MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

This morning I woke up to discover that character actor Ron Silver had died of cancer at age 62.  Silver is probably best known for his work in dramas like The West Wing, Chicago Hope and as the villain in Timecop.  But he also made one of the funniest self-deprecating turns in unaired TV show history when he played the villain – and himself – in the Ben Stiller-created, Jack Black-starring Heat Vision Jack.  See the clip after the jump.

And now, the rest of the news…

Sam Raimi Talks Remakes & Evil Dead 4! (IGN)

Awesome Concept Art from The Goon (/Film)

ex-NFL’er Michael Strahan to Follow in OJ Simpson’s Path – minus the murder part. (Variety)

Thoughts on SXSW screening of Bruno.  Vassup! (AICN)

Exclusive I Love You, Man Clip (ComingSoon.Net)

The Prognosis on Fox’s House (Ausiello Files)

Pajiba Bitches About Loving Austin & SXSW (Pajiba)

And here’s that beautiful clip of Ron Silver in fine form.  Rest in peace, sir.

This morning, The Hollywood Reporter tells us that the classic Stephen King story, It, will be making a leap to the big screen.  The 1990 TV movie adaptation was probably the best TV movie ever made (next to anything Meredith Baxter Birney puts out), and scared the ever loving crap out of me.  I can only imagine what a rated R film could do – but I always knew Pennywise the Clown would be back for me now that I’m an adult.  Dave Kajganich (The Invasion) is set to write the script for Warner Bros. 

And now for some news that doesn’t summon dark memories from my childhood:

Jonah Hill to scribe 21 Jump Street for big screen.  (Film Drunk)

Pics from Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (ComingSoon.Net)

Stimulus Package Movie Night (Film.com)

SXSW Update: Troll 2 Gets Its own documentary! (Aint It Cool)

So Orphanage guy ISN’T necessarily doing Twilight 2 now (LA Times)

First look at Pixar’s Partly Cloudy short (/Film)

According to Variety, Sylvester Stallone’s The Expendables cast just expanded by two more: WWE’s Stone Cold Steve Austin and Charisma Carpenter, of TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and CSI.  Looks like Stallone’s taking a lotta names, but will the film also kick ass?  And the biggest question still remains… will Ahnold be the icing on this explosives-laced cake?

And here is the rest of your morning news:

Orphanage director finds home at Summit (Variety)

Joaquin Phoenix goes Axl Rose at nightclub (FilmDrunk)

Jeff Goldblum joins insemination comedy The Baster (Coming Soon)

Horror phenom Aja becomes a Contractor (Ain’t It Cool)

Preview SXSW 2009′s Film Lineup (Film.com)

Of the infinite reasons I miss living in Austin, Texas, here’s one: Universal Pictures heads there this weekend to give South by Southwest (SXSW) 2009 attendees a sneak peek at footage from Sasha Baron Cohen’s Bruno March 15th at 11:00pm.

(Bruno opens wide July 10th, 2009)

And now, the news:

French Star Wars fan gets creative with public transportation (SlashFilm)

Ghostbusters Blu-Ray cover art revealed! (Dread Central)

Dark City 2?  Maybe.  With Fox?  Aw heeell naw! (FilmDrunk)

Meet the TV-B-Gone Creator (Wired)

So, not only could we be getting a Pirates of the Caribbean 4, but Britain’s coolest comedian alive, Russell Brand, could be joining the cast.  I don’t know about you, but I think Brand is exactly what the series needs.  You know people will come to theaters in droves regardless, but I could overlook what’ll likely be the most convoluted plot yet if Mr. Brand is trading verbal blows with Cap’n Jack Sparrow.  Or maybe they won’t be adversaries… maybe… they’re brothers?  Let the speculation commence.

Here’s your morning news.

Russell Brand talks Pirates 4 (ComingSoon.Net)

Kubrick still alive after being dead ten years (The Playlist)

 Update on Lucas’s Star Wars TV project (FilmDrunk)

Blonde Angelina Jolie streaks through D.C. (Huffington Post)

Jay Leno to give one "freebie" to auto workers (Jalopnik)

Live in LA?  Want to to to TOKYO for FREE? (Ain’t It Cool)

Heroes’ Hayden Panattierre Browbeats Paparazzi (MSNBC)

To no one’s surprise Watchmen threw the competition through a plate glass window this weekend, earning an estimated 3-day total of $55.7 million (roughly 4,500,000 nerd-boners). Despite it being the biggest opening of the year, Zack Snyder’s opus came in lower than expected. Some attribute this to lack of star power, the graphic use of sex and violence, running time, and My Chemical Romance’s inclusion. Personally I blame Daylight Savings.

Here’s your morning news.

Watchmen mainly watched by men (Huffington Post)

New Character pages on Wolvie site: The Blob and Ralphie May share striking resemblance (X-Men Origins)
 

Dakota Fanning is biting people (Coming Soon)

Tommy Wiseau tosses around the pigskin with Tim and Eric (adult swim)

Martha Stewart’s dog stars in all-animal Final Destination reboot (TMZ)

ABC mocks the unemployed (Defamer)

Obama flips the f*** out  (SNL)
 
 

Spielberg, Smith in talks for Oldboy (Variety)

HBO Picks up rights to Obama documentary (/films)

Steve Carell Is The Beaver (Empire)

Milla Jovovich to Keep Coming Back (Variety)

Fox announces midseason schedule (Comingsoon)

Long joins After.Life (Joblo)

New Defiance poster (Empire)

Good morning. How’d you sleep? The entire staff of Screenjunkies stayed up last night and broke into a zoo. We have brand new mascots for the site. Here’s the morning news roundup while we figure out what to feed a sloth. 

Ben Stiller set to direct "The Trial of the Chicago 7" (Hollywood Reporter)

Netflix Streaming on Select Blu-Ray Players (Slashfilm)
 
HBO’s "Curb Your Enthusiasm" will be back in production in Dec. for season 7. (Variety)

Eastwood in full gear for "Gran Torino" (USA Today)

"Lost" Season 5 trailer (Youtubes)

Guy Pearce set to play a cop in Aussie cop flick "Animal Kingdom" (Empire)

SciFi Channel’s "Ghost Hunters" to have another spin off show tentatively titled "Ghost Hunters: College Education" (Hollywood Reporter)