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If you only ever witnessed the Paddy’s Pub gang while they were on their best behavior, you’d think that they were all upstanding, conscientious citizens who just want to save dumpster babies from the foster care system — right after they finish putting on the shoe polish.

Dennis, Mac, Charlie, Dee and Frank are the five worst people in Philadelphia, a city where the righteous and the moral aren’t exactly the majority. Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day designed the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia characters to be the absolute worst of us, embodying every selfish, stupid flaw in the human psyche as they terrorize everyone with the misfortune to cross their paths. But every now and then, the gang catches on to the changing times and makes a half-hearted, completely empty attempt to be empathetic and socially aware individuals when it serves their schemes.

As such,...

Mumbai, May 6 (Ians) Actor Sumedh Mugdalkar will be starring as the iconic character of Hatim in the show ‘Ali Baba – Ek Andaaz Andekha: Chapter 2’.

The makers have already introduced Jaswir Kaur as Roshani, Ali’s mother. Hatim is Roshani’s elder son, whom she adopted and trained during her many years as part of a tribe. Hatim is incredibly talented and has been on multiple expeditions where he solved the seven famous questions of the universe.

His goal is to end Iblis forever and believes he is the chosen one. However, when Ali and Hatim cross paths they lock horns on multiple occasions.

Sumedh said, “Hatim by himself is an extremely iconic character. I remember watching him as a child and it’s a little unbelievable for me to be playing him. What I love about Hatim is that his heart is always in the right place. He is brave,...

If the six projects presented at a recent TV documentary pitch session held at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris share relatively few thematic or stylistic points in common, when taken as a whole, the diverse titles relay two incontrovertible truths: While advances in filmmaking technology now offer industry creatives unprecedented freedoms, when it comes to hooking the audience, nothing beats a good story well told.

Three of the six projects presented at the Rendez-Vous forum reflect the format’s growing technological trends. To offer competing visions of the future, Mad Films/Camera Subjective’s speculative science-fiction project “2080” will use CGI, motion capture and some of the digital production techniques pioneered by Disney’s “The Mandalorian,” whereas to open a window into the past, France Televisions/Program33’s historical doc “The Joan of Arc Case” will use detailed digital recreations of 15th-century France.

On a similar front, the four-episode edutainment project...

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Blu ray

Kino Lorber

1944/ 87 min.

Starring Maria Montez, Jon Hall

Cinematography by George Robinson

Directed by Arthur Lubin

Thanks to George Robinson’s Technicolor photography and Vera West’s kaleidoscopic costumes, death and destruction look pretty as a picture in 1944’s Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Director Arthur Lubin’s action fantasy is no patch on the Fleischer brothers’ Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba’s Forty Thieves but this Universal Pictures release is a cheerfully unassuming time-killer.

This Arabian Nights fable about a caliph’s son who grows up to lead a band of robbers contains a few nuggets of actual history; the movie’s bloodthirsty villain, Hulagu Khan, was indeed the grandson of the infamous Genghis. Hulagu was a thug who didn’t fall far from the tree; he conquered Baghdad and then decimated it, sending the then storybook city into a spiral.

MollywoodThe movie will be directed by Sunil Kariattukara of Pakida fame and Sheikh Afzal will be bankrolling it under his banner.Digital NativeActor Krishna, who made his acting debut as a child artiste, then turned a hero and acted in Tamil films such as Ali Baba, Kazhugu, Yamirukka Bayame and Maari. The actor is now all set to make his debut in Malayalam with the film Picasso. The movie will be directed by Sunil Kariattukara of Pakida fame and Sheikh Afzal will be bankrolling it under his banner. Krishna will be sporting a new look for this film, we hear. He has put on weight for the role and will be seen in a salt and pepper look. On his role in Picasso, Krishna reportedly told in an interview to the Deccan Chronicle, “I essay a 40-year-old gangster who is a happy go lucky guy. The film has lot of...

With Father’s Day approaching in a few weeks, we’ve been given some awesome stuff to giveaway to some of our readers. Included in the giveaway are some great Warner Bros. Blu-ray’s and DVDs like Life, the Essential Eastwood: Director’s Collection and Caddyshack. We’ve also got From Paris With Love on Blu-ray, 5 copies of the Firefly: Still Flying : A Celebration of Joss Whedon’s Acclaimed TV Series, 5 Micmacs posters signed by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, and we’ve even got some incredible Toy Story toys. If you’d like to enter the giveaway, hit the jump for details:

If you’d like to win anything you see below, what you need to do is email thecollidermailbox@gmail.com with your name and address and say Father’S Day Giveaway in the headline. This giveaway will be open until June 19 at noon Pacific Time and is...

