Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is something we’re very excited about here at MTV News. The book, written by Seth Grahame-Smith — co-creator of MTV’s The Hard Times of RJ Berger — takes Jane Austen’s classic and mashes it up with the walking dead. It was optioned last year by Natalie Portman, who will produce and star. David O. Russell is writing the script and directing. A good team-up, no question. MTV’s very own Rick Marshall, editor of Splash Page, spoke to Portman at San Diego Comic-Con last month and she was happy to give an update on where things are at with the upcoming zombie mash-up. “We just got a new draft from David O. Russell, who is adapting it and is going to direct it,” she said. “I’m such a big fan of his. Flirting With Disaster is one of my favorite movies, and Three Kings and pretty much everything he does is incredible.” While Portman didn’t have anything to say about possible casting beyond herself — still too early — she did admit that things are moving right along. “We’ll probably be shooting next year, hopefully,” she said. “It’s a really, I think, clever mash-up between genres. These women only obsessing over marriage is such a zombie kind of behavior. It’s kind of a perfect collision of genres.”

Source: MTV News

Sofia Coppola’s comic drama Somewhere and Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan will have their world premieres at the Venice Film Festival. They are among some 22 titles that will vie for the prestigious Golden Lion, organisers said. Sofia, 39, will showcase her movie starring Stephen Dorff as a bad-boy actor struggling through life. Darren, 41, returns to Venice with a psychological thriller two years after winning the top prize for his drama The Wrestler. The film stars Natalie Portman and Winona Ryder. In all, 79 world premieres will be shown at Venice from September 1 to 11.

Source: The Press Association

Check out your first look at Thor footage shown at Comic-Con 2010. Click here to see the mighty Thor in action!
Marvel Studios expands its film universe with a new type of superhero: Thor. This epic adventure spans the Marvel Universe; from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.
Thor comes to theaters May 6th, 2011 and stars Natalie Portman, Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Hopkins, Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård, Ray Stevenson, Jaimie Alexander. The film is directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Source: Movieweb.com

Natalie Portman has dismissed rumours she’s been approached to play the lead role in a highly-anticipated Hollywood remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The first book in Stieg Larsson’s popular Millennium Trilogy was brought to the big screen this year in the late writer’s native Sweden, but movie moguls in America are planning their own big budget version of the story. Many high profile names have been linked to the project, which will be directed by David Fincher, and actresses including Portman, Kristen Stewart and Carey Mulligan have all been rumoured to be in the running to tackle the female lead, Lisbeth. Portman admits she is a big fan of the book series, but is adamant she hasn’t been approached about the part. She tells Moviehole.net, “I really like the books but I have not been approached at all so any of that is pure rumour.”

Source: Contactmusic

Tom Hanks is being lined up for one of the main roles in new movie Cloud Atlas. The Oscar-winning actor is wanted to star in director Tom Tykwer’s big screen adaptation of David Mitchell’s acclaimed novel, along with Halle Berry and James McAvoy. Tykwer – who has previously admitted turning the book into a film was a big challenge – is said to be planning to start shooting next year and is also keen for Sir Ian McKellan and Natalie Portman to take part in the project. Portman has been linked to the film before so seems likely to sign on. The story takes place across thousands of years and features six main characters and, according to Tykwer, spans genres including “Melvillean high-seas drama to California noir and dystopian fantasy”. While the rumoured stars are yet to agree contracts, most of them have a clear schedule for early next year so would be available.

Source: Contactmusic