As usual, this Movie News Cheat Sheet is packed with text, but this week, much of that text is geared towards describing the slew of brand new stills that dropped over the past seven days. Not only did we get seven new images from John Carter, but a bunch from The Dark Knight Rises and Prometheus, too. In casting news, word just got out that Gary Oldman turned down the part of The Colonel in Akira and, in rather off-beat casting news, the industry is shocked to learn that a casting associate on Super 8 as well as a number of other child actor-heavy productions is a registered sex offender….

‘Twilight’ actresses Anna Kendrick and Ashley Greene (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1), ’2012′ director Roland Emmerich, ‘Super Size Me’ filmmaker Morgan Spurlock and ‘Twixt’ actor David Paymer have all been named as honorees for the 2011 Spotlight Initiative Awards. The honorees will receive awards during the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. The honorees will be celebrated at a dinner on September 10, 2011 at the Roosevelt Room. They have been chosen for their contribution to the world of independent filmmaking. The Spotlight Initiative was created in 2008 to support independent films that feature a positive message and social relevance, and celebrate the art of filmmaking. Robin Bronk,…

Happy holiday, Shockya.com readers! As you’ve still got a few hours until the fireworks and BBQs begin, why not catch up on your week of movie news? This week’s Movie News Cheat Sheet is absolutely brimming with sequels. Not only is the Toy Story franchise likely to continue, but Thor and Red are poised for seconds, too. As for the sequels already in production, we’ve got a roundup of the latest out of the The Dark Knight Rises set as well as an update on Paramount’s casting effort for G.I. Joe 2: Cobra Strikes. Justifying all of this sequel buzz, Transformers: Dark of the Moon proves that franchises do pack…

Universal Pictures has asked Roland Emmerich to direct a movie based on the 1979 Atari video game Asteroids, ComingSoon is reporting. The studio, which has been developing the movie with producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and screenwriter Matt Lopez, looked to the popular director, as he has helmed such disaster-action hits as ‘Independence Day’ and ’2012.’ The movie will detail Earth’s future after the planet is destroyed by aliens. Humans are now living in an asteroid belt with the aliens responsible for the Earth’s destruction. Emmerich has not yet signed onto the project, as he recently said he’s finished with sci-fi-action destruction films. His next movie, ‘Anonymous,’ which presents the theory…

Just a week after the announcement that Roland Emmerich would be helming a low-key, found-footage movie in the tone of ‘The Blair Witch Project’ and ‘Cloverfield,’ the project is already being scrapped. The ‘Independence Day’ director was planning on casting mainly unknown actors in an alien invasion film titled ‘The Zone.’ While specific plot details weren’t yet revealed, it was known that two of the main characters were going to be a haggard journalist in his 50′s and his 20-something cameraman. The production team is reportedly confused over why ‘The Zone’ being shut down, as it was being produced for only $5 million. The found footage genre is still considered…

German director Roland Emmerich is planning on returning to the alien invasion genre with a new film called ‘The Zone,’ the Hollywood Reporter is speculating. While Emmerich has only helmed one movie in the genre, the 1996 Will Smith hit ‘Independence Day,’ its popularity, and the attention the new film ‘Skyline’ is getting, has led the director back to the subject. Emmerich will reportedly start work on ‘The Zone’ after his next movie, ‘Anonymous,’ the political thriller about Shakespeare, is released next September. The movie will follow the lead of such hit horror movies as ‘Paranormal Activity,’ ‘Diary of the Dead,’ ‘Quarantine’ and the film that started the “found footage”…

Sony Pictures just released another cool featurette with John Cusack and Roland Emmerich for the film “2012″ by director Roland Emmerich (All Quiet on the Western Front, Fantastic Voyage) and starring Thandie Newton (W.), John Cusack (Stopping Power, 1408), Amanda Peet and Danny Glover as President Wilson. Click Here for more photos, news and videos from 2012. Synopsis: Disaster movie maven Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow) crafts this apocalyptic sci-fi thriller following an academic researcher who opens a portal into a parallel universe, making contact with his double in an effort to prevent the catastrophic prophecies of the ancient Mayan calendar from coming to pass. According to…

Sony Pictures released this new TV Spot for the film “2012″ by director Roland Emmerich (All Quiet on the Western Front, Fantastic Voyage) and starring Thandie Newton (W.), John Cusack (Stopping Power, 1408), Amanda Peet and Danny Glover as President Wilson. Click Here for more photos, news and videos from 2012. Synopsis: Disaster movie maven Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow) crafts this apocalyptic sci-fi thriller following an academic researcher who opens a portal into a parallel universe, making contact with his double in an effort to prevent the catastrophic prophecies of the ancient Mayan calendar from coming to pass. According to the Mayan calendar, the world will…

Sony Pictures just released this special effects behind the scenes video for the film “2012″ by director Roland Emmerich (All Quiet on the Western Front, Fantastic Voyage) and starring Thandie Newton (W.), John Cusack (Stopping Power, 1408), Amanda Peet and Danny Glover as President Wilson. Click Here for more photos, news and videos from 2012. Synopsis: Disaster movie maven Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow) crafts this apocalyptic sci-fi thriller following an academic researcher who opens a portal into a parallel universe, making contact with his double in an effort to prevent the catastrophic prophecies of the ancient Mayan calendar from coming to pass. According to the Mayan…

Sony Pictures recently released this new movie clip from the film “2012″ by director Roland Emmerich (All Quiet on the Western Front, Fantastic Voyage) and starring Thandie Newton (W.), John Cusack (Stopping Power, 1408), Amanda Peet and Danny Glover as President Wilson. Click Here for more photos, news and videos from 2012. Synopsis: Disaster movie maven Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow) crafts this apocalyptic sci-fi thriller following an academic researcher who opens a portal into a parallel universe, making contact with his double in an effort to prevent the catastrophic prophecies of the ancient Mayan calendar from coming to pass. According to the Mayan calendar, the world…