By Christopher Stipp

The Archives, Right Here

Check out my new column, This Week In Trailers, at SlashFilm.com and follow me on Twitter under the name: Stipp

Ondine - Review

The story seems silly enough if read on paper: Local fisherman (Colin Farrell), out fishing looking for seafood to sell at the local market, finds a woman in his net (Alicja Bachleda) who doesn’t remember who she is or how she ended up caught in a man’s fishing line. He allows the woman to live in a small house located in a sleepy wharf where she can get her bearings all the while telling his young daughter who suffers from kidney failure a story that involves an Irish version of mermaids, silkies, thus bringing us to the beginning of the story. The brevity with which writer and director Neil Jordan sets up almost all of the plot...

Sony Pictures Classics have provided us with poster, photos and trailer from Micmacs.

Micmacs is a 2009 film by French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amélie, The City of Lost Children, A Very Long Engagement) that premiered on 15 September 2009 at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival as a gala screening at Roy Thompson Hall. Its original French title is Micmacs à tire-larigot, (‘Non-stop madness’). The film is billed as a “satire on the world arms trade”.

Micmacs synopsis

First, it was a mine that exploded in the middle of the Moroccan desert. Years later, it was a stray bullet that lodged in his brain… Bazil (Dany Boon) doesn’t have much luck with weapons. The first made him an orphan, the second holds him on the brink of sudden and instant death.

Released from the hospital, Bazil is homeless. Luckily, our inspired and gentle-natured dreamer is adopted by a motley crew of secondhand dealers...

Sir Anthony Hopkins is swapping one Hemsworth brother for another - he's set to star opposite Liam Hemsworth in a new adventure after wrapping Thor with his older sibling Chris.

The Hannibal legend is in final negotiations to play an evil sorcerer in Arabian Nights, about a young commander - played by The Last Song star Liam - who forms an alliance with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to save Queen Scheherazade.

Hopkins was recently forced to deny reports he had clashed with Chris Hemsworth on the set of comic book adaptation Thor, insisting he had "the time of (his) life" shooting the superhero epic.

He added, "I'm proud to say that Thor has been one of the great experiences of my career."

Thor is scheduled for release next year.

Hollywood legend Anthony Hopkins is in the final stages of negotiations to play evil sorcerer Pharotu in upcoming period epic Arabian Nights. He is in talks to play the bad man in the film, which follows a young commander who teams up with Sinbad, Ali Baba and a genie when his king is murdered. Australian hunk Liam Hemsworth will play the young leader as the group battle to rescue his queen, Scheherazade, according to Hollywood Reporter website. However, the movie will see Hopkins’ evil alter-ego kill Sinbad’s mermaid lover and search for more magic and power of his own. Shooting on the movie is ...

Legendary Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins is in negotiations to join the cast of Arabian Nights remake!

If negotiations work out, Hopkins will play Pharotu, an evil sorcerer who killed Sinbad’s love, a mermaid, and is now amassing more magic for himself. And, maybe you already had a chance to hear that Chuck Russell (man who directed The Mask, Eraser, The Scorpion King) is in charge for directing this remake as well.

What we know about this story is that it “centers on a young commander who, after his king is murdered in a coup, joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen, Scheherazade.”

We also know that young commander is going to be Liam Hemsworth, although the part of Scheherazade hasn’t been cast yet but we, of course, expect some gorgeous young starlet to play the damsel in distress.

Hollywood legend Anthony Hopkins is in the final stages of negotiations to play evil sorcerer Pharotu in upcoming period epic Arabian Nights. The Hannibal star is in talks to play the bad man in the film, which follows a young commander who teams up with Sinbad, Ali Baba and a Genie when his king is murdered. Australian hunk Liam Hemsworth is due to play the young leader as the group battle to rescue his queen, Scheherazade, according to the Hollywood Reporter website. However, the movie will see Hopkins' evil alter-ego kill Sinbad's mermaid lover and search for more magic and power of ...

Two top Brits are in talks to be evil in a pair of upcoming action flicks. Sir Anthony Hopkins and Toby Jones are going to make life difficult for the protagonists of Arabian Nights and Captain America, respectively. Filmgoers beware! Here come the Limeys!

