'Captain America' Shows Off His Shield In First-Look Photo

Spies on the set of "Captain America: The First Avenger" have been snapping photos and recording shaky videos of Chris Evans and his co-stars since shortly after the production got underway in the U.K. this summer.

But now we have our first, Marvel-approved look at Evans as Captain America in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly. The cover image showcases the actor in his World War II-era, stars-and-stripes outfit and clutching that iconic shield at his side. The look on Evans' face tells you all you need to know: Do not mess with the Captain.

Evans admitted to the magazine that he had a ton of apprehension about accepting the role, a move that required him to sign a six-picture deal with Marvel. "At the time, I remember telling a buddy of mine, 'If the movie bombs, I'm f---ed. If the movie hits, I'm f---ed!' " he said. "I was just scared. I realized my whole decision making process was fear based, and you never want to make a decision out of fear.

"I can't believe was almost too chicken to play Captain America," he added.

The film is set in 1942 and tells the story of how Steve Rogers (Evans) goes from a skinny kid with an itch to kill Nazis to a superhero called Captain America, thanks to a top-secret military program called Project: Rebirth. Haley Atwell plays his love interest, Major Peggy Carter, while Sebastian Stan has stepped into the role of sidekick Bucky Barnes. Hugo Weaving, meanwhile, plays Red Skull, Hitler's über-evil weapons chief and, inevitably, the Captain's adversary after he forms plans to use a fantastical device called the Tesseract to conquer the world.

"The interesting thing about [Captain America] is that he's an everyman who, in the course of a few minutes, become a perfect human specimen," said director Joe Johnston. "That has to create some interesting personal issues. I saw it as an opportunity to make a superhero movie that felt real, that didn't have to rely on an overabundance of fantasy elements."

Check out everything we've got on "Captain America: The First Avenger."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

‘Social Network’ Director David Fincher Is ‘Unapologetic,’ Stars Say

'Hangover 2' Director Addresses Mel Gibson Switch

After news broke that Mel Gibson's cameo in "The Hangover 2" had been scrapped, observers tried to figure out why the Australian actor had landed on the cutting-room floor. But the film's director, Todd Phillips, wants the public to know that Gibson wasn't fired.

"No one was ever fired," Phillips said, according to MTV Radio. "It's a term that is so obscene to me."

Gibson was slated to play a tattoo artist. But shortly after "Hangover" star Zach Galifianakis said during a radio appearance that he was in a "deep protest right now with a movie I'm working on," Liam Neeson replaced Gibson.

"Someone was doing me a favor to come in for a two-minute cameo, and we changed it," Phillips explained. "It wasn't like we fired somebody. [Gibson] was just doing a favor from the beginning."

Phillips recently released a statement saying that he had wanted Gibson in the film, but that not everyone agreed with his decision.

"I thought Mel would have been great in the movie," read the statement. "And I had the full backing of [Warner Bros. Pictures president] Jeff Robinov and his team. But I realize filmmaking is a collaborative effort, and this decision ultimately did not have the full support of my entire cast and crew."

What do you think of Mel Gibson being cut from "The Hangover 2"? Let us know in the comments!

Can Lindsay Lohan Make A Comeback? Experts Weigh In

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Miley Cyrus' Movie 'LOL' Picked Up By Distributor

Miley Cyrus will cement her transition from kiddie TV star to teenage vixen in her upcoming movie "LOL," which was just picked up for distribution by Lionsgate, according to Variety .

The English-language remake of the 2008 French hit reportedly includes a number of scenes that might make Cyrus' "Hannah Montana" fans blush; her character is said to lose her virginity, smoke pot and kiss two girlfriends on the lips.

Co-star Demi Moore told MTV News in April that though Cyrus — whose parents announced their divorce this week — plays a wild child in the film, in real life she's "incredibly grounded" and not at all like her "LOL" character.

"[Miley] is a true professional, and she truly has a wonderful family," Moore said. "It really shows." The veteran actress plays the overbearing, confounded mom of Cyrus' character, who gets freaked out after accidentally reading her daughter's journal and finding out just how out of touch they have become.

The movie, which also stars "Twilight" alum Ashley Greene, does not have a release date. Like the French original, it is written and directed by Lisa Azuelo; the cast also includes Thomas Jane ("Hung"), Gina Gershon ("Rescue Me"), Marlo Thomas ("That Girl"), Fisher Stevens ("Awake"), Adam Sevani ("Step Up 3D"), Jay Hernandez ("Takers") and Austin Nichols ("One Tree Hill").

Cyrus and Greene were spotted shooting scenes for the film in Detroit earlier this summer and recently moved to Paris to continue production. In photos released last month, a smiling Cyrus, embraced at the waist by co-star Douglas Booth, is standing alongside a pensive-looking Greene and other castmembers Ashley Hinshaw and Lina Esco. In other shots, Booth and Cyrus are snuggling on a double-decker bus while Greene is on another bus. Booth and Cyrus also were filmed standing on a bridge chatting.

Cyrus has said that in her post-"Hannah Montana" career, she's looking to film more serious, mature movies, and that she intends to take a break from music to pursue her film career.

"I'm working on lots of different films: drama, action, comedy," she said. "I like challenges, so I'm doing a little bit of everything.

"The more I make music that doesn't truly inspire me, the more I feel like I'm blending in with everyone else," she added. "I'm taking some time off [from music]."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Justin Bieber’s ‘Never Say Never’ Trailer: How Does It Stack Up?

Linkin Park's Chester Bennington Explains How He Ended Up In 'Saw 3D'

For the devoted Linkin Park fans out there, it might have come as a surprise to learn that frontman Chester Bennington was trying his hand at acting with a role in "Saw 3D." And while it's not his first film appearance — he had cameos in the two "Crank" films — in "Saw," he plays an actual character named Evan.

When MTV News caught up with Bennington recently, we asked him how he (figuratively) ended up in such a bloody mess.

"It's a funny story. Mark Burg, the producer of the 'Saw' films, he lives next to one of my bandmates in Linkin Park, and when he moved in and they got to meet each other, my bandmate brought up to Mark that I'm a huge fan of the 'Saw' films," Bennington explained. "I've literally, every time they come out, I'm [there on] opening day.

"I love the movies, so [I'm] very enthusiastic about it," Bennington continued. "And so, he was like, 'This is going to be so great. Chester's going to be so stoked that you're my neighbor. He loves the movies.' And from that conversation, Mark then said, 'Well, do you think he'd want to be in one of the movies?' The answer was a 'F--- yeah, are you kidding? I want to do that.' So that's how it evolved, and eventually this role came along and kind of fit."

Bennington added that the 3-D factor upped the action/gore ante a bit — to the point that his wife almost lost it.

"It was really cool," Bennington said of his gory scenes. "At one point, I was filming a part of the scene, and my wife was watching, and we're both huge fans, so we're watching. We've seen all the crazy crap that's happening in all these crazy movies. So, she's watching, and when we're filming this particular scene, she actually almost threw up. So I knew that we were doing something right if it made her want to puke."

Check out everything we've got on "Saw 3D."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington Teases ‘Saw 3D’ Role

'The Dark Knight Rises': From 2008 Rumors To 2010 Reality

Update your calendar now: The Batman movie you'll be lining up to buy tickets for in July 2012 is called "The Dark Knight Rises."

Director Christopher Nolan's announcement of the title comes after more than two years of speculation about a movie we simply dubbed "Batman 3." The first rumors about a third installment in the franchise cropped up in fall 2008, just a few months after the record-breaking opening of "The Dark Knight." Only recently, though, has solid info about the new flick begun to trickle out.

From early rumors to drool-inducing reality, here's how it all went down:

December 16, 2008: Unnamed sources suggest a sort of pre-pre-production on "Batman 3" has begun — with set builders, stuntmen and film crews currently being hired — with an eye on shooting in February 2009.

October 7, 2008: "Dark Knight" scribe David Goyer tells MTV News those rumors are "B.S.," adding, "Chris and I haven't even talked about it. He quite understandably is taking a long, long vacation and wants to purge himself."

September 30, 2008: One in a long string of casting rumors pops up, suggesting Rachel Weisz will star as Catwoman. In the next few years, other rumors will claim, among other things, that Eddie Murphy will play the Riddler, Johnny Depp will play the Riddler, Philip Seymour Hoffman will play the Penguin and Cher will play Catwoman.

January 8, 2009: "Dark Knight" producer Chuck Roven tells us that Nolan and Goyer are "talking and thinking" about the next film.

February 11, 2009: News breaks that Nolan will delay production on "Batman 3" in favor of work on "Inception."

June 22, 2009: With Nolan's status uncertain, star Christian Bale tells us, "I truly don't know that we're ever going to see another Batman movie."

July 24, 2009: Co-star Gary Oldman tells us production will begin in 2010.

February 8, 2010: Goyer is reportedly writing "Batman 3" with Chris Nolan's brother Jonah.

March 10, 2010: Nolan announces that "Batman 3" will bring the series' story to a close. "I'm very excited about the end of the film, the conclusion, and what we've done with the characters," he said. "My brother has come up with some pretty exciting stuff. Unlike the comics, these things don't go on forever in film, and viewing it as a story with an end is useful."

