The first trailer for Universal’s The Bourne Legacy has finally been released. There’s no doubt that skeptics surfaced once it was announced there would be another Bourne movie without Matt Damon, but the trailer definitely convinces you that Jeremy Renner is a force to be reckoned with. We’ve got the same vibe as the franchise is known for but there is a sense of a darker and brutal story with some new elements in the midst.

It’ll be interesting to see how Renner’s character interacts with some familiar Bourne characters, but the addition of Edward Norton as the villain looks to be a perfect match. So be sure to check the trailer out and see why you should definitely add this to your already overflowing list of summer blockbusters.

The narrative architect behind the Bourne film series, Tony Gilroy, takes the helm in the next chapter of the hugely popular espionage franchise that has earned almost $1 billion at the global box office. The writer/director expands the Bourne universe created by Robert Ludlum with an original story that introduces us to a new hero (Jeremy Renner) whose life-or-death stakes have been triggered by the events of the first three films.

For The Bourne Legacy, Renner joins fellow series newcomers Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Stacy Keach and Oscar Isaac, while franchise veterans Albert Finney, Joan Allen, David Strathairn and Scott Glenn reprise their roles.

The Bourne Legacy hits theatres on August 3, 2012.

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Picture those water-filled crystal balls that you shake up where snow flakes whisk around a neighborhood. Only difference being; instead of the snow flakes falling down on decorated houses primed for the Christmas season, they end up dropping on a small suburban neighborhood that is coping with a tragic murder of a family.

Dream House is a 92 minute psychological drama with a mystery and horror flare. Well, at least it’s trying to be. The haunted house aspect shows up in the first half of the flick when Will Atenton (Daniel Craig) quits his high profile job in the big city and moves his wife, Libby (Rachel Weisz) and his two young daughters (Taylor Geare & Claire Geare) into middle-class home that needs a little fixing up. Right away his daughters constantly complain about seeing a man wondering around outside and the local police force doesn’t seem too concerned about it. After doing a bit of research, Will learns that a man murdered his family in their home five years ago and has been institutionalized in a nearby psych hospital.

While he continues poking around, everyone is being very vague on what happened. And that includes his curious neighbor across the street in Ann (Naomi Watts). One can see Ann wants to tell Will something yet she keeps their rare interactions brief. Eventually Will sees the figure that has been lurking around his home and Libby becomes concerned about what actions her husband will take.

Although this starts out as a possible haunting tale, the story slowly transitions into thriller mode once the veil has been lifted on what is really going on halfway through. This twist is usually reserved for the climatic moment but the script made a bold move in revealing its hand at this point. By doing so, there is a natural intrigue on how the second half of this straight-up psychological mystery will pan out.

Now since the second half cannot be reveal for spoiler purposes, the only thing that can be commented on is if the rest of the film was able to deal with the risky play of tossing in a twist (that could be obvious to veteran movie watchers) halfway through. The answer is: kind of. Trying to shake things up and deviate from the normal pattern this genre suffers from is an admirable move. And the performances by Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz sell it just enough to keep the viewer thinking if what they’re seeing is really happening within the story. But they’re the only ones covering that angle; for the problem is…that’s all the movie relies on. Despite the horror/thriller atmosphere, there isn’t anything that will scare you – even during the first half – and the scripting gives up in trying to have your mind go back-n-forth. Again, the filmmakers have laid out their cards and run with it. They must have felt they given the audience enough to chew on. Eh, not so much.

There really needed to be more here. Switching a few arrangements around in the screenplay is a nice touch, and answering the questions viewers may have at the end will leave them mildly content. Chances are though; no one will be fully satisfied despite the efforts of the storytelling mechanics. The set designs are decent for this tale to take place in and the acting is on par with the tone; but there’s still absolutely nothing else happening, and therefore, critique. There are not even cheap sound effect shenanigans to induce a few jumps! In other words, yours truly has fluffed up this review way too much already. Only thing left to say is that this is a movie Harrison Ford would have signed on for every ten years or so (think Frantic and/or What Lies Beneath). And if you have a blank look on your face based on that reference, your decision has already been made for you.

Overall, Dream House combines a few suspense genre tools with a couple of twists. Once the story unveils the hook, the rest of film struggles to keep the entertainment and interest levels from dipping. Just like when we dream: it played out great in our minds but when we write it out it never fully comes out the way we saw it in our heads. It looks like the filmmakers shared that crux after they wrote & shot the first half.

RATING: 2.5 out of 5

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Sam Raimi’s Oz The Great and Powerful will be released by Disney on March 8, 2013, and today the studio announced that shooting is now under-way, and they released the official synopsis for the film.

Story and cast details from the press release can be found below:

Walt Disney Pictures’ fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, went in front of the cameras at the brand-new Raleigh Studios in Pontiac, Michigan, on Monday, July 25, 2011, boasting a stellar cast that includes Academy Award® nominee James Franco (“127 Hours”) as the young wizard, Golden Globe® nominee Mila Kunis (“Black Swan”) as the witch Theodora, Academy Award® winner Rachel Weisz (“The Constant Gardener”) as Kunis’ sister Evanora and two-time Oscar®-nominated actress Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain,” “Blue Valentine”) as Glinda, the Good Witch.

The cast also includes Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Zach Braff (“Scrubs,” “Garden State”), who will play Franco’s circus assistant as well as lend his vocal talents to one of the CGI creatures in the story — Finley, the winged monkey who accompanies the magician on his journey to Oz; and 12-year-old actress Joey King (“Ramona and Beezus”), who will voice another CGI character in the story, China Girl, who also joins the future Wizard on his excursion through Oz.

“Oz The Great and Powerful” imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

Raimi’s had a hiccup with Spider-Man 3, but Drag Me to Hell was great and the impressive cast he’s managed to pull together for this suggests our return to Oz (while jumping on the Alice in Wonderland bandwagon) will be worth watching. He’s got just under two years to make it, so there’s plenty of time to get it right.

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Since appearing in The Incredible Hulk in 2008 Edward Norton has stayed away from big studio movies, however according to Variety the actor is set to return as he is currently in negotiations to play the villain in The Bourne Legacy.

No details on his character or the plot have been released, but he’ll be joining Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz in the film.

Last year director Tony Gilroy (Duplicity, Michael Clayton, writer of previous Bourne films) made clear what The Bourne Legacy was in relation to Matt Damon’s films.

“It’s a completely original screenplay.” Secondly, “This is not a reboot or a recast or a prequel. No one’s replacing Matt Damon. There will be a whole new hero, a whole new chapter…this is a stand-alone project.

“The easiest way to think of it is an expansion or a reveal,” Gilroy says. “Jason Bourne will not be in this film, but he’s very much alive. What happened in the first three films is the trigger for what happens. I’m building a legend and an environment and a wider conspiracy…the world we’re making enhances and advances and invites Jason Bourne’s return [down the road].

Universal is targeting an August 2012 release for The Bourne Legacy with filming expected to begin in September.

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According to Deadline Disney has set the Oz: The Great And Powerful release date for March 8, 2013, which gives it the same slot Alice in Wonderland had last year.

Oz: the Great and Powerful follows a circus wrangler (James Franco) who is transported by a tornado to the mysterious world of Oz. Once there he gets mistaken for a know-it-all, and eventually becomes the Wizard of Oz.

Spider-Man director Sam Raimi will begin shooting in July, and will direct Mila Kunis (Black Swan) who has already joined the film as the youngest sister Theodorah, who goes on to become the Wicked Witch of the West. Rachel Weisz is currently in talks to play the villainess Evanora, a powerful and evil witch who intends to rule the land and eventually becomes the Wicked Witch of the East, and Michelle Williams is in talks to join the film as Glinda, who eventually becomes the Good Witch of the North.

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Just a few weeks ago we heard that Disney and director Sam Raimi were at odds whether to cast Michelle Williams or Hilary Swank as one of the witches in Oz, The Great and Wonderful. Disney apparently wanted Williams who is coming off a Best Actress Oscar nomination earlier this year for Blue Valentine, while Raimi was said to be after Swank.

Well it looks like Disney got what they wanted as according to Variety Michelle Williams is now in talks to join the film as Glinda, who eventually becomes the Good Witch of the North.

Mila Kunis (Black Swan) has already joined the film as the youngest sister Theodorah, who goes on to become the Wicked Witch of the West. Rachel Weisz is currently in talks to play the villainess Evanora, a powerful and evil witch who intends to rule the land and eventually becomes the Wicked Witch of the East, however the actresses has also been offered The Bourne Legacy with Jeremy Renner, so whether Weisz heads to Oz or not will depend on scheduling.

