There you have it. Though anything can still go wrong, The Hollywood Reporter has gone on the record saying that Chris Evans will don the winged helmet of Captain America in the film set to be released next year.

If it turns out that this works, I’ll be happy.

Evans is old enough to be able to age up to play the venerated hero we all know and love, but young enough to play down the age so he can be a skinny geek fresh from the draft.

Our dear friend Jerk-Bot, a robot deeply embedded in the film and movie industry, has made a few points about the Chris Evans casting news that he’s heard around the campfire and they are points that I think are worth repeating.

1. Chris Evans was simply offered the part. He has not accepted anything yet.
2. Fox could play spoiler on this one, just like they did when they prevented Emily Blunt from playing the Black Widow in Iron Man 2.  Evans is still contractually obliged to a third Fantastic Four movie if they choose to do one.  Although it’s been said they were doing a reboot, it’s not inconceivable that they would jump in and keep him cast as Johnny Storm.
3. It is Jerk-Bot’s understanding that Evans might be under contact for a sequel to the Losers as well, if the first one is a success.
4. Because the studio is offering only $300,000 (a “paupers salary” for so big a role) it’s conceivable he might just turn it down.
5. Word around the campfire is that they still might be testing Kellan Lutz (if his Twilight obligations allow) and Alexander Skarsgard, just in case.

So we can all be as excited as we’d like about the idea of this casting, but we’re at a stage where anything can happen.

So, take the Chris Evans news with a grain of salt and wait until you get an official announcement before you go completely insane, one way or the other.

The Hollywood Reporter has just announced that Chris Evans has been offered the part of Captain America.

This hasn’t been confirmed by Marvel, and Evans’ agent has declined to comment to Hollywood Reporter.

For my two cents, as soon as I heard his name in the ring I was sold.  He was the one thing worth watching in the Fantastic Four movies and his turn in Danny Boyle’s Sunshine was tremendous.

Be sure to check back with Big Shiny Robot! for more reports on further updates as they happen or as we find them.

If you ask me though, I think this would be a good move and I’d buy it completely.  He has the look, he’s a good actor and I don’t think he’s incredibly well-known in the mainstream.  (Unless I’m wrong.)  I think he can stand up as an actor next to Robert Downey, Jr. and Edward Norton and he simply looks the part.

More than anything, though, if this turns out to be true, I’ll just be glad to be done with all of the speculation.

Captain America is set to be directed by Joe Johnston and is supposedly to start shooting sometime this month or next.  It’s scheduled for a July 2011 release date and I think I speak for just about all of us when I say that it doesn’t really matter who they put in the role, we’ll all be there to see the film on opening day.  And if you don’t plan on being there, you’re only lying to yourself.

Its here! A two minute look at Rodriguez’s Predators that a lucky bunch of people got to see at the SXSW event… (courtesy of IGN.com)

So- the trailer does seem a little generic with lots of cuts to black and heads turning toward camera- but, in all actuality- this trailer has everything you will need to want to see this movie: Danny Trejo, futuristic weaponry, a bad ass clip of Adrien Brody about to get shoulder cannoned to pieces and even an EXTREMELY BRIEF glimpse of the Predator Hound in motion…

Watch… tell your friends… come see the movie with me!

This will be quick- but a friend of mine pointed me to this article over at deadline.com about how Martin Scorsese is the works of adapting and directing Brian Selznik’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I’ve never read the book but from everything I have seen and heard- its supposed to be quite good. The clincher for me being that it must be good enough for Martin Scorsese to jump on board to direct!

The interesting bit of news in all this is that he’s looking to cast Sasha Baron Cohen (of Borat and Bruno fame) and the impeccable Ben Kingsley in major roles of the film… that alone is something that has my brain gears grinding and working on logistics… I have always been a Kingsley fan (I mean who hasn’t?) and everything I’ve seen Sasha Baron Cohen in proves to me he is not only an extremely talented individual but also extremely smart.

All and all this project is shaping up to be something I am quite excited for… I’m gonna go buy the book now.

Earlier today over at The Hollywood Reporter it was reported that Channing Tatum has been added to the growing list of actors being considered to play Steve Rogers in the Captain America Movie. As of now now he has only been approached and has yet to see a script.

It is also rumored that Keira Knightley has been approached to play Captain America’s love interest, Betsy Ross. However she isn’t the only actress being considered for the role.

UPDATE: Swank here.  I just want to say that I’m not exactly keen on either of these choices and I don’t really think anyone is.  These are just more names that are being thrown out.  And so many are being thrown out there so quickly, I’ve decided not to worry at all until an actual announcement is made.  Though I’ve heard from Jerk-Bot, a source on deep background, that the reason they’re having so many actors read for the part is because no one likes the script and the pay and commitment isn’t that worth it.

So, we’ll see what’s up.

UPDATE 2: Jerk Bot informs me that the Hollywood Reporter failed to mention that Twilight’s Kellan Lutz tested for the part as well.

UPDATE 3: HitFix is reporting that Ryan Phillipe is up for the part now, too.  I think we should revise this method of reporting news and only report when someone ISN’T up for the part.

