News and Notes

Considering 300: Battle of Artemisia is a prequel to 300, it's not a complete surprise that Gerard Butler won't be reprising his role of King Leonidas. Producer Bernie Goldman says there was a part for him and Lena Heady in the script, if he wanted it. "It's a different story. There's a small part for Lena. There's a small part for Gerry." Butler told MTV that "it wasn't really my thing," though he wouldn't say what specifically he didn't like about the new movie.

- David Cronenberg's Videodrome is the latest '80s film to get the remake treatment. Universal Pictures has hired commericals director Adam Berg to helm the re-telling of a man who transfixed viewers by airing a television show called Videodrome that depicts torture and murder. The original film starred James Woods and grew to become a cult classic. When the project was first announced, it was said to be modernized by focusing on nanotechnology and work as a large-scale sci-fi action thriller. Ehren Kruger, who penned the last two Transformers movies, will write and produce. [Deadline]

- Thor: The Dark World has landed another villain (or two) with Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje portraying Algrim the Strong and Kurse. The character first appears as the Dark Elf Algrim the Strong in Thor #347 and is transformed into Kurse in Secret Wars II #4.  [Variety]

- Tom Hardy's fiancé Charlotte Riley has nabbed a co-starring role in All You Need is Kill opposite Tom Cruise. [Variety]

- Whether you watch The Hobbit in 24 frames-per-second or Peter Jackson's famously touted 48 fps version, the ticket price will be the same. [Slash Film]

- Pixar's Brave has locked in a DVD/BluRay release date. The film goes on sale November 13, just in time for the holidays.

- Lindy Booth has joined the cast of Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall. She'll be playing the role of Night-Bitch, a costumed crime-fighter who joins the super-group Justice Forever after she finds he sister's body in a trash dumpster.

- Perhaps Justice Forever should enlist L.L. Cool J. The rapper/actor thwarted a burglary and took down an intruder in his house this morning. Police say the suspect suffered a few bruises, but other than that, no one was hurt in the incident and nothing was stolen. Later reports say the intruder's nose and jaw were broken, but L.L. will not be charged with assault. [TMZ]

Videos, Clips and Trailers

Here's the latest trailer for End of Watch starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena as a pair of LAPD officers who come up against a vicious drug cartel. The film opens September 21.

Bill Hader stopped by The Late Show with David Letterman to talk about his experience on the Yo Gabba Gabba Show. He danced a little jig that left Dave swigging some tequila.

WB has released four TV spots for Trouble with the Curve starring Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake. The film swings into theaters September 21.

 

Pics and Posters

The first posters for Lincoln and Red 2 arrived online today, the latter courtesy of Movies.com. Lincoln is due in theaters November 9 while Red 2 won't arrive until August 2, 2013.

Speaking of new posters, check out the latest one for Looper. The film hits theaters September 28.

Here's another pic from the set of Fast and Furious 6 of Vin Diesel and director Justin Lin just sitting around, chatting. They've got plenty of time as the film isn't due in theaters until May 24, 2013.

Three new pics from Zero Dark Thirty have hit the web. The film chronicles the decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden and is directed by Kathryn Bigelow. This is Bigelow's first feature film since her Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker. Zero Dark Thirty hits theaters December 19.

Freida Pinto visited the African nation of Sierra Leone last month as part of role as a Global Brand Ambassador for Plan International's "Because I am a Girl' Campaign. Poverty is a huge issue in Sierra Leone with 70% of its people living impoverished. Why it took a month for this charity/publicity event to make news is up for debate, but here's a few pics and a promo video featuring Pinto.

Ryan Gosling is back on the set of Gangster Squad doing re-shoots. The film was bumped back to January 11, 2013 following the Aurora theater shooting.

Finally, the Denzel Washington Venn Diagram. [Maxim]

Follow along on Twitter @DerrickDeane and @Fandango.