Johnny Depp is looking to stretch his musical chops once more.  The Sweeney Todd actor has entered talks to join Meryl Streep in Disney’s adaptation of the Broadway musical Into the Woods, which will be helmed by Depp’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides director Rob Marshall.  The film has been in the works for some time now, and it’s a fairy tale-infused story that centers around “a childless baker and his wife who attempt to life a family course by journeying into the woods to confront the witch that put a spell on them.”  During their journey, they encounter a number of classic fairy tale characters like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk.  Hit the jump for more.

One of the many films to premiere footage at this year’s New York Comic-Con was director James Wan‘s (Insidious) supernatural thriller The Conjuring.  The film stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as “a husband and wife team of demonologists and psychic investigators who enter the most horrifying case of their career, spirits in a Rhode Island farmhouse.”  Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor play a couple who unknowingly move into the haunted farmhouse with their kids.  For more on the film, here’s Matt’s recap of the Comic-Con panel.

Shortly before the panel started, I saw down with Wilson for an exclusive video interview.  We talked about how he got involved in The Conjuring and what attracted him to the material, what it’s like attending a comic convention after playing Nite Owl in Watchmen, what’s his favorite cut of the film, his thoughts on walking around a future convention in costume as Nite Owl, an adaptation of Caught Stealing, the status of an Insidious sequel, what it was like to do a reading for Rob Marshall‘s screen adaptation of Into the Woods, and a lot more.  Hit the jump to watch.

Following the success (commercially, that is) of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, director Rob Marshall was mulling a couple of projects as his follow-up.  After his remake of The Thin Man with Johnny Depp was put on hold, the Chicago director set his sights on returning to the world of song and dance for his next film.  Marshall is prepping an adaptation of the fairy tale-themed musical Into the Woods for Disney, and he recently held a star-studded screenplay read that included the likes of Anna Kendrick, Patrick Wilson, Allison Janney, and many more.  Additionally, it sounds like he may have settled on Meryl Streep for the lead role of the Witch.

Hit the jump for more, including the full list of actors who were in attendance for the screenplay reading.

In a recent interview with Geoffrey Rush, the Pirates of the Caribbean star confessed he had no idea when the fifth installment would be going forward.  But now we know where it’s going, at least.  Pirates of the Caribbean 5 appears to be headed to Puerto Rico to start shooting this November. That’s good news, since the status of the film is somewhat in flux, with Rob Marshall (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) possibly returning to direct and the script in the process of being finalized. As we all know, the next installment (and the franchise itself) sets its course by its star, Johnny Depp.  Should we expect to see him in Puerto Rico this fall?  Hit the jump for more.

Director Rob Marshall now has a little more time to find a fitting actress to star opposite Johnny Depp in The Thin Man, as Warner Bros. has put a halt to production on the remake.  Depp was set to star as Nick Charles, one half of a married couple who solves murder mysteries while bantering back and forth and almost getting killed themselves.  This delay is, at the moment, less of a behind-the-scenes melodrama and more due to practicality.  Deadline reports that Depp is eager to take a break between films.  This also allows Marshall to move forward with his long-gestating Disney project, Into the Woods, a feature version of Stephen Sondheim’s fairy-tale musical.  Though The Thin Man was never officially greenlit, there is also some talk of budget concerns, which will likely push back the planned November start while the particulars are sorted out.

It’s time for another shortlist story as apparently every actress in Hollywood is looking to star opposite Johnny Depp in the remake of The Thin Man. Chicago and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides director Rob Marshall is onboard to helm the adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s novel, which itself was turned into a 1934 feature film. The story centers on private detective-turned-socialite Nick Charles and his charming wife Nora as they’re drawn into investigating a murder. Depp is, obviously, set to play the dashing detective, and now Marshall is set to meet with a slew of actresses to cast the lovely Nora. Hit the jump to find out who’s up for the gig.

Director Rob Marshall is heading back to musicals. After helming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Marshall signed on to direct a remake of the 1934 film The Thin Man with Johnny Depp attached to star, and now he’s set to reteam with Disney on a feature film version of Stephen Sondheim’s fairy tale-themed musical Into the Woods. Marshall got his start as a choreographer before bursting onto the scene with 2002’s Oscar-winning movie musical Chicago, and now he’s poised to return to the world of song and dance. Hit the jump for more.

Screenwriter David Koepp (Spider-Man) has been tapped to write Rob Marshall’s adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s The Thin Man starring Johnny Depp.  The 1934 novel follows retired detective Nick Charles who is trying to happily live his life with his charming wife Nora and their dog Asta.  However, when one of Charles’ former client Clyde Wynant goes missing and his secretary turns up dead, Nick is reluctantly drawn back into the case and the web of intrigue created by Wynant’s terrible family. Also, everyone in the book, particularly Nick and Nora, drinks like a fish but hardly anyone gets drunk.  Hammett’s novel was successfully adapted into a franchise starring William Powell and Myrna Loy although Hammett only wrote one novel featuring Nick and Nora.