There are some actors who appeared in the Star Wars movies that were simply in them for too brief a time and haven’t been a whole lot else for us to see them in.

One actor from the prequels I’ve been dying to see more of in film is Temuera Morrison, the Maori actor who played Jango Fett.  He was incredibly talented, and even the most ardent of prequel haters will cop to him being a highlight.

It was reported yesterday in The Hollywood Reporter that Morrison has been cast as Abin Sur, the ill-fated Green Lantern who crash landed on Earth to his death and in his dying breaths gave Hal Jordan the power ring that would transform him into a Green Lantern.

This bodes well for the film and I’m excited to see his part in it.

According to the Reporter, the film starts shooting today.

Alright- this isn’t really so much a trailer as it is a sneak peek… the “trailer” itself is mostly behind the scenes… but the footage that they DO show will make your mouth water-

Enjoy the Sneak Peek over at Trailer Addict before you read on…

I have quite of few cinematic heroes- for quite a few various reasons, but Robert Rodriguez is right at the top of that list… The man makes movies the way that I would like to make movies, fast, cheap all while leaving an impact you think about for days to come… Think about the first time you saw Sin City and how you walked away hoping it spawned a whole new style of film making… which it did.

Now think of the guy that brought you the Mariachi universe- hell, even think on the originality of From Dusk til Dawn– then put his influence on the Nimrod Artal directed film Predators. from what I’ve gathered- and from what I’ve seen- Robert Rodriguez approaches every single one his films in a way that makes the next year of production and post-production seem like the greatest, most fun job in the industry- and that laid back- “helluva time” attitude on set, most certainly translates into every one of his films…

Now, I’m not gonna lie to you and say I had ANY idea Rodriguez was even working on a new Predator movie, so when I was sent this link late last night I about wet myself at the title… then I saw Robert Rodriguez talking to the camera about how HE was working on it… and… welll… at that point I had to change my knickers!

I’m sitting and watching, somewhat disappointed at the fact that it isn’t an actual trailer (still excited nonetheless) when I recognize a nose- wait is that Adrien- YES it IS Adrien Brody! And Laurence Fishburne!? Get right outta town!

Look, I’m not saying that the actors are gonna make the movie good, I’m not saying that the Producer/Director team, although seemingly perfect (and in this humble bot’s opinion, the only time a sequel should have been made), I’m not saying this dynamic is gonna make the movie good, I’m not even saying that I’m getting an extremely strong “Alen”/”Aliens” vibe… (in the sense that I can see Predators being Predator’s “Alien”.

The last thing I want you to pay attention to is when Rodriguez says: “the idea of the film was to not make it feel like the 5th or 6th film in a series- but the first.”  I love that he says this, because that’s what a good sequel tends to have, the feeling that there is history and a back story- but the film itself lives and breathes as its own movie… one that teenagers should be sneaking out to see on the big screen then playing Predators in their backyards with their make shift tree branch machine guns and their pine cone hand grenades…

This movie is gonna be one bad-ass joy ride of action and Sci-fi awesomery…ness!!  two words: Predator Hounds

That is the LEAST I expect from a Rodriguez version of Predator. I am positive it’ll be so so very much more- anyway a friend of mine just walked into the coffee shop with his copy of the new Starcraft Beta- I’m about to get very distracted (and maybe you can expect a write up on that…maybe…)

ALSO! if you’re interested in finding out as much as humanly possible about the upcoming film- The Hollywood Reporter has an in depth run down of the “Predators” event that took place at SXSW recently- you can read here… and a follow up article here with even more info here.

I’m about to talk to you about three trailers- two of which I’m intensely interested in seeing the films, one of which I’m still debating on even watching the trailer… I’ll decide if I’m going to watch the trailer for Twilight by the time I’m done writing this post… either way you’ll still get the link- Let’s get started:

Harry Brown looks to be the story of an aging widower who takes it upon himself to investigate his best friend’s murder… It’s kind of like Alfred took Mr. Wayne’s example to the next step and goes on a vigilante rampage… it looks amazing!

Here you can find the International Teaser and here is the Red Band Trailer… its not as good a quality, but the trailer is much more in depth into what the movie will be like…

The international Teaser doesn’t really give anything away and somewhat gives the impression that this is just another generic revenge movie with an aging actor, I love Michael Caine but when I saw this trailer I was a bit disappointed, but was going to see the movie either way.

But, what I gleened from the Red-Band is that Harry is that the film makers take the revenge flick to a slightly more subtle level, make it a bit more personal than most, Harry Brown looks like a ‘conflicted’ vigilante- he’s not just hell bent on revenge and trying desperately to kill anyone and everything that is evil- but more of a man that keeps putting himself into situations where he’s driven to kill… given a reason so he can justify it to himself, but… eventually (by what I can tell) becomes the thing he is fighting against the most… (still somewhat generic sounding sure, but watch the trailer and you can see the subtlety of the films approach shining through)

At least that is one way I can see it going- the other way I can see it going is a straight-forward, powerhouse shooter where Harry Brown is relentless, doesn’t have ulterior motives and just cleans up the streets. Michael Caine is brilliant… just amazing… and to see him step into this role takes me back to a simpler time of 70’s revenge flicks, and this is why I can see it going either way…

Next, a film I’m so ridiculously excited for you might have to commit me:

If you refer to my earlier write up on the Teaser for Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood (its at the bottom of the page) you’ll catch just a small sample of how excited I WAS for this film… this new trailer has driven me to the brink of sheer pants poopery! (and may I suggest taking the download time to watch it in HD)

I don’t think I can even begin to explain the vast storyscape it looks like Scott has created for this film- or the detailed story and scenery- or the deep and layered characterizations- or the heart and soul put into every frame.

