8 photosBlake Lively

Filming begins later this year so hopefully Moore will be able to squeeze in a few more nerd roles before then. (THR)

‘A Better Life' Trailer Makes You Feel Better About Your Life

Leave your thoughts or lawyer jokes in the comments section. (Variety)

You might vaguely remember hearing about one or two projects in the works detailing the hunt for Number One Terrorist Guy Osama bin Laden. Now, after last night’s news that Osama’s star power in Hollywood has increased significantly, the question over how these projects are going to be handled in up in the air.

The most recent project is the black ops thriller tentatively titled Kill Bin Laden from The Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow. It’s been stalling, but now that there’s a pre-packaged “happy ending” to the story, maybe Kill Bin Laden will get fast-tracked, perhaps under the new title Killed Bin Laden.

The other movie is a project based on the book Jawbreaker, about “the December 2001 American-led military mission to hunt and kill Bin Laden right during the opening stages of the 9/11-prompted invasion of Afghanistan that the author as the CIA pointman had helped coordinate with Special Operations Forces.” Oliver Stone was reportedly interested in it, but it never gained much traction – it’s safe to say that’s about to change.

Anyway, both of these movies’ stocks have probably increased significantly in light of bin Laden’s death. Stay tuned for any official announcement about these projects, or any other new bin Laden-related movies. Perhaps in an announcement from the White House at 11:30 PM. (Deadline)

She beat out Olivia Wilde and Teresa Palmer for the role although I can totally see either of them dating Laguna Beach pot dealers. There was some question about whether or not she’d take this role or that of a really hot witch in Oz: The Great and Powerful. But in the end she decided she couldn’t pass up the chance to be screamed at by the director of Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps and U Turn. (Variety)

The Savages is about two California potheads (Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch), whose communal girl-pool Ophelia (Lively) gets kidnapped by a badass Mexican drug cartel, forcing the two top dealers to work for them. And that’s why you shouldn’t do drugs, you guys. Cause bad guys played by Salma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro will come after you and the hot girl you share with your pal. You’ve been warned.

The Savages begins production this July. (Deadline)

The film is about two potheads in Laguna Beach who might ultimately be played by Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch. A badass Mexican drug cartel kidnaps Ophelia, forcing the two top dealers to work for them. My understanding is that nobody cries, “mellow out man,” and Neil Patrick Harris remains uninvolved.

Stone’s first-first choice for Ophelia was Jennifer Lawrence, who chose to play Katniss in The Hunger Games instead, which is thrilling news if you’re anxiously awaiting the next Twilight-y series. However, Stone might not get his second choice either, because Lively is also in talks to star as Glinda the Good Witch in Sam Raimi‘s Oz: The Great and Powerful. Will he have to “settle” for plain ol’ Olivia Wilde or Teresa Palmer?

Man, all this casting talk is making me tense. *Takes Bong Hit* (Variety)

Falling back onto Abbie Cornish, Blake Lively and Teresa Palmer should work out just fine as those are high-profile names for what’s becoming a very high-profile project. All three actresses are reportedly reading for the part of O, the girlfriend of two pot dealers who gets kidnapped and held for ransom on account of their shady behavior. Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch have been cast as the two boyfriends, with Benicio del Toro and possibly Selma Hayek signing on to play principals from the rival drug cartel.

No single frontrunner for the desired role of O has been stated. In fact, it’s likely that this trio of actresses is not even exhaustive, as Deadline is getting into the mix and saying that they hear Stone is inclined to handpick at unknown for the part.

In summation, the part of O definitely won’t be played by Jennifer Lawrence. It might be played by Abbie Cornish, Teresa Palmer, or Blake Lively. Or another well-known young actress. Or it could be played by someone we’ve never heard of.

While this sounds like a bit of a mess, it underlines the fact that The Savages has enough weight behind it that it can do what it damn well pleases at this point, so it will be interesting to see which direction the never-predictable Oliver Stone takes this project. Stay tuned, I guess.

Adam Gibgot (whose name sounds like a Mary Poppins incantation) will write the project that is centered around a team of Darkhorses. Darkhorses are a shadowy group that create fake news stories on a grand scale to service the needs of their clients. Stone is slated to direct the pilot if it moves along to that stage. Just a quick note to whomever he ends up casting in this thing, Oliver Stone does not accept script notes. (Deadline)

The plot concerns Ben and Chon (Johnson and Kitsch), two Laguna marijuana makers who will not take a wacky trip to White Castle. Why leave the house when they both share a sexy girl named O? Unfortunately, like something out of the video games they no doubt play a lot of, O is kidnapped by a Mexican drug lord and are told they have to work for him if they want their “joint” girlfriend (see what I did there) back alive. Del Toro plays the drug lord’s enforcer.

Based on a bestselling novel by Don Winslow, Stone is trying to setup a deal with Universal, though other studios are also interested in toking a bit of this crazy plot. (Deadline)

“[T]wo Laguna-based pot growers arm-twisted into working for a Mexican cartel when they kidnap O, the free spirited best friend of the growers. “

Stone supposedly wants Taylor Kitsch and Aaron Johnston to play the two growers, and Salma Hayek to play “the cartel matriarch, an iron-fisted beauty who becomes intrigued and practically maternal over the kidnapped gal.” Stone had wanted Lawrence to play O, but now is looking at replacement candidates like Olivia Munn instead.