Heat Vision picked up both stories last week, which come as story-solidifying casting choices for the two movies. Jones is lined up to play Arnim Zola in Captain America, playing second-baddie-fiddle to Hugo Weaving’s Red Skull. In the Cap’n comics, Zola is a twisted Nazi scientist who creates genetic monsters for Der Fürher, and later keeps his consciousness alive inside a rather silly looking robot. Jones is known primarily for his turn as Truman Capote in the 2006 crime drama Infamous, although some of the horror-jockeys out there may know him better as Ollie Weeks from Frank Darabont’s The Mist.

Hopkins, meanwhile, is still...

I'm not sure when Sir Anthony Hopkins acquired a taste for big-budget genre. Glancing at his IMDb, I'd say it occurred somewhere in the 1990s with The Silence of the Lambs and Bram Stoker's Dracula. He enjoyed terrifying us, and he never really looked back. Fresh off Asgard's throne and mead halls, Hopkins has decided he needs to thaw out in the desert. According to THR's Heat Vision, the actor has joined Arabian Nights alongside Liam Hemsworth.

I've ragged on this Arabian Nights 3D extravaganza re-imagining quite a bit already. Hopkins' addition makes me hesitate a little bit, but perhaps I'll let its crazy, crazy plot speak for itself. You remember that it centers on a young commander (Hemsworth) who pairs up with Ali Baba, Sinbad, and the genie to rescue Scheherazade from -- surprise! -- Hopkins' evil sorcerer, Pharotu.

As if his menacing Scheherazade wasn't bad enough, it turns...

Anthony Hopkins is in final negotiations to join the cast of “Arabian Nights” as the film’s main villain. Chuck Russell is directing the the action adventure which is about a young military commander (Liam Hemsworth) joins the bandit forces of Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie of the magic lamp after his king is killed in a brutal coup. Together they all band together to rescue the beautiful queen Scheherazade. Hopkins would play the evil sorcerer Pharotu, whom Sinbad has a grudge against for killing his true love, a mermaid. The film was written by Russell and Barry P. Ambrose, with Inferno’s Bill Johnson producing alongside Mark Ciardi [...]...

The great Anthony Hopkins is gearing up for another role as a villain. This time around, he's in talks to board Chuck Russell's 3D action flick "Arabian Nights," which already stars Liam Hemsworth ("The Last Song"). Russell and Barry P. Ambrose wrote the script for the adventure, which shoots later this year.

The story follows Hemsworth in the role of a commander who teams up with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the magic lamp's Genie to protect queen Scheherazade from evil. Heat Vision reports Hopkins would play Pharotu, a ruthless magic man who murdered Sinbad's love. Hopkins will soon be seen in "Thor."...

By Jeff Sneider 

"The Wolfman" star Anthony Hopkins is set to continue his scenery-chewing ways.

The Oscar-winning actor is in final negotiations to play the evil sorcerer Pharotu in Chuck Russell's 3D action-adventure film "Arabian Nights," according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Liam Hemsworth stars as a young commander who joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue his queen, Scheherazade, after his king is m...

Anthony Hopkins is in final talks to play the villain in the action-adventure "Arabian Nights." According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chuck Russell is directing from a script he co-wrote with Barry P. Ambrose.Inferno.s Bill Johnson is producing with Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray of Mayhem Pictures. The film centers on a young commander (Liam Hemsworth) who, after his king is murdered, joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen, Scheherazade.Hopkins will play Pharotu, an evil sorcerer who seeks to gain more magical powers for himself. Hopkins recently wrapped his role as Odin in Marvel.s "Thor" and is starring in the supernatural thriller "The Rite."...

Anthony Hopkins is in final negotiations to play the villain in Arabian Nights, a 3D action adventure movie starring Liam Hemsworth. Chuck Russell (The Scorpion King) wrote the screenplay and will direct.

The period epic centers on a young commander (Hemsworth) who joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba, and the genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen, Scheherazade. According to THR, Hopkins plays an evil sorcerer (aren’t they all evil?) who killed Sinbad’s love, a mermaid, and is “looking to amass more magic for himself.”

Hopkins is a talented, accomplished actor, there’s no doubt about that, but I’m not sure his involvement is suddenly going to turn heads on this movie. It sounds like Prince of Persia lite with the added detriments of Russell and the unknown Hemsworth. People only know this Liam character because he’s dating Miley Cyrus. Wait, how did I know that?...

