Actor Ron Silver Dead At Age 62

According to multiple sources, actor Ron Silver, 62, succumbed to cancer on March 15, 2009.

During his career, Silver enjoyed success on stage, screen and television.

Silver won the Tony Award for best actor for David Mamet's "Speed the Plow" in 1988. In addition, he was nominated for an Emmy in 1988 and again in 2002, a daytime Emmy in 2005 and a Gemini Award in 1997.

His most popular roles included lawyer Alan Dershowitz in 1990's "Reversal of Fortune" and a recurring role as Bruno Gianelli on "The West Wing," for which he was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding guest actor in a drama series.

In addition to his acting career, Silver was an avid political activist; first as a loyal Democrat, before becoming an out-spoken Republican following the September 11 terrorist attacks

According to the New York Post, Silver had been fighting a two-year battle with esophageal cancer. Reports state his family is making arrangements for a private service.

Damon Ready To Be 'Bourne' Again

Following up on a trio of successful movies where he portrayed Jason Bourne, Matt Damon told Parade Magazine that he is ready to play the role for a fourth time.

Parade interviewed Damon while he was on set in South Africa filming "The Human Factor."

• Q: Is it official that you'll return as Jason Bourne for a fourth time?
• A: We're working on it. This time it would be from an original script rather than a book by Robert Ludlum. But the director, Paul Greengrass, is busy and I am too, so we'll see what happens.
• Q: Are you ready to be Bourne again?
• A: Listen, when I did the first movie, I was 29 years old. I am 37 now, and after a tough fighting scene, the next day you wake up and feel your body more. That's just the way it is.

The late author Robert Ludlum wrote only three novels about the secret agent with memory problems. And, apparently, the film's producers have decided to "forget" about a pair of sequels penned by Eric Van Lustbader: "The Bourne Legacy" and "The Bourne Betrayal."

Even though the intention was to film only the three Ludlum novels, a fourth "Bourne" movie makes sense, as each installment of the popular series has done better than the last. "The Bourne Identity," released in 2002, pulled in $121 million. "The Bourne Supremacy," released in 2004, made $176 million. And "The Bourne Ultimatum," from 2007, pulled in $227 million.

Damon has been ambivalent in the past about doing another movie, even joking on "The Daily Show" that a fourth movie could be called "The Bourne Redundancy."

However, in October, Universal tapped George Nolfi to write the script for a new movie and secured Paul Greengrass to direct and Damon to star. The movie will be produced by Frank Marshall, with Jeffrey Weiner and Henry Morrison as executive producers.

The plan is to release the movie next summer.

* * *

As for Damon's current project, "The Human Factor" is scheduled to be released in December of this year. In the Clint Eastwood-directed movie, Morgan Freeman will play former South African leader Nelson Mandela. The film, based on John Carlin's book "Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela + The Game That Made a Nation," follows Mandela's campaign to bring the 1995 Rugby World Cup to South Africa.

Superman/Batman Set To Get Animated in 'Public Enemies'

DC's animated movie branch recently released "Wonder Woman" on DVD and has "Green Lantern" on the launching pad, and now Harry Knowles of Aint It Cool News has discovered the next movie they will make.

"Superman/Batman: Public Enemies" is slated for release in fall 2009 by Warner Bros. animation.

The movie will be based on a story arc of the comic book "Superman/Batman," as written by Jeff Loeb and drawn by Ed McGuinness.

According to a release, "United States President Lex Luthor uses the oncoming trajectory of a kryptonite asteroid to frame Superman and declare a $1 billion bounty on the heads of the Man of Steel and his 'partner in crime' Batman. Super heroes and super villains alike launch a relentless pursuit of Superman and Batman, who must unite – and recruit super help – to stave off the action-packed onslaught, stop the asteroid, and uncover Luthor’s devious plot to take command of far more than North America."

Knowles wrote that Bruce Timm is executive producer of the film, which currently is in production.

"Teen Titans: The Judas Contract" had been rumored as the next DC animated movie, but the project --based on the stories by Marv Wolfman and George Perez -- remains on hold.

Bollywood Film Creating Buzz

Brandon Routh and Akshay Kumar in Incredible LoveEven in a post-"Slumdog Millionaire" world, it's rare for a Bollywood film to make any noise outside of its target audience.

