As the 37^th annual Saturn Awards came to a close, I was lucky enough to snag a few minutes with The Punisher (2004) and Hung star Thomas Jane.

Always a blunt and shoot from the hip interview, Jane was especially candid this night, talking in detail about why he was fired from Walter Hill and Sylvester Stallone’s upcoming Headshot, his burgeoning music career, his upcoming Glen Sherley biopic, his comic company Raw Studios, a western that he’s written, a werewolf movie called The Lycan, and much, much more.  Hit the jump to check it out.

After those extremely creepy teasers that were released for Mark Pellington’s (The Mothman Prophecies) polarizingly dark drama I Melt With You, I really wasn’t sure what to expect from the actual film. Well, now the trailer for the flick has been released, and it’s equally creepy. It appears to be a very twisted version of The Big Chill, with Thomas Jane, Rob Lowe and Jeremy Piven starring as three friends who share a vital secret. They go away together and apparently go insane. Magnolia acquired the film at Sundance and is set to release it sometime this year. Hit the jump to check out the trailer for I Melt With You.

New details have emerged on Walter Hill’s upcoming action flick Headshot starring Sylvester Stallone and Thomas Jane.  As we previously reported, the story centers on a hitman (Stallone) and an NYPD detective (Jane) who team up to exact revenge.  According to What’s Playing, the film will be, much like Stallone’s The Expendables, a throwback to 80s buddy action flicks.  Hill reportedly signed on for the flick because it reminded him of the films he used to make like 48 Hrs. and Red Heat.  WP also says that Hill has fine-tuned Alessandro Camon’s script and improved the “cool” dialogue and central relationship between Stallone and Jane’s characters.

I desperately hope that this film is better than Expendables and having Hill behind the camera gives me that hope.  However, it’s interesting/sad that ever since 2006′s Rocky Balboa, Stallone has essentially acknowledged that he’s a relic and that the only way his stardom can continue is if he can transport audiences back to when he was actually a star.

The cast for the international action comedy Sleight of Hand was announced to stay. Poised to star are Keifer Sutherland, Gerard Depardieu, Thomas Jane, Jon Lovitz, Johnny Hallyday, Til Schweiger and Eric Cantona, as well as French actors Jean Luc Couchard, Nora Arnezeder and Patrice Cols. The plot is described thusly:

“The international cast plays a crew of small time crooks in Paris, who inadvertently end up possessing a rare gold coin belonging to a notorious French gangster. The leader of the crew calls his uncle (Depardieu), a retired criminal, to help them raise the money to repay the gangster. The series of mix-ups and double crosses culminate as the gangs are pit face to face, chasing through Paris.”

Brad Mirman (Shadows in the Sun) is directing, with filming set to get underway at the end of July. Hannibal Classics will be selling the film this week at Cannes. Hit the jump to read the full press release.

Last week, we brought you the news that Walter Hill (The Warriors) will be directing Sylvester Stallone in the action/thriller Headshot. Today, JoBlo reports that Thomas Jane will be starring alongside Sly as an NYPD detective. Per their report, Jane dropped the news of his involvement while appearing on their “Arrow in the Head” podcast and claims that it is indeed a done deal. Production on Headshot is expected to begin next month in New Orleans.

The script, initially penned by Alessandro Camon (The Messengers) and currently undergoing rewrites by Hill, focuses on a New Orleans-based hitman (Stallone) who shares a common goal of revenge with the aforementioned NYPD detective (Jane) as they are connected by two gruesome murders. As the story goes, the pair “take on all who stand in their way, and are willing to sacrifice everything to exact revenge.” With Stallone, Hill, and now Jane on board, color me excited for Headshot.

America’s political system has been a favorite subject of filmmakers for decades.  The reasons are clear.  There’s enough grandstanding, scandal, backstabbing and intrigue in a week on Capitol Hill to fill a season of any network soap opera.  Take the latest entry into the genre.  Casino Jack, in the early stages of a nationwide rollout, follows the real-life story of so-called super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff who served time in prison for defrauding four Native American tribes out of tens of millions of dollars and trading money and gifts for political favors from some of DC’s biggest power brokers.  While the scandal landed public officials in prison, the film has landed Kevin Spacey a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) and very positive reviews for Barry Pepper as Abramoff’s protégé Michael Scanlon.