Lena Horne, the first black star to sign a major contract with a Hollywood studio, passed away over the weekend. She was 92. She was primarily known for her singing and stage work, but in the film world, she's also known for her role as Glinda the Good in The Wiz. Rest in Peace, Ms. Horne. (Nyt)

In "SNL" news, the Betty White-hosted edition over the weekend garnered the show's highest ratings in 18 months, an 8.8 household share, which hasn't been seen since the week before the presidential election. (TV by the Numbers)

Speaking of "SNL," next week's season finale is expected to feature an appearance from Justin Timberlake, likely in another digital short. (New York Post)

It's official now: Doug Liman (Mr. and Mrs. Smith) has signed on to direct one of the two Three Musketeers movies in development. The other comes from Paul W.S. Anderson (A Series of Very...

There are few actors whose attachment to a project, even as a rumour, propels my interest in the film quite as much as Sir Anthony Hopkins.

So far all we know is the casting of Liam Hemsworth in Chuck Russell’s adaptation of the classic story compendium Arabian Nights, which I’m guessing will be a CG heavy spectacle, no doubt coming to us in glorious 3D-o-vision, following Russell’s previous works The Mask and The Scorpion King.

Like the casting of Hopkins in Thor (where he’ll face off against the senior Hemsworth) the tradition of adding an elder Brit to the cast of Hollywood epic continues apace and HeatVision have the story that Hopkins

will play Pharotu, an evil sorcerer who killed Sinbad’s love, a mermaid, and is looking to amass more magic for himself.

Written by Russell and Barry P. Ambrose, the period epic centers on...

According to Heat Vision, Anthony Hopkins is in final negotiations to play the villain in “Arabian Nights,” an action-adventure pic directed by Chuck Russell.

The film centers on a young commander (Liam Hemsworth) who, after his king is murdered in a coup, joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen, Scheherazade.

Hopkins will play Pharotu, an evil sorcerer who killed Sinbad’s love, a mermaid, and is looking to amass more magic for himself.

Film is set to start shooting by the end of the summer.

Source: Heat Vision...

Anthony Hopkins is in final negotiations to play the villain in the 3D action feature "Arabian Nights" for Inferno Entertainment and Roar says Heat Vision.

The period epic is set in a kingdom which has just been overtaken in a coup which killed the King. Aussie hunk Liam Hemsworth ("The Last Song," "Knowing") plays a young commander who enlists the help of Sinbad, Ali Baba and Aladdin to rescue Queen Scheherazade.

Hopkins plays the evil sorcerer Pharotu who killed Sinbad's mermaid lover and is seeking to increase his magical powers.

Chuck Russell will direct from a script he co-wrote with Barry P. Ambrose. Bill Johnson, Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray will produce. Filming is aiming to kick off late Summer.

Anthony Hopkins is in final negotiations to play the villain in Arabian Nights , reports Heat Vision . Filming is scheduled to start at the end of the summer. To be directed by Chuck Russell, the action adventure "centers on a young commander (Liam Hemsworth) who, after his king is murdered in a coup, joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen, Scheherazade. "Hopkins will play Pharotu, an evil sorcerer who killed Sinbad's love, a mermaid, and is looking to amass more magic for himself." The film was written Russell and Barry P. Ambrose. Inferno's Bill Johnson is producing with Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray of Mayhem Pictures. Roar also is producing. Hopkins' upcoming projects include Woody Allen's You Will Meet a...

There was a time when Anthony Hopkins was making daring movies, classy movies or even weird movies, be it the iconic Hannibal Lecter or 2007's bizarre passion project Slipstream-- and hey, he's still got a Woody Allen movie coming out this summer. But at the age of 73, Hopkins seems to content to spend most of his time taking roles in big-budget genre films that seem to use him to add legitimacy to what they're doing. The last decade has brought us Hopkins as Wise Old Men in Alexander, Beowulf, The Wolfman and the upcoming Thor, and now he's moving on to Arabian Nights, the Prince of Persia knockoff starring Liam Hemsworth as a young commander rescuing Ali Baba's fabled magic lamp. THR reports that Hopkins will play the evil sorcerer Pharotu, who is "looking to amass more magic for himself" and probably has his eye on that lamp as well.

Anthony Hopkins is all set to work his magic on Inferno Entertainment's 3D fantasy adventure Arabian Nights.

Chuck Russell (The Mask, Eraser, The Scorpion King) will direct from a script he co-wrote with Barry P. Ambrose, with filming set to begin at the end of summer.

