Cameron Diaz, 'Transformers' and Kirk Cameron Lead 2015 Razzie Nominations

With the Academy Award nominations coming up as a celebration of the year's best films, it means the time is here to also "honor" the crappiest films to plague theaters. Yes, it's time for the annual Razzie Award nominations, when a group of mean-spirited folk swing at the low hanging fruit that are the most obviously terrible movies.

This year it's Cameron Diaz who comes out the big loser with three nominations (including Worst Actrss) for four different movies: The Other Woman, Sex Tape, and Annie, the last one they probably threw in just for the easy trifecta. Michael Bay's Transformers: Age of Extinction is obviously in the mix multiple times for Worst Movie, Worst Director, Worst Screen Combo, and Worst Screenplay. While sometimes these awards are around just to take cheap shots at celebs, it's hard to dispute the presence of Pompeii, Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas debacle, and The Legend of Hercules.

This year they're doing something different and offering the Redeemer Award to someone who has made a big screen comeback after stinking up the joint far too often. That list is actually pretty cool with Kristen Stewart, Ben Affleck, and Jennifer Aniston having made significant strides, at least according to the Razzie team.

The Razzie winners will be named on February 21st.

Worst Picture
- "Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas"
- "Left Behind"
- "The Legend of Hercules"
- "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"
- "Transformers: Age of Extinction"

Worst Actor
- Nicolas Cage, "Left Behind"
- Kirk Cameron, "Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas"
- Kellan Lutz, "The Legend of Hercules"
- Seth MacFarlane, "A Million Ways to Die in the West"
- Adam Sandler, "Blended"

Worst Actress
- Drew Barrymore, "Blended"
- Cameron Diaz, "The Other Woman," "Sex Tape"
- Melissa McCarthy, "Tammy"
- Charlize Theron, "A Million Ways to Die in the West"
- Gaia Weiss, "The Legend of Hercules"

Worst Supporting Actress
- Cameron Diaz, "Annie"
- Megan Fox, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"
- Nicola Peltz, "Transformers: Age of Extinction"
- Brigitte Ridenour, "Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas"
- Susan Sarandon, "Tammy"

Razzie Redeemer Award
- Ben Affleck
- Jennifer Aniston
- Mike Myers
- Keanu Reeves
- Kristen Stewart

Worst Supporting Actor
- Mel Gibson, "The Expendables 3"
- Kelsey Grammer, "The Expendables 3," "Legends of Oz," "Think Like a Man Too," "Transformers: Age of Extinction"
- Shaquille O'Neal, "Blended"
- Arnold Schwarzenegger, "The Expendables 3"
- Kiefer Sutherland, "Pompeii"

Worst Director
- Michael Bay, "Transformers: Age of Extinction"
- Darren Doane, "Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas"
- Renny Harlin, "The Legend of Hercules"
- Jonathan Liebesman, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"
- Seth MacFarlane, "A Million Ways To Die in the West"

Worst Screen Combo
- Kirk Cameron and his ego, "Saving Christmas"
- Seth MacFarlane and Charlize Theron, "A Million Ways to Die in the West"
- Any two robots, actors (or robotic actors), "Transformers"
- Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel, "Sex Tape"
- Kellan Lutz and either his abs, pecs or glutes, "Legend of Hercules"

Worst Screenplay
- "Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas"
- "Left Behind"
- "Sex Tape"
- "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"
- "Transformers: Age of Extinction"

  Worst Remake, Rip-off or Sequel
- "Annie"
- "Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt?"
- "The Legend of Hercules"
- "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"

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Box Office: 'The LEGO Movie' Hotter than 'Pompeii' and '3 Days to Kill'

