Peter Jackson

Check out my favorite casting rumor in recent history: Thomas Sangster, known to me as Liam Neeson's son Sam in Love Actually, might be playing Tintin in the Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson project.

This is all speculation so far, and the Daily Mail is far from the most credible source, but apparently Sangster has been traveling to L.A. for "preproduction test sequences with both directors" and that "an executive who worked with Sangster in Los Angeles" told the Mail, "Thomas seems to be the one. He was just great, but I'm not certain if anything has been finalised yet." The one certain casting decision is that Andy Serkis will play Tintin's sidekick Captain Haddock.

This kid — who is now 17, if you can believe it! — couldn't possibly be more endearing. What do you think about this casting choice? Would he make a good Tintin?

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• Hollywood Reporter has news that Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy) is in talks to direct the Hobbit films that Peter Jackson will produce.
• The FCC is fining ABC $1.4 million for nudity in an NYPD Blue episode that aired more than four years ago, Zap2it reports.
• According to ComingSoon, five more actors (Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum, Giovanni Ribisi, Stephen Dorff and Jason Clarke) have joined Christian Bale and Johnny Depp in Public Enemies.
• Starz is planning a TV series based on the Oscar-winning film Crash, with its writer/director, Paul Haggis, on board, TV Week reports.
• Billboard reports that R.E.M. has recruited Modest Mouse and the National as opening acts for its upcoming tour.
• Joel and Ethan Coen took top honors at the Directors Guild of America awards, and Mad Men and Pushing Daisies nabbed television awards, the Associated Press reports.
• Julia Roberts will produce and star in Hothouse Flowers, a film adaptation of the upcoming novel by Margot Berwin, writes Hollywood Reporter.
• There's another dancing reality show coming: Lifetime will air Your Mama Don't Dance, a series pairing professional dancers with their two-left-footed parents, Variety reports.

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The long-held disagreements between Peter Jackson and his Lord of the Rings studio New Line are being put aside as the two parties discuss their future collaboration on The Hobbit prequels to the Lord of the Rings. Jackson has agreed to serve as executive producer on the Hobbit films — but he will not direct.

There will be not one, but two prequel films shot simultaneously — similar to how the Lord of the Rings films were done. One will release in 2010 with the second one following up in 2011.

Jackson seems quite content with this arrangement, stating "I'm very pleased that we've been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth." No word on possible directors, though Peter Weir and Sam Raimi have been oft-rumored names in connection with the project.

What do you think about this news? Could this continued "journey through Middle Earth" be as good without Peter Jackson?

I was more than a little shocked to hear the news yesterday morning that thanks to "creative differences" Ryan Gosling dropped out of the film adaptation of Lovely Bones and had already been replaced by Mark Wahlberg just hours before the movie was scheduled to start filming. This sudden change got me worried that something was wrong with the script, which would be especially sad considering how near this book is to people's hearts.

Now, rumors have surfaced that it was Peter Jackson who gave Ryan the boot instead of Ryan bailing. Hmm, the plot thickens. It's well known that 26-year-old Ryan has been gaining weight and growing a beard to better embody the father of a 14-year-old girl, but apparently it was a bit too over the top for Jackson's taste. According to the LA Times, Jackson was disappointed with Gosling's physical appearance, especially the weight. Meanwhile, Page Six says Jackson didn't like Ryan from the beginning, citing his demanding tendencies on set.

It sounds like these two talented men just weren't meant to work together. Ryan never struck me as a diva, but he is certainly a bit eccentric and could probably rub people the wrong way. And considering the recent successes in Peter Jackson's life (Lord of the Rings, heard of it?), he's probably got some stubborn faith in his own vision these days. I was excited to see Gosling take on this role, but I'm sure Mark's more realistic age and being an actual father will be excellent. At least we know Jackson can't have any complaints about his physique.

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This is pretty shocking: Ryan Gosling has suddenly dropped out of Peter Jackson's film adaptation of The Lovely Bones, in which he was supposed to play Susie's father. Mark Wahlberg stepped in to fill the role on Sunday after reading the script, and the film is still scheduled to start shooting today in Pennsylvania.

I was pretty excited when I heard Gosling had been cast in the film, and he certainly seemed committed to the role, recently gaining weight and growing a beard. Variety said only that "creative differences" caused Gosling to leave on Friday.

I'm a fan of Wahlberg — I thought his performance in The Departed last year totally made the movie, and I've been excited for his upcoming starring roles in The Happening and The Fighter. But I certainly wasn't expecting this. Can you see Wahlberg in this role? And does Gosling's exit make you worried about The Lovely Bones?

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I was trying to take a break from writing about Peter Jackson's screen adaptation of The Lovely Bones, but the cast just keeps expanding. In fact, I think we can officially start calling it "star-studded" now.

The latest news is that Michael Imperioli of "The Sopranos" has signed on to the movie. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Imperioli — who got five Emmy nominations, including one this year, during his time on "The Sopranos" — will play Detective Len Fenerman.

Susan Sarandon also has joined the cast since last I wrote, playing the character of the grandmother who moves in with the family after Susie's death. I know casting isn't all about looks, but I really can picture Rachel Weisz as her daughter.

While the pre-review of the screenplay still makes me wary, I have to say I like the way the cast is coming together. What do you think?

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