Magnolia Pictures has released the first trailer for the new sci-fi film Europa Report.  Directed by Sebastian Cordero, the film follows a contemporary mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa to investigate the possible existence of alien life.  Naturally, when the crew lands on the surface and starts digging below the ice, they find themselves in dire circumstances.  The film isn’t exactly found footage, but most of the pic is framed using cameras inside the spacecraft, on the external vehicles, and in documentary-style interviews with the crew members.  The practical effects approach is definitely impressive, and there’s a strong horror undercurrent that looks to be quite effective.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film stars Sharlto Copley, Michael Nyqvist, Christian Camargo, Embeth Davidtz, Dan Fogler, Anamaria Marinca, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Karolina Wydra, and Daniel Wu.  Europa Report will be available on iTunes on June 27th and hits theaters on August 2nd.

Filming has begun on Robert Luketic‘s thriller Paranoia.  The film stars Liam Hemsworth as a telecom employee who is blackmailed by his boss into spying on a rival company.  I don’t know if Hemsworth can lead a film, but he’s got a strong supporting cast backing him up on Paranoia.  The film also stars Gary Oldman, Harrison Ford, Lucas Till, Amber Heard, Embeth Davidtz, Julian McMahon, Josh Holloway, and Richard Dreyfuss.  While I think Hemsworth has leading man potential, I have far less faith in Luketic, whose previous films include 21, The Ugly Truth, and Killers.  However, the corporate-espionage world of Paranoia is a far cry from anything else Luketic has done, so maybe he’ll have his first good film since his feature debut, 2001′s Legally Blonde.

Hit the jump for the press release, which includes the official synopsis.  Paranoia is due out September 27, 2013.

Perhaps sensing that I have neither read the book or watched the original, Sony Pictures has released 18 character images and biographies to help myself and those like me get acquainted with David Fincher’s upcoming adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Starring Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård, Robin Wright, and Joley Richardson, the pic centers on Lisbeth Salander’s (Mara) investigation into the Vanger family alongside journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Craig).

Check out each of the character images and biographies after the jump. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo hits theaters later this year on December 21st.