Chris Hemsworth attached to 'The Heart of the Sea'

Actor Chris Hemsworth is reportedly attached to "The Heart of the Sea," based on the real-life events that were the inspiration for Herman Meville's "Moby Dick."

The story inspired "Moby Dick."

According to Deadline, no studio has signed the project as yet, but several are giving it a look, including Dreamworks.

The movie, if it happens, would be based on the Nathaniel Philbrick's National Book Award-winning work "The Heart of the Sea," which follows the real-life story of the whaling ship Essex destroyed by a sperm whale in 1820.

Deadine is reporting that the project's producers include Joe Roth, Paula Weinstein, Will Ward and Palek Patel, and the script was written by Charles Leavitt ("Blood Diamond").

Philbrick's website offers a more detailed synopsis of the story:

The ordeal of the whaleship Essex was an event as mythic in the nineteenth century as the sinking of the Titanic was in the twentieth. In 1819, the Essex left Nantucket for the South Pacific with twenty crew members aboard. In the middle of the South Pacific the ship was rammed and sunk by an angry sperm whale. The crew drifted for more than ninety days in three tiny whaleboats, succumbing to weather, hunger, disease, and ultimately turning to drastic measures in the fight for survival.

Hemsworth was most recently seen in "Snow White and the Huntsman" and is expected to begin filming next month on "Thor 2," reprising his title role, which is also portrayed in this summer's "The Avengers."

In "The Heart of the Sea," Hemsworth would play the ship's first mate.

Josh Dallas not returning for 'Thor 2'

With filming on Marvel's "Thor 2" set to begin in July, actor Josh Dallas has had to pull out the project due to his commitments to ABC's "Once Upon a Time."

Josh Dallas

Dallas, who plays Prince Charming on the fairy tale series, portrayed Fandral, one of the Warriors Three, in the superhero film.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actor said, "The timing wasn’t right. I’m bummed about it because I had such a great experience and great time making the first film and was really excited about coming back. Marvel and Disney tried to make it work. But because of my commitment to 'Once Upon a Time,' I was not going to be able to do both. So I’ll have to hand the reins over to someone else."

According to The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision, the studio already has someone in mind to replace Dallas in the role: Zachary Levi.

Zachary Levi

Levi finished his five-season run on NBC's "Chuck" this past spring. He had a starring role in the pilot for "Let It Go," which was produced by Sony Pictures TV for Fox. The network, however, did not pick it up for series.

Levi has an existing connection with Disney, having provided the voice for Flynn Rider in the animated film "Tangled."

"Thor 2" will be directed by Alan Taylor ("Game of Thrones"). Actors Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Idris Elba and Anthony Hopkins are returning to reprise their roles from the first film.

The movie will be released Nov. 8, 2013.

'Snow White and the Huntsman' sequel in the works

Universal is looking to build on  the solid opening weekend for its "Snow White and the Huntsman," laying the groundwork for a sequel.

The film has earned $129 million to date.

According to Deadline, screenwriter David Koepp ("Jurassic Park," "Spider-Man") has been tapped to pen a script for the sequel.

While Koepp was not involved in the original, Universal is reportedly not looking far for its director, talking to Rupert Sanders, who made his directorial debut with "Snow White," to secure his return.

The film, which starred Kristen Stewart ("Twilight") and Chris Hemsworth ("Thor") in the title roles along with Charlize Theron as the evil queen, grossed $56 million in its opening weekend and $82.9 million to date. It's worldwide gross tops $129 million, but it has a ways to go to reach its reported budget of $170 million.

Deadline is reporting that Sanders is not under contract for any sequels, while the actors have options for two.

Koepp has written a number of blockbusters in his career, including "Mission: Impossible," "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," "War of the Worlds" and "Angels & Demons."

Super Bowl Comercials: 'The Avengers' trailer

Hollywood had quite a night during tonight's Super Bowl, with a bevy of films showing new footage in commercials.

Up first is Marvel's "The Avengers," which debuted a 30 second spot packed quite a lot of action in a small package.



Like in the full trailer, the spot begins with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) talking about dire the situation is, necessitating the formation of the Avengers team.

From there we get some quick cuts to the various team members, including apparently the first meeting between Captain American (Chris Evans) and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.).

"I still believe in heroes," Fury says as we watch a panning shot of the entire team, which also includes Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson).

Directed by Joss Whedon ("Serenity"), "The Avengers" is one of the biggest can't-miss blockbusters of this summer.

'Thor 2' getting a rewrite by 'Saving Private Ryan' scribe

"Thor 2" is getting a rewrite, continuing the sequel's pre-production struggles.

"Thor" earned $449 million worldwide.

According to Deadline, "Saving Private Ryan" writer Robert Rodat has been brought in by Marvel STudios to take a crack at the script.

In December, the studio brought in "Game of Thrones" director Alan Taylor to replace Patty Jenkins, who left the project over creative differences.

"Thor 2" has been set for a 2013 release, but it is not clear whether this latest issue will affect that timetable.

The sequel will feature Chris Hemsworth, who will reprise his role as Thor. The actor will next play the character in "The Avengers," which hits theaters this summer.

Meanwhile, Jaimie Alexander, who played Thor's ally Sif, told MTV that while she does not have a contract in place for "Thor 2," she has been in talks and also has several ideas about where she would like to see the character go.

"I'm a comic book nerd at heart, so I'd like to see the relationship between Thor and Sif progress," she said. "Whether or not they do that, we're not sure yet. We'll see. I think that element will be in there, but I don’t know how much."

'Game of Thrones' director Brian Kirk in talks for 'Thor 2'

Television director Brian Kirk is in early talks to director "Thor 2," according to Variety.

"Thor 2" will be released July 26, 2013.

Disney and Marvel Studios announced in late June that the comic book sequel would be released on July 26, 2013, but "Thor" director Kenneth Branagh would not be returning.

Kirk directed three episodes of the first season of HBO's "Game of Thrones," and his resume also includes work on "Boardwalk Empire," "Dexter" and "The Tudors."

Marvel has been good at picking the right director for each of its projects and Kirk, with his extensive history in Shakespearean adaptations, was the perfect choice for "Thor," which featured all of the familial squabbles and betrayals you would expect from one of the bard's plays.

Kirk's work on "Game of Thrones" and "The Tudors" would say he has a similar experience, although his only feature film credit is 2006's "Middletown."

Actor Chris Hemsworth is set to return as Thor, but first he will portray the character in next summer's "The Avengers," which will see him team up with Iron Man, The Hulk and Captain America.

Screenwriter Don Payne is also returning to pen the script for "Thor 2." He was one of three writers with screenplay credit on the first film, released May 3. Two others were credited with the story.

To date, "Thor" has grossed $447 million worldwide.

Save the date: 'Thor 2' will hammer its way to theaters July 26, 2013

Walt Disney Pictures and Marvel Studios announced today that the sequel to the superhero film "Thor" will be released July 26, 2013.

Chris Hemsworth

According to the studios, lead actor Chris Hemsworth (Thor) will return for the sequel but director Kenneth Branagh will not, although he may produce.

"Thor" has picked up $437 million from the worldwide box office so far.

"Thor 2" will Marvel's second feature of summer 2012, with "Iron Man 3" set for release on May 3, 2013.