Seth Rogen Says '50/50' Head-Shaving Scene Was Improvised

If the Summit Entertainment marketing machine has done its job, you've probably seen the eye-catching movie posters for the studio's latest release "50/50." The goofy one-sheet depicts a memorable scene from the film in which Joseph Gordon-Levitt's cancer-stricken Adam shaves his head, while a dubious Adam (played by Seth Rogen) looks on. It's one of the movie's many lighthearted moments, adding levity to what could otherwise be a downer drama. But according to the film's stars, the take wasn't as carefree as it may have looked. "My heart was beating hard, because we only had one take because you can't shave your head twice. It doesn't work," Gordon-Levitt said at the "50/50" premiere earlier this week in New York. "Normally, you can always do it over again when you're making movies. You get a take two. But we only got take one, and it worked." Apparently, Gordon-Levitt had another reason to be nervous about the scene — it wasn't scripted. According to producer and co-star Rogen, the two just played it by ear. "We only had one shot at it," Rogen recalled. "It was the first day of filming, and we improvised the whole thing, which is not wise when it's something you have one take for, but it turned out funny. It went exactly how you see it in the movie, which was pretty good, I think." You can judge Gordon-Levitt's razor skills for yourself: "50/50," co-starring Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anjelica Huston, opened Friday (September 30). Check out everything we've got on "50/50." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Joseph Gordon Levitt and Seth Rogen in "50/50" Photo: Summit Entertainment

'Twilight' Newcomers The Joy Formidable Surprised By Spot On Soundtrack

There are some bands prepared for the increased attention that a spot on a "Twilight" soundtrack brings. And then there are bands like voluminous rockers the Joy Formidable who, despite snagging the opening slot on the upcoming "Breaking Dawn" soundtrack, remain blissfully unaware of everything to come. Or, really, everything about the "Twilight" series, for that matter. "I can't say I've ever read one. I haven't seen the films either, but I have heard the soundtracks, and I was familiar with some of the songs, you know, Metric and the Black Keys," frontwoman Ritzy Bryan told MTV News. "So I was more aware of the musical side of 'Twilight' than I was the books or the movies. Actually, I know very little [about the books]. I know they're about vampires, and I know they've connected very much with an audience ... so they're obviously much enjoyed by a lot of people." And yet, despite all that, their contribution to the "Breaking Dawn" soundtrack — a ringing, downright desperate song called "Endtapes" that will be the album's lead-off track — fits seamlessly; mostly because, as Bryan explained, it is very much about the themes that remain central to the "Twilight" series. "The song was written at the same time as our album, and because of that, it has a lot of the tone and the feel of the album. And those songs, there's a lot of turbulence going on, and it definitely chronicles a year that was very turbulent on one hand, but you know, it's me trying to push for that hope and that sense of optimism," she said. "It's a song that captures that spirit. It's a song about the frustration of not being able to have closure on a difficult situation." And given that, unlike fellow "Breaking Dawn" artist Christina Perri, she's basically oblivious to the entire "Twilight" phenomenon, Bryan has no idea where "Endtapes" will be used in the upcoming "Breaking Dawn" film ... shoot, she's not even sure she and her bandmates will get invited to the premiere. That doesn't mean they wouldn't go, of course. "I don't know anything about that! If we get an invite, I wouldn't mind going to the cinema. I haven't been to the cinema for such a long time," she laughed. "We've been perpetually on the road for about a year and a half, and we watch lots and lots of DVDs in our van, but a trip to the cinema would be wonderful. I would have to do some laundry, but that would be fine!" 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. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Photo: Summit Entertainment

'Breaking Dawn' Soundtrack Track List Revealed

We already knew about Bruno Mars' involvement in the upcoming "Breaking Dawn" soundtrack. But now — officially — we know who will be joining him. Theophilus London, the Joy Formidable, Iron & Wine, Christina Perri and the Noisettes are just some of the acts confirmed for the "Dawn" soundtrack, which hits stores on November 8 (10 days before "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" bows in theaters). The full track list was unveiled Monday (September 26) afternoon on the official "Twilight" Twitter account, confirming speculations that sprung up over the weekend, when a listing of artists and songs began making the rounds on various fansites. Work by "Twilight"-series composer Carter Burwell and actress Mia Maestro (she plays Carmen of the Denali Cover in the "Breaking Dawn" films) also shows up on the soundtrack, as do songs by Angus and Julia Young, the Features, the Belle Brigade and Cider Sky. All in all, there are 15 tracks on the album, and all — aside from a "Wedding Version" of Iron & Wine's "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" (as any good Twilighter will tell you, the original version of the song appeared on the first "Twilight" soundtrack) and an updated take on Noisettes' "Sister Rosetta" — are new. The "Breaking Dawn" soundtrack follows in the footsteps of the ultra-successful 2008 "Twilight" 'track (which featured new songs from Paramore and Perry Farrell), '09's "New Moon" (which boasted a new track by Death Cab for Cutie and contributions from Thom Yorke and Lykke Li) and last year's "Eclipse," which packed in tunes from Muse, Florence and the Machine, Beck and Vampire Weekend. The full track list for 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1' soundtrack: " The Joy Formidable, "Endtapes" " Angus & Julia Stone, "Love Will Take You" " Bruno Mars, "It Will Rain" " Sleeping at Last, "Turning Page" " The Features, "From Now On" " Christina Perri, "A Thousand Years" " Theophilus London, "Neighbors" " The Belle Brigade, "I Didn't Mean It" " Noisettes, "Sister Rosetta (2011 Version)" " Cider Sky, "Northern Lights" " Iron & Wine, "Flightless Bird, American Mouth (Wedding Version)" " Imperial Mammoth, "Requiem on Water" " Aqualung & Lucy Schwartz, "Cold" " Mia Maestro, "Llovera" " Carter Burwell, "Love Death Rebirth" Share your thoughts on the "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" track list in the comments below! 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. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Photo: Summit Entertainment

Josh Hutcherson Is 'Most Likely To Play A Superhero' In Our New Class

If you're not yet familiar with Josh Hutcherson, you're about to be. The talented 18-year-old has been a working actor for half his life, quietly paying his dues with roles on television and in films, earning Hollywood street cred in films like "Kicking and Screaming," "Bridge to Terabithia" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth." Then last year, Hutcherson suddenly evolved from dependable sweet-faced child actor to formidable future leading man with his buzzed-about performance in the award-season darling "The Kids Are All Right." That career momentum kicked into future-superstar gear when Hutcherson landed the highly coveted role of Peeta Mellark in the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' best-selling "Hunger Games." All things considered, it's a no-brainer that Hutcherson made our New Class list as the "Actor Most Likely to Play a Superhero." MTV News caught up with him recently to talk about the honor, his very busy year and, of course, "The Hunger Games." MTV News: You've experienced the whole award and recognition thing before, but how does it feel to be named to our New Class? Josh Hutcherson: It's very nice, especially to be considered with the group I'm in here with, all peers of mine I admire very much. I've been an actor for a long time, so to finally get some recognition from some people that I think are really cool is pretty nice. MTV: It seems like this past year has been a whirlwind. Take us through all the projects you're juggling at the moment. Hutcherson: It's been crazy. I shot "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" the end of last year and the beginning of this year, then I went into a little short film I shot in Cuba with Benicio Del Toro ["7 Dias en La Habana"], which was really fun, and then this summer the whole time I spent shooting "The Hunger Games," which was an amazing experience. Very exciting, and I can't wait for that to come out. MTV: Is there someone in the business whose career you'd like to emulate? Hutcherson: I have a few people. I've always been a big Jake Gyllenhaal fan. I like how he goes from doing a bigger studio movie to a more independent film. I am a huge Christian Bale fan; I think he's incredible and can play any role and kill it. And I'm also a die-hard Ryan Gosling fan, so those are my guys I'd like to be like. MTV: Do you make a conscious effort to go from smaller, independent films as well as big studio films? Hutcherson: Yeah. It's all about balance; everything in life is about balance, in my opinion. You have to do the big studio movies to keep people caring about you in a way, and also for me, I've been really fortunate. I haven't done any big studio movies that suck. They've all been good material and that's the most important thing for my career, to choose the right material and to choose the characters that I care about and stories I want to tell, so that's kind of how I've gone about my career since I was 9, more or less. MTV: So let's talk briefly about "The Hunger Games" and that crazy audition process. Hutcherson: For the audition process, I came in the first time and read a few scenes for [director] Gary Ross and [author] Suzanne Collins and some of the other producers involved. Then maybe about a week or so, maybe two weeks later, I came in and did a screen test with [co-star] Jennifer [Lawrence], where I actually read the scenes with her so they could see how the chemistry worked. Both of them felt really great, but as an actor, you just pick apart every single thing that you do, so for me, I was on pins and needles waiting to find out. And then when I finally found out, my jaw hit the floor. I was so excited. For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV's New Class, go to TheNewClass.MTV.com. For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Josh Hutcherson Photo: Donato Sardella/ Getty Images

Lily Collins Is Our New Class' 'Ass-Kicking Girl Next Door'

We called it way back in January: Lily Collins was an actress to watch in 2011. At that point, her career was just heating up following a turn as Sandra Bullock's daughter in "The Blind Side." An impressive series of castings in high-profile films followed: "Priest," "Abduction" opposite Taylor Lautner and an adaptation of the best-selling YA series "The Mortal Instruments." A few months later, she landed the role of Snow White in Relativity Media's Julia Roberts-starring take on the fairy tale. Collins is making good on our predictions, which is why we've selected her as part of our New Class — a collection of young talent about to rise to the top of Hollywood, including her "Mortal Instruments" co-star Jamie Campbell Bower. With her badass-yet-relatable roles, Collins is our New Class' "Ass-Kicking Girl Next Door." Though she's had all of 2011 to get used to the spotlight, the whole celebrity thing continues to feel odd. "It feels very surreal," she told us at the "Abduction" red carpet. "It's weird getting out of a car and people are saying my name. It's still a weird concept to me." Give her time. Collins told us she'd like to model her career after Keira Knightley, Kate Winslet or Meryl Streep. "I like that none of them have stuck themselves in a box," she said. "They've done all sorts of roles — comedic, dramatic, they've gone from indies to big motion pictures. I love their choices." And she's a fan of the New Class itself, which includes not only Bower, but Emma Watson, Josh Hutcherson, Julianne Hough and Nina Dobrev. "It's an honor to be placed in the New Class of actors," Collins said. "I'm doing what I love, and I'm having the best time." For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV's New Class, go to TheNewClass.MTV.com. For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Lily Collins Photo: MTV News