1. The LEGO Movie- $31.4M/$183.1M
In its third weekend, everything has stayed awesome for The LEGO Movie, slipping only 37% and banking $234M worldwide. Now that the sequel has been confirmed for 2017, Warner Bros. can say they have found their next great franchise, one that kids and adults continue to flock to. 
2. 3 Days to Kill- $12.3M
Based solely on the strength of Kevin Costner, the Luc Besson-produced and written action flick 3 Days to Kill managed $12.3M, which is is still mighty unimpressive. But the good news is that it was pretty cheap, costing only about $28M, and Besson has enough of an international profile that the film will likely do well overseas. Or maybe just in France.
3. Pompeii- $10M
Another one that's likely to do far better internationally than domestic is Pompeii, the $100M Gladiator-lite meets Titanic flick from Paul W.S. Anderson. Anderson's films, and that includes his long-lived Resident Evil movies, tend to perform well in foreign markets while languishing here. It was too much to expect that HBO's Games of Thrones audience would follow Kit Harington over to this one, and with Kiefer Sutherland the only other big name star, there simply wasn't enough to lure audiences in. 
4. Robocop- $9.4M/$43.6M
5. The Monuments Men- $8.1M/$58M
6. About Last Night- $7.4M/$38.1M
Ouch! After a strong start last week, the Kevin Hart rom-com About Last Night slid a massive 71%. It's already made its money back and then some, though.
7. Ride Along- $4.6M/$123.1M
8. Frozen- $4.35M/$384M
9. Endless Love- $4.3M/$20.1M
10. Winter's Tale- $2.1M/$11.2M

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The Talent Show: Jessica Lucas

Oh, so you thought The Talent Show would be all about Amber Heard this week, right? I don't blame you for thinking that, since everyone knows how I feel about the future...*grumble*...Mrs. Johnny friggin' Depp, plus she has 3 Days to Kill out this week. But I've given Heard enough love here on the site, so let's take a look another actress who is definitely on the rise.

We've been seeing a lot from Jessica Lucas lately, having seen her in both That Awkward Moment and this week's Pompeii this year alone. In one she stomps all over poor Michael B. Jordan's heart, in the other she's a barely-clothed slave fleeing an erupting volcano. That shows great emotional range, right? Who cares? She's smokin' hot in everything, whether she's running away from monsters in Cloverfield or trying to survive the Evil Dead. Hopefully she'll get a chance to put that theatre background to good use in something juicy at some point, but for now I'm perfectly fine with her as eye candy.

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Seven Kingdoms Scoop: ‘Game of Thrones’ star Kit Harington chats about the show before its season four premiere

At this point, you might think to yourself, “Hmm, I guess everyone at Punch Drunk Critics really likes Kit Harington.” And you’d basically be right: Travis spoke with Harington about his latest film, Pompeii, and Travis also reviewed the movie; we’ve had a lot of Harington coverage lately. Nevertheless, what’s wrong with a little more? Not a damn thing.

As PDC’s resident Game of Thrones fanatic, I had to speak with Harington myself about his character Jon Snow, that one line every fan says to him, what his hopes are for the next seasons of GoT, and his thoughts on HBO in general—like which Academy Award-nominated actor he wouldn’t mind making a cameo on the show. Read on!

Q: What’s the major difference between filming a major film like Pompeii and then returning to work on GoT?

A: The major difference is that I’ve got a really big trailer with a fireplace and a bed and then I came back to Thrones season four, and I’m turning to one of the [assistant directors] and said, “Can I get a coffee?” and she said, “Get it yourself!” And I was like, “Yeah, yes, now I remember! I’m in a tiny little box trailer. Welcome back to the Wall.” They’re very different animals. Being in Thrones is like coming back to your family every year. We have a lovely crew, a lovely cast, and I very dearly love returning to Northern Ireland and filming every year.

Q: Someone could make the argument that your character in Pompeii, Milo, and your GoT character, Jon Snow, are somewhat comparable: Both men of few words, both great warriors, both motivated by very personal things. How would you view that comparison?

A: They’re both quite introverted, quite quiet, but they’re driven by very different things. … Milo has no hope, no ambition other than bloodlust; that’s all he cares about … whereas Jon Snow is very driven by honor and duty, and there will be a point to life, and he wants to do right by people. I think that was the biggest difference. But on the surface, they’re quite similar approaches to a character.

Q: In the GoT A Foreshadowing season four preview video that HBO released a few weeks ago, you mentioned how Bronn is your favorite character, because of how much he can say with a quippy line or an aside. And as an example, you cited his fight in the Eyrie, near the Moon Door, with Lysa Tully's champion …

A: That’s one of my favorite lines in everything I’ve ever seen. They say, “You don’t fight with honor,” and he says, “No … he did.” That’s fantastic!

Q: And of course, there’s the line that you’re always hearing from fans: "You know nothing, Jon Snow."

A: I still don’t know what the fuck it means! I still don’t know what the fuck it means. And I quite like that I don’t know what it means. Because doing the scenes with Ygritte [actress Rose Leslie], we’d finish the scene and I’d be like, “What the fuck are you talking about? That’s such a shit line. I know nothing? Come on!”