Hopkins is in final negotiations to play the villain Pharotu, an evil sorcerer who killed Sinbad's mermaid lover and wants to increase his magical powers, says The Hollywood Reporter.

At the heart of the tale is a young commander played by Liam Hemsworth, whose brother Chris appears with Hopkins in the upcoming Thor. When his king is murdered, Liam's character joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba, Aladdin and his genie to rescue Queen Scheherazade.

Anthony Hopkins is in final negotiations to play the villain in "Arabian Nights," an action-adventure movie directed by Chuck Russell (The Scorpion King). Written by Russell and Barry P. Ambrose, the period epic centers on a young commander (Liam Hemsworth) who, after his king is murdered in a coup, joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen, Scheherazade. Hopkins will play Pharotu, an evil sorcerer who killed Sinbad's love, a mermaid, and is looking to amass more magic for himself. An end-of-summer shoot is being eyed.

Chuck Russell's Arabian Nights tale will soon have its villain, if negotiations between Anthony Hopkins and the producers go according to plan. The movie, which is not to be confused with Thieves Of Baghdad, another re-imagining based on characters from the Arabian Nights tale, but one that finds the familiar characters stealing instead of saving, is aiming for a 2011 release.

The plan is for Hopkins to play Pharotu, one of those evil sorcerer types who will stop at nothing to carry out his wicked plans. He'll be opposed by Liam Hemsworth, playing a young commander whose king is murdered in a coup, forcing him to seek vengeance. He joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen, Scheherazade, and get back at Pharotu for all the bad he's done.

Hopkins will first be seen in Kenneth Branagh's Thor movie, where he's playing Odin,...

Sir Anthony Hopkins is set to play a villainous sorcerer in Chuck Russell's 'Arabian Nights'. The screen legend is apparently in the final stages of negotiations to portray sorcerer Pharotu in the upcoming period epic, which follows a young commander who teams up with Sinbad, Ali Baba and a Genie when his king is murdered. Liam Hemsworth is due to play the young leader as the group battle to rescue his queen, Scheherazade. However, the movie will see Anthony's evil alter-ego kill Sinbad's mermaid lover and search for more magic and power of his own, according to Hollywood Reporter. Shooting on the movie is ..

Anthony Hopkins is eying a role in another action adventure film. After cast as Odin in "Thor", the 72-year-old Welsh has been reported close to seal a deal with Inferno Entertainment to play the villain in "Arabian Nights", The Hollywood Reporter (THR) claims.

According to the site, Hopkins is currently in final negotiations with the studio. Should the actor is signed for the film, he will be seen playing Pharotu, an evil sorcerer who killed Sinbad's love, a mermaid, and is looking to amass more magic for himself, THR further reports.

Set to tackle the lead role in "Arabian Nights" is Liam Hemsworth. The boyfriend of Miley Cyrus will portray a commander who joins forces with Sinbad, Aladdin, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue Queen Scheherazade after his king is murdered.

Chuck Russell is on board to serve behind the lens for the upcoming flick,...

Anthony Hopkins is in final talks to play the villain in “Arabian Nights” which Chuck Russell ("The Scorpion King," "Eraser") is directing. The action-adventure pic is being produced by Bill Johnson of Inferno, Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray of Mayhem Pictures and Roar. Russell and Barry P. Ambrose write the period epic which tells of a young commander (played by Liam Hemsworth of "The Last Song") who, after his king is murdered in a coup, joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba as well as the Genie from the magic lamp in order to rescue Queen Scheherazade. Hopkins would play the evil sorcerer Pharotu who killed Sinbad’s love, a mermaid. He now seeks to amass more magic for himself. Filming is taking place at the end of summer.

It looks like Anthony Hopkins is continuing to work on his retirement plan by landing what could be another big-budget role. The actor is in talks to play the villain in Arabian Nights.

Anthony Hopkins Thinking Arabian Nights

Directed by Chuck Russell off a script both he and Barry P. Ambrose wrote, Arabian Nights is an epic that centers on a young commander (Liam Hemsworth) who, after his king is murdered in a coup, joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen, Scheherazade.

Anthony Hopkins is jumping in to what should be a fun role for him to chew on: he’s signing on to play the villain in Chuck Russell’s Arabian Nights, according to the Heat Vision Blog.Liam Hemsworth is starring as a young commander who teams up with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie of the Lamp to rescue the imperilled queen, Scheherazade.Hopkins’ bad guy, Pharotu, murdered the king, slaughtered Hemsworth’s mermaid love and is trying to gather more magic so he can rule the kingdom, the fiend!Russell will start shooting later in the summer, though we bet the producers watching how well Prince Of Persia does before considering how much money to let him spend.After working with brother Chris Hemsworth on Thor, Hopkins will now be ticking Luke off in his Big I Spy Book Of Hemsworths.

