No, I’m not talking about Twilight. Competing studios have been drooling over Summit’s annual box office haul from the Stephanie Meyer adaptations and are continuing to capitalize on the trend. There are a few more blood sucker projects lined up, and one involves Russell Crowe. Hit the jump for more.

Vulture reports that Crowe is in talks to join Harker, a potential franchise movie centered around a Scotland Yard detective who follows Dracula’s path of murders across England. Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown) will direct before he turns his attention back to that pesky live-action adaptation of Akira that WB seems so determined to make.

The other revived project is Dracula: Year Zero, once a Sam Worthington vehicle with Alex Proyas attached to direct. Proyas went to take on Paradise Lost, and we all know how that turned out. Gary Shore is now in the director’s chair, and Worthington is no longer connected, but the movie is still supposed to be an origin story about Vlad the Impaler, who provided the basis for the Dracula myth. Seems like Universal got jealous when they heard about WB’s vampire-related news today, so they released some of their own to stay in the game. This is Hollywood after all, and it’s all about perception.

What about you? Sick of the vamp trend, or can’t wait to sink your teeth into these movies? Sound off in the comments.

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Forget Groundhog Day – call it Russell Crowe Day. Following the announcement that Darren Aronofsky wants Russell Crowe to play Noah in his upcoming Biblical epic, we’ve got a few more tidbits of news regarding the Academy Award-winning actor.

Variety’s Jeff Sneider tweeted the following last night:

Sure, Russell Crowe, MIGHT star in Aronofsky’s NOAH… but do you know what else he MIGHT star in? Three words: Ro. Bo. Cop. #FloatThisBoat

Again, not a huge confirmation, but something to keep in mind as the movie, set to be directed by Jose Padilha (Elite Squad: The Enemy Within), comes together over the next few months before it starts shooting this summer.

Also, Akiva Goldsman – best known as the writer of the godawful Batman & Robin, but who has also produced things like Mr. and Mrs. Smith and I Am Legend - is set to make his directorial debut on a movie called Winter’s Tale. Vulture says (via The Playlist) that Goldsman’s adaptation of the 1983 novel had previously stalled, but has now gained considerable momentum with the addition of (guess who?) Russell Crowe and Will Smith in supporting roles. The story sounds pretty interesting:

New York City is subsumed in arctic winds, dark nights, and white lights, its life unfolds, for it is an extraordinary hive of the imagination, the greatest house ever built, and nothing exists that can check its vitality. One night in winter, Peter Lake–orphan and master-mechanic, attempts to rob a fortress-like mansion on the Upper West Side.

Though he thinks the house is empty, the daughter of the house is home. Thus begins the love between Peter Lake, a middle-aged Irish burglar, and Beverly Penn, a young girl, who is dying.

Peter Lake, a simple, uneducated man, because of a love that, at first he does not fully understand, is driven to stop time and bring back the dead. His great struggle, in a city ever alight with its own energy and beseiged by unprecedented winters, is one of the most beautiful and extraordinary stories of American literature.

Crowe is in talks to play Pearly Somes, a gangster set on killing the burglar, while Smith would play a judge. So go forth everyone, and Happy Russell Crowe Day.

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Christian Bale and Michael Fassbender have previously been linked to the lead role in Darren Aronofsky’s next project Noah, which will be a big screen adaptation of the Noah’s Ark story. Now Deadline reports that the Black Swan director wants Russell Crowe as his lead.

No deal has been reached, but apparently “signs are pointing that way”. The site also mentions Aronofsky is eyeing Liam Neeson for another role, but no further details are given. If Crowe ends up play Noah it’ll be another iconic role to add to his list, which already includes Maximus in Gladiator, Robin Hood, and Jor-El in Man of Steel which will be out next year.

Below is a French trailer for the graphic novel released last year which gives us an idea of what to expect:

Last year Aronofsky said:

“Since I was a kid, I have been moved and inspired by the story of Noah and his family’s journey. The imaginations of countless generations have sparked to this epic story of faith. It’s my hope that I can present a window into Noah’s passion and perseverance for the silver screen”.

Academy Award nominated screenwriter John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator) is re-writing the script and the aim is to begin production this summer.

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According to Deadline Anne Hathaway has closed a deal to join Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe in Les Miserables, the movie adaptation of the classic novel and Broadway musical set in 19th-century France which has Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) directing.

Hathaway will play Fantine, a factory worker who faces increasingly dire circumstances as she tries to provide for her young daughter Cosette. Crowe will play Javert, the uncompassionate police inspector who will stop at nothing to recapture Jean Valjean (Jackman), the man who steals bread to feed his sister and spends the ensuing years in prison (or trying to escape it) while also becoming the guardian of Cosette. Helena Bonham Carter, who worked with Hooper on The King’s Speech, will play Thenardier’s greedy wife.

William Nicholson (Gladiator) has adapted the screenplay based on Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel. Working Title (Atonement) are producing, as is Sir Cameron MacKintosh who produced the stage version of the musical. Filming will begin later this year for a December 7, 2012 release date.

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Universal has just set a December 7, 2012 release date for Les Miserables, a new version of the classic novel and Broadway musical set in 19th-century France. We’ve previously heard that The King’s Speech director Tom Hooper is on-board, as is Hugh Jackman, and now they look set to be joined by Russell Crowe and Helena Bonham Carter.

