Spoilers below for anyone who hasn't yet watched The Chair Company's penultimate Season 1 episode on HBO or via HBO Max subscription, so be warned!

Every time I try to fool myself into thinking The Chair Company reached its biggest non sequitur or most absurd interaction, Tim Robinson & Co. point at me and laugh until they're no longer able to create sounds. (Figuratively speaking.) The weirdest show on the 2025 TV schedule delivered yet another head-scratching installment that followed up on Ron pushing Jeff, took us back into Mike’s truly nightmarish living situation, and seemed to actually vindicate Ron’s wild goose chose for a goose named Tecca.

Of course, any amount of progress achieved by the Trosper family’s patriarch was immediately undone, as trying to bring the culprit to justice would also implode Barb’s company, as Ron’s target was revealed to be the big investor that Barb first set a meeting with back in Episode 4. Meanwhile, Ron realized just how much his actions have sent son Seth further down his alcoholic rabbit hole, and it’s entirely unclear whether or not he’ll ever work at Fisher Robay again.

The early Season 2 renewal likely means we won’t get answers to everything laid out so far, but I have some predictions about what we’ll see in the finale, with the expectation that my conjecture will be rendered as wrong as everything about the porn store that Ron went to. And away we go!

Ron Will Stay Quiet, But Natalie Will Be The One To Blow The Whistle On Alice Quintana

While one of Ron's father-child relationships is on the fritz, Natalie has been surprisingly receptive to his often batty accusations and semblances of evidence. She knows just how important this is to him, and knows what's happened in the past when one of his larks went haywire.

I think Ron's mind is already made up to keep his mouth shut for good when he starts dancing with Barb. at Episode 7's end, and that he's practicing being able to smile for her and her accomplishments, knowing that every day will be another pin prick to his psyche. But since we haven't seen Natalie showing the same kind of heartfelt approval for Barb's passion project, I think she'll make the decision to make Alice Quintana's Tecca connections public, regardless of what it means for Barb's company.

The Family's Former Dog Larby Will Factor Into Ron's Mental Struggles

I think it's meant to say a lot about Ron that he went out and (presumably) bought a big ol' new family dog before even admitting that he may have lost his job. Barb and Seth think it's weird, but they don't necessarily act as if it's the weirdest thing he's ever done on impulse. And his canine connection was addressed again near the end of the episode, when Ron and Barb are dancing. She says:

I'm assuming that it's Larby viewers saw Ron interacting with during Episode 4's flashback sequences, and that it's Larby who Ron was expressing his inner thoughts to when Natalie overheard him. But considering the dog was already in the house when Ron told Barb about the haunting Jeep Tours drive that possibly concussed or killed a man, I don't think he acquired that pet due to job-related panic.

Still, Larby may indeed play a larger role in Ron's past traumas, self-inflicted or otherwise. Otherwise, why even give him a name and point out Ron missing him so close to the end of the season?

Ron Will End Up In The Mayor's Hot Tub

The Chair Company is perhaps the strangest example of the "Chekov's gun" narrative device, in that a surprising number of seemingly throwaway details from earlier episodes have come back around, from the Temblay's members club group chat to the pornographic pictures Ron took photos of to the Hungarian bugs found in the Trospers' home.

Following those non-rules, it only makes sense for the conversation Mayor Greg Braccan that Mike is quasi-eavesdropping on to get explained in some way in the finale. If they were in fact talking about going back to his house and getting in a hot tub, which seems way too straightforward to be real, then I can only assume that Ron will be the one to accidentally end up in it.

Ron And Seth Will Do The Pee-Wee Dance Together

Now that he's possibly reached an end point in his conspiratorial investigating, Ron seriously needs to make up for lost time with his son Seth, whose only character development has been his downward spiral caused by Ron's neglect. Given how harsh the latter sounded in Episode 6 when denying Seth's request to do "the Pee-Wee dance" as a callback to a classic family memory, Ron's only shot at redemption will be to voluntarily go into the dance himself without Seth's prodding. The more public the better, probably.

I feel like there should be something else done with Seth's drinking problem, since that's a majorly dramatic issue for a younger character, and the show is kind of treating it as something that doesn't need to be addressed with parental speediness. But if any show can kind of sweep that hazard under the rug with a goofy dance, it's The Chair Company.