Q: Season four is coming up in just a few weeks, and at this point GoT is such a huge phenomenon. What’s invigorating about that, and what’s daunting?

A: It is invigorating, but the daunting bit I find is that everyone loved season one; they really loved season two; and they really loved season three. So now it’s keeping that ball rolling; are they going to really love this next season? One of my favorite shows is Breaking Bad, and it just got better and better and better and better, and The Sopranosjust got better and better. And that’s what successful shows do; they don’t drop the ball like certain shows I could name—I won’t—and I think that’s what we’ve done with season four. I hope it carries on in that vein; that’s the daunting bit.

The other side of it is … I think everything should have its end, and I think that’s what HBO does very well. They don’t go along for 25 seasons; they have a definite course and they have a definite ending, and I like that we’re going to end in however many years, be it three or four or whatever it is. I think that there will be an ending and there’s a conclusion to it all.

Q: And at this point, you’ll always be Jon Snow.

A: Actors, even your George Clooney and [Leonardo] DiCaprio, actors have maybe three or four roles that they’re known for throughout their life, if they’re really successful. Thrones is definitely going to be one of those for me. I’m hoping I have a career afterward and that lands me two more very significant roles, and that’s what I’m striving for; that’s what I think most actors are striving for. We want to work. I’m lucky to have had one. People go through their whole careers without having one that is as popular as this show is, and the characters in this show … I’m so boringly optimistic, but I just really love it. When my obituary is written it will say, “Jon Snow, Game of Thrones,” and I’m good with that, you know?

Q: You mentioned Breaking Bad and The Sopranos; have you seen the new HBO show True Detective yet? It’s amazing.

A: Can we get Matthew McConaughey on Game of Thrones? These actors moving into TV, taking our jobs!

For more Game of Thrones coverage, keeping checking back with Punch Drunk Critics; my weekly Seven Kingdoms Scoop recaps of GoT will return every Monday morning after Sunday, April 6. Until then, may the Warrior protect you (and Jon Snow). 

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Review: 'Pompeii' Starring Kit Harington and Emily Browning

Knowing exactly how a disaster movie is going to end hasn't stopped Hollywood from making them. Pearl Harbor and most obviously Titanic are the clearest examples of films we know are going to end with practically none of the principle characters walking away, and yet some love these movies as inevitably tragic romances. And now you can throw Pompeii into the mix, a lava-filled historical action flick from Resident Evil director Paul W.S. Anderson. Blending the swords 'n sandals combat of Gladiator with the doomed love affair of Titanic, we could probably fill the Roman Colosseum with all the corny clichés until the volcano erupts and destroys everything.

Game of Thrones star Kit Harington packs on some serious muscle as Milo, a Celtic slave held as a gladiatorial combatant by his Roman captors. Flashbacks take us back to Milo's childhood, when his family and entire village were wiped out by the evil senator Corvus (Kiefer Sutherland), filling the boy with a lust for revenge. Now an adult, he's been sent to Pompeii where he'll continue to serve and fight. But during the trek, he encounters the broken down carriage of Cassia (Emily Browning), the daughter of Pompeii's head family (Stephen Harris and Carrie-Anne Moss). Milo's soft features and humane treatment of her injured horse melts Cassia's heart, but obviously any love between them can never be due to their stations in life.

Just in time for Mt. Vesuvius to start rumbling, Corvus arrives in Pompeii as an emissary of Emperor Titus. Looking to strike some sort of business deal, he uses his position to try and worm his way back into Cassia's life after they shared some sort of history back in Rome. Meanwhile, Milo becomes reluctant friends with Atticus (Adewale Akkinnuoye-Agbaje), a champion gladiator one victory away from freedom. It's all very Gladiator-lite up to this point, but it's entertaining in a cheesy, predictable sort of way. And really, it would work perfectly fine as such without the intrusion of the erupting volcano, which arrives and renders literally everything we just watched as meaningless.

Anderson shows surprising restraint for a good deal of the film, holding off on many of the big set pieces until the lava starts flowing. There are a number of solid sword clashes, in which Harington gets to show off his well-versed combat skills from Game of Thrones, and despite the PG-13 rating they are sufficiently brutal and bloody. Harington gets plenty of opportunity to show off his glistening abs and glistening locks, although his romance with Browning lacks any true spark. Once Vesuvius blows, Anderson gets to show off the talent for visual effects spectacles he's always been known for. More than lava threatens to destroy the city as Anderson hurls giant fireballs, rains burning ash, and unleashes a deadly tsunami that would have Noah racing to build another ark. These are captured in epic fashion, seen from up close and afar to encapsulate the entirety of the devastation.

