I'm sorry, I like Kate Beckinsale fine, but no one tops Sharon Stone in this one.

I'm all for Colin Farrell in the Schwarzenegger role, but Beckinsale doesn't have the same, how do you say ... beeaya**chy stuff Lady Sharon has.

Here's the details from Huffington Post:

"Kate Beckinsale may have some big, evil shoes to fill.

"According to Deadline, "Underworld" star has been offered the role of Lori in husband Len Wiseman's remake of the 1990's Arnold Schwarzenegger-led sci-fi action classic, "Total Recall." Lori, originally portrayed by Sharon Stone, is the sham wife of Doug Quaid (Schwarzenegger) and girlfriend of Richter, the ruthless deputy from Mars out to kill Quaid.

"Colin Farrell has been cast in the Schwarzenegger role, while Eva Mendes and Rosario Dawson are possibilities for Melina, a Mars freedom fighter originally played by Rachel Ticotin. Bryan Cranston will play Vilos Cohaagen, the main villain."

 

Time Out New York considers a genre that gets kicked around a lot -- the movie-to-musical.

Defending their position that plenty of great stage musicals have been adapted from film with the criteria of "faithfulness to the source—or improving on that same source; cleverly translating a story from the language of cinema to that of musicals; and finally, just working on its own terms as theater," they actually come up with 25.

Here's one I had never heard of -- "Silence! The Musical" from "Silence of the Lambs."

"Goofy, spoofy adaptations of films that have no business being musicals -- 'Jurassic Park,' 'Debbie Does Dallas,' 'The Evil Dead,' etc.—are a staple of the Fringe Festival and other scrappy showcases, and the best of them is this silly-smart takeoff on 'The Silence of the Lamb's (with a book by [title of show]’s Hunter Bell). Good news, singing-cannibal fans! The show will return this summer with most of its original cast—including the hilarious Jenn Harris as sibilant-impaired FBI agent Clarice Starling."

 

Time Magazine has published its "100 Most Influential People in the World" list with an interesting group among folks in Hollywood. If you consider Hollywood people "folk."

Here's more from Deadline Hollywood:

"The annual Time 100 List is out. From Hollywood, the magazine has selected an eclectic grouping that includes actresses Amy Poehler, Blake Lively and 'Alice in Wonderland' star Mia Wasikowska, Oscar-winning 'The King's Speech'  star Colin Firth, Pixar's John Lasseter, 'The Fighter' star/producer Mark Wahlberg, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, and producer Scott Rudin.

"The magazine has also included Oprah Winfrey (eighth straight year on the list), 'Mad Men' creator Matt Weiner, Sting, fashion designer/film director Tom Ford, singer-turned-screen​ star Justin Bieber, singer/actor Chris Colfer, and Matt Damon (for his work on Water.org)."

 

Takashi Miike's newest movie. How many ways can I say excited? 13?

Here's "13 Assassins":





 

I like Isla Fisher, but oh how I'm not so sure about this "Great Gatsby" adaptation.

"The Three Musketeers" in 3D is one thing, "Gatsby" is quite another.

Of course the curiosity will encourage me to see the  movie even more. That green light was no so vivid in the novel! (Well, perhaps her green dress).

Here's more about casting:

"Isla Fisher is in "talks with Warner Bros. to play the role of Myrtle in Baz Lurhmann's 3-D adaptation of 'The Great Gatsby,' TheWrap has confirmed.

"If the talks work out, she'll join Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby, Carey Mulligan as Daisy and Tobey Maguire as the narrator Nick Carraway.

"Ben Affleck recently resumed talks to play the role of Tom Buchanan, but it's unclear whether he'll be able to clear his schedule enough to take the part."

 

What a tragic loss. The co-director of the Oscar nominated documentary film "Restrepo" has been killed.

Here's more on the sad news:

"British photojournalist Tim Hetherington, whose documentary film on the war in Afghanistan was nominated for an Oscar, was killed in the embattled western city of Misrata, Vanity Fair confirmed on Wednesday.

"Three others working beside him were wounded by fire from a rocket propelled grenade, according to media reports. Two of the photographers — Chris Hondros and Guy Martin — were reportedly in grave condition."

 

The Cannes Film Festival jury just got a little more star-studded.

Robert De Niro and now ... Uma. I would make a David Letterman "Oprah ... Uma" joke but it's really not necessary since Oprah's not on the jury. But she probably will be one day. Mark my words.

Here's more from HitFix:

"The Cannes Film Festival has picked some international heavy-hitters for the jury this year.

"Oscar-winner Robert De Niro ('Raging Bull,' 'Meet the Parents') will act as jury president at the 64th annual Cannes Film Festival.

"'The Cannes Film Festival is a rare opportunity for me as it is one of the oldest and one of the best in the world,' the actor said.

"De Niro has starred in eight films that were presented at the fest in the past. 'Taxi Driver' (1976) and 'The Mission' (1986) were both awarded the prestigious Palme d'Or.

"The festival will honor his achievements as an actor, producer and director, as well as the co-founder of the 10-year-strong Tribeca Film Festival, held annually in De Niro's native New York City.

"This year's other prominent Cannes  jurors are: Uma Thurman ('Kill Bill,' Palme d'Or winner 'Pulp Fiction'), Jude Law ('Talented Mr. Ripley,' 'Sherlock Holmes'), Argentine actress-producer Martina Gusman ('Lion's Den'), producer Nansun Shi ('Seven Swords') of China, critic-writer Linn Ullmann (Norway), French auteur Olivier Assayas ('Summer Hours,' 'Irma Vep'), Hong Kong action specialist director Johnnie To ('Triad Election') and 'Daratt' director Mahamat Saleh Haroun, of Chad."
 

Is "The Dark Knight Rises" becoming "Inception: Part II"?

With current casting, one might think so. And given how much more dreamlike the Batman movies are, it makes perfect sense.

Here's the casting news via EW:

"Warner Bros. has announced the official casting of Oscar winner Marion Cottilard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Christopher Nolan's third Batman film,  "The Dark Knight Rises'.' Cotillard will play Miranda Tate, described as 'a Wayne Industries board member eager to help a still-grieving Bruce Wayne resume his father’s philanthropic endeavors for Gotham."

"Joseph Gordon-Levitt will play John Blake, described as “a Gotham City beat cop assigned to special duty under the command of Commissioner Gordon .” Both actors appeared in Nolan’s 2010 smash 'Inception.'"