Pepper recently sat down with Collider for a wide-ranging conversation.  Hit the jump for the interview’s full audio and transcript, including his view of Washington, whether he’d run for office, his wild experience on a new Terrence Malick film and his very thorough research to play Robert F. Kennedy.

Continuing our coverage of the films that will be featured at the Sundance Film Festival in January, today we bring you images from two dramatic films that will premiere out-of-competition at the festival: I Melt With You and Perfect Sense. I Melt With You stars Rob Lowe, Thomas Jane, Jeremy Piven, Carla Gugino and Christian McKay. Directed by Mark Pellington (The Mothman Prophecies), the film focuses on four lifelong friends who, during their annual get-together, realize that their lives haven’t exactly turned out the way they expected.

Perfect Sense stars Ewan McGregor, Eva Green, Ewan Bremner, Stephen Dillane, and Connie Nielsen. From director David Mackenzie (Young Adam), the film is described as a “poetic and magnetic love story.” Hit the jump to check out the images, as well as a brief synopsis for both films.  The 2011 Sundance Film Festival runs from January 20 – 30th.

Our AFM coverage continues with the first look at Miley Cyrus’ upcoming coming-of-age comedy, LOL.  The remake of the 2008 French film tells the story of a mother (Demi Moore), who discovers just how wide the communication gap has grown between her and her daughter (Miley Cyrus) after she accidently reads her racy journal.  Lisa Azuelos, who wrote and directed the original film, has remade her own film for English speaking audiences.  The film also co-stars Ashley Greene, Thomas Jane, Adam G. Sevani, Jay Hernandez, and Gina Gershon.  You can hit the jump to check out the images and the official synopsis:

UPDATE: We’ve been asked by the studio to remove the images. Sorry if you missed them.

Jeremy Piven and Thomas Jane have signed on to star in the ensemble thriller I Melt With You.  Directed by Mark Pellington (Henry Poole Is Here), Deadline reports that “the thriller follows the interconnecting lives of four men,” but doesn’t reveal anything beyond that.  No word yet if the characters see the difference and come to the conclusion that it’s getting better all the time.  Pellington does say, “This is about four guys and deals with mortality, aging and friendship. It is very dark and very low budget.”

How low is the budget?  Under a million bucks, which is impressive when you’re aiming for an ensemble and have name actors like Piven and Jane on board.  Casting begins now so that Piven and Jane can get back to shooting on Entourage and Hung, respectively.

We have two quick pieces of casting news for you this morning.  First up, the incredibly sexy Ashley Greene (The Twilight Saga) has signed on to co-star in the Miley Cyrus comedy LOL along with Thomas Jane (Hung).  According to THR, “The story centers on a teenage girl (Cyrus) who is dumped by her more sexually experienced boyfriend (George Finn) while her divorcee mother (Demi Moore) struggles to move on with her life.”  Greene will play “a high school bad girl” (nice) and Jane will play Cyrus’ father.  The film also stars Ashley Hinshaw (Gossip Girl) as Cyrus’ best friend.

Hit the jump for Kali Hawk’s two new projects.

Actor Thomas Jane, of TV’s “Hung” and “Punisher” fame, stars in and makes his directorial debut with the stylistic horror thriller “Dark Country”, which arrives on DVD this October 6 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The film tells the suspenseful, twisted tale of newlyweds who make the regrettable decision of rescuing a sinister car crash survivor known only as “Bloody Face.” The movie’s unique visual flourishes belie the fact that it’s the work of a first time director, while its strong performances, notably from the sexy Lauren German (“Hostel: Part II”), serve as yet another reminder that an actor has no better friend behind the camera than the actor/director.

Hit the jump to read about journeyman actor Jane talking about his new journey into directing, the surprising big name star he called up for advice on directing yourself, and working with fanboy favorite and friend Ron Perlman.