Tom Cruise and Robert Downey Jr. wanted by Warner Bros. for ‘El Presidente’?

Warner Bros. reportedly wants both stars for the comedy film El Presidente to be directed by Jay Roach (who directed Austin Powers, Meet the Parents, Recount, HBO’s Game Change and this summer’s The Campaign starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis).

The studio wants Cruise to play an “overzealous Secret Service agent whose work-life boundary issues” gets him punished by being assigned to guard “America’s worst former president, who is a bumbling sleaze,” a role to be offered to Downey Jr.

The story and script is written by Parks and Recreation’s Dan Goor, who had also written for The Daily Show and Conan O’Brien in the past.

(Source: Vulture)

Jessica Chastain in talks for a role in Iron Man 3

Marvel had been in talks with the likes of Diane Kruger and Isla Fisher to play a scientist who is just as smart as Tony Stark (rumored to be Maya Hansen from the Extremis storyline).  But now it appears that Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain is the frontrunner for the role.

(Source: Deadline, Collider)

Iron Man 3 news and rumors:

• Iron Man 3 will be co-produced by Chinese production company DMG Entertainment.  Parts of the film will be shot in China in the late summer. (Source: New York Times).
• In light of the partnership with DMG, Disney announced that the film will “add Chinese elements and a Chinese story” in the narrative. (Source: CBS News).
• A casting call, which occurred last Saturday in North Carolina, states the following: “ALL TYPES, ALL AGES & ALL ETHNIC DESCENTS ARE NEEDED. In addition there is a special need for those of Chinese as well as Middle Eastern descents. Production will also be in need of business types with luxury vehicles.” (Source: Marvel Freshman).
• Ben Kingsley remains in final talks to play a major role, assumed to be the film villain. (Source: Slash Film).

RUMOR: Iron Man 3 plot details (SPOILERS AHEAD; DO NOT READ UNLESS)

• The anonymous source has seen The Avengers in a NYC test screening.
• “The seeds for Tony Stark and Iron Man’s emotional journey are firmly planted in The Avengers in Iron Man 3.”
• “The beginning of Iron Man’s journey in Iron Man 3 actually takes place in The Avengers’ trailer.”
• “The villains in Iron Man 3 are ‘extremely’ dangerous … Iron Man 3 will bring Tony Stark in contact with Extremis.”
• “In the sixth issue of the Extremis storyline of Iron Man, a terrorist gets injected with a test serum of the Extremis that rewrites his genetic codes with nanobots and gives him super strength, super speed, electric, and firebreathing powers. When Iron Man is beaten, he adapts Extremis to write himself into the Iron Man suit at a cellular level, making him Iron Man inside and out.”
• “We’ve also received a hot tip we believe to be true, that Iron Man 3 will have multiple villains. We don’t know if this means a trio of Extremis-enhanced baddies or maybe a long-delayed Mandarin shows up. Or maybe something completely different.”
• “In the movies, we know that Steve Rogers knew Tony Stark’s father when they fought together in World War II. And we also know from the Iron Man movies that Tony Stark doesn’t have the best relationship with his father. So it makes sense that Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark in The Avengers kind of wants the approval of Captain America. It is the closest that he’s ever going to get to having his father back around.”

(Source: Latino Review)

Robert Downey Jr. Talks PINOCCHIO and Says IRON MAN 3 Could Be “The Best of the Three”

Given Robert Downey Jr.‘s status as one of our biggest movie stars, I was surprised to see he only has two film officially slated over the next couple years, The Avengers and Iron Man 3. I don’t know how long that will stick, though, since he’s been connected to a dozen or so projects. A flashy possibility surfaced last week: a new version of Pinocchio directed by Tim Burton, starring Downey as Gepetto.

At the Brazilian premiere of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Downey confirmed his interest in the project to our partners at Omelete:

“I want to talk to him about it, yeah! C’mon, it’s Tim Burton.”

In the interview, Downey also talked about his excitement about re-teaming with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang director Shane Black on Iron Man 3, suggesting it has the potential to be “one of the better superhero movies that’s ever been made.” Hit the jump for the quote and the clip. Here’s that Iron Man quote:

“I think that we have an opportunity with the third Iron Man to make the best of the three, and maybe one of the better superhero movies that’s ever been made. But I think we have to remember what made the first one good. It was very character-driven. It was very odd. It was kind of outrageous. And so I think we have to have the courage to trust that the audience is really kind of cool, and smart.”

With The Avengers in the can and the impending Iron Man 3 shoot, Downey is in a very Tony Stark state of mind right now, so it’s good to hear his enthusiasm about the character. I hope he finds time for another, non-superhero role soon though. Maybe something smaller. Maybe something that doesn’t involve Tim Burton. Iron Man 3 is scheduled for release on May 3, 2013.

(Source: Collider; watch interview here)

Warner Bros., Tim Burton Courting Robert Downey Jr. to Star in Live-Action ‘Pinocchio’

Tim Burton’s interest in tackling a live-action version of Pinocchio is heating up, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. And Burton’s choice to topline the movie is Robert Downey Jr. as Geppetto, the woodcarver who creates the puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy.

In the version being developed at Warner Bros., Geppetto embarks on a quest to reunite with his missing marionette.

The well-regarded script is by Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller. Dan Jinks (American Beauty) is producing.

Neither Burton nor Downey has a deal with Warners, but sources say Burton is keen to direct the film and has begun talks with the studio, so it’s just a question of whether Pinocchio will be his next movie. The Alice in Wonderland director also is eyeing an adaptation of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children at Fox, among other projects. Warners wants to move quickly with Pinocchio, so if Burton chooses to make another movie first, the studio might move on to other directors.

According to two well-placed sources, Downey has expressed serious interest in the project (and in working with Burton), but his busy schedule must still be worked out. Warner Bros. is hoping that Burton and Downey commit soon so the project can be fast-tracked.

(read the full article at the source)

(Source: Hollywood Reporter)

Robert Downey Jr. coming to Ireland for Who Do You Think You Are?

Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr is coming to Ireland to trace his roots for the documentary series Who Do You Think You Are?

He recently signed up to the show which has helped fellow stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Rosie O'Donnell and Susan Sarandon explore their Irish heritage.

He said: "I've always said I'm going to go to Ireland and find out where my family came from and every year goes by and it doesn't happen.

"I just don't think I'll make the time with work and everything else. I need some concrete incentive. That's why I'm going to do Who Do You Think You Are?

"I love that show, it's so fascinating to see how far back they can go. So I know my dad's family is Irish and Scottish but more Irish so this will give me the perfect excuse to visit."

(Source: Starplus.ie)