James Wan's AQUAMAN Won't Feature Any Other DCU Characters

Jason Mamoa doesn't need any help! Are you kidding me? C'mon. And director James Wan agrees. Usually these days, superhero movies will bring in a supporting cast to borrow their star power for the movie obviously, but also to build excitement for the universe and any ensemble movies - like JUSTICE LEAGUE.

But AQUAMAN will face Black Manta and King Orm without Batman, Superman, et al.

Says Wan: "I wanted to keep the story to the world of AQUAMAN and not have to worry about what other characters are doing in their films and how that would affect us. I just thought the simplest way was to keep it clean — keep it simple and let it be an AQUAMAN story."

He continues: "I told them I understand and respect that it’s part of a bigger universe but at the end of the day I have to tell the story I want to tell, and I want to develop the character as well. It was something the studio was respectful about… in my movie he starts off one way and becomes very different by the end. It’s a classic hero’s journey. I equate our story to The Sword and the Stone, it’s a very Arthurian story about a journey to becoming king."

Perfect! This is a pure James Wan movie. Exactly what I was hoping for - bring it!

Of course, post credit scenes weren't discussed. Sooooo... there's that. Potentially there will be some JUSTICE LEAGUE influence after all.

Here's the movie's storyline:
From Warner Bros. Pictures and director James Wan comes an action-packed adventure that spans the vast, visually breathtaking underwater world of the seven seas, AQUAMAN starring Jason Momoa in the title role. The film reveals the origin story of half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry and takes him on the journey of his lifetime—one that will not only force him to face who he really is, but to discover if he is worthy of who he was born to be... a king.

The film also stars Amber Heard ("Justice League," "Magic Mike XXL") as Mera, a firece warrior and Aquaman's ally throughout his journey; Oscarnominee Willem Dafoe ("Platoon," "Spider-Man 2") as Vulko, council to the Atlantean throne; Patrick Wilson ("The Conjuring" films, "Watchmen") as Orm/Ocean Master, the present King of Atlantis; Dolph Lundgren ("The Expendables" films) as Nereus, King of the Atlantean tribe Xebel; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (upcoming "Baywatch," "Netflix's The Get Down") as the vengeful Black Manta; and Oscar winner Nicole Kidman ("The Hours" "Lion") as Arthrur's mom, Atlanna; as well as Ludi Lin ("Power Rangers") as Captain Murk, Atlantean Commando; and Temuera Morrison ("Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones," "Green Lantern") as Arthur's dad, Tom Curry.

Wan directs from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick ("The Conjuring 2") and Will Beall ("Gangstar Squad," TV's "Training Day"), story by Geoff Johns and James Wan and Will Beal, based on characters from DC, Aquaman created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisnger. the film is produced by Peter Safran and Rob Cowan, with Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Jon Berg, Geoff Johns and Walter Hamada serving as executive producers.

Wan's team behind the scenes includes such frequent collaborators as Oscar-nominated director of photography Don Burgess ("The Conjuring 2," "Forrest Gump"), his five-time editor Kirk Morri ("The Conjuring" films, "Furious 7," the "Insidious" films), and production designer Bill Brzeski ("Furious 7"). They are joined by costume designer Kym Barrett ("The Matrix" trilogy, "The Amazing Spider-Man") and composer Rupert Gregson-Williams ("Wonder Woman").

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If you haven't seen the trailer yet - have a look! Currently at 37 million views:



AQUAMAN opens in theaters on December 21 in IMAX 3D, 3D and flat.

Source: EW

TERMINATOR's Sarah Connor Returns!

This production looks like it's firing on all cylinders! Not only is James Cameron directly involved (T2 was his last), but now Linda Hamilton (Sarah Connor) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator) are joining along with some new cast.

Says Cameron: "As meaningful as (Sarah Connor) was to gender and action stars everywhere back then, it’s going to make a huge statement to have that seasoned warrior that she’s become return. There are 50-year-old, 60-year-old guys out there killing bad guys but there isn’t an example of that for women.