Now for a little palate cleanser, since I can't really foresee how the show will wrap up its sexual harassment B plot, especially if Ron isn't working at the same company anymore.

My Five Favorite Lines From The Chair Company Episode 7

• RON: "Baby bit the rat box."
• BUG GUY: "Do you like turkey? Oh, God, they stack the turkey! It's so good."
• TERESA BONAVENTURA: "And they still let me take my picture every year. Mm. And this year, I wore a blue blazer and green pants, and I did a little bang which swooped around and made a little circle around my eye, and I looked like Daisy Duck."
• NATALIE: "No, it's like a new, nicer Wendy's called Carvers, and it has ham."
• DISGRUNTLED TAMBLAY CUSTOMER: "They made me think I could wish things into the world!"

Someone should make a fancy coffee table book with 99% of this show's dialogue filling up the pages. What I wouldn't give to have that book right now, and also that table. So long as Tecca didn't make it.

The Chair Company's Season 1 finale is set to air on HBO on Sunday, November 30, at 10:00 p.m. ET.

For quite some time, there have been actors who not only bring movies to life by acting on the big screen but also play a major role in crafting the stories. Over the years, multiple Best Picture winners have been written by talented thespians, who also happen to be accomplished wordsmiths. From stars who've pieced together films that would earn them their first Academy Award nominations to those penning passion projects, here are 32 successful actors who are also hit screenwriters.

Ben Affleck

In early 1998, Ben Affleck became one of the biggest stars in Hollywood after he and Matt Damon won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting. The movie made the longtime friends -- who didn't always work together -- into overnight sensations. Since then, he’s written four additional films: Gone Baby Gone, Live by Night, The Town and The Last Duel, which he co-wrote with Damon.

Matt Damon

As mentioned, Matt Damon took home the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting in 1998. The movie, of course, also featured his Academy Award-worthy performance as a troubled young genius. Since then, he’s co-written two additional Gus Van Sant-directed scripts – Gerry in 2002, Promised Land in 2012 – as well as the Ridley Scott historical epic, The Last Duel, which he penned with Ben Affleck.

Jordan Peele

After finding success with Key & Peele, Jordan Peele turned to more behind-the-scenes work, serving as both a director and screenwriter. From his 2016 comedy, Keanu to 2022’s Nope and Wendell & Wild, Peele has cemented his legacy as one of the strongest voices in Hollywood. He won an Oscar for his Get Out screenplay in 2018 and produced two of the best horror movies in recent memory: Us and Candyman.

Tina Fey

Tina Fey will forever be remembered as one of the best Saturday Night Live cast members, and that experience allowed her to fine-tune her writing and acting skills. In addition to starring in movies like Baby Mama, Date Night and Muppets Most Wanted, Fey famously wrote the screenplay for Mean Girls, which is one of the best movies of the 2000s.

Sylvester Stallone

A handful of the best action movies of all time were written by none other than Sylvester Stallone, who has flexed his muscles in front of the camera and behind the scenes. All of the Rocky films (as well as Creed II) were written by Stallone, as were the Rambo flicks and pretty much most of his best big-screen ventures.

George Clooney

George Clooney has plenty of notable movies like Ocean’s Eleven, Syriana, Michael Clayton and even the over-the-top Batman & Robin. But the Academy Award-winning actor has also penned quite a few screenplays over the years, including the ones for Good Night, and Good Luck, The Ides of March, Leatherheads, The Monuments Men and Suburbicon.

Kristen Wiig

Two of the funniest movies of the past decade-and-a-half – Bridesmaids and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar – not only featured the Saturday Night Live legend Kristen Wiig's on-screen talents, they were also co-written by the actress. And penning those screenplays alongside her was co-star Annie Mumolo.

Tyler Perry

In addition to being a committed philanthropist and all-around great guy, Tyler Perry is also an incredibly successful actor, movie producer, and screenwriter. Throughout his career, Perry has written multiple entries in the Madea film franchise as well as other films like A Jazzman’s Blues, Acrimony, and Why Did I Get Married?, to name a few.

