Chris Hemsworth is Thor

After much speculation, the role of Thor has landed with 25-year-old Australian Chris Hemsworth.

The 6'3" actor was seen most recently as James T. Kirk's father in "Star Trek." 

The news was broken By Nikki Finke, who is becoming hard to beat for breaking casting scoops in superhero movies.

According to Finke, this is how it went down:

"The way Chris Hemsworth got the part of Thor is one of those great Hollywood backstories that happens only once in a blue moon. Ward had found Chris during one of the manager's many scouting trips to Australia. Ward brought him to Los Angeles and really put him out there to casting directors and production executives.As for the major agencies, I hear CAA passed on the meeting, Endeavor took it but passed on repping him, and ICM was interested but dragged their feet. But Eileen Feldman got his appeal immediately.

Chris had read for the part of Thor but wasn't given a test because a casting director had nixed him early on. I'm told Chris' younger brother Liam (who's also a ROAR client) then tested for the role of Thor, but Marvel's Kevin Feige passed. Then, after a conversation with Ward ('You've got to reconsider Chris, he's your guy'), Feige decided to let Chris read again. And once Marvel put him on tape, it was 'Oh my god.' Branagh came to town last week and saw the Chris test and made the final casting decision today."

A source has told me the part includes a five-picture commitment. Included in the deal is a part in "The Avengers" movies.

"Thor" is slated to be released May 20, 2011 (a date that is subject to change). Marvel will self-finance the film, with distribution to be handled by Paramount Pictures.

Spacey Impersonates Carson ... But Don't Expect a Sequel

It may be a surprise to some, especially to those that only know him for doing dramas, but Kevin Spacey is quite a skilled impressionist. (The "Saturday Night Skit" where he shows the failed "Star Wars" auditions is legendary.)

Last night, Spacey visited the set of the Tonight Show where he did a masterful impression of Johnny Carson (and he even brought the Carson mug that he won at an auction).

Check out the clip from last night:

In other Spacey "news," through his Twitter account, Spacey answered the following question from user Nattjenta: "If you had the option (and maybe you do) of doing a sequel to any movie you've made, which one would you choose?"

Spacey's answer: "I would not make a sequel to any films I have made. Except for Superman. I just like the films I have done to exist as they are."

And, yes, it's really Spacey using his own Twitter account. So, Warner Bros., if you are up for a "Superman Returns" sequel, Spacey is game for it. "Fred Claus 2"? Not so much.

The Next Evolution In Movie Posters Has Arrived

If you are one of those people (like me) who wonder why more movie posters haven't taken advantage of 3-D technology, the newest poster for "Terminator: Salvation" being displayed at the Arclight in Hollywood is a welcome sight.

For others, it's merely a sight to behold.

Take a look at this short film to get a glimpse of the (very near) future:

And if you are interested, the following is a brief film made last year that showcases how the technology is progressing -- and being showcased at art galleries:

Trailer For 'Nine' Debuts ... Awards Set To Follow

"Nine" is one of those movies that you just know will make a splash when the Oscar nominations are announced.

Here is the official description of the movie (and take a look the stars -- there is a lot of Oscar-bait in there):

“NINE” is a vibrant and provocative musical that follows the life of world famous film director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he reaches a creative and personal crisis of epic proportion, while balancing the numerous women in his life including his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penelope Cruz), his film star muse (Nicole Kidman), his confidant and costume designer (Judi Dench), an American fashion journalist (Kate Hudson), the whore from his youth (Stacy Ferguson) and his mother (Sophia Loren). The film is directed by Rob Marshall (CHICAGO). The original 1982 Broadway production of “NINE,” with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, won five Tony Awards including Best Musical.

And the trailer that was released today only further enhances the idea that this is a movie destined for a date with destiny come Academy Award time.

For big-time movie fans, the trailer is like a homage to who's who of the all-time great film-makers. This definitely looks like a movie to keep an eye on.

"Nine" is due to be released Nov. 25, 2009.