We’re starting a search for an 18-something woman to be the new centerpiece of the new story. We still fold time. We will have characters from the future and the present. There will be mostly new characters, but we'll have Arnold and Linda’s characters to anchor it."

Tim Miller (DEADPOOL) is directing. Cameron is writing (along with a writing room that included David Goyer (BATMAN BEGINS, THE DARK KNIGHT) and Justin Rhodes, Charles Eglee (DARK ANGEL) and also producing.

With this latest news, I think the pedigree being presented for this production is perfect. It'll be interesting to see if Cameron and Miller shoot this in native 3D. I'll wager they will. Can't wait for this! I wonder if Michael Biehn is in line to join... :-)

Source: THR

Will We Get The DEADPOOL We All Want?

As you probably know, it's official. DEADPOOL will be upon us on February 12, 2016. The question now is will it be authentic or a studio ravaged shell of what could have been?

I'm hearing rumors from a few sources that Fox is indeed leaning toward a PG-13 rating which is NOT in the best interest of the character and therefore the story. Vicious language is the single most in-your-face trait of the "Merc with a mouth", without which I'm about as excited to see it as I am a Wolverine movie without his claws. Fox needs to pay attention to this. I don't care what sort of gimmick you have up your sleeve to try and get away with it, I want AN AUTHENTIC CHARACTER. They're already screwed up his first screen appearance. I fully expect more.

The one saving grace? Kevin Feige is producing. He is Mr. Marvel and if anyone can enforce a proper character and build a suitable franchise it's him. But again, I don't want a compromise! I want DEADPOOL.

I've even heard someone say that if I liked the leaked test footage (see video below), then you will like a PG-13 full movie. Perhaps. But I want to LOVE the full movie and I won't with the un-fermented "likeable" version.

The more intrusive studio heads sticking their opinions into a beloved and quite likely bankable super hero, the more likely this will turn out to bomb.

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool is perfect casting. I think they will get that right. But my opinion is DEADPOOL needs to be rated R for language and violence. If it isn't, look out for another box office albatross for Reynolds. RIPD and GREEN LANTERN are not a good indicator of his talent.

And for Pete's sake, shoot this thing in native 3D!

DEADPOOL is slated for a Feb 12, 2016 release.

Sigourney Weaver Returning For More AVATAR Sequels - But NOT As Augustine!

I had anticipated a twist in how Sigourney Weaver would be brought back to life in the sequels - this is sci-fi after all, so why not a different character? It makes sense. Perhaps a part of Ewya (the Na'vi "God" of Pandora)? Perhaps representing Ewya? Hmmm.

The news is exciting as it kind of delineates official communication about the AVATAR sequels from Cameron and the studio. The statement was made by Cameron and 20th Century Fox Monday.

Anyway, here's what James Cameron had to say bringing this to light:
"Sigourney and I have a long creative history, dating back to 1985 when we made ‘Aliens. We’re good friends who’ve always worked well together, so it just feels right that she’s coming back for the Avatar sequels. Her character of Grace Augustine, as fans know, died in the first movie, so she’s playing a different and in many ways more challenging character in the upcoming films. We’re both looking forward to this new creative challenge, the latest chapter in our long and continuing collaboration." 

Yes, Cameron said sequels - plural. Weaver will be playing this new character through at least 2 of the 3 upcoming movies it seems.

More info when I get it!

AVATAR 2, 3 and 4 are slate for release in December 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively. For all of our AVATAR news, click here. Thanks Morka for the heads up :-)

Ben Foster To Play A Mage In Duncan Jones' WARCRAFT

Yes! Was hoping for this role for him in WARCRAFT. I have been amazed at Ben Foster's work since I saw him in 3:10 TO YUMA and I have yet to see him fail at a character. I was so happy to hear he was cast in Duncan Jones' WARCRAFT and it didn't really matter what role he was cast for - I knew he'd nail it. Foster as a Mage makes sense. Foster isn't a huge guy (so a tank is out really) but he does have a scowl that can easily be the perfect accoutrement to cast spells. :-)

Says Foster: "The character in Warcraft that I play is named Medivh. He’s a mage, which is essentially a sorcerer. He came up in a time protecting an area, and the way he protected this area was through magic. As peace returned to this land he took a break. He hung up his staff, so to speak, or let his guns get dusty. We meet him as his friends are returning asking for his help in a battle.