If looked at merely as an action film, Pompeii has all the technical merits, rippling muscles, and chariot battles one could ask for, but as a romance it's something of a disaster itself.

Trav's Tip: For more on Pompeii, check out my interview with star Kit Harington.

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Interview: Kit Harington Talks 'Pompeii', 'Game of Thrones', and Superhero Movies

While most have grown accustomed to Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO's Game of Thrones, he's slowly been branching out into the world of feature films. He makes his biggest move yet on February 21st when Paul W.S. Anderson's Pompeii hits theaters, playing a gladiator named Milo who must rescue the woman he loves when the famous volcano erupts.

I had a chance to sit down and talk with Harington about Pompeii, and how Game of Thrones helped prepare him for this next phase in his career. We also spoke about his intense physical training for the role (if you've seen the photos you know he did overtime at the gym), his love of action movies, and his thoughts on starring in a superhero movie. You can listen to the interview below.

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Watch the Super Bowl TV Spot for 'Pompeii'; Paul W.S. Anderson Delays Next 'Resident Evil'

Ever since 2002, Paul W. S. Anderson has been pretty good about dropping another Resident Evil on us every couple of years. The inexplicably long-lived franchise, far and away the most successful video game adaptation ever, released its fifth film in 2012 with Resident Evil: Retribution, with the sixth and "final" one expected to arrive this year. But while making the press rounds for Pompeii, Anderson revealed to Comingsoon that it may be awhile before we see his wife Milla Jojovich slice up more zombies.

Anderson's comments suggest the film won't hit the September 12th release date because Jojovich is off shooting another movie. He's also going to take that time to relax and spend time with their kids, which is certainly his right to do. Chances are it will arrive as part of the jam-packed 2015 field. I have a feeling he'll also begin plans for whatever form the franchise will take after the sixth movie, whether that involves a continuation or a total reboot. 'Retribution' earned $240M and they aren't all that expensive, so why mess around with what isn't broken?

Meanwhile, the Super Bowl spot for Pompeii has been released before the opening kick-off and...well, it looks like an Anderson movie. Lots of lava, people screaming, big action and not much else. It might be entertaining, though, if only due to the cast that includes Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Kiefer Sutherland, Adewale Akkinuoye-Agbage, Jared Harris, Jessica Lucas, and Paz Vega.  Pompeii opens February 21st 2014.


Pompeii (2014) - XLVIII Trailer [VO-HD] by Eklecty-City.fr

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Fiery New Trailer for 'Pompeii' Starring Kit Harington and Emily Browning

Between 300: Rise of an Empire and Pompeii, there are going to be a lot of muscle-bound gladiators in loincloths and armor on the big screen. But unlike the former, Pompeii doesn't have the benefit of a hit film to springboard off of. All it has is Resident Evil director Paul W.S. Anderson; the name of a city city everyone remembers from history class; and at least judging by this new trailer, an awful lot of CGI lava.

Starring Game of Thrones' Kit Harington, the film centers on Milo, a slave in the titular doomed city who must rescue the woman he loves (Emily Browning) and his best friend (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbage) when Mt. Vesuvius erupts. Jared Harris, Kiefer Sutherland, Paz Vega, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Jessica Lucas co-star with a script by Downton Abbey's Julian Fellowes, so perhaps there's more to it than the trailer suggests?

Pompeii burns down theaters on February 21st 2014.


Pompeii trailer by FilmBoy-gr

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First Looks: Steve Carell in 'Foxcatcher'; Idris Elba in 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom'; Kit Harington in 'Pompeii'

Thanks to Charlize Theron's transformation into the hideous Aileen Wuornos in Monster and Nicole Kidman plastering a huge schnoz on her face in The Hours, we went through a period where beautiful actors "uglying themselves up" was a sure path to Oscar gold. Or at least everybody gave it a shot. It remains at the very least an easy way to gain some attention for a specific role, and as we enter the awards season two major Best Picture contenders have stars undergoing some dramatic alterations, and EW has released new images of them, along with one film that will probably qualify for a Razzie.

