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Betty White attached to 'God' role?

Betty White has reportedly been attached to play God in a remake of the 1977 comedy Oh, God!.

The original film starred late comedian George Burns in the role.

According to Deadline, producer Jerry Weintraub has pitched a version of the remake co-starring White and Paul Rudd.

Rudd would play the down-on-his-luck character played by John Denver in the original movie, directed by Rob Reiner.

The project is said to still be in the early pitch process at Universal. It is unknown if White or Rudd have been contacted about the roles.

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NY Yankee Rodriguez for comedy 'Friends'

New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez has joined the cast of upcoming comedy Friends With Benefits.

Rodriguez will make his film acting debut in the project, co-starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, reports Variety.

Woody Harrelson, Patricia Clarkson, Richard Jenkins, Jenna Elfman, Emma Stone and Andy Samberg have also joined the cast.

The film, directed by Will Cluck, follows two friends who leave bad relationships.

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Jackson begins casting for 'The Hobbit'

Peter Jackson has begun searching for actors to star in The Hobbit, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Jackson and casting director Victoria Burrows have been in Los Angeles since Saturday to meet with actors for the J.R.R. Tolkien adaptation. The duo are also expected to make trips to New York and London to assemble the international cast.

The Lord Of The Rings director is said to be close to agreeing a deal with Warner Bros to direct the two fantasy prequels, but co-backers MGM's financial problems are still preventing the movie from getting a greenlight.

Director Guillermo del Toro departed The Hobbit in May due to the production delays brought about by MGM's money woes. Jackson is also reportedly concerned about timing, telling Warner Bros and MGM that he wants to fast-track the blockbusters to get them into cinemas in 2012 and 2013.

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Marvel confirms 'Thor', 'Captain' for 3D

Marvel Studios has confirmed that its upcoming Thor and Captain America movies will be released in 3D.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Branagh admitted that he was initially skeptical about the conversion before coming around to the belief that 3D "could be the very good friend of story and character for a different kind of experience."

Branagh said: "It's another draft of the story that can reveal itself in a different way I had a healthy degree of skepticism up front... I've become somebody extremely excited about working with possibilities of doing it this way."

Captain America helmer Joe Johnston also voiced his reservations about the format, although he called the process "a new challenge and exciting".

"I think [3D] tends to be overused and can be a little bit gimmicky," Johnston explained. "A lot of people are using 3D now because they feel have they have to... that will come and go and the pictures that deserve to be in 3D will continue to be. When it's done bad, it can make you carsick."

Thor, Marvel's first 3D release, opens in cinemas in May 2011, while Captain America follows in July.

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Julia Roberts reteams with 'Glee's Murphy

Julia Roberts and Glee creator Ryan Murphy will reunite to make a romantic comedy for Sony, reports Deadline.

Roberts will net $10 million playing a working woman who loses her job and is forced to switch roles with her stay-at-home husband to look after their child.

Murphy, who is said to be in the running to helm the Wicked movie, is writing and directing the untitled project. Brad Pitt will serve as a producer via his Plan B production company.

Roberts and Murphy's first collaboration, Eat, Pray, Love, debuts in cinemas next month

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Jolie: 'Pitt turned down Salt cameo'

Angelina Jolie has revealed that Brad Pitt turned down a cameo role in her upcoming action movie Salt.

Speaking to USA Today, Jolie said that she wanted Pitt to take part in a stunt sequence but he was forced to decline in order to babysit the couple's children.

"He was almost going to be the motorcycle guy that I knocked down, and then he'd call me a bad name," Jolie commented. "But he was with the kids that day, and we couldn't work it out."

Jolie and Pitt previously starred together in Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The actress recently hinted that she would like to work with her partner again on another movie.

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Sylvester Stallone 'advised to quit stunts'

Sylvester Stallone has revealed that he has been forced to stop performing his own stunts.

The The Expendables actor was advised by his doctor to stop after he injured himself during a fight sequence.

He told Cigar Aficionado: "Me doing those [stunt] scenes helps the other guys in the movie. They want to top me so they push even harder. I know I shouldn't be doing this stuff at my age... It comes with a really serious price.

"I couldn't do this again. This is it, there's nothing left. I have had four operations since the film. The doctor says that if I hurt my neck again, that's it - paralysis or worse. I don't want to hear that but it's a fact."

The 63-year-old admitted that he was not pleased about the advice.

