It's good to know that some forward momentum is being made on The Hobbit despite the labor disputes that are tripping up the film's location. The first round of casting has been announced and you're going to be psyched. But only if you're knowledgeable about British television. Here's who we got so far:
Martin Freeman (UK "The Office") as Bilbo Baggins
Richard Armitage ("Spooks") as Thorin Oakenshield, Dwarf leader
Aidan Turner ("Being Human") as Kili
Rob Kazinsky ("EastEnders") as Fili
Graham McTavish (Secretariat) as Dwalin
John Callen ("Power Rangers Jungle Fury") as Oin
Stephen Hunter ("All Saints") as Bombur
Mark Hadlow (King Kong) as Dori
Peter Hambleton ("The Strip") as Gloin
 
Ian McKellan and Andy Serkis have not been confirmed to return, but that announcement is expected. Stephen Fry, Saoirse Ronan, Bill Nighy, James Nesbitt, and David Tennant are all also rumored to be up for parts. But I think the biggest news to come out of this is that there's a show called "Power Rangers Jungle Fury" and it actually lead to someone getting more work. (Deadline)

Clever girl.
Peter Jackson has finalized his deal to return to the Shire. The Lord Of The Rings helmer is locked and loaded and ready to direct the living crap out of The Hobbit. New Line Cinema and MGM managed to come to a deal. My bet is the cash-strapped MGM will have to do New Line's laundry for an entire year. Either that or something having to do with percentage points.
However, this wouldn't be The Hobbit if there weren't concerns over additional delays. The project has overcome bankruptcy and a fire, but is now only curtailed by a union dispute in New Zealand. If this cannot be resolved for the planned February start date, the production will have to move elsewhere. Which will cause more delays and drive up the already high budget. Which means MGM will be folding undies for a long time to come. (NY Times)

Brendan Fraser's spelunking days may be behind him. Deadline reports that a Journey To The Center Of The Earth 3D sequel is moving forward without Fraser. Josh Hutcherson, his co-star from the original, will be taking over the lead.Fraser reportedly dropped out of the project when his top choice to direct, Eric Brevig, was passed over after he couldn't free up his Yogi Bear schedule. New Line and Walden Media got antsy, and brought in Brad Peyton, the director of Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore. And with that Brendan Fraser was out. For years we've wondered if the man who appeared in Furry Vengeance, GI Joe, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Bedazzled, Dudley Do-Right, Monkeybone, and various Pauly Shore movies had a line. Apparently that line is Cats & Dogs. Reading between the lines, Fraser obviously doesn't believe a gay actor is capable of playing a talking cat. Cue the outrage!

The trailer for new rom-com Going the Distance looks at the trials and tribulations of a long distance relationship as Justin Long and Drew Barrymore try to make it work from spaced-out area codes. It takes a concept with potential and weaves in thin threads of triteness between scenes with "Always Sunny's" Charlie Day.  The original script was on the Black List awhile back, but of course Hollywood execs replaced the dark tones and realistic characters with botched spray tan and inappropriate kitchen table sex set pieces. Justin Long delivers, as he usually seems to do, but I find myself wondering why his character puts so much effort into a long distance relationship with Drew Barrymore when Charlie Day is (inexplicably) his father. Live with dad forever, dude. No girl's going to keep you as entertained as he will, even if she does let you feel her up over her shirt. Check out the trailer after the jump. Going the Distance phones it in to theaters August 27, 2010.

Director: Nanette BurnsteinCast: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Charlie Day, Christina ApplegateSynopsis: A look at the trials and tribulations of a long-distance relationship.Release Date: August 27, 2010

Get ready to go further behind the music of popular VH1 "Behind the Music" subjects N.W.A (aka That-word-my-friend-Tariq-asked-me-to-stop-saying With Attitude). New Line has tapped (not as in "tapped that ass") Andrea Berloff (World Trade Center) to write Straight Outta Compton, a biopic dramatizing the rise and fall of seminal gangsta rappers and police f*ckers: Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, and DJ Yella.Biopics always clean up come award season and I don't see why this one should be any different. One might argue that the subject matter is too aggressive but the same could once be said for Johnny Cash. I'm interested to see how far this can go. In fact, I'd like to go ahead and nominate it right now for the Screen Junkies' Theater-Going Experience Most Likely to Get You Shot Award. (THR)

Parkour, the hottest trend of the month that Casino Royale came out, is finally getting its own movie. After having been in development for three years, New Line has hired Matt Johnson to write a script about a pair of master bank robbers who excel at their take because of parkour. Because of all the rooftop banks, you see. Channing Tatum was once attached to the project but has since jumped ship.

Last summer's The Final Destination was intended to be the last film in the franchise until someone realized they forgot to include laser-eye surgery. And thus, The Final Destination 5 in 3D will breeze into theaters next year, knock over some paint thinner and cause a huge fire in the process.Eric Heisserer (Elm Street remake, The Thing prequel) has been hired to write the script. Plot specifics are not known at this time but it is said that New Line is looking to break out of the repetition of the previous entries. I'll keep you posted when the entirely new, totally retarded plot contrivances are announced. (THR)

Pack the kids and the dog urine-soaked sandwiches into the family truckster. It looks like New Line and David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers) are moving forward with their reboot of National Lampoon's Vacation. However, this time they're wisely dropping the National Lampoon's moniker. The goof-tards who made Van Wilder: Freshman Year spilled bong water on it and now it's ruined.News today is that screenwriting duo Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Sam from Freaks and Geeks) have been hired to write the disastrous family outing. As previously reported, the new film will focus on Rusty Griswold as the hapless dad of his own family. Chevy Chase is expected to tag along as Grandpa Clark. No word yet whether Beverly D'Angelo or Randy Quaid will return or not. Though if Quaid is not welcomed back, Dobkin can expect a threatening, unpunctuated letter from his nutbar wife. (Variety)