Emile Hirsch Also Joins Oliver Stone's Savages

Variety reports Emile Hirsch (Into The Wild, Milk) has also joined Oliver Stone's Savages in an unnamed role. The cast already includes Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, Uma Thurman and John Travolta.

Blake Lively, Uma Thurman & John Travolta Confirmed For Savages

Deadline reports that Blake Lively (The Town, Green Lantern) has officially joined Oliver Stone's Savages. They also confirm that Uma Thurman (Kill Bill) and John Travolta have also been cast. They join an already impressive group that includes Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy, Kick-Ass), Taylor Kitsch (John Carter of Mars), Benicio Del Toro and Salma Hayek. 

It would seem that Lively has chosen Savages over the Glinda role in Sam Raimi's Oz, The Great & Powerful. I have high expectations for this new Oliver Stone film as he hasn't been able to make compelling film that I've enjoyed since Any Given Sunday (1999). The subject matter could be the key element to Stone returning to his Scarface roots.

Taylor Kitsch Has Seen A Trailer For John Carter Of Mars, Will It Be Attached To Thor?

During press for Bang Bang Club Taylor Kitsch confirms to MTV that he has seen a trailer for John Carter of Mars. He doesn't tell us when it will be released but I have to assume that it might be attached to Thor as it's also a Disney film. Considering they're both rather large science fiction fantasy films it would make sense to pair the two. I have to expect it will a teaser trailer as the film is a year away with a March 9th 2012 release date and it's unknown where they are with the post-production.

Blake Lively Frontrunner For Oliver Stone's Savages

Recently Taylor Kitsch (John Carter of Mars), Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass) and Benicio Del Toro had been confirmed as the main cast for Oliver Stone's Savages. Variety has word that Blake Lively (Green Lantern, The Town) is the frontrunner for the role of O the friend of the two pot growers (Kitsch, Johnson) who is kidnapped by a Mexican cartel. Other actresses who had been looked at the role included Abbie Cornish, Teresa Palmer and Olivia Wilde. An official offer has yet to go out to Lively but it is expected. The report also mentions Uma Thurman is up for a part in the film.

Actors Confirmed For Oliver Stone's Savages, Actresses Start Testing For Lead

Oliver Stone's drug-themed crime thriller Savages is looking very promising. Universal has picked up the film and now is testing actresses for the role of O, the kidnapped friend of the two pot growers. After Jennifer Lawrence left to star in Gary Ross' Hunger Games. Deadline confirms that Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch and Benicio Del Toro are locked in while Salma Hayek is still in talks. They also say that along with Olivia Wilde (Tron Legacy, Cowboys & Aliens) testing for the female lead is Abbie Cornish (Sucker Punch, A Good Year). Variety adds that Blake Lively (Green Lantern, The Town) and Teressa Palmer (I Am Number Four) are also in the mix.

Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson & Olivia Wilde Could Star In Oliver Stone's Savages

Deadline reports that Oliver Stone's next movie will be Savages based on the novel by Don Winslow. The film focuses on two Laguna-based pot growers arm-twisted into working for a Mexican cartel when they kidnap O, the free spirited best friend of the growers.

Stone is currently in talks with both Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass, Nowhere Boy) and Taylor Kitsch (John Carter of Mars) for the two leads. I love the sounds of this drug based crime thriller and it doesn't hurt that Stone wrote both Scarface and Midnight Express. I expect this could be a another drug epic in the making.

They add that Olivia Wilde is currently in talks for the role of O which had been linked to Jennifer Lawrence before she signed on for Hunger Games. Benicio Del Toro and Salma Hayek had been linked for Mexican cartel roles.

Bourne Legacy Moves On

Tony Gilroy, writer of the first three Bourne films and director of Duplicity and Michael Clayton, is writing and directing the Bourne spin-off "Bourne Legacy." Empire Magazine reports that he is currently taking meetings with several actors to replace Matt Damon.

Yes, Bourne Legacy will NOT star Matt Damon. Specific reasons can only be speculated but there haven’t been any reports that would suggest a negative separation. I think Damon and Paul Greengrass (Director of Bourne 1-3) are just ready to move on. Continuing with Bourne Legacy, so far (according to Deadline) there is a long list of actors pursuing this role: Jake Gyllenhaal, Joel Edgerton, Josh Hartnett, Tobey Maguire, Paul Dano, Micheal Pitt, Oscar Isaac, Garrett Hedlund, Micheal Fassbender, Luke Evans, Alex Pettyfer, Taylor Kitsch and Benjamin Walker. This is a ridiculous list; half of these candidates are absurd and the other half are already attached to many other projects. For example, Tobey Maguire...his mere consideration is an insult to the franchise or even pretty boys like Alex Pettyfer (I am Number Four) or Taylor Kitsch (Wolverine: X-men Origins) don’t come remotely close to the likes of a potential successor. But on the other side of things better actors such as Micheal Fassbender, Paul Dano and Jake Gyllenhaal are already attached to many other films and (in my opinion) just don't seem to fit either.

Out of this odd assortment of actors personally, I think Garrett Hedlund (Tron, Four Brothers) or Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom) would be good choices. Both would take the film in different dirrections but they share similar attributes in their versatility, intensity and rising careers. Garrett Hedlund, I know is somewhat of a strange choice but his roles in “Death Sentence” and “Four Brothers” showcase his adaptability, and capable honesty and grit. But despite my opinion, I think it’s safe to say that Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Hartnett are forerunners.

John Carter of Mars' Release Date Moves Up To March 9th 2012

While Disney is slowly getting a successful return from Tron Legacy their next big science fiction film John Carter of Mars could be the studio's most ambitious film in recent memory. The adaption of the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels is getting being moved up to a release date of March 9th 2012. It will go up against Ridley Scott's Prometheus which was announced last week.

Civil War vet John Carter is transplanted to Mars, where he discovers a lush, wildly diverse planet whose main inhabitants are 12-foot tall green barbarians. Finding himself a prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, who is in desperate need of a savior.

Taylor Kitsch (Wolverine, Battleship) plays John Carter, Lily Collins (Wolverine) is Dejah Thoris and Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man) as Martian inhabitant Tars Tarkas. The rest of the impressive cast includes Thomas Haden Church (Sideways, Spider-Man 3), Polly Walker (Clash of The Titans, Patriot Games), Samantha Morton (Minority Report, Control), Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood, Green Lantern), Ciaran Hinds (Munich, There Will Be Blood), Dominic West (300, The Wire), James Purefoy (Resident Evil, Rome) and Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, Drive).

Liam Neesen Joins Battleship

Deadline reports Liam Neesen has joined Battleship the film is set around an alien invasion on the high seas.


The film is directed by Peter Berg (Hancock) starring Taylor Kitsch (John Crter of Mrs, Wolverine), Alexander Skarsgard (Generation Kill, True Blood), Rihanna, Tom Arnold (True Lies), Hamish Linklater and Brooklyn Decker.

Alexander Skarsgard Joins Taylor Kitsch In Battleship

HeatVision reports that Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood, Generation Kill) will play a Naval officer and Taylor Kitsch's (John Carter of Mars) brother in Peter Berg's Battleship. I'm very interested in the prospect of an alien invasion film set on the high seas.