Fock Me.

When your sequel makes $280 million, another one is inevitable - even if it takes five years to get going.

Hollywood Reporter (via their Risky Biz Blog) confirms that work is under-way for Little Fockers - the third film in the insanely-profitable series following 2000's Meet the Parents and 2004's Meet the Fockers.

Ben Stiller, Robero De Niro and Owen Wilson are currently hammering out deals to return and Universal has turned to writer/director of the forthcoming comedy I Love You, Man John Hamburg for rewrite duties.

Meanwhile, the studio is also searching for a new director as Jay Roache (who helmed the first two films) will take a step back and serve as a producer.

Among the rumored candidates (which is said to include Yes Man's Peyton Reed and In Good Company helmer Paul Weitz), my money's on David Wain who just delivered a sizeable hit in the form of last Fall's Role Models for Universal.

Like I said, it was a matter of time before another one of these films got going. I guess this means I'll be dragged to the multi-plex to sit through this when it comes out. Kill me...

So Mickey Rourke Isn't Going To Be in Iron Man 2 After All?

What the Hell is going on with Iron Man 2?

First they replaced Terrence Howard with Don Cheadle in the role of Jim "War Machine" Rhodes.

Then we stop all negotiations with Samuel L. Jackson to appear as Nick Fury again (which said deal would presumably include other Marvel Film properties like The Avengers and what not) and just last week it's looking like Emily Blunt will have to bow out as the Black Widow for the highly-anticipated sequel.

And it appears there is yet another casualty.

Speaking to New York Magazine, Mickey Rourke (who has been "in talks" to join the cast as one of the film's villains) very plainly stated, "Right now, we're not doing Iron Man 2."

Why do I get the feeling Iron Man 2 will ultimately get pushed back later into next summer?

I say that because the sequel was originally supposed to commence production around the late March/early April period. But now it's said to have no start date.

Rodriguez Readies Nerverackers

The man clearly has the talent to pull it off. So it's odd to think that Robert Rodriguez has yet to helm a $100 million+ production for one of the big studios like 20th Century Fox or Warner Brothers - well Grindhouse came pretty close.

Granted, there were periods where the Sin City and Spy Kids director was indeed supposed to.

If you'll remember, he was signed up for John Carter of Mars for Paramount (which is now set up over at Disney for Wall-E's Andrew Stanton) and a remake of Barbarella for Universal.

In the mean time, Rodriguez is going back to Dimension (where most of his films were produced) with Nerverackers - which according to Variety is a "futuristic thriller centering on a character named Joe Tezca who is part of an elite unit dispatched to quell a crime wave in a theoretically perfect future society."

The studio has already set up an April 16, 2010 release which is far from un-doable considering Rodriguez's reputation for wearing multiple hats during production and his ability to work fast.

More Actors Joining The Expendables

Damn. In just under 24 hours, two of the "big-cheese" film-news sites have received exclusive updates on Sylvester Stallone's action-epic The Expendables - a film that is sounding more and more badass by the day.

Aint-It-Cool-News got a tip that Arnold Schwarzenegger will appear in a cameo in Stallone's film as....*you guessed it!* Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Word also came down that Eric Roberts has replaced Sir Ben Kingsley (much to many people's delight!) And after reports of being "in talks," Come-back King (and possible "Best Actor" Oscar winner) Mickey Rourke has in fact signed up to join the cast.

Meanwhile, the good folks over at Latino Review inform us that Danny "Machete" Trejo has also just joined the cast.

Even though they're coming out a year apart and are quiet different films, I can't help but think people are going to start comparing The Expendables to Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds.

Jonny Quest Moving Forward

You gotta hand it over to IESB - they can certainly get their hands on scoops.

Awhile back, Warner Brothers pegged Dan Mazeau for screenwriting duties on Jonny Quest - the live action feature-length adaptation of the 1960s Hanna Barbera animated-series.

So impressed with his script was the studio that they had hoped to fast-track the project for Summer 2009 last year. That, and of course they've subsequently hired Mazeau to write The Flash for them in the mean time.

Things are definitely moving forward on the project with current teen-idol (for the moment, at least) Zac Efron pegged to portray the title character (whose age is said to have been bumped up from 12 years old to 18 to better suit the actor) and Dwayne Johnson set to play Race Bannon - the government agent assigned to protect Quest.

