David S. Goyer Will Return To Directing With THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO

THR reports that screenwriter David S. Goyer will be returning to the world of directing with new version of The Count of Monte Cristo. The project comes from Constantin Films and Impact films best known for their Resident Evil franchise. However, the producers have been branching out with period adventure films such as The Three Musketeers and the upcoming disaster project Pompeii. David currently doesn't have writing duites on the project as Michael Robert Johnson (Pompeii) has adapted the screenplay.

Goyer has had a very solid upswing in his career lately developing stories for Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, getting the ball rolling on Legendary's Godzilla reboot and apparently a solid effort with Man of Steel. Warner Bros. is rumored to have already hired Goyer to begin work on a Superman sequel to Steel and even rumbling of possible screenwriting gig on Justice League. It will be interesting to see if Goyer has learned new tricks as a filmmaker since his previous outings Blade Trinity and The Unborn didn't connect with audiences. To be clear this is the studio behind The Resident Evil franchise, so they could be looking for mindless 3D action over substance.

Emily Browning And Jared Harris Join Kit Harington In POMPEII

THR reports that Emily Browning (Sucker Punch) and Jared Harris (Benjamin Button, Mad Men, Lincoln. Sherlock Holmes 2) have joined the cast of Paul W.S. Anderson's (Three Musketeers) Pompeii which has Game of Thrones star Kit Harington (Seventh Son, Silent Hill 2) in the lead. You might remember Jared had a supporting role in Resident Evil 2 which could be how Anderson wrangled him into this project. Let's just hope the film ends up a little more coherent than his Resident Evil movies since it does seem to have an interesting setting and potential to be an entertaining flick.

Pompeii is set in 79 A.D. and follows Milo (Kit Harington), a slave-turned-invincible gladiator who finds himself in a race against time to save his true love Flavia (Emily Browning), a wealthy merchant's daughter who unwillingly has been betrothed to a corrupt Roman general. Jared Harris will play Flavia's father Lucretius.

Bruce Willis To Star In Five Against The Bullet

Deadline reports that Bruce Willis has taken a lead role in Five Against The Bullet. The action film from writer Alex Litvak (Predators, Three Musketeers) focuses on on a Mexican politician who, after his father is killed by a drug cartel, hires the five best bodyguards from around the world to protect him through a contentious election. Willis of course will play one of the bodyguards tasked on protecting the politician. Here's hoping that other action stars as well known as Bruce take on the rest of the bodyguard roles. Willis has a slew of action films on their way this year with The Cold Light of Day, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, and Expendables 2. He's about to start production on A Good Day To Die Hard (Die Hard 5) and then RED 2.

Guillermo del Toro Will Direct Beauty And The Beast For WB

Variety reports that Guillmero del Toro (Hellboy, Blade 2, Pan's Labryinth) will direct Warner Bros' live-action adaptation of Beauty And The Beast. Del Toro is currently finishing up production on Pacific Rim for the studio. Harry Potter's Emma Watson is set to star in the film with Andrew Davies handling script duites. Davies' credits include the first two Bridget's Diaries films and last year's Three Musketeers. Guillermo is known for lining up many projects but this will be the first one in the pile with both a lead and writer attached. This would likely push back other projects such as his Frankenstein and Haunted Mansion adaptations. A production date isn't mentioned but with Pacific Rim not being released until May 10th 2013, it's expected a start date won't happen until next summer.

It's not surprising that there is heat behind two Beauty And The Beasty projects. As Disney re-released the animated film in 3D recently and had a decent return. The competing French production from Christophe Gans (Brotherhood of The Wolf) will likely be a French language film. I also expect with del Toro now directing the WB project will end up being more lavished from a heightened budget and design focused.

Bloom, Lerman & Corden Officially Join Three Musketeers

Variety reports that Orlando Bloom (Kingdom of Heaven, Pirates 1-3, LOTR) and Logan Lerman (Gamer) have officially joined Paul W.S. Anderson's Three Musketeers. British comedian James Corden from Gavin & Stacy has also been cast.

Juno Temple Joining Anderson's Three Musketeers?

Juno Temple is one of the many up and coming British actresses. Her recent roles include Atonement, Cracks, Greenberg, Kaboom, The Other Boleyn Girl and Year One. The Hollywood Reporter says the actresses is in talks to take on the role of the Queen of France in Paul W.S. Anderson's Three Musketeers. I'm curious how Warner Bros. and director Doug Liman think they'll be able to compete with Anderson's casting choices.