It seems like we have been waiting an age for Sin City 2, but since it was announced that it is definitely happening things are moving rapidly.

Dimension Films have released a press release with comments from directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller, where it has been announced that it will be called Sin City: A Dame To Kill For.

Rodriguez had the following to say, “I have wanted to re-team with Frank Miller and return to the world he created since the day we wrapped the original, but have felt a duty to the fans to wait until we had something truly exceptional that would meet and exceed what have become epic expectations. A Dame To Kill For will certainly be worth the wait.”

Sounds promising, and I for one am especially looking forward to this!  I loved the first movie, the whole feel of the movie was totally unique!

Whether they can re-create the magic of that movie in a sequel is probably unlikely, although Frank Miller seems pretty positive that they will again create something magical and unique, “The first Sin City knocked out audiences who had never seen anything like it before. Robert Rodriguez and I are going to shake things up and deliver a ferocious film experience that is going to go even further than the first.”

The movie is obviously off to an advantageous start with the screenplay having been written by Miller himself and The Departed scribe William Monahan.  The fact that most of the original cast, including Clive Owen, Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba and Rosario Dawson, are expected to return to their respective roles is also promising!

There is no word yet on who will play the role Ava, the dame to kill for from the title, although previously Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie have been linked to the role.

I will keep you updated as news comes in.

The villains role in Spike Lee’s remake of the Korean classic Oldboy has had some big names linked to it, including Christian Bale, Colin Firth and Clive Owen.

News is now coming out that star of District 9 and The A-Team, Sharlto Copley, has been made an offer for the role.

This remake was always destined for controversy due to the cult following the original Korean Chan-wook Pak version has, and once Spike Lee signed on to direct that controversy was always destined to sky rocket, but so far the casting for this movie has been spot on.

Josh Brolin has signed on to lead the movie with Elizabeth Olsen playing the female lead.

Although I have gone on record saying that I would have absolutely loved Christian Bale to play the villain, I think that this is a deserved chance for Copley to enhance his reputation even further.

I thought his performance in District 9 was nothing short of fantastic, and he also put in a great comedic performance as Howling Mad Murdoch in The A-Team, so if he accepts I will be interested to see how he gets on playing such a great role.

I have been outraged that they are even daring remake Short Circuit since I found out about it back in February!!

Director Tim Hill has now spoken about his upcoming project and the fact that the new Johnny 5 will be a lot more menacing than in the original movie.  Why, I’m not sure anyone knows – but it sounds dark and edgy doesn’t it!!!!

On the other hand the main human character will apparently be a lot younger than in the original to hopefully still appeal to a family audience.

I just don’t see why this movie needs to be remade, and nothing Hill or the writer Matt Lieberman has said has even slightly changed my 0pinion!!

The hit squad is still on standby!!

I wrote yesterday that despite reports last week ruling Gary Ross out of the running of directing The Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire, that he was still in the running and in negotiations.  Well this is a fast moving process and it has again moved on today with the news that Ross is definitely NOT going to be in the director’s chair.

Ross himself has released the following statement, “Despite recent speculation in the media, and after difficult but sincere consideration, I have decided not to direct Catching Fire. As a writer and a director, I simply don’t have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule.

I loved making The Hunger Games – it was the happiest experience of my professional life. Lionsgate was supportive of me in a manner that few directors ever experience in a franchise: they empowered me to make the film I wanted to make and backed the movie in a way that requires no explanation beyond the remarkable results. And contrary to what has been reported, negotiations with Lionsgate have not been problematic. They have also been very understanding of me through this difficult decision.

I also cannot say enough about the people I worked with: Producer Nina Jacobson, a great collaborator and a true friend; the brilliant Suzanne Collins, who entrusted us with her most amazing and important story; the gifted and remarkable Jennifer Lawrence whose performance exceeded my wildest expectations, and the rest of the incredible cast, whom I am proud to call my friends.

To the fans I want to say thank you for your support your faith, your enthusiasm and your trust. Hard as this may be to understand I am trying to keep that trust with you. Thank you all. It’s been a wonderful experience.”

It’s a shame that Ross won’t be returning to the franchise after such a major success with The Hunger Games, but the line in that statement that is worrying me is, “I simply don’t have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule”.

It gives rise to the question that if Ross won’t have time to make a decent movie given the tight time constraints, will anyone else?!!

I really hope that they don’t rush this movie into production to cash in on the success of The Hunger Games and sacrifice the quality!!  Given the fact that they are virtually guaranteed to have a massive box-office smash regardless of quality (i.e. the Twilight saga) there will be a high temptation to not take care!!

Let’s just hope they resist it!!

F. Gary Gray has been linked with directing Captain America 2 since it was announced that Joe Johnston would not be returning to the franchise, but he will NOT be directing the sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger.

Of the three names heavily linked to the Cap 2, the others being George Nolfi and Anthony & Joseph Russo, Gray’s was the name that most intrigued me.  I have been a fan of most of his movies including, The Negotiator, Be Cool and Law Abiding Citizen.

