Damon Houx
Though there are still many decisions yet to be made, Universal and Focus features are adapting '50 Shades of Grey' for the big screen, and the latest news is that 'Anna Karenina' director Joe Wright is currently Universal's top choice for the job.
'American Idol' used to be the hottest show on television, but after 13 years, it's starting to show its age. The show's ratings have slipped from regularly having 30 million viewers to now somewhere around 11 million. And though the show has had some different judges over the course of its run, it's now looking to ditch all four current judges to have a fresh face for season 13.
Though DreamWorks Animation has had some hits ('Shrek 2,' believe it or not, is one of the top ten highest grossing films of all time), their last film at Paramount ,'Rise of the Guardians,' was such a flop that it caused the studio to reduce ranks. Fortunately that may have just been some bad luck as their most recent film 'The Croods' is so successful that the studio has just announced a sequel.
The first 'Grown Ups' had a trailer that revolved around older men urinating in a public pool. The centerpiece of the new 'Grown Ups 2' trailer is a moose that not only lets out a long fart, but bucks up and urinates on Adam Sandler. Oh boy.
For the last couple years we've seen almost all of the classic horror films of the 1970's and 80's get the remake treatment. 'Gremlins' was one of the rare holdouts, but it looks like its defenses are failing as the latest rumors suggest we may get a new 'Gremlins' film.
Though 'Brave' was a welcome respite, Pixar has gone sequel crazy, as their previous two films were sequels and this summer we're getting a prequel in 'Monsters University.' But the studio is also working on three non-sequels for the future, and have released images from each of them.
Though they're still working on script, and should start filming shortly - even after releasing a teaser this summer - we only have a small inkling of what's in store for us when 'Anchorman: The Legend Continues' hits theaters next year. But now the picture has a release date, and it means only one thing: Will Ferrell is gunning for an Oscar.
"There come a time when good man must wear mask." So intones Johnny Depp to Armie Hammer in 'The Lone Ranger' trailer, which reveals that director Gore Verbinski is up for being a little weird in his big budget blockbuster.