Terminator 5: The Future for Distribution Begins

We're just a week away from the opening of Terminator: Salvation. The advanced buzz has overall been "It's good, but not great!" and all of the key principals involved are already getting their shit geared up for a fifth installment of the newly-revived franchise. Christian Bale is signed up for two more outtings, McG is said to be already working on outlines for Terminator 5 with (now uncredited) writer Jonathon Nolan and a Summer 2011 was officially announced last December.

Well, things are about to get really messy. As it stands there is no distributor locked down for any additional Terminator films beyond Salvation - which Warner Brothers is distributing here in the U.S. and Sony is handling the international side of the matter.

As per Variety, MGM has a 30 day "first right of refusal" to both bankroll and distribute the next Terminator film. Something that I'm sure really pisses off Warner Brothers and Sony right now - as both studios stand to make a nice pay-day from Salvation and would prefer to stay in the "Terminator business" for years to come.

The bigger question of course can MGM even afford to be involved. It's not like they're in the best of shape themselves - what with being bought by Sony a few years back and all. Not to mention, their plate is pretty full with $150-$200 million tentpoles like The Hobbit (which they're doing with Warner Brothers) and the next James Bond film with Daniel Craig (whenever the Hell that happens!)

It'll only make matters worse if Salvation earns the kind of boffo-box office numbers that most are expecting. When something is successful, people have a funny way of coming out of nowhere to get involved.

New Posters

A selection of new posters have shown up online from various sources.

First up via Yahoo is the poster for Robert Zemeckis Performance Capture version of 'A Christmas Carol'. Personally i think it's a bit early but there is no doubt it captures the magical feel of the classic tale.

Next up from /film we have three posters for Michael Mann's Bale vs Depp gangster flick 'Public Enemies'. These character one sheets pretty much keep in line with the main poster that just had Depp on it, although the composition of the one featuring the lovely Marion Cotillard is a bit off.

And last but not least, once again via /film, we have this rather dreadful one sheet for Rob Zombie's 'Halloween 2'.

Kevin Smith's 'Green Hornet' Movie -- Coming to a Comic Book Store Near You

As Seth Rogen toils away at getting the Green Hornet up on the big screen, it's worth remembering that Kevin Smith previously took at shot at the gig.

In fact, he got as far as writing the script before pulling the plug.

Recently, Smith has been getting involved in more comic book writing (and trying to do a better job at getting issues out in a timely manner). He got his latest series -- a three-issue Batman arc -- out on time and he has plans for a 12-issue Batman series (with a planned six-month break midway through).

On his blog, Smith said he also was offered an opportunity to write for Green Hornet.

"Nick Barrucci over at Dynamite Entertainment dropped me an e-mail a few weeks back to tell me that, in addition to the 'Lone Ranger,' 'Battlestar Galactica' and 'Red Sonja' comics he publishes, he’d just been granted the rights to publish comics featuring the Green Hornet and Kato," Smith wrote.

According to Smith, he was offered the chance to write an arc for the series.

"Citing the movie I’m in the midst of making -- 'A Couple of Dicks' -- and [the upcoming Batman series], I declined. 'As much as I’d love to,' I wrote back. 'Right now, I can’t make the time to write a Green Hornet story.' Then, I remembered that I’d written a Hornet story once before…," Smith wrote.

Smith said the comic book series won't be "a straight-up adaptation of the 'Green Hornet' movie script" but that it will "take its cues from that script -- just as that script took its cues from all the source material available (radio, TV, comics)."

Smith said the comics will be "about as close as I’ll get to making that 'Green Hornet' flick I walked away from directing all those years ago."

Smith also noted that the series will have no connection to the movie Rogen is working on.

"Had Seth and I ever talked about our respective 'Hornet' scripts on the set of 'Zack and Miri Make a Porno,' believe me, I’d have co-opted/stolen his ideas and incorporated them into the comic," Smith wrote. "But we kinda treated 'Hornet' like an ex-girlfriend of mine that he was currently [sleeping with] ... the less said, the better. No, the only connection we’ll have to Seth’s flick is the fact that we’re a comic, and Seth reads comics (lots, people)."