What's exciting about Duncan Jones' take on this video game is that it shows both sides of the war. It shows both sides of a conflict, which is exciting to me. It's not just a video game turned into a movie. It's asking, hopefully, an important question of, where do we limit our compassion for what we consider to be the bad guys?"

...And Foster had this little nugget:  "The way that they're pushing motion-capture -- I just saw some of the test footage -- it's unlike anything I've ever seen. It's performance-capture. It pushes it to the next level. It's going to be one helluva 3D event."

And one whether his role is a performance captured character:  "No, mine's not, but there are interactions with a lot of characters that are. There are a lot of different kinds of creatures in this picture that I interact with."

WARCRAFT logs into our world on March 11, 2016.

Source: IGN 

Star Wars Episode 7 Cast Revealed!

Tim here. It's Official: The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film.

Director J.J. Abrams says, "We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud."

Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams returns as the composer.  

The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015.

Michael Douglas Joins Marvel's ANT-MAN As Hank Pym !

As you probably already know, we don't usually post stories on casting unless it is a jaw dropper that could potentially change the trajectory of a production.

Michael Douglas is one of those types of actors! Love him in just about everything he does right back to THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO which I barely remember as a child. Sure I was intrigued by the selection of Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, but I didn't go "wow". I definitely think it will work with him as the lead, but I've never really resonated with him as an A-list actor. Douglas? He is Mr. A-list in my book. Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Jack Nicholson, Harrison Ford and Sean Connery define "movie star" for me. In other words, you've got to earn it over a career.

So now I'm definitely excited with ANT-MAN. Sure the story always held tons of promise, but now the characters can be solidly built around these two anchor actors. Edgar Wright was always a great choice for director from the get-go and I think Marvel has slam dunked another one here.

Apparently Douglas was asked earlier on in the pre-production but he had reservations of some sort or another. Those appear to have been resolved (salary issues? Perhaps. Marvel is known for tight purse strings) and Mr. Gecko himself is stepping up. I'm smiling at Bud Fox right now; my limo window closing...

Here's what producer Kevin Feige had to say about the announcement: "With Hank Pym’s rich history in the Marvel Universe, we knew we needed an actor capable of bringing the weight and stature to the role that the character deserves,” said Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. “We felt incredibly relieved when Michael Douglas agreed to step into the part with the charm and fortitude he brings to every character he inhabits, and couldn’t be more excited to see what he will do to bring Hank Pym to life."

Indeed history and the importance of Pym in the Marvel Universe plays very key roles here. How is Wright and Marvel dealing with how to boot up this franchise? A younger Pym? And older Pym with the suit and name passed on to Lang? Many, many questions that all seem much more intriguing now with Douglas in the mix.

More when we get it!

ANT-MAN is slated to open on July 31, 2015.

Source: Variety

James Franco Joins Wim Wenders' Next 3D Project: EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE

Yet another adult drama being shot in 3D! The timing for this announcement couldn't be better with the pending release of Baz Luhrmann's THE GREAT GATSBY. We're entering a new phase for 3D - one that says 'I don't care what genre you're shooting in - make it 3D'.

World renowned director Wim Wenders (PINA) has just inked James Franco to star in his next 3D project entitled EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.

Says Wenders on the movie: "A family drama, unraveling over the course of twelve years. ...And I’m convinced that the medium (3D) lends itself really well to an intimate story."


Here's the storyline for the movie:
A writer (Franco) who accidentally causes the death of a child and the story that follows him over the next 12 years as he looks for the footprints of the accident on his life, as well as on the life of the child’s mother.

More when we get it! Assuming this project will be shot in native 3D as was Wenders' Oscar nominated PINA.