Justin Timberlake Cast In Casablanca Records Biopic

He once played Napster co-founder Sean Parker in "The Social Network," and now he's getting ready to play another real-life entrepreneur. Deadline Hollywood reports that Justin Timberlake will play '70s record producer and Casablanca Records co-founder Neil Bogart in a new biopic. "Spinning Gold" will take a close look at Bogart's career as a record executive who launched the careers of acts like KISS, Parliament, Donna Summer and the Village People. "This is saga about a young dreamer who started with nothing and came of age in the '60s and '70s, believing anything was possible and every risk was worth taking," said Tim Bogart, Neil's son and the film's writer. He said the film is "literally three decades in the making." Bogart died of cancer in 1982, at the age of 39. Bogart added, "We needed a young actor who can carry this picture. ... When Justin walked into the room, that was the moment I had been waiting for 29 years. He has the exact same energy as my father, the same glimmer in his eye." A director has yet to be attached to the project, which is set to shoot in 2012. Album plans are also under way. Fans hoping Timberlake will head back to the studio to record new music will be sad to see his film roster keeps getting filled with new projects. In November, his sci-fi flick, "In Time," hits theaters. "To be honest, my plan would have probably been to do another record, probably right about now. I never stop considering myself a musician. To me, it's my bread and butter," Timberlake said in a recent interview with Short List. "And I mean that in a personal way. I don't mean that it finances my 'acting hobbies.' I joke with my friends that I should have a business card saying, 'David Fincher put me in a movie,' because 'Bad Teacher' got a blessing due to 'The Social Network,' and then 'Friends With Benefits' came out of that. "All the movies I've done were just opportunities that came up, but now that they're all coming out back-to-back, people think, 'Oh, he's trying to make a statement by having an acting career,' " he continued. "But it's not like that for me. I don't ever want to stop doing music." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Justin Timberlake

'The Lion King' Maintains Box-Office Crown

Simba and company partied like it was 1994 at the box office over the weekend as "The Lion King" remained #1 for the second weekend in a row. The 3-D re-release beat back competition from four wide releases while hauling in another $22.1 million, according to studio estimates. All four of the other movies in the weekend's top five were new releases, but none had the strength to topple the legendary Disney animated film, which has grossed $61.7 million domestically in its 3-D format alone. Brad Pitt's "Moneyball" and the kid-friendly "Dolphin Tale" were in close competition for the #2 spot, while Taylor Lautner's "Abduction" (which has been savaged by film critics) and the action-centric "Killer Elite" (also not a critical darling) both failed to generate much excitement. "Moneyball" was still just barely ahead of "Dolphin Tale" at press time. The baseball-centered flick has done well with critics, according to film review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, where it has a 94 percent critical average. The movie took in $20.6 million, just $340,000 more than "Dolphin Tale." Lautner's first post-"Twilight" vehicle mustered just $11.2 million to land at #4 on the box-office chart. "Abduction" is one of the most poorly reviewed films of 2011, barely beating the 0 percent Tomatometer rating of recently released "Bucky Larson" with a paltry 3 percent. "[Lautner's] not a terrible actor, but if he wants a career after the 'Twilight' fades, he'll pick better films," wrote Entertainment Weekly. The combined star power of Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro generated just $9.5 million for "Killer Elite." The film is based on the book of the same name and marked the feature film debut of Irish writer/director Gary McKendry, who has directed commercials for IKEA, Porsche and Heineken. There were a few limited releases of note over the weekend as well, including two that featured blockbuster marquee stars from comic book movies: "Machine Gun Preacher," with "300" hero Gerard Butler in the title role, and "Puncture," which features Captain America himself, Chris Evans. Next weekend's new releases include the dramedy "50/50," which stars Joseph Gordon Levitt and Seth Rogen, who cowrote the picture partly based on his own close friendship with a cancer survivor. Check out everything we've got on "The Lion King" and "Moneyball." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. "Lion King 3-D" Photo: Disney

'Moneyball' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know

As far as baseball books go, Michael Lewis' "Moneyball" isn't exactly an obvious candidate for Hollywood's adaptation machine. It's filled with geeky tales about the importance of obscure stats like "wins above replacement," the founding of fantasy sports and the evolution of a guy named Bill James from factory worker to baseball deity. Yet at the center of the story is the quest of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane to turn his small-market, cash-poor ballclub into a perennial champion. And it's that story that forms the heart of Brad Pitt's "Moneyball," an underdog sports narrative quite at home among its Hollywood antecedents. It almost didn't happen. But like the 2002 A's, "Moneyball" beat the odds and landed in theaters on Friday (September 23). Here, in cheat-sheet form, is the story of how it all came to pass. Spring Training The adaptation came together in late 2008, with Pitt taking on the Beane role, Steve Zaillian ("Schindler's List," "Gangs of New York") signing on to pen the script and "Devil Wears Prada" helmer David Frankel attached to direct. Steven Soderbergh, though, soon stepped into the director's chair (or, at least, he planned to; there'd be more roster shakeups in "Moneyball" land before cameras rolled). "My clearly stated goal is to set a new standard for realism in that [sports] world," Soderbergh told MTV News in the spring of '09. "I hope it sets a new standard. Hopefully, anybody who makes a sports movie from now on is going to have to grapple with this." Struggling in the Big Leagues Production was slated to begin that summer, but Sony, concerned about the commercial viability of Soderbergh's take, called for a directorial pinch hitter only days before the cinematic first pitch was to be thrown. Pitt remained hopeful. "My gut says yes," Pitt told MTV News in August when asked whether "Moneyball" could see a ninth-inning rally. "[W]e're still trying to re-mount it. I hope we get to do it soon." It took a while, but Pitt's prediction proved correct. "Capote" director Bennett Miller boarded the project that December, reportedly beating out "(500) Days of Summer" helmer Marc Webb for the gig. Aaron Sorkin rewrote the script and Jonah Hill signed on to play Beane's assistant (a role loosely based on Paul DePodesta, now a player-development exec with the New York Mets). Hill was an unexpected pick for the dramatic role, but the actor laughed with us last year that he wouldn't ruin the film. "I earned the part," he said. "Every guy who is in their twenties and making movies was after that part, and it was a very tough thing. I'm really proud to have earned it, you know?" Play Ball Shooting began in the summer of '10. It'd be a full year before the first trailer for the film hit the Web. Gone was a great deal of the baseball nerdery, as well as Soderbergh's initial plan to present Bill James in the form of an animated narrator. Instead, Miller delivered a straightforward sports movie: Adversity! Triumph against the odds! More adversity! "These are guys that are working in an unfair game," Pitt explained to us recently. "They are a team with no money trying to fight — it's David vs. Goliath. How are they going to be competitive? How are they going to stand a chance? They can't fight the other guys' fight; they're going to lose every time. These guys had to rethink it and rethink what they were doing." Check out everything we've got on "Moneyball." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in "Moneyball" Photo: Columbia Pictures

Brad Pitt Explains Making 'Moneyball' Without Steven Soderbergh

Steven Soderbergh had nothing if not grand ambitions for his take on "Moneyball." "I hope it sets a new standard," he told MTV News in the spring of 2009. "Hopefully, anybody who makes a sports movie from now on is going to have to grapple with this." Soderbergh's plan for the adaptation of Michael Lewis' best-selling book about the 2002 Oakland A's included re-creating the bowels of Oakland Coliseum and casting ballplayers and coaches to play their big-screen counterparts. The filmmaker also proposed, most ambitiously (and probably a bit bizarrely), the use of an Oracle-like persona, based on the legendary statistician Bill James, presented as an animated character and commissioned with narrating the action. Grand stuff, no doubt, but also perhaps not the stuff that would lead anyone beyond sports nuts and movie nerds to buy tickets to check it out. And so Sony pulled the plug on the production days before filming was to begin. "Moneyball" appeared to be dead. But at the suggestion of Catherine Keener, Sony tapped Bennett Miller, who had worked with Keener on "Capote," to helm the picture. Years later, with the movie set to hit theaters on Friday, star Brad Pitt has no doubt Miller was the perfect guy for the job. "I think it is the right way to do 'Moneyball.' Soderbergh was really heading in the same direction, in a sense," Pitt told MTV News. Sort of. Miller's version certainly doesn't have an animated Bill James. We have a feeling Pitt would have been keen to move forward with Soderbergh, with whom he's worked on the "Ocean's Eleven" films. But it wasn't Pitt's call, and he's no doubt correct that Miller delivered a top-notch sports flick. "That was a studio call," Pitt said of pushing Soderbergh out. "And, man, we want to get the thing going! We didn't have a choice but to remount it in some way. ... [We] sat down with Bennett and we were just talking the same language. Just love the '70s films. What you'll see about Bennett is he's a very, very bright and thoughtful man and deals with Socratic thought and was a documentarian and all these things that led nicely to the telling of these stories." Check out everything we've got on "Moneyball." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Brad Pitt in "Moneyball" Photo: Columbia TriStar

