* With The Lone Ranger finally overcoming it's budget woes, the Gore Verbinski-directed western looked to have the entire cast back in place even after all the delays. Armie Hammer is taking on the title role, with Johnny Depp as his Native American sidekick, Tonto, in a story that will be seen mostly from his perspective. But also the supporting cast, which features Tom Wilkinson, James Badge Dale, and Helena Bonham Carter. One who won't be sticking around is Dwight Yoakem, who was set to play the bad guy Butch Cavendish. He's been forced to drop out over what is being called scheduling conflicts. A major loss, if you ask me, as nobody does vile villainy better than Yoakem does. [Deadline]
* Adam Shankman, currently wrapping up his 80s hair band musical Rock of Ages, is in early talks to direct This is Where I Leave You, an adaptation of the novel by Jonathan Tropper. The story centers on a dysfuctional, estranged family forced to sit Shiva for a week. Basically they must stay under the same roof for seven days, and of course all sorts of family secrets and pent up grudges emerges. Greg Berlanti(Life as We Know It) was initially going to direct, then it was offered up to David Yates(Harry Potter). There's no clue whether Shankman will accept, but he's more than just a guy who does musicals, as he directed Bedtime Stories and A Walk to Remember a few years ago.
* Some shrewd manuevering by Warner Brothers here, as they've decided to move their hotly anticipated mob flick, Gangster Squad, up one week to October 12th 2012. Why? Because October 19th would have them squaring off with Paranormal Activity 4, and unfortunately nobody is going to choose the studio's prestige film over the unquestioned horror king. Gangster Squad is directed by Ruben Fleischer, and stars Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emma Stone, Anthony Mackie, Nick Nolte, and a more in a 1940s set story of an elite team of LA cops trying to hold back the influx of east coast mobsters in the west coast.