Source: THR

Mark Wahlberg Looking Solid For TRANSFORMERS 4

A while ago, Michael Bay quickly dismissed rumors about Mark Wahlberg being considered for TRANSFORMERS 4 but apparently those very same rumors got Michael Bay thinking about actually using Wahlberg for the the movie.

That, or the original rumors were true. Doesn't really matter though - the end result is that Bay is indeed thinking very seriously about Wahlberg and it looks like it will happen.

Hit the jump to read what Bay had to say on the matter:

TARZAN Set To Swing With Kellan Lutz And Spencer Locke

You may remember Kellan Lutz from the TWILIGHT movies (or may not if you haven't seen them) and his counterpart in TARZAN, Spencer Locke from the RESIDENT EVIL franchise.

Constantin Films has had TARZAN under development for some time now flying under the radar but now things are definitely picking up. 

Details as to how the movie will shoot are turning up too and they will be using Performance Capture, which is music to my ears. The co-directors are Reinhard Klooss and Holger Tappe who are using an adaptation by Klooss, Yoni Brenner and Jessica Postigo from the original written by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Locke is also currently starring in DETENTION with Josh Hutcherson and Dane Cook, a movie co-written and co-produced by a Halifax, Nova Scotia native Mark Palmero (My hometown, so kudos!).

Here is the storyline for the movie, which updates the classic:
Tarzan’s parents, billionaire adventurers, are killed in airplane crash rather than being marooned with their child. And the movie’s villain is the CEO of Greystoke Energies, a man who took over the company from Tarzan’s deceased parents. In the script, Jane is the daughter of an African guide and is committed to the conservation and preservation of the African jungle. She eventually works with Tarzan to defeat the mercenary army of Greystoke Energies.

I don't know how the story will exactly work, but I like that they are going to use PerfCap to get it done technically. The end result should at least LOOK GOOD. Environmental message movies are hot right now, especially after AVATAR so if this is done right, it could pull in some decent dollars and maybe actually do the world some good as far as conservation awareness is concerned.

Source: THR

Ruffalo Has A 6 Picture Deal With Marvel To Play HULK!!

Yes! With apparent word of mouth that Mark Ruffalo NAILED playing Hulk in THE AVENGERS, this news will be welcome indeed to Marvel fanatics worldwide, including me. Ruffalo has committed to doing 6 movies as Hulk and with that means with utmost certainty that he will have stand alone HULK movies.

Rather than tell you exactly what he said - have a listen! Steve over at Collider got the exclusive on this one:

Here's what's in the interview:
- His reaction to reading the script for the first time and the challenges of fitting in so many characters into one movie
- We talk about how funny the movie is.

- Reveals that he signed a 6 picture deal.

- Talks about how he now wants to make a lot more Marvel movies.
- Talks about a deleted scene he’s sad that was cut.

SPOILER ALERT: Want To Know Who The Villain Is In STAR TREK 2? And MORE...

Ok guys - this post has the potential to be absolutely full of spoilers from beginning to end so beware of the following content!!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's what we have learned from the site TrekMovie (generally fairly good sources):

- New Shots of Zachary Quinto as Spock!!  (as shown) Man, does he EVER look like Nimoy. Perfect casting - he seems to be getting more and more like him as he ages!


- Benedict Cumberbatch IS Khan Noonien Singh after all. There has been speculation ricocheting around the interwebs for some time now that this was the case, but no definitive proof and a lot of polarization on the issues. One one hand you have the purists who say that no one can fill the shoes of Ricardo Montalban's Khan (it IS hard to argue against that point), but on the other hand you have the fans that point to a new reboot of the franchise and to not reintroduce one of the most memorable villains in all of Sci-fi history is blasphemy. Apparently there are now enough independent sources backing this information that it seems highly likely that Cumberbatch is Khan. Scary? Not completely. Cumberbatch is currently filling very challenging shoes indeed with his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes and comes across as an intellectual with complete validity. My worry is more on the physical side - Khan was genetically superior in strength as well. Can Cumberbatch match Montalban? Remains to be seen.