Oz, the Great and Powerful follows a circus wrangler (James Franco) who is transported by a tornado to the mysterious world of Oz. Once there he gets mistaken for a know-it-all, and eventually becomes the Wizard of Oz. No release date has been set, but once the main cast is sorted Disney aims to begin filming later this year.

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Just last week we were hearing that Oscar winning actress Rachel Weisz was in talks to join Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great And Powerful as villainess Evanora, a powerful and evil witch who intends to rule the land and eventually becomes the Wicked Witch of the East.

Now according to Deadline Weisz may have a dilemma on her hands as she is also in talks to star opposite Jeremy Renner in The Bourne Legacy, Universal’s continuation of the Bourne franchise which is set in the same universe as Matt Damon’s trilogy, just with a new operative.

Oz: The Great And Powerful, which follows a circus wrangler (James Franco) who is transported by a tornado to the mysterious world of Oz, is set to being filming this summer. Meanwhile cameras will roll on The Bourne Legacy in September, so there may be schedule conflicts.

No details on her role in The Bourne Legacy have been revealed, but I imagine it would be larger than her role in Oz: The Great And Powerful as she plays one of 3 witches. On the other hand Oz could be a big hit at the box office and would give Weisz the chance to play a villain. It’ll be interesting to see which Weisz goes for (if she has to decide between the two), and who’ll replace her if she drops out of either.

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According to THR Oscar winning actress Rachel Weisz is in talks to join Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great And Powerful. If she joins the film Weisz will play the villainess Evanora, a powerful and evil witch who intends to rule the land and eventually becomes the Wicked Witch of the East (the one who got crushed by Dorothy’s farmhouse).

Mila Kunis (Black Swan) has already joined the film and will play Theodorah, the youngest of the witch sisters who goes on to become the Wicked Witch of the West. The remaining witch to be cast is Glinda, who becomes the Good Witch of the North. We heard both Hilary Swank and Michelle Williams were circling a role last month, so it could very well be Glinda.

Oz: the Great and Powerful follows a circus wrangler (James Franco) who is transported by a tornado to the mysterious world of Oz. Once there he gets mistaken for a know-it-all, and eventually becomes the Wizard of Oz. Filming is set to begin in July so more casting news will be appearing over the next few weeks.

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Deadline says that Christopher Nolan is meeting with actresses for two lead roles in The Dark Knight Rises - one a love interest for Bruce, and the other a villain. Hit the break to see the list of six ladies who are apparently contenders.

Rachel Weisz

Naomi Watts

Blake Lively

Natalie Portman

Anne Hathaway

Keira Knightley

Of course, we don’t know who the actual characters being cast are (the roles are being kept under wraps), but in terms of past acting displays, I’d lean towards Natalie Portman, Naomi Watts and Rachel Weisz over the other three. And for the villain of choice, Catwoman seems to fit into Nolan’s universe more than others (well, Poison Ivy at least), although Talia al Ghul could also work, what with the events in Batman Begins. I’d love to have seen Nolan’s version of Harley Quinn, but unfortunately that seems incredibly unlikely with the Joker not being present.

So who are the female leads going to be? Poison Ivy? Catwoman? Talia al Ghul?

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Universal were set to release Jim Sheridan’s thriller Dream House starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, and Naomi Watts on February 18, 2011, however Variety is reporting that the film’s release has been delayed as Craig is busy filming The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in Sweden, preventing Sheridan from filming reshoots.

Craig would be free during the first two weeks of December, but that wouldn’t be enough time for the film be to ready for it’s original February release date. Therefore Universal has held off the release until sometime later in 2011.

Dream House tells the story of a successful New York publisher named Will (Craig) who moves his wife (Weisz) and children to a New England town, where they buy the home of their dreams. But the dream is shattered when they learn that their perfect home was the murder scene of a mother and her children, which the entire city believes was at the hands of the husband who survived. Will teams with a neighbor (Watts) to piece together the disturbing puzzle, and they discover that the story of the last man to leave Will’s dream house will be just as horrifying as the one who came next.

2011 will be a busy year for Craig as he has four movies hitting the big screen. There’s Cowboys and Aliens in July, and both The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn in December. Plus Bond 23 may begin production next year as the MGM situation will likely be resolved soon.

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