Hutcherson, Hemsworth join 'The Hunger Games'

The main cast for the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" is coming together with the announcement that Josh Hutcherson ("Bridge to Terabithia") will be playing Peeta Mellark and Liam Hemsworth ("The Last Song") will be Gale Hawthorne.

The pair join Jennifer Lawrence ("Winter's Bone"), who has already been cast in the lead role of Katniss Everdeen.

The trilogy of novels follows 16-year-old Katniss as she enters the Hunger Games, an annual event in which two children from each of the 12 districts of Panem are chosen to fight to the death for the Capital. Gale is her longtime friend and hunting partner, while Peeta is her counterpart also chosen from District 12 to play in the games.

Gary Ross ("Seabiscuit," "Pleasantville") is directing the adaptation with a screenplay from Billy Ray ("Flightplan," "State of Play").

Anytime you have a high-profile adaptation such as this, you're going to have controversies. Lawrence's casting sparked online outrage over everything from her hair color to her age, so much so that Collins came out and publicly supported the actress.

Now for round two.

I actually had Hutcherson on my shortlist for Peeta even though he doesn't have the blond hair the character sports in the books. I haven't seen "The Kids Are All Right," but based on work in "Bridge to Terabithia" and "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant," I can see him being both the quite, reserved Peeta we first meet as well as the boy who can charm a nation with his words.

From what little I've perused the net on this, I seem to be in the majority in that opinion.

Hemsworth, however, is not feeling the love. Can't say I saw "The Last Song," so I don't have much to base an opinion of his acting chops. As far as his appearance, he's blond rather than dark-haired and seems a bit to thick to play the poor and malnourished Gale.

As usual, I'll reserve judgment until I actually see the movie.

'Superman' film will not tie into 'Justice League' either

With Warner Bros. executive Jeff Robinov's comments about Batman and 'Justice League' earlier this week, I didn't even mention director Zach Snyder's upcoming 'Superman' film.

And now it apparently doesn't matter, as Synder told HeyYouGuys.co.uk at the UK "Sucker Punch" premier that the two films will not be connected.

"Like what Chris Nolan is doing and what I’m doing with 'Superman,' what they’ll do with 'Justice League' will be it’s own thing with it’s own Batman and own Superman," Synder said. "We’ll be over here with our movie and they’ll kinda get to do it twice which is kinda cool."

This leaves only Green Lantern as potentially having a tie-in movie by the time a "Justice League" film would presumably begin production. Of course, Marvel is betting the farm on the opposite approach of introducing just about everyone before the "Avengers" ties together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and The Hulk into one film.

It should make "Avengers" a more powerful film, but it also opens the super-franchise to a lot of risk. One bad movie could taint the entire system, as "Iron Man 2" came close to doing last summer.

It'll be at least two years before we see a "Justice League" film, but we're talking about one again. For DC, that has to be a victory in itself.

'Justice League' film returns from the dead?

An interview with Warner Bros. executive Jeff Robinov published today by the Los Angeles Times has raised a lot of eyebrows with talk of a revived "Justice League" film and the future of Batman following next year's "The Dark Knight Rises."

As pointed out in the L.A. Times piece, a "Justice League" film was moving forward in early 2008 when a combination of issues led to its shelving.

"But Robinov said a new 'Justice League' script is in the works. Also being written for Warner are scripts featuring the 'Flash' and 'Wonder Woman,' who could be spun off into their own movies after 'Justice League,'" the article states.

It should be pointed out that feature films of both properties have also been in the worlds at one time or another over the past several years only to die silent deaths inside the offices of Warner Bros. In other words, I'll believe it when I see set photos.

Robinov's comments about "Batman," however, have the most potential to raise fans' ire.

“We have the third Batman, but then we’ll have to reinvent Batman…Chris Nolan and [producing partner and wife] Emma Thomas will be producing it, so it will be a conversation with them about what the next phase is," he is quoted as saying.

Assuming "The Dark Knight Rises" continues Nolan's hot streak with the property, it's hard to believe anyone will be able to live up to the expectations of following in his shoes. Besides, Nolan's cinematic world does not lend itself to inclusion with an "Avengers"-like crossover movie like "Justice League."

Let me say up front, I'm not a fan of reboots and have been against the "Spider-Man" one since it was announced. Considering there is no clear timetable mentioned in the LA Times article, it's not clear whether a "new" Batman would be introduced prior to the "Justice League" movie or not. If not, only Green Lantern will have had his own movie when it's released.

Compare that with the "Avengers," which will have four of the characters--if you count a recast Hulk--already introduced to moviegoers before it even gets close to theaters.

I had pretty much given up hope on a "Justice League" film, but apparently just like in the comics, nobody stays dead for long.

Gaiman confirms 'American Gods' film is in the works

Neil Gaiman confirmed in an interview with Digital Spy a film adaptation of his celebrated novel "American Gods" is in the works.

In the interview, published Friday, Gaiman said the movie rights were sold in the past week. He did not reveal the identity of the company, but said he would be meeting with them to "find out where they're going and if there's any way that I can help."

"There is one cinematographer and director on board who has many, many Oscars and is, I think, a genius," Gaiman said. "I love the fact that he fell in love with this about six or seven years and has not given up."

