the buzz log

Awards season is heating up, but not everybody is gushing about Kate Winslet's triumph at the Golden Globes or "Slumdog Millionaire's" ever-increasing Oscar buzz. Some are more interested in who will be starring in four highly anticipated action flicks. Here's a rundown on the latest casting rumors...

A new star for "New Moon"... or not
Oh, the agony and the ecstasy of teen melodrama! This past fall, the vampire flick "Twilight" made a bundle at the box office. Now a sequel, "New Moon," is in the works and rumors are flying. Some claimed that Vanessa Hudgens auditioned for the role of a werewolf named Leah Clearwater. Those reports have been denied by studio executives. Regardless, searches promptly soared on the actress as well as "twilight 2 movie" and "vanessa hudgens twilight."

Iron Man 2: More Mickey, less Sammy
The reluctant superhero ruled the box office in summer of 2008 (well, after "The Dark Knight"), so a sequel was all but inevitable. Word 'round the campfire is that Mickey Rourke, who recently won a Golden Globe for his heartbreaking work in "The Wrestler," will play Crimson Dynamo, a Russian arms dealer, in "Iron Man 2." Meanwhile, rumors swirled that Samuel L. Jackson, who played Nick Fury in the first flick, may not appear in the sequel. Searches on the both actors, as well as "iron man 2 casting" and "iron man 2 rumors" blasted off.

Jackie Chan as Mr. Miyagi?
According to Variety, action star Jackie Chan is "in final negotiations" to join the remake of "The Karate Kid." The long-rumored flick will costar Jaden Smith in the title role, but searchers are far more interested in Mr. Chan. Queries on "jackie chan karate kid" surged, as did more general lookups for "karate kid remake."

Tron gets a reboot
Remember "Tron?" Back in the early '80s, the Jeff Bridges flick was the cat's meow. Hollywood, never one to leave well enough alone, is reviving the neon-hued franchise with "Tron 2.0." The Hollywood Reporter is, well, reporting that Garrett Hedlund, a relative unknown, will take the starring role. Although Hedlund's searches soared on the news, they still trailed those of comely costar Olivia Wilde. Go figure.

The Governator returns as the Terminator?
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the governor of the biggest state in America, but he'll always be a killer cyborg to us. With "Terminator Salvation," on the horizon, rumors are heating up that the Governator may return for a cameo in the upcoming sequel. According to E! Online, director McG said, "with a wink and a nod," that there will be surprises for moviegoers. Does a wink mean Arnold "will be back"? Stay tuned.