Gray has however elected to direct the story of the rise of the rap group N.W.A. that included Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, currently titled Straight Outta Compton.

Although I am disappointed that Gray won’t be handling Cap 2 I am looking forward to Straight Outta Compton, as N.W.A. are undoubtedly one of the most important acts in the history of not just hip hop, but music itself!

Anyway, back to the director for Cap 2 – it would seem that the field has narrowed down to either Nolfi or the Russo brothers.  Although both options carry risks I would personally opt for Nolfi, despite only having directed one movie, as I enjoyed The Adjustment Bureau, and he has also worked as a writer on movies such as The Bourne Ultimatum.

For me, the Russo brothers are too much of a risk having really only directed comedy movies, such as Welcome To Collinwood and You, Me And Dupree!!

I have been looking forward to revenge thriller Out Of The Furnace ever since it was announced that Christian Bale would be playing the lead.

Further casting news has only increased my anticipation with Casey Affleck, Zoe Saldana and Sam Shepard all confirmed to star.

News is now coming in that Woody Harrelson is in negotiations to play the main villain role, which would add another great actor to an already great cast.

Out Of The Furnace will be directed by Crazy Heart’s Scott Cooper, and will revolve around Bale’s character, who after being released from prison set’s out for revenge against his brothers murderers!

I know the storyline sounds like a number of other movies, including last year’s Dwayne Johnson movie Faster, but the quality of the cast being assembled certainly should put it on another level to that particular movie, and if Harrelson signs on Out Of The Furnace will have gone even higher on my radar!!

Sir Ben Kingsley is in negotiations to play a villain in Iron Man 3, although apparently he will not be the main villain of the movie.

With shooting scheduled to begin soon, confirmed casting news has so far been limited to returning cast members Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle and Scarlett Johansson.

The fact that Kingsley is in negotiations to play a villain has brought up the prospect once again of The Mandarin appearing in an Iron Man movie.  This has been suggested numerous times in the past for both the previous Iron Man movies.

Kingsley would be an extremely good fit for the role of The Mandarin, but as the script is still being written by Shane Blcak and Drew Pearce we will have to wait for any confirmed news!

Whether Kingsley will be playing The Mandarin or not, this is extremely good news and great casting, and is exciting news for the movie, although I thought that about Mickey Rourke for Iron Man 2 and look how that turned out!!!

Last week it seemed that Gary Ross was definitely out of directing the sequel, Catching Fire, to his already hugely successful movie The Hunger Games, but it now appears that he is still in the frame to sit in the director’s chair once again.

Given the critical and box-office success of The Hunger Games it did seem strange that Ross, who co-wrote the script as well as directing the movie, would not return for the sequel, although other previous teen franchises such as Harry Potter and The Twilight saga have successfully, in terms of the box-office at least, changed directors!

Deadline are reporting that Ross is still in negotiations to direct, but the sticking point at the moment seems to be the raise Ross feels he is entitled to given the success of the first movie.

With the success of The Hunger Games I feel that a compromise will be reached and we will see Ross’ interpretation of Catching Fire, although you cannot rule anything out at this stage.

Now that Jennifer Lawrence’s scheduling conflicts have been resolved, and the movie is scheduled to begin shooting later this year a director has to be decided upon soon, so an announcement should be imminent.  I will keep you all updated!

I have really enjoyed Liam Neeson’s transformation into movie action star, and Variety are now reporting he is to star in another action movie, Jeff Wadlow’s Non-Stop.

All is known regarding the movie is that Neeson will play a worn out Air Marshall whose peaceful flight is interrupted by some form of as yet unknown terror.

It sounds like an up dated version of the 1992 movie Passenger 57 that starred Wesley Snipes and Liz Hurley.  Although I really enjoyed Passenger 57 for what it was – a silly over the top action movie – I really hope this movie has more about it than that one!!

I think he has done a great job in movies such as Batman Begins, Taken, The A-Team and Unknown, and welcome any opportunity to see him in full on bad-ass mode!!

This year’s sequel to Taken is one of my most anticipated movies of 2012, and hopefully Non-Stop will be another great action role.

I know this one is going to be controversial, but Ashton Kutcher is set to star as the late Apple founder Steve Jobs in one of the new biopic’s of his life, creatively titled Jobs!

It is pretty obvious without even reading the internet that this is not going to be a popular casting, but personally I think this could actually work.

I know Kutcher is not exactly the most popular actor around and has a horrible habit of starring in terrible rom-com’s like What Happens In Vegas and Just Married, but I think when he puts his mind to it he can actually act!

I have seen him in The Butterfly Effect and The Guardian where he put in good performances, and I just hope that this is the first step in him steering clear of those damn rom-com’s that I’m sure pay the bills, but do nothing for his reputation!!

No other cast or creative team members have been announced for this movie, or for the as yet untitled Sony movie of Steve Jobs life, although it is rumoured that writer of A Few Good Men, The Social Network and Moneyball, Aaron Sorkin is in talks to write that one.