The Incredible Burt Wonderstone writing team of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein are directing the sequel/reboot. The story follows Helms as the adult version of Rusty Griswold who embarks on his own bungled vacation. Applegate will play his wife whom THR hints may be growing tired of him. It’s the singing all the time, I bet. Enough with all the singing Ed Helms.

Original stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo are rumored to also reprise their characters because they would just find another venue to do so anyway.

Helms can next be seen in The Hangover III and Applegate will appear in the highly-anticipated Anchorman: The Legend Continues. Beyond that, you’ll likely be able to see them appear together in Old Navy commercials thirty years from now.

Expect to see a lot more McCarthy in the next few years as she swiftly climbs the Hollywood A-list. If Tammy production can get underway before Betty White retires, they’ve got a bonafide hit on their hands. (Variety)

Despite having interest from both Gerard Butler and Jeremy Renner (who has about as full of a slate as any actor could have), New Line and Warner Bros decided to let their option lapse, relegating Snake to New York City for the foreseeable future. Perhaps it was the fact that their attached director, Breck Eisner, last laid his hands on the lamentable The Crazies, which perhaps didn’t give too much hope to breathing new life into source material that didn’t see the widespread clamoring that many other reboots promise.

Somewhere, an eyepatch propmaster in North Hollywood picks up the phone to tell his kids that there might not be a Christmas this year. (Deadline)

It’s described as being “a home invasion film, only with aliens.” Which sounds pretty cool – imagine if Frank Sinatra in Suddenly turned out to be an alien at the end. Or if in Home Alone Macaulay Culkin was defending his house from alien invaders. I have to go write some fan fiction now, this spec script has captured my imagination. Thanks, Carey and Shane Van Dyke! (Deadline)

“[T]he story follows rival Las Vegas magicians where Carell plays a magic man dethroned by a hip younger illusionist and then must find a way to rediscover his love for magic.”

Why anyone would allow a job directing a movie about magicians slip by, I will never understand. So anyway, New Line is now looking for a new director to helm the project, preferably one who knows how to take orders and just cut the lady in half without asking a lot of questions. (via FirstShowing.net)

Boneta plays a young, wide-eyed traveler to Los Angeles named Drew who dreams of “making it” as a rock star. Yeah, we’re gonna make it. Make our dreams come true in LA. Yeah. Of course, Drew becomes a bus boy, which seems like less of a “dream” and more of a sad reality. Hopefully that’s addressed with the inclusion of the beloved Foreigner b-side “Seems Like Less of a Dream, More of a Sad Reality (Megan’s Song).”

Russell Brand, who is in every other movie these days, has also officially joined the cast. So does that mean James Franco will be wedged in there somehow too? Don’t stop believin’, you guys.

Adam Shankman is directing Rock of Ages for New Line. (Deadline)

New Line will make a biopic about the NFL‘s oldest cheerleader ever, Laura Vikmanis, who worked her ass off so she could shake her ass off for the Cincinnati Bengals. The studio bought the pitch by Emily Cook and Kath Greenberg, who wrote Ratatouille, arguably Pixar‘s best film, and Gnomeo & Juliet, which is… well, Gnomeo & Juliet.

Vikmanis was rightfully upset when her husband bailed on her for a younger woman, leaving her with two teenage kids. Once a dancer, she decided to try out for the Bengals squad and failed. No doubt that scene will be full of nice, encouraging 21-year-olds who won’t make fun of her at all. But after a year-long training montage, Vikmanis returned for vengeance, and vengeance she received, in the form of getting on the team and being happy about that.

The film will be produced by Richard and Lauren Shuler Donner. (Hollywood Reporter)

Let’s start with Rock of Ages. The cliche karaoke soundtrack turned Broadway musical turned feature film directed by Adam Shankman hits theaters June 1, 2012. Phew. For a moment there, I stopped believin’. Rock of Ages stars Tom Cruise, Mary J. Blige, Julianne “I’m From ‘Dancing With The Stars’ ” Hough and Alec Baldwin.

Meanwhile, Jack The Giant Killer, the Bryan Singer helmed fairy tale adaptation, shimmies down the beanstalk on June 15, 2012. It’s just got to steal a bunch of giant treasure first. Jack The Giant Killer stars Nicholas Hoult, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci and Ian McShane. McAwesome cast. (TheWrap)

The script be Paul Haggis (and re-written by Rachel Getting Married‘s Jenny Lumet) has long been considered one of the best unmade films, and is loved by both New Line Cinema and star Bradley Cooper. And do you have any idea how hard it is to get Bradley Cooper to love you? His wild heart cannot be tamed.