- Leonard Nimoy returns as Spock Prime. A surprise in that it was thought that he retired from movies entirely. Now AICN is saying that Nimoy will definitely return and will have "long and stately robes".

- There's a "deep space" smackdown between Kirk and Khan in space suits. "Flying" suits as per AICN's contact.

- Klingons will be in STAR TREK 2. TrekMovie sources indicate that this time the Klingons are not a sub-plot that could be easily cut out of the film (as in Abrams' STAR TREK), so we will finally see the JJ-verse version of Klingons on the big screen.

SO. A lot to digest and if you are a solid Star Trek fan as I am - you may be a bit worried about including Khan. It HAS to be perfect. If it isn't... then hell hath no fury like a Trek fan scorned.

Guy Pearce Is Trying On Some New Genes With IRON MAN 3!

Ah yes, the overdue rising star named Guy Pearce! You have to love his short viral marketing piece he did as Peter Weyland for Ridley Scott's PROMETHEUS and if you haven't seen LOCKOUT yet, do it - I had fun.

Pearce is definitely making a solid move into A-list territory and to me he has always been one of my favorite actors since I saw him in THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO.

Now comes word that he is in final talks to star in IRON MAN 3 as the geneticist Aldrich Killian who will supposedly co-create "Extremis" nanotechnology. He may or may not then turn around and sell it to terrorists. Not good. A virus is supposed to be spread via this nanotech.

Ben Kingsley may be joining the cast too and there has been some conjecture about what role he might play. One of the terrorists perhaps? Or the other co-creator (if they decide to make this role a male instead the female Maya Hansen)?

Marvel again seems to be lining up a top flight sequel here. Shane Black is a great choice as director, the casting is bang-on thus far and the story seems quite interesting - apparently it will not only bring in the aforementioned nanotech but will also be very Tony Stark centric, highlighting his intellectual prowess. Love it.

Looks like production starts in May with a slated May 3, 2013 release. Nice job so far Marvel!


Source: Variety

PARADISE LOST Finds Its Archangel Michael: Benjamin Walker

Apparently Benjamin Walker (Pictured on far left) (ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER) is in negotiations to play the archangel Michael in Alex Proyas' PARADISE LOST. The classic story of good vs. evil will pit Walker against Bradley Cooper's Lucifer.

Says Proyas: "I've sometimes thought that only an insane person would want to make this movie, because it's visually audacious and has to live up to a classic poem that is so beloved. I don't think the visuals could have been done justice until now, which is the great fun of being a film director in this modern age of visual effects. Despite all those possibilities, the characters are what's most important. His deal isn't closed yet, but I think there's a wonderful duality about Ben's persona, this combination of great strength and perfect innocence that works so well for Michael. And Bradley is the most charming guy you'll ever meet, with this extraordinary charisma. Lucifer was the brightest and smartest of the archangels, and even as he descended into evil and evolved into Satan, he's not just some black-and-white villain. Bradley brings extraordinary depth to that journey."

Shooting starts in Sydney this January. Look for PARADISE LOST in theaters in Q4 of 2013.

Source: Deadline

Robin McLeavy Snags Her First Tentpole! The First Lady Of A Vampire Hunter!

Apparently Robin McLeavy has edged out Mary Elizabeth Winstead for the coveted role of Mary Todd, the wife of Abraham Lincoln. However the movie is ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER so there is bound to be some "artistic freedoms" from actual historical fact. Or will there? :-)

Regardless, director Timur Bakmambetov is choosing to use lesser known actors for the roles. This suits me just fine. Audiences will be suspending their disbelief quite often in this movie so for me lesser known actors help. LatinoReview broke the story of her landing the role.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER is staked out for a June 22, 2012 release.

Nicholas Hoult Is JACK THE GIANT KILLER

Bryan Singer's anticipated take on the Jack And The Beanstalk tale is taking shape with the casting of the lead actor as a "farmer who leads an expedition into the giants' kingdom to rescue a kidnapped princess." Nicholas Hoult (X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, CLASH OF THE TITANS) hopes to continue his rapid ascention into greater and greater roles with this opportunity.