April 30, 2010: Reports suggest "Batman 3" will hit theaters July 20, 2012.

June 4, 2010: Nolan confirms that the third film will not feature the Joker, a role played by Heath Ledger in "Dark Knight." "I just don't feel comfortable about it," he said.

June 28, 2010: Nolan confirms the July 2012 release date, but declines to speculate on reports that production will begin in March 2011.

July 20, 2010: "Dark Knight" cinematographer Wally Pfister tells us he wants to shoot "Batman 3" entirely in the large-scale IMAX film format.

September 29, 2010: Nolan officially signs on to direct the film.

October 6, 2010: Reports suggest the movie will begin shooting in April 2011 in New Orleans.

October 13, 2010: Tom Hardy signs on for an unspecified lead role in "Batman 3," giving rise to speculation that he'll play a villain opposite Bale.

October 27, 2010: Nolan announces the new movie will be called "The Dark Knight Rises." He also says the Riddler will not factor into the story.

Check out everything we've got on "The Dark Knight Rises."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

Superman Timeline: From Bryan Singer To Zack Snyder

Justin Bieber's 'Never Say Never' Trailer: How Does It Stack Up?

"My name is Justin. This is how I drum."

Thus begins the trailer for "Never Say Never," Justin Bieber's 3-D concert documentary. That first clip isn't the only footage of the 16-year-old pop star back in his formative years. From vintage looks at Biebs tickling the ivories to grainy video of him strumming the guitar on some steps, the trailer tells the unlikely story of how a small-town Canadian kid beat the odds to become an international superstar.

It's an interesting narrative technique, one with both points of convergence to, and deviation from, previous concert doc trailers. As we gear up for the film's Valentine's Day release, it's time to size up the "Never Say Never" trailer in the context of what's come before it.

"Michael Jackson's This Is It"
At least in terms of its box-office draw, MJ's posthumous, $261 million-grossing flick is the concert doc against which all others must be measured. The trailers for "This Is It" and "Never Say Never" both feature some epic zooming title cards, lots of acrobatic dancers, crews saying nice things about the stars and an emphasis on attaining your dreams.

Yet, seeing as how MJ passed away last summer and Bieber's just getting started, the two trailers take markedly different approaches to telling the stories of those dreams. MJ's trailer feels like a look back at the final act in an iconic, if controversial, superstar's life. Bieber's trailer is more about establishing a young star's legacy.

"Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert"
Cyrus' approach to her trailer couldn't be more different than Bieber's. The Disney star starts off talking directly to the camera, hyping the upcoming movie and highlighting the presence of the Jonas Brothers. It's a much more in-your-face marketing approach, and one that feels dated just a few years later. Still, Bieber probably wouldn't complain about equaling Cyrus' $30 million opening weekend.

"Madonna: Truth or Dare
OK, you know what's even further away from Bieber's trailer in tone and content than Cyrus'? Madonna's! She wonders if a guy she likes just wants to sleep with her and if she'll be able to pull off an in-concert masturbation scene. And then there's the whole cone-bra bustier thing. There is, however, at least one point of similarity: the Queen of Pop's opening lines, when she talks about being in the spotlight, being worshiped by fans, and having lots and lots of money. Sounds a lot like Bieber's life at the moment, no?

"Shine a Light"
While "Shine a Light" is a documentary about a Rolling Stones concert, director Martin Scorsese plays almost as big a role in the trailer as Mick Jagger. "Never Say Never" helmer Jon Chu, alas, is never seen in Bieber's trailer. That's probably for the best. But like the "Never Say Never" trailer, "Shine a Light" employs the use of archival footage to put the current-day concert in context and showcases the artists doing what they do best: rocking out.

"Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience"
Screaming fans? Check. Massive stage productions? Check. Behind-the-scenes peeks at your idols? Check. There's even Joe Jonas tooling around on a Segway, just like Bieber. Yep, of all the concert movie trailers we surveyed, the JoBros' is the most similar to "Never Say Never." Let's just hope Bieber's movie does a little better at the box office. The brothers' 3-D flick made a paltry $19 million domestically.

Are you excited about Justin Bieber's concert documentary? Tell us in the comments!

Justin Bieber’s ‘Never Say Never’ Director Explains Movie’s Plot

'Paranormal Activity 2' Director Reveals Sequel Ideas

While director Tod Williams and his fellow "Paranormal Activity 2" creative forces were busy all summer shooting the follow-up to one of 2009's breakout hits, they were also focused on what might take place in a third installment of the horror franchise. (Beware of spoilers below.)

"You can't help but joke and think and imagine what might happen next," Williams told us. "And of course, in the making of this movie, we thought carefully about things we suggest. Because we had to work within what was suggested out of the first movie. We were married to any detail that was dropped in the first movie. We knew whatever we say in this movie has potential to grow and blossom into a whole other thing. There are a lot of good ideas of where it may go."

Now a go seems inevitable: "Paranormal Activity 2" opened to $41.5 million this weekend. While there's no word if Williams will return to the director's chair — and he demurred when pressed on this point — he did speak at length about what he and the folks behind "Paranormal Activity" view as the "soul" of the franchise.

"To me, the soul of the series is the degree to which it allows the audience to bring their creative imagination to it," Williams explained. "Movies are like a conversation. Some movies hog the conversation and some movies talk just enough and allow the audiences to fill in the blanks."

Williams went on to state two guiding principles for the franchise: "It has to feel real" and "If we had to make a choice between real and scary, we had to choose real."

"We'd rather make a boring and real movie than a scary and unreal movie," he added.

Would "Paranormal Activity 3" have to be comprised of found footage, as the first two are, or could it ever abandon that formula? "Going into a more traditional format? I think anything is possible, as long as you cleave to those first two principles. But it does seem to me that part of the DNA of the movie is this idea of found footage," Williams said.

And given the fact that "Paranormal Activity 2" was largely a prequel, does "PA 3" have to take place before the events of both films? Will the franchise continue to push backward in time, essentially telling its story in reverse?

"It could go either way," Williams teased. "Or sideways."

Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 2."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

‘Social Network’ Director David Fincher Is ‘Unapologetic,’ Stars Say

Selita Ebanks 'Humbled' By Response To Kanye West's 'Runaway'

When the spotlight was shining on Selita Ebanks this weekend during the premiere of Kanye West's "Runaway" short film, the former Victoria's Secret model wasn't exactly basking in the attention.

"I was sick at home," Ebanks told MTV News on Monday (October 25). "I watched it when everybody else watched it. I was blowing my nose but guarantee I was dancing on my bed. I was by myself, but it was OK. It was a good time to reflect and appreciate it without anybody around."

Ebanks starred in "Runaway" as the phoenix, the lead character in the film, who symbolically represents the rapper's fall and rise over the past 12 months or so. The role didn't require much dialogue, but Ebanks has received praise for giving the phoenix life using her artful physical movements as a means of communication. She had to develop the phoenix herself, because, as she put it, "[Kanye] told me about the character, but he didn't give her a character."

"He didn't give her a personality, so we had to sit down and I just picked his brain," Ebanks explained. "As we went along, I personally developed this character. I wanted her to seem more real and relatable and I wanted people to sympathize with her. Because it's a part of his story, so I tried to understand what the message [was] that he was trying to get across and really embody that in the phoenix, so that his story could be more understandable."

Immediately following the debut of "Runaway," Kanye West told MTV News' Sway that Ebanks "killed it" during her performance. He also predicted her career would change as a result of her critically acclaimed turn in the project.

Ebanks was more measured in her reaction to the praise. She plans to pursue acting but for now, she's taking things one day at a time.

"It's crazy, it's like a whole different life," she said of all the praise. "I'm just really, really humbled by the amazing, positive responses that we've been getting. Looking at the film, it's crazy, because I feel like I'm looking outside of myself, like I'm looking at someone else. I have to look in the mirror to remind myself that that's me. And the fact that people have been so kind and generous with their words, it's been pretty humbling. I'm just trying to take it one day at a time.

"So today is Monday and I'm loving Monday right now!" she said.

What did you think of Selita's performance in "Runaway"? Share your reviews in the comments!

Kanye West’s ‘Runaway’ Is About ‘Remaking,’ Performance Artist Says

Justin Bieber's 'Never Say Never' Director Explains Movie's Plot

With the trailer out, fans can now begin counting down to Valentine's Day weekend 2011 when Justin Bieber's 3-D flick, "Never Say Never," hits theaters. And the movie's director, Jon Chu, explained just how he plans to integrate the concert footage, shot earlier this year at Bieber's show at Madison Square Garden, with the behind-the-scenes footage and interviews that he will also be using in the film.

"We had this sort of hyperlink idea through the film, which is what makes it really an interesting movie," Chu said. "It's not like the other concert films where you are onstage and then go backstage and then onstage and go backstage. It's not just the concert ... this is a musical documentary, when words aren't enough in telling the stories of his life, [we use music]."

For example, Chu continued, "You know, if he's talking about his youth and talking about his magnetic smile, you start to hear 'U Smile' start to creep in the background and the underscore ... you see images from his life, and at the end of that song, the spotlight from the number connects with the spotlight of his tour bus and he goes back into his bed," Chu explained. "And there [are] hyperlinked ideas. It's kind of like 'Chicago,' when we're weaving in and out."

