Wolverine 2 and other casting news

[Mikey]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Wolverine Sequel Already in the Works

Los Angeles (E! Online) – X marks the spot for a Wolverine sequel.

Just two days after Hugh Jackman's domination of the box office—Box Office Mojo estimates the film's worldwide gross at $158.2 million and counting—comes the rather unsurprising word that a follow-up to the origin story is already in the works.

According to Variety, the sequel, which will mark Jackman's fifth time donning the killer claws, will focus on the X-Men comic's samurai storyline, the Japanese locale setup for which is teased after the blockbuster film's end credits.

Meanwhile, the action star Oscar host is showing no signs of slowing—or being typecast—with no fewer than four other projects in the works, one of which will be a 2010 return to Broadway as the titular Houdini.

Rounding out today's star-studded castings: Ben Stiller, Christina Aguilera, Wilmer Valderrama, Peter Dinklage, Ken Watanabe and the newest Mad Man.

As for Jackman's big screen ambitions, he's looking to reteam with his Oscars duet partner Anne Hathaway in the big screen adaptation of the musical Carousel. Per the trade, he's also on board to star in the race car-centric Drive and as an heiress-protecting NYC detective in Personal Security.

In other notable casting news:

• Ben Stiller is resurrecting Used Guys, the years-old futuristic romantic comedy he was originally intended to star in alongside Jim Carrey. Per Variety, Stiller is bringing the film, set in a world in which women clone and trade men, back to the big screen, looking to star and produce the reborn flick. Reese Witherspoon has been approached to take on the female lead as the owner of Stiller's suddenly obsolete clone model.

• Christina Aguilera is bringing her big voice to the big screen, signing on to make her film debut in Burlesque, a contemporary musical. E! News confirms that Aguilera will play an ambitious small-town girl who finds love and success in a Los Angeles nightclub in the film, produced by Screen Gems, the same studio that helped shepherd Beyoncé's Obsessed to a No. 1 debut.

• Ken Watanabe and Tom Hardy are starting up Inception. Per the Hollywood Reporter, the duo join Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Cillian Murphy and Marion Cotillard in Christopher Nolan's sci-fi action flick about a blackmailed CEO. The film is aiming for a summer 2010 release.

• Wilmer Valderrama and Jason Ritter are making their way to The Dry Land, an indie drama following a young soldier returning to a now unsatisfying small-town life. Per the Hollywood Reporter, America Ferrera and Melissa Leo costar.

• Jared Harris is on the Fringe no more. The thesp is making the jump over to Mad Men, per the Hollywood Reporter, signing on to star as Sterling Cooper's new financial officer Lane Pryce for the cable drama's third season. The show will return to AMC in August.

• Peter Dinklage is heading Down Under, joining Chuck's Yvonne Strahovski, Noise's Brendan Cowell and Aussie supermodel Megan Gale in the romantic comedy I Love You Too. Per the Hollywood Reporter, the film centers on a commitment-phobe and New Ager, both of whom embark on a quest to win over their dream woman. Shooting kicked off in Melbourne this week.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Mikey]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Reynolds to reprise Deadpool in "X-Men" spin-off

By Borys Kit Borys Kit – Tue May 5, 11:01 pm ET

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Fresh off the muscular box-office performance of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," one of the film's characters is headed for a movie of his own.

20th Century Fox is developing a spin-off featuring Deadpool, the wise-cracking mercenary played in the film by Ryan Reynolds.

In "Deadpool," Reynolds will reprise the "merc with a mouth," known for his slapstick tone and propensity to break the fourth wall.

It is understood that the character would regain the ability to mouth off, after having suffered a setback in "Wolverine." Deadpool also was disfigured in the current film, but it's unclear how much the studio would want to mess with Reynolds' handsome mug in the new feature.

Fox considered a "Deadpool" spin-off early in "Wolverine's" development process, and cast Reynolds with that possibility in mind.

Reynolds, onscreen in the ensemble coming-of-age movie "Adventureland," next stars opposite Sandra Bullock in Disney's romantic comedy "The Proposal."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Butcher]

I saw Wolverine last night. My mother-in-law is in town and after the kids went to bed, we figured we should take advantage of the situation and go check out a movie. I really wanted to see I Love You, Man, but the times weren't good. The only thing that was going to work out, timing-wise, was Wolverine.

So...it was pretty mediocre. Am I the only one who doesn't think it wasn't awesome? It's clearly making a crapload of money.

[Jody]

The story wasn't real good and it lacked in character development. The whole 'look to the sky when girlfriend dies and scream NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO' was a little over the top and cliche'. The action was good and I thought Deadpool was pretty cool. There could have been a LOT more Gambit. It's almost like they just threw him in there to appease the folks that were pissed that he wasn't in the other X-Men flicks.

[dvdastud]

<!--quoteo(post=35853:date=May 6 2009, 09:31 AM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ May 6 2009, 09:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I saw Wolverine last night. My mother-in-law is in town and after the kids went to bed, we figured we should take advantage of the situation and go check out a movie. I really wanted to see I Love You, Man, but the times weren't good. The only thing that was going to work out, timing-wise, was Wolverine.

So...it was pretty mediocre. Am I the only one who doesn't think it wasn't awesome? It's clearly making a crapload of money.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I agree that is why I watched it on the internet, I knew it wasn't going to be any good.

[Mikey]

we are going to go watch it Saturday.

[biggz]

I felt it was entertaining, but it wasn't anything special. The CGI claws were cheesy in some spots, and they kind of fucked up Deadpool. Wade Wilson was dead on, but he was shown for all of, what, 5 minutes? I think that can be redeemed, however, with the Deadpool ending shown after the credits. Gambit is my favorite X-Men, and I wished he was in it more. Hopefully he gets a spinoff.

I agree with Jody about the yelling to the sky part being hokey.

It was better than X1 and X3, but that is by default.

[bz]

It sucked. Ass.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=38581:date=May 18 2009, 07:39 PM:name=bz)-->QUOTE (bz @ May 18 2009, 07:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It sucked. Ass.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yep. I downloaded the unfinished screener a few months ago, popped it in and had a few beers. My friends and I were laughing our asses off throughout the entire thing. Corny.

[Auz]

I thought it wasn't bad to be honest. After reading some bad reviews I was expecting the worse, but came out thinking yeah not bad.

But yeah, Ryan Reynolds could have easily stolen the show if he was in the movie more. Same with Gambit for that matter. I just hope Gambit returns for the next one.