Hollywood’s remake obsession refuses to die, with their latest victim being the popular Western, Gunsmoke. That’s right, I’m referring to the television series that ran from 1955 – 1975 that took place in infamous Dodge City, Kansas. A lot of people grew up on that show, and now some genius in a studio boardroom wants to bring it to the big screen.

Over at the Los Angeles Times, they’re reporting that CBS Films is looking to cast the primary role of Gunsmoke’s Marshal Matt Dillon (no, not the actor). Dillon was the main character and the big lawman on the show, and we’re hearing that Brad Pitt is up for the role. The actor has worn his fair share of cowboy boots and hats during his career, but he can’t be Dillon, can he?

Dillon is the Western hero charged with maintaining law and order in a period Kansas town filled with colorful vagrants, misfits and desperadoes. He carries on in these adventures with the help of town physician Doc Adams and tavern owner Miss Kitty Russell.

If Pitt wasn’t strange enough, there’s also word that Ryan Reynolds is a candidate to play the character, which is funny because who ever thought these two would be in competition with each other one day. In the past year or so Reynolds has become a force to be reckoned with at the box office and the studio might lean towards him as a cheaper alternative for the part.

A director hasn’t been hired as of yet, but CBS Films is actively looking for one while casting. They hope to capitalize off the name recognition of the Gunsmoke property, as well as the actors used to bring it back to life. The big question is whether or not audiences will have a renewed taste for Westerns by the time the film’s released. Only time will tell.

source: screencrave.com

MPI Media Group has acquired all North American rights to the comedy-drama Paper Man starring Jeff Daniels, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone and Lisa Kudrow.

MPI plans a late spring theatrical release on the film, written and directed by Michele and Kieran Mulroney, to be followed by DVD and VOD. Sierra Pictures is handling international sales.

Daniels plays a writer tormented by the pressures of deadlines, his wife, and the constant presence of the superhero who has lived inside his head since his youth.

Film Colony’s Richard Gladstein produced with Film 360’s Guymon Casady, and Artfire Films’ Art Spigel and Ara Katz, who fully financed the production.

Dan Fireman of Fireman Capital Partners and also a partner in Artfire served as executive producer alongside Darin Friedman of Film 360.

MPI Media Group executive vice-president Greg Newman negotiated the deal with Dina Kuperstock of CAA.

“It’s rare to find a witty and clever movie, that is also heartwarming and fun to watch,” Newman said. “Audiences will be drawn to this terrific cast and the appealing, very human characters that the Mulroneys have created.”

The Mulroneys are currently writing the sequel to Warner Bros’ Sherlock Holmes and a project for Ron Howard and Imagine Entertainment. They also wrote Warner Bros’ upcoming Justice League, Sleeping Father and Equals.

source

Despite his status as the “Green Lantern” lead, Ryan Reynolds is pulling double duty in the comic book world as Deadpool in the antihero’s upcoming solo film. Since the “Deadpool” movie was announced, Reynolds has been very vocal regarding his desire for the film to stick closely to the character’s comic book roots, specifically the need to break down the fourth wall.

With “Zombieland” writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick set to tackle the “Deadpool” script, fans can only hope that the screenwriters are adhering to Reynolds’ wishes to keep the story close to the merc with a mouth’s origins. Luckily, it sounds like the actor’s vocal desires aren’t falling on deaf ears.

“I talk to them every single day,” Reynolds told MTV News during an interview at the Sundance Film Festival. “We’re all very sick of each other already. It’s actually a really wonderful creative trifecta — we’re having a very good time.”

While there’s certainly no shortage of talented writers in Hollywood, Reynolds said that Reese and Wernick were perfectly suited to tackle the “Deadpool” screenplay, mostly due to their affinity for the character and the comic books.

“Tonally, they got it,” said Reynolds. “They just [understood 'Deadpool'] right off the bat. They’re fans of the character and they were so excited. We couldn’t have done any better [than Reese and Wernick].”

As the film’s production date is still unannounced — indeed, Reynolds is gearing up for “Green Lantern” for a March start date — it could be a while before further members of the “Deadpool” creative team are announced. Thankfully, the ones that we do know about seem to be on the same creative page.

source:  MTV.Com

I’ve updated the gallery with high quality photos of Ryan at the 2010 Sundance Premiere of ‘Buried’ on Jan 23rd, held in Park City, UT.

