Mark Wahlberg and Ted take a Dive in First Image from 'Ted 2'

People love to hear Seth MacFarlane on Family Guy. They loved hearing Seth MacFarlane in the $500M-grossing Ted. They didn't like to actually see MacFarlane in A Million Ways to Die in the West. Hence, we're getting a Ted 2 so we don't have to see his mug anymore, and the first image from it is here featuring Mark Wahlberg with the verbally abusive teddy bear.

The image shows John (Wahlberg) and Ted about to go on a scuba dive (maybe they've grown into Scuba Buddies?), but we have no idea why. Perhaps it has something to do with their need for a big shot civil rights lawyer played by Morgan Freeman? Amanda Seyfried takes over the female lead while Mila Kunis slips into a supporting role, so clearly something has happened on the romantic front for poor John.

Ted 2 opens on June 26th 2015. [EW]

Read More

Natalie Dormer is 'Patient Zero'; Liam Neeson Cameos in 'Ted 2'; Patrick Wilson Joins 'Bone Tomahawk'

Game of Thrones' Natalie Dormer will continue her busy steak by starring in Patient Zero, a zombie apocalypse thriller from Stefan Ruzowitzky, the Oscar-winning director of The Counterfeiters. Written by Mike Le, Patient Zero centers on one man with the ability to speak with the undead and hopes to use that power to end the zombie outbreak, saving his wife in the process. Dormer will be seen next in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. [Deadline]

While Seth MacFarlane's comedy-western A Million Ways to Die in the West drew tumbleweeds earlier this year, he apparently had a good time working with Liam Neeson. MacFarlane revealed on Twitter that Neeson was part of Ted 2, but didn't say much about his role. It's likely to be just a cameo as it sounds like he was only on set for a day. He joins the returning Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis, with Amanda Seyfried taking on the female lead this time and Morgan Freeman playing a famous civil rights attorney. Ted 2 opens June 26th 2015.

Patrick Wilson and Matthew Fox have joined the intriguing horror Western, Bone Hawk, which already has Kurt Russell and Richard Jenkins starring. Directed by S. Craig Zahler, the story follows a sheriff (Russell), a gunslinger, a befuddled oldster (Jenkins) and a cowboy as they attempt to rescue a group of captives  from a band of cannibalistic troglodytes. Wilson plays a driven and thoughtful cowboy whose rise to the foreman position of a cattle outfit is interrupted by an unfortunate accident that reshapes his life in unforeseen ways. Fox will play John Brooder, the eloquent, albeit inscrutable gentleman whose dark inclinations have put him and his polished weapons at the very edge of the western frontier.

Read More

Kate Mara Eyes 'The Martian'; John Leguizamo goes to 'Meadowland; Dennis Haysbert Joins 'Ted 2'

Ridley Scott's adaptation of The Martian already has an incredible cast shaping up with Matt Damon in the lead and Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, and Mackenzie Davis circling roles, but now Deadline is reporting Kate Mara (House of Cards, Fantastic Four) has been made an offer. The Davis story wasn't out there long before this one came out, and it may be that Mara is in line for the same part. Penned by Drew Goddard, The Martian centers on an astronaut who must survive long enough to be rescued after he's stranded on Mars.

John Leguizamo, Merritt Wever (Emmy winner from Nurse Jackie), and Nick Sandow have joined Meadowland, the directorial debut of cinematographer Reed Morano. Olivia Wilde, Luke Wilson, Elisabeth Moss, Giovanni Ribisi, Ty Simpkins, Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi), Mark Feuerstein, Kevin Corrigan and Juno Temple star in the drama about a New York couple who take very different approaches to healing after their son's disappearance. I'm a huge fan of Wever's and have been for years. Hopefully this leads to more big screen work for her.

Dennis Haysbert, last seen as Manute in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, will make a "fun cameo" in Seth MacFarlane's Ted 2, joining Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Morgan Freeman, and Amanda Seyfried. All we know about the plot is that Ted will be in need of a high-powered civil rights attorney at some point, which to me already sounds funny.  Ted 2 opens June 26th 2015. Haysbert has also landed a role in Dead Rising, based on the hit Capcom video game. Zach Lipovksy (Leprechaun: Origins) is directing the zombie flick for exclusive premier on Crackle.com before receiving a multiplatform release. Haysbert will be seen next in the racial satire, Dear White People.

Read More

Morgan Freeman Joins 'Ted 2', Jessica Chastain Boards 'The Death and Life of John F. Donovan'

For what possible reason could the vulgar stuffed bear Ted need of a civil rights lawyer? Who knows, but in the sequel to Seth MacFarlane's hit R-rated comedy he'll have one played by Morgan Freeman. Freeman, who will be seen this weekend in Dolphin Tale 2, will play a famous attorney in the film which brings back Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis, along with Amanda Seyfried as the female lead. Ted 2 opens June 26th 2015. [Variety]

This week audiences will have a chance to check out Jessica Chastain in the melancholy romance, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, and while her schedule is packed she's adding one more project. She's set to star in The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, the English-language debut of Xavier Dolan. This all came about because of Chastain's love of his most recent film, Mommy, which took home a Jury Award at Cannes. Dolan calls the film a dramatic satire of the business, with Chastain as the antagonistic editor-in-chief of a gossip magazine. Sweet. [Bent]

Read More

Kevin Costner is 'Criminal'; Jessica Barth Returns for 'Ted 2'; Mamie Gummer Joins 'Ricki and the Flash'

* Kevin Costner is suddenly busier than ever although that says nothing about the results of all these movies he's starring in lately. Draft Day, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, and the wretched Three Days to Kill have all done poorly, but maybe that will change with Costner's next project. He's in talks to star in Criminal, from The Iceman director Ariel Vromen. Costner will play “a ruthless killer who, rather than spend the rest of his life in jail, chooses to be used in a medical experiment in which the brain of a recently murdered field operative is implanted in his head.” Pretty nifty concept that Vromen can hopefully bring to life better than he did with The Iceman. [Variety]

* The chick who fell in love with a talking Teddy bear will be back for Ted 2 as Jessica Barth will reprise her role as trashy cashier, Tami-Lynn. Plot details are few but we know Seth MacFarlane will be back to voice Ted, co-write the script, and direct. Mark Wahlberg is also returning, joined by new addition Amanda Seyfried who will play his new love interest with Mila Kunis taking only a small role this time.

* Mamie Gummer, along with Kevin Kline, will join her mother Meryl Streep in Ricki and the Flash. Directed by Jonathan Demme and written by Diablo Cody, Streep plays "a rock ‘n’ roll-loving woman who chased her dreams at the cost of her family, but gets a chance to put things right." Kline will play Streep's ex-husband while Gummer is their confrontational daughter. [TheWrap]

Read More

Amanda Seyfried to Star in 'Ted 2'; Mila Kunis Has Reduced Role

Uh oh, has Ted finally come between John and Lori's relationship for the last time? Seth MacFarlane has begun casting his sequel to Ted, hoping to capitalize on the vulgar R-rated flick's unexpected  $500M success. And while we know Mark Wahlberg will obviously be back to join his thunder buddy, he'll have to get used to a different female lead.

Deadline reports that Amanda Seyfried, who has a role in MacFarlane's comedy-western A Million Ways to Die in the West, will star in Ted 2 and not Mila Kunis. MacFarlane and his co-writers made a "creative decision" to reduce Kunis' role greatly, or possibly even remove her character entirely. The story stresses this wasn't due to a falling out between Kunis and MacFarlane, and that they remain good friends. Still, this is a move that will raise a few eyebrows.

Ted 2 is expected to hit theaters on June 26th 2015. 

Read More