Director Breck Eisner (”Sahara”) talked with ShockTillYouDrop about Universal’s long in development remake of “Creature from the Black Lagoon”.

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24-year-old Henry Cavill (”The Tudors,” “Stardust”) has joined the cast of Woody Allen’s upcoming, untitled, romantic comedy.

Cavill will play a man who is set up with Evan Rachel Wood’s character by her mother. Larry David stars as Wood’s love interest. Allen is co-starring, directing and also penned the script, which is being kept under wraps. The film is currently shooting in Queens.

Tripplehorn Goes “Grey”

Jeanne Tripplehorn (”Big Love”, “Basic Instinct”) has been cast as Jackie Kennedy Onassis in Drew Barrymore and HBO’s “Grey Gardens” project.

Barrymore and Jessica Lange star as “Little Edie” and “Big Edie,” the respective aunt and cousin of Onassis, who made headlines when the health department threatened to raid their flea and raccoon-infested estate in East Hampton, N.Y.

Tripplehorn will be joining Daniel Baldwin, who plays Julius Krug, the former secretary of the interior and secret true love of Little Edie; Ken Howard (”Cane”) as Big Edie’s husband; Malcolm Gets (”Caroline in the City”) as Big Edie’s accompanist; and Arye Gross (”The Practice”) as documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles.

Michael Sucsy is directing the project, currently shooting in Toronto. Source: Reuters

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Set your Phasers on stun! Rumors are circulating that actor Chris Pine has given up the lead role in the upcoming James Ellroy adaptation of “White Jazz” because he’s landed the much coveted role of Captain James T. Kirk in J.J. Abrams highly-anticipated “Star Trek” film project.

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Gosling Jumps Jackson’s Bones

Ryan Gosling has signed on to star opposite Rachel Weisz in Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of Alice Sebold’s bestselling novel “The Lovely Bones.”

The story revolves around Susie Salmon, a young girl who has been brutally raped and murdered who watches over her family, and her killer, from heaven. As her family drift apart, her father becomes obsessed with vengeance. Gosling will play Jack Salmon, the girl’s father.

Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci and Michael Imperio costar in the DreamWorks-produced feature, which begins filming this October in Pennsylvania and New Zealand.

Source: Variety

Gabriel Macht Has The Sprit

Bronx-born actor, Gabriel Macht (”The Recruit,” “The Good Shepherd”), has landed the title role in writer/director Frank Miller’s adaptation of the classic Will Eisner comic book series, “The Spirit”.

The Lionsgate and Odd Lot Entertainment-produced feature tells the tale of Denny Colt, a rookie cop who faked his death so he can battle crime from the shadows of Central City. He runs up against the Octopus (rumored to be played by Samuel L. Jackson), a villain who’s bent on wiping out the entire city.

Macht is said to have won the role after an intense auditioning process and Lionsgate’s president of film production Mike Paseornek hints he’s set for several sequels should the first be a success.

“We think Gabriel has a devilishly charming quality, and the dry wit that embodies the Spirit,” said Paseornek. “We wanted to do this with someone who can embody this character for the next few years, because we anticipate we’ll be making more than one Spirit movie.”

Six-foot-tall Macht is the son of veteran actor Stephen Macht and is married to actress Jacinda Barrett.

Shooting on “The Spirit” begins in October for release in 2009.

Source: Variety

“Indiana” Is Back In The Saddle
The first picture of Harrison Ford as “Indiana Jones” from the upcoming fourth installment in the “Indiana Jones” adventure, is up at the official site. The photo, taken yesterday on the set of the production, marks the first time since 1989, Harrison Ford dons the familiar costume. Source: IndianaJones.com

“Blade Runner’s” New Look
In somewhat related Harrison Ford news, the trailer for Ridley Scott’s upcoming “Blade Runner Final Cut” DVD release aired last night during the AFI TV special and it’s now up on YouTube. Catch it before the YouTube goon-squad decide to spoil the fun.

The 5-disc DVD set will include pumped-up special effects and new footage shot by Scott for the film’s 25th anniversary re-release. The set is due out this fall.

The Serious “Four”?
On the heels of “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’s” impressive debut at the box office this past weekend, Chris Evans, who plays Johnny Storm in the film, tells MTV Movies Blog he would like to see a more grown-up take on the characters for the third installment.

