"Superman" Rumors: Natalie Portman as Lois Lane and Darren Aronofsky Directing?

Tony Scott (Man on Fire), Matt Reeves (Cloverfield), Duncan Jones (Moon), Zack Snyder (300) and Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles). What do they all have in common? They were all announced last week as being in the running to direct the new Superman film! Not a bad list to be on, huh? Especially when it's Christopher Nolan who's considering you to direct a film about one of the most recognizable characters in the history of man. Then the LA Times added another name into the hat, Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler).

Now six names, and who should it be? Zack,"I can make amazing super-hero movies" Snyder, that's who! I am a huge fan of the man's work. 300 is a classic, as well as Watchmen. He knows how to direct big-budget action films that still care about character development. He would be perfect for the job.

I've never kept my hatred for Superman Returns a secret. I love director Bryan Singer, but the movie was awful. Just awful! So we need a director who will care more about the action than paying homage to Richard Donner's 1978 Superman film. I think Snyder is the man for the job.

The next rumor is about Natalie Portman playing Lois Lane. Not to bash on Superman Returns again, but Kate Bosworth was awful and terribly miscast in the film. So I guess I'm OK with Portman playing the famous reporter. But I think this rumor only came about because of the Aronofsky rumor. Aronofsky just worked with Portman on Black Swan, so the two have experience together.

I doubt Portman will do it though. She's working in the superhero realm in the upcoming Thor. I don't really care about the Lois Lane casting before a director is brought on board. And hopefully that director is Snyder!

Bryan Singer Wants to Return to the X-Men Franchise

The Hollywood Reporter quoted Bryan Singer, and it turned a lot of heads. The quote heard round the comic world... "I'm still looking to possibly returning to the 'X-Men' franchise. I've been talking to Fox about it." This is such a blessing, I can't put it into words.

The article goes on to quote Singer a few more times, and I think it's a great example of why his movies are so good, and so different. He talks about making action movies with more to them; they are about the "human condition". I think everyone can relate to the X-Men characters and the way they feel different, the way they are outcasts; we've all felt that at one point in our lives. Singer's films bring a little extra that is needed to make these comic book movies feel real.

I don't want to take more than a sentence to talk about that fat, ugly loser director of X3; all I will say is.... no I better not get started. Let's just hope for Singer's return. I can say he single handedly brought the comic book world to the big screen. Yes Blade and other's like it were first, but X-Men made it something special.

Quickie: Byran Singer to remake Excalibur & Battlestar Galactica

The Hollywood Reporter is stating that Warner Brothers and Bryan Singer have signed a deal to film Excalibur, a remake of the 1981 John Boorman film about King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable. This came as a bit of a surprise to us at AtD, considering Singer was signed on to do a different remake last week... Battlestar Galactica.

We didn't report much on the 'Battlestar' news, because quite frankly we're not big fans of the genre, or the TV series. So what is Singer thinking with all these remakes? I'll tell you what no one will say... guaranteed built in fan base. After the Superman Returns abomination, and a less than stellar Valkyrie film, he needs a commercial success. Excalibur and Battlestar Galactica will have a built in fan base, and will be easy to market.

As a fan, I would be excited to see his King Arthur point of view, but will skip on the sci-fi stuff. As for his career, these movies are a much needed change of pace. We'll have to really wait and see what happens. Keep it here.

Writer found for X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2

Every few days to a week we are getting more details about the 'Wolverine' sequel. Last week, Hugh Jackman revealed that the film would follow the Japan saga made popular in the 1980's comic. This week a writer has been hired, a good one! Christopher McQuarrie has written movies like Valkyrie, The Way of the Gun, and won an Oscar for The Usual Suspects in 1996 for Best Original Screenplay. Not a bad resume.

The next rumor/ order of business is, who will direct? Neither the studio or Jackman are saying if Gavin Hood would return. The greatest rumor of all is Bryan Singer. A few months ago we told you that producers wanted him for a Gambit spin-off. Now we're hearing he may do the Wolverine sequel. He has a great relationship with Jackman, whom he discovered. So it looks like a good fit considering Singer has worked with McQuarrie on three films now. We'll see what happens in the upcoming weeks. But I am very pleased with McQuarrie as writer of Wolverine 2, hope the studio doesn't mess this one up.

Possible Gambit Spin-Off

Ok, so this isn't the latest news, but it is still relatively recent. It seems Fox was so impressed with the Wolverine movie that they're giving Deadpool (confimed) a spin-off, but Gambit as well. Donner, a producer on Wolverine, says there are "internal converstions" going on about a Gambit spin-off. Ready for the best part? She wants to pursue Bryan Singer to come back and direct. For those who don't know, Bryan Singer directed the first two (best of the franchise) X-Men movies. He's a genius behind the camera (minus Superman Returns) and I would love to see this movie. The actor playing Gambit in the Wolverine Movie is Taylor Kitsch. He has his own ideas about where the movie should go with the story, and I agree with him. Kitsch suggests the story arc of the Guild of Theives. That's where Gambit became the character we know and love (I do anyway). Hopefully it takes place in New Orleans and they stay faithful to the comics. Either way, we'll keep you posted.

'Wolverine' Gambit Spotlight @ Yahoo! Video