-Doing press for “Iron Man 2,” Robert Downey Jr. was cornered with Marvel movie questions, revealing that he thinks the studio is looking at a spring 2011 start date for “The Avengers” (which fellow Avenger Scarlett Johansson cleverly hints at as well in this interview). Original reports suggested an early 2011 shoot, but this potential new timetable would give the highly-in-demand Downey a chance to shoot another film between “Avengers” and the back-to-back rush of “Sherlock Holmes II” and maybe “Gravity,” if he can swing it (doubtful, that one feels like a 2012/2013 film). Frankly, we’d prefer a long nap ourselves.
-The mediocre action directors’ merry-go-round continues, as Dwayne Johnson hooks up with Simon West (“Con Air”) for his upcoming kidnapping thriller “Protection.” Meanwhile, the once-relevant John Singleton, currently shooting “Abduction” with Taylor Lautner, will produce and direct “Layover,” about an ex-con who has to save his kidnapped family during a seven hour flight layoff. Extra dramatic irony points for the reader who actually kidnaps both directors before they inflict these movies on us.
-Wes Craven dishes on the upcoming “Scream 4,” relishing the chance to return to the characters of the series so long after the original trilogy, as if it were a horror version of the “7 Up” series. He also confirms if the film is a success, he’s onboard for two more sequels. The official teaser poster was also released, and its the epitome of creativity.
-“Glee” actress Dianna Agron has signed on to “I Am Number Four” as the female lead, a human high schooler who falls for an alien-in-disguise played by Alex Pettyfer. Sharlto Copley and Teresa Palmer co-star for director DJ Caruso, who’s being supervised by producers Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg. Why does that particular working relationship still exist?
-In an interview with MTV, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura all but throws the planned “G.I. Joe” sequel into the 2012 tentpole gangbang, discussing the evolution of the script (ha!) and the possibility of shooting in 3D.
-Here’s a first look at Hank Azaria as the villainous Gargamel in the upcoming “The Smurfs,” courtesy of Comingsoon.net. Breathe easy.
-Luc Besson is taking the “Transporter” franchise to the small-screen, with a $4 million-per-episode commitment to an international action series using the name of the Jason Statham action series. We can’t wait for the movie adaptation.
-Still without a domestic distributor, Joe Dante’s 3D kids’ adventure film “The Hole” nonetheless has an international trailer. We had NO idea “From the director of ‘Small Soldiers'” was that much of a selling point. Not to be outdone, the 3D sequel/remake to Dante’s “Piranha” also released a trailer, and we’ve gotta say, knowing Christopher Lloyd is back hamming it up on the big screen makes us feel all warm inside our little goblin hearts.