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig has become famous for her Barbie screenplay (which was co-written by Noah Baumbach), but that's only one of the great scripts written by the talented actress. In addition to starring in several dozen movies over the years, Gerwig also penned modern gems like Frances Ha, Lady Bird, Mistress America and Little Women.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

In addition to being a talented actress with multiple scene-stealing performances in movies like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Solo: A Star Wars Story, Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a talented writer. She created and penned the shows Fleabag and Killing Eve and received a partial writing credit for her contributions on No Time to Die.

Justin Theroux

Throughout his career, Justin Theroux has starred in movies like Mulholland Drive, Miami Vice and American Psycho. However, he also has some impressive screenwriting credits to his name. With work on Iron Man 2, Tropic Thunder, Rock of Ages and Zoolander 2, he has quite the body of work.

Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson is an actress with a great filmography, through which she's worked both in front of and behind the camera. In fact, Thompson has Academy Awards for  Best Actress (for Howards End) and Best Adapted Screenplay (for Sense and Sensibility). She’s also penned movies like Bridget Jones’s Baby, Last Christmas and the Nanny McPhee films.

Billy Bob Thornton 

Billy Bob Thornton is another actor who has won an Academy Award for writing, having scored a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for his work on Sling Blade, which he also starred in and directed. Over the years, some of Thornton's best movies -- like One False Move, A Family Thing, The Gift and Daddy and Them were also written by the actor himself.

Emerald Fennell 

After finding success with acting roles in movies like Albert Nobbs, Anna Karenina and The Danish Girl, as well as shows like Call the Midwife and The Crown, Emerald Fennell turned her attention to writing and directing. Her feature film debut, Promising Young Woman, earned her a Best Original Screenplay Oscar. She also crafted the script for the drama film Saltburn.

Tom Hanks 

Tom Hanks is another Oscar winner with a number of screenwriting credits to his name. In addition to leading some of the best movies of all time, Hanks has also penned the screenplays for That Thing You Do, Larry Crowne and the 2020 World War II thriller Greyhound.

Kumail Nanjiani 

Kumail Nanjiani has starred in all kinds of movies over the years, with Eternals, Stuber and The Lovebirds being just a few of them. But Nanjiani also wrote the screenplay for The Big Sick, the 2018 romantic comedy inspired by the battles he and wife Emily V. Gordon faced early in their relationship.

Paul Rudd 

Paul Rudd not only starred in one of the best Marvel movies such as Ant-Man, he was also one the writers given credit for its screenplay (alongside Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, and Adam McKay). But that wasn’t his first or last script, as Rudd contributed to Role Models and Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Ethan Hawke 

Throughout his career, Ethan Hawke has starred in movies like Reality Bites, Boyhood, First Reformed and The Black Phone, among many others. However, the actor has also written his fair share of screenplays as well, with everything from the second and third installments in the Before film franchise to the gripping biopic Blaze featuring his handiwork. 

 Angelina Jolie 

Over the years, Angelina Jolie has become an instantly recognizable face and name thanks to a number of wonderful performances. The actress has also a few screenwriting credits, including In the Land of Blood and Honey, First They Killed My Father and By the Sea.

Kenneth Branagh 

To some Kenneth Branagh is arguably better known as a screenwriter than actor. That's because he won Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the semi autobiographical coming-of-age drama Belfast and received a nomination for his adaptation of Hamlet back in 1995. The Christopher Nolan collaborator has also written other films like Much Ado About Nothing, In the Bleak Midwinter, Listening and The Magic Flute.

Steve Coogan 

Steve Coogan is famous for his performances in the Night at the Museum movies, Tropic Thunder, 24 Hour Party People, and The Trip, but he’s also a talented writer. Over the years, Coogan has written movies like Philomena, The Lost King, The Parole Officer and Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa.

Sarah Polley 

After making a name for herself as an actress with roles in movies like Go, The Weight of Water and the underrated Dawn of the Dead remake, Sarah Polley turned her jumped into the writer/director seat. One of her most well-known scripts is probably 2022's Women Talking, which earned her an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Seth Rogen 

Seth Rogen has written some of the comedies that defined the 2000s, such as Pineapple Express and Superbad, as well as more recent hits like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. This is on top of appearing in all three of those movies, as well as other classics like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, which totally deserved its R rating.

Taylor Sheridan 

Taylor Sheridan is mostly known for crafting Sicario, Wind River, Hell or High Water and other riveting dramas. But the Yellowstone co-creator also had a decent acting career before making the big shift over the past decade. He appeared on shows like Sons of Anarchy and Veronica Mars.

