Scarlett Johansson Going "Psycho"

Scarlett Johansson and James D'Arcy have now been cast to play 'Janet Leigh' and 'Anthony Perkins' opposite Anthony Hopkins as 'Alfred Hitchcock' in director Sasha Gervasi's upcoming Fox Searchlight feature "Alfred Hitchcock & the Making of Psycho", based on the book by author Stephen Rebello.

Published in 1990, the book details all aspects of the creation of Hitchcock's thriller "Psycho' released to theaters in 1960. From Hitchcock's acquisition of the original novel by author Robert Bloch to his work with two different screenwriters, casting, filming, editing, scoring, and promotion, the book takes readers into the day-to-day lives of moviemakers who believed they were making a modestly budgeted, black-and-white shocker that represented a radical departure from the elegant, suspenseful films that had made Hitchcock's reputation.

Rebello researched Hitchcock's personal records and archives, interviewing most of the "Psycho" surviving cast and crew members.

Prior to the book's publication, Rebello's initial research appeared as a 22-page article in the April 1986 issue of 'Cinefantastique' magazine titled "Psycho: The Making of Alfred Hitchcock's Masterpiece".

In other 'Hitchcock' film news, actress Sienna Miller ("Factory Girl") plays play real life actress 'Tippi Hedren', (female lead of director Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds") in what is being described as a 'harrowing drama' for BBC 2, focusing on Hedren, "...who was the victim of a twisted and obsessive infatuation by Alfred Hitchcock".

Co-produced by HBO, "The Girl", written by Gwyneth Hughes, to be aired in 2012, conveys the supposed harassment the 62-year-old film director inflicted on the 31-year-old , regarded as the last of the 'Hitchcock Blondes'.

Hitchcock, who made film stars out of blonde actresses Grace Kelly, Kim Novak and Eva Marie Saint, cast unknown model Hedren in "The Birds" (1963), after spotting her in a TV commercial for a diet drink on NBC's "The Today Show" in 1962.

"...he soon became obsessed with her and began trying to control all aspects of her life, bombarding her with unwanted gifts and even forbidding her to share cars with male co-stars as he pursued the impossible dream of winning her love..."

Hedren went on to feature in Hitchcock's next film, "Marnie" (1964), co-starring Sean Connery, but refused any further work with the director, later saying she was unable to handle Hitchcock's sexual advances.

"Everyone knows Hitchcock was keen on his blondes," said writer Hughes, "Unfortunately for Tippi, he developed a twisted and obsessive love for her that left her feeling isolated and terrified. He made repeated sexual advances towards her and tried to take over her life."

Actor Toby Jones, plays Hitchcock, with Imelda Staunton as Hitch's long-suffering wife.

The real Tippi Hedren, now 80-years old, is the mother of actress Melanie Griffith ("Body Double").

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Tippi Hedren in "The Birds" and "Marnie" as well as the trailer for "Psycho"...

"Wolverine & The X-Men: Alpha & Omega" - March 7, 2012

Marvel Comics' "Wolverine & The X-Men: Alpha & Omega #3, available March 7, 2012, is written by Brian Wood and illustrated by Mark Brooks, Roland Boschi with a cover by John Tyler Christopher :

"...'Quentin' loses control over the construct, while the health of 'Logan' detoriates further. Meanwhile, in the real world, the 'Berserker' invades 'The Jean Grey School'..."

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"The Defenders": Protecting Humanity From The Impossible

Marvel Comics' "The Defenders" #4, available March 7, 2012, is written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Terry Dodson, with covers by Dodson and Dale Keown :

"...who is the great lost love of 'Dr. Strange', why does a young-gun magician have Strange in his sights and what is The Concordance Engine...?"

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"Mass Effect 3": Official Launch Trailer

Thanks to BigGameHunter, Sneak Peek the Official Launch Trailer supporting "Mass Effect 3", the upcoming video game from Canadian developer BioWare, published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Scheduled for a March 6, 2012 release, the game will mark the third and final chapter in the "Mass Effect" trilogy of video games.

"Mass Effect 3" continues from events established in previous "Mass Effect" video games, following 'Commander Shepard' who tries to save the galaxy from the 'Reapers'.

Shepard rallys alien civilizations together, while defending himself against 'Cerberus'.

Unlike "Mass Effect 2", Shepard will start the game with powers, with the 'character creator' offering more features.

Two love interests will also look for Shepard's attention in "Mass Effect 3", with a 'love triangle' to be graphically resolved by the end of the game.

Locations include the main homeworld 'Sur'Kesh', the 'Asari' homeworld 'Thessia', the 'Turian' homeworld 'Palaven', the 'Quarian' homeworld 'Rannoch', a human mining base located in a Martian crater and a giant metropolis on Earth.