And for the haters, Chu says that this film will prove that Bieber is the real deal. "The number-one thing we wanted was the honesty in this," he explained. "People have a very preconceived notion of Justin Bieber and people can think whatever they want, but we wanted to show the honest other side of Justin."

So, who is the Bieber that Chu believes the film will show? "It's a crazy thing to see a kid from Canada, in a town like Stratford that's obsessed with Shakespeare, that this kid can know and be obsessed with R&B and be anointed by sort of the hip-hop, R&B world, that he is sort of blessed by them," he explained. "That's very, very special and interesting."

Justin Bieber Announces Movie Title: ‘Never Say Never’

Kanye West's 'Runaway' Is About 'Remaking,' Performance Artist Says

Kanye West's "Runaway" film offers an arresting brew of sound and imagery, punctuated by one dialogue-heavy scene: 'Ye sits with a winged creature called a phoenix (played by model Selita Ebanks) as she confesses that she must destroy herself in a quest to return to her fantastical world.

"All of the statues that we see, where do you think they came from?" she asks him.

"I think that artists carved them years and years ago," West replies.

"No, they are phoenix turned to stone," Ebanks responds. "Do you know what I hate most about your world? Anything that is different, you try to change. You try to tear it down. You rip the wings off the phoenix and they turn to stone. And if I don't burn, I will turn to stone. If I don't burn, I can't go back to my world."

Those lines are the key to understanding "Runaway," which premiered Saturday night on MTV. The short film was shot at a pivotal time in West's career, as he seeks to remake his career from the ashes of controversy. And rather than being a straightforward piece of popcorn entertainment, "Runaway" has unapologetically artistic aspirations. That's why we turned to a performance artist with a bit of notoriety herself — Aliza Shvarts, who became embroiled in an abortion-as-art controversy at Yale in 2008 — to help us further decipher its true meaning and the phoenix's desire for a fiery rebirth.

"Insofar as this is a film about remaking, it's a film about a very scary and painful and overwhelming sense of remaking," Shvarts said. "The image of the fire in those instances is really a powerful and terrifying image. I think what that maybe says about this larger project of Kanye's and how he might invest himself in these particular images and how these images might relate to a process he himself has felt — it doesn't make any apologies or offer any assurances about the unmaking the artist goes through in order to remake themselves."

And in the process, Shvarts said, Kanye is attempting to reach what she termed "the transcendent sublime," the notion that "somehow we have to be open to unmaking ourselves to remake ourselves in other ways."

What do you think of "Runaway"? Share your reviews in the comments!

Kanye West’s ‘Runaway’ Film To Premiere On MTV

'Jackass 3D' Cast And Crew 'Thrilled' By Box-Office Success

If anyone was surprised by the record-breaking $50 million haul brought in by "Jackass 3D" in its opening weekend, it's the men behind the mayhem, Johnny Knoxville and director Jeff Tremaine. The two men still can't believe "Jackass" ever made it to television, let alone the big screen and the eventual #1 spot at the box office.

MTV News recently caught up with the hit-making masters of mischief to find out their initial reactions to the numbers, as well as what they might mean for future "Jackass" films.

"The numbers were coming in all day long and I didn't want to hear anything until 9:30 Friday night," Knoxville said. "Whatever, I was superstitious," he admitted. "They said it was going to be $40 [million] and we were thrilled."

"I was on a bus," Tremaine recalled of getting the news. "Paramount rented a bus and we were going from theater to theater, sneaking in for [audience] reactions," Tremaine explained. "It was cool because it was building. Each later show got rowdier and rowdier. I had a good feeling, but no idea it would be as big as [what] we found out," he said.

Tremaine admitted that his expectations were somewhat low. "I was hoping just to beat 'Number Two,' I guess I have low expectations," he said. "I try to keep it reasonable, but, man ... it exceeded what I thought possible."

"It exceeded everybody's thoughts," Knoxville added.

So what does this mean for a "Jackass" sequel? Before the 3-D flick opened, we asked the crew whether they'd be up for a fourth installment but no one wanted to speculate too much. Now, with the film's overwhelming success, what are their plans going forward?

"We're just so grateful for what happened," Knoxville said. "To be doing this 10 years, and for this to be our biggest film, we're just so thrilled. We don't want to get greedy with any more expectations."

"It's been a constant shock to me," Tremaine said. "I always say this, but we were shocked it ever made it on TV, we were shocked that it got popular. We didn't think it was possible to make a movie — our first reaction to [that idea] was, 'How is this a movie?' " he laughed. "Then the movie was popular, we came back for a second and thought that was it. So it's a constant shock. We don't expect anything so it's awesome," he said. "It's an awesome, fun ride."

Check out everything we've got on "Jackass 3D."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

‘Jackass 3D’ Guys Say 3-D ‘Really Flatters What We Do’

Kristen Stewart Describes Picking 'Breaking Dawn' Wedding Dress

NEW YORK — Will it be lacy or silky, modern or vintage? Will there be sleeves, a long train or a plunging neckline? Maybe a bodice, buttons or a bustle?

These are just a few of the pressing questions fans have about easily the most important wardrobe choice in the entire "Twilight" series: Bella Swan's wedding dress. Production on the two parts of "Breaking Dawn" is about to begin, and everyone's wondering what Bella will be wearing when she finally ties the knot with Edward Cullen.

We put that very question to Kristen Stewart on the red carpet for "Welcome to the Rileys" Monday night. Turns out that the 20-year-old actress has, in fact, gone through a fitting, but they haven't yet selected the exact gown she'll be wearing in front of the camera when the shoot gets under way.

"I haven't put the one on yet," she said.

Though she didn't delve into detail about what she's looking for in Bella's dress, Stewart did admit that it's a hugely important choice — for herself and for fans — and that she's happy to have the opportunity to make her preference known about the dress she feels is the right fit.

"To be honest, it's such a big deal. It's such a big decision. I have a little hand in having a decision — or having an opinion more — but I think it's pretty much up to Stephenie," Stewart said, referring to "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer.

"I'm not quite sure exactly what it's going to look like, but it will be beautiful, I'm sure," she added.

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

‘Breaking Dawn’ To Film In Louisiana And Vancouver

Nikki Reed Talks Top-Secret 'Breaking Dawn' Script

"Breaking Dawn" vampire Nikki Reed is one of the few people who have checked out the script for the upcoming "Twilight Saga" installment. And as the starlet tells it, the big wigs behind the flick are trying hard to keep it that way.

When MTV News chatted with Reed on the Scream Awards red carpet Saturday, she said the script is guarded so carefully that even well-known industry professionals have to jump through hoops to get a peek.

"They're definitely watermarked," Reed admitted of the script's security. "In fact, I work with an acting coach ... and I wanted her to obviously have a copy so that we could work together and it was a huge process. She's like a really well-respected coach."

It appears that studio execs are keeping such a close eye on the script for good reason, as Reed said filmmakers have knocked a great screenplay.

"I think that they've really mastered the art of translating these books and transferring every single element almost verbatim, yet it's obviously condensed because the book is endless," Reed said. "I didn't know how they were gonna conquer that challenge but they seem to have done it."

The actress said she is ready to tackle the script head-on as production gets underway for the 2011 release, and is amped to work with the flick's acclaimed director.

"Lots of fittings, no rehearsals yet [but] we head out there pretty soon. I'm really excited, I think Bill Condon is a genius," she said. "I've only spoken to him on the phone but his love and devotion has sort of bled into [other parts of the production] because I've had wig fittings and wardrobe fittings here and you feel his presence even though I haven't spent any time with him one on one."

As Reed continues to ride out her role as Rosalie in the "Twilight" series, the actress reflected on the experience so far and said she's satisfied with her contribution to the onscreen phenomenon.

"If it all ends tomorrow for me I'm happy because I feel like I've been a part of things that I'm really proud of [and] that I'm really grateful for," she said.

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn".

‘Breaking Dawn’ To Film In Louisiana And Vancouver

Kanye West's 'Runaway' Film To Premiere On MTV

Kanye West's film debut, "Runaway," has been lauded as "ambitious" and "great looking" by the chosen few who have had the opportunity to check out an early screening of the flick. Now, Yeezy's fans will be able to judge for themselves when the rapper's visual effort premieres on MTV and BET on Saturday, October 23.

The film, which is about 40 minutes long, will be broadcast simultaneously on both networks and MTV2 at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can also catch the film via live stream on MTV.com, BET.com and VH1.com. Directly following the premiere, West will helm a live Q&A session from the MTV headquarters in Times Square. Viewers who miss the premiere on October 23 can catch an encore presentation on VH1 on October 26 at 12 a.m. ET.

The flick has been dubbed a "visual accompaniment" to Kanye's forthcoming LP, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (which drops November 22). Right before the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, where 'Ye debuted "Runaway,"   MTV gave fans a taste of the movie with an exclusive preview during the VMA pre-show. The clip featured prancing deer, a nimble dancer and Kanye West hauling away a woman swathed in feathers from a fiery explosion.

A few days after the VMAs, Yeezy explained the concept of the film and said he related to the movie's theme of redemption.