But De Niro is simply not interested which has proven to have a ripple effect on the entire production. Cooper doesn’t want to appear disloyal to De Niro (who can blame him after the master thesp’s turn in Rocky & Bullwinkle), and Demme doesn’t want to make the film under negative circumstances. Maybe if Demme were to write in a scene where Ben Stiller accidentally serves poop at dinner or one where Billy Crystal prescribes him a drug that causes extreme cottonmouth and zany side effects, he’d have De Niro’s commitment. Until that time, however, Kevin James needs someone to play a stern judge in a movie about a fat lawyer who falls down a lot. And then Queen Latifah is all like, “Awwwww, Hell no!” (Deadline)

She will direct the film adaptation of Liz Tuccillo’s book How to Be Single for New Line, which is one of those multi-story movies like Valentine’s Day (groaaaan). The movie is about a group of New Yorkers who fall in love and break up over a decade. Will sitting through this romcom feel like a decade? If so, will I at least earn points with my girlfriend towards seeing something with guns, explosions and gunsplosions (guns that shoot when they detect a nearby explosion)?

Those details have not yet been revealed. What we do know that the script was written by Marc Silverstein and Abby Kohn (He’s Just Not That Into You), so there you go. (Hollywood Reporter)

So two names may rule us all, but what’ll those sub-headers be? According to one fan site, distributor New Line has registered the following names:

The Hobbit: There and Back Again

The Hobbit: An/The Unexpected Journey

I assume they’ll decide whether it’ll be an “An” or a “The” by the time New Line sends the movie to theaters, otherwise they might as well call it The Hobbit: Clunk City, USA.

The titles are bot taken from Tolkien directly, as they’re the two titles Bilbo Baggins (that name still makes me LOL after all these years) gave his memoirs in the book. Still, just cause New Line registered them, doesn’t mean they’ll go with them. It’s not too late to call them The Hobbit and The Hobbit 2: Middle-Earth Mania. (Cinema Blend, The One Ring)

Brand’s said to be playing the role of Lonnie, who works at the 80s club The Bourbon and apparently belts out REO Speedwagon’s Can’t Fight This Feeling. Brand, no stranger to playing rock and roll types after the one two punch on Get Him To The Greek and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, should have no problem getting back into not only the swing of things, but also the impossibly tight leather pants. Pro Tip: Just remember to wrap your cucumber in tinfoil before you shove it down there, Rusty.  (Deadline)

In Spain, there is a successful film series called Torrente. Created by and starring comedian Santiago Segura, the films center around a fat, racist, corrupt cop who is fired from the force but continues to work the beat regardless. Man, the culture in Spain is so different from what I’m used to. In America, we don’t fire our cops for any of the above.

We also don’t have successful films that revolve around unlikable characters (except for the Pirates Of The Caribbean movies). New Line is eager to bring Torrente stateside, and they’re trying to line up Sacha Baron Cohen for the role. He hasn’t signed on for a fat suit yet, but has taken a few meetings. Hopefully, this comes to pass. I’m ready for more gross out humor from Cohen, and can see him diving into this role. Fingers crossed. Also, why didn’t anyone tell me Spanish cinema is so awesome? We’re gonna have to work on us, dudes. (LA Times)

Comic-book fans will be confused to find out that Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk, Clash of the Titans) is in talks with New Line to direct an adaptation of Y: The Last Man. Written by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra, the series follows the world’s last known male and his adventures on a planet now run by females.

D.J. Caruso was originally slated to direct, but reportedly left after a disagreement with New Line over the length of the project. Caruso wanted more, the studio wanted less. Here’s where the confusion sets in. Although Leterrier is in talks to replace Caruso, he still seems to think the film could end up a trilogy or possibly a television series.

“It could play as a movie, but it would be very interesting as a TV show… [It wouldn't work as] one large film, no. I’d love to do it as a TV show or a three-part series…. I like the idea of a TV show. You take time to get to know your characters. You can introduce a lot of characters. You don’t need your three-action set pieces that you usually need for movies.”

With the success of “The Walking Dead” on AMC, I can totally see his point, as comics are better suited to multiple installments than a single film. But as Rob Keyes of Screen Rant points out, if New Line dumped Caruso over length (the same reason my last girlfriend dumped me), why would they bring in a guy who is talking about a multi-episode T.V. show? Any ideas? (MTV via Screen Rant)

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.

Going the Distance — Trailer – Watch more Movie Trailers

Director: Nanette Burnstein

Cast: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Charlie Day, Christina Applegate

Synopsis: 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)