The first image is of an unrecognizable Steve Carell in Foxcatcher, sporting one heck of a beak. Directed by Bennett Miller (Moneyball), the film has Carell starring alongside Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum, and Sienna Miller. He plays John du Pont, a multimillionaire and paranoid schizophrenic who built an Olympic-class wrestling facility called Team Foxcatcher on his estate, where his best friend and gold medal-winning grappler David Scultz (Ruffalo) trained. In 1996 du Pont murdered Schultz, claiming he was part of an international conspiracy. It's a bizarre story, and with a December 20th date it's clearly got Oscar aspirations.

On the other hand, Idris Elba is also unrecognizable as an older Nelson Mandela in this photo from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom...but it's because his face looks like wet cement. It's probably not fair to judge it too harshly because it could look better in motion, and Elba does seem to be embodying the South African freedom fighter pretty well in the trailer. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom hits theaters on November 29th, co-starring Naomie Harris and directed by Justin Chadwick.

And finally, here's Kit Harington wearing considerably less than the bulky gear he usually sports on HBO's Game of Thrones. That should please a few people I know. In the first image from Paul W. S. Anderson's Pompeii, Harington has clearly packed on some muscle for the role of Milo, an enslaved arena fighter who must save his noble love (Emily Browning) and his best friend (Adewale Akkinuoye-Agbaje) when the volcanic eruption occurs that will ultimately level the city. Co-starring Kiefer Sutherland, Paz Vega, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jared Harris, and Jessica Lucas, Pompeii erupts on February 21st 2014.

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Sure Shots: Kaya Scodelario; Luke Evans; Jessica Lucas

* Clearly an actress on the rise, Kaya Scodelario has been drawing attention not by appearing in big blockbusters, but by flexing her dramatic muscles. After starring in Andrea Arnold's ballsy adaptation of Wuthering Heights, she turned at Sundance for Emmanuel and the Truth About Fishes. But Hollywood beckons, and director Wes Ball recently tweeted that Scodelario was on board for his big screen version of The Maze Runner. Based on the YA novel by James Dashner, the story sci-fi story follows Thomas, who wakes up with no memory of his past life. Welcomed into an area called The Glade, he joins a community of 60 or so young boys who call themselves Gladers, and have been trying for two years in a giant maze. Scodelario will play Theresa, Thomas' best friend and the only female Glader. The Maze Runner hits theaters next Valentine's Day.

* Once with Sam Worthington set to star and Alex Proyas lined up as director, Dracula Year Zero has been brewing over at Universal for a long time. Last year Gary Shore stepped in to helm the picture, reportedly an origin story about the real life Prince Vlad the Impaler, mixing in mythology to tell the story of his transformation into the first vampire. After getting a look at his skills in Fast & Furious 6, the studio has chosen Luke Evans to lead the bloodthirsty pic, which now simply goes by Dracula. The hope is to have cameras rolling later this year for a likely release in 2014.[THR]

* It's been a banner week for Evil Dead co-star, Jessica Lucas. Not only did the horror scare up a huge debut at the box office, but now she's landed a role in Paul W.S. Anderson's upcoming historical disaster film, Pompeii. Taking place during  the famous eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that leveled the city, the story follows a slave who must race to save the woman he loves and his gladiator best friend.  Emily Browning, Kit Harington, Jared Harris, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Kiefer Sutherland star, with Lucas playing a personal slave.

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Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbage joins disaster film, 'Pompeii'

Most will recognize Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbage from his distinctive name and his role as Mr. Eko on ABC's Lost, but he's been around hovering around the edges of some major blockbusters for years. Getting his start in 1995's Congo, he's had supporting turns in The Bourne Identity, The Mummy Returns, and recently starred in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra as Heavy Duty. For me, he'll always just be the ruthless, conniving Adebisi on HBO's prison drama, Oz. Now he's joining the cast of Paul W.S Anderson's historical disaster film, Pompeii.

Already starring Kit Harington, Kiefer Sutherland, Jared Harris and Emily Browning, the film is set during the two-day eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that destroyed the city. Harington plays Milo, a slave who loves the daughter of a wealthy tycoon, but she is due to wed the tyrant who years earlier had murdered his family and destroyed his homeland. When the volcano erupts, Milo must rescue the woman he loves and save his best friend, an enslaved gladiator played by Akinnuoye-Agbage.

