At first it looked like Alfonso Cuaron’s science fiction film Gravity was going to star Angelina Jolie, but those rumors were soon quashed after the actress parted ways with the project. Now it seems that Iron Man himself – Robert Downey Jr is set to star in the 3D film, as the actor is now said to be in negotiations to headline.

According to Deadline:

“Downey will play the leader of a team posted at a remote space station. While he and a female colleague are traveling outside the space station, the other team members are decimated by debris from an exploded satellite.”

Gravity was originally set up at Universal, but the studio lost interest in the film around the same time as Angelina Jolie. Now Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures will co-finance the movie which would re-team the water tower studio with their Sherlock Holmes star. Apparently one of the main factors that drew Downey Jr to the film was that he wanted to work with Cuaron, who co-wrote the script with his son.

It’ll be interesting to see if there are any changes to the script – in its original incarnation the film was said to have a great deal of focus on the “female colleague” and her struggle to get back to earth and her daughter. Will this focus now be dropped because Jolie isn’t in the frame, or will the film remain a two-hander with the female star getting as much screen-time and characterization as Downey Jr.?

Time will tell.

Gravity is set to shoot this summer in London, after which Downey Jr will slip back into his tweeds to join Guy Ritchie and Jude Law for Sherlock Holmes 2 – which will also shoot in the city.

Source: Deadline

[Update: Jolie has dropped Gravity and is Wanted 2 still alive? ]

Back at the start of summer ‘09 we got word that Angelina Jolie would be returning for Wanted 2 – [SPOILER ALERT!!!] even though her character in film, Fox, ended up having her brains blown out.

The whole “Isn’t she dead?” question was the first on many fans’ lips; however, Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov insisted that an explanation for resurrecting Jolie’s character would (somehow) be logically established.

Well, it looks like Angelina managed to retain some cognitive abilities after that head shot did its damage, because she has jumped ship from Wanted 2 and hopped aboard a space-thriller called Gravity, which is being helmed by one of the best directors in the business at the moment, Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban).

Taking a page out of Sam Rockwell’s playbook for Moon, Gravity would feature Jolie onscreen alone for most of the film, playing the last surviving human member of a space mission, who is fighting to get back home and be re-united with her daughter. Notice I said “last surviving human member.”

It may sound a little too close to Moon for some sci-fi fans’ liking, but with Cuarón at the helm you know it’s going to be an accomplished piece of cinema.

Cuarón

Ironically enough, Universal Pictures had Gravity on their docket (with Jolie set to star) before putting the film into turnaround where it was scooped up by Warner Bros. When the movie traded hands Jolie went along for the ride, effectively killing Universal’s hopes for bringing Wanted 2 to the screen. At the moment, the sequel is looking dead in the water.

How do I feel about all this? Fan-freaking-tastic! I said it before: in my opinion Mark Millar’s Wanted comic book was lukewarm at best, the movie was even weaker and the sequel would’ve been even weaker than that. To me, trading some “back from the dead” nonsense for an Alfonso Cuarón sci-fi thriller is like trading in a rusted hatchback for a limo; I’m all for it and I think Jolie is smart for making this move.

Update: I may have nominated Angelina Jolie for Mensa membership a bit prematurely. According to Entertainment Weekly, the story in Vulture didn’t have all of the facts right: Jolie has apparently dropped out of Gravity as well as Wanted 2. Not only that, but Gravity has yet to be confirmed on Warner Bros.’ slate.

Angelina is still done with Wanted 2, though – but that hasn’t stopped the creator of the comic book, Mark Millar from once again opening his mouth (unevidenced proclamations have been his signature) and claiming to STV that Wanted 2 will be proceeding as planned, sans Jolie.

For a more official source, The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that insiders at Universal are claiming that we will be seeing a Wanted sequel, despite Jolie’s departure.

We’ll see what happens with both  Gravity and Wanted 2 as time unfolds.

Sources: Vulture via /Film

Update Sources: Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter & STV

We also have a trailer for season 2 of Sons Of Anarchy, a bit about David Tennant’s next acting role and some information on 2 new shows coming at us, The Forgotten and Gravity.

There’s also a bit of a change up to the Ratings table this week.  I apologize ahead of time.

ABC on Hulu

Now that Walt Disney has become an equity partner with Hulu.com, we are going to start to see ABC projects showing up on the online video site.

Grey’s Anatomy was the first and will be followed by Desperate Housewives, Scrubs, Ugly Betty, I Survived a Japanese Game Show and Superstars.

I thought I didn’t care about the first bunch, but that last one… WHY!?

Source: Variety

The “S” Symbol on Smallville

According to Ausielllo on EW.com, well… I’ll just quote this one sentence:  “The iconic “S” symbol will be all over the show (Smallville) in season 9. Including on Clark’s chest.”

He also pointed out that there is no discussion at the CW at this time about a Smallville spin-off taking place.

Sorry gang.

Source:  EW

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NCIS Needs A New Agent

News on the street is that the producers of NCIS are looking for an actor to play a male agent in his 30’s.  The role has potential to be a recurring role.

I presume if the character/actor hit it off in their popularity scales, he’ll become a recurring role.

Source: EW

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CSI Miami Flash Back

“But why a flash back??”

Season 8 premiere of CSI Miami is going to take place in 1997.  It will be an origins type episode showing the early days of the team.

Rumor has it that the flash back narration will be done by a comatose Delko.  I’m guessing a dream state of such.

I’m betting the makeup and CGI people were working hard on this one!

Source: EW

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