'Pearl Jam Twenty': The Reviews Are In

In a neat bit of pop-culture convergence, the 20th-anniversary commemoration of Nirvana's Nevermind (which MTV News has been feting all week long) is coinciding with another grunge-centric, two-decade celebration: Cameron Crowe's documentary about the founding and globe-spanning success of Pearl Jam. "When I saw the early ... edits of it, I thought it was very interesting and kind of exciting and, like I said, it runs the gamut of all those emotions," guitarist Mike McCready told us in May. "And it actually put in some sort of musical perspective the past 20 years, like, 'Oh yeah, we did do that, we did do this': the Ticketmaster thing, there was Roskilde, there were all these issues, and there were these great highs and interesting beginnings. The story it tells is: Why did it work, and why does it still? It made more sense when I saw the movie." After debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month, "Pearl Jam Twenty" is set for a one-night-only premiere at theaters across the country Tuesday (September 20). The early word from critics is that while the doc gives fans unique access to the band, especially in early footage hauled out from the achieves, it suffers from director Cameron Crowe's hagiographic treatment of his subject. But that might just be exactly what PJ devotees are looking for. The Comparison "Cameron Crowe's feature doc ... is among his most effective and deeply felt work. ... Every rock act possesses a mysterious alchemy that becomes a kind of mythology; as a portrait of one of the biggest bands in the world, 'Pearl Jam Twenty' doesn't so much capture that alchemy as describe it. But it does so with passion, and even the unconverted will find a convincing case for the band's longevity, popularity and influence." — Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter The Focus "Crowe, who does a remarkable job of collecting archival footage from the band's earliest days (and even before that) focuses heavily on [the band's early days]. He narrates the beginning (before getting almost totally out of the way), setting the stage for the late '80s and early '90s, when Seattle was the rock music capital of the world. Soundgarden's Chris Cornell talks about how there was a wealth of bands, but unlike in New York or Los Angeles, the competition tended to be more friendly than cut throat. Even later, when the twin towers of the Seattle scene — Pearl Jam and Nirvana — seemed ready to face off after Kurt Cobain slagged Pearl Jam's music for being too mainstream, they resolved their differences before Cobain died." — Melinda Newman, HitFix The Fandom "The cinematic equivalent of a concert T-shirt, XXL biodocu 'Pearl Jam Twenty' gives another awesome souvenir to die-hard fans of the chart-topping Seattle scenesters-turned-cult faves while leaving others to wish there was a thesis in former rock-journo Cameron Crowe's two-hour puff piece. Finding a pulse only in the band's late-reel performance of 'Alive,' a lusty passage that would've begun a pic intent on making a case for the group's greatness, 'Twenty' simply counts the years from 1991 via sludgy backstage and onstage footage whose rarity can't forgive its inclusion. Crowe's critic mentor, the late Lester Bangs, would cringe." — Rob Nelson, Variety The Frontman "Before Vedder was vaguely mystical and a little inscrutable, he was boyish, smiley and uninhibited. Vedder doesn't come through any clearer after 'Pearl Jam Twenty,' but the band's journey remains a thoroughly entertaining one. Any enterprise like this is inherently self-congratulatory, but the film is best considered from Crowe's perspective: that of a fan." — Jake Coyle, The Associated Press The Final Word "[It] suffers from being an all-out fawnapalooza. Crowe, a former Rolling Stone reporter, wastes unprecedented access to one of modern rock's most private, compelling and enigmatic acts to create little more than a promotional video for Pearl Jam's non-stop tours. There's plenty to elicit fist pumps from steadfast fans, largely because of rare archival footage. (A silly slow dance between security guard-turned-rocker Eddie Vedder and Nirvana's Kurt Cobain is lump-in-the-throat poignant). Yet Crowe glosses over too many of Pearl Jam's darkest days — a drummer's mysterious firing, addiction battles, nine fans dying at a show — to keep non-Jammers from getting bored." — Joseph Rose, The Oregonian For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Eddie Vedder in "Pearl Jam Twenty" Photo: Vinyl Films

Ryan Gosling: What's Next After 'Drive'?

Ryan Gosling's "Drive" didn't exactly zip away from the multiplex this weekend with a hefty box-office haul, grossing only $11 million. That's a respectable sum for a Cannes darling — less high-octane thriller than slow-burning, tension-filled drama — that was always going to have trouble finding a mainstream audience. But we certainly haven't heard the last of "Drive," which remains likely to be a player come awards season, with Gosling potentially nabbing actor nods and helmer Nicolas Winding Refn looking to pick up other wins on the heels of his Cannes directing award. Gosling, for his part, will have some serious competition ... from himself: The actor's "Ides of March" is also sure to be in the mix come the fall. Whatever happens, Gosling is going to be busy from now through awards season and far, far beyond. "Ides Of March" Hitting theaters in October after a festival run this month, "Ides" features Gosling as an idealistic press secretary to a charismatic Ohio governor played by George Clooney, who also wrote and directed the project. The talent in front of and behind the camera made for a buzzy debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, but a crowded field that includes the likes of Steven Spielberg, Stephen Daldry, Woody Allen and Tate Taylor (with his sleeper hit "The Help") leaves an uncertain awards-season path for "Ides." "The Place Beyond the Pines" Perhaps we've just got "Drive" on the mind, but this project sounds strangely similar to Gosling's latest. He stars as a motorcycle stunt driver who contemplates committing a crime to benefit his loved ones. At least he looks far different: We recently spotted Gosling on set rocking bleached blond hair and a tattoo under one eye. Co-starring Rose Byrne, Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes, there's no word yet on a release date or festival debut. "The Gangster Squad" Production on Ruben Fleischer's ("Zombieland") third feature kicked off earlier this month with an all-star cast in place, including Gosling, Emma Stone, Sean Penn and Josh Brolin. Set in post-World War II Los Angeles, the story focuses on the city's battles against the infiltration of the East Coast mob. Gosling plays a member of the LAPD — a suavely dressed one at that, as some early set photos made clear. "Only God Forgives" Gosling and Refn can't get enough of each other. Luke Evans was initially set to star in this flick about boxing and prostitution in Bangkok, but the actor had to drop out because of his commitment to the two "Hobbit" films. Gosling reportedly stepped in, with shooting expected to begin in November and an eye on a theatrical release in the second half of 2012, according to Variety. "Logan's Run" No, seriously: Gosling and Refn can't get enough of each other. They're planning on a remake of this 1976 sci-fi classic, with Gosling playing the starring role of a guy living in a dystopian world where no one is allowed to live past the age of 30. The project has long been in development, with directors like Bryan Singer coming and going. Fingers crossed that Gosling and Refn can succeed where others have fallen short. Untitled Romantic Comedy You know the drill by now: Gosling and Refn, together again. Possibly. We know precious little about this project, other than Refn wants to direct, Gosling could star and both men want "Drive" co-star Albert Brooks to pen the screenplay. Hey, we'll bite. "It's a romantic comedy set in New York, which seems like a great place to start," Refn told the Los Angeles Times. "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." This one is pure rumor at this point, but reports have suggested Warner Bros. is looking to pair director Steven Soderbergh with a young Hollywood star for this long-gestating adaptation of the '60s-era spy series. Gosling's name has come up alongside those of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Alexander Skarsgård. Reality? Wish list? Stay tuned. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Ryan Gosling Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

'Abduction' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know

All right, Taylor Lautner fans: Today is the day you've been waiting for! The actor's action-packed thriller "Abduction" has officially opened. Here at MTV News, we've been as excited as anyone for the 19-year-old's first post-"Twilight" lead role, and we've been following the film since it was announced. Take a look through our hand-crafted guide to the John Singleton-directed film, as we present everything you need to know about "Abduction": A New Action Star Is Born The buzz around the film began way back in February 2010, when Lionsgate Entertainment announced that Lautner would be starring in a film about a young man who sets out to learn who he really is after finding his baby picture posted on a missing-persons website. Shortly thereafter, a slew of name players were added to the cast, including Lily Collins, Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs, Maria Bello and Alfred Molina. Just before production began in Pittsburgh, MTV News caught up with Lautner to learn about the intense training and prep work he was doing for the role, which included boxing, fight training, learning to ride a motorcycle and swimming. Selling His Strengths Once production wrapped, the promotion machine ramped up and we got our first look at photos of Lautner on set, in character and in action. One of our best pre-release moments came back in April when we were very lucky to snag an early look at the first official trailer, as well as an exclusive sit-down with Lautner during "MTV First: Taylor Lautner." We heard trailer commentary straight from the source, as well as the challenges he faced during filming, his kissing scenes with Collins and whether he got any bumps or bruises from all the stunt work. Skills to Pay the Bills It was not long before we caught up with Lautner again in San Diego, during our Comic-Con Takeover, where we learned which seasoned Hollywood pros Lautner looked to for inspiration during filming, why Lautner was so committed to the role and how the film is different from other action thrillers out there. With about a month left before opening day, we got our first look at Lautner's stunt work, and then we gleaned a few steamy details about a certain kissing scene from Lautner's leading lady in the film. Collins also revealed key details about her character, Karen, and how she gets pulled into the cat-and-mouse chase with Lautner's character, Nathan. When we caught up with the entire cast at the film's premiere, we learned that kissing scenes are as challenging as action scenes, the young actors carried their acting weight as much as the seasoned pros, and everyone had a blast making the film. Oh and that Lautner always makes time for his fans. Check out everything we've got on "Abduction." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Lily Collins and Taylor Lautner in "Abduction" Photo: Lionsgate

'Breaking Dawn' Soundtrack: Bruno Mars Makes It 'Rain'

It's not enough that he's one of the most in-demand singer/songwriters working today, or that almost every song he cranks out is a chart-topper. Bruno Mars will now win over the millions upon millions of "Twilight" fans with "It Will Rain," which was announced as the first song on the "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." soundtrack. Summit Entertainment broke the news via the "Twilight" Facebook page, along with a photo of the artwork for Mars' single. The artwork looks like a painting, seemingly created with watercolors or oil paints. The picture depicts a brooding Mars in black silhouette, holding an umbrella in one hand, a bottle of something in the other. He's sitting in a chair, posture slightly slumped and legs spread out in front of him. The background is colorful, with swirls of paint dripping down the frame. "It Will Rain" is written in prominent thick black lettering to the right of Mars. In knowing Mars' style, we expect the song to be sweeping, epic and possibly heart-wrenching. In being named to the illustrious ranks of "Twilight" soundtrack artists, the rising star and VMA nominee joins artists like Paramore, the Black Keys and Muse. When we last checked in with "Breaking Dawn" director Bill Condon at Comic-Con, he confirmed they were putting serious thought into the crafting of the soundtrack, courtesy of composer Carter Burwell, who scored the first movie, as well as careful consideration of which acts to include. And while the director would not confirm Pattinson's inclusion on the soundtrack, he hinted that some of the musically inclined castmembers might lend their talents to a track or two. "We're just figuring out [the soundtrack] now," Condon said during MTV News' "Breaking Dawn" Comic-Con takeover. "We have a lot of [songs]. We have like 15, I think." 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. Bruno Mars Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage

Daniel Craig Recalls 'Dragon Tattoo' Auditions For Lisbeth

Come on : Rooney Mara is Lisbeth Salander, or as close to the "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" hacker as anyone born outside of Scandinavia could possibly be. We didn't need to see the latest, longest "Tattoo" trailer to be convinced the previously under-the-radar actress had transformed herself from a girl-next-door type to a worthy big-screen heir not only to the badass in Stieg Larsson's novel but to Noomi Rapace, who played Salander in the Swedish trilogy. We were sold after the first eye-popping photos of Mara in character appeared in January. Co-star Daniel Craig needed little convincing, as well, even though Mara was reportedly competing for the role with some of the biggest names in Hollywood — everyone from Natalie Portman to Kristen Stewart. "I think I knew pretty early on. I screen-tested with her a couple times and I saw exactly what [director] David [Fincher] was after with her," Craig told us. "If you read the books, she's just spot-on. Rooney herself is actually really rounded and normal — she's not boring, honestly — but she had to bring this very broken human being to life and she did it brilliantly." We were chatting with Craig as he promoted "The Adventures of Tintin," Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson's motion-capture adaptation of the classic French-language comic book series. While the actor spoke glowingly of the film, and previously raved to us about collaborating with Fincher on "Dragon Tattoo,", he confessed to having zero interest in reuniting with Fincher on his next effort, an adaptation of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," which will reportedly rely heavily on mo-cap technology. "He's got all sorts of things lined up, and I do not want to be on that production," Craig said. "I will go and visit them. It would be a great film to watch." Check out everything we've got on "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Rooney Mara in "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" Photo: Columbia Pictures

Brad Pitt Is 'Inspiring,' 'World War Z' Director Says

Like a zombie ambling toward its target, Brad Pitt took his time developing "World War Z." Plan B, his production company, first acquired the rights to Max Brooks' novel about the rise of the flesh-eating undead in 2007, then hiring "Quantum of Solace" director Marc Forster to helm the project before the script underwent a series of rewrites. At that point, it was not at all clear that Pitt would take on anything more than a behind-the-scenes role. Eventually, though, Forster found in Pitt not only a hands-on producer but the star of his film. "I was really intrigued by the book," Forster told MTV News at the Toronto International Film Festival while promoting his drama, "Machine Gun Preacher." "I always wanted to work with [Pitt]. I think he is an incredible actor and he is an inspiring collaborator. If you look at his filmography, he has incredibly good taste. The choices he makes — he's very smart about it." The book itself doesn't present a straightforward narrative, but an oral history that skips from character to character and crumbling nation to crumbling nation as the zombie apocalypse takes hold. From these far-flung plot strands, the filmmakers had to construct a coherent, streamlined narrative. What's more, they had to find a way to separate "World War Z" from the zombie-centric pack, both past and present, in movies, TV, video games and beyond. "You want to try to avoid the cliché, try to make something interesting that hasn't been done before, and I felt [Pitt] was the right collaborator for that," Forster said. Doing something fresh, in this case, meant creating something new: The film trades an oral history approach for a focus on Pitt's globe-hopping United Nations employee. "He's someone who works in the UN, has been in a lot of the hotspots around the world, from Bosnia to Sarajevo to Somalia, and has been able to stay alive," Forster said. "In this extraordinary circumstance, his journey is to basically stay alive so that the audience can keep enjoying the movie. He is trying to get to the root of how it started and to maybe find a way to beat it." Check out everything we've got on "World War Z." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Brad Pitt Photo: Steve Granitz/ Getty Images

'Breaking Dawn' Trailer: A Closer Look

Lots of romance, a touch of action and even a vampire/human birthing scene are all included in the latest "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" trailer. After dropping a trailer during June's MTV Movie Awards, the newest teaser fleshes out the moments that fans will salivate over most when the Bill Condon-directed film opens in November. Check out our five favorite moments in the new "Breaking Dawn" trailer. Hit play on the embedded video as we walk through some of the key moments in the trailer, then read on for a deeper exploration of what's going on in the "Breaking Dawn" footage. The Wedding The trailer opens with the ethereal wedding, as Bella and her father come to terms with her decision to marry her vampire lover, Edward. Dad is reserved but offers his assurance that he'll never let Bella fall, serving as a sort of theme for the trailer: Everyone seems to be resigned to the Edward/Bella marriage. Jacob's Goodbye "You think I'd be used to telling you goodbye by now," Jacob says as he embraces his unrequited love. It seems, much like Bella's father, that while Jacob may not be completely onboard, all he wants is for Bella to be happy. The Honeymoon Sweeping and romantic, the honeymoon has everything Twilighters have been waiting for, including boat rides, skinny dipping and that already teased bed-breaking love scene. "Last night was the best night of my existence," Edward says — and fans will no doubt agree with that sentiment. Labor Pains As shocked as Bella is by her pregnancy, everyone's reactions are just as dramatic. With one warning from her new father-in-law, Carlisle Cullen — "Your heart will give out before you can deliver" — a chain of events is set into motion. Edward worries his bride won't survive, and the wolves warn, "We don't know what they bred. We have to protect the tribe before it's too late." Special Delivery With fans clamoring over any footage of the much-discussed labor scene, now they finally get a taste of the pain and turmoil Bella will face as she tries to bring her baby into the world. While it answers that question, it raised another: Just how will "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" end and where will "Part 2" pick up? What's your favorite part of the trailer? Tell us in the comments! 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. Robert Pattinson in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" trailer Photo: Summit Entertainment

Taylor Lautner Is 'Proud' Of New 'Breaking Dawn' Trailer

Generally speaking, Friday is the collective favorite day of the week. For "Twilight" fans, however, Tuesday probably took the cake this week, as September 13 marked the debut of the second official trailer for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." To celebrate the occasion, we picked our top five favorite "Breaking Dawn" trailer moments and then consulted our trusted panel of "Twilight" experts for their esteemed opinions. Then we did one better: we managed to snag the opinion of Taylor Lautner at the Hollywood premiere of his new action thriller, "Abduction," on Thursday night. "I definitely saw it. I didn't see the reaction to it, but I've been really busy," he said, sounding slightly apologetic that he hadn't yet been able to scour the Internets for fan responses. "I'm so proud of it. I think the trailer is great. The movie is amazing, and I cannot wait for everyone to see it." Lautner also told us recently that he's done something very few people can say they have: He's seen "Breaking Dawn - Part 1." "I've seen it a few times," he said. "I saw it for the first time while we were still filming, so it was a really rough cut, but I've seen several versions since then, and it's getting better and better." Lautner warned fans to brace themselves for an emotional roller coaster. "You are going to face a lot of emotions, definitely," he teased. "You are going to be angry. I guarantee you [that] you will cry multiple times. There's a good mix. It's definitely different than any of the ones before." 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. Taylor Lautner Photo: Getty Images

Brad Pitt And Jonah Hill: The '21 Jump Street' Connection

After years of pleading and promising, Jonah Hill has reportedly landed Johnny Depp for a cameo in the big-screen adaptation of the '80s TV series "21 Jump Street." Hill actually had another connection to a "Jump Street" vet in Brad Pitt, who appeared in one episode as a long-haired high school kid. The actors now star in "Moneyball," a film that had wrapped production a year before cameras began rolling on "21 Jump Street." But Hill never hit up Pitt about joining in the new "21 Jump Street," as MTV News learned at the Toronto International Film Festival. "I did '21 Jump Street,' " Pitt told his co-star. "It was one of my first jobs." "Yeah, I know!" Hill responded. "I didn't bring it up with him just because I didn't think he'd want to talk about it that much. You were on '21 Jump Street,' because I had to watch all the episodes before I adapted it. You were fantastic!" "I don't even know what I did!" Pitt said. "That was the first big gig. You get a gig, man, you get a line! I think [my one line was] yes or no. I don't know what I said." Hill, meanwhile, is still refusing to confirm reports that Depp will appear in "21 Jump Street," which is set for a March release date. "You'll have to see," he told us earlier this month. Depp himself is not nearly as circumspect, dishing us the details this past summer. "I went and did my bit as I was hoping to, and it worked out really well. It was really fun," he said. "I got to spend some time with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum and the wonderful directors [Phil Lord and Chris Miller] on that. It was a great experience." Check out everything we've got on "21 Jump Street." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Brad Pitt Photo: MTV News

Oscar Host Eddie Murphy Will Commit '200' Percent

The American public may no longer be convinced about Eddie Murphy's enduring comedic gifts, based on the number of folks who purchased tickets to "Imagine That" and "Meet Dave." Even Eddie Murphy may no longer be convinced about Eddie Murphy's enduring comedic gifts. But one man with no such doubt is Brett Ratner, who is producing the 2012 Academy Awards and who has tapped Murphy to host. "I think there's no question about it. He's the greatest," Ratner told us Sunday night at the Emmy Awards about Eddie taking on the gig and slaying the crowd. "My first idea was the show had to go in the direction of more comedy with a single host, and there's nobody better on that stage than Eddie Murphy." "I grew up watching 'Raw' and 'Delirious' and being a big fan of him," Ratner added. "He's a huge movie star. He has huge international appeal. There's nobody better. He's a pro. The guy is a pro." That's certainly true, even if it has been a couple of decades since Eddie's days as the foulmouthed king of the standup comedy world. Ratner, for his part, appears to be attempting to hit a sort of Eddie Murphy reset button, for years trying to kick-start another "Beverly Hills Cop" film and now coming out this fall with "Tower Heist," a flick that finds the comedian cussing and riffing like it's the '80s all over again. Perhaps for Murphy, in Ratner he trusts. Which is why, according to the filmmaker, Eddie took zero convincing to take on the Oscar gig. "It's not the kind of job you want to convince anyone to do. They either want to do it or they don't," Ratner told us, adding that Eddie is going to commit more than 150 percent effort to the job. "200, not 150! 200!" For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Eddie Murphy Photo: Bruno Vincent/ Getty Images

