Guillermo Del Toro is set to test shoot the monster for his adaptation of “Frankenstein” in the coming weeks – a project which he describes as a “lifelong dream.” Del Toro also added that (surprise, surprise) Doug Jones — a near emaciated, rail-thin actor who played five creatures in “Hellboy II” and “Pan’s Labyrinth” — will be playing the monstrous creation of the Dr. Victor Frankenstein and that he has no immediate plans to shoot the whole thing as of yet. “I’m not in a hurry. I want to test it, develop it perfectly. If I shoot it five years from now, six years from now, it’s fine by me. You have one shot in your lifetime at these things and I don’t want to do it the wrong way.” Hey, if you have that kind of prep time, use it. [Digital Spy]
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has revealed that a fourth “Pirates Of The Caribbean” is bigger priority for Disney than the proposed “Lone Ranger” adaptation. Both films are set to star Johnny Depp. [HitFix]
The as of yet named writers for the 23rd “Bond” film have reportedly been researching with the British embassy in Kabul about the volatile southern province of Afghanistan of Helmand where thousands of NATO troops have been facing drug-funded insurgency since 2006. The area is known to be the epicenter of Afghanistan’s $4 billion dollar drugs industry. [Empire/Guardian]
J.J. Abrams has revealed that he is on board as a producer for a fourth “Mission Impossible” film and that he and Tom Cruise are currently developing a story and looking for a screenwriter. God, why?? [FirstShowing]
Gary Ross (“Seabiscuit”) has been hired to write a film based on “It’s Not About The Bike,” a biography of champion cyclist Lance Armstrong that tracks his life from his Texan upbringing to his improbable comeback from illness to win seven consecutive Tour De France titles. Frank Marshall is producing and may end up directing himself. Matthew McConaughey comes to mind for someone who could portray Armstrong if he tones down the broseph-ness just ever so slightly. [RiskyBizBlog]
“Iron Man 2” scribe Justin Theroux is set to direct his sophomore feature, “Chief Ron,” a film that centers on a conman who claims Mohegan [Native Indian] ancestry in an attempt to open a casino. Brian Grazer is producing the project which is based on the true of story of Ron Roberts who, despite having blonde hair and blue eyes, prevailed in court over his ancestral claims and is now building a casino in upstate New York. [Variety]
Despite Matthew Vaughn’s “Kick-Ass” having yet to receive a release date, the comic’s creator and film’s producer Mark Millar (“Wanted”) has revealed a sequel is already in development with shooting set to begin within 18 to 24 months. Hold your horses, Mark. [MTV]
MOMA is planning a retrospective on the artwork of goth-happy filmmaker Tim Burton. [MOMA]
Here’s a new clip from “Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen” featuring Shia Labeouf and Megan Fox that is geek-cockteasingly dubbed in German. [/Film]