"It's the story of a phoenix fallen to Earth, and I make her my girlfriend, and people discriminate against her and eventually she has to burn herself alive and go back to her world," he told New York magazine. "I've been feeling the idea of the phoenix. It's been in my heart for a while. It's maybe parallel to my career. I threw a Molotov cocktail on my career last year, in a way, and I had to come back as a better person."

Are you looking forward to checking out Kanye West's film "Runaway"? Let us know in the comments!

‘Eclipse’ Star Xavier Samuel Doesn’t Feel Pressured By Movie’s Success

'Jackass 3D' Crowned Friday Box-Office Winner

The guys of the prankster phenomenon "Jackass" are laughing all the way to the bank.

The latest collection of rowdy stunts filmed for viewers' entertainment, "Jackass 3D," debuted with a hefty Friday box-office tally of $21.8 million. This time around, the crew's infamously captivating yet cringe-worthy tricks were enhanced by the magic of 3-D technology and the Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O-helmed posse opened in the top spot.

Hitting theaters with about a third of the "Jackass" haul is the espionage thriller "Red." Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren bring the action of Warren Ellis' graphic novels to the big screen in a tale of slick, shady government cover-ups. The film debuted in second place with an estimated $7.2 million.

The dorm-room, dot-com drama "The Social Network" remained in the top five for a third consecutive week. Moviegoers rang up roughly $3.3 million in ticket sales checking out the Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher-crafted retelling of the rise of Facebook. Friday's figure brings the film's total estimated haul to just over $55 million.

The rom-com "Life as We Know It" kicked off its second Friday in theaters in the fourth-place slot. Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel's attempt to grapple with the ups and downs of unexpected parenthood scored nearly $3.1 million on screens. The film's total estimated gross now stands at $22.7 million.

Bringing up the rear is Disney's family-friendly, horseracing flick "Secretariat." The tale of an underdog equine who went on clench status as the 1973 Triple Crown winner — which also features Diane Lane and John Malkovich — snagged $2.8 million in theaters. The film has brought in around $21 million since its debut last week.

Check out everything we've got on "Jackass 3-D,""Red" and "The Social Network."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

‘Jackass 3D’ Takes Over Theaters With $50 Million Debut

'Unbreakable' Inspired By Superhero-Film Offers, M. Night Shyamalan Says

Following the $672 million success of "The Sixth Sense," M. Night Shyamalan found himself in a series of meetings with Warner Bros.Studio execs asking the young director if he might consider helming a "Superman" or "Batman" movie.

Some would call it the opportunity of a lifetime. But Shyamalan has always harbored a contrarian streak. He turned the studio down.

"That instinct to do something more original came out," he told MTV News at New York Comic Con last weekend.

That "something" was "Unbreakable," his utterly original take on the superhero genre. Guess the guy knew what he was doing, because he and a packed house assembled at the Con to celebrate the film's 10-year anniversary.

During the chat, Shyamalan revealed how he got the idea for a movie about a man who realizes he is indestructible. He was reading a newspaper when he struck on the idea of someone who is the only survivor of a plane crash. But Tom Hanks' "Cast Away" was already in the works, and Shyamalan thought the two films might be too similar.So, he steered his idea to a horrific train crash. And that's what stuck when Bruce Willis stepped into the lead role.

At the time, studios were unsure of the broad commercial appeal of comic book adaptations, so the filmmakers turned away from the idea of presenting "Unbreakable" as a superhero movie.

"The idea that we didn't sell the movie on — I'm sad in retrospect — this idea that the only survivor of a train wreck doesn't have a scratch on him, and a stranger taps him on the shoulder and says, 'I think you might be a real-life comic book hero,' was the idea," Shyamalan explained.

"[The studio] went on and on about how comic books were a fringe market, and 'We can't sell this as a comic book movie: We have to sell it as an eerie movie from the guy that made that other movie.' "

That's a laughable concept these days, when adaptations of "Batman"and "Iron Man" have become some of the most successful films of the past several years. But, that's the way it was back then.

At least Shyamalan got a chance to make the truly excellent "Unbreakable." And for that, we have to thank the folks at Warner Bros. for planting the superhero seed in the director's mind.

"If they hadn't called, I probably wouldn't have done 'Unbreakable,' "he confessed.

Would you have liked to see Shyamalan direct a "Superman" or "Batman" movie? Tell us in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Unbreakable."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

Rhys Ifans Up For ‘Spider-Man’ Villain

Vince Vaughn Defends 'The Dilemma' Trailer's Gay Joke

After a "gay" joke was removed from the trailer for Vince Vaughn's upcoming Ron Howard-directed comedy "The Dilemma," the actor is responding to the outcry.

"Let me add my voice of support to the people outraged by the bullying and persecution of people for their differences, whatever those differences may be," the actor said in a statement to E! News, referring to the outcry spurred by the recent suicides of gay teens. "Comedy and joking about our differences breaks tension and brings us together. Drawing divided lines over what we can and cannot joke about does exactly that; it divides us. Most importantly, where does it stop?"

In the original trailer, Vaughn's character jokes in a boardroom, "Electric cars are gay. I mean, not 'homosexual' gay but 'my parents are chaperoning the dance' gay." Following criticism of the clip from CNN's Anderson Cooper, Ellen DeGeneres and GLAAD, the scene was cut and a new version of the trailer was released.

"The Dilemma," about a man (Vaughn) who learns his best friend's (Kevin James) wife (Winona Ryder) is having an affair (with Channing Tatum), will be released on January 14. There has been no word on whether or not the joke will be removed from the final cut.

"The teaser trailer for 'The Dilemma' was not intended to cause anyone discomfort," the studio said in a statement released last Friday (October 8). "In light of growing claims that the introduction to the trailer is insensitive, it is being replaced."

Check out everything we've got on "The Dilemma."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

‘A-Team’ Producer Stephen J. Cannell Dies At 69

'Jackass 3D' Takes Over Theaters With $50 Million Debut

After a decade of pulling off outrageous pranks, Johnny Knoxville and crew prove that audiences still love a crazy stunt. The guys, including Steve-O, Bam Margera and Jason "Wee-Man" Acuña, have been risking injury and freaking out fans since the "Jackass" TV show hit MTV in 2000. The latest installment of the series, the visually souped-up "Jackass 3D," scored a major opening weekend, netting $50 million its first two days on screens and blowing away the competition.

In second place, with less than half of the "Jackass" haul, is the spy flick "Red." Starring Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and Bruce Willis as ex-CIA operatives targeted by their former employer, the movie rang up $22.5 million its debut weekend.

After ruling the box office for two consecutive weeks, "The Social Network" slid to third place. The movie, which features Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake as upstart entrepreneurs scrapping over the future of social-media behemoth Facebook, netted $11 million over the weekend. The film's third-week gross bumps its total estimated tally to just over $63 million.

Dropping one spot from last week is "Secretariat," Disney's feel-good tale of the 1973 Triple Crown victor. The film, which boasts performances from Diane Lane and John Malkovich, came in fourth place with $9.5 million. The movie has raked in an estimated $27.5 million since it landed in theaters.

The date-night pick "Life as We Know It" rounds out the top five. Although the film fell from second to fifth place this week, audiences still plunked down $9.2 million to catch Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl as frenemies who team up to raise their late friends' child. The movie's total estimated haul stands at around $28.9 million.

Check out everything we've got on "Jackass 3D,""Red" and "The Social Network."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

‘Eclipse’ At The Box Office: What Does The Future Hold?

'The Hobbit' Gets The Green Light

Five months after Guillermo del Toro abandoned the director's chair on "The Hobbit," following years of production delays, , the adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved fantasy novel has reportedly been green-lit.

TheWrap.com, citing an unnamed source close to the project, reports that MGM and Warner Bros. have given the go-ahead for "The Hobbit" to begin production in February. Peter Jackson has already stepped in to direct the two-part series.

A rep for Warners' New Line Cinema had yet to return MTV News' request for comment as of press time.

The latest development comes after years of setbacks. MGM has been waging a very public struggle with financial issues, forcing the studio to join forces with Warner to get the production off the ground. The first film is expected to hit theaters on December 19, 2012, with the second arriving in 2013. While financing is now in place — the Wrap put the budget of the two films at $400 million — labor issues surrounding the New Zealand production remain unresolved, with Screen Actors Guild negotiations still under way.

Word leaked in June that Jackson was in negotiations to take on directing duties following del Toro's departure. Jackson, who directed the three "Lord of the Rings" pictures, is also a producer and co-writer of "The Hobbit."

There is still no confirmation about who will play Bilbo Baggins, the central character, though widespread rumors suggest Martin Freeman (U.K. version of "The Office") remains the front-runner. Sources close to the production have previously confirmed to MTV News that Freeman was indeed del Toro's top pick to play the part.

Check out everything we've got on "The Hobbit."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Superman Timeline: From Bryan Singer To Zack Snyder

'Jackass 3D' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know

In the beginning, there was Johnny Knoxville and a bunch of his pals, none with any regard for their personal safety or physical well-being. Then came a TV show, followed by two feature films. Over $160 million in box-office receipts later, the boys from "Jackass" are back to do it all over again. In 3-D.

Why? Because they still have no regard for their personal safety or physical well-being. What they do have is a scary list of broken bones, burned flesh and the emotional scars of stunts far too gross to detail here. Yep, they've got all that, plus the willingness to go to any length for a laugh.

