It looks like CBS Films has found their terrorist hunter in Chris Hemsworth (Thor) for American Assassin.  Hemsworth would be playing Mitch Rapp, a college scholar and athlete who becomes a relentless anti-terrorism agent for the CIA as a result of a personal tragedy.  The adaptation is actually from Vince Flynn’s 11th novel in his best-selling series, but since it’s a prequel, it acts as a good jumping off point for a potential movie franchise.  Other talent involved with the picture is director Jeffrey Nachmanoff (Traitor, Homeland), writers Ed Zwick (Defiance) and Marshall Herskovitz (The Last Samurai), and producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Nick Wechsler.  Oh and did I forget to mention that Bruce Willis is circling a role as a CIA mentor of sorts?  Hit the jump for more.

After the explosive shocks, twists and revelations in the finale of Revenge, Season 2 of the popular ABC drama series, premiering on September 30^th, is sure to heat things up even more.  With everything that occurred in Season 1, including the fate of some of the characters left in question, Emily Thorne (Emily Van Camp) will be back, colder and more determined than ever to exact her revenge.

During a set visit that was held as part of the TCA Press Tour, show star Emily Van Camp talked about Jennifer Jason Leigh joining the cast to play her mother, how the mother-daughter dynamic will affect her character, just where she’ll draw the line when it comes to what she’ll do for revenge, whether or not she can ever make peace, who she thinks her character is destined to end up with, what she’s learned from past mistakes, why she thinks people root for her character, and the fun of getting to play the campy side of the show.  Check out what she had to say after the jump.

Susanna White (Nanny McPhee Returns) has been tapped to direct the adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s sci-fi novel The Host.  Per Variety, White will helm a script by Oscar-nominee Andrew Niccol (The Truman Show) with Nick Wechsler set to co-produce alongside Steve and Paula Mae Schwartz of Chockstone Pictures.  Briefly, Meyer’s novel takes place during a time when “altruistic parasites” (which I didn’t know existed) have inhabited the bodies of most humans – one exception being the female protagonist Melanie Stryder.

Although McPhee was White’s feature debut, the UK native has a solid directorial track record having been nominated for two Primetime Emmy’s for helming an episode of HBO’s Generation Kill and PBS’ 2006 Jane Eyre mini-series.  While I can’t say that Meyer’s prior creative output has me over-the-top excited for The Host, Niccol’s presence behind the pen has me interested in the adaptation. For more on the project, hit the jump to check out a synopsis for Meyer’s novel.

Merlin is in the upper echelon of fictional wizards* along with Gandalf, Harry Potter, and the The Great and Powerful Oz.  Having first appeared in Arthurian legend in 1136, Merlin predates them all, but arguably lacks the definitive on-screen portrayal of the latter three.

Author/screenwriter Jay Basu’s take on Merlin may not change that, but it ought to be fresh.  Working Title has picked up a Basu film pitch that brings Merlin into “a contemporary setting.”

Merlin.  Present day.  That’s about all we know so far, but the character has a rich history; hit the jump for background information on Merin.

Fun fact: Stephanie Meyer, author of novel/film sensation “Twilight,” has actually written a book for adults! It’s called “The Host,” and has just been picked up by producers Nick Wechsler, Steve Schwartz, and Paula Mae Schwartz. Wechsler and the Schwartzes have worked together recently to produce the adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road.” More on the project, and who’s involved after the jump.

Director John Hillcoat’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” is finally getting screened for critics as it’s playing at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival. While the film is getting mixed reviews, I don’t care. This is a film I cannot wait to see no matter what people say. Also, I’m a huge fan of Viggo Mortensen and he’s the lead. Anyway, the Weinstein Company has released 5 clips from the film and it totals 12 minutes of footage from the movie. Since I will be seeing the movie within a week, I didn’t watch any of the clips. But if you want to check out some of the footage, it’s after the jump – along with the synopsis. Take a look: