A couple of release date shifts for two Relativity Media films have been announced today.  First up, Relativity will unveil Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut Don Jon (previously titled Don Jon’s Addiction) in wide release on October 18th.  Gordon-Levitt stars in the comedy as contemporary, porn-addicted Don Juan-type who attempts to reform himself.  I caught the film at Sundance and it’s a lot of fun (read Matt’s review here).  Gordon-Levitt has a great eye for visuals and the performances from his excellent supporting cast (Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, and Tony Danza) are spot-on.

The pic should have plenty of general audience appeal when it opens in October, but it faces stiff competition in the form of the Chloe Moretz-fronted Carrie remake, Lee Daniels’ period drama The Butler, and the fantasy epic The Seventh Son starring Jeff Bridges.  Interestingly, Don Jon, Carrie, and The Seventh Son all feature Julianne Moore.  Hit the jump for release date news concerning Luc Besson’s (The Fifth Element) star-studded comedic actioner Malavita.

Along with a new batch of release dates comes a title change to a significant picture.  Check out the details below:

• Jack the Giant Killer will be formally retitled to Jack the Giant Slayer (because it’s more family-friendly…) and will now open March 1st, 2013.  Pic stars Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci and Ewan McGregor.
• Malavita, Luc Besson’s comedic actioner, gets a new release date, opening almost a year to the day on October 18th, 2013. Relativity pic stars Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer and Dianna Agron.
• Also from Relativity, 21 and Over will move up two weeks to open opposite Jack the Giant Killer Slayer on March 1st, 2013. The picture stars Justin Chon, Skyler Astin and Miles Teller.

Hit the jump for much more on each picture. 

Principal photography has commenced on director Luc Besson’s (The Fifth Element) comedic actioner Malavita.  The film stars Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Tommy Lee Jones and centers on notorious mafia family who gets relocated to Normandy as part of the witness protection program.  Though they’re seemingly out of harm’s way, the family finds it hard to let go of some of their more colorful old habits and soon find themselves “handling things the ‘family’ way.”  The ensemble cast also includes Glee star Dianna Agron and Wanderlust’s John D’Leo.

Filming is underway in Normandy, with additionally shooting set to take place in New York.  A firm release date has yet to be set, but Malavita is expected to bow sometime in 2013.  Hit the jump to read the full press release.

A bunch of TV stars found their way into the movies and one Hunger Games actor saw the odds turn in his favor. Here’s your big-screen casting round-up:

• Ryan Kwanten (True Blood) will star in independent Canadian comedy Sex and Sunsets.
• Dianna Agron (Glee) will join Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer in Luc Besson’s action-comedy Malavita
• Gillian Jacobs (Community) will co-star in horror-comedy Milo
• The Hunger Games’ Dayo Okeniyi will play in Runner Runner starring Ben Affleck and indie high school drama The Spectacular Now

Hit the jump for more on all four projects.

Director Luc Besson is lining up an impressive cast for his darkly comedic actioner Malavita.  The film follows a mafia family who seeks witness protection in France, but they bring their criminal habits with them and start dealing with things the old fashioned way.  Robert De Niro is set as the patriarch, with Michelle Pfeiffer recently joining the project as his wife.  Now Variety reports that Tommy Lee Jones is in final negotiations to play De Niro’s “stern handler in the FBI-sponsored program.”  He’s tasked with checking in on the family and helping them assimilate to their new life in France.

The tone seems reminiscent of something along the lines of Analyze This, but with Besson on board I’m sure we’ll see our fair share of gunplay and grittiness.  The notoriously prickly Jones appears to be a left-field choice for the role, but I’m more than willing to see him and De Niro square off.  Hopefully we see the two take part in a super-serious-face off so we can settle this whole “who’s more super serious?” thing once and for all.  Jones will be seen later this year in the dramedy Hope Springs and Steven Spielberg‘s Lincoln, and he’s poised to write, direct, and star in The Homesman.

It looks like Michelle Pfeiffer (Scarface) might be joining Robert De Niro (Goodfellas) in returning to their mafia roots in Luc Besson’s crime comedy, Malavita.  Based on Tonino Benacquista’s novel, “Badfellas”, Malavita follows a mafia family who seeks witness protection in France.   The problem is that they brought their criminal habits with them and start to deal with things in the old-fashioned way.  De Niro is set to star as the head of the family, who was also head of the local crime family until he turned rat.  Pfeiffer is in talks to star as his wife, who has a soft spot for using arson against those who cross her.   Besson, who wrote the script and will also produce, is eyeing a production start this August.  Hit the jump for more on Malavita.