You'll be doing a heck of a lot of laughing during "Jackass 3D." You could cry as well, and there's a chance you'll end up nauseous. You really need a safety manual for the whole experience. And we just so happen to have one for you: MTV News' "Jackass 3D" cheat sheet.

Rest and Recovery
As early as fall 2007, barely a year after "Jackass Number 2" opened, star Steve-O started spreading the word that filming on a third movie was about to get under way. Hardly. By April 2009, when we caught up with Knoxville at the Tribeca Film Festival, there was still no movement on the flick. Finally, last fall, word leaked that "Jackass 3D" was in the works.

We got our first look at what they were planning when the trailer dropped this summer: jet-ski stunts, portable toilet stunts and stunts that used a large fish to clock a guy in the face. Fun!

Conquering
When we caught up with Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine at Comic-Con in San Diego this summer, they revealed some of their favorite scenes.

"I think the Porta-Potty bungee where Steve-O almost got launched into space is gonna be a good one," Knoxville said. "I [also] had a 5-foot hand built, just kinda on a spring saying hello to the fellas in the morning."

MTV News then got an exclusive look at another stunt: an enormous hand sling-shot into an unsuspecting Jackass-er's face. Ouch.

Yet they all seemed to have recovered — at least enough to make the press rounds. "['Jackass 3D'] was pretty competitive," Steve-O told us, referring to the number of injuries sustained by castmembers. "I feel like we all got hospitalized at least a couple times. You, probably more than anybody," he added, speaking to Knoxville.

From the hospital, they graduated to the Museum of Modern Art. That was the unlikely venue for the film's red-carpet premiere. Talk within those hallowed walls ranged from broken genitalia to Vincent Van Gogh, a sort of Jackass of his time when he sliced his ear off in 1888.

"There's been talk about me cutting off a body part for a long time, and I decided all I was willing to give up was a tooth," co-star Ehren McGhehey laughed to MTV News, showing off the gap in his mouth.

"I broke my penis trying to back-flip a motorcycle," Knoxville confessed. "That was over three years ago, and I'm still cathetering twice a day."

Check out everything we've got on "Jackass 3D."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

‘Jackass 3D’ Guys Say 3-D ‘Really Flatters What We Do’

'Jackass 3D' Guys Say 3-D 'Really Flatters What We Do'

For anyone worried that the 3-D aspect of "Jackass 3D" will lend itself to lame gimmickry or cheap stunts (à la a few of Hollywood's less-successful post-production projects released earlier this year), that is not the case.

Take it from the men themselves. Chris "Party Boy" Pontius, Bam Margera and director Jeff Tremaine assured us that the "Jackass" crew put on their classiest filmmaking hats and took full advantage of the technical scope their million-dollar Phantom 3-D camera provided them, with these two words: wiener baseball.

"He's terrible with a real bat, but he's awesome with the wiener bat," Tremaine told MTV News regarding a particularly hilarious stunt performed by Pontius and Margera in the film. "[We had] the most expensive 3-D camera ever made, and we decide to shoot wiener baseball with it."

"Yeah, close to a million-dollar camera, and we spend our time throwing a ball at his wiener and me trying to catch it in my mouth," Margera admitted.

"It's like what little boys would do if they had grown-up wieners," Pontius explained with a grin.

The guys went on to say that shooting in 3-D, particularly the scenes in which they slow down the "impact stunts," totally enhances what they do best: punching each other in the face, getting hit in the groin with random objects, etc.

"The Phantom camera and the 3-D, it really flatters what we do," Pontius said. "It makes it look as real as it is."

"You can't fake the impacts when they're that slow," Tremaine added.

"The suckiest part is that Tremaine makes sure everything is completely real," Margera complained. "In a [regular] Hollywood movie, if you're going to have a stunt with a porta-potty with crap all in it, you could have fake crap," he explained, referencing the outhouse bungee in the film. "But no, he saves up 1,000 pounds of real dog sh--. I'm 50 feet away, and I'm throwing up just by standing 50 feet away."

"It has to be real," Tremaine said. "It's 'Jackass.' "

Are you ready for "Jackass 3D"? What stunt in the trailer is the best? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Jackass 3D."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Nicolas Cage Says ‘Ghost Rider’ Sequel Will Offer A ‘Very Fresh Take’

Justin Bieber Announces Movie Title: 'Never Say Never'

The final piece of Justin Bieber's movie-poster puzzle was finally posted, and it reveals that his highly anticipated 3-D flick will be called "Never Say Never," the name of his song featured on the "Karate Kid" soundtrack.

After fans were sent on a two-day-long Internet scavenger hunt for all the pieces to the puzzle, the final piece was tweeted by @USAToday early Friday morning, and the whole poster appears in Friday's edition of USA Today. The poster features Bieber dressed in his signature varsity jacket and proudly displaying his swooping bangs from under a hood. Across the center is the newly announced title of the movie, as well as the information that it will hit your local Cineplex this February.

The director also posted a video of fans singing "Baby" as pieces of the puzzle slowly came together. "It's from one of his songs," Chu explained about the flick's title inspiration. "But also the idea of every moment in his life."

MTV News caught up with Chu over the summer and he revealed some details about Bieber's highly anticipated movie. "[It's] a movie for his fans, a movie for people who don't know him, and we're gonna tell the underdog story of where he came from," he explained. "Because it's a really fascinating story and it has a lot to do with our sort of digital lifestyle now. He was able to do what corporations try to do now when they use YouTube and they don't even know what to do with it yet. It's a pretty cool story for our time."

And while Bieber kept the details close to his chest when he caught up with us at the VMAs last month, he did seem excited by the film. "We're in the middle [of it now]," he dished. "You're gonna see a lot of cool stuff! 3-D, 3-D!"

‘Social Network’ Director David Fincher Is ‘Unapologetic,’ Stars Say

'Life As We Know It' Tops Friday Box Office

With a slew of movie debuts on Friday, the rom-com "Life as We Know It" won over audiences. Starring Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl as friends who adopt their late pal's tot, the movie made an estimated $5.3 million during its first day on screens.

The Facebook-themed drama "The Social Network" slipped to second place after opening in the top spot last week. Moviegoers continued pull themselves away from the ubiquitous site itself to check out Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake in the David Fincher-helmed story of how the website began. The flick racked up $4.9 million and Friday's numbers bring the film's total tally to an estimated $35 million.

Another theater newbie is Disney's feel-good, equestrian tale "Secretariat." The big-screen story of how an underdog racing horse galloped to three inspiring wins in 1973 opened in third place. Featuring Diane Lane and John Malkovich, the movie debuted just behind "The Social Network" with nearly $4.1 million.

Hitting theaters in the weeks before Halloween is "My Soul to Take," the latest thriller from horror-master Wes Craven, who put in work as both writer and director on the project. Craven's 3-D enhanced screamfest entered the Friday top five in fourth place with roughly $2.7 million.

The cops-and-robbers drama "The Town" continues to rake in cash at the box office. Since opening on September 17, the Boston-based, Ben Affleck-directed flick is still hanging in the top five. The movie hauled in nearly $1.9 million on Friday, which bumps the film's overall gross to just over $69 million.

Check out everything we've got on "Life as We Know It,""The Social Network," and "Secretariat."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Jennifer Hudson still confused over parenthood‘Social Network’ Director David Fincher Is ‘Unapologetic,’ Stars Say

'The Social Network' Remains Friends With Weekend Box Office

Facebook's popularity has never been greater, so it only makes sense that a movie based on the social networking site would be equally popular. For two weeks running, director David Fincher's "The Social Network" has lived up to the hype, befriending the first-place spot at the box office and identifying its relationship status as "married" to success.

The Box-Office Top Five
#1 "The Social Network" ($15.5 million)
#2 "Life as We Know It" ($14.6 million)
#3 "Secretariat" ($12.6 million)
#4 "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" ($7 million)
#5 "My Soul to Take" ($6.9 million)

"The Social Network," starring Jesse Eisenberg as embattled Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Justin Timberlake as entrepreneur and Napster mastermind Sean Parker, grossed $15.5 million at the box office this past weekend, bringing the film's domestic total to $46 million. With only $4 million left to earn before it reclaims its entire reported production budget, "The Social Network" has proven itself both a commercial and critical success.

Following closely in second place was "Life as We Know It," the Warner Bros. romantic comedy starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel as two polar opposites forced to forge an unlikely alliance when their best friends are killed in an accident, leaving them to raise their orphaned baby. The first directorial effort from "Green Lantern" screenwriter Greg Berlanti since "The Broken Hearts Club" in 2000, "Life as We Know It" performed solidly if not spectacularly with $14.6 million.

With first- and second-place medals claimed, Disney's "Secretariat" galloped to the finish line to earn third place at the box office. Diane Lane and John Malkovich star in this true-life drama about a housewife who inherits her father's horse stable and goes on to train one of the greatest racehorses of all time. The fictional retelling of this inspiring story wasn't as successful, however, as "Secreatiat" ended up with only $12.6 million.

Director Wes Craven's latest return to horror in "My Soul to Take" wasn't greeted as enthusiastically as Universal may have hoped, stabbing into fifth place with $6.9 million. With any luck, Craven's upcoming "Scream" revival will scare up a higher debut.

