10.02.08: All things Zack Snyder, Scorsese & DeNiro together again, and more

WATCHMEN FOOTAGE SCREENS; 300 SEQUEL PREPS

Zack Snyder is rapidly making the case for being the coolest mainstream Hollywood director around, putting recent pretenders to shame by A) delivering on what he promises and B) doing so without the massive ego that makes certain Mc-these and Rat-thats somewhat insufferable.  Devin over at CHUD was lucky enough to screen about 25 minutes of Snyder's risky Watchmen and in a lengthy post explains why he came away mightily impressed. "I was hoping for a Watchmen  movie that would be 'okay.' It looks like I'll have to settle for one that's great."  The film is currently running at 2 hours and 45 minutes and might well be cut down, but PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY let this most anticipated of fanboy flicks play out at a length that feels natural.  If it's good, they will come.  MEANWHILE the first plot details for the sequel to Snyder's 300 have been revealed in an article at IESB.net. In it Snyder states that Frank Miller, the multi-hyphenate talent who wrote the original 300 graphic novel,  is working on a story that "will take place between the Battle of Thermopylae and the Battle of Plataea, the battle that narrator Dilios is at while re-telling the story of King Leonidas and the mighty Spartans to a new group of warriors at the end of 300."  Boo-ya, history buffs.

IRON MAN 2 DETAILS

In a webchat yesterday, Iron Man director Jon Favreau gave away the first details of what might happen in the sequel, currently scheduled for a 2010 release.  Short version: it's being written now.  Characters are being designed. "The sequel is shaping up to incorporate Tony's vision for the future. What happens after he says 'I am Iron Man?'" War Machine (Terrence Howard in an Iron Man suit) will be included. "Stark has issues with booze." A female villain is "an interesting notion." You can read a whole lot more over at the L.A. Times, including the revelation of Favreau's second choice for the lead role should things have not worked out with Robert Downey Jr.

ODDS AND ENDS

There's a new trailer for Baz Luhrmann's epic Australia over at MSN, and as you'd expect from the director of Moulin Rouge it looks beautiful.  Nicole Kidman comeback?  Could be, could be... • Variety reports that Scorsese and DeNiro are teaming up for I Heard You Paint Houses, which is YET ANOTHER gangster film • If you live near a Cinemark, AMC or Regal movie theater then your viewing experience could soon improve.  Five major film studios have agreed to help pay for thousands of new digital projectors in these, the three largest theater chains in the country.  I'm sure this has everything to do with my rant of the other day (Variety) • Screen Jems has just signed a three picture deal with Hayden Christensen, because apparently they hate money • AICN has further proof that the sequel to TRON is indeed going to happen • The Screen Actors Guild is moving closer to striking • As thousands of brilliant yet starving thespians know all too well, you can be the stupidest, least talented actor in this section of the galaxy and still score with the right look.  With that in mind, may we present this casting notice.  (Sorry, the role has been filled)