We’ve got some new, high resolution images to share from a couple of anticipated 2012 releases to share today.  First up, a new batch of pics from Steven Soderbergh’s male stripper movie Magic Mike has been released.  Loosely based on star Channing Tatum’s early days as a stripper, the Haywire actor plays mentor to a young protégé played by Alex Pettyfer.  Joining in on the shirtless fun is a swell supporting cast that includes Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Olivia Munn, Riley Keough, Cody Horn and Adam Rodriguez.  The film opens on June 29th.

Additionally, we’ve got two high resolution images (one of them new) from the political comedy The Campaign (previously titled Dog Fight).  We’ve already seen some fairly ridiculous set photos featuring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as two North Carolina politicians who each have Presidential aspirations and are vying for a congressional seat in their district.  The new image here gives us a look at supporting players Jason Sudeikis and Dylan McDermott.  The film opens on August 10th.

Following a brief stint with apes and a darkly disturbing turn on Showtime’s Dexter, actor John Lithgow is heading back to comedy. Variety reports that Lithgow is joining the cast of Jay Roach’s political comedy Dog Fight. Previously titled Southern Rivals, the film stars Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as rival politicians running for a congressional seat in a small North Carolina district. The core comedic team here is fantastic, and Ferrell and Galifianakis will be joined by Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott, Sarah Baker (Sweet Home Alabama), and Katherine LaNasa (Valentine’s Day).

Roach is directing from a script by Chris Henchy and Shawn Harwell, and he’s producing alongside Ferrell and Galifianakis. Lithgow will next be seen (probably briefly) in New Year’s Eve, and also stars in Judd Apatow’s untitled comedy. Dog Fight opens August 10th, 2012.

CBS Films acquired a pitch from The Grudge director Takashi Shimizu this summer under the reported title Flight 75.  Bloody Disgusting reports the studio is currently in talks with Ryan Kwanten (True Blood) and Amy Smart (Crank) to star in the “claustrophobic thriller,” now going by the title Flight 7500.  (100x better!) [Update: We have been informed that the title is actually 7500.]  The story is set on “a transpacific airliner from Los Angeles to Tokyo where the passengers encounter what seems to be a supernatural force.”   Smart would play one of the passengers; the specifics of Kwanten’s role are unknown.  Taka Ichise and Roy Lee are reuniting with their Grudge director to produce 7500.  The premise is fertile, and Kwanten and Smart are amiable stars: CBS may have something on their hands.

Hit the jump for news of Dylan McDermott‘s casting in Dog Fight.

Jason Sudeikis has joined Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis in Jay Roach‘s political comedy Dog Fight.  The movie, formerly titled Southern Rivals, is about rival politicians (Ferrell and Galifianakis) in a small congressional district in South Carolina (hence the original title).  THR doesn’t say what role Sudeikis will play but hopefully it won’t be the smarmy lothario he played three times this year (Hall Pass, Horrible Bosses, and A Good Old Fashioned Orgy).  The film also stars Sarah Baker (In Gayle We Trust) and Katherine LaNasa (Valentine’s Day).  Filming is set to begin in mid-November in New Orleans for an August 2012 release.

While it’s encouraging that Shawn Harwell (Eastbound & Down) and frequent Ferrell collaborator Chris Henchy (The Other Guys) wrote the script, I’m wary of Roach.  He botched the dark comedy in Dinner for Schmucks, but maybe he’ll fare better at politics since he directed the election dramas Recount and the upcoming Game Change.

Katherine LaNasa landed the role of wife in a pair of high-profile projects today.  First up is Dog Fight (formerly known as Southern Rivals), the political comedy that pits Will Ferrell against Zach Galifianakis.  The comic actors play two rival politicians in a small congressional district in South Carolina.  LaNasa is set to play Ferrell’s wife; Sarah Baker was cast as Galifianakis’ wife earlier in the week.  Jay Roach (Dinner for Schmucks) will direct Dog Night for an August 10, 2012 release.

Details on LaNasa’s other wifely role in The Frozen Ground after the jump.

With director Todd Phillips The Hangover Part II opening this weekend, I recently got to participate in a press conference with Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Ken Jeong and Phillips in Los Angeles.  Shortly after the press conference ended, I got to speak with Galifianakis in a one on one setting.

While our conversation was only ten minutes, we talked about everything from what are his favorite movies to working with babies and smoking monkeys.   In addition, we talked about his feelings on making a sequel to the biggest R rated comedy of all time, his thoughts on doing Hangover 3, what’s up with Between Two Ferns, Bored to Death, The Muppets, Southern Rivals, and Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie.  Hit the jump to either read or listen to our conversation.

We’ve got a few release dates to report on today, via Box Office Mojo. First up, Warner Bros. has scheduled a trio of its films for 2012. Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows will hit theaters on May 11^th 2012. The remake of the 1960’s gothic soap opera stars Johnny Depp, Eva Green and Chloe Moretz. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3D, the sequel to the Brendan Fraser adventure flick, will be released on January 27^th, 2012. Josh Hutcherson reprises his role from the original, with Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine and Vanessa Hudgens rounding out the cast.

Additionally, Jay Roach’s political comedy Rivals (previously referred to as Southern Rivals) is slated for August 10^th, 2012, just in time for election season. The film pits Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as opposing political candidates in the South. Lionsgate also decided to get in on the release date game today, as they’ve set the due date for What to Expect When You’re Expecting on May 11^th, opposite Dark Shadows. That film currently has Cameron Diaz set to star.

Yesterday, Steve got the chance to talk to Will Ferrell in anticipation of his new film Everything Must Go.  While we’ll have the entirety of his interview up the week of release, Ferrell gave a few tidbits on upcoming projects that we thought we’d share with you right away.  I know most of you are lamenting the loss of Anchorman 2 (really, Paramount? Really?), but Ferrell shared some great news regarding a follow-up to another Ferrell-Adam McKay project: Step Brothers.

Step Brothers, I’ve found, is one of those movies that grows on you exponentially each time you watch it. If you weren’t thrilled with a first-watch, give it another chance and you’re almost guaranteed to find it chock-full of comedic gold nuggets. Ferrell told Steve that he, director Adam McKay and co-star John C. Reilly recently had a meeting about possibly doing Step Brothers 2.  Hit the jump for more, including an update on the political comedy Southern Rivals co-starring Zach Galifianakis.