Jake Gyllenhaal & Amy Adams to Star in 'Ezekiel Moss'

Back in 2011, Ezekiel Moss made Hollywood's annual Black List (the top ten unproduced scripts), a story set in a small dead end town run by religious fervor during the Prohibition Era, which follows a young boy named Joel and his widowed mother, Iris, who runs a boarding house to provide for the two  Their lives are changed forever when a mysterious drifter named Ezekiel Moss shows up with the ability to both channel and physically inhabit the spiritis of the dead.  Joel takes a liking to the stranger while Iris begins to fall in love with him.

The project was first announced back in 2012 with Philip Seymour Hoffman directing (2010's Jack Goes Boating his only other directorial credit), with word now coming over the weekend the Jake Gyllenhaal and Amy Adams have signed on the star in the film.  Gyllenhaal will play the aforementioned Ezekiel Moss while Adams will portray the widowed mother, Iris.

Casting for the role of young Joel is still undergoing.

Gyllenhaal most recently appeared in last year's excellent Prisoners, while Adams is up for a Best Actress Oscar for her role in American Hustle.

The script was written by Keith Bunin whose only notable credit is writing back in 2009 for HBO's series, In Treatment.

No word yet on when the project will begin filming but expect more to be announced in the coming year.

Source:  The Hollywood Reporter

Update on Sun, February 2, 2014 by John DiNicola

BREAKING:  Philip Seymour Hoffman has been found dead at the age of 46.

This news came out at 12 p.m. ET today, mere hours after I posted this entry regarding Hoffman directing this project.

It is unknown what caused Hoffman's death but reports are circulating that it was due to a suspected overdose.  The actor had struggled with a heroin addiction.

Condolences to his family and friends.

Jesse Eisenberg will be Lex Luthor in 'Batman vs. Superman'

Warner Brothers announced the casting of Lex Luthor for their 2016 tentpole, Batman vs. Superman, today to fanboy outrage. Jesse Eisenberg, star of The Social Network and Now You See Me, was announced to inherit the shoes previously occupied by Gene Hackman and Kevin Spacey. In a way, it makes more sense that Lex and Clark be the same age -- both Eisenberg and Henry Cavill were born in 1983 -- instead of that large age gap previously shown onscreen.

On the other hand, fanboys applauded WB's decision to cast renowned actor Jeremy Irons (you know him better as the voice of Scar from The Lion King) as Alfred, who was previously portrayed by the late Alfred Gough and Michael Caine.

You have to give it to Warner Brothers, they sure know how to make news.

"300: Rise of an Empire Debuts" TV Spot #3

Based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel Xerxes, and told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster “300,” this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war.

“300: Rise of an Empire” pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes, and Artemesia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

Nicolas Cage In The International Trailer For "Joe"

In the dirty unruly world of small-town Texas, ex-convict Joe Ransom (Cage) has tried to put his dark past behind him and to live a simple life. He works for a lumber company by day, drinks by night. But when 15-year-old Gary (Sheridan) - a kid trying to support his family - comes to town, desperate for work, Joe has found a way to atone for his sins - to finally be someone’s hero. As Joe tries to protect Gary, the pair will take the twisting road to redemption in the hope for a better life.

SOURCE: JOBLO.COM

Poster For Darren Aronofsky's "Noah" Featuring Russell Crowe

Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe stars as Noah, a man chosen by God for a great task before an apocalyptic flood destroys the world.
Read more at http://collider.com/noah-poster-russell-crowe/#ucbbERzeWOX9iAsR.99

Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe stars as Noah, a man chosen by God for a great task before an apocalyptic flood destroys the world.

Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe stars as Noah, a man chosen by God for a great task before an apocalyptic flood destroys the world.
Read more at http://collider.com/noah-poster-russell-crowe/#ucbbERzeWOX9iAsR.99

SOURCE: YAHOO MOVIES!

Anthony and Joe Russo Returning to Co-Direct 'Captain America 3'

Though Captain America: The Winter Soldier doesn't open until April, it seems Marvel is so pleased with how the film turned out that they have entered early negotiations to bring back brothers, Anthony and Joe Russo, to co-direct Captain America 3.