Lake Bell 

In addition to appearing in movies like No Escape, No Strings Attached, It’s Complicated and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Lake Bell has also written and directed a few projects throughout her career. There are the shorts Worst Enemy and El Tonto, which she followed up with feature-length films, In a World… and I Do… Until I Don’t.

Owen Wilson 

When talking about Wes Anderson's collaborators, few names come to mind as quickly as Owen Wilson, who has appeared in a number of the director’s films throughout his career. But on top of appearing in seven of Anderson’s movies, Wilson also helped write three of them: Bottlerocket, Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums.

Jason Segel 

When it comes to the movie sphere, Jason Segel is probably best known for his portrayal of Peter Bretter in the 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but some might not know he also wrote it. After that, Segel penned three additional feature films: The Muppets, The Five-Year Engagement and Sex Tape.

Ricky Gervais

On top of creating and starring on TV shows like the original version of The Office, Episodes and Extras, Ricky Gervais has also written some popular movies throughout his career. The British actor and comedian has crafted The Invention of Lying, Special Correspondents, Cemetery Junction and David Brent: Life on the Road.

Woody Allen 

Throughout his career, which goes back the mid 1950s, Woody Allen has written, directed, and starred in dozens of movies, many of which are incredibly well-received. Over the years, Allen has won four Academy Awards, three of which were for Best Original Screenplay – Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters, and Midnight in Paris – on top of all kinds of other accolades. However, Allen has only appeared in four of his own movies the past 20 years.

John Cusack 

Not only did he star in some of the most iconic comedies of the 1980s, some all-time great ‘90s movies, and experience a great deal of success, John Cusack has written a handful of films throughout his career. This short list also happens to include some of his Cusack's best movies like High Fidelity and Grosse Pointe Blank. His other writing credits include War, Inc. and We Are Not Animals.

Rashida Jones 

Rashida Jones is perhaps best known for her roles on NBC comedy hits The Office and Parks and Recreation, but the actress has also written a few screenplays throughout her career. This includes Celeste and Jesse Forever, the 2018 documentary, Quincy, which is about her dad -- music legend Quicy Jones. She also has a story credit for Toy Story 4 and wrote “Nosedive,” one of the best Black Mirror episodes.

Tom McCarthy 

Tom McCarthy is best known for writing and directing Spotlight, the riveting journalism movie that won Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at the 88th Academy Awards. But while he was in the process of becoming an award-winning filmmaker, McCarthy put together a decent acting resume that included a memorable turn on The Wire (during the final season), Meet the Parents, Good Night, and Good Luck, Syriana and Michael Clayton.

Each of these nearly three-dozen actors has quite the resume, both in terms of on-screen performances and written work, making them more than deserving of any and all praise.

For most of the last several months Chris Rock was remaining in the headlines for getting slapped on live television. But it does look like the comedian’s luck has been changing, because he’s still making the headlines, it’s for a very different reason. And this time it's much more positive. The comedian is reportedly in a relatively new relationship with actress Lake Bell, and Chris Rock’s brother is doing what all brothers do in that situation, making fun of fun of him.

TMZ caught up with Chris Rock’s brother Tony, who has been more than willing to speak out on his brother recently, and asked him what he thought of the fact that Chris was in the news due to his relationship. Tony says he’s very happy, because the fact that the media cares who his brother is dating must therefore mean that Chris Rock is considered good-looking, because if he was ugly nobody would care. Tony said…

Tony Rock is certainly having some fun at his brother’s expense, which is what you’d expect a brother to do. It’s clear that a strong sense of humor runs in the family and one expects that if the roles were reversed Chris Rock would be giving his brother an equally hard time. Having said that, people are always interested in celebrity relationships, especially when both people in the couple are celebrities. And Chris Rock has been in the headlines recently, potentially making people more interested in what he’s up to. Chris and Lake Bell might not be generating the headlines of Ben Affleck and JLo, but they have fans, and Rock’s fans have been very supportive of late, and those people will care. If nothing else this does show the comedian is focused on things other than the Oscars incident.

