The first trailer for the James Patterson adaptation Alex Cross has landed online.  The film sees Tyler Perry taking over the titular role that was previously inhabited by Morgan Freeman in Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls.  Though I tried to go into this trailer with an open mind, if it weren’t for the movie stars you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a Lifetime Movie of the Week.  Perry tries way too hard at being the toughened detective, director Rob Cohen (xXx) shows off his penchant for explosions, and I have no idea what’s up with Matthew Fox but he’s going way over the top for the villain role.  It’ll be interesting to see how this plays for Patterson fans, as Summit is hoping that Alex Cross kicks off a string of franchise films for Perry.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film also stars Rachel Nichols, Edward Burns, Jean Reno, Giancarlo Esposito, and John C. McGinley.  Alex Cross opens on October 19th.

The first images of Tyler Perry not wearing a dress in the James Patterson adaptation Alex Cross have gone online.  Directed by Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious) the film is based on Patterson’s book I, Alex Cross, and Perry stars as the titular detective who was previously played by Morgan Freeman in the Patterson adaptations Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider.  More interesting, though, are the first images of Matthew Fox as the film’s villain.  He looks absolutely insane and ripped out of his mind.  I literally stared at one image for 10 seconds before I realized it was Fox who was putting someone in a Hulk-ed out choke hold.  It’s honestly kind of disturbing.

Anyway, hit the jump to check out the images, which also feature Edward Burns as Perry’s partner.  Alex Cross opens on October 26th.

We’ve got a few release dates to share with you today. First and foremost, The Wolverine is finally set to land on July 26th, 2013. The sequel to 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine has gone through a lengthy development process, as Darren Aronofsky was initially set to direct before ultimately dropping out. James Mangold (3:10 to Yuma, Knight and Day) is now set to helm the follow-up, which will take place mostly in Japan.

Story details are scarce, but Hugh Jackman recently hinted that they may end up filming both a PG-13 and R-rated version of the pic. While Mangold isn’t as exciting a choice as Aronofsky, I’m a fan of his previous work and I look forward to seeing what he does with the Wolverine character. The pic faces very little competition on that late July release date, as the Dirty Dancing reboot and the Phineas and Ferb movie are the only other films currently scheduled for the same weekend. Hit the jump for release date news concerning the Tyler Perry-fronted James Patterson adaptation Alex Cross, as well as a last minute shuffle for This Means War.

After years in pre-production, including a well respected but unproduced John Milius draft, an aborted Red Sonja redux and a countless hours of fan casting, Conan The Barbarian returns to theaters this Friday with Marcus Nispel directing Game of Thrones’ Jason Momoa, as the titular warrior.  Rose McGowan, Ron Perlman and Stephen Lang round out the cast of this 3D bloodbath.

Hemming closer to the fantastical Robert E. Howard books, this new Conan is stripped down and vicious. Recently, I sat down with Rachel Nichols to discuss her role as a pure blood missionary in the film. During our interview we discussed the benefits of being the only girl on set, the way that the story is built around her femininity, what it takes to win the heart of a barbarian and she gives us a little taste of what the new Alex Cross film, I, Alex Cross, starring Tyler Perry will look and feel like.  Hit the jump to watch.

Scrubs MVP John C. McGinley has signed on for a role in Summit’s adaptation of I, Alex Cross.  Tyler Perry stars as a homicide detective in search of a serial killer: “The two face off in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, but when the mission gets personal, Cross is pushed to the edge of his moral and psychological limits.” According to Showblitz, McGinley will play Chief of Police Richard Brookwell, a “vigorous, ambitious man” in contrast to Cross’ gentler approach homicide.  Matthew Fox, Ed Burns, and Jean Reno also star in the adaptation, directed by Rob Cohen (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor) from a script by Kerry Williamson and Marc Moss.

Hit the jump for details on Stephanie Szostak’s role opposite Ryan Reynolds in R.I.P.D., and info on the high school comedy Gay Dude.