Based off of strong impressions from the production along with positive test screenings, Marvel is moving quick to attach the directing duo to the next entry.

While the studio will wait for the film's box office numbers before formally moving ahead, it seems all but certain the Russo Bros. will be back in the directors' chairs for the third installment.  There are already steps being taken to outline the next film's story arc.

All the main actors involved have options for a third entry so expect them back too, especially if the film performs well.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier, starring Chris Evans, opens April 4th.

Source:  Variety

Sony Will Bring SLY COOPER To The Big Screen in 2016!

While Sony's PlayStation video-game brand is busy dominating the home-console market, one medium just isn't enough for their iconic franchises, with news last year of a Ratchet & Clank feature hitting screens in 2015 now comes word, and a beautifully animated trailer, that shows Sly Cooper will be brought out in 2016 from the same studios.

Sly Cooper will be written and directed by Kevin Munroe of 2007's TMNT CGI-feature film.

The game franchise started in 2002 with Sly Cooper and Thievius Raccoonus and it's 4th entry was released in 2013 for the PlayStation 3 with Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time.
Here's hoping the film leads to a new game announcement for the PlayStation 4.

The official synopsis from the fim's Faceook:

Sly Cooper is a kinetic and comedic heist film that tells the story of Sly Cooper, an orphaned raccoon thief, along with his childhood friends and partners in crime, Bentley Turtle and Murray Hippo. In the film, Sly learns of his birth family’s secret legacy; that he comes from a long line of talented and international thieves. Endowed with this knowledge, Sly and his friends are catapulted into a global adventure as they race to reassemble pieces of an ancient book holding The Cooper Clan’s family secrets before it can fall into the hands of Clockwerk — an evil Russian metallic owl bent on ending the Cooper family line. From romantic Parisian backdrops to the lush mountains of China, gritty film noir meets bright, colorful graphic novels in this origin story of the world’s greatest thief-turned-hero.

As Seen On The Grammys, Disney's Maleficent - "Dream" Trailer

Award-winning, American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey has recorded an unique reimagining of the renowned fairy-tale tune from Disney's 1959 animated film "Sleeping Beauty" which will feature in the end credits of the upcoming Disney film.

A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land’s fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal — an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading king’s successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom — and perhaps to Maleficent’s true happiness as well.

Poster for "The Face of Love"

The story of a widow named Nikki (Annette Bening) who, several years after the loss of her husband Garrett, meets a man named Tom (Ed Harris) who looks exactly like her deceased husband. Suddenly, a flood of old feelings rush back to her: she's met the love of her life. Again.

The film is a romantic story filled with humor, surprise, and reflections on the mystery of love surrounding us. Bening and Harris star, with an important supporting turn from Robin Williams as Nikki's confidante and would-be lover.

SOURCE: COMINGSOON.NET

Megan Ellison No Longer Co-Funding 'Terminator' Reboot

Not that this is considered major news, but it's a slow day so far and this was the most interesting bit I could find.

Megan Ellison (Annapurna Pictures) - whose produced some of the best films the past few years (Zero Dark Thirty, The Master, American Hustle, Her) - is no longer helping fund the upcoming Terminator reboot, due out next summer.

If you recall, it was Ellison who bought the rights to the franchise back in 2011 (with the intention of making a more worthwhile franchise entry than the past two installments) but given the fact she is busy handling more 'indie' work, she's decided to pull out from funding the new film which will now be split 60-40 between her brother, David's Skydance Productions, and Paramount Pictures, respectively.

This isn't necessarily bad news considering we still no little to nothing about the project besides the fact it will be a 'reboot' of the franchise, but Megan Ellison seemed to have the right mindset in wanting to bring the Terminator franchise back to its roots, stating it would be hard R-rated like the original two entries.

Whatever the case be, she'll still stay on the project as a executive producer with filming set to begin in April.

The new film - going by the current title Terminator: Genesis - will see the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger in his signature role, with Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) playing Sarah Connor alongside Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty) as John Connor.  Alan Taylor (Thor: The Dark World) is directing.  It opens July 1st, 2015.

Source:  Deadline