Singer is producing X-MEN: FIRST CLASS so it is not a great surprise that he has tapped Hoult for the part.

JACK THE GIANT KILLER is slated for a 2012 release. More info when I get it!

Source: Deadline

Exclusive: Press Conference TODAY With "The Dwarves" Of THE HOBBIT!!

**SAME DAY UPDATE: And just as we said - here are the details from the conference (which PJ missed unfortunately). Not too earth shattering, but cool all the same! (Photo updated with shot of cast table)

**AND now a video of the conference!

EXCLUSIVE: I have heard from one of my top sources on THE HOBBIT mere minutes ago and he says later today (Friday, New Zealand time) there will be a press conference with "The dwarves" in attendance!!

Wish I was there. The content of the conference is so hush-hush that even he doesn't know what will transpire. Further casting announcements perhaps?

What we DO know is that shooting will commence on March 21. Hopefully Peter Jackson will be back up to par (or better) by then!

Will let you know what happens at the conference as soon as I find out!! Stay tuned...

Ben Walker Wins Election: Takes Titular Role In ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER

Beating out other actors for the coveted role (like Adrien Brody, James D'Arcy, Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Josh Lucas), Ben Walker has assumed the mantle of ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER.

The movie will be shot in native 3D starting this March and slated for release June 22, 2012. Timur Bekmambetov will direct the Tim Burton and Jim Lemley production for Fox.

SPOILERS: Here is a fairly detailed description of the book - Warning: Do not read if you want a pristine viewing experience!! Many elements are sure to be used in the adapted screenplay...

The epistolary-style book is written as a biography of Abraham Lincoln, based on "secret diaries" kept by the 16th President and given to the author by a vampire named Henry Sturges.

When Lincoln is eleven years old, he learns from his father Thomas Lincoln that vampires are in fact real creatures. Thomas explains to his son that a vampire killed Abraham's grandfather (also named Abraham Lincoln) in 1786. Young Abraham is also shocked to learn that his beloved mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln succumbed not to milk sickness but rather to being given a "fool's dose" of vampire blood, the result of Thomas's failure to repay a debt. Lincoln vows in his diary to kill as many vampires as he can. A year later he lures the vampire responsible for his mother's death to the family farm and manages to kill it with a homemade stake.

At the age of sixteen Lincoln gets word of a possible vampire attack along the Ohio River and investigates, but this time he is no match for the vampire and is nearly killed. He is saved at the last moment by the intervention of the vampire Henry Sturges. Henry nurses Lincoln back to health and explains some of the nature of vampirism, emphasizing that some vampires are good and others are evil. Lincoln spends the summer with Henry and trains for combat, becoming a skilled wrestler and axe-handler. For several years following, Henry sends Lincoln the names and addresses of evil vampires; Abraham dutifully tracks them down and kills them.

As a young adult Lincoln and a friend travel down the Mississippi River to New Orleans on a flatboat to sell a number of goods. Here Lincoln's life is changed forever after he witnesses a slave auction. Lincoln follows a slave buyer and his new slaves back to their plantation and discovers to his horror that the buyer is a vampire - the slaves are to be used not for labor but for food. Lincoln writes in his diary his belief that vampires will continue to exist in America as long as they can easily buy their victims in this manner - to end slavery is to end the scourge of vampires. Lincoln becomes an Abolitionist.

Lincoln returns to his home in New Salem and begins his business and political careers by day, continuing to track down the vampires in Henry's letters at night. His life is once again tinged by tragedy when his lover Ann Rutledge is attacked and murdered by her ex-fiance John McNamar, now a vampire living in New York City. With Henry's help, Lincoln catches McNamar and kills him, but he decides to give up vampire hunting and instead concentrate on his daytime pursuits. He marries Mary Todd, begins to raise a family, starts a law firm, and is elected to a term in the United States House of Representatives.