Chuck Russell’s “Arabian Nights” tale will soon have its villain. That is, if negotiations between Anthony Hopkins and the producers go according to plan. Russell’s “Arabian Nights” is not to be confused with “Thieves of Baghdad”, another re-imagining based on characters from the “Arabian Nights” tale, but one that finds the familiar characters stealing instead of saving. In “Arabian Nights”, Hopkins would play Pharotu, one of those evil sorcerer types trying to rule the world and force everyone to wear shorts. You know, movie villains. He’ll be opposed by Liam Hemsworth, playing a young commander whose king is murdered in a coup, forcing him to seek vengeance. He joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen, Scheherazade, and get back at Pharotu for, you know, being evil and such. Hopkins will first be seen in Kenneth Branagh’s “Thor” movie,...

Anthony Hopkins is in final negotiations to play the villain in "Arabian Nights," The Hollywood Reporter exclusively learned. Chuck Russell is attached to direct the action-adventure from a script he co-wrote with Barry R. Ambrose.

Liam Hemsworth is set to play a young commander who joins Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue Queen Scheherazade. Hopkins will star as Pharotu, a maniacal sorcerer who murdered Sinbad's love, a mermaid, and he wants more magic!

Production is set to start shooting end-of-summer.

Anthony Hopkins eyeing Arabian NightsAnthony Hopkins is in negotiations to play the villain in the new remake of the 1942 classic Arabian Nights, directed by Chuck Russell.

According to Heat Vision, Hopkins will play Pharotu, an evil sorcerer who killed Sinbad's love, a mermaid, and is looking to amass more magic for himself.

The action-adventure was written by Russell and Barry P. Ambrose, the period epic centers on a young commander (Liam Hemsworth) who, after his king is murdered in a coup, joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen, Scheherazade.

Production is planned for the end of summer.

Also, Inferno is planning a year-end shoot for The Grey, an action project which will star Bradley Cooper and to be directed by Joe Carnahan. The company will be in Cannes giving buyers updates on its projects and could announce additions to its slate.

It looks like Anthony Hopkins is going to keep running with crazy roles. After mauling all the scenery in The Wolfman, he’s playing Odin in Marvel’s Thor, will star as a rebel exorcist in The Rite, and now Heat Vision reports that the actor is in final negotiations to play the villain in Chuck Russell’s action-adventure Arabian Nights. The film stars Liam Hemsworth as young commander, “who, after his king is murdered in a coup, joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen, Scheherazade.”

Then Heat Vision sells me on this movie completely with this sentence: “Hopkins will play Pharotu, an evil sorcerer who killed Sinbad’s love, a mermaid, and is looking to amass more magic for himself.” That should be the tagline.

In November we got word that the Hollywood remake machine was pumping out a new remake of the 1942 classic Arabian Nights courtesy of director Chuck Russell (The Scorpion King). The story follows a young commander (played by Liam Hemsworth, brother of Thor's Chris Hemsworth) who, after his king is killed in a coup, joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen. Though Russell's involvement left something to be desired, Hemsworth makes things a little bit more interesting as does news from Heat Vision today that Anthony Hopkins is in negotiations to play the villain in the film. Hopkins will play Pharotu, an evil sorcerer who killed Sinbad’s love, a mermaid, and is now amassing more magic for himself. First it was liver, fava beans and a nice chianti and now it's just magic. Is there anything Hopkins doesn't want...

Anthony Hopkins is in final negotiations to play the evil socrcerer in Arabian Nights, director Chuck Russell's (The Scorpion King) action adventure film, written by Barry P. Ambrose.

The period epic centers on a young commander (Liam Hemsworth) who, after his king is murdered in a coup, joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue the queen, Scheherazade.

Hopkins will play Pharotu, an evil sorcerer who killed Sinbad's love, a mermaid, and is looking to amass more magic for himself. An end-of-summer shoot is being eyed.