‚Äö?Ñ??I think I‚Äö?Ñ?¥d just like to see the characters grow up” said Evans. “I like to see them more mature. I think that we‚Äö?Ñ?¥re starting to see [with ‚Äö?Ñ??Rise of the Silver Surfer‚Äö?Ñ??] that if we give these guys depth ‚Äö?Ñ?Æ if we don‚Äö?Ñ?¥t shy away from taking a more serious tone ‚Äö?Ñ?Æ it will still work…I think that if this movie does ok and people respond with the appreciation of a more serious tone, hopefully [with] the third one we can inch closer to a legitimate cast and a legitimate film.‚Äö?Ñ??

“Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” took in $57.4 million at the box office on it’s opening weekend, slightly surpassing the $56.1 million opening of “Fantastic Four” two years ago. Source: MTV Movie Blog

“Speed Racer” Goes French
French actor Melvil Poupaud will be playing a small part as a former champion turned TV network race commentator in the Wachowski Brothers’ big-screen adaptation of “Speed Racer.”

Poupaud says “he’s kind of cool and pretentious, and at one point, when the race becomes crazy, he starts speaking in French.” Source: Coming Soon.

“Bond” 22 Gets A Director
Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have chosen Marc Forster, best known for dramas such as “Finding Neverland” and “Monster’s Ball,” to direct the upcoming 22nd James Bond film. Foster will shortly begin working with writer Paul Haggis on a draft of the screenplay by Neil Purvis and Robert Wade.

This marks a decidedly different direction for the producers of the Bond franchise, who have typically gone for more action oriented directors. Forster said the latest direction of the Bond character opens up “a host of new possibilities” for him as director.” “I have always been drawn to different kinds of stories, and I have also always been a Bond fan,” he said “so it is very exciting to take on this challenge.”

The 22nd installment in the Bond franchise will once again star Daniel Craig as Bond and is slated to start shooting this December in London for a November 7th, 2008 release. Source: Variety.

No, the title does not refer to a night out with Lindsay Lohan, instead, here’s video of a press conference for the Wachowski Brothers’ upcoming live-action adaptation of “Speed Racer” including footage of the Mach 5.

I was a big fan of “Speed Racer” as a kid and it’s been said the Wachowskis are being very faithful to the look and feel of the classic anime, so I’m very much looking forward to the movie’s release. I will be following the film’s progress throughout the coming year and post every bit of information I get –so get used to it.

In “Speed” casting news, hunky Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights, Prom Night) has landed the role of Rex, Speed Racer’s older brother who fakes his death and returns as Racer X (played by equally hunky Matthew Fox). He joins Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman and Susan Sarandon in the production which begins shooting in Berlin this month.

Sources: Reuters, Variety
Official Site: speedracerthemovie.com

Woody Allen’s upcoming Spanish project will be titled “Midnight in Barcelona.” The film stars Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, and Penelope Cruz and is scheduled to shoot on location in Barcelona this Summer.

Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Jada Pinkett Smith, Debra Messing and Candice Bergen are in negotiations to star in an updated remake of the 1939 classic “The Women.” Diane English, writer and producer of the hit TV show “Murphy Brown,” will be making her directorial debut on the drama, which is due for release next year. George Cukor directed the original, which starred Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford and Rosalind Russell.

Don’t count on Hollywood legend Sofia Loren to make an appearence in any of director Quentin Tarantino’s movies any time soon. During a press conference held at the Italian-Australian Film Festival in Sydney, the 72-year-old Italian cinema icon was asked what she thought about comments Tarantino made at the Cannes Film Festival recently in which he claimed Italian cinema was dead. “How dare he talk about Italian cinema” replied Loren, “when he doesn’t know anything about American cinema.” Ouch.

Sources: Dark Horizons, The Australian

Christina Ricci will be joining Emile Hirsch in the Wachowski brothers’ live-action adaptation of the 1960s cartoon “Speed Racer”. Ricci will play Trixie to Emile’s Speed, with John Goodman and Susan Sarandon playing Speed’s parents.

