1.) Emma Stone is in talks to star in Guillermo Del Toro‘s haunted house chiller Crimson Peak, which he announced last month will be his next feature directorial effort after Pacific Rim. Del Toro sees the film as his modern take on the classic, set-oriented ghost story, citing The Haunting, The Innocents and The Shining among its influences. He plans to film the project in early 2014 since he’ll be busy the rest of this year making the press rounds for Pacific Rim and filming the pilot for his FX series “The Strain.” [Variety]
2.) Legendary heavy metal band Metallica and the future Harry Osbourne, Dane DeHaan (The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Chronicle) will star in the 3D concert film/coming-of-age hybrid Metallica Through the Never. DeHaan will play a young band crew member sent out on an urgent mission while the band is playing a live show for a sold-out crowd. The film was written and directed by Nimrod Antal (Predators) and will be released on August 9th. It sounds like an interesting spin on the traditional concert movie from a band who wasn’t afraid to let their fans see them at their absolute worst on their last trip to the big screen, the excellent 2004 documentary Metallica: Some Kind of Monster. The film will be the first new release for the re-launched former Warner Bros. shingle Picturehouse. [Metallica]
3.) Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) is in talks to direct the high-flying actioner Heatseekers under Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes banner. The plot centers on an ex-military pilot who takes on a group of aerial pirates. [THR]
4.) And don’t worry, those of you anxious for the much talked about Twins sequel (aka Triplets), Arnold Schwarzenegger has offered a hand-written message that should reassure you it’s going to happen. [Reddit]
5.) Grab your booze and swimming trunks because MGM is planning to take another dip in the Hot Tub Time Machine. The studio is in early talks with Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and Clark Duke to reprise their roles, while the current plans surprisingly don’t involve John Cusack. Steve Pink is also in talks to return to the director’s chair and could team with Corddry on the script. The original grossed just $64 million worldwide on a budget of $36 million, though a sequel could be bigger given the 2010 comedy’s success on the home video market. [THR]