When one thinks of action heroes, many come to mind - Indiana Jones, Allan Quatermain, Agent Cody Banks, etc. etc. Now you can add the daring do all adventures of Leonardo Da Vinci to that long list of no fear treasure hunting danger escaping lads.Here's the exclusive from THR: Marc Guggenheim, a showrunner on ABC's "FlashForward" and a writer on "Green Lantern," has been tapped to pen "Leonardo Da Vinci and the Soldiers of Forever," the Warner Bros. project that recasts the original Renaissance man as an action hero. The studio acquired the project in early March from producers Adrian Askarieh, Roy Lee and Doug Davison. Warner is doubling down on Guggenhem, also hiring him to work on a draft of "Thieves of Baghdad," its "Ocean's 11" meets "Arabian Nights" project being produced by Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne's Unique Pictures. "Da Vinci," based on an original idea and treatment from Askarieh,...

"FlashForward" showrunner and "Green Lantern" scribe Marc Guggenheim has been hired to pen new drafts of two major adventure films that could become franchises for Warner Bros. Pictures says Heat Vision.

The first is fantasy actioneer "Leonardo da Vinci and the Soldiers of Forever" which re-imagines the Renaissance-era Italian genius as a member of a secret society that tracks and hunts down Biblical demons.

daVinci soon sets out on an action-packed quest involving secret codes, lost civilizations, hidden fortresses and fallen angels. Adrian Askarieh, Roy Lee and Doug Davison will produce.

Guggenhem will also work on a draft of "Thieves of Baghdad", a 10th century family adventure borrowing heavily from the "1,001 Nights" fables.

Cole Hadden's script is described as an ancient Arabian "Ocean's 11" with the likes of Sinbad, Ali Baba and various others teaming for a major heist. Flying carpets, sword fights and genies are all worked into the action.

In March of this year we reported that Warner Brothers was ready to make a Leonardo DaVinci film where he was a supernatural demon hunter well now we have a little bit more on the concept of the film as well as news about Marc Guggenheim signing on to script the project for the studio.

Heat Vision reports that the writer of The Green Lantern film will script Leonardo DaVinci and the Soldiers of Forever. His script will be based on an original idea and treatment from Adrian Askarieh, and re-imagines Da Vinci as a member of a secret society who falls headlong into a supernatural adventure that pits the man against Biblical demons in a story involving secret codes, lost civilizations, hidden fortresses and fallen angels.

Guggenheim has also got another writing gig from the studio that falls in the vein of Disney’s Prince of Persia and its called The Thieves of Baghdad.

His show “FlashForward” may be careening towards cancellation, but showrunner Marc Guggenheim might not care too much because he seems to have his hands full on the big screen right now. After penning “Green Lantern”, Guggenheim has now been tapped to work on two high-profile, high-concept films: “Leonardo Da Vinci and the Soldiers of Forever” and “Thieves of Baghdad”. Based on an original idea by producer Adrian Askarieh, “Soldiers of Forever” re-imagines Renaissance man Da Vinci as an action hero, a member of a secret society who falls headlong into a supernatural adventure that pits the man against Biblical demons in a story involving secret codes, lost civilizations, hidden fortresses and fallen angels. Basically, “The Da Vinci Code” with the actual guy and minus the boredom. “Thieves of Baghdad”, meanwhile, re-imagines the “Arabian Nights” story with Sinbad, Ali Baba and others from the classic tale teaming up to pull off...

As we reported early last month, Warner Brothers is developing a supernatural action movie centered around Leonardo da Vinci, who is famous for being pretty much everything except an action hero. Now THR has revealed that the screenwriter for Leonardo da Vinci and the Soldiers of Forever will be Marc Guggenheim, co-creator of ABC’s Eli Stone and showrunner on FlashForward.

Leonardo da Vinci and the Soldiers of Forever will be based on a treatment which was written by producer Adrian Askarieh. It imagines renaissance man da Vinci as a member of a secret society which uncovers supernatural secrets, discovers lost civilizations and goes head to head with demons. More after the jump:

Guggenheim already has a history with Warners, being one of the four writers the studio hired to pen Green Lantern. He has also been tapped by the studio to write a draft of Thieves of Bagdad, an Arabian heist movie featuring Sinbad,...

Marc Guggenheim (Green Lantern, "FlashForward") has been hired to write the script for "Leonardo Da Vinci and the Soldiers of Forever," a Warner Bros project that sees the original Renaissance man as an action hero. "Da Vinci," based on an original idea and treatment from producer Adrian Askarieh, re-imagines Da Vinci as a member of a secret society who falls headlong into a supernatural adventure that pits the man against Biblical demons in a story involving secret codes, lost civilizations, hidden fortresses and fallen angels. Warners has also signed Guggenheim to write "Thieves of Baghdad," which Warners says is "Ocean's Eleven" meets "Arabian Nights." The new movie sees Sinbad, Ali Baba and all the other scoundrels from the classic Arabic folk tales team up to pull off the biggest heist of their criminal careers.