"American Gods" was published in 2001 to critical applause , winning the 2002 Hugo, Nebula, Locus, SFX Magacine and Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel. The story follows Shadow, a man released from prison only to find his life turned upside down. He is hired by the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, becoming a piece in a larger conflict with the very soul of America on the line.

Publisher Harper Colllins describes the book as such: "As unsettling as it is exhilarating, 'American Gods' is a dark and kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth and across an America at once eerily familiar and utterly alien. Magnificently told, this work of literary magic will haunt the reader far beyond the final page."

Gaiman's announcement sparks several questions.

First, of course, is how will the filmmakers be able to convert "American Gods"--which essentially features humanity's collected mythological pantheon breaking out into civil war--into two or so hours of cinema? "Stardust" and "Coraline" are previous examples of his working being adapted into successful movies, the latter being nominated for an Academy Award.

It seems Gaiman, who apparently has resisted offers in the past, has faith in his "genius" director.

Which brings up to the next question. Who is he? Did he mean a director with multiple wins? A cinematographer with multiple wins? Or one of the above whose films won Oscars? There only a handful of directors with two Academy Award wins, one of whom is Clint Eastwood, whose last film had to do with the hereafter.

We'll just have to wait and see.

Amy Adams is Lois Lane in new 'Superman' film

Superman has his Lois Lane. Warner Bros. announced Sunday Amy Adams ("The Fighter," "Julie & Julia") will play the intrepid reporter in the forthcoming "Superman" reboot directed by Zach Synder ("Sucker Punch," "300").

"Second only to Superman himself, the question of who will play Lois Lane is arguably what fans have been most curious about," Synder said in the studio's official statement.

"So we are excited to announce the casting of Amy Adams, one of the most versatile and respected actresses in films today. Amy has the talent to capture all of the qualities we love about Lois: smart, tough, funny, warm, ambitious and, of course, beautiful."

Adams has proved to be a versatile actress, which is what is needed to capture fiery reporter who keeps Clark Kent on his toes at the "Daily Planet." She has earned three Oscar nominations in the past six years for "The Fighter," "Doubt" and "Junebug," and also drew praise for a wide variety of roles in "Julie & Julia," "Enchanted" and "Sunshine Cleaning."

Here she will be stepping into a role most recently portrayed in film form by Kate Bosworth in 2006's "Superman Returns." While that film failed to live up to hopes of fans or studio bosses--hence the reboot--it's failings were not the fault of the cast but more a less-than-original script.

Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight") is among the producers of the new film and helped develop the story with David S. Goyer, who is writing the script, so hopefully that won't be a problem this time around.

Adams joins Henry Cavill ("Stardust," "The Tudors"), who will play Superman and his alter-ego Clark, as well as Diane Lane ("Secretariat") and Kevin Costner ("Waterworld") as Clark's human parents Martha and Jonathan Kent. The film is scheduled for a December 2012 release.

FOX renews 'Fringe' for a fourth season

Let the impossibilities continue! FOX confirmed late Thursday it was renewing "Fringe," the J.J. Abrams-created science fiction series for a fourth season.

Despite its rating issues--which were exacerbated by FOX's decision to move the show to Friday nights this winter--the pickup order is for a full 22-episode season.

Executive Producer J.H. Wyman broke the news via Twitter.

Creatively the show has been improving each season, really discovering itself this season with its two-universe stories.

Fringe airs on Fridays at 9 p.m. EDT. with the new episode "Bloodline" debuting tonight.

'Magician's Nephew' to be next Narnia film

The Christian Post spoke with Walden Media, the studio behind the 'Chronicles of Narnia' franchise, confirming next film in the franchise be 'The Magician's Nephew," the penultimate book in the series.

There had been talk after the release of "Prince Caspian" that "The Silver Chair" would be the fourth and possibly final film in the series. The book, which follows "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" chronologically, documents Eustice's return to Narnia.

"We are starting to talk to Fox and talk to the C.S. Lewis estate now about the 'Magician's Nephew' being our next film," Walden Media President Michael Flaherty told the Post.

The decision makes sense. While "The Silver Chair" would have to rely on Eustice (portrayed by Will Poulter in "Dawn Treader") as the only returning human character, "The Magician's Nephew" provides an opportunity to showcase the very birth of Narnia itself. The books follows Digory Kirke (the professor in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe") and his friend Polly Plummer as they meet the White Witch and Aslan for the first time.

Meanwhile, the decision to press on with a fourth film at all showcases the ever-increasing importance of the international box office. "Dawn Treader" made a forgettable $104 million domestically, but has managed to quietly draw in an additional $300 million from overseas. While its total gross is nowhere the success of the first film, it is only $20 million shy of the final numbers boasted by "Prince Caspian."

If "The Magician's Nephew" is indeed made, it will most likely be the last film in the series. With "The Silver Chair" now apparently out of the line-up, the only books left are "The Horse and His Boy," a mostly stand-alone tale set during the time the Pevensie children were ruling Narnia, and "The Last Battle," which is essentially the Book of Revelations with more talking animals. Neither has blockbuster written on it. But who knows, Aslan works in mysterious ways.