'Lion King' 3-D Begins New Circle Of Life At Box Office

What's old was new again as Disney's iconic "The Lion King" became the #1 movie at the box office over the weekend, taking in an estimated $29.3 million with a souped-up 3-D redo of the 1994 original. "Drive," one of the year's best-reviewed films, was #3 in its weekend debut, while the poorly reviewed remake of "Straw Dogs" and Sarah Jessica Parker's even-worse-reviewed "I Don't Know How She Does It" both flopped in their debuts. Last week's #1 movie, "Contagion," dropped to #2 this week. "The Lion King" 3-D re-release earned more than the other three new releases combined. The film's original-run, IMAX re-release (back in 2002) and the past weekend's numbers pushed "The Lion King" from #25 to #17 on the all-time domestic box-office chart, according to Box Office Mojo. The animated tale, which has also quite successfully been adapted for Broadway, has made $357.8 million in the United States to date. Steven Soderbergh's ensemble procedural drama "Contagion" made $14.5 million in its second weekend of release, for a total of $44.2 million. "Drive" took in $11 million, but while the film has set Twitter abuzz in critic circles, it remains to be seen how it will continue to play with a broader audience. "This is one of Ryan Gosling's best performances," Aisle Seat reported. "The Help" came in at #4 at the box office, adding $6.4 million for a total of $147.3 million. The remake of director Sam Peckinpah's 1971 thriller "Straw Dogs," featuring "True Blood" star Alexander Skarsgård, mustered just $5 million in its debut. "I Don't Know How She Does It" fared even worse with just $4.5 million, which was less than the opening numbers of Parker's last two flops. Meanwhile, critical darling "Warrior" dropped 47 percent, all the way down to #8, in its second weekend of release with just $2.8 million for a $9.9 million total. "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star," which is the exact opposite of a critical darling (with a perfect "zero" score on film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes), made a paltry $2.3 million in 10 days after a $380,000 second weekend. Next weekend's new releases include Taylor Lautner's "Abduction," Brad Pitt's "Moneyball," action ensemble (Statham! Owen! DeNiro!) "Killer Elite" and filmmaker Kevin Smith's "Red State." Check out everything we've got on "The Lion King" and "Drive." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Photo: Disney

Alexander Skarsgard, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden Go Dark For 'Straw Dogs'

NEW YORK — Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgård and James Marsden have teamed up for a new millennium re-imagining of the classic 1971 Dustin Hoffman thriller "Straw Dogs." The violent, dark film revolves around a young couple (Bosworth, Marsden) who move back to her Southern hometown and find themselves pretty unwanted by the locals, including Bosworth's ex, played by "True Blood" vamp Skarsgård. "I had not seen the original film when I was offered the role; I had read the script first," Bosworth told MTV News at the premiere on Thursday. "I knew the original was a real cult classic. I read it and it was really intriguing, and then I watched the film, and I was pretty blown away; big shoes to fill. I thought, 'Oh my god, this is going to be quite an intense one,' but I love a challenge." Marsden was thrilled by the chance to tackle a character that was very new to him, even if it had been done before. "That's honestly one of the reasons I was drawn to it," he said. "It's a terrific role [and] in the 1971 original, my role was played by Dustin Hoffman, and I'm hoping most people will forget that. But, you know, it's an actor's dream role. So it was a tough thing to turn down. "I knew of the original, but I hadn't seen it," he added, noting he wanted to make sure "I had my own responses to [the story] before I was ever affected by seeing the original." He said that he didn't want to go into shooting "aping" Hoffman. Skarsgård also found himself with a major challenge. As the film's bad guy, he wanted to make sure he wasn't totally unlikable. "There was something that I felt there was a potential of exploring the relationship between the three of them, the dynamic there where I felt it could be interesting if you almost like Charlie in the beginning of the movie, and you're not sure if you want Amy to stay with David or go to Charlie," he said. Charlie's motives come from a really deep emotional place, Skarsgård added. "And, there was a sadness there that I wanted to capture," he said. "I didn't want to make it easy for the audience. I wanted to be more interesting than that." Alexander Skarsgård in "Straw Dogs" Photo: Screen Gems

Ryan Gosling 'Felt Ready To Play A Psycho' In 'Drive'

For those who only know Ryan Gosling from his warm fuzzy work in feel-good films like "The Notebook" and the more recent romantic comedy "Crazy, Stupid, Love," or for his heroics in breaking up street fights in New York City, watching the easy-on-the-eyes actor play a psycho in his new movie "Drive" may be a shock to your system. Directed by Nicholas Refn, the action thriller features Gosling as an intense, introverted driver-for-hire. His unnamed character is an automobile stuntman for Hollywood pictures by day and a getaway man for armed crooks by night. All is going relatively well until Gosling's driver becomes involved with his neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan) and offers to help her estranged ex-convict husband, who wants to rid himself of unpaid debts to a group of dangerous criminals. Naturally, things get heated and really violent. When MTV News caught up with Gosling recently, we asked why he wanted to play a psycho — his word, not ours. "I don't know, I just felt ready to play a psycho," he said with a smile. "What I was really focused on was making a violent John Hughes movie. I love John Hughes movies," he explained, adding that he would have appreciated them even more had the director infused them with some life-or-death intensity. "I love 'Pretty in Pink,' but I always wished there was some blood with the cotton candy," he said. "A little violence, a little head-smashing thrown in there for good measure. And so when I met Nicholas, he had had the same fantasy, too, so we just tried to go down that road." Check out everything we've got on "Drive." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Ryan Gosling Photo: MTV News

'Breaking Dawn' Trailer: Our Five Favorite Moments

Be still, our "Twilight"-obsessed hearts. Finally, a new trailer arrived online Tuesday (September 13), and it is a doozy. Picking up where the first one (which debuted during the MTV Movie Awards in June) left off, the sparkling, action-packed, two-minute-and-30-second teaser offers fresh glimpses of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." The fact that we enjoyed every second of this new trailer is a given, therefore we are breaking out our top five favorite moments: Charlie Walks Bella Down the Aisle Bella's dad has never seemed totally onboard with his daughter dating Edward Cullen, let alone marrying him. However, in this sweet moment that opens the trailer, we see a wonderful bond between Bella and Charlie, as well as the natural chemistry between actors Kristen Stewart and Billy Burke, as they prepare to walk down the aisle together. "Don't let me fall, Dad," Bella says. "Never," he answers. Jacob and Bella's Dance After three books and four films of fighting for her heart, Jacob Black has to succumb to serious heartbreak and officially say goodbye to Bella. This sweet and heartfelt moment is captured beautifully during a slow dance at Bella's wedding reception. "This is how I'll remember you," Jacob says to Bella, hinting at the fact that she's set her heart on becoming a vampire. "Pink cheeks, heartbeat — you think I'd be used to telling you goodbye by now." The Honeymoon Aftermath It's safe to say that fans have been more excited about seeing the honeymoon scene than any other — save for a glimpse at Bella's wedding dress, perhaps. In the new trailer, we revisit Edward's hands crushing the headboard, followed by a very pleased and peaceful Bella lying in bed, surrounded by feathers from torn pillows and possibly pieces of the headboard. Intense, heated and squeal-worthy, for sure. Wolves vs. Vamps It wouldn't be a "Twilight" movie without some sort of epic battle involved, and in "Breaking Dawn - Part 1," there is a grand showdown between wolves and vampires. The wolf pack, which Jacob has deserted, wants to prevent Bella's unborn half-human, half-vampire from being born. "Get ready, they're coming for Bella," Jacob says, anxiously. "They're not going to touch her," answers Edward. We then see a shot of a standoff, wolves surrounding the vampires, at which point Jacob addresses them, "If you kill her, you kill me," followed by quick cuts of Alice and Jasper Cullen fighting the wolves. Edward Reacts to Bella In Labor Throughout the final minute of the trailer, most of the emphasis is put on the tension surrounding Bella's pregnancy. Carlisle warns Bella: "The fetus isn't compatible with your body. It's too strong and fast growing. Your heart will give out before you can do anything" — which Bella doesn't want to hear, much like Edward's emotional outbursts that she has decided to give up her life for her unborn child, without considering his feelings. The last shot of the trailer is Edward's face, full of anguish and anxiety, with Bella screaming in pain in the background. What was your favorite scene in the trailer? Let us know in the comments! 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. Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner in "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Photo: Summit Entertainment

'Point Break,' 'Sparkle' Get The Remake Treatment

We can add two more films to the "classics" getting the reboot treatment in Hollywood: New versions of 1991's "Point Break" and 1976's "Sparkle" are reportedly in the works. TheWrap.com reports that Alcon Entertainment is currently working on a reimagining of surfer-heist flick "Point Break," which starred Keanu Reeves as FBI agent Johnny Utah who goes under cover and hangs 10 with a group of surfing criminals, led by Patrick Swayze. The new film will also include an extreme sport, but no word on whether it will still be surfing. Producer Michael DeLuca explained that the Kathryn Bigelow-directed original was "a Zen meditation on testosterone fueled action and manhood in the late 20th century" that they want to re-create for the 21st century. In that other remake news, according to Variety, Sony Pictures is readying a remake of "Sparkle," with Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston (who will also executive produce) rumored to star. Mike Epps has also been attached to the project, with production slated to begin next month. The original film's plot, inspired by the story of the Supremes, revolved around three Harlem sisters who become a successful 1950s girl group and experience the pitfalls of fame. The new movie will tell the story of an aspiring singer (Sparks) in 1968 Detroit. This will be Houston's first big screen film since 1996's "The Preacher's Wife." This is Sparks' feature film debut. Which remake are you more excited for? Tell us in the comments! Jordin Sparks Photo: Getty Images