Upcoming Releases

Bruce Willis and a slew of other aging actors see "Red" next weekend, while Johnny Knoxville leads the way with dangerous stunts and moronic pranks in "Jackass 3-D."

Check out everything we've got on "The Social Network,""Life as We Know It" and "Secretariat."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

The Twilight Saga : Eclipse soundtrack revealed‘Secretariat’: The Reviews Are In!

Rhys Ifans Up For 'Spider-Man' Villain

With production on the new "Spider-Man" movie set to begin in just two months, Sony Pictures is furiously filling out its cast. Last week, we learned that Emma Stone will play Peter Parker's other love interest, Gwen Stacy — not Mary Jane, as was originally rumored — and on Monday (October 11) we learned of another new face added to the potential franchise.

According to Deadline, Rhys Ifans will play a villain in the Marc Webb-directed film. Although much like the Stone-as-MJ rumors that circulated in recent weeks, Sony has only sent out the offer to Ifans; there is no word on whether the casting is a done deal. Also, studio insiders who tipped off Deadline wouldn't reveal which villain they want Ifans to play.

Ifans is definitely an interesting choice for "Spider-Man," particularly since we have yet to learn exactly which villains will be in the new film and because Ifans is well-known for playing roles that provide comic relief, not mischief and mayhem (a comic book villain's standard MO). The lanky Welsh actor broke into Hollywood as Hugh Grant's lovable, bumbling roommate in "Notting Hill" and has appeared in dozens of films since. His recent projects include "Nanny McPhee Returns" and the upcoming "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1."

Ifans joins Stone and Andrew Garfield in the highly publicized reboot. "Spider-Man" will reportedly begin production in December and will be released in theaters nationwide in 3-D on July 3, 2012.

What do you think of the casting news? What villain do you think Ifans will play? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Spider-Man."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

Andrew Garfield’s Journey Toward Spider-ManCheryl Cole is to appear in a comic book

'Secretariat': The Reviews Are In!

This weekend could end in a photo finish at the box office. "Secretariat," "Life as We Know It" and, in a holdover from last week, "The Social Network" will all compete for the top spot, and it's looking close at the moment. All three could rack up similar grosses — somewhere in the $15 million range — and experts are split on which film will be declared the winner.

If "Secretariat," Disney's retelling of the story of the greatest racehorse in history, can connect with families, the warm-hearted movie might well be trotting around the winner's circle Monday. Here's what the critics are saying:

The Story
"Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) has no idea she has a future winner on her hands when she inherits her late father's Virginia horse ranch. Leaving her husband (Dylan Walsh) in Denver while she tends to business, Penny clashes with her skeptical brother (Dylan Baker) as she plans on racing a horse bred from a strong sire but weaker broodmare. That chestnut-red horse, eventually named Secretariat, comes to mean something special to Penny and Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich), the colorful but down-on-his-heels trainer chosen by Chenery to guide Secretariat to victory. After a disappointing event at the Aqueduct, the underdog equine takes charge and eventually winds up in the winner's circle at the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes in 1973, becoming the first Triple Crown winner in a quarter-century." — Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

The Performances
"Lane tries very hard, saddled with not-great wigs and lines like, 'I will not live the rest of my life in regret.' She is simply not as comfortable in the role as Sandra Bullock was in 'The Blind Side,' another sports movie that courted the Christian audience with considerably more subtlety. ... John Malkovich lends comic relief (and a terrible French-Canadian accent) as Secretariat's eccentric trainer, Lucien Lauren, with fine support by Margo Martindale as Tweedy's supportive administrative assistant." — Lou Lumenick, New York Post

The Direction
"When Secretariat is running his races, the movie has a hokey, old-fashioned appeal. It uses a fantastic gospel anthem to stoke our feelings, the Edwin Hawkins Singers' 1969 rendition of 'Oh Happy Day.' ... The director, Randall Wallace ('We Were Soldiers') often seems to be aiming for the same Christian demographic that helped make a hit out of 'The Blind Side.' I personally have no objection to a horse film that views a creature as magnificent as Secretariat with religious awe, but in this case the uplift has a downside. The film is so insistently square it undercuts the very drama it's out to capture." — Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

The Dissenters
"The tale of this glossy chestnut colt substitutes reverence for bona fide excitement. Diane Lane's voice-over narration quotes from the book of Job while a handsome steed bursts through billowing clouds as if on a divine mission. The true story of the recordbreaking Secretariat is pretty stupendous as is. It didn't need schmaltzing up. But director Randall Wallace ('The Man in the Iron Mask') chose to aggrandize everything surrounding the Triple Crown winner to worshipful proportions. The sentimentality ladled on thickly, however, undermines the impact of this underdog saga." — Claudia Puig, USA Today

The Final Word
"Hold your horses. The art of the great, superbly cast studio film is alive, even if corn remains a key ingredient. ... Yes, it is old-fashioned, often corny, preachy and altogether too emphatic. But this tribute to both two- and four-legged empowerment in the late 1960s and early 1970s and a genuinely legendary horse cannot fail to move you." — James Verniere, Boston Herald

Check out everything we've got on "Secretariat."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Russell Brand doesn’t ‘act’ in kissing scenesNicolas Cage Says ‘Ghost Rider’ Sequel Will Offer A ‘Very Fresh Take’

Katherine Heigl Is Jealous Of Josh Duhamel's Pied Piper Pheromones

In their new romantic comedy, "Life as We Know It," opening on Friday, Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel are two single people who find themselves responsible for their deceased friends' baby. And while Heigl is a mom in real life, she is giving kudos to childless Duhamel for his amazing ways with children.

"Oh my god! The best of the best! He's fantastic," she gushed to MTV News at the film's premiere last week. "He's really good with children. They sort of flocked to him. I think it's a pheromone thing. I think he puts off like a chocolate cookie scent to children. They love him, and those triplets [who played the baby in the movie] loved him."

So how did that make new mom Heigl feel? "It was upsetting on certain days, because I was like, 'But I'm a new mom and I should have the touch!' " she joked. " 'And I clearly don't have the touch and you do!' "

Of course for Heigl, this flick was one of the rare instances where life and art run parallel to each other. She began "Life" only days after she and husband Josh Kelley adopted daughter Naleigh.

"[Life was imitating art,] in a really intense way! In a way that we could have never predicted," she said of the role. "I chose the film for a myriad of reasons and one was the fact that I related to this woman. I understood the idea of loving a child that wasn't yours biologically and having to become that child's mother and embrace that. But I didn't expect to be literally doing that in real life as I was doing that on camera. It was amazing."

Check out everything we've got on "Life as We Know It."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Ridley Scott Plans User-Generated YouTube DocumentaryThe-Dream talks of being a dad

Superman Timeline: From Bryan Singer To Zack Snyder

Over 220 weeks have passed since "Superman Returns" opened in theaters. Since then, the Man of Steel has been relegated to his Fortress of Solitude and the creative forces behind the franchise have struggled to bring another installment to the big screen. Now, with Zack Snyder ("Watchmen") tapped to direct a new film, Superman seems poised to return — if not like a speeding bullet, then certainly with all due haste — to the multiplex.

As we await his arrival, let's take a look back.

June 28, 2006: The Bryan Singer-directed "Superman Returns" opens with a relatively disappointing $52.5 million weekend gross on its way toward $391.1 million in worldwide box-office sales. Fan reaction to Singer's somewhat maudlin take on the superhero, coming a year after the gritty "Batman Begins," ranges from indifference to antagonistic. But a sequel is already in the works.

August 22, 2008: For over two years, the sequel was beset by production delays, budget disputes, shifting release dates and Singer's departure to direct the Tom Cruise flick "Valkyrie." In early '08, Singer still had plans to move forward with a new "Superman" following the writers' strike. Today, Warner Bros. announces it will reboot the franchise once again. "Had 'Superman' worked in 2006, we would have had a movie for Christmas of this year or 2009, but now the plan is just to reintroduce Superman," Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov says. "We're going to try to go dark to the extent that the character allows it."

November 19, 2008: When asked if he'll direct the next "Superman," Singer tells MTV News, "At the moment, I can't really talk about that. I wish I could. From my perspective, I'm going to take a brief pause. This movie has taken a long time, so I'm going to take a pause. A movie like that takes some time to do right. That's all I can say about that."

July 6, 2009: In the absence of official announcements, rumors about directors (the Wachowski brothers?) and characters (no Lex Luthor?) proliferate. A piece of solid news comes on this day, when Brandon Routh, who played the Man of Steel in "Returns," tells us that his contract for the franchise has expired, casting doubt on whether he will reprise his role if and when a new film goes into production.

July 9, 2009: A lengthy legal battle between the heirs of the Superman creators and the companies that control the hero, DC Comics and Warner Bros., ends as a judge rules that if production on a new "Superman" film does not begin by 2011, the heirs will be eligible to sue Warner Bros. for damages, as they will own the entire Superman copyright in 2013.

July 13, 2009: Warner Bros. of tentpole releases, including "Green Lantern." No mention is made of "Superman."

September 15, 2009: DC Entertainment chief Diane Nelson tells MTV News, "We actually don't have any current plans for Superman."