I won’t even touch upon how brilliant, kick ass and powerful Cate Blanchett is shaping up to be as my dream version of Marian, or how Mark Strong is one of the best villains of our time and can’t wait to see him as whoever he is playing in this film (because as far as I can see- he isn’t the Sheriff… maybe he’s Gisborne- if Gisborne is in this version)

I don’t think I’m gonna even talk about how it looks like the battle at the Dover cliffs will be one of the most epic in cinematic history… (hello beach landing again!)  And just forget the fact that I’ve watched this trailer for the sixth time in a row now…

I hold strong to my prediction that Robin Hood, or Marian is going to die at the end of the film… and I predict that this film is going to show us why Robin Hood is a true legend and not just some bedtime story.

Okay- and finally… Last and extremely least…

After the Robin Hood trailer I decided that I wasn’t going to ruin my day by watching this trailer- I’ve actually survived this whole mess without seeing either of the other movie’s OR their trailers… what I will do is post the link for the just released Twilight: Eclipse full trailer for you to watch and decide on your own… (thanks to joblo.com for stomaching it enough to put on their servers)

I still am going to make some predictions on the film- for my own amusement:

1. Its gonna have sparkly skin.
2. There will be a lot of crying over a break up with a fake vampire… I say the word fake because real vampires… don’t sparkle.
3. Robert Pattinson is going to remain a heartthrob amongst pre-pubescent teenage girls… I mean… with those pronounced anorexic cheek bones, how couldn’t he!?
4. Someone is going to talk with a bad accent. Maybe they’re trying for a subtle “Brooklynsilvania”: you know… Al Capone meets Dracula…
5. I’m never, ever, never, ever going to see this movie… what the rest of you do behind closed doors is entirely up to you- just don’t wave it in my face…
6. A lot of people are going to hate me for this last bit of the post…

Enjoy the trailers- then go out and watch a movie!

Let me start by saying I’m a fan of Christopher Nolan… even Insomnia (which according to a few, isn’t his best) is a film I can get behind.

As far as storytelling goes- I believe he really knows what he’s doing… but as far as storytellers go- he really doesn’t like telling ‘stories’! When it comes to leaks, sneaks and spoilers- Nolan and his crews are notorious for not giving ANYthing away. When we as fans want our whistles whetted- we usually have to wait for the movie to come out. So when Swank sent me the link to this article I was unduly excited to find out what I might find out about his up and coming projects!

Turns out- when I read the recent LA Times article interviewing Christopher Nolan himself, it was the same old story- nothing new- but somehow it still instilled me with a deep seeded excitement for ALL THREE of Nolan’s up and coming projects: Inception, Superman and DK3

If you’ve read any of my movie trailer articles you know that I do not like reading up on or researching any films… and try to keep myself implicitly separated from the stories that I’m most excited about- this is done in order to keep me pleasantly surprised… Anyway- Its a rare thing for me to read articles like this and all I can say is that I’m glad this was the one I chose to do so… Nothing was given away! For example, this single paragraph about Inception:

Leonardo DiCaprio is a dream thief of sorts in what may be Hollywood’s first metaphysical heist film. The movie is the most complicated undertaking of Nolan’s career — it was shot in six countries and tells a tale that flips between reality and three levels of dream-time —

I mean- that’s all I’ve heard about this movie besides the few trailers I’ve seen and now I’ll most definitely be in mid row at the theatre scarfing popcorn at midnight opening day- if they allow it. As for the next Batman… its when the article talks about how Nolan and his brother would approach the new Superman that got me stoked for both pieces…it is also the only thing in the entire post that could be considered new information:

“A lot of people have approached Superman in a lot of different ways. I only know the way that has worked for us that’s what I know how to do,” Nolan said, emphasizing the idea that Batman exists in a world where he is the only superhero and a similar approach to the Man of Steel would assure the integrity needed for the film. “Each serves to the internal logic of the story. They have nothing to do with each other.”

So- if you are looking for some actual new information or some kind of leaked tidbit of spoilerage- than you’re completely out of luck… this has nothing. But as far as diving a little (very little) deeper into the thought process of Christopher Nolan, I think it offers some interesting insight- if you feel like interpreting and having a guess at what it all means.

As the post says, Nolan…

…sees no value in revealing all of his tricks before the curtain goes up.

If anything- this has made my brain start stewing on a Christopher Nolan Batman/Superman movie… could you imagine!? Read the article and tell me if any of you gleened anything I might have missed…

Nolan is genius.