Chris Pine was charismatic and likable in Star Trek, and thanks to some mild acne scars, just not-pretty enough for me to not hate him.  Most recently, Variety reports that Pine is in talks to take over as Tom Clancy hero Jack Ryan in a Paramount reboot of the franchise.  I just hope he can do as good a job as Rod Hardfellow did in Queer and Pleasant Danger.  Pine will have some big shoes to fill, and gaping buttholes.

Alec Baldwin originated the character in 1990′s “The Hunt for Red October,” Harrison Ford played him in 1992′s “Patriot Games” and 1994′s “Clear and Present Danger,” and Ben Affleck played Ryan in 2002′s “The Sum of All Fears.”  The studio and producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mace Neufeld are working with a script draft by Hossein Amini, based on an original concept.

This is really exciting news because Chris Pine might maybe play a character in a movie as yet to be determined.  And it’s from the producer of G.I. Joe and the upcoming Asteroids movie, so you know it’s going to be good.  As long as they find a director and a budget and a script and a place to shoot it and some other actors.  Really, I don’t see what could go wrong.

From Larry Cohen, writer of Cellular and Phone Booth, comes Messages Deleted, starring Matthew Lillard.  Said Cohen,”I F’CKING LOVE PHONES,”  when reached for comment.  You don’t need to watch the whole trailer, just be sure to fast forward to the 39-second mark for the cherry on the money shot, delivered by way of dialogue:

“These random killings just don’t make sense!”

In conclusion, this movie looks hilarious.

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J.J. Abrams wrote and directed Mission Impossible III, which was supposed to be a big deal at the time, but it only grossed a disappointing $134 mil domestically on a $150 mil budget (though it eventually made almost $400 mil worldwide).  I always assumed that was because by the third film (after a second one directed by John Woo featuring a motorcycle joust fight – God that movie sucked), no one cared about the Mission Impossible franchise anymore.  Nonetheless, word on the street is that Abrams is back as producer for a fourth movie. From TV Guide (via SpoilerTV):

“I am incredibly honored that Tom (Cruise) has invited me back as a producer on Mission Impossible 4. says Abrams.  “Tom and I have come up with a really cool idea we are pursuing.”

That idea?  Tom Cruise must travel back in time to find the source of all the lens flares.  (Tom’s thinking alien spirits).

Related Asylum Poll: How can JJ Abrams make MI 4 watchable? Mmm, you smell that? I stepped in synergy.

The original title of Terminator Salvation was Terminaton Salvation: The Future Begins.  Then JJ Abrams’ Star Trek movie sorta yoinked that tagline.  Now, Terminator’s newest poster from a Russian site comes equipped with the tagline: “The End Begins.”  Anyone else get the feeling a poster with a fat midget and the tagline “Jumbo Shrimp” would make Hollywood people shit their pants laughing?  Anyway, let’s go to FirstShowing (you may remember him as the guy who got his seat stolen at Comic-Con) for some in-depth analysis!

I’d like to say the idea is pretty cool, somewhat of a “face-to-face” between Christian Bale and Sam Worthington. The problem is that it looks terrible and the split faces don’t really work well. I don’t know, maybe it really is a brilliant design and I just can’t see it. What do you think?

I’m guessing if two guys looking at the camera means “somewhat of a face-to-face”, then two guys back to back would be “not really a face-to-face?”  But then, maybe I’m just being crazy!  How would you guys write it?  Sound off in the comments!

This is just a mini-update, stay tuned later today for more (OMG, what a cliffhanger!).

Fox and WB are working on a settlement over the Watchmen case, and have requested a conference with the judge at 3:30 today.

WHEREAS, the parties are continuing to address a few remaining settlement issues; THEREFORE, the parties, through their respective counsel of record, jointly request as follows:
1. The parties request a hearing on January 15, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. (preferably in chambers) to report on a final resolution or, alternatively, to discuss how to proceed on January 20, 2009. [court papers, via IESB]

Sounds like they’re close to a deal, but we’ll have to wait until later today to find out.  They claim to have been working out a settlement since December 29th.  How could it possibly take them this long?  I’ll bet anything that the lawyers are in a room somewhere taking bong rips and playing Smash Bros while they see how many hours they can bill.  “Okay, I’m back with the chicken wi– hey! Bob, did you steal my seat?”  “Sorry, dude, section 69 of the bro code says you have to call ‘Golden’.  Pound the rest of your beer.  And another one for chiefing me yesterday when my shoes were clearly off.  Not cool, dude, not cool.”