role in The Conspirator. The part is rumoured to be that of a Union hero appointed to defend Surratt who eventually comes to believe that she is innocent.

Redford's movie will shoot this autumn ahead of Steven Spielberg's long-in-development Lincoln biopic with Liam Neeson.

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McAvoy signs on for Rogen cancer comedy

James McAvoy has signed up to star in the Will Reiser-scripted untitled cancer comedy, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The movie focuses on a young man (McAvoy) who learns that he has cancer. Reiser's story is autobiographical, based on the several years he spent battling the disease in his 20s.

Seth Rogen will also appear in the film and produce alongside Evan Goldberg and Ben Karlin. Friends With Money's Nicole Holofcener will helm the project.

The role is McAvoy's first since starring in last summer's box office hit Wanted.

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Little Fockers' to bow July 2010

Universal has announced the release date for Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro's Little Fockers.

The third instalment in the popular comedy series will arrive in cinemas on July 30, 2010, ten years after the release of original movie Meet The Parents.

Stiller, De Niro and co-stars Teri Polo and Owen Wilson will return for the sequel, which sees Greg Focker raising twins with his wife Pam while still trying to win the approval of his father-in-law Jack.

About A Boy's Paul Weitz is directing Little Fockers.

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Hogan 'slammed for not paying film extras

Crocodile Dundee actor Paul Hogan has reportedly caused outrage among extras in his new film by not offering them payment for their work.

Residents from Australia's Tamworth and Warrnambool were reportedly happy to appear in Charlie and Boots for free until they discovered that they were entitled to be paid for their time.

Extras from other locations, such as members of the Parkes Music and Drama Society, have defended Hogan, saying that they were happy to volunteer in the movie.

Member Angie Fanello is quoted on News.com.au as saying: "It surprises me extras from other locations thought it necessary to dispute their non-payent for spending a few miliseconds, blurred and unrecognisable in the background.

"They should be thankful they had the opportunity not only to meet Paul Hogan but to see how the movie-making business works."

The Australian film, which also features Kenny star Shane Jacobson, premiered yesterday.

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DiCaprio, Clooney, Depp fight for 'Sinatra'

Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney and Johnny Depp are allegedly being touted for the lead role in Martin Scorsese's Sinatra.

According to the New York Post, the makers of the high-profile biopic are struggling to agree on which A-lister to cast as legendary Rat Pack crooner Frank Sinatra in the Phil Alden Robinson-scripted project.

Director Scorsese reportedly wants his Departed star DiCaprio in the lead role, while executive producer Tina Sinatra is keen for George Clooney to portray her father. Studio Universal, meanwhile, is eager to cast Johnny Depp in the coveted part.

"Marty wants it to be hard-hitting and showcase the violent, sexually charged, hard-drinking Frank, but Tina wants to show the softer side of her dad and let the focus be on the music," a source said.

"The '60s were a very swinging time for Frank - he was having sex with a garden variety of bimbos and cementing his Rat Pack status. It's a really key time to his mythology. And Tina really wants to make sure that a sanitised Frank comes through, and that it's not overly negative."

Scorsese is expected to turn his attention to the Sinatra film after the release of Shutter Island.

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Hoskins: 'I'm too old for Rabbit sequel'

Bob Hoskins has revealed that he feels "too old" to take part in a Who Framed Roger Rabbit update.

Director Robert Zemeckis had previously hinted that a follow-up to the 1988 animated movie is in the works, due to technological advances in the area of special effects.

However, the 66-year-old actor, who played detective Eddie Valiant in the original, said that the sequel will have to be made without his participation.

He told MTV: "The thing is, you act with cartoons, you['ve] got to be able to bounce off the walls like a cartoon. So I'm too old. I'm too old now.

"I think [Zemeckis] could do a sequel. He wouldn't be able to do it with me. I'm too old!"

Hoskins recently reteamed with his Rabbit director on motion capture film A Christmas Carol, which opens in cinemas on November 6.

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Blomkamp: 'I'd love to do District sequel'

Neil Blomkamp has admitted that he would love to make a sequel to District 9.

The recent box office champion surpassed its filmmaking budget with its domestic take, while director Blomkamp said that he already has an idea for a second instalment.

"I've actually got an idea now for the next film I want to do, which is [another] science fiction movie, but the idea of a full-on horror is incredibly high on my list," he told Fangoria.

"This kind of horror, science fiction genre - I want to be in that world, that’s where I'd like to be."

He added: "I'd love to make a sequel, because it's so creatively rewarding to me; there's just something about [the story]. It's my background mixed with the science fiction that I loved. I'd really like to go back to the world of District 9."

The helmer recently revealed that he will not be involved in bringing video game Halo to the big screen.

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Rice: 'Downey Jr would be fabulous Lestat'

The Vampire Chronicles author Anne Rice has revealed that she thinks Robert Downey Jr would make a "fabulous" Lestat Du Lioncort.

The actor had been suggested to be taking over the role - previously played by Tom Cruise and Stuart Townsend respectively - under a Universal Pictures reboot of the franchise.

Rice could not confirm nor deny if the rumour about the star's casting was true. However, if he does sign on to portray the 18th century bloodsucker, she said that he has her approval.

"I can say without hesitation that I love Robert Downey Jr and I think he would make a fabulous Vampire Lestat," she told BSC. "He is a major actor, a powerhouse of talent and personality, and he evinces an irrepressible and seductive charm.

"He would bring great energy and skill to the role. I would love to see this happen."

It is unknown which novel the studio plans to adapt, while Rice's Interview with the Vampire was made into a movie in 1994, followed by Queen Of The Damned in 2002.

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