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Johnny Depp confirmed for Burton’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’

After it was announced that Tim Burton would direct “Alice in Wonderland 3-D,” a take on the classic Lewis Carroll fairy tale, fans assumed that Johnny Depp would somehow have to be involved. Burton and Depp have previously collaborated on six previous films, including “Sweeney Todd,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “Edward Scissorhands” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

Now, Entertainment Weekly is reporting that fans’ suspicions are absolutely true. But whether he will play the rumored Mad Hatter is still unknown.

A source revealed that the film will be live-action until Alice (Mia Wasikowska) jumps down the rabbit hole and meets the loopy tea party host. Even if Depp does take on the Mad Hatter, there is still the question of whether he will have to do any acting or simply lend his voice for the computer-generated part of the film.

At this point, the new movie is set to begin filming early next year for a 2010 release. Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King) penned the script.

Lethal Weapon 5?

Hollywood tracking board TrackingB.com reports that Shane Black, who wrote the first Lethal Weapon movie, has written a spec script for Lethal Weapon 5 without telling anyone. The site adds that he contacted franchise producer Joel Silver and said that he wanted to continue the story.

This time, homicidal Riggs (Mel Gibson) is about to retire, but pulls Murtaugh (Danny Glover) out of retirement to solve one final case, before they both officially head off into the sunset.

TrackingB.com says that Gibson and Glover are down to return, but no deals have been signed.

The first film was released in 1987, the second in 1989, the third in 1992 and the fourth in 1998.

Jason Statham to play Daredevil?

Death Race and Crank star Jason Statham wants to be in a big screen reboot of the popular Marvel character Daredevil. But Statham doesn’t want to play the baddie Bullseye, he wants to take over as the blind man behind the red mask – Daredevil, who was played by Ben Affleck in Mark Steven Johnson’s 2003 film.

Frank Miller, who is credited for adding new depths to the comic book series in the 1970’s, has also given his approval: “I think he should be Daredevil too,” Miller told the LA Times.

Tarantino to cast Britney Spears

Britney Spears has accepted a role as a psychotic lesbian stripper in Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming remake of the 1965 cult classic Faster Pussycat! Kill Kill!

The Pulp Fiction director has cast 26-year-old Britney as “Varla,” an adult entertainer who leads a trio of exotic dancers is murdering a young couple trapped alone in the desert.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Brit’s character murders the boyfriend with her bare hands before taking the girlfriend hostage, with whom she will engage in a number of sex scenes.

“Quentin is convinced Britney will be brilliant.”

“Britney is delighted, she thinks it could turn her career and her life around. A successful film could help her get out of her current nightmare,” an excited insider confirms to The Daily Telegraph.

“It is perfect Tarantino material. He wanted to get Britney first. She’s playing the most important character.”

Quentin is still on the hunt for a pair of Hollywood starlets to take on the roles of the remaining two strippers.

The Green Lantern in development

Production Weekly’s current issue has updated Warner Bros’ adaptation of DC Comic’s The Green Lantern as being in active development.

As the story goes, each sector of space is protected by a Green Lantern, possessing a power ring that uses a powerful green energy to do anything within the limits of the user’s imagination and will power. When the Green Lantern assigned to this sector of space finds himself dying on planet Earth, he tells the ring to find a suitable successor. The chosen replacement, hot-shot test pilot Hal Jordan, finds himself with a new job he never expected.

No director is mentioned in the above update, although Greg Berlanti (Everwood, Eli Stone) was attached to the project last year.

Mike Myers in new Jason vs. Freddy sequel?

Bloody-Disgusting spoke to Robert Englund, known for playing Freddy Kruger in the “Nightmare on Elm Street” movies, who revealed that the sequel to “Freddy vs Jason” is still being discussed. But the possible new film will not be adding Ash from “Evil Dead,” instead the filmmakers have someone else in mind.

“There is no Ash,” said Englund. “That’s off the table because I think [Sam] Raimi is remaking Evil Dead.“

Well, that’s too bad, but who else could match up with Kruger and Jason Voorhees? “They were talking to John Carpenter which leads me to believe they would bring Michael Myers into the mix somehow,” revealed Englund. “I had heard one great story about maybe making it a little bit period [and] still having Jamie Lee Curtis alive as an adult and having her move somehow with a young Christina Ricci niece or something into Springwood. Then of course we could all be there and go after her. I’d like to throw down with Jamie Lee.“