But if you’re looking for the inside scoop on the new couple, Tony Rock doesn’t have it. He admits he has yet to meet his brother’s girlfriend, and only found out about the couple the same way the rest of us did. He explains…

One certainly hopes that Chris Rock will introduce Lake Bell to the family. It’s one of those things you’re supposed to do, right? In the end, of course, while many might not ultimately care who a celebrity is dating, one hopes that everybody looking for love finds it eventually. 

Chris Rock has been the center of attention in Hollywood since getting slapped by Will Smith during the live broadcast of the 94th Academy Awards. While Rock may be too focused on his tour to concern himself with reconciling with the Best Actor winner, it appears the Saturday Night Live vet has made time for other personal relationships. Rock has apparently been dating actress Lake Bell for a couple of months.

More than three months after The Slap, everyone continues to weigh in on the manner in which Will Smith chose to defend wife Jada Pinkett Smith against Chris Rock’s joke. The Grown Ups actor, however, has for the most part declined to address it (except, possibly, backstage with Dave Chappelle and Marlon Wayans, that is). Rather, he’s kept the focus on himself, and that includes not letting the Oscars brouhaha stop him from pursuing a new relationship, an ET source said:  

The source said Chris Rock is in a “really good head space” and has been putting effort into making the new relationship with the Harley Quinn actress work. The couple have reportedly been seeing each other for a couple of months, and were seen out together multiple times over the Fourth of July weekend. On July 1, the they reportedly enjoyed dinner at celeb hotspot Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, followed by casual Sunday brunch at Coast. Rock and Bell were also seen at a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game back in June.

Lake Bell, whose projects have included TV series like Boston Legal and Bless This Mess as well as movies like It’s Complicated and No Strings Attached, ended her marriage to Scott Campbell after seven years in 2020. Chris Rock, for his part, split from his wife Malaak Compton-Rock in 2016 after 20 years.

It’s good to see that Chris Rock is not being held back by the events of March 27, which even “traumatized” some of his friends like Wanda Sykes. The Slap has remained a topic of conversation, largely because of the polarizing opinions Will Smith’s reaction generated — as well as the immediate aftermath, in which Smith was allowed to stay in the audience and accept the 2022 award for Best Actor for his performance in King Richard. In the days following the ceremony, Smith was banned from all Academy-related events for 10 years, and he resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Many people have spoken out against Will Smith’s actions, including Jim Carrey, who said he was “sickened” that the crowd honored Smith with a standing ovation for his award following the outburst. Others, however, have shown more empathy toward a man defending his wife against a tasteless joke. Mike Tyson, who has his own history of physical altercations, was “not shocked” by The Slap, and Terry Crews showed empathy when comparing Smith’s actions to unfortunate incidents in his own past.

Hopefully Lake Bell and Chris Rock can continue to keep the focus on themselves and their budding relationship, even as it’s unlikely that The Slap is going to fall out of the pop culture conversation anytime soon. Be sure to check out our 2022 movie release schedule to see what’s coming soon to theaters. 

There is not a single member of Batman’s rogues gallery whose threatening nature should ever be taken lightly (OK, maybe Condiment King, at least). However, Poison Ivy is one DC villain who has proven to be quite a challenge for the Dark Knight time and time again - not just for her supernaturally hypnotic abilities, but her naturally seductive appeal, as well.

The question is, which depiction of the half-woman, half-plant formerly known as botanist Pamela Isley, outside of the comics, has managed to win over DC fans the most? Well, to be honest, I have no interest in awarding supremacy to any one of the following seven actresses who played Poison Ivy in Batman movies and TV shows in the past, but would like to give them each a proper moment under the sun, starting with her earliest moment on television. 

Diane Pershing (Batman: The Animated Series)

On a TV show that most Batfans consider to be the definitive depiction of the Dark Knight (as voiced by Kevin Conroy), it is no surprise that it is also remembered for having one of the most definitive depictions of Poison Ivy (as voiced by Diane Pershing). In her debut appearance on a 1992 episode of Batman: The Animated Series called “Pretty Poison,” the eco-terrorist seeks revenge on Harvey Dent (before he was Two-Face) for breaking ground on a field of wildflowers to build a new prison, by making him fall ill with a toxic kiss after asking her to be his wife. 

Her devious plans would only continue to blossom into much creepier territory, such as Batman and Robin discovering her seemingly reformed and newly married self was growing plant-based humanoid creatures in her garden.

