Uh, oh.

 

You know, why not just go for nine? That's like, as Vin Diesel points out below, a trilogy too -- a trilogy of a trilogy -- three trilogies!

With that, here's some not-very-surprising news, from ComingSoon:

"Following a record-setting box office weekend, Fast Five director Justin Lin has confirmed to USA Today that he'll be back for a sixth entry in the high-octane franchise.

"'It's pretty much 100 percent,' Lin says, "It's going to happen."

"Lin's comments match those made by Vin Diesel to ComingSoon.net last year on the Georgia set of the latest adventure.

"'This is a trilogy,' the star announced, '...When I was thinking of this 'Fast & Furious,' I thought of it as three stories. The one that you saw [4], this one [5] and the final one [6].'"
 

When I read the below news, I could feel the instant eye rolls of some of my colleagues who might have read it also.

I don't mind, though I'm not sure if it's the brightest career move for a talented actress. But, hey, maybe she wants to star in every Hallmark Hall of Fame movie from now on, who knows?

Melissa Leo's tell-all:

"Melissa Leo is working on a memoir, and it won't be pretty.

"The Academy Award-winning actress has a deal Simon & Schuster for a 'gutsy' book about her life, from her troubled childhood to her 'stormy breakup' with actor John Heard.

"Simon & Schuster announced Monday that it plans a 2013 release for the memoir, currently untitled.

"Leo won an Oscar for her performance as the fierce matriarch in 'The Fighter.' Her other films include 'Frozen River' and '21 Grams.'"

 

Deadline reported an exclusive about "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer that doesn't involve "Twilight." So calm down ... I can't even use that "Twi" term.

Here's the scoop:

"Saoirse Ronan has been set to star in 'The Host,' the screen adaptation of the bestselling novel by 'Twilight Saga' author Stephenie Meyer. Scripted by Andrew Niccol, the film figures to be one of the hot titles when Inferno launches sales at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival next week. Niccol, who was originally set to direct, might resurface as the filmmaker.

"Ronan, the Oscar-nominated star of 'Atonement', 'The Lovely Bones' and most recently 'Hanna,' will play Melanie Stryder, one of the last humans putting up a fight against an alien species called Souls. These parasites invade human bodies, fuse to each person's consciousness and systematically erase their personalities. Melanie is captured by the aliens and implanted by a Soul called Wanderer, something of a legend because of all of the "hosts" she has attached to on numerous planets. Wanderer's goal is to get Melanie to give up the remaining pockets of humans, but instead the alien finds Melanie to be unique in her unwillingness to surrender her consciousness. Wanderer is so overwhelmed by Melanie's memories and feelings, the alien is driven to reconnect with Melanie's old life."

 

This is very nice. Film news that involves an original project, by an original, singular talent, and one that doesn't involve the words sequel, remake or tent-pole. 

Wes Anderson is set to make his newest picture.

Here's the news via the Huffington Post:

"Wes Anderson is returning to real life -- but traveling back in time -- for his next major film.

"The 'Rushmore' and 'Royal Tenenbaums' filmmaker, who last put out the stop motion animated "Fantastic Mr. Fox," will co-write and direct the 1960s-set 'Moonrise Kingdom,' the Playlist reports. He's already announced a stellar cast for the project, with Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton set to star.

"The story centers on a pair of 12-year olds (newcomers Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward) who fall in love and run away from their New England island town. That prompts a major search, led by the Sheriff (Willis) and the girl's parents (Murray, McDormand)."
 

The "Three Stooges" biopic project is getting so much press that, at this point, if Justin Bieber was cast as Moe, Larry and Curly, I'd think ... sure, sure. Fine.

But I like this news -- Larry David as a nun.

From WENN:

"Larry David, who plays an awkward version of himself in 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' is in negotiations for the awkwardly-named character Mother Mengele in the Farrelly Brothers' upcoming "Three Stooges" movie, TheWrap has confirmed.

"In the movie, Mother Mengele is the unpleasant nun who runs the orphanage where the Three Stooges grow up.

"Josef Mengele, of course, was the brutal and sadistic Nazi physician nicknamed "the angel of death."

"David will join a cast that includes Will Sasso, as Curly, Sean Hayes, as Larry and Sofia Vergara. Chris Diamantopoulos is in talks for the role of Moe."

 

I'm a big admirer of actor Guy Pearce, and though I wish he'd appear in more pictures, I respect the choices he makes. I interviewed him years back, and he was one of the most introspective, smartest actors I've ever talked to -- honest about how it felt to make a movie like, say, "The Time Machine." After that, he chose his material carefully, and not based on what Hollywood was telling him to take on.

So I'm pleased to hear that, after much speculation, he will appear in Ridley Scott's anticipated "Prometheus."

Scott can be off, but this one looks like a promising project. And Pearce is joining an interesting cast of actors.

Here's more from The Playlist:

"Rumors had been flying around for the past few days about Guy Pearce taking a role in Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated and top-secret 'Prometheus' after CHUD caught wind of some intel from their sources. We put in a few calls and it turns out that morsel of info is bang on.

The Playlist has confirmed with reps for the actor, that Guy Pearce has joined 'Prometheus.'

"There’s no word yet on what his role in the film is, but he’s joining an already solid cast in the film that both is and isn’t a direct prequel to 'Alien'—essentially, it will take place in the same world with some connective DNA stringing the two films together, but how much more than that remains to be seen.

"Pearce joins Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Sean Harris, Kate Dickie, Rafe Spall and Logan Marshall-Green in the film that is currently in the midst of a six-month shoot that started in Toronto and is currently in front of cameras on soundstages in London. The film will hit theaters on June 8, 2012."

 

Coming Soon is debuting more photos from Paul W.S. Anderson's upcoming "The Three Musketeers," the newest adaptation of the Alexandre Dumas novel, filled with action, adventure and derring-do.

Since there's a "Three" in the famous title, the movie, of course, is opening in 3D (and 2D for those going old school) on October 14. The picture stars Logan Lerman, Matthew MacFadyen, Luke Evans, Ray Stevenson, Christoph Waltz and Milla Jovovich.