The newest John Cusack project better be a good one, because I can already hear critics who wish it never happened using a quip that will become tiresome in about two seconds: "nevermore."

At least it has nothing to do with Annabel Lee, because that wouldn't even make sense.

Yes, I'm making Edgar Allan Poe jokes, if that's what you want to call them. Why? Because John Cusack will be playing the famed writer in a movie called, not surprisingly, "The Raven." And the twist here is, Poe is hunting a serial killer. He couldn't just be Edgar Allan Poe; they had to throw some ye olden CSI business into the mix to keep viewers, or the illiterate, interested.

Here are the details from Coming Soon:

"Luke Evans and Alice Eve are in negotiations to star opposite John Cusack in the James McTeigue-directed The Raven, says The Hollywood Reporter.

"Evans will play a detective in 1849 Baltimore who partners with Edgar Allan Poe (Cusack) to search for a serial killer who has kidnapped the author's fiancee (Eve) and has gone on a murder spree that mimics the author's work.

 

Interesting ... and, for how long?

Warner Bros. is reportedly going to release one or two DC Entertainment superhero movies a year. Why?

"To help pick up the slack after the Harry Potter franchise comes to an end, DC chief creative officer Geoff Johns said Friday."

One or two a year. Again, for how long? For the rest of our lives?

Here's more from The Hollywood Reporter:

"Asked at a crowded session at New York Comic-Con about how many post-Potter DC tentpoles fans should expect, the fanboy-favorite writer [Geoff Johns] said: 'You will see at least one, I'd expect two a year.'

"He didn't mention a specific start time for this release strategy.

"Warner executives have previously signaled that the recent DC reorganization will help it better mine the company's catalog of superheroes in the post-Potter age.

"Johns on Friday also told the fanboys and -girls that 'Green Lantern' is in post-production and a trailer for the movie will be part of the upcoming 'Harry Potter' release.

"Johns, who was warmly and fondly received by the crowd, answered questions without discussing or confirming specific superhero film plans beyond the upcoming June release of 'Green Lantern' and announced new Batman and Superman films.

 

This is well deserved and a long time coming for Morgan Freeman, 73.

He'll be receiving the American Film Institute's 39th Life Achievement Award, the organization's highest honor.

More on Freeman:

"'Morgan Freeman is an American treasure,' said Howard Stringer, chair of the AFI board of trustees, in a statement on Monday.

"'Across decades, whether playing a prisoner, a president or God, he embodies a calm authority that demands respect for the character and for the art form.'

 

Very sad.

Oliver Stone states that actor Michael Douglas, currently reprising his iconic role as Gordon Gekko in "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," is in bad shape, health-wise.

Douglas is suffering from throat cancer. Again, very sad.

Here's more:

"Director Oliver Stone said Tuesday he is worried about the health of actor Michael Douglas, who is battling throat cancer.

"Douglas, who reprised his role as stock trader Gordon Gekko in Stone's latest film, 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,' is in a 'precarious' state of health, Stone told reporters in Berlin.

 

"Douglas was meant to accompany him on a promotional tour in Europe, but Stone said Douglas remained in the U.S. for further cancer treatments.

 

Eric Stoltz can be a great actor, and 1985 was a good time for the then-young actor, but not when it came to what could have been a career-defining role for him: "Back to the Future."

According to the 25th anniversary Blu-Ray edition of the Robert Zemeckis movie, the actor was originally cast as Marty McFly but was cut five weeks into filming. Harsh.

The role, of course, went to Michael J. Fox. And really, it may have been bad for Stoltz -- his career could have taken a weird turn attached to the franchise. And yes, as seen in the clips of Stoltz early in the role, he's not right. Also, would "Some Kind of Wonderful" have happened without him? To some, that's more beloved than "Back to the Future." Some.

Here's more from TheWrap:

"Included in the package is a never-before-seen clip of Eric Stoltz, the actor who had cast as 'Marty McFly' before executive producer Steven Spielberg and director Robert Zemeckis decided to replace him with Michael J. Fox -- which, for Fox, turned out to be a career-defining role.

 

"Zemeckis called Stoltz a 'magnificent actor,' but his comedic sensibilities didn't match up with the script he'd written. 'I don't think we were getting the laughs we thought we would get,' Spielberg said.

"Shockingly, Stoltz was replaced with Fox five weeks into filming, and Zemeckis had to convince the studio to let him reshoot.

"'I had to make this horrific decision,' Zemeckis said, despite the resulting classic film, 'which was heartbreaking for everybody, but luckily I was able to convince the studio to let me reshoot five weeks of work.'"

Watch the Stoltz footage after the jump:

 

More "Spider-Man" casting news -- this time with extra villain deliciousness (and, yes, villains can be delicious).

Rhys Ifans (most famous for "Notting Hill," but check him out in the creepy "Enduring Love") will act as the villain, opposite Andrew Garfield (so wonderful in "The Social Network") as Peter Parker and the recently announced Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy.

Here's more:

"[It] was announced today by Amy Pascal, co-chairwoman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures. The film, to be directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt and produced by Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will begin production in December and will be released in theaters nationwide in 3D on July 3, 2012.

"Commenting on the announcement, Tolmach said, 'We have been very fortunate to attract some of the best actors working today to play the villains in the Spider-Man movies, and it is exciting to see that trend continue with Rhys Ifans. After seeing his performance in our upcoming film 'Anonymous,' we're in awe of his talent and think he's the perfect choice to take on this role.'

 

Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, David O Russell, boxing. To say this looks great is an understatement. Watch the trailer for "The Fighter" below.



 

More casting news that is, well,  interesting.

According to TheWrap and Variety, Mickey Rourke and Til Schweiger ("Inglourious Basterds") will be acting alongside Jeffrey Dean Morgan in "The Courier." And (and!), Schweiger is also joining the cast of "This Means War."

There's nothing yet about who Rourke will play in "The Courier," but Schweiger will be an FBI agent.

Here's more:

"Hany Abu-Assad (Paradise Now) will direct the film about a daredevil courier (Morgan) who specializes in illegal deliveries and who winds up caught between a myriad of pursuers when one delivery goes awry.

"Filming is scheduled to start later this month in New Orleans.

"In 'This Means War,' Schweiger plays an arms dealer. Currently being directed by McG, the film stars Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy and Chelsea Handler in the story of two best friends, inseparable since childhood, who fall in love with the same woman (Witherspoon).