JustJared today has the first pictures of Emma Stone going blonde for her role as Gwen Stacy in the upcoming Spider-Man reboot starring Scarfield. Trivia: She’s actually a natural blonde.  But does the carpet match her pubes?  Stay tuned! [more pictures in the slideshow]

George Clooney directing film version of Enron: The Musical. Playwright Lucy Prebble will adapt from her own play.  Some of the British people from the play are pissed that none of them will be involved in the film version, and they’ll probably be even more pissed when this fails miserably.  Unless you work in the Glee kids singing “Don’t Stop Believin’”, no one’s seeing this. |Guardian|

Kathryn Bigelow and Hurt Locker screenwriter Mark Boal are re-teaming. Boal and Bigelow are shopping an “international thriller” that would shoot before Bigelow’s Triple Frontier starts next Fall.  So far, all we know is that it’s based on a true story that appeared in print, and that “the narrative concerns black ops.”  Asked Brett Ratner, CAN THE BLACK OPS ALSO BE SASSY?? |Variety|

Neill Blomkamp reteaming with Sharlto Copley in the sci-fi/horror project Elysium, “an action-based film with sociopolitical themes.”  The concept is being shopped around town with every studio reportedly showing interest.   I’m all for sociopolitical themes, but unless they can be communicated through Sharlto Copley eating cat food and crying, I’m not interested. |ThePlaylist|

Jay Roach to direct a political comedy starring Zach Galifianakis and Will Ferrell, “about two candidates timed to 2012′s U.S. presidential election.  Remember that Roach has experience in this genre; he replaced Sydney Pollack as the director of HBO’s 2008 Emmy-winning dramedy Recount about the 2000 Bush vs Gore election.”  And he most recently directed Dinner for Schmucks and produced Little Fockers, so I guess the only thing missing is experience in comedy. |Deadline|

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Despite a reasonably convincing-sounding spy report from the official Lord of the Rings fan site, it seems District 9 director Neill Blomkamp won’t take over directing duties on The Hobbit.  This according to someone at Blomkamp’s agency:

An insider at his agency, William Morris Endeavor, confirms to Vulture that not only is Blomkamp not doing the movie, no one from MGM/United Artists or Warner Bros. has even contacted them about his directing the film.
In the meantime, Blomkamp is working on Elysium, an original sci-fi script of his, for Media Rights Capital, the same outfit that backed Sacha Baron Cohen’s Bruno. Elysium‘s storyline is closely guarded, and it is understood to be set on another planet, not the Shire [Elysium is the Greek/Roman heaven].

I guess it’s just as well.  I loved District 9, but Blomkamp (above right) never seemed fat or beard-y enough for the job.  But congratulations to him on not having to spend the next three years in New Zealand, the Manitoba of the southern hemisphere.  Meanwhile, for us the viewer, there’s reason to worry. The longer this project goes without a director, the greater the chances someone points a spotlight with a silhouette of nachos on it at the night sky and Brett Ratner parachutes down to save the day.

Hobbit producer and script co-writer Peter Jackson really wanted Guillermo Del Toro to direct The Hobbit, and Del Toro did too.  But after countless studio delays, Del Toro ultimately decided that he couldn’t spend six years in New Zealand, the Wal Mart of the southern seas.  The search is on for a new director.  The studio wants Peter Jackson to return, but Jackson has other commitments and would prefer someone else do it, someone whom he trusts.  Lord of the Rings fan site The One Ring now says they hear the director will be District 9‘s Neill Blomkamp, which would make a lot of sense considering Jackson’s role as producer on District 9 and Jackson and Blomkamp’s close working relationship.

So now this spy report has come in from somebody claiming, after some offhand details that rang very true:

“(I) was given the breakdown details for the film, which included who the director is: Neil Bloomkamp.”

In short we know from lots of sources:
1. Jackson doesn’t want to do it
2. He wants somebody he trusts and can be sure of
3. Casting is happening now
4. Pre-pre-production is happening now
5. MGM and Warners need a talent in place yesterday
6. The platform for making a big genre splash announcement is approaching [Comic-Con]
7. The schedule fits with rumors from many sources
8. Many spies are sounding similar notes
9. One tells us they have seen the film breakdown with Blomkamp directing
My personal opinion is that this information is correct.

I have no way of verifying said rumor as that would require traveling to New Zealand and I’m allergic to sheep semen (don’t ask me how I know), but Blomkamp directing certainly sounds plausible, and would be welcome. (“Come yee-ah, Hobitt.  Do you want ta sweettie?”)

I can also tell you that I hope that this Lord of the Rings-vuvuzela meme never goes away. (*BZZZZZZZZZZZBZZZZZ BZZZZZZZZ*)

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(“Come back later, I’m busy having sex with a Nigerian.”)

The Nigerian government is asking its cinema owners not to show District 9, which they say portrays Nigerians in a negative light.

“We feel very bad about this because the film clearly denigrated Nigeria’s image by portraying us as if we are cannibals, we are criminals,” said Information Minister Dora Akunyili.  “The name our former president was clearly spelt out as the head of the criminal gang [The Malawian actor, Eugene Khumbanyiwa, plays a gang leader with the nickname of Obasanjo, also the surname of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.] and our ladies shown like prostitutes sleeping with extra-terrestrial beings.”

But Mr Khumbanyiwa said Nigerians in the cast did not seem worried by the portrayal of their country. He suggested that the film, which depicts people wanting to eat aliens to gain the superhuman powers, should not be taken too literally.  “It’s a story, you know,” he said. “It’s not like Nigerians do eat aliens. Aliens don’t even exist in the first place.” [BBC]

What the reporters don’t tell you is that Khumbanyiwa was pantomiming alien sex and laughing when he said that.  In fact, in Malawi, sex involving an anal probe is commonly known as doing it “Nigerian-style.”  Which Nigerians are none too pleased about.  For perpetuating the stereotype, they say District 9 director Neill Blomkamp is now Nigeria’s public enemy number 2, just behind JuJu, the goat who causes miscarriages.

Since District 9 made back it’s entire budget and then some in its opening weekend, and the film had a relatively open ending [much like Zac Ephron, ZING!], it should come as no surprise that a sequel may be forthcoming.  To read more about it, you can check out filmschoolrejects (possible spoilers in article).

The video below is Alive In Joburg, the 6-minute film District 9 was based on, both from the same director (Neill Blomkamp).  More of his short films are available at buzzfeed.  I’m not saying I’d drink Neill’s bathwater or anything, but he’s pretty cool, I guess.  It’s whatever.

*continues writing ”Mr. Robo Blomkamp” in purple glitter ink inside Lisa Frank trapper keeper*

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