It's been an incredibly busy year already, with Akinnuoye-Agbage appearing in Sylvester Stallone's Bullet to the Head, and co-starring in the Sundance hit The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete (review here). He'll be seen next as the villain Kurse in Thor: The Dark World. [Variety]

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Kiefer Sutherland is the villain in Paul W.S. Anderson's 'Pompeii'

Although Kiefer Sutherland and the show's fans were gung-ho for it, the 24 movie doesn't look like it's ever going to happen. He's still busy enough with his new Fox series, Touch, and keeping his presence large on the big screen as well by joining Paul W. S. Anderson's brewing disaster film, Pompeii.

THR reports that Sutherland will join Kit Harington, Emily Browning, and Jared Harris in the 3D spectacle, set during the famous two-day volcanic eruption that destroyed the titular Roman city. Harington plays Milo, a slave who loves a merchant's daughter, and must rescue her along with his gladiator best friend when Mt. Vesuvius erupts. Sutherland is the primary villain, a Roman senator forcing the merchant to give him his daughter's hand in marriage.

Sutherland was last seen on the big screen in Melancholia, and will appear in Mira Nair's The Reluctant Fundamentalist.

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Emily Browning joins Kit Harington in Paul W.S. Anderson's 'Pompeii'

Sometimes it seems like things are conspiring against making Emily Browning the star she deserves to be. She's a terrific young actress, but her films either don't measure up or are largely ignored. Her most high-profile role to date was in last year's Sucker Punch, which critics went overboard in bashing. She was very good in Julia Leigh's Sleeping Beauty, which nobody saw.

Browning has a chance to turn it around as she's just joined Paul W. S. Anderson's upcoming historical disaster flick, Pompeii. She'll play the love interest to Game of Thrones star, Kit Harington, in the film which takes the city's famous destruction by volcano and turns it into an action-romance. Harington will play Milo, a slave in love with a rich senator's daughter (Browning), and must come to her rescue her and his gladiator friend when Mt. Vesuvius erupts. The script was recently given a fresh rewrite by Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey), so maybe it'll be better than Anderson's usual stuff.

Browning has another potential blockbuster on the way, appearing in a small but pivotal role in Andrew Niccol's The Host. I won't give her role away, but it in a film I found to be hard to follow her appearance is definitely a surprise. She also stars opposite Michael Cera and Juno Temple in the psycho-thriller, Magic Magic, which you can check out my early review of here. [The Toronto Star via Bleeding Cool]

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Sure Shots: Jack Nicholson; Kit Harington; Sylvester Stallone

* You can't just pick any ol' body to play Robert Downey Jr.'s father. Whoever does it has to be someone of equal or greater stature, and one guy who certainly fits the bill is Jack Nicholson. Warner Bros. is looking for him to join Downey Jr. in The Judge, a new dramedy directed by David Dobkin and with the latest script written by Bill Dubuque. The film follows a successful attorney who returns home for his mother's funeral, only to learn that his father, a former judge now suffering from Alzheimer's, is the murder suspect. He must defend his old man in court, and in the process he'll learn some life lessons or something. Sounds potentially hilarious and bittersweet. No deals are in place, and Downey is set to meet with Nicholson next week to iron things out. [THR]

* Somebody somewhere seems to think Game of Thrones star Kit Harington has what it takes to be a star outside of the HBO series, but if Silent Hill: Revelation showed anything it's that he probably doesn't. He was pretty awful. Anyway, he'll have a chance to star in his biggest film yet as the lead in Paul W.S. Anderson's Pompeii. With a script rewrite by Julian Fellowes(Downtown Abbey), the story will follow the 2-day volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that buried the titular city. The plan is to basically make this like Titanic with liquid hot magma, as Harington will star as Milo, a slave who loves a rich senator's daughter, and must rescue her and his gladiator best friend when the eruption begins. It sounded awful a year ago, and it sounds just as awful now. Filming will likely begin early next year before filming on season 4 of Game of Thrones begins. [Variety]

* Noted indie auteur Sylvester Stallone has joined the cast of Reach Me, an independent film from his Cobra co-star, John Herzfeld(The Death and Life of Bobby Z). Stallone has already wrapped shooting on his role, which is being kept under wraps. Starring Nelly, Omari Hardwick, Danny Aiello, Rebekah Chaney, and Elizabeth Henstridge(who recently joined Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D.), the story follows a group of people who all have a connection to a self-help book written by a reclusive ex-football coach. [Variety]

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