Marc Guggenheim to pen Leonardo Da Vinci and the Soldiers of Forever Warner Bros. has set Marc Guggenheim to write the script for Leonardo Da Vinci and the Soldiers of Forever which recasts the original Renaissance man as an action hero, according to Heat Vision.

Warner also hired him to work on a draft of Thieves of Baghdad.

Leonardo Da Vinci and the Soldiers of Forever is based on an original idea and treatment from Adrian Askarieh, and re-imagines Da Vinci as a member of a secret society who falls headlong into a supernatural adventure that pits the man against Biblical demons in a story involving secret codes, lost civilizations, hidden fortresses and fallen angels.

Thieves of Baghdad, meanwhile, sees Sinbad, Ali Baba and all the greatest scoundrels from the classic Arabic folk tales team up to pull off the biggest heist of their criminal careers.

Leonardo Da Vinci and...

Marc Guggenheim, comic-book writer and TV showrunner on the likes of Flash Forward and Eli Stone, is set to transfer over to film with two big upcoming films: Leonardo Da Vinci and the Soldiers of Forever and Thieves of Baghdad.The Da Vinci project, which was announced a couple of weeks back, recasts the insanely gifted inventor (whose ahead-of-his-time inventions are surely the best ever evidence that people from the future can travel back in time) as a member of a secret society on a supernatural mission against demons. Apparently it's set to cross National Treasure, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Clash of the Titans, so there'll be a Da Vinci Code (if you will) to solve, but lots of wrath-of-god stuff too.Meanwhile, the Thieves story sees Sinbad, Ali Baba and any other figure from the Arabian Nights / Middle Eastern folk tales with any degree of name recognition...

See the trailer for Sony Pictures Classics' "Micmacs" comedy crime flick directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Jeunet writes alongside Guillaume Laurant with whom he worked with on winners like "A Very Long Engagement" and "Amélie." The film opens in limited areas on May 28th. The trailer joins several clips we recently added. Check them all out, it's definitely worth a visit. This looks like one of the most visually colorful-looking films in indie memory. I'll be sure to have a look at some stage. Most intriguing. First it was a mine that exploded in the middle of the Moroccan desert. Years later, it was a stray bullet that lodged in his brain... Bazil doesn't have much luck with weapons. The first made him an orphan, the second holds him on the brink of sudden, instant death. Released from the hospital after his accident, Bazil is homeless. Luckily, our inspired and...

There are five new clips in from Sony Pictures Classics' "Micmacs" comedy/crime flick. Jean-Pierre Jeunet ("A Very Long Engagement," "Alien Resurrection") directs from the screenplay he wrote along with Guillaume Laurant. The film stars Dany Boon, André Dussollier, Nicolas Marié, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Yolande Moreau, Julie Ferrier, Omar Sy, Dominique Pinon, Michel Crémadès and Marie-Julie Baup. "Micmacs à tire-larigot" opens on May 28th in limited areas. First it was a mine that exploded in the middle of the Moroccan desert. Years later, it was a stray bullet that lodged in his brain... Bazil doesn't have much luck with weapons. The first made him an orphan, the second holds him on the brink of sudden, instant death. Released from the hospital after his accident, Bazil is homeless. Luckily, our inspired and gentle-natured dreamer is quickly taken in by a motley crew of junkyard dealers living in a veritable Ali Baba's cave.

Oh, the French. Here’s another trailer for Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s “Micmacs”, or as it’s known in Frogland, “Micmacs à tire-larigot”. First it was a mine that exploded in the middle of the Moroccan desert. Years later, it was a stray bullet that lodged in his brain… Bazil doesn’t have much luck with weapons. The first made him an orphan, the second holds him on the brink of sudden, instant death. Released from the hospital after his accident, Bazil is homeless. Luckily, our inspired and gentle-natured dreamer is quickly taken in by a motley crew of junkyard dealers living in a veritable Ali Baba’s cave. The group’s talents and aspirations are as surprising as they are diverse: Remington, Calculator, Buster, Slammer, Elastic Girl, Tiny Pete and Mama Chow. Then one day, walking by two huge buildings, Bazil recognizes the logos of the weapons manufacturers that caused all of his misfortune.