The studio is also eyeing Andy Fickman to direct - whose no stranger to Johnson having directed him in The Game Plan and the upcoming remake of Escape From Witch Mountain.

For me, Efron's a question-mark only because he's yet to headline a successful film on his own, and it's always a risk putting a $100 million production on the shoulders on a yet-proven actor. We'll see how his forthcoming "body-swap" comedy 17 Again performs.

On the other hand, Johnson has had quiet the comeback starting with the above-mentioned Game Plan and last summer's Get Smart. Hell, Escape From Witch Mountain looks to be a big money-maker as well - honestly wouldn't be surprised if it kicks Watchmen's ass at the box-office.

As long as this doesn't turn out to be another Speed Racer, they should be fine.

Justin Marks Heads Under the Sea

I guess this answers the question as to whether McG will direct a Terminator: Salvation sequel or 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo next.

The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Disney has brought screenwriter Justin Marks (whose been quiet the hot property even since Warner Brothers bought his "Green Arrow in Prison" script SuperMax with credits on Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, Voltron and Masters of the Universe) onboard for rewrites or "world building" - their words, not mine!

Interesting, Marks is said to only have four weeks to work with McG (who himself is knee-deep in post-production on Terminator) and the production designers.

What's with the four-week committment? Is that the maximum amount of time Marks can give to the film? Weird.

To be fair, it's been widely known that Disney wants cameras rolling on 20,000 Leagues later this year.

John Malkovich Joining Jonah Hex

Of all the various DC properties in development, Jonah Hex was the only one I honestly saw happening outside of Batman III (duh!), Green Lantern and the next Superman film.

Its star Josh Brolin has been such a hot item the last two years (with turns in No Country For Old Men, American Gangster, W. and his recent "Best Supporting Actor" Oscar nomination for Milk) and this isn't exactly the type of production that will wind up with a $150-200 million budget.

Now comes word that John Malkovich will join the production as the film's villain - the type of role that the actor has certainly been known to tap into.

Also worth noting, Legendary Pictures is still in the co-bankrolling business with Warner Brothers on DC properties - they did so with the Batman and Superman films and now Hex.

The Wachowskis Directing Superman?

Aint-It-Cool-News big-cheese Harry Knowles has scored one Helluva rumor from a long-time source.

While conducting a television interview in Germany for his forthcoming film Ninja Assassins, director James McTeigue is said to have revealed that Warner Brothers has offered the Wachowskis the chance to direct a reboot Superman trilogy(!)

The Matrix-helming duo are said to be "currently reviewing their options as its like being asked to take the final play in a superbowl final."

This would be the perfect move for the studio to make - two years ago.

The problem is last year's Speed Racer was such a massive flop that I can't see Warner Brothers willing to hand over the Superman film-series to the Wachowskis now.

Then again, this could be one of those "So crazy, it's actually true" rumors!

But for the moment, we'll file this in the "Rumor" bin.

Nolan Readies Inception

After he directed, co-wrote and produced the second highest-grossing film of all-time (that'd be The Dark Knight), there wasn't a doubt in anyone's mind that Christopher Nolan was going to get make whatever the Hell he wanted for his next project.

And surprisingly (well, to some), it isn't Batman III.

Nolan is hard at work on Inception (which he also wrote) for Warner Brothers.

Mum's the word on plot other than it will be a sci-fi action film "set within the architecture of the mind" with a summer 2010 release being targeted.

No doubt, there will be those who bitch and moan about this pushing back the release of Batman III a year.

Get over it.

It was the best thing for Nolan to do - nobody wants another Spider-Man 3! Plus, the guy was a great filmmaker before ever getting involved with the Batman franchise.

Another Star Trek Trailer Coming Soon

After all the build-up, hype and anticipation from us nerds over the last two years or so, it's weird to think that J.J. Abrams' Star Trek "requel" will beam into theatres in only a matter of months now.

So it's time for Paramount Pictures to get the marketing behind the film into full-gear with the announcement that a third trailer will arrive in the next few weeks.

The trailer will be officially unveiled on the silver screen in front of Zack Snyder's Watchmen - that's gonna be a big night for nerds across the U.S. on March 6.

The following Monday (that'd be March 9) it will show up online on both both Apple.com Trailers in HD (that'd be here) and the official website for the new film (right in this direction!)