John Krasinski, Scott Porter, Garrett Hedlund, Jensen Ackles, Chace Crawford, Michael Cassidy, and Mike Vogel are all on the short-list for The First Avenger: Captain America.  According to THR, the seven actors have screen-tested for the role or are expected to test screen over the next two weeks.  In a recent interview, director Joe Johnston (The Wolfman), says he expects to have the role of the Marvel superhero cast by March 1st.

Krasinski is the best known of the bunch because of The Office and co-starring last year in wide release movies like Away We Go and It’s Complicated.  As for the six others, you have Michael Cassidy who screen-tested for the Superman movie when McG was set to direct, Patrick Flueger of The 4400 and a supporting role in Brothers), Scott Porter of Friday Night Lights (the TV series) and Speed Racer, and Mike Vogel who starred in Cloverfield.  And then you have Chace Crawford (Gossip Girl) who’s in talks to screen test. Garrett Hedlund (Eragon, the upcoming Tron Legacy) and Jensen Ackles (Supernatural) both are under consideration but are currently out of the running due to scheduling conflicts (word to Ackles: leave Supernatural behind and go for this role).

Captain America is the final piece in creating the Marvel’s superhero team-up of The Avengers with Iron Man/Tony Scott (Robert Downey Jr.) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) already in play.  Hit the jump for my thoughts on the potential Captains, details for those unfamiliar with the character, and what we know about the upcoming movie, which is scheduled to hit theaters on July 22, 2011.

Earlier today I saw the first Sundance screening of director Joel Schumacher’s Twelve, which stars Chace Crawford, Emma Roberts, 50 Cent, Ellen Barkin and Rory Culkin.  If you’ve seen Gossip Girl, Twelve takes place in a similar world – super rich upper east side New Yorkers.  Did the movie tell a new story in the high school genre?  Is Joel Schumacher going to be forgiven for Batman & Robin?  Hit the jump to see what Peter from Slashfilm and I thought of the film…

You can never go wrong making a movie about privileged kids on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.  No matter if the film is good or bad, people love to watch the adventures of rich kids and their problems.  Thankfully, director Joel Schumacher is more than happy to give us our yearly fix, as he is premiering his latest film Twelve at next month’s Sundance Film Festival.

According to IMDb, Twelve is about “a young drug dealer watches as his high-rolling life is dismantled in the wake of his cousin’s murder, which sees his best friend arrested for the crime.”

Sundance has the synopsis as:

A chronicle of the highs and lows of privileged kids on Manhattan’s Upper East Side involving sex, drugs and murder. The film stars Chace Crawford, Emma Roberts, Kiefer Sutherland, 50 Cent, Zoë Kravitz, Ellen Barkin and Rory Culkin.

While some films at Sundance need early buzz to get people into the first press screening, with Schumacher directing and this cast, it’s going to be one of those films everyone wants to see.  While we have to wait till next month to hear if the film is a return to form for Schumacher, you can check out a few images after the jump:

Director Kenny Ortega has left Paramount Pictures “Footloose” remake over differences on tone and budget. According to Variety, the studio wanted “an edgier drama with less emphasis on the musical numbers and a budget around $25 million or less.” Ortega, who previously directed all three “High School Musical” films and the upcoming Michael Jackson movie “This Is It”, wanted a film with elaborately staged musical numbers and a higher budget. More after the jump: