'Chuck' movie 'a couple years' away, but star Zachary Levi wants it to happen

Actor Zachary Levi, who is at San Diego Comic Con for the third straight year with his Nerd HQ setup, believes a movie based on the NBC series "Chuck" is "a couple years" away.

"Chuck" ran from 2007 to 2012 on NBC.

In an interview with TV Line's Michael Auisello, Levy said of the movie, "I want it to happen. I've talked to Warner Bros. about it. I think that it sits right now in everyone's head as 'yeah, that could definitely be something we could do together.'

"It's not going to happen for a couple of years," he said, pointing out that the series, which ran for five seasons, is still on the air in some countries, and he doesn't was "spoil" the finale for them.

Asked about the Kickstarter route, which has been successful recently for several projects, including the "Veronica Mars" movie, Levi said was more interested in creating a new model, akin to video games in which players pre-buy the game before release and, for a premium, get a "special edition."

He specifically pointed to the situation in which people who paid $10,000 toward other projects earned a walk-on role, adding that he was more interested in a "flat rate" approach. Additionally, he didn't want the project to be entirely dependent on raising a certain amount of money from fans.

Levy will return to Broadway after Comic Con to his part in the comedic musical "First Date," which gave him a week off from previews so he could meet his Nerd HQ committments.

He will next be seen on the big screen in Marvel's "Thor: The Dark World," in which he will be playing Fandral, taking over the part from Josh Dallas, who couldn't appear in the comic book sequel due to his commitments to ABC's "Once Upon a Time."

Stellan Skarsgard confirms return for 'Thor 2'

Actor Stellan Skarsgard will return for "Thor 2."

Stellan Skarsgard

In an interview with Hey U Guys (found via Comingsoon.net), the actor confirmed he will be back as Dr. Erik Salvig, a role he also reprised in this summer's "The Avengers."

"I will try to combine 'Thor 2' which starts in August and goes to the end of December with the new Lars Von Trier film," Skarsgard said in the interview.

"Thor 2" will be directed by Alan Taylor ("Game of Thrones") and is set for a Nov. 8, 2013, release date. Actors Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Idris Elba and Anthony Hopkins are returning to reprise their roles from the first film.

Last month is was reported that actor Josh Dallas had to pull out the project due to his commitments to ABC's "Once Upon a Time." Dallas, who plays Prince Charming on the fairy tale series, portrayed Fandral, one of the Warriors Three, in the superhero film. In a separate report, it was revealed that the studio is looking at "Chuck" star Zachary Levi to replace him.

Skarsgard's other upcoming work includes roles in "Romeo and Juliet," "Vivaldi" and "The Nymphomaniac."

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.

'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."

Disney planning two Marvel film releases during summer of 2014

Apparently in response to Columbia Picture's announcement last Friday that the sequel to next summer's "The Amazing Spider-Man" will open the 2014 blockbuster season, Disney, parent company of Marvel Comics, has laid claim to two other summer 2014 dates.

According to Deadline, Disney has set release dates for as-yet-unannounced Marvel films on May 16, 2014, and June 27, 2014.

Disney is making plans for 2014.

The film rights to "Spider-Man," like the "X-Men," were not included in Disney's purchase of Marvel and are under the control of Columbia and Fox respectively. Paramount has been releasing the Marvel self-produced films which began with 2008's "Iron Man," but Disney bought the rights to future projects, beginning with next year's "The Avengers."

Disney already has their 2013 arsenal planned, with "Iron Man 3" set for May 3, 2013, and "Thor 2" on July 26, 2013.

The only other film set for the summer of 2014 had been Dreamworks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon 2" on June 20, but included in today's announcement was that Pixar will release a film on May 16, although what that might be is unknown.

'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.

Don Payne returning to pen 'Thor 2'

Screenwriter Don Payne is returning to Asgard to pen the screen for the recently announced "Thor 2."

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

Payne was one of three writers with screenplay credit on the first film, released May 3. Two others were credited with the story.

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

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

Payne's other writing credits include "My Super Ex-Girlfriend," "Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer" and 16 episodes of "The Simpsons."

"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.

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.