Allison Janney has signed on to star opposite Chris Colfer (Glee) in the coming-of-age comedy Struck by Lightning.  Colfer also wrote the script which, per Variety, “opens with Colfer’s character being struck and killed by a bolt of lightning; flashbacks will chronicle his exploits as he blackmails his classmates into contributing to a literary magazine he’s publishing.”  The independent production will shoot this July in Los Angeles during Colfer’s summer hiatus from Glee.  Brian Dannelly (Saved!) will direct.

Hit the jump for more Giancarlo Esposito’s role in I, Alex Cross, and the casting of Dev Patel in More As This Story Develops.

This afternoon we have some casting and some un-casting to report.  In un-casting news, THR reports that Alec Baldwin has dropped out of Adam Shankman’s musical Rock of Ages.  You may recall Baldwin dropped out of Men in Black III to do Rock of Ages back in March.  Baldwin was set to play “Dennis Dupree, the owner of the Bourbon Room, the Sunset Boulevard nightclub at the center of the movie.”  No reason has been given for Baldwin’s departure, although it’s possible there was a scheduling conflict with Woody Allen’s upcoming comedy.  While it’s an unfortunate loss for the project, Rock of Ages isn’t lacking for stars since the cast features Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Malin Akerman, Bryan Cranston, Mary J. Blige, Julianne Hough, and newcomer Diego Boneta.  Rock of Ages is set to open on June 1, 2012.

Hit the jump for casting news regarding I, Alex Cross.

Summit Entertainment has acquired the U.S. distribution rights for the feature adaptation of the James Patterson novel I, Alex Cross.  Tyler Perry stars as the titular detective, following in the footsteps of Morgan Freeman, who played Alex Cross in 1997′s Kiss the Girls and 2001′s Along Came a Spider.  In I, Alex Cross, the detective vows to catch the serial killer who murdered a beloved relative, which leads him to one of the “wildest scenes” in Washington D.C.  While there, Cross uncovers “a revelation that could rock the entire world.”  Matthew Fox (Lost) will play the serial killer Michael Sullivan.

Patterson co-wrote the first draft of the script with Kerry Williamson.  Marc Moss, the screenwriter behind Along Came a Spider, is working rewrite of I, Alex Cross.  Rob Cohen (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor) will direct.  Variety reports that Summit plans to shoot later this year, but have not yet scheduled a release date.  Hit the jump for a synopsis of the novel.

If you’re a fan of James Patterson’s novel I, Alex Cross, the disappointments are starting to pile up.  The adaptation is being handled by Rob Cohen (Stealth) and Tyler Perry is playing the titular detective.  Now there’s another piece of perplexing casting as Deadline reports that Lost‘s Matthew Fox will play the villain, serial killer Michael Sullivan.  This is the same Matthew Fox who looks like he’s about to cry every five seconds.  Here’s how Deadline describes the character: “one bad dude”, “kills both for money and thrills”, “known as the Butcher of Sligo”.  Well, Fox will certainly be playing against type.

The story centers on Cross trying to catch Sullivan only to have Sullivan brutally murder Cross’ wife as retribution (that’ll teach ‘em!).  Ed Burns will play Cross’ partner, Tommy Kane.  Three studios are reportedly vying for the domestic distribution rights to the project.  Hit the jump for a synopsis of the novel.

Geez, what can’t Madea do? It looks like Tyler Perry has landed the role of Alex Cross in the adaptation of the James Patterson book I, Alex Cross. The novel finds Cross investigating the death of his pregnant wife. The role was previously played onscreen by Morgan Freeman in two other Patterson adaptations: 1997’s Kiss the Girls and 2001’s Along Came a Spider. Actor Idris Elba was originally chosen to star in the reboot of the Alex Cross franchise with David Twohy (The Chronicles of Riddick) directing, but it appears that the project has undergone a bit of an overhaul. Variety reports that Rob Cohen (xXx) will direct, with Madea—er—Perry signed on for a trilogy of films. I know it’s early, but I think this film takes the cake as the strangest project to take shape in 2011 so far. Hit the jump for a synopsis of the novel.