"I guess I've got to get some lookalikes, but I don't like doing that," he said. "What made all the Rockys special is that, in 32 years, I never used a double."

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'Despicable Me' sequel in the works?

Universal Pictures is reportedly developing a sequel to Despicable Me.

According to Deadline, Illumination Entertainment's Chris Meledandri and writers Cinco Paul and Ken Daurioto are in talks to pen the follow-up to the hit animated adventure, which premiered in the US last week.

"What's particularly nice is that the making of Despicable Me was probably more fluid than any film I've ever worked on,'' said Meledandri, former head of Fox Animation.

He added: "There was a clarity and a unified vision behind this film. I started the company three years ago this spring, and I am confident that this was the fastest transition of any major studio CG movie from idea to release that has ever been done."

The movie, featuring the voices of Steve Carell, Russell Brand and Jason Segel, has grossed more than $63m (£36m) in less than one week in US cinemas.

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Chris Pratt joins 'Moneyball' cast

Parks and Recreation actor Chris Pratt has joined the cast of upcoming dramedy Moneyball.

Pratt has signed to portray former Boston Red Sox catcher Scott Hatteberg in the baseball film, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The movie, directed by Bennett Miller, co-stars Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Stephen Bishop and Kathryn Morris.

Moneyball is based on the 2003 book by Michael Lewis about Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane and his game-winning strategy.

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Tom Cruise favourite for 'M:I 4' lead

Online betting agent Paddy Power has named Tom Cruise as the favourite to play the lead in Mission: Impossible 4.

Following rumours that Cruise will be axed from the movie, the site is now taking bets on who will act as Ethan Hunt.

A spokesperson for the bookmaker said: "It's no secret that Paramount boss Sumner Redstone was far from happy with Cruise in M:I-3, so I wouldn't be too surprised if IMF have a fresh face next time around."

Cruise is priced at 2/5. Other actors in the running are Shia LaBeouf at 8/1 and Sam Worthington at 10/1.

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David Tennant rumoured for Hulk role

David Tennant is the latest actor to be rumoured for the role of the Incredible Hulk in Marvel's Avengers movie, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The ex-Doctor Who star has been linked to the superhero role recently vacated by Edward Norton along with Predators actor Adrien Brody and Serenity's Nathan Fillion.

Recent online rumours surfaced claiming that Joaqun Phoenix had been offered the role of Bruce Banner in the ensemble blockbuster.

Marvel insiders have said that a "name" replacement for Norton will be announced at Comic-Con or earlier.

The Joss Whedon-directed Avengers will bow in cinemas in May 2012.

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Reynolds 'injured on Green Lantern set'

Ryan Reynolds has reportedly been injured while filming on the set of Green Lantern.

According to US Weekly, the 33-year-old separated his shoulder while shooting an action scene for the movie in New Orleans on Monday.

"[He] is in lots of pain. He's been keeping ice on it," a source said.

A rep for Reynolds did not respond to calls for comment.

The actor was cast in the DC Comics title role last year, winning out over Bradley Cooper and Jared Leto.

The Green Lantern opens in June 2011.

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Mark Ruffalo cast as Hulk?

Rumours have surfaced that Mark Ruffalo is in "late-stage talks" to play the Hulk in The Avengers movie.

Deadline Hollywood reports that the The Kids Are Alright actor is in negotiations with Marvel to take on the role of Bruce Banner and his green alter-ego in the ensemble film.

Edward Norton, who played the role in the solo Hulk movie, was recently confirmed to not be returning to the part.

Marvel announced the recasting of the role, saying it was looking for a "team player"

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Jackman 'wants Lautner for Wolverine role'

Hugh Jackman has said that Taylor Lautner should play a young Wolverine in the upcoming film X-Men: First Class.

The Wolverine star insisted that Lautner's experience with portraying part-wolf Jacob Black in the Twilight films makes him qualified for the Marvel Comic role, reports E Online.

"My only question is, can he grow mutton chops?" Jackman joked.

"Actually, I think people would probably prefer him as a hairless Wolverine than a rather hairy-chested version. Certainly about a billion young girls would."

It was previously reported that Twentieth Century Fox was considering casting the 18-year-old in an undisclosed role in the movie.

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Myers, Diaz 'want fifth Shrek film'

Cameron Diaz and Mike Myers have admitted that they are hoping for a fifth film in the Shrek franchise.

The fourth installment of the animated series, Shrek Forever After, is currently in UK cinemas and is said to be the 'final chapter'.

However, the actors, who voice Princess Fiona and Shrek in the movies, said that they remained hopeful for the characters' future.

"We're the last people to know anything that's going on, is the absolute truth. I don't know what's to be with the series," Myers told Empire.

Diaz added: "I'm hoping it's just a big Hollywood joke, that they're pretending that we're not going to make another movie and then we're back!"

Shrek Forever After recently topped the UK box office, knocking Get Him To The Greek off the top spot.

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Jennifer Lawrence joins 'X-Men: First Class'

Jennifer Lawrence has joined the cast of X-Men: First Class, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The 19-year-old, who has drawn critical praise for her upcoming indie movie Winter's Bone, will play blue-skinned shapeshifter Mystique in director Matthew Vaughn's superhero prequel.

Lawrence is among a cast that includes James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Alice Eve, Caleb Landry Jones and Kevin Bacon. The movie centres on the early years of mutants Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto and the formation of the X-Men team.

X-Men: First Class will begin production in the UK later this summer for a June 2011 release.

Lawrence has also appeared in The Burning Plain and can next be seen in Jodie Foster's The Beaver and horror-thriller House At The End Of The Street.

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Carpenter: 'Stallone is legendary

Charisma Carpenter has said that working with Sylvester Stallone on The Expendables was a "surreal" experience.

Speaking to Digital Spy, Carpenter admitted that her father is a big fan of the action star and she grew up watching his movies.

She said: "It's pretty impressive to be in the room with him, he's legendary, I grew up watching him. My dad loves Sylvester Stallone, so to be on set with him and to be directed by him and have a professional relationship with someone you've admired all your life - it was very cool. Sort of surreal, actually. He's a very talented guy and a very entertaining person as well."

Carpenter plays Lacey, the girlfriend of Jason Statham's Lee Christmas, in The Expendables. Asked about her potential return for a sequel, the actress replied: "Only if I can kick some ass! There's so many fight scenes but not for me - I'm just the emotional ball and chain."

Carpenter's new movie Psychosis is released on DVD on Monday.

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Meryl Streep, Tina Fey eye 'Mommy & Me'

Meryl Streep and Tina Fey are eyeing roles in Stanley Tucci's comedy Mommy & Me, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The project, in the early stages of development, would see Streep and Fey play a mother and daughter with Tucci stepping behind the camera to direct. Sony Pictures is the current frontrunner to pick up Mommy & Me with the attached cast.

Tucci previously worked with Streep on The Devil Wears Prada and Julie & Julia. The actor has directed four feature films, including 1996's Big Night and 2007's Blind Date.

Streep recently starred in rom-com It's Complicated, while 30 Rock's Fey appeared opposite Steve Carell in Date Night.

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Burton's 'Dark Shadows' to film in January

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp's planned Dark Shadows movie will film in January next year, according to Deadline.

Dark Shadows, Burton and Depp's eighth project together, is based on the supernatural '60s TV series involving vampires, werewolves, ghosts and zombies. Depp will take on the role of Barnabas Collins, a vampire originally played by Jonathan Frid.

Burton has also hired Seth Graham-Smith to retool John August's script. Graham-Smith is the author of several novels taking historical or literary icons and placing them in a horror context.

Movies based on his books Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (produced by Burton and directed by Timur Bekmambetov) and Pride And Prejudice And Zombies (starring Natalie Portman) are currently in the works.

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Will Smith: 'Son could be bigger than me'

Will Smith has joked that his son Jaden could become a bigger star than him.

The 12-year-old appears alongside Jackie Chan in The Karate Kid, which was produced by Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

He told PA: "The Karate Kid three-day box office was $56 million in the United States which was bigger than any of my movies other than Hancock and I Am Legend, so for me I'm wondering if he even still needs to live at our house."

He added: "People started calling me the Karate Kid's dad, I was like alright, Men In Black 3 is out immediately!"

The 41-year-old actor admitted that he cries when watching his son act.

"I don't choke back the emotion, I boo hoo every time I see him! It was excruciating for Jaden to be squashed particularly between Jackie and myself," he said. "He's so disciplined and so hard-working, it's hard to not push him for more, you know, it's like there's no telling what this kid could do.

"It was such a wonderful experience and any part of that movie still chokes me up and as far as him still having pieces of me, he's truly his own thing. He has the best of Jada and I - it's just amazing that you can go to Mexico, drink some tequila and then he shows up nine months later!"

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