It’s Official: Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau will reteam for superhero ensemble movie The Avengers, as well as two more Iron Man movies. Also, Don Cheadle’s replacement of Terrence Howard in the role of Jim Rhodes has officially been finalized, a move that Iron Man fans are decidedly less pleased with. Avengers is set for a 2011 release once the rest of the crew (Captain American, Hulk, Wasp, Giant Man, Hawkeye and Thor) have appeared in movies of their own. We’ll go ahead and start the “Shaq for Giant Man†campaign now. His superhero credentials are unmatched, and he is indeed quite the giant. [HR]
Kurosawa Revisited: Mike Nichols is onboard to direct the David Mamet’s adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low for Miramax. In the works for nearly a decade, Mamet’s screenplay was commissioned by Martin Scorsese, who will executive-produce, in 1999, but it took producer Scott Rudin two years to secure all the rights. Go ahead, add it to your Netflix queue now so you can tell all your friends how much better the original was. [Variety]
M. Night, You Devil: M. Night Shyamalan will oversee horror flick Devil as the first project in a three-picture deal with Media Rights Capital. The film, a supernatural thriller based on an original story by Shyamalan, will be written by Brain Nelson (30 Days of Night) and directed by John Erick Dowdle (Quarantine). Something tells us the next two pictures in the deal will also be also be supernatural thrillers based on original stories by Shyamalan. Just a hunch. [Variety]
Gilmore Doll: Lauren Graham, better known to you as Lorelai Gilmore, will play Miss Adelaide is the upcoming Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls. She’ll star alongside Oliver Platt, playing Nathan Detroit, in her first appearance on Broadway since 2002. Look for Rory’s review online. [Playbill]
A Trip Down Memory Place: Following the success (?) of its 90210 revival, the CW is working on bringing back the original show’s spinoff, Melrose Place. Details are still murky and the network is looking for a writer to pen the pilot, but we’re pretty sure this will be terrible. [HR]
Betting on Drama: Vince Vaughn has signed on to star in Sunny and 68, described as “a drama with comedic overtones.†The script was written with Vaughn in mind to play the main character, a down-on-his-luck poker pro who receives guidance on how to get his life back on track from his dying mother, estranged daughter, and the girl’s caretaker. The movie will mark Vaughn’s first foray into drama since he broke up with Jennifer Aniston. [HR]