"The Dark Knight Rises" With Marion Cotillard ?

According to reports out of Europe, French actress Marion Cotillard ("Inception") has been cast to play in director Christopher Nolan's feature "The Dark Knight Rises".

Based on the DC Comics character 'Batman' created by Bob Kane, Warner Bros. "The Dark Knight Rises" will be the third and final installment in Nolan's 'Batman' film series, scheduled for theatrical release July 20, 2012.

Filming is scheduled to start May 2011, with Nolan's commitment to IMAX and high-definition cameras enabling him to avoid dim-image challenges that come with 3-D film, which he believed would distract audiences from the storyline.

"We’re looking to do something technologically that’s never been done before," said Nolan about the new film.

According to a leaked screenplay online, "The Dark Knight Rises", will feature the villains 'Killer Croc' and 'Hugo Strange', based on the DC Comics characters.

'Killer Croc' (aka 'Waylon Jones') was created by writer Gerry Conway and illustrator Gene Colan, debuting in "Batman" #357 (March 1983).

The character was born with a form of 'regressive atavism', or an inherited trait of reptilian ancestry, augmented by the presence of a 'metagene', enabling extraordinary physical abilities relating to endurance, strength, and speed.

Croc's skin is also hardened to the degree that it is nearly impenetrable to ordinary forms of abrasion including high caliber weapons fired from a distance.

'Professor Hugo Strange' first appeared in "Detective Comics" #36 (February 1940) and is one of Batman's first recurring villains, preceding 'Catwoman' who will also appear in "The Dark Knight Rises", portrayed by actress Anne Hathaway.

Along with Catwoman, female lead in "The Dark Knight Rises" will be the DC Comics character 'Talia al Ghul', debuting in "Detective Comics" #411 (May 1971).

Talia is the estranged daughter of supervillain 'Ra's al Ghul', a love interest for Batman and the mother of his son, 'Damian Wayne'.

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"The Adjustment Bureau": Your World Has Been Adjusted

Sneak Peek the new poster supporting the upcoming science fiction romance feature, "The Adjustment Bureau", based on author Philip K. Dick's short story, "Adjustment Team".

Written/directed by George Nolfi, the film stars Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, with Anthony Mackie, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Daniel Dae Kim, Michael Kelly, John Slattery, Terence Stamp and Anthony Ruivivar.

"...'David Norris' (Damon), a former Fordham University basketball player and charismatic United States Congressman who seems destined for national political stardom, meets ballet dancer 'Elise Sellas' (Blunt), only to find that strange circumstances keep them from becoming romantically involved.

"Norris discovers forces are at work to keep them apart, and he peels the layers back to find out why..."

"The Adjustment Bureau" will be released by Universal March 2011.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Adjustment Bureau"...

"Spidey" Caught In NY Department Of Labor Web

According to reports, the New York State Department of Labor has issued two safety violations against the Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark", based on the Marvel Comics superhero character, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

Safety violations were related to accidents last year, including one violation involving an actor who fell more than 20 feet during a performance and the other related to two performers injured while rehearsing a stunt in which cast members are catapulted from the back to the front of the stage.

State safety officials will now perform 'surprise inspections', with further violations leading to the withdrawal of variances issued last year allowing 'Spider-Man' aerial stunts.

Producers have 60 days to appeal the Labor Department findings.

Directed by Julie Taymor ("The Lion King") "Spider-Man", the multi-million dollar musical, noted as the most expensive show ever mounted on Broadway, has been delayed from opening four times since previews began Nov. 28.

Cast members injured include an actor playing 'Spider-Man' who fell 35 feet during a performance, suffering a skull fracture and cracked vertebrae, and a lead actress who left the show after she suffered a concussion.

"Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark" officially opens March 15, 2011.

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Mt Ngauruhoe Off Limits To "The Hobbit"

The central North Island range of Mt. Ngauruhoe in New Zealand, previously used as 'Mt. Doom' in director Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings", may now be off-limits to the cast and crew of New Line's "The Hobbit".

With five weeks to go before "The Hobbit" principle photography starts, the local Maori have refused Jackson permission to shoot in and around Mt. Ngauruhoe because the range has been declared 'sacred'.

Jackson and crew are currently looking for an alternative location at Mt. Taranaki in Queenstown and possibly the Southern Alps.

"There are some bits of bad luck associated with it," actor Martin Freeman cast as lead 'Bilbo Baggins' said about the troubled "Hobbit" shoot that has had its fair share of obstacles, including actors union, government problems, director Jackson's WETA workshop set on fire, a New Zealand background performer accusing "The Hobbit" casting directors of being 'racist', Jackson admitted to hospital for a perforated ulcer, etc.

"We're ready to go," said Freeman sarcastically, "just as soon as 2015 comes around."

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New Mexico Casting Call For "The Avengers"

The government of New Mexico, USA will be holding a Film and Media Day 2011, February 16 @ the Corner of Paseo de Peralta & Old Santa Fe Trail in Santa Fe, NM.

The free event will be attended by 'New Mexico Film Industry Professionals' and State Legislators, with an open invitation to "anyone interested in how movies are made and a chance to meet people working in the industry and get your foot in the door".

On the day, there will also be a 'casting call' 10AM-3PM, for the upcoming Marvel Studios, Paramount Pictures release of director Joss Whedon's "The Avengers", based on the Marvel Comics superhero team, as well as the AMC TV series "Breaking Bad" and USA Network's "In Plain Sight" :

"...We will be having the largest casting call that New Mexico has ever seen in which ALL of New Mexico's working Casting Directors and SAG franchised Talent Agents and/or their representatives will be present.

"If you would like to be a movie 'Extra' in MARVEL's 'AVENGERS' or on the Television shows 'BREAKING BAD' or 'IN PLAIN SIGHT' (filmed in the Albuquerque area) or any future feature films to be shot in New Mexico, all of the Casting Directors and Extras Casting will be on site to meet you, including EMMY nominated casting directors Jo Edna Boldin (CSA) and Angelique Midthunder (CSA). Photographers will be there to take your headshots for our database for FREE. A representative from the Screen Actors Guild will also be there to answer your questions about working as a professional actor in the local film industry..."

Also scheduled are 'Acting Classes' with actress Lora Cunningham ("Book Of Eli") in the 'casting tent', 'Classes' on how to be an 'extra' or 'stand-in', 'Stunt Demonstrations' by stunt co-ordinator Al Goto ("Breaking Bad"), 'Hair and Make-up' demonstrations by Katie Doughit ("Thor"), 'Wardrobe' with costumers Aleah Ames, Paula Trujillo, Claire Sandrin, Debra Chapman and Kate Czark, Emmy Award Winning Costume Designer Cathy Smith presenting some of her Native American costumes, 'Special Effects', movie FX demos and 'Editing', post-production classes and demonstrations.

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