We only recently just saw a full trailer for the upcoming sixth season of the HBO series True Blood, and now the network has unveiled a large batch of high-resolution images previewing the drama to come.  In addition to giving us looks at fan favorites like Sookie (Anna Paquin), Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), Bill (Stephen Moyer), and of course Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten), these images also introduce us to a host of new characters played by the likes of Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner), Arliss Howard (Full Metal Jacket), and Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Friday Night Lights).

Hit the jump to peruse the gallery of images.  The series also stars Ryan Kwanten, Joe Manganiello, Rutina Wesley, Sam Trammell, Deborah Ann Woll, Carrie Preston, Todd Lowe, Nelsan Ellis, Michael McMillian, Lucy Griffiths, Lauren Bowles, Chris Bauer, Kelly Overton, Rob Kazinsky, and Amelia Rose Blaire.  Season six of True Blood premieres on HBO Sunday June 16th at 9pm/8c.

The first trailer for director Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim has been released.  The story finds humans towards the end of a losing battle against giant monsters called “Kaiju.”  In order to combat the creatures, humans have developed their own giant human-controlled robots called “Jaegers.”  Del Toro proves in this one little trailer that there’s enough room on screen for massive robots fighting giant monsters. Bring it on!

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film stars Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Charlie Day, Rinko Kikuchi, Max Martini, Rob Kazinsky, Clifton Collins Jr., and Diego Klattenhoff.  Pacific Rim opens in 3D on July 12th, 2013.

We have a few quick casting stories to report this afternoon.  First up, Deadline reports that great character actor David Morse has joined Marc Forster’s World War Z.  Morse “will play a prisoner living in an abandoned jail.”  Question: if the jail is abandoned, and the movie takes place in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, why is he still a prisoner?  Is he taking shelter in the prison?  We already know that the movie is going to differ greatly from the book so who knows what Forster and co. are up to.  The film stars Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, Anthony Mackie, and Bryan Cranston.  Morse co-stars on HBO’s Treme and will next be seen in the Disney family flick The Odd Life of Timothy Greene.

Hit the jump for casting news on Siren and Arthur Newman, Golf Pro.

Rob Kazinsky had to drop out of The Hobbit in April for personal reasons, but he is again ready for a tentpole.  Variety reports Kazinsky has joined the cast of Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim as a member of the team fighting alien invaders.  Moreover, Willem Dafoe is in early talks to play a “rogue scientist with expertise on alien creatures.”  Sounds like perfect casting.  Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Charlie Day, and Max Martini also star.

After a couple of false starts, Del Toro is chomping at the bit to shoot his next movie in November.  To give you an idea of what’s in store, Del Toro has called it “the biggest giant monster movie ever made“  and promised  “the finest fucking monsters ever committed to screen” at Comic-Con.  Pacific Rim is scheduled for release on July 12, 2013.

Rob Kazinsky (EastEnders) has dropped out of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit.  Kazinsky was set to play the dwarf Fili, one of the twelve Dwarves that accompany Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) on his quest to steal treasure guarded by the dragon Smaug.  Jackson made the announcement on his official Facebook page and said that Kazinsky has returned home for personal reasons.  Filming will not be affected as they are currently shooting scenes that feature Bilbo without the Dwarves.   Expect a casting announcement of a new Fili in the near-future.

Hit the jump for a synopsis of The Hobbit.  The film will be broken into two parts with Part 1 set for December 2012 and Part 2 slated for December 2013.

Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott (Charlie Wilson’s War), Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who), and Mikael Persbrandt (Everlasting Moments) have joined the cast of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit.  Blanchett will reprise her role as Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien. Stott will play Dwarf Lord Balin, McCoy will play wizard Radagast the Brown, and Swedish actor Persbrandt will play shape-shifter Beorn.

Also joining the cast are actors Ryan Gage (Outlaw) as Drogo Baggins, and Jed Brophy (District 9) and William Kircher (Legend of the Seeker) as the dwarfs Nori and Bifur, respectively.  These actors will join Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Aidan Turner, Rob Kazinsky, Graham McTavish, John Callen, Stephen Hunter, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Adam Brown, and James Nesbitt.  Hit the jump for the press release.  The Hobbit will be released in 3D in December 2012 and December 2013.

Martin Freeman is officially Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit.  For a second there, it looked like he would miss out due to prior commitments.  Then he was the frontrunner.  As recently as last week, he was in negotiations for the role.  But once Warner Bros. puts it in a press release, it’s official.  Can’t wait to see him in the role, assuming the film eludes derailment.

Director Peter Jackson has recruited eight more members to play various dwarves:

• Richard Armitage (MI-5) as Thorin Oakenshield
• Aidan Turner (Being Human) as Kili
• Rob Kazinsky (EastEnders) Fili
• Graham McTavish (Secretariat) as Dwalin
• John Callen (Power Rangers Jungle Fury) as Oin
• Stephen Hunter (All Saints) as Bombur
• Mark Hadlow (King Kong) as Dori
• Peter Hambleton (The Strip) as Gloin

Hit the jump for a list of other actors under consideration, plus the official casting announcement, including quotes from Jackson about why he chose each actor.