the buzz log

Spring is here, and signs of the changing season abound: Daffodils are blooming, birds are chirping, bunnies are frolicking… and summer movie rumors are swirling! These movies may be one or two summers away from release, but eager fans are already speculating about and commenting on casting choices...

Thor
It will probably be two more years before "Thor" joins the Marvel Studios movie universe, but the searches on "thor movie" are already going strong. In this version, thunder-god Thor has been banished to Earth by his father Odin. Inhabiting the body of a medical student, he eventually discovers his godly powers and embraces his inner warrior to protect the planet from his brother Loki's evil mischief-making.

And who will be swinging Thor's mighty hammer? Some seem to think WWE wrestler Paul "Triple H" Levesque would be a natural fit for the role, with his penchant for wielding a sledgehammer in the ring. But the latest rumor is that Sweden's five-time "sexiest man" Alexander Skarsgård (who currently can be seen in HBO's vampire drama "True Blood") is in the lead for the part, causing searches on the actor's name to spike.

And while Daniel Craig reportedly turned down the Thor role, his "Quantum of Solace" costar Gemma Arterton is said to be a contender for the part of love interest Jane Foster, while LA Weekly blogger Nikki Finke reported that Natalie Portman is in the lead to play woman-warrior Sif.

The Expendables
Sylvester Stallone's upcoming testosterone-fest, slated for a spring 2010 release, is already well into production and boasts a cast of action heavyweights: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, UFC champ Randy Couture, and Sly himself. Helping to lend some acting cred to the film, Golden Globe winner Mickey Rourke and Oscar winner Forest Whitaker also signed on to the movie. However, when production of the film started running late, Whitaker dropped out due to "scheduling conflicts."

Messageboards and blogs ignited when word got out that Sly had chosen to replace Whitaker with rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. The Buzz responded in kind, with queries on "the expendables rising this week. According to a letter Sly sent to Ain't It Cool News, Jackson won't be taking on Whitaker's role, but will instead take the role originally intended for Randy Couture. Couture, meanwhile, has been given a newly created character to play.

Robin Hood
A recent AP article, reporting newfound evidence that Robin Hood wasn't as popular among his people as folklore suggests, may be the reason for the 110% increase in "robin hood" searches this past week. Perhaps it's also why a pair of Australians, rather than British actors, have signed on as the leads in Ridley Scott's adaptation. Still, some fans of the outlaw are "a wee bit annoyed" by this lack of authenticity.

However, the casting of Aussies Russell Crowe (in a dual role as Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham) and Cate Blanchett (Maid Marian) may actually bode well for the movie—after all, the original big-screen Robin Hood of the 1930s was played magnificently by the legendary Errol Flynn, who also hailed from Down Under. Apparently Australians know a thing or two about swashbuckling.

Filed under: Casts

Hollywood isn't known for its originality, but every once in a while the wizards of Tinseltown make an inspired casting decision. In the past we've been surprised by Heath Ledger as the Joker and Robert Downey Jr. as Ironman. Now, we raise our eyebrows (in a good way) at the thought of Will Smith playing Captain America.

Word 'round the Buzz is that the artist formerly known as the Fresh Prince may lend his star power to one of Marvel's biggest superheroes. As soon as the rumors hit (which are yet to be confirmed, by the way), we noticed a slew of blogs weigh in on the possibility.

GetTheBigPicture.net writes that while the rumor is probably false, there's nobody more qualified to play ol' Cap than Mr. Smith. After all, he's the biggest star in the world, bar none. Additionally, GetTheBigPicture writes that Marvel has already proven itself willing to cast African-Americans as characters that were originally white (see: Michael Clarke Duncan in "Daredevil").

Still, not all the bloggers are believers. Ain't It Cool News reports that the Will Smith rumors have already been debunked by Marvel and the person who leaked them, actor Derek Luke, was clearly misinformed. But as io9 points out, sometimes the sources are wrong about the rumors being wrong. Right?

Filed under: Movies, Rumors, Superheroes, Casts