Smith said the story will cover the passing of the torch from Britt Reid to his son, Britt Jr.

"And while we haven’t landed an interior artist yet, some stellar talent has signed-on to provide us with covers: John Cassaday, Jae Lee, David Finch, and a newcomer name of Ross…," he wrote.

And, as luck would have it, Smith included a sketch of Green Hornet by Alex Ross (above left).

Don't Be In Such a Hurry To Meet the Mother

From left, Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders and Josh Radnor star in 'How I Met Your Mother'Of all of the inexplicable things happening in television these days, few things are more mysterious to me than why "How I Met Your Mother" doesn't pull in bigger ratings. 

It does OK, and seems to be off the bubble for getting renewed (as was the case the past few seasons), but it isn't the hit it should be.

Part of it is the timing, to be sure. Sitcoms -- outside of the insipid "Two and a Half Men" -- aren't really leading the ratings charts. It's a time of reality shows and police procedurals. In fact, if "Friends" was on the air now, as opposed to in the '90s, there is little chance that it would have the cultural impact it had back then.

And "Friends" is certainly part of the "HIMYM" story. If you liked "Friends," you are almost certain to like "HIMYM," but even if you hated "Friends," "HIMYM" should still appeal to you.

The show blends many of the best aspects of classic sitcoms and modernizes them. There are traces of "Seinfeld," 'Scrubs," and many more in the "HIMYM" DNA.

However, as much as I love the show -- and there is no show I look forward to more each week -- I will admit there are a few flaws.

1. The Barney/Robin romance angle is a little too Joey/Rachel for my liking. It failed on "Friends" and the lesson should have been learned. Somehow, however, it seems there are people who are in favor of the idea of Barney and Robin getting together. These are the people who must not realize how much of the show's humor is derived from Barney being a ladies' man. Making him into a romantic sap pining over Robin is not fun.

2. The show's very concept -- that of a man explaining to his kids how he, well, met their mother -- sometimes paints the writers into a corner. Ted and Robin had fantastic chemistry, but there was no was no way they could end up togther, as at the end of the first episode Ted calls her "your aunt Robin."

The show's concept killed off the possibility of those two ending up together.
In addition, as the show has grown more popular, more and more viewers have started whining about when we are going to meet the mother.
I say, if you are going to watch a show about the journey, then enjoy the journey. Don't be in such a hurry to get to the destination.

The show's fourth season wraps up Monday night and people are already wondering whether we will meet the mother that night. We won't.

Most sources, including the creators of the show and the actors on it, say the show has three years left. And that's when we will meet the mother. In the meantime, enjoy the ride and don't worry so much about the destination.

Below, for your viewing pleasure, I have included a few video interviews from E! with cast members
Neil Patrick Harris (Barney), Sarah Chalke (Stella), Jason Jones (Tony) and Josh Radnor (Ted).
Warning: The interview with Radnor includes a few mild spoilers.

'Superman' Movie Costume Going Up For Sale

Parts of the costume worn by Christopher Reeve in the Superman movies are going up for auction May 24 in Melbourne, Australia.

Items for sale will include the bodysuit, -- including the \S/ logo -- worn in "Superman III" and the red trunks and yellow belt worn by Reeve in "Superman: The Movie."

The cape andb oots are not included in the items being auctioned.

Giles Moon, the national head of collectibles at auctioneers Bonhams and Goodman, told the Herald Sun Newspaper that Superman outfits are rarely offered for sale.

According to Moon, a complete outfit sold a few years ago in the United States for $100,000.

The items up for sale on May 24 have a price target between $15,000 to $20,000.

A letter of authenticity from Warner Bros. will be included with the outfit.

Stars reach out to Trek fans

Sure, it wasn't Shatner telling Trekkies to "get a life," but it will do in a pinch. Here are Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Leonard Nimoy asking hardcore Star Trek fans to give the new movie a chance.