Popcorn: Stallone sets sights on Expendables 2

Joe Griffin

August 20 2010 04:44 AM

Currently basking in a glorious comeback, Sylvester Stallone, co-writer/producer, director and star of The Expendables is already talking about a sequel.

With a galaxy of former action icons, the film opened at number one in the States, ahead of the Julia Roberts film Eat, Pray, Love and hip action/comedy Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Stallone said "[Part 2 is] plotted out in my mind's eye. How do you get new people introduced into the group, and how do you have some of the other people leaving?" This writer humbly suggests that Stallone casts Chuck Norris, Chow Yun-Fat and Wesley Snipes in the sequel.

Toy Story 3 is the biggest animation of all time

God bless Pixar and their increasingly awesome output. Their latest gift to the world, Toy Story 3, not only surpassed the first two films in quality, but is now the biggest-grossing animated film ever. It's already crept into the list of top-10 highest-grossing films of all time with (at time of writing) worldwide box office upwards of $940m.

Another dash of Salt?

Sony Pictures are considering another seasoning of Salt, the action thriller starring Angelina Jolie (right). The starlet plays an American agent with possible Russian ties (ooh, topical!) who goes on the run to clear her name. Kurt Wimmer, the film's writer, has ideas of how to continue the story and Jolie and director Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games) are keen to return to the character.

Rooney Mara inks Dragon Tattoo

Following a drawn-out process that's been publically discussed at length (including on these pages), director David Fincher has finally cast the coveted title role in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. And the winner of a new franchise and instant fame is ... Rooney Mara. The young American actress has previously appeared in the recent (and lame) Nightmare on Elm Street remake and in the much underrated teen comedy Youth in Revolt. As you probably know, the American adaptation of the bestseller will also star one Daniel Craig.

X-Men prequel gets new classmates

Matthew Vaughn (Stardust, Kick-Ass) is well into preproduction for X-Men: First Class now, with the cast rounding out nicely. It's already been reported that Kerryman Michael Fassbender will play the young Magneto (the villain who was played by Ian McKellen in recent years) and James McAvoy will take over from Patrick Stewart as the young, benevolent Professor X. Now we have Rose Byrne (from Damages and Get Him to the Greek), popular character actor Oliver Platt and rising actress Alice Eve, who you might remember as the nanny with a terrible Irish accent in Sex and the City 2.

Joaquin Phoenix documentary raises more questions than answers

Remember two years ago when Joaquin Phoenix said he was giving up acting for music? He then grew a huge beard and made a series of bizarre public appearances, many of which featured Phoenix attempting to rap. I'm Still Here: The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix is a documentary on the subject, and yet even those who have seen it are still none the wiser. Is he really ditching his acting career to pursue hip hop, or is the whole thing just a hoax? A teaser trailer is online and the film opens Stateside next month.