Brad Pitt Won't 'Brag' About Angelina Jolie's Directorial Debut

Damn, those two lovebirds are simpatico! For a while now, we've been trying to get Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to dish details about her directorial debut, "In the Land of Blood and Honey," and his rumored cameo in the project. Last December, all Jolie would say about whether Pitt was involved in the film, a love story about a relationship between a Serbian man and a Bosnian woman in the lead-up to the 1992 Bosnian war, was this: "Possibly." Taking a cue from his lip-sealed lady, Pitt was determined at the Toronto International Film Festival this week not to say a peep about "Blood and Honey." "I will say nothing," he declared. "Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing." His "Moneyball" co-star Jonah Hill, sitting right beside him, was happy to fill the void. "It is the best college sex comedy I have ever seen in my entire life!" he cracked, before openly wondering, "I have no idea what you guys are talking about. It doesn't sound like a funny movie to me. What is 'In the Land of Blood and Honey?' " We filled Hill in. The movie, which marks Jolie's directorial debut and is eying a December 23 release, "illustrates the consequences of the lack of political will to intervene in a society stricken with conflict," according to a press release from distributor FilmDistrict. "Oh, OK, sorry, it just sounded like a serious movie," he said by way of explaining his joke. All of which led to Pitt correcting us that it wasn't just directed by his girlfriend. "And written. Written by," he made it known. "I'm not bragging." Check out everything we've got on "In the Land of Blood and Honey." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

'Breaking Dawn' Trailer: Experts Pick Favorite Scenes

Now that we've finally seen the latest trailer for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" and picked our favorite moments, it's time that we turn the continued swooning and sighing over to our trusted panel of "Twilight" experts to learn what they loved most about the new sneak peek. "My favorite scene ... was the feathers in the bed," TwilightLexicon.com owner Laura Byrne-Cristiano said of the honeymoon aftermath, featuring a sleepy and happy-looking Bella surrounded by feathers from a torn pillow. "That was a moment I think every fan wanted to be there. I was so happy that it was in the trailer, and we know it's going to be in the movie. It could have been cheesy, and it looks like it's going to be fun." "My favorite scene was the dancing scene with Bella and Jacob," Kara Hassell of TwilightersAnonymous.com said. "I liked it because we [usually] see a lot of action, especially with Jacob and the wolf pack, so it was nice to see a really serious moment between them. I think that their chemistry is great and they do really well." Kallie Matthews from TwilightSeriesTheories.com went for the more uncomfortable moment. "There were a lot of favorite moments. This is slightly morbid, but [I liked] actually getting to see parts of the birth scene," she admitted. "I've been so curious about how it's going to play out. The books are just glimpses, and it seems like the movie is going to be that way too, so I'm really glad that Bill Condon is staying true to that," she explained. "Like I said, morbid." What was your favorite scene in the trailer? Let us know in the comments! 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. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Photo: Summit Entertainment

'Like Crazy' Director Says Stars Were '100 Percent Game'

For his romantic weeper "Like Crazy" — the 2011 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner about two college sweethearts torn apart due to deportation — director Drake Doremus tapped a veritable who's who of Hollywood's young, up-and-coming talent, including Anton Yelchin and Jennifer Lawrence. But he took a real gamble on 27-year-old Felicity Jones, casting the actress after having only seen an audition tape filmed in her London flat. He said it was a risk well worth the return. As part of our Fall Movie Preview, Doremus spoke with MTV News about the autobiographical nature of his tender drama, taking a chance on Jones and all those comparisons to "Blue Valentine." Click for photos from fall's biggest flicks! MTV: This is such a heart-wrenching love story. Is it autobiographical in any way? What was your inspiration? Drake Doremus: I think, trying to make a genuine love story, it would be silly not to try to dig deep and find pieces of yourself and put them in the film. So there's a lot of emotional truth in the film that I've gone through and relationship elements, for sure. It's a very personal love story. MTV: Felicity Jones is already gaining a lot of buzz for her performance. It seems like she kind of came out of nowhere. How did you cast her? Doremus: Felicity sent me a tape from London. I had seen about 50 girls in Los Angeles. I'd brought a few of them in with Anton and did the chemistry read, and I was not quite feeling it yet. She sent a tape of herself in her flat in London. She just embodied everything that was this character. I immediately called her and told her to come. It was a total gut call. I had never even seen her with Anton, and I didn't even know if they'd have chemistry, but something in my gut told me we had to cast Felicity Jones and that she was the right person for this. And man, oh man, that's probably one of the best decisions I've ever made in my career. MTV: Were you surprised by the actors' intense chemistry given that they hadn't tested together? Doremus: Yeah, I was shocked. I mean, it's a tribute to how game they were to go down this path and go down this journey. At the first rehearsal session, I asked them very specifically, "You have to understand what kind of a journey we're going on here. We're going to live this thing. We're going to breathe it, and it's going to come from the inside out. You're going to have a four-week love affair. Are you guys game to do this?" They were 100 percent game. MTV: You improvised a lot of scenes in this film. Is that a process that was specific to this project, or a method you prefer? Doremus: It's a formula I've been developing for the last couple of years that I'm continuing to fine-tune and use. It's essentially just a form of writing the characters, the backstory and the emotional arc and where we're going. The actors are always encouraged to do and say whatever they feel and let things happen sort of organically. MTV: Does this approach leave you with a lot more footage to work with than if you'd strictly stuck to a script? Doremus: Absolutely. It's crazy, actually. We could have cut four, five completely different versions of this movie. It would have been the same story but how we got to the end point would have been very different. You give yourself options, and the editing process becomes the third leg of the writing stool. MTV: Many critics have been calling "Like Crazy" this year's "Blue Valentine." What do you make of those comparisons? Doremus: Well, first of all, it's an honor. I think that's a very beautiful film. But I think they're very different. You know, I think this film is a much more romantic, innocent and hopeful and optimistic look at love. Check out everything we've got on "Like Crazy." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin in "Like Crazy" Photo: Fred Hayes/Paramount

Lady Gaga 'Ethereal' In 'You And I' Fashion Film

While on the Nebraska set of her "Yoü and I" video, Lady Gaga worked on many projects. Not only did fashion photographers Inez & Vinoodh shoot her Harper's Bazaar cover while on set there, they also worked on a series of fashion films. The films put a spotlight on each of the characters from her epic "Yoü and I" clip. Her first dropped earlier this month and features Gaga as her nymph alter ego. "We built a studio in a pig sty and worked for three days with her constantly coming off set to us and filming with us and taking pictures," Inez dished. "What's incredible in there is that this is Gaga, as herself in the character that she is, related to the 'Yoü and I' video, and it's purely her. "You can tell, especially in the one that came out now, she's so happy and she's loving her life and she's really, you can tell, she's reaching her full potential. It's a complete being." So, what is Nymph Gaga like? "It's a very pure being, and it's kind of like the sweetest, most ethereal side of her," Inez added. "And you know when you meet her, she's so real." The duo confirm they are working on the rest of the series, and five more will drop once Mother Monster gives her final go-ahead. "She asked us to make these videos as a bridge between fashion and rock and roll, and since both are kind of equally important for her as an inspiration and starting point," they said. "So, she really said to us, 'Do your thing, what you would do in fashion context,' let's say, but relate it to the characters that she is in the 'Yoü and I' video." Share your opinion on Gaga's nymph fashion film in the comments below! Lady Gaga Photo: Getty Images

Jonah Hill Reveals 'Hard-Core' Laughs In 'The Sitter'

Director David Gordon Green calls it the love child of John Hughes and Martin Scorsese. Star Jonah Hill dubs it his favorite film experience since "Superbad." However you want to spin it, one look at the red-band trailer for "The Sitter" makes clear: This is one damn funny movie. But MTV News didn't have to wait until August when the footage popped up online. We checked out the Brooklyn set last fall, when Hill and Green were plowing forward with their raunchy-yet-sweet-hearted comedy, and we walked away with muscles sore from laughing. As part of our Fall Movie Preview, we're bringing you a sneak peek at "The Sitter," which hits theaters December 9, plus our chat with Hill, who spoke about drug dealers, improvisers and how he made sure the studio wouldn't soften his comedy's hard-R edges. MTV: How's the shoot going? Jonah Hill: It's going great. This is our halfway week. Week five out of 10 weeks. Very interesting information for people at home! I'm sure people were wondering how many weeks our shoot was. Big question on everyone's mind. But it's been the most fun experience of my life. MTV: Where does that vibe come from? Hill: It started with the script, which I thought was fantastic and hilarious and heartfelt and all the things I look for when choosing a movie. Then it continued when I said, "Yeah, I want to do this, let's find a director." I asked David, and he read it and said yes. Then we asked Sam Rockwell, and he read it and said yes. All the kids we found are amazing. The movie is about me having to babysit these three kids for the night. It's kind of like an R-rated, insane version of "Adventures in Babysitting." All hell breaks loose, and Sam Rockwell and J.B. Smoove play these two drug dealers. My mean girlfriend convinces me to buy her some drugs for her party. One of the kids steals some drugs from them, and then we're on the run through New York City for the rest of the night. The drug dealers turn out to be eccentric guys — they have science experiments and other insane stuff going on — and end up being the worst guys in the world to piss off. MTV: What's the nature of your interaction with Sam's character? Hill: He's a weird guy and goes back and forth between being funny and charming, and being uncomfortable and strange. Perfect for Sam. Not as a person, as an actor. MTV:Have you worked with kids before? Hill: Not on a major scale. Christopher Mintz-Plasse was technically a kid when I worked with him. When we were making "Superbad," Chris was the only one who had to go to school. So Seth [Rogen] and myself and Michael [Cera] would constantly make fun of him because he had this old teacher who would come — not old, if you're watching! — and be like, "Chris, it's time for school," and we would just laugh and laugh. And here we are uneducated and unable to read. MTV: These kids are a little bit younger ... Hill: Yeah, these are little kids. They're 10, 10 and 13. It's honestly the most fun ever. They bring such a fun energy to everything. We took them on a field trip to see "Jackass 3D." It was awesome. MTV: David is a director who likes to throw things out at you and see what happens. Does that play to your strength? Hill: He is incredibly improvisationally gifted. He's super fun. He's just a gifted guy. He's one of those guys who you meet and you feel he could possibly do anything if given the opportunity. He's super into real-estate ventures and weird things like that. He's an eccentric guy and one of my close friends. I'm happy to finally work together. MTV: Needless to say, this is a hard-R film. Hill: Pretty hard R, pretty aggressive R-rated film. They asked me to act in the movie, and I said I will if you let me be an executive producer because I want to make sure it maintains what I read on the page to being as hard-core with kids as you'll let us go. If this is the movie that takes us out of the business, we went down swinging! From "Abduction" to "Muppets, "Moneyball" to "Breaking Dawn," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest upcoming flicks in our 2011 Fall Movie Preview. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars. Check out everything we've got on "The Sitter." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Jonah Hill in "The Sitter" Photo: Fox Film