While in Washington, Lincoln meets his old friend Edgar Allan Poe, who also knows the truth about vampires. Poe tells Lincoln that the vampires are being chased out of their ancestral homes in Europe (in part because of a public outcry over the bloody atrocities of Elizabeth Báthory) and are flocking to America because of the slave trade. Poe warns that if the vampires are left unchecked they will eventually seek to enslave all Americans, white and black. Lincoln leaves Washington in 1849 and declines to seek re-election; Poe is found murdered that same year in Baltimore, the victim of a vampire attack.

In 1857 Henry summons Lincoln to New York City. Here Lincoln and fellow vampire slayer William Seward are told that the vampires in the South intend to start a civil war so that they can conquer the north and enslave everyone. Lincoln is ordered to debate Stephen A. Douglas in what become known as the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Although Lincoln loses to Douglas (an ally of the Southern vampires), he gains a great deal of publicity and respect, which allows him to capture the Republican Party nomination for president and then the office itself.

Lincoln's election triggers the secession of the southern states and the start of the American Civil War. Early battles, such as the First Battle of Bull Run go poorly for the Union troops after they are attacked by Confederate vampires. Lincoln decides that the best way to defeat the vampires is to eliminate their food source and starve them out — to that end, he announces the Emancipation Proclamation and encourages the slaves to fight back against slave owners and vampires alike. This begins to turn the tide of the war.

However, the war takes a personal toll on Lincoln. A vampire assassin sneaks onto the White House lawn and kills Willie Lincoln, the President's 11-year-old son. Henry appears at the White House and offers to turn Willie into a vampire so that he will "live" again, but Lincoln is unwilling to allow it. Enraged, he banishes Henry and all other vampires from the White House and refuses to speak to any of them ever again.

The war ends with the South's defeat. Lincoln receives reports that the vampires in the South are fleeing to Asia and South America in the wake of the slave system's collapse. Happy for the first time in many years, he attends a play at Ford's Theater, only to be assassinated by the actor and vampire John Wilkes Booth. Booth expects the vampires to rally around President Lincoln's death, but instead finds himself shunned and hiding in a Virginia barn as Union troops arrive to arrest him. Henry arrives and confronts Booth inside the burning barn; it is implied that Henry is the one who kills Booth.

Lincoln's death is mourned by the nation. His body is brought by a funeral train back to Springfield, Illinois, where Henry stands guard.

The biography concludes with Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial. Both Abraham Lincoln and Henry Sturges attend and Lincoln writes about spending the previous night at the White House. Henry has used his powers to turn Lincoln into a vampire, believing that "some men are just too interesting to die".

Looking forward to this one! Zombies I think would have been more appealing to me, but that's personal preference :-) More when I get it...

PROMETHEUS Update: Michael Fassbender Signed And A New Release Date!

Perfect! Michael Fassbender (INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS) has got what so many search for: Screen presence. Ridley Scott has signed on Fassbender to star along side of Noomi Rapace (THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO) in his upcoming S3D sci-fi thriller PROMETHEUS.

Fassbender assumes the role of an android and has been circling since last year according to THR. As reported earlier, Charlize Theron and Angelina Jolie are also considering the remaining large female part left on the table.

In further related news, Fox has moved the project from a March 2012 release to later in the year, June 8.

Wow - I am completely thrilled with this casting announcement! Stay tuned for more when I get it...

Ian McKellen And Andy Serkis Sign On For THE HOBBIT!

THR is reporting that Ian McKellen has officially signed on to reprise his Gandalf role in THE HOBBIT as well as Andy Serkis apparently confirming his role as Gollum (via Deadline). Keep in mind there is no confirmation from Serkis yet, but this eventuality has always been a slam dunk.

Warner Bros. is now fully financing THE HOBBIT(s) and will be distributing the movies worldwide.

THE HOBBIT starts lensing in New Zealand on February 14 and I WILL have exclusive updates for you from my embedded sources! That's a slam dunk too :-)