LINK:
APPEARANCES/EVENTS > 2010 > 2010 Sundance Film Festival – “Buried” Premiere – 01/23/10

Director Rodrigo Cortes’ close-quarters thriller “Buried,” which stars Ryan Reynolds as an Iraqi contractor buried alive, will feel right at home with its new distributor. The film was picked up for $3.2 million on Sunday by Lionsgate, the studio known for its gory “Saw” and “Hostel” franchises. Several other companies were reportedly interested, including Fox Searchlight.

Interest in the film ramped up after its debut at the Sundance Film Festival late Saturday night. At a dinner party preceding the premiere (naturally, lighters and candles were given out as favors), Reynolds told Speakeasy he was especially proud of the film, which he shot over the summer. Immediately intrigued by the script, he became fully sold on the project after reading a “10 to 15 page manifesto” written by Cortes about the ideas behind the project.

The star and director initially had to work through language barriers, but both were on the same page when it came to rehearsals. “I told him no,” said Reynolds, who wanted to immediately jump into the project to capture his character’s emotions.

“Getting the timing right was crucial to the film,” said Cortes. The director added that he loved Reynolds in the film “The Nines,” and the actor was his first choice for the role. The picture came together quickly after Reynolds signed on, and soon the director found himself overseeing the construction of the seven tricked-out coffins that were used to achieve the claustrophobic film’s cramped look.

Reynolds co-starred in last year’s hit comedy “The Proposal,” and is set to play the title character in a new superhero franchise, “Green Lantern.”

source

I’ve added the first high quality movie poster for ‘Buried’ to the gallery.  I still don’t know what to think of this movie!  Click  HERE to view the high quality poster in the gallery!

LINK:
MOVIES > BURIED (2010) > Movie Posters

Though he makes a brief appearance in the script, seems the producers of “The Green Lantern” weren’t able to work the ‘Superman’ cameo into the film, reports MTV.

If it had come off, the Man of Steel would’ve appeared briefly in the film as alter-ego Clark Kent, in a scene that would’ve seen the big man approached to wear the all-powerful ring at the centre of the film (prior to Hal, played by Ryan Reynolds).

Though co-screenwriter Marc Guggenheim had previously noted that he didn’t know whether the Superman cameo would make the cut, “Green Lantern” director Martin Campbell has slammed in the final nail in the coffin.

Campbell, out stumping [the apparently terrific] “Edge of Darkness”, told the site that the special appearance “won’t happen”. Says the filmmaker, “None of the other DC characters will appear in the film”.

Sensible man. A Superman cameo would’ve been too difficult to pull off, for one – I mean, who do you cast? Do you bring back Brandon Routh (despite the fact he no longer has a contract with Warner and will likely never play Superman again in a solo film?)? do you throw “Smallville” stud Tom Welling a bone? Or do you borrow some equipment from Lightstorm and resurrect Christopher Reeve via effects? Yeah… nah, bad idea.

Source: Movie Hole

I’ve updated the gallery with high quality photos of Ryan out and about in West Hollywood today, (Jan 19th). Enjoy…

LINK:
2010 Candids > Out and About in West Hollywood, CA – 01/19/10

Mark Strong is in talks to portray one of the chief villains in “Green Lantern” opposite Ryan Reynolds in Warner Bros.’ live-action film based on the DC Comics hero.

Reynolds portrays Hal Jordan, a second-generation test pilot, is an ordinary man who has been charged with defending a sector of the universe with a mystical green ring. Strong would play Sinestro, Jordan’s one-time mentor who’s been banished to an antimatter universe for abusing the power of the Green Lantern.

Source: Variety.com

Donald DeLine’s producing and Martin Campbell will direct with production expected to begin in March with a release date set for June 17, 2011.

Greg Berlanti is also producing and wrote the script with Marc Guggenheim and Michael Green, with Michael Goldenberg rewriting.

Blake Lively has been cast as Jordan’s love interest and Peter Sarsgaard is in talks to portray anothe villain, Hector Hammond.

Strong’s currently seen portraying two villains — Lord Blackwood in “Sherlock Holmes” and Sir John Conroy in “The Young Victoria.” He’ll be seen later this year in “Kick-Ass” and “Eagle of the Ninth.”

The “Gossip Girl” star will play Carol Ferris, who runs her father’s aerospace company and hires cocky test pilot Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds), who later becomes the intergalactic policeman Green Lantern.

In the DC Comics series, the romance became complicated when an alien race bestowed on her the power of a crystal called the Star Sapphire.

The big-budget sci-fi movie is scheduled to shoot in Louisiana in March with an eye toward a June 17, 2011 release. Martin Campbell will direct the Warner Bros. project.

The search for the leading lady was almost as intense as the one for its title star. Keri Russell and Jennifer Garner were reportedly among those in the mix for the role.

Source:  Reuters.com