As the Romans Do: Gerard Butler has joined Ralph Fiennes, William Hurt and Vanessa Redgrave in Fiennes’s directorial debut, Coriolanus. The movie is set in contemporary times but based on Shakespeare’s Roman political drama. Fiennes reportedly hired Butler because the 300 star already owns a pair of mandals. [THR]
Boner Champ: Sigourney Weaver, John C. Reilly and Alia Shawkat have signed up for the comedy Cedar Rapids, starring Ed Helms and Anne Heche. The lead role is in Helms’ wheelhouse: he plays a small-town insurance salesman (might as well be a paper salesman) who, after his role model dies, has to attend a conference in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where his mind is blown by the big city. Just wait until he sees Scranton! [Variety]
Red Hot: Helen Mirren will team up with Morgan Freeman and Bruce Willis in the action thrilled Red. The film, based on three books, centers on a retired CIA agent whose leisure time is interrupted when an assassin comes after him. The movie is set for a November 2010 release, though it sounds like a perfect summer flop blockbuster. [Variety]
Bear Necessity: The Berenstain Bears are finally coming to the big screen. The mixed live action/CGI film will be a family comedy, presumably with a moral lesson. More than 250 Bears books have sold 260 million copies since 1962. Shawn Levy, the director of both Night at the Museum films, is co-producing. And if he’s smart he’ll aim to cast all bear actors. We’re looking at you Richard Karn. [THR]
Fat Chance: Wish you knew more about Kirstie Alley’s struggle to lose weight? You’re in luck. She’s partnering with A&E for a reality series about her belly, her hunt for jobs and her life as a single mom in Hollywood. With this one, A&E is clearly attempting to cover the “E†(entertainment) and not the “A†(arts). [Variety]
Stereotypes!: The Style network thinks this is a good idea: an hour-long reality series filmed in a Central New Jersey beauty salon called Jerseylicious. And we agree.[Variety]