Hit the jump for more on this story and my thoughts on adapting The Thin Man.

As a fan of the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies, it’s going to be tough to find a bigger disappointment in 2011 than Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.  While it would be reasonable to expect that the sequel may not be as good as the original trilogy, the extent to which the film misunderstands story, pacing, action scenes, its own history, and its main characters, is mind-boggling.  The film does almost nothing right and it’s a tedious chore that sails through gigantic plotholes, lazy screenwriting, poor characterization, and reduces the scale and creativity of the previous films.  I would rather be cursed by the Aztecs, spend 100 years before the mast serving aboard the Flying Dutchman, and get devoured by a kraken than endure another viewing of On Stranger Tides.

It’s quite obvious that Johnny Depp loves playing the role of Captain Jack Sparrow, as much as the audience loves seeing him do it. Taking that into consideration, along with the fact that the first three films brought in $2.6 billion worldwide, it’s really no surprise at all that everyone signed on to do Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, opening in theaters on May 20^th.

At the film’s press day, Johnny Depp and co-star Penelope Cruz, who’s new to the franchise, along with director Rob Marshall and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, talked about reigniting the Pirates films, being sure to get the screenplay right before going into production, working in 3D, and where they would like to see things go for Pirates 5 and 6. Depp and Bruckheimer also hinted at what audiences can expect from The Lone Ranger, in which Depp will play Tonto. Check out what they had to say after the jump.

Last year, we reported that Johnny Depp wanted to reunite with his Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides director Rob Marshall for a new adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s The Thin Man.  We have now received a press release confirming that Marshall is on board to direct and that John DeLuca (Nine) will produce through the duo’s LUCAMAR Productions company.  While I was hoping that Marshall would direct the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked, it’s possible that the project is stuck so far down in development hell that there’s no way anyone can get to it.  And that being said, Marshall is a talented director and I think Depp is a great fit for detective-turned-socialite Nick Charles.

Now the questions become “When will this shoot in relation to The Lone Ranger?” and “Which actress would make a good Nora Charles?”  Hit the jump for the press release.

A couple of new posters have been released today. First up, the international poster for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has hit the web. It’s pretty much a combination of all the separate character posters that have been released so far, as it puts all the four main characters together on the same poster. The film hits theaters in 3D on May 20^th.

Secondly, a new poster for Skateland has been released. The film, starring Ashley Greene, is set in the 80’s and centers on high schoolers and their local roller skating rink. The film premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festvial. Directed by Anthony Burns, Skateland stars Greene, Shiloh Fernandez, Heath Freeman, Brett Cullen, and Taylor Handley. Hit the jump to check out the posters.

Shortly after Disney’s presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, I got to talk to producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Rob Marshall about Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.  While the studio has released a number of trailers, images and posters from the 4th installment, yesterday was the first time the studio had shown any significant amount of footage.  While we’ve been asked not to reveal anything specific, I can tell you we got to see three sequences: the first took place in London, the second was out at sea, and the third came from the end of the film and it featured many cast members searching in a jungle for the Fountain of Youth.

As you might expect, the footage was loaded with action, and it featured Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow having to escape from a variety of unique situations.  Also, with the presentation for theater owners, Disney showed us the footage in 3D and it looked fantastic.  Since the movie was shot using 3D cameras, I wasn’t surprised.

Anyway, hit the jump to see Bruckheimer & Marshall talk about making the film, how they choose what footage to show, and what’s their go to karaoke song:

A new poster for Disney’s upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has hit the web. This one gives us our first good look at some mermaids, which presumably play a large role in the film according to the latest trailer. This marketing campaign has been going on for so long now that it feels like the film should be out already, but we’ve still got over a month to go.

Hit the jump to check out the new poster, as well as a recap of all the posters for the film that have been released thus far.  Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides stars Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, and Ian McShane.  It opens in 3D on May 20th.

Screenwriter/author Jerry Stahl (Bad Boys II) has been tapped to pen the screenplay for the remake of The Thin Man starring Johnny Depp. Rob Marshall (Chicago), who recently teamed with Depp on Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, is in negotiations to direct the flick. The Thin Man centers on private detective-turned-socialite Nick Charles and his charming wife Nora as they’re drawn into investigating a murder. The 1934 film was itself adapted from the novel by Dashiell Hammett.

Heat Vision reports that Depp will produce the film with his Infinitum Nihil partner Christi Dembrowski. Warner Bros. was taking their time in finding the right screenwriter who could contemporize the story without altering the period setting. Depp is currently getting ready to film Dark Shadows for director Tim Burton, and is also attached to The Lone Ranger with Rango director Gore Verbinski at the helm.