According to THR Crowe will play Javert, the uncompassionate police inspector who will stop at nothing to recapture Jean Valjean (Jackman), the man who steals bread to feed his sister and spends the ensuing years in prison (or trying to escape it) while also becoming the guardian of a young woman named Cosette. Carter, who just worked with Hooper on The King’s Speech, will play Thenardier’s greedy wife.

William Nicholson (Gladiator) has adapted the screenplay based on Victor Hugo’s sprawling 1862 novel. Working Title (Atonement) are producing, as is Sir Cameron MacKintosh who produced the stage version of the musical. Filming will begin later this year.

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Following the news that Russell Crowe had signed on to play the role of Superman’s biological father, Jor-El, in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, we heard Warner Bros. were also in the process of looking for Superman’s Kryptonian mother.

Well now according to Deadline British actress Julia Ormond (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Temple Grandin) is in talks for the role.

Filming will begin next month, and the movie also stars Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as Jonathan and Martha Kent. Michael Shannon will take on the role of the villain, General Zod, and German actress Antje Traue has been cast as villainess Faora.

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Here’s some interesting casting. According to Variety Russell Crowe is in negotiations to take on the role of Superman’s biological father Jor-El, previously played by Marlon Brando, in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel.

Apparently producer Christopher Nolan wanted a well known actor to play the role, and Mr. Crowe certainly fits the bill. Variety also mentions that they are looking for an equally big name to play Superman’s biological mother.

Filming will begin next month, and the movie stars Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as Jonathan and Martha Kent. Michael Shannon will take on the role of the villain, General Zod, and German actress Antje Traue has been cast as villainess Faora.

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Apparently eight nominations, two Oscars, and a $212 million worldwide gross still can’t entice former director Peter Weir to take on a second installment of Master and Commander. Russell Crowe recently urged his Twitter fans to email 20th Century Fox with a plea to get the ball rolling on a sequel, but in a recent interview Weir suggested it was unlikely he’d return.

From Digital Spy:

“I tend to like to do one film of a type and then move to something else. That was a fascinating experience, but do I need to do it twice? I don’t think so.”

I thoroughly enjoyed the first film, and would equally love to see the script for the sequel (based on author Patrick O’Brian’s 11th book in the series, The Reverse of the Medal) brought to fruition.

Check out Weir discuss the film below.

What do you think – will the next chapter ever make it out of production hell? And if it does, will it crash and burn without Weir at the helm?

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Russell Crowe has swapped firing arrows to firing bullets in his next movie The Next Three Days. The film is directed by Oscar winning writer Paul Haggis who directed Crash and worked on the scripts for the last two Bond films, and follows a married couple whose lives are turned upside down when the wife is accused of a murder.

Watch the trailer below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeB-GQ7sIdo

The Next Three Days also stars Liam Neeson, Elizabeth Banks and Olivia Wilde. Lionsgate were originally going to release the film in 2011, however it was moved up to November 2010.

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Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood didn’t turn critics into Merry Men however it did make over $300 million worldwide. That that won’t be enough to give Ridley Scott the sequel he wanted but I suppose Universal may consider it if does well on DVD/Blu-ray.

Universal recently announced that a never-before-seen unrated director’s cut of Robin Hood will be released on September 21st, and it will include 15 minutes of new footage. You can pre-order Robin Hood now on:

DVD | Blu-ray

Special features on the two-disc special edition DVD and Blu-ray include:

• Director’s Notebook (BD-exclusive): a seamless multimedia experience focusing on the director’s vision gives viewers a peek inside Ridley Scott’s unique filmmaking process. Incorporating behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Scott and his trusted inner circle of collaborators, this feature launches at critical moments throughout the film to illuminate the task of mounting a vast production like Robin Hood.
• The Art of Nottingham (BD-exclusive): a special look at the portfolio of designs generated for the film, including video introductions by key department heads such as production designer Arthur Max and costume designer Janty Yates. Galleries of concept art, costume designs, storyboards and other imagery are featured.
• Deleted scenes with introduction and commmentary by editor Pietro Scalia
• Rise and Rise Again: Making Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood
• Ballad, Legend & Myth: Pre-production – see how the filmmakers and actors, including Ridley Scott, Brian Grazer and Russell Crowe, tackled the challenge of breathing new life into the longest surviving character in the English language, Robin Hood.
• The More the Merrier: Production – a stellar cast led by Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett descended on England to shoot this massive epic under the direction of Ridley Scott. With an unparalleled passion for detail, Scott oversees all of the production design, costuming, weaponry and action sequences in the film.
• No Quarter Given: Post-production – Sifting through a million feet of shot film, Ridley Scott and editor Pietro Scalia perfect the screen story and work with the post-production team to add layers of sound design, visual effects and Marc Streitenfeld’s beautiful score.
• pocket BLU
  • Advanced Remote Control
  • Video Timeline
  • Mobile-To-Go
  • VIRTUAL Keyboard
  • uHEAR (new feature): This innovative feature instantly skips back a few seconds on your Blu-ray disc and turns on the subtitles for the section you couldn’t hear.
  • INTERACTIVE TICKER (new feature): get the latest information about Universal’s theatrical and Blu-ray releases. Plus, get updates about upcoming BD-Live events, awards and TV shows on NBC.
• BD-Live
• My Scenes

You can pre-order Robin Hood now on:

DVD | Blu-ray

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