'Breaking Dawn' Trailer Is 'Stunning,' Experts Say

If you're as excited about "Twilight" as we are here at MTV News, then you're likely still reeling from the release of the brand-new trailer for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" on Tuesday. Now that some time has passed in order to reflect on those two minutes and 30 seconds of goodness, we decided to seek out the reactions from our favorite dedicated "Twilight" experts. "Fantastic. Definitely my favorite [trailer] of any of the movies," gushed Laura Byrne-Cristiano, who owns TwilightLexicon.com. "I think [director] Bill Condon absolutely nailed it. He got everything: action, romance and an amazing collection of individual shots. There's got to be close to 100 individual shots in that trailer, and it's just absolutely stunning." Kara Hassell of TwilightersAnonymous.com agreed with Condon's trailer-cutting brilliance. "My overall reaction is I loved it," she said. "I don't think Bill could have done a better job. He picked everything that I think everybody wanted to see for the most part. I think it was perfect, and I wasn't missing anything." Hassell added that she felt a more emotional connection to the new trailer. "There were a lot of heartfelt moments. I really liked how that played out in the trailer," she said. "The last couple films, they tried to push the action in it, and I really liked that they stuck to the book and the heartfelt moments that are in 'Breaking Dawn.' " Meanwhile, Kallie Matthews from TwilightSeriesTheories.com expressed delight in getting more glimpses of the arrival of baby Renesmee, or "Nessie," a nickname readers of the book well know. "We got to see a little bit of what it's going to be like to have Nessie, and that's going to be awesome," Matthews said of Bella's intense, climactic labor scenes, during which Renesmee is welcomed into the world. "I'm really, really excited, because it wasn't all romance; it was some of the conflict and turmoil," she added. "So that got me excited about it." What was your favorite scene in the trailer? Let us know in the comments! 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. Kristen Stewart in the "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" trailer Photo: Summit Entertainment

'Contagion' Slays 'Warrior' At Weekend Box Office

We wouldn't be surprised by a spike in hand-sanitizer sales over the weekend, considering how many folks saw "Contagion." Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh's procedural thriller — about a pandemic spread through doorknobs, Blackberrys and handshakes — was the #1 movie at the box office, with an estimated $23.1 million debut. "Contagion" — which stars a remarkable number of Academy Award nominees and winners — Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, John Hawkes, Elliott Gould, Jude Law and Laurence Fishburne — has been a hit with critics, with 82 percent of them reviewing the film favorably, according to Rotten Tomatoes. "Warrior" also boasted 82 percent on the Tomatometer at press time but was only able to muster a paltry $5.6 million in its debut, landing the mixed-martial arts drama at #3 on the box-office chart. By comparison, "The Fighter" (which critics also loved) took in $12.1 million in its 2010 debut. By all accounts Adam Sandler and his Happy Madison pals had a blast making "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star," but it's unlikely they were pleased with the film's reception. "Bucky" (which wasn't screened in advance for critics) took in less than $2 million at 1,500 single-screen locations. The movie's $1.45 million is less than half the opening-weekend number of "Grandma's Boy," which starred Bucky co-writer Allen Covert and "Bucky" star Nick Swardson. Meanwhile "The Help" continued to do great business, landing at #2 with another $8.6 million added to its five-week total (which now stands at over $137 million). The adaptation of the popular novel is now the 14th-highest grossing film of 2011. "The Help" co-star Jessica Chastain also appears in "The Debt," which took in $4.9 million in its second weekend of release to land at #4. "Columbiana" rounded out the top five with $4 million in its second weekend of release. The Luc Besson-produced female-driven action flick has earned $29.7 million thus far. This weekend's new releases include the highly touted Ryan Gosling flick "Drive," which Variety wrote "takes the tired heist-gone-bad genre out for a spin, delivering fresh guilty-pleasure thrills in the process." Check out everything we've got on "Contagion." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Matt Damon in "Contagion" Photo: Warner Bros

Shia LaBeouf Feels 'Vindication' After 'Transformers 3' Success

In the run up to the release of "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," Shia LaBeouf was adamant about two things: the second chapter of his alien robot franchise honestly wasn't very good at all and the newest sequel would blow everyone away. "It is the best movie we've made, I'm serious," LaBeouf told MTV News in June. "It's not a joke. I'm dead honest, man. I get myself in trouble all the time, but this is our best installment." He's probably right. "Dark of the Moon" is the top-grossing film in the series ($1.1 billion) and received an "A" CinemaScore from audiences, according to Paramount. Having announced that the third "Transformers" film will be his last, LaBeouf recently told us that he's leaving the franchise on a high note. "For me, I feel vindicated for having guilt on my shoulders for the second movie," he said. "There is vindication in this one being successful and people enjoying it." Since finishing up the international press tour for "Dark of the Moon," LaBeouf has been collaborating on a music video with Marilyn Manson and doing postproduction work on John Hillcoat's "The Wettest County in the World," a drama about Prohibition-era bootleggers. "That's probably the biggest, coolest opportunity I've been allotted so far," LaBeouf said of Hillcoat's follow-up to "The Road." "It's the most colorful character I've been able to play, the most depth I've been able to show as an actor." At the same time, the actor has been prepping for work on "The Company You Keep," a political thriller that Robert Redford will direct and star in. "I've been in Redford's office doing read-throughs," LaBeouf said. "He's very efficient with his time. He's a master at juggling his time and his attention span. When his attention span is focused in your direction, he's laser-beam focused. He knows exactly what he wants. He's very specific. He's hilarious and fun and vibrant and everything you'd want in a director. I'm very excited to see a man direct himself. I've never seen that happen on a set. I know how intense and tough that's going to be. I'm showing up more as an audience member." Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Shia LaBeouf at the New York premiere of "Transformers: Dark Of The Moon" on June 28, 2011 Photo: Jamie McCarthy/ WireImage

Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz 'Committed' To 'Dream House' Couple

Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz married in a quiet New York ceremony in June, an idyllic union that presents a stark contrast to their onscreen marriage in "Dream House." A genre mash-up with thriller and horror elements directed by Jim Sheridan, the film begins with a familiar setup: Craig, Weisz and their daughters move to a new home, only to discover their quarters are nothing like what they expected. From there, though, "Dream House" takes a twist, one that makes viewers reconsider everything they've previously seen and which was revealed in a surprisingly spoiler-filled trailer this summer. Click for photos from fall's biggest flicks! But as producer Ehren Kruger told MTV News recently, that twist is just one in a flick filled with them. If you think you know everything "Dream House" has in store, he made clear that you're missing all the clues — just as Kruger and the rest of the cast and crew seemingly missed the signs on set that Craig and Weisz's heated on-camera coupling was the beginning of a trip down the aisle. As part of our Fall Movie Preview, we not only have a chat with Kruger, but the first clip from the film, in which Weisz confesses that she's certain something is wrong with their new home and Craig promises to hire a priest or "feng shui the place." Hit play on the video above and then read on for Kruger's interview. MTV: You've got some impressive talent in front of and behind the camera. How did all those pieces of the puzzle come together? Ehren Kruger: It started with the original script by David Loucka, which blended genres in a very interesting way. That caught the eye of Jim Sheridan, and he's not a director who is known for doing straightforward genre pieces. So he responded to some of the deeper character ideas in the script, and once he became interested, we started developing the script with him and very quickly there were actors like Daniel and Rachel and Naomi [Watts] that were interested in being a part of it, because his reputation is so wonderful with performance. You don't always get that in genres that are perceived as just a mystery or just a scary movie or just a thriller, so getting involved in this allowed the actors to bring their A-game and challenge themselves performance-wise. MTV: As you said, this is not the type of film that Jim Sheridan normally takes on. Why was he the right guy for the job? Kruger: He's often dealing with families in an emotional crisis. He really responds to that sort of environment, so while this story has a lot of the scary genre trappings and mystery trappings, at its core it's really a family that's in intense crisis. MTV: In terms of developing the script, what are the influences you drew on? Kruger: It shares some genre DNA with movies like "The Others" or "The Sixth Sense" or "Rosemary's Baby" and movies that really try to cast a spell in terms of mood. In the world of scary thriller mysteries, there are the vampires and the zombies and the mask killers. They are very upfront with what is scary about them. And then there are the more traditional ghost-story antagonists, where their secrets can play something even more sinister. You don't quite know who is pulling the strings and what to be afraid of. We talked about some of those classic ghost-story influences like "The Haunting" or "The Innocence" or "The Shining," movies where you are dealing with something you initially think you can fight or combat but then aren't sure if you can at all. MTV: Tell us about what Daniel brought to the table, how he approached the material and how he made the character his own. Kruger: He's a very intense person, and it comes across in his roles and on the screen. This is a character who, on the outside, seems like an everyman, a family man, but you come to find out he has a number of demons of his own. Daniel was really able to dig into those and pull off a very intense portrayal of a man trying to protect his family in nearly an impossible situation. It's a very valiant performance from him. And the chemistry between him and Rachel, which is kind of the core of the film, is really great. MTV: Was their relationship off camera apparent to you on the set? Kruger: They are both very focused actors, so you just figured they were really committed to their performance of this married couple. There is method acting and I guess there is matrimonial method acting. But I wouldn't say it was apparent during shooting. They were playing the roles as professional, and it went from there. MTV: You show a big twist in the trailer about the murders that took place in the house. How do you make the decision of how much to reveal and how early? Kruger: It's always a trick with movies that start off seeming like one thing and then turn into something else. In the case of this movie, it turns into something else again. You just have to make the decision of what is the best way to tell the audience that they are going to be getting more than what they think they are getting. You could have a trailer that doesn't reveal any of the revelations that they will come to find out about — the house where he lives and the family — and then there's just not quite enough juicy material to sell the movie. You have to provide a little and assure the audience there's going to be more revelations. MTV: When do you find out who the murderer is in the movie? Kruger: It will be in the first half of the movie that you are getting the revelations that are in the trailer, so there is still half of the movie of mystery to tell. From "Abduction" to "Muppets, "Moneyball" to "Breaking Dawn," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest upcoming flicks in our 2011 Fall Movie Preview. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars. Check out everything we've got on "Dream House." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz in "Dream House" Photo: Universal Pictures

