This week:

The voice cast for The Croods 2 is confirmed; The Mortal Instruments 2 delays production; Rupert Wyatt may helm The Gambler and Mark Wahlberg might star; Miyazaki's The Wind Rises gets a US release date; and the Entourage movie gets delayed.

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The three major players from this year's animated hit, The Croods, have all signed on to reprise their voice acting roles for The Croods 2. Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, and (of course) Nicolas Cage were all revealed as returning by directors Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders.

The Croods 2 Voice Cast Returning

Although several other 2013 animated releases (e.g. Despicable Me 2, Monsters University) might have overshadowed it, The Croods did very well at the box office, grossing $585 million worldwide. In other words, it's no surprise that Fox is moving ahead with a sequel. There are plenty of pre-historic hijinks that this caveman family could presumably get into, so much so that it's almost a question of which story to tell first.

And, perhaps when the time comes, The Croods will inevitably cross paths with Fox's other major animated franchise, Ice Age. How that would work? Don't ask us, but we wouldn't be surprised if it happened.

Source: Coming Soon

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Production on The Mortal Instruments: City of Ashes, the follow-up to The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, has been delayed.

The Mortal Instruments City of Bones (Review) starring Lily Collins, Lena Headey and Jamie Campbell Bower

Prior to this news, Constantin Films seemed very confident in The Mortal Instruments series, to the point they were willing to sign Sigourney Weaver on for the sequel even before the first film hit theaters. Unfortunately, City of Bones failed to make a mark at the box office, grossing $37 million off a $60 million budget.

Constantin isn't writing The Mortal Instruments off completely, though; they are simply taking time to "reposition the film in the current market place." The Mortal Instruments books do have a rabid fanbase, it's just clearly not on the level as something like Twilight or The Hunger Games.

Source: Constantin Films

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Rise of the Planet of the Apes director Rupert Wyatt is in early negotiations to helm The Gambler, with Mark Wahlberg reportedly set to star.

Mark Wahlberg Rupert Wyatt Might Join The Gambler

The film follows a literature professor who gets involved with some local gangsters in 1974. At one point Todd Phillips (The Hangover) was slated to direct, and at a different time Leonard DiCaprio was on board to star, but both departed the project when it failed to gain any traction.

Now, The Gambler is apparently back on track with a potential director and star, but no offer has been made to either Wyatt or Wahlberg. Since helming Rise, Wyatt has been in high demand - and is even one of J.J. Abrams' choices to take over for Star Trek 3.

Source: Variety

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Two weeks ago we brought you news that Disney would distribute celebrated animation director Hayao Miyazaki's latest film The Wind Rises in the US, and now we have a domestic release date for the film.

Hayao Miyazaki's 'The Wind Rises' - Studio Ghibli banner

Disney has selected February 28, 2014 for the film's official release date, with a limited release slated for one week earlier, on the 21st. The Wind Rises will also have a brief, Oscar-qualifying run from November 8-14th in New York and Los Angeles.

In addition to his latest film, The Wind Rises will also be his last, as the director announced he will retire this year. Miyazaki has been one of the last champions of the 2D, hand-drawn animation style, but regardless of where animation goes, his legacy will live in on in classics like My Neighbor Totoro and Howl's Moving Castle.

Source: Walt Disney Pictures

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Vinny, Turtle, Drama, and E will have to wait a bit longer for their big screen debut, as the Entourage movie has been delayed.

Entourage Movie Delayed

The film, based on the popular HBO series, was supposed to go into production in May, but stars Jerry Ferrara (Turtle) and Adrian Grenier (Vincent Chase) are reportedly holding out, presumably for more (or more adequate) money. Jeremy Piven, who plays hot-tempered agent Ari Gold, only just signed his contract at the end of August, so clearly negotiations took longer than HBO was expecting.

Aside from this news, however, details about the Entourage movie have be slim. We know that creator Doug Ellin finished his screenplay earlier this year – a task producer Mark Wahlberg revealed took longer than normal – but he won't say when or where the story catches up with the guys. The HBO show went off the air after 8 seasons in 2011.

Source: Page Six