Players will also be able to return to 'Tuchanka', the 'Krogan' homeworld.

Characters in the game include 'Illusive Man', 'Garrus Vakarian', 'Liara T'Soni', 'Kaidan Alenko', 'Ashley Williams', 'Legion', 'Tali'Zorah', 'Urdnot Wrex', 'Jack', 'Mordin Solus', 'Ambassador Udina', 'Captain Anderson', 'Zaeed Massani', 'Kelly Chambers', 'Thane Krios', 'Jacob Taylor', 'Miranda Lawson' and 'James Vega'.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Mass Effect 3"...

"ParaNorman" : The 'Ghoul Whisperer'

Sneak Peek the new poster and trailer supporting Focus Features' upcoming animated film "ParaNorman", produced by Laika ("Coraline") :

"...when a small town comes under siege by 'zombies', who can it call ? Only misunderstood local boy 'Norman' ('Kodi Smit-McPhee), who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he'll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, 'grown-ups', to save his town from a centuries-old curse.But this young 'ghoul whisperer 'may yet find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits..."

Cast includes Casey Affleck, Tempestt Bledsoe, Jeff Garlin, John Goodman, Bernard Hill, Anna Kendrick, Leslie Mann, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Tucker Albrizzi, Alex Borstein, Jodelle Ferland and Elaine Stritch.

"ParaNorman" will be released August 17, 2012.

Click the images to enlarge...

"Spartacus: Vengeance: Chosen Path"

Sneak Peek new images and advance clip from the "Spartacus: Vengeance" episode, "Chosen Path".

Episode #6 airs Friday, March 2, 2012 on Starz.

Previously on "Spartacus: Vengeance" :

"...on the heels of the bloody escape from the 'House of Batiatus' that concluded 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand', the gladiator rebellion continues and begins to strike fear into the heart of the Roman Republic.

"'Gaius Claudius Glaber' and his Roman troops are sent to 'Capua' to crush the growing band of freed slaves that 'Spartacus' leads before it can inflict further damage.

"Spartacus is presented the choice of satisfying his personal need for vengeance against the man that condemned his wife to slavery and eventual death or making the larger sacrifices necessary to keep his budding army from breaking apart..."

In "Chosen Path" :

"...'Spartacus' urges his restless rebels to train for the defense of their new sanctuary, while 'Lucretia' seeks comfort from 'Ilithyia' and

"Glaber’s forces swell with deadly new recruits."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Spartacus: Vengeance" - "Chosen Path"...

"Monte-Carlo Television Festival" - June 10-14, 2012

Sneak Peek the new poster supporting the 52nd edition of the "Monte-Carlo Television Festival" ("Festival de Télévision de Monte-Carlo"), a Monaco Mediax event.

The annual event was created in 1961 by Prince Rainier III of Monaco, to "...encourage a new art form, in the service of peace and understanding between men..."

In 2002, the Festival was reorganized to include additional categories in the television industry.

Top prize in the Fest is a gold copy statuette of the "Salmacis" Nymph by Monegasque sculptor, François Joseph Bosio, commonly known as a 'Golden Nymph'.

"Ten television sets are sold around the world every second," said Laurent Puons, Vice President of the 52nd Festival."This figure doesn’t include mobile telephones, tablets or all the other devices that enable us to watch our favourite series, films and programmes, keeping us in touch with what’s going on in the world through news broadcasts. The 52nd Monte-Carlo Television Festival will be orientated around this notion.

"I can promise you five days of dreams coming true, special events, parties, screenings, unforgettable memories, passion and a few delightful surprises."

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Sony Eyes "Bloodshot"

Columbia Pictures is closing a deal to acquire rights to adapt the Valiant comics character "Bloodshot" into a feature film to be produced by Neal H. Moritz through his Original Film banner and Jason Kothari and Dinesh Shamdasani on behalf of Valiant Entertainment. Screenplay will be written by Jeff Wadlow.

"Bloodshot" debuted in 1992, appearing in over 70 issues, selling seven million comic books globally.

"The 'Bloodshot' character has been a fan favorite for nearly two decades," said Sony. "Because there have been more than 1,500 pages of storylines published, there is a rich legacy to draw from as we develop the screenplay."

"...'Angelo Mortalli' had his memories erased and his blood infused with microscopic computers called 'nanites', allowing him to heal wounds quickly, dominate electronic devices and fully control every aspect of his body to maximize his physical capabilities.

"...A modern-day 'Frankenstein', he wages a one man war — taking out the mob, the police and his covert government creators — in his struggle to find out who he was and what he has become..."

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