February 9, 2010: "Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan reportedly slides into a "godfather" role for "Superman"; he will oversee its development and shepherd it toward production.

February 9, 2010: David Goyer ("Batman Begins") is said to have been tapped for scriptwriting duties.

March 10, 2010: Nolan makes his first public comments about his involvement, saying, "We're approaching it in a not-dissimilar way in terms of trying to find an incredible story in a way that audiences can engage with it the way they engage with contemporary action films. I think David's approach is a very good way of doing just that."

September 24, 2010: With the rumor mill floating Chris Columbus and James McTeigue as possible directors, reports suggest that the list is down to five people: Tony Scott, Matt Reeves, Jonathan Liebesman, Duncan Jones and Zack Snyder.

October 4, 2010: Snyder is confirmed as director. "All I'll say is that those guys — Chris and David — have created an amazing story," he told MTV News. "The 'Why [remake] Superman?' is definitely being looked at with care, that's all I could hope for as a director."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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'Let Me In' Director Matt Reeves Talks Deleted Scenes

We can't imagine stepping into the very complex shoes of a film director, but if we did, one of the toughest aspects of the job would be those last few days in the editing room, when certain scenes of your film have to be cut for the sake of time, tone, etc.

When MTV News caught up with "Let Me In" director Matt Reeves recently, we asked him what scenes from his coming-of-age vampiric thriller ended up on the cutting-room floor that he'd like audiences to see someday.

"There is a scene that at some point I want to show, which is, we did a version of Abby's [played by Chloe Moretz] sort of original attack, when she was attacked," he explained. "It's what I call the 'be me' scene; I guess that's probably what it is. From the novel ['Let Me In' is an adaptation of the acclaimed Swedish novel and 2009 film version 'Let the Right One In'], there's a scene where she asks [Owen, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee] to 'be me a little,' and he actually feels what she felt and experiences emotionally what she went through at the moment she was attacked."

Reeves said he's really proud of that scene — especially the child actors' performances — so he hopes to show it to audiences someday. "I know we're going to show it, but I'd say that's one of the very few things that didn't make it in," he said. "There are lots of little bits of things we kind of whittled away, but in general, the movie is what it was planned to be."

"Let Me In" opens Friday.

Check out everything we've got on "Let Me In."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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'The Social Network': The Reviews Are In!

Facebook was recently valued at $33 billion. The movie about its founding should do about .09 percent of that total during its opening weekend at the box office, and Sony will be damn happy about it.

The studio is currently low-balling box-office estimates — all the better to manage expectations and post-opening buzz for a flick getting near-universal rave reviews — but experts suggest "The Social Network" could potentially flirt with the $30 million mark. David Fincher's film is currently standing at 98 percent approval on the Rotten Tomatoes review aggregator, making it one of the year's critical darlings, just a notch below "Toy Story 3." Will positive word-of-mouth carry the movie past the mid-$20 million range and into the glorious $30 million realm?

Here's what the critics are saying. What will you be saying after the weekend?

The Story
"The creators of 'The Social Network' — screenwriter Aaron Sorkin ('The West Wing'), whose dialogue here is so sharp it could slice ribbons, and director David Fincher ('Zodiac') — have something tricky and emotionally complex up their sleeves. The story of how Zuckerberg put Facebook together, one Silicon Valley bong bash and venture-capitalist powwow at a time, is intercut with a pair of deposition hearings in which he faces down the two parties he ostensibly screwed over. The Winklevoss twins, Cameron and Tyler (both played by Armie Hammer, with body-doubling by Josh Pence), are super-WASP Harvard crew champions who accuse Zuckerberg of ripping off their idea for a website that will allow Harvard students to interface with one another. Then there's Zuckerberg's partner, CFO and only friend, Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), whom he ultimately leaves out in the cold. The sizzling ethical-dramatic question that drives 'The Social Network' is: Why did Zuckerberg betray these people? Or, in fact, did he really? — Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

The Performances
"The script is filled with sharp, intense, witty writing, much of it performed at a thrilling rat-a-tat pace and played with sustained power. [Jesse] Eisenberg is at once furtive and bold and always unrepentant, Garfield is level-headed and decent, Hammer is very funny (and flawlessly rendered into two characters by Fincher), and [Justin] Timberlake, an increasingly impressive actor, has a merry time with his gladhanding jetsetter. Watch, too, as Douglas Urbanski steals a scene gloriously as Harvard president Larry Summers." — Shawn Levy, The Oregonian

The Director
"It's easy to see why the meticulous, technically gifted Fincher is drawn to Zuckerberg and the challenges of his story, and working from Sorkin's best script yet, Fincher has struck perfectly the balance between calculated and human filmmaking. No single moment of the film stands out as a showstopper, but the cumulative effect of all the skill and talent on display here is devastating by the end, as we're allowed to piece together for ourselves what this small story means for all of us." — Katey Rich, CinemaBlend

The Dissenters
"If it is true that 'The Social Network' defines the decade, as an ad blurb states, then that's just an accident of its shortcomings. We need to look deeper: It inadvertently defines an era when subterfuge and reprehensible behavior are accepted as a social norm — especially if it proves lucrative. No wonder mainstream media minions have flipped for 'The Social Network'; they recognize the fiat of technological privilege." — Armond White, New York Press

The Final Word
" 'The Social Network' is a great film not because of its dazzling style or visual cleverness, but because it is splendidly well-made. Despite the baffling complications of computer programming, Web strategy and big finance, Aaron Sorkin's screenplay makes it all clear, and we don't follow the story so much as get dragged along behind it. I saw it with an audience that seemed wrapped up in an unusual way: It was very, very interested." — Roger Ebert, The Chicago Sun-Times

Share your "Social Network" reviews in the comments below!

Check out everything we've got on "The Social Network."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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'A-Team' Producer Stephen J. Cannell Dies At 69

Television producer Stephen J. Cannell died at his home in Pasadena, California, Thursday night at the age of 69.

Cannell, who produced such small-screen hits as "21 Jump Street," "The A-Team" and "The Rockford Files," for which he won an Outstanding Drama Series Emmy in 1978, succumbed to complications arising from melanoma, his family confirmed to "Entertainment Tonight" in a statement.

"He was surrounded by his family and loved ones," the statement reads. "Aside from being a legendary television producer and prolific writer, Stephen was also a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and a loyal friend. Mr. Cannell is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 46 years, Marcia, their three children, Tawnia, Chelsea and Cody, and three grandchildren. Stephen was the pillar of strength within his family and he touched everyone he met. He will be most deeply missed."

Cannell was born on February 5, 1941, in Los Angeles and grew up in nearby Pasadena. Though he struggled with dyslexia in college, Cannell began his career in television as a writer, penning scripts for "It Takes a Thief" and "Colombo," among others. He would go on to co-create and produce 40 TV shows, including "The Greatest American Hero," "The Commish" and "Wiseguy."

In addition to producing, Cannell also wrote 16 novels over the course of his lifetime and sometimes appeared onscreen as an actor. He most recently graced the screen in the ABC dramedy "Castle," in which he played one of Castle's poker buddies.

Fans of '60s, '70s and '80s television will also remember him from the video clip that closed out his production company's shows: Cannell is pictured typing before throwing a sheet of paper from his typewriter; the paper then animates to become the company logo against a black screen. For this, and so much more, Cannell will be remembered fondly.

Please share your well-wishes for Cannell's friends and family in the comments.

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Linkin Park's Chester Bennington Teases 'Saw 3D' Role

Those familiar with the "Saw" film franchise are fully aware that alarge part of the popular series' appeal — in addition to itsalways-disturbing, gory action or trap sequences — is the veilof mystery that surrounds each film's individual plot. The films arenot screened for critics, and it's difficult to get definitive detailsfrom any of the actors or filmmakers before the film opens.

Such is the case with the upcoming "Saw 3-D." So far, all we have togo on is , a cool-but-creepy and a painful-looking photoof Linkin Park's Chester Bennington reaching out from the brokenwindshield of a car.

When MTV News caught up with singer/actor Bennington recently, wetried to get him to divulge a few details about his mysterious role inthe heavily hyped bloodfest.

"I can tell you that my name is Evan," Bennington offered. "Other thanthat, I can tell you nothing else about the character."

Gee, thanks, Chester. What about the scene you're involved in then?

"The thing that is interesting about this particular scene is thatit's a trap set for multiple people," he explained. "Jigsaw, for thosewho know the films, Jigsaw typically sets up traps for one, maybe twopeople. There are never more people involved than that."

Until now, it seems.

"This particular trap is set up for multiple people, and it's a verycomplicated trap that's been set. There are different kinds ofemotional things going on for my character, but it's very much in thetradition of a good 'Saw' trap," Bennington promised. "And it's in3-D, so there's going to be blood spattering at your face, which issomething that's going to be pretty bad-ass."

Check out everything we've got on "Saw 3-D."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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'Social Network' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know!

"The Social Network" is a whodunit for the Internet age. Was the billion-dollar behemoth known as Facebook solely the idea of Mark Zuckerberg, a flip-flop-wearing hacker at Harvard? Or did he lie, cheat and steal his way toward Web glory, leaving wronged classmates in his egocentric wake?