In these clips Ricci and Hirsch discuss the upcoming production, which is scheduled for a May 9, 2008 release.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Emile Hirsch ( Alpha Dog, Lords of Dogtown ) is the latest name being tossed around to star in Larry and Andy Wachowski’s ( The Matrix ) live-action version of the anime cartoon classic “Speed Racer.”

As you may recall, last week it was reported that “High School Musical” star Zac Efron was being considered for the lead role, this week however, Hirsch is said to be the front runner.

They both look like anime characters, but between the two I’d go with Hirsch. Something about Efron doesn’t sit well, he’s too “pretty” in an almost gender-bending Cupie Doll kind of way. We’ll just have to wait and see who the Matrix duo decide on.

Speed Racer is scheduled to shoot in Germany this summer for a summer 2008 release. Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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Scarlett Johansson may be playing Nellie Forbush in a planned 2008 Lincoln Center revival of South Pacific. Johansson and Reese Witherspoon are two of the superstars under consideration for what’s being described as a “sexy revival”. Scarlett has long expressed an interest in starring in a Broadway show and is said to be a big fan of the classic Rogers and Hamerstein musical. Johansson was recently in negotiations to star in the London revival of The Sound of Music and even went as far as to meet with producer Andrew Lloyd Webber, but the deal didn’t go through.

In movie news, Scarlett and director Woody Allen will be teaming up for a third time in Allen’s upcoming Spain-set film project. This marks Scarlett’s third starring role in an Allen film, his most frequent use of one particular actress since Mia Farrow and Diane Keaton.

In the April edition of Vogue magazine, Johansson had nothing but praise for the 71-year-old film director, telling the publication “I’d sew the hems of his pants if he asked me to.” Allen, in turn describes his new muse as “criminally sexy”. He goes on to say “she is unlike anyone who has come before her, and while she is a much stronger actress in every way, there is a tiny bit of Marilyn Monroe in her zaftig humidity.” - got that Soon-Yi?

Scarlett and Woody’s untitled Spain project co-stars Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz and will be shooting for seven weeks in Barcelona and Asturias this July.

Sources: Broadway World, Variety, People

Casting news all around. Bryce Dallas Howard is in negotiations to replace Lindsay Lohan as the lead in Tennessee Williams’ “The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond“. The recently uncovered screenplay by Pulitzer Prize-winning Williams, centers on Fisher Willow, a Memphis debutante with a distaste for narrow-minded people and a penchant for shocking and insulting her high society counterparts. Ann-Margret plays Willow’s spinster aunt and Chris Evans co-stars as Jimmy, a handsome farm hand who may be Fisher’s way out of her personal hell. Ellen Burstyn and David Strathairn round off the cast.

Bryce is a natural for the part of Williams’ rebellious socialite, she’s an amazing actress and one of the very, very few young actresses working today who could pull the part off. Question is, what were they thinking when they originally cast Lindsay Lohan? Whoever made that decision should be fired. Lohan, of course, is known more for her substance abuse, partying, and personal life than for her so-called acting “career”.

Source: Production Weekly

In other casting news, Zac Efron one of the stars of the Disney sugar rush phenomenon known as “High School Musical”, is apparently in talks to star as Speed Racer in the Wachowski brothers’ ( The Matrix ) big screen adaptation of the popular cartoon show. Efron, 19, has been “granted permission” by the Disney Reich to take a break from filming “High School Musical 2″ ( god help us ), in order to audition for the role. Efron already looks like an anime character, making it easier to create action figures and other paraphernalia which will no doubt be sold at Disney’s Speed Racer The Musical on Broadway - I can see it coming.

And finally - she’s not even a year old, but “it” girl Shiloh Jolie-Pitt is already a force to be dealt with. The newborn has taken over co-starring chores on daddy Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett’s upcoming film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. Seems Shiloh had to step in when “twin sisters hired to take turns playing Cate Blanchett’s character as a baby wouldn’t settle down”- amateurs.

Ever the consummate professional, Shiloh saved the day when “quick-thinking Brad realised his daughter’s happy and mellow disposition made her a quick fix for the role.” “Shiloh was swiftly put in costume” and a star was born - for the second time in under a year.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald and is currently filming in New Orleans under the direction of David Fincher ( Se7en, Zodiac ). Shiloh is pictured above with sister Zahara and brother Maddox, both of whom clearly need new agents.

Source: The New Zealand Herald