'Anonymous' Director Believes Shakespeare Was 'A Fraud'

For his next trick, Roland Emmerich — the man who brought you such blockbusters as "Independence Day," "The Day After Tomorrow" and "2012" — will be taking you all the way back to the times of ... Shakespeare? It's perhaps not a conventional choice for a filmmaker who is best known for his over-the-top alien invasions and natural disasters, but make no mistake, "Anonymous" is a movie that is very near and dear to Emmerich's heart. The project — which takes place during Elizabethan England and centers on Edward de Vere (Rhys Ifans), the Earl of Oxford and a man who some believe to be the true author of Shakespeare's works — has been in development for nearly a decade. Now, Emmerich's ready to tell his story, with his take on the Man from Stratford's real identity arriving in theaters on October 28. Click for photos from fall's biggest flicks! MTV News' Fall Movie Preview continues today with a conversation with Emmerich, who spoke with us about his interest in Shakespeare, the themes of succession and identity crises, how visual effects are actually working to keep budgets down, and whether or not he truly believes that Shakespeare was a fraud. MTV: "Anonymous" deals with conspiracies centering on Shakespeare and conflicts during Elizabethan England, but for you, at its core, what is this movie about? Roland Emmerich: In the foreground for people, it's probably the whole issue of did [Shakespeare] write [his works] or did he not? But for me, it was also always about this time and succession. The most important thing in these days was, "Who will be the next king?" Especially Elizabeth's [succession], being the virgin queen, there was a lot of insecurity. When you want to come up with a story to explain to people why it could have been that the wrong guy got credited, it has to have a really big reason. I kind of thought everything in Shakespeare is about the prince, it's about succession. Half of his plays are pretty much about that. I kind of said, "This has to be the reason why he can't put his name on it." MTV: It's also interesting when you consider a lot of his work focuses on doubles and dual identities. Emmerich: Exactly. It's a lot about bastard children, the identity crisis of the young prince, you know? The court, the court intrigue, and about how power gets distributed by the king. I knew that the movie had to be about that. MTV: On the surface, "Anonymous" doesn't seem like the kind of movie that fans of your films like "Independence Day" or "2012" would necessarily expect from you. What drew you to this? What made this story something you wanted to tell as a filmmaker? Emmerich: Well, first of all, you get older. [ Laughs ] I always was super interested in reading about history. I think history is kind of something that isn't explored enough in movies, honest to god. I know this is kind of a relatively adult movie, but I said to myself, if I'm interested in something, I assume other people are too. This time around, it's probably another crowd and another audience. But the movie also doesn't have to perform that well to make money, so I'm kind of hopeful that Sony won't be [left] there with empty pockets. MTV: You've been attached to this project and working on it for several years before the movie got made. How did "Anonymous" finally come together for you? Emmerich: I've been on this project for nine years. Around five years ago, Sony greenlit it, and we'd headed to England. We had a lot of money, and [we got] more and more, and it became too expensive of a movie. We also couldn't quite get the cast. So we stopped it. But then I realized that this movie had to be done for a certain price. When I did "2012," I realized that now with digital cameras and blue screens, you can do quite amazing things and you can cheapen a movie without making it look smaller. This movie, even if it costs very little, when people come out they're asking, "How much did this thing cost?" And I'll say, "Much less than you think!" [ Laughs ] Some people ask, "What was it, $70 [million]? $90?" And I say, "No, it was $30." And they're super surprised. I tell them, "Look, everyone keeps talking about this, the fact that one day, visual effects can help us to make movies cheaper." And this was actually the first movie where visual effects helped to make a really, really big look, but it actually saved us tons of money. MTV: What was the research process like on "Anonymous"? What did you do to brush up your Shakespeare, so to speak? Emmerich: I never claimed to be a big Shakespeare scholar or anything. I've watched every movie that was made about his plays, which is a good way to get into William Shakespeare's plays, because most of the time, the plays themselves — you get the highest grade of talent and I did that. I said to myself, "I'm not a theater director." What we did was we looked for a theater director, and found one in Tamara Harvey, who's very young but has worked under Mark Rylance at [Shakespeare's Globe in London]. We had long discussions with Mark and some Shakespeare actors in London, and we tried to approach it like that. For me, it was very important to get the plays right and the work right. I wanted to glorify William Shakespeare; I didn't want to destroy him. MTV: But at the core of this movie's marketing campaign, there's been that tantalizing four-word question: "Was Shakespeare a fraud?" Based on what you discovered in the process of making this movie, do you have your answer to that question? Emmerich: He was a fraud. I'm totally convinced. MTV: What makes you so convinced? Emmerich: I read pretty much everything on the Freudian side and the Oxford side and made my own opinion, you know? I'm not alone with this opinion. There are very famous people throughout history, a lot of writers and a lot of artists like Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles, Emerson, Walt Whitman, Henry James, Sigmund Freud. ... There are so many people who were absolutely convinced of what I'm convinced about. And when you talk to Shakespeare scholars, they're kind of totally biased, because they've lived their whole lives and written books about the Man from Stratford. Sure, they have to scream and yell and say this is all nonsense, but I think these guys over the next 20 or 30 years will not be able to uphold this. I think it's not good to tell kids lies in school, and I'm saying, why not openly discuss that there's a problem? I think to get access to William Shakespeare, the Man from Stratford, for kids today is totally boring. You cannot get this guy together with the plays. The plays are super complex and tell a lot about court life and themes that represent his time incredibly well, and then there's this Bard from Stratford and Avon, a guy who, when you look at him, was probably a businessman. From "Abduction" to "Muppets, "Moneyball" to "Breaking Dawn," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest upcoming flicks in our 2011 Fall Movie Preview. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars. Check out everything we've got on "Anonymous." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Joely Richardson and Jamie Campbell Bower in "Anonymous" Photo: Reiner Bajo/Columbia

Eddie Murphy To Host 2012 Oscars

After trying out a pair of young Hollywood stars for last year's Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has settled on a seasoned vet to helm the 84th annual Academy Awards: Eddie Murphy. "I am enormously honored to join the great list of past Academy Award hosts from Hope and Carson to Crystal, Martin and Goldberg, among others," Murphy said in a statement. "I'm looking forward to working with [producers] Brett [Ratner] and Don [Mischer] on creating a show that is enjoyable for both the fans at home and for the audience at the Kodak Theatre as we all come together to celebrate and recognize the great film contributions and collaborations from the past year." Ratner is equally excited to re-team with Murphy, whom he directed in the upcoming "Tower Heist." "Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever," Ratner said. "With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances — especially on stage — I know he will bring excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show Don and I want to produce in February." In other Oscar-related news, rumor has it that veteran host Billy Crystal will also be incorporated into the show. We still haven't heard much from new Oscars producer Ratner, however, other than his initial statement that the gig is "a dream come true." "This wasn't even in my dreams, it's so far out," he said last month. "This is something I never could have imagined." The filmmaker, who directed Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in the "Rush Hour" comedy trilogy as well as 2006's comic book adaptation "X-Men: The Last Stand," isn't wasting any time in getting started on his plans for the show, which will air live from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on February 26, 2012. "Work begins now," he said. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Eddie Murphy Photo: Getty Images

Adam Sandler Is No 'Centerfold' In 'Jack And Jill' Drag

Adam Sandler and director Dennis Dugan have a long history together that includes teaming up on money-making screwball comedies like "Happy Gilmore," "Big Daddy" and "You Don't Mess With the Zohan." Their big-screen antics continue this fall with the November release of "Jack and Jill," a family comedy that has Sandler playing the role of Jack — and that of his sister Jill — alongside Katie Holmes and Al Pacino, who plays himself. If that sounds like a recipe for ridiculousness, check out what Dugan had to say recently about the hilarity that ensued during production, including what Sandler is like in drag and just how funny Pacino really is. MTV: How is Adam as a woman? Dennis Dugan: Wonderful. He plays this absolutely [straight]; [Jill is] essentially his identical twin sister, so not a centerfold, if I can be diplomatic. MTV: Does she think she's a centerfold? Dugan: She's this Bronx spinster, all that that entails in a single, 40-ish woman from the Bronx. She's a really powerful personality that could be translated as a pain in the ass, depending on who you are, but has a really, really, really nice heart. She just doesn't understand how annoying she is. MTV: What kind of Adam Sandler movie is this? How does it compare to your other offerings? Dugan: It's very funny. It's got a lot of heart. It's PG and it's a Thanksgiving/Christmas type of movie and, so far, in tests it appeals all the way across the board. And so if you were saying it was different from a normal Adam Sandler movie, it has a wide appeal to both — to women and boys too. So it plays out pretty equally among all the quadrants, where usually [our movies] are a tiny bit more focused on younger males. MTV: How was working with Al Pacino? Dugan: It was just absolutely wonderful when he said yes. We were delighted and then we were scared. He's an artist, he wants to be as great as he can possibly be and he doesn't care what project it is. I saw him on Broadway in "Merchant of Venice" and he has the exact commitment to playing the part of Al Pacino in the movie as he did Shylock. MTV: Would you say that Pacino or Katie Holmes is the more pleasant surprise in the film? Dugan: I wouldn't say one or the other was more pleasant but it was just delightful. [Katie] is just the nicest human being and the most flexible in terms of working. She had a lot to do with most characters; Pacino had a little less to do in terms of split screens and all of the effects and green screens and all of that stuff. But Katie just has that smile on her face and it's genuine. And then Al, like I said, we were kind of scared because we didn't know what his process was but he just dives in, completely commits to everything. Every crazy thing we threw at him, he did, and did it with gusto, and that was nice because he's delightful and happy and brave and I couldn't have had a better time. From "Abduction" to "Muppets, "Moneyball" to "Breaking Dawn," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest upcoming flicks in our 2011 Fall Movie Preview. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars. Check out everything we've got on "Jack and Jill." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Adam Sandler in "Jack and Jill" Photo: Columbia Pictures