But when a movie is rumored to feature Brandon Routh, Sylvester Stallone, Denise Richards, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Beyonce Knowles and Carmen Electra, a certain amount of buzz can be expected.

Sajid Nadiadwala’s forthcoming romantic comedy, "Kambakth Ishq," features Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor in pivotal roles.

However, it is the growing list of Hollywood players who have been responsible for getting the movie some publicity.

The movie, also known as "Incredible Love," will focus on an Indian stuntman in Hollywood on a romantic mission to find his leading lady. During his adventures, he is assisted by a series of Hollywood actors.

According to Insidedesi.com, the film is rumored to have Routh, Stallone, Richards, Schwarzenegger, Knowles and Electra in cameo roles as themselves.

Insidedesi.com says, "This will be the first Indian film to be shot within Universal Studios in Los Angeles, Calif., with shooting also taking place in Venice, Italy, and, of course, Mumbai. The movie is set to release this coming May, and is being anticipated to be the biggest blockbuster of 2009."

Chinaview.cn, citing industry estimates, said Stallone and Routh each will take home more than $400,000 U.S. dollars for their appearances, while Denise Richards will pocket more than $204,000.

Update on Sat, March 28, 2009 by Sean Gerski

The trailer for the movie has arrived.

Here you go:

DVD Sales Spur New Line to Take Another 'Journey'

The movie "Journey to the Center of the Earth" was based on a book with no sequels and did a middling $240 million worldwide box office last year. So why is the movie getting a sequel?
Credit (or blame) better-than-expected DVD sales.

The first movie, which featured Brendan Fraser facing off against dinosaurs in 3-D, made $101 million in domestic box office. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), New Line executives were encouraged enough by DVD sales to commission a follow-up film.

THR wrote, "New Line will fully finance the movie, a departure from the first one, which saw Walden share co-financing duties."

According to THR, Eric Brevig will return as director and will be involved in script development.

Since Jules Verne wrote only one "Journey to the Center of the Earth" story, there was a need to come up with a new plot. According to THR, the sequel's story line will be based on a spec script by Richard Outten called "Mysterious Travels: The Lost Map Of Treasure Island." The producers bought the script and have repurposed it to fit the "Journey" world.

There is nor word yet as to whether the title will remain, as the characters will not be travelling to the center of the earth.

Keira Knightley 'Done' With 'Pirates' Franchise

The next "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie could possibly add comedian Russell Brand, but it looks like Keira Knightley will not be returning for any future installments.

In an interview with Moviefone.com, Knightley said she doesn't see herself playing Elizabeth Swann in "Pirates of the Caribbean 4."

"It was a completely fantastic experience, and it was an amazingly large portion of my life, but I don't think I need to go there again," said Knightley. "I think that it's done. But I'm very excited to see the next one. And [Johnny Depp] is so wonderful in that character. I think it'll be wonderful."

Word has it the "Pirates" will set course for the Fountain of Youth in the next movie.

The series has taken in more than a billion dollars in domestic box office over the course of three movies.

'Iron Man 2' Coming Into Focus

It's a good week to be an Iron Man fan.

On Tuesday, a picture from Jon Favreau confirmed work had begun on the sets for "Iron Man 2." On Wednesday, word came down that Mickey Rourke and Scarlett Johansson had been officially cast in the movie.

On Thursday, two more pieces of the process came into focus.

First, a Marvel "spy" told Ain't It Cool News that, "Iron Man starts rehearsals in a few days, which is why the casting is finally coming together so quickly."

Next, as IESB.net spotted, Gwyneth Paltrow had written on her GOOP newsletter that she "can’t wait to start Iron Man 2 in two weeks."

The Ain't It Cool News spy also said that part of the reason for the just-announced one year delay for Avengers is so that Favreau can direct it:

"Avengers is delayed a year because of financing issues but also because the plan is for Favreau to helm it. Everybody here loves the guy and he wants to do it, but it would have been impossible for him to do before the date change given his Iron Man 2 commitments. Also partly the reason why he agreed to do the Stark sequel on such an accelerated schedule was so he could get given first dibs on this. It would still be a punishing schedule for him, so he's not firmly confirmed yet, but he is certainly the presumptive director at this point."