This looks like interesting territory for Stone, so it should be, um, interesting to see how it turns out. (via Deadline)

Oliver Stone wants Johnson to play one of the two leads in the drama Savages, about two pot growers whose sexy communal girlfriend (nice?) gets kidnapped by Mexican mobsters. The drug cartel wants the dudes to work for them, or the girl goes… up in smoke. “Muahaha.” Stone is directing, Shane Salerno (Armageddon) and novel author Don Winslow wrote the script, and they’re looking to shoot this June.

Meanwhile, Keira Knightley beckons Johnson, just like she does for me in my dreams. Johnson’s been offered the lead opposite Knightley in Anna Karenina, writer Tom Stoppard‘s adaptation of the Tolstoy classic novel I might have read in a literature class at some point. The film will be directed by Joe Wright (Atonement). One of the best modern writers adapting a novel considered to be one of the best of all time? Hmm… pass. (Deadline)

The project is being developed privately and repped by CAA, so expect a lot of action as soon as the producers lower the flag on this one. Fanning the flames of this project are rumors of involvement from Leonardo DiCaprio, James Franco (duh), and Benicio del Toro. While the pieces are a long way from being in place here, all signs point to an amazing project in the works. But don’t take my word for it. A synopsis from Deadline:

Somehow, sharing a bed with O created no discord in the relationship between brainy botanist Ben and Chon, a hardcore ex-Navy SEAL who returned from Afghanistan with top-quality pot and a total lack of remorse for killing to protect his pals. They live a quiet lucrative existence in Laguna Beach, growing and distributing their primo pot. Stone has been meeting with top actors to play Ben and Chon, a list that includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Aaron Johnson, Tom Hardy, James Franco and Tron Legacy‘s Garrett Hedlund. He’s also courting Benicio Del Toro for the role of an Mexican drug cartel enforcer sent to muscle Ben and Chon out of business. When they resist, O gets kidnapped and the ransom is every ill-gotten cent they’ve made. They hatch a complex plan to get her back and then disappear.

Uh, yeah. I’ll pay whatever you want me to to see that.

These links can’t dance, either:

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The 10 Most Awkward Talk Show Moments of 2010 (Ranker)

^{"So, Shia. When I told you to ‘f**k off,’ what I really meant was ‘f**k off.’"}

Oliver Stone just sky-rocketed to the position of my favorite person on Earth with today’s news that he told Shia LaBeouf to eff off. LaBeouf recounted the story at the Wall Street 2 premiere:

"We’re in the Adirondacks, and Josh Brolin and I are shooting this bike scene, and at one point I say to Josh a line — ‘You should look at yourself in the mirror first and see yourself. It might scare you.’ I looked at the line for a couple of months and thought I’d go to Oliver and say, ‘You look at the mirror and look at yourself. It’s sort of repetitive. Why don’t we just cut one of those? Why don’t I say, Look at yourself. It might scare you.’ This is Oliver verbatim. He looks at me and goes, ‘I like mirror. I wrote Scarface. Go fuck yourself.’"

Oliver Stone, I officially forgive you for U-Turn. Now, could you please cast Justin Bieber in one of your films? (Vulture)

In this new clip from Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Gordon Gecko (Michael Douglas) and Bretton Woods (Josh Brolin) get all up in each others’ business practices. When Gecko takes Bretton to task for his sub-primes, you know it’s on like 4:59PM on the floor of the Stock Exchange. My brow gets sweaty just thinking of these two ruthless businessmen discussing market liquidity. You have to build up to that kind of conflict, though. 

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps crashes into theaters September 24th.

Check out the financial disses after the jump…

Oscar winning producer Scott Rudin has set his sights on Angelina Jolie for an upcoming adaptation of Cleopatra: A Life. Like the book by Stacy Schiff, the film promises to be a detailed look at one of antiquity’s most famous women.

If the project comes together, it will not be Jolie’s first foray into the ancient world. In 2004, she starred as the mother of Alexander the Great in Oliver Stone’s critical and box-office flop, Alexander. Seeing as how that outing went over like a led zeppelin, why not give Angelina another shot? While we’re at it, get Kevin Coster on the phone. I’ve got a special effects-laden post-apocalyptic love story I’d like him to direct. I hope he can keep it under budget. (First Showing)

Today we get a second look at Oliver Stone’s Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps via the international trailer. Even though we didn’t ask for it. Thanks, I guess.

This time around we learn a bit more about the plot. Michael Douglas is out of jail and lecturing a new generation about how to rob people blind. Shia LaBeouf stars as his idealistic ward who incidentally plans to marry his estranged son daughter. A bunch of cliché stuff happens and there are motorcylces and the Rolling Stones. Then Shia must choose between millions of dollars and dating a girl who looks like Justin Bieber. The End. Hey, remember 9/11?

Seriously, what’s up with Carey’s hair? Try to figure it out after the jump…

Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps – International Trailer – Watch more Movie Trailers

The world sure has changed since the 1980′s. Gordon Gekko sees this first-hand, as he is released from prison in the teaser for Oliver Stone’s Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps. It seems that black people are now permitted to be passengers in limousines rather than being relegated to the role of sass-mouthed driver. Greed has been legalized. Text-projected-unnecessarily-on-face technology has grown by leaps and bounds. As has cell phone technology as Gekko learns in a wink-wink That 80′s Show-inspired bit. Also, Brand from The Goonies appears to have done pretty well for himself.

Seriously though, if only Michael Douglas knew somebody of Welsh descent with ties to T-Mobile. Dude’s in need of a nationwide 3G network with flexible contracts like whoa.

Check out the trailer, and Douglas’s Zack Morris phone, after the jump.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps – Watch more Movie Trailers