1. Ridley Scott has another Alien in him, not like John Hurt did

If we asked who’s excited for the new Alien film, we’re sure we’d get a positive response. If we asked who’s pumped for six more Alien films, you’d already have left the building. Yet the spry Sir Ridley Scott – all 79 years of him – has realised that if this franchise game is going to stick around, he may as well grab a slice. In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Scott offered that “if you really want a franchise, I can keep cranking it [Alien] for another six… I’m not going to close it down again. No way.” While we’re all for the enthusiasm, we do have a slight concern as to how much more story there is to actually tell. But relax. When has Hollywood ever made superfluous, money-grabbing films?

2. Bad Boys, Bad Boys, whatcha gonna do when Joe Carnahan leaves you?

So maybe that story about Bad Boys 3 moving back a whole ten months (from January to November next year) was pretty serious. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bad Boys For Life has now lost its director. Conflicting sources blame scheduling conflicts and creative differences, but the news is a kicker either way as Carnahan was not only set to direct the film but also wrote the most recent draft of the script. A script that will likely get yet another new writer. Still, with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence attached, it’s thought that the whimsical tale about two Miami detectives who fight crime and explosions will find itself another director pretty quickly. Phew.

3. Only Gerard Butler can save us. Again.

Independence Day + Evil Weather = Roland Emmerich. This is the equation that most children are taught in school these days, but a Mr Dean Devlin has thrown a mathematical spanner into the logic works. Devlin, the writer and producer of Independence Day, has donned his puffy directing pants for Geostorm, a film which sees Gerard Butler battling the elements after a network of satellites begin attacking earth. The trailer is an achingly familiar affair, from Ed Harris’ anguished glances to the slow-fi version of a popular song (in this case, ‘What a Wonderful World’) but we’re suckers for seeing landmarks destroyed.

4. Three parts make for a Pentagon (maths is not our strong suit)

There’s a new powerhouse project brewing. Two of Hollywood’s all-time favourites – Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks – are teaming up for a story focusing on The Washington Post’s role in exposing the Pentagon Papers in 1971. And Steven Spielberg is set to call the shots. Not surprisingly, the story of how the Post’s editor Ben Bradlee and publisher Kay Graham challenged the federal government over their right to publish the revelations is one we’re interested in. And though it’s far too early to be talking about awards (hint) it is nice to hear that something good is coming our way. [via Deadline]

5. Robbie from the rich to give to the poor

Following a sudden appreciation of Margot Robbie’s talents from the powers that be, the Australian actress has projects coming from every possible direction. For starters she’s leading figure-skating biopic I, Tonya; Suicide Squad standalone Gotham City Sirens; live action/CGI hybrid film Peter Rabbit; and Fox Searchlight’s origin story for Winnie-the-Pooh. And, to ensure she doesn’t get lazy, another of her projects was announced earlier this week. Marian is pitched as the tale of the famous maiden who leads her people in an uprising after the death of Robin Hood. But if the sound of this version doesn’t quite float your boat, never fear. There are at least six other versions of Robin Hood heading to a cinema screen near you in the next three years. Yay? [via The Hollywood Reporter]

6. Scarlett Johansson is having a Rough Night

Before the long-awaited wedding day, a long-separated group of friends decamp to some sunny city and let off a little steam. It’s a fairly familiar tale. Except this time, those friends include Scarlett Johansson, Jillian Bell, Kate McKinnon, Zoë Kravitz and Ilana Glazer! Also, they kill a stripper. In fact Rough Night is so familiar, it’s basically a gender-swapped Very Bad Things. From the writer-director of Broad City, it’s released June 16 this year.

7. Tim Burton really going to mix it up with the casting for Dumbo

Suspend your disbelief if you can; Eva Green may join Tim Burton’s newest picture. Deadline reports that Green is set to take one of the three main adult roles in Burton’s live action adaptation of Dumbo, reuniting with Burton after Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and Dark Shadows. Until now, the only other actor thought to be close to joining the project was Will Smith, but talks broke down when Smith decided to focus on Bad Boys For Life (whoops) and a few other projects.

As well as Green, Deadline also believes that Danny DeVito is circling the project. He’ll play the role of Medici, a circus owner who comes into conflict with the villainous Valdemere (who is much more evil and has a much bigger circus) if he’s confirmed. Green is said to be in talks for the role of Valdemere’s trapeze artist, Colette.

8. Ferrari’s a jolly good fellow!

Remember how Hugh Jackman’s character in The Prestige feuded with Christian Bale’s character? How his Robert Angier wanted the talent and the recognition that Alfred Borden had – to the extent that it ultimately consumed him? Well, this is probably unrelated. According to Deadline, Jackman has replaced Christian Bale in Michael Mann’s biopic of Enzo Ferrari. In fairness, Bale dropped out two years ago citing health concerns when he began the necessary weight gain but Jackman, free of having to look like he might be an immortal all-healing mutant, should be good to go.

Noomi Rapace is also in talks to play Ferrari’s wife, Linda, and it’s thought that Mann’s script focuses as much on their relationship as the cars Ferrari gave his name and life to. If Jackman and Rapace do sign up, production is set to begin in summer next year.

9. Geoffrey Rush is in full panto mode, and loving every minute of it

Even as the world attempts to calibrate its feelings towards Johnny Depp following his rather turgid 2016 (and 2015), the Pirates of the Caribbean are back. In their fifth, and supposedly final, instalment, the gang have brought out the big guns: Javier Bardem is some kind of zombie pirate. Thankfully Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) – a.k.a. Captain The Best Part Of The Last Three Films – is back too. The new trailer also features zombie sharks, a cheap version of Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley, and some quite impressive/expensive effects. We’ll all probably watch it, if only for Geoffrey Rush and the music.

– SON & DB