Rourke, Johansson Officially Cast in 'Iron Man 2'

It certainly has been a busy pair of days for "Iron Man 2."

First, as we showed you yesterday, director Jon Favreau released
a picture from the set.

Now, comes word that two rumored signings are in the books.

First up was the news that Mickey Rourke is officially on board. Variety reported on Jan. 7 that Rourke was in discussions to play a villain described as "Tony Stark's Russian alter ego, a heavily tattooed bruiser who is in the arms trade and battles Iron Man in his own nuclear-powered armored suit."

Since then, rumors have had Rourke in or out, and word was that he was being "low-balled" with a $250,000 offer.

Today, however, Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood Daily said Rourke's signing is official.

"He may not have won the Oscar, but Mickey Rourke is taking his nomination to the bank. I just heard that ICM has scored its second casting deal for Marvel's 'Iron Man 2.' After at first being low-balled by the studio to the tune of $250K, Rourke has signed on for the role of the Russian villain in the sequel after his agent David Unger got the quote up to a 'significant' level despite this punishing economic climate where the studios are taking advantage of talent."

The first casting deal Finke was referring to was for Samuel L. Jackson to play the role of Nick Fury.
Finke updated her Rourke story later, dropping in this little bombshell: "I can also tell you that Sony was considering hiring Mickey to play the villain in 'Spider-Man 4.'"

According to Finke, Rourke is in Russia this week to promote "The Wrestler" and he will be "researching his new role immediately there."

Soon after that scoop, Finke added a second bit of info: Emily Blunt definitely is out as Black Widow and Scarlett Johansson is in.

"Interesting because Scarlett actually screen-tested for the role and didn't get it," wrote Finke.

Also, according to Finke, the deal Johansson made was "terrible."

Finke's insider told her: "It's as bad as any deal that I've heard. It's lowball money. And it ties her to countless movies, including that ensemble 'The Avengers,' which is what makes this brutal for a lot of actors."

Update on Wed, March 11, 2009 by Sean Gerski

According to Variety, Rourke previously met with Jon Favreau and scribe Justin Theroux and "got to be part of the development of his character. He'll play Whiplash, a character that includes elements from that comicbook villain and Crimson Dynamo, another Russian baddie."

Star Wars-Star Trek Mashup

I thought the trailer for J.J. Abram's forthcoming "Star Trek" movie was pretty terrific, but something about it felt familiar.

I couldn't put my finger on what it was, but YouTube user Tanchera sure did. The following video Tranchera created is a mashup of the two popular sci-fi series:

The first part of the video is cool, but the second half is astonishing.

Chow Yun-Fat To Play Title Role in 'Confucius'

Chow Yun-Fat is slowly easing into that part of an actor's career where the leading roles are fewer and the supporting roles are far more prevalent.

After a series of starring roles in movies of varying degrees of quality (some great, though, to be sure), Yun-Fat has turned in supporting performances in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" and "Dragonball." Yun-Fat has two more movies coming up where he is part of the supporting cast in "Shanghai" and "The Red Circle," and while those movies have undeniably good casts, Yun-Fat is certainly not the star of either film.

However, the 53-year-old actor, who was born in Hong Kong, has lined up a lead role that just may be perfectly suited for him. ScreenDaily.com is reporting Yun-Fat will play the lead role in "Confucius" for Dadi Century Film, a Beijing-based production company.

For those who don't know, Confucius was a legendary Chinese thinker and social philosopher, whose teachings and philosophy have deeply influenced Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese and Vietnamese thought and life.

According to ScreenDaily.com, "Chen Daoming (Hero) will portray Lao Zi, another Chinese philosopher and the founder of Taoism, who gave Confucius advice on history and the arts."

The site also reports that Zhou Xun (Painted Skin) is rumored to be the leading woman in the film, but Dadi Century has yet to confirm the casting of any of the female roles.

Shooting of the film is slated to start at the end of this month in Beijing. The film, a co-production between Dadi Century Films and Chinese state-owned China Film Group Corporation, is schedule to be released sometime before the Chinese New Year in 2010 (Feb. 14).