That's the central question David Fincher explores in his new film, penned by Aaron Sorkin and starring Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg. The film delivers no easy answers, just a riveting, two-hour ride showcasing the creative energy and energetic backstabbing of young entrepreneurs in Cambridge and Silicon Valley.

MTV News friended the production early on, following every casting development and trailer release since the project was announced. Before you hit the theater this weekend, point and click your way toward total information awareness with MTV News' "Social Network" cheat sheet.

Friending Hollywood
Word leaked in June of last year that Fincher was circling the rather-straightforward project, a curious move for a director known for such a distinct visual style. What would a guy who brought Tyler Durden of "Fight Club" and John Doe of "Seven" to the screen do with a nerd from the Ivy League?

By the next month, there was still no official announcement about Fincher's involvement, and when we asked producer Kevin Spacey about his helming duties, Spacey responded, "I think we are close to announcing a director." September came, Fincher had signed on, and the search was on for the actor to play Zuckerberg. Names that cropped up on the Web included Eisenberg, Michael Cera and Paul Rust, but the role eventually went to Eisenberg (who'd previously issued MTV News a non-denial denial of his involvement. Justin Timberlake came aboard at the same time, followed by Andrew Garfield, Rooney Mara and Max Minghella.

"I just made a tape, probably 20 pages of dialogue, and sent in the tape because I live in New York City and they were casting in California," Eisenberg told us in January about the casting process. "Then they called me for a meeting. It was fairly painless."

Removing Privacy Settings
By that point, filming was already under way. The first official look at the film didn't arrive until June, delivering the memorable tagline, "You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies." The first teaser trailer dropped days later and contained not a single frame from the actual movie, just voice-overs and all-caps words like "punk" and "genius." As odd as it sounds, the trailer was as perfect as a teaser trailer can be. A second teaser popped up the next month: still with no film footage but with similarly intense voice-overs and imagery from Facebook pages themselves.

Not until the middle of July did we get our first glimpse of real "Social Network" footage. Set to a choral take on Radiohead's "Creep," the trailer gave us snappy dialogue, looks at Harvard's boozy social life and the backstabbing that began even before Facebook went online.

Status Updates
As the film's October release date approached, the cast began to speak more openly about the production. "Why actors love working with [Fincher] and why I loved working with him is because you try a scene in 200 different ways; you know he is able to edit together several different performances for each role," Eisenberg told us. "We would be often doing half the scene 60 times one way, then 60 times a little more engaged."

Timberlake spoke with us about how the film is potentially divisive. His personal experience was that some of his friends sided with Zuckerberg's version of events, while others agreed with his adversaries. "But one of my friends specifically said ... 'I don't 100 percent agree with any of the characters, but I don't disagree with any of them,' " Timberlake said. "Life is life. Things happen sloppily."

Life can also be cruel, which is why, even after making a movie so intimately tied to Internet culture, Eisenberg avoids reading about himself online at all costs. "I know that I'm written about online — we're all written about online," he told us. "It's incredibly painful to read it, so I stay off of it. People can write things that are terribly cruel because of the anonymity of the Internet."

Check out everything we've got on "The Social Network."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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'Let Me In': The Reviews Are In!

2010 has welcomed the twinkly vamps of "Eclipse," the infected flesh-noshers of "Daybreakers," the satiric teens of "Vampires Suck" and all manner of supernatural bloodsuckers in "True Blood," "The Vampire Diaries" and other small-screen productions.

Vampires, apparently, come in all varieties: some with a taste for blood, others perhaps more interested in sharing doe-eyed love. But you may have seen the vamps in "Let Me In" before, in "Let the Right One In," the Swedish film on which the new flick is based. Matt Reeves ("Cloverfield") has undertaken a remake of that Nordic horror hit, and if you believe the majority of critics, he's succeeded in his efforts to construct a worthy, English-language companion to the original.

While "Let Me In" will do only a fraction of the business of its fellow box-office newcomer, "The Social Network," the vampire flick is a worthy option this weekend. But don't take our word for it: Here's what the critics are saying.

The Story
"An unusually heavy snowfall blankets New Mexico in 1983, when 12-year-old Abby (Chloe Grace Moretz) and her eerie father (Richard Jenkins) move next door to lonely Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee). Between his parents' ugly divorce and the boys who beat him up every afternoon, Owen's having a tough time. Abby's an outsider, too, but after centuries as a vampire, she's got a bit more perspective. She warns him that they shouldn't be friends; there are simply too many forces — including a nosy policeman (Elias Koteas) and her own blood lust — designed to keep them apart. But alienation proves a powerful bond, and they connect in ways that surprise them both." — Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

The Adaptation
"It is gratifying to report that 'Let Me In,' that inevitable and abrupt American remake by 'Cloverfield''s Matt Reeves, is more than just okay. It's actually strong enough to make the case that not all remakes bite. A lot of this is due to smart casting. Just about the only kids you could imagine filling the lonely boots of [original castmembers Kare] Hedebrant and [Lina] Leandersson are 'The Road''s Kodi Smit-McPhee and 'Kick-Ass''s Chloe Grace Moretz. Reeves nabbed them both. As both writer and director, working from the original novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, Reeves hasn't strayed far from the original text. He's changed names, relocated from Stockholm to Los Alamos, New Mexico, and made the story more literal and horrific to suit American tastes. But he hasn't trampled it." — Peter Howell, Toronto Star

The Performances
"Kodi-Smith McPhee — last seen suffering as 'The Boy' in 'The Road' — has a spooky quietness as Owen. Chloe Grace Moretz — already astonishingly self-possessed in 'Kick-Ass' — is terrifying as thirsty little Abby, and the great Richard Jenkins is one of the few adult presences as a nearly mute Renfield type." — Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger

The Dissenters
It's an honorable attempt, but there's still no genuine need for this film to exist. I almost wish they'd just sicced the vampire girl on Edward Cullen of 'Twilight' and called it 'Let the Right One Win.' In its defense, 'Let Me In' is as cool and controlled as its cinematic source (both movies have their roots in a novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist), and response from early reviewers and in the horror-movie blogosphere has been unexpectedly positive. Yet as someone who has seen 'Let the Right One In' and therefore can't un-see it, I kept glimpsing the original behind the tracing paper of the new film and wishing I could tear the paper away." — Ty Burr, The Boston Globe

The Final Word
"As its own film 'Let Me In' is very good. At times, almost great. It has elements that are less effective than the original and it has elements that improve on the original. It's not different enough to have its own identity and if a fan of the original were to ask if it's worth seeing my answer would depend wholly on what their intentions were. If it were a layperson who wasn't serious about film I'd recommend it wholeheartedly. If it were a discerning fan of the art I'd tell them to see it only as an experiment after having watched the original. It's not a shot for shot remake like Gus Van Sant's horribly ill-advised 'Psycho' but it's also not bold enough to try and forge ahead on its own and have its own life. As remakes go, it's a very safe play." — Nick Nunziata, Chud

Share your "Let Me In" reviews in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Let Me In."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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'Star Wars' Series To Be Re-Released In 3-D

When the original "Star Wars" hit theaters in 1977, moviegoers were blown away by then-pioneering, eye-popping special effects that transported them to another fully formed universe. Now the mastermind of the series, director George Lucas, has a plan to refresh the movies on the 35th anniversary of their debut.

According to the Los Angeles Times movie blog Hero Complex, after observing the huge success of "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland," Lucas has decided to re-release the Jedi epic in 3-D. The current plan is to kick off the 3-D makeover in 2012 with the retrofitted first prequel in the space opera series, 1999's "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace," and then follow with the five other movies, in numerical order, in consecutive years, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Lucas' famed Industrial Light & Magic special-effects shop will oversee the 3-D conversion. Considering the flack some filmmakers have received for converting to 3-D after the fact to ill effect, Lucas promised in a press release that the greatest care will be taken not to tarnish the "Star Wars" legend.

"Getting good results on a stereo conversion is a matter of taking the time and getting it right," said ILM visual effects supervisor John Knoll. "It takes a critical and artistic eye along with an incredible attention to detail to be successful. It is not something that you can rush if you want to expect good results. For 'Star Wars' we will take our time, applying everything we know both aesthetically and technically to bring audiences a fantastic new 'Star Wars' experience."

The Times noted that Lucas, never a big proponent of 3-D, has said recently that the technological advances made in James Cameron's "Avatar" convinced him to take a second look at the process. Lucas told "Access Hollywood" earlier this year that he was considering a 3-D makeover for his beloved space saga.

"Haven't been a big fan of 3-D, but that movie definitely improves in [the field of] 3-D ... We've been looking for years and years and years of trying to take 'Star Wars' and put it in 3-D," Lucas said. "But [the] technology hasn't been there. We've been struggling with it, but I think this will be a new impetus to make that happen."

In addition to awaiting new, better 3-D technology, the director was also reportedly biding his time until there were more theaters equipped with 3-D screening capability in order to do the widest release possible of the retooled movies.

Given the criticism Lucas has received in the past for tinkering with the original trilogy by adding new effects and scenes, longtime fans should take heart that, according to Variety, Knoll said there are no plans to add or fix visual effects in the movies for the 3-D conversion.

Are you excited to see the "Star Wars" saga in 3-D?

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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