Piera Coppola (The Batman)

Rino Romano’s Bruce Wayne is the one who succumbs to Poison Ivy’s hypnotic control on the mid-2000s animated TV reboot, The Batman, which leaves it up to Batgirl (voiced by Danielle Judovits) to save the day. As voiced by Piera Coppola of Warcraft video games fame, this Ivy has everything that made the BTAS depiction great, but ups the ante in terms of when she bests the Caped Crusader in combat. Unfortunately, his fists are no match for her vines and branches, which are strong enough break full-sized columns in half and throw them across a room like pieces of chalk.

Katee Sackhoff (Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two)

An even more brutal display of man vs. plants could be seen in the second half of the 2021 adaptation of Jeph Loeb’s seminal graphic novel, Batman: The Long Halloween. After the concerningly long absence of Bruce Wayne (the great Jensen Ackles) and his alter ego, Catwoman (the late Naya Rivera) finds him hopelessly under Poison Ivy’s spell, convincing him to sign away his company to mob boss Carmine Falcone. Catwoman claws her way through the vegetation surrounding Wayne Manor, which telepathically harms Ivy and puts an end to the one-sided affair. While her time in the film was brief, Katee Sackhoff’s Poison Ivy owned one of the character's memorably nightmarish moments.

Clare Foley, Maggie Geha, And Peyton List (Gotham)

Camren Bicondova’s Selina Kyle actually became friends with Poison Ivy when she made her live-action TV debut on Fox’s Batman prequel series, Gotham, as a young, orphaned girl named Ivy Pepper, played by Clare Foley...at first, that is. Mutagenic compounds caused a growth spurt that makes her look like Maggie Geha and gives her deadly powers, such as causing poisonous plants to grow within her enemies with one scratch. She became even more demented when she was reborn once again as Peyton List, who would charm the likes of Bruce Wayne and Lucius Fox to do her bidding.

Bridget Regan (Batwoman)

On Season 3 of Batwoman, it was Renee Montoya (Victoria Cartagena, reprising her role from the Gotham cast in Season 1) who became charmed by Pamela Isley until her transformation into a mutant eco-terrorist tests their relationship. The Gotham City police officer had no choice but to render her girlfriend comatose with a dehydration serum developed by Bruce Wayne, but they were able rekindle their relationship after she was revived and rehabilitated. 

Reinventing Poison Ivy’s story as an LGBTQ+ tragic romance was a wonderful way to differentiate Bridget Regan’s portrayal from previous interpretations, but I also give props for a costume design that is slightly similar to her look in the Batman: Arkham video games.

Lake Bell (Harley Quinn)

It was more fun, however, to see the unusually level-headed Poison Ivy’s story reinvented as an LGBTQ+ rom-com on Harley Quinn. After a season’s worth of “will they, or won’t they,” she (Lake Bell) and the titular Clown Princess of Crime (Kaley Cuoco) finally admitted to each other (and themselves) that they meant more to each other than as just BFFs at the end of Season 2. Granted, Harley and Ivy’s romance is borrowed from the comics, but done in such an endearing way on the HBO Max animated series that Season 3 cannot come quick enough so fans can see more.

Uma Thurman (Batman & Robin) 

I realize that, by including this particular portrayal, I could be putting myself at risk of being met with some intense backlash, much like the backlash that Batman & Robin was met with in 1997 and continues to be haunted by to this day. However, for the same reasons I still enjoy the 1960s Batman show with Adam West, I have come to look back on director Joel Schumacher’s egregiously cartoonish film in a somewhat more appreciative light - especially for Academy Award nominee Uma Thurman’s performance as Poison Ivy, which calls to mind the iconic femme fatales of film noir classics from the 1940s. 

Love this movie or hate it, I do not blame you either way, but Thurman gives 100% as Pamela Isley and deserves to be recognized for it in a more positive light.

I will say, however, that I would not be surprised if it was because of Batman & Robin that we still have yet to see Poison Ivy on the big screen again, which is a shame, because there are so many actresses with amazing potential to nail the role. Maybe there is a chance she could show up in a sequel to Matt Reeves’ The Batman or even in the DCEU. Margot Robbie has already expressed interest in exploring Harley Quinn and Ivy’s romance in live-action and there is no reason not to go for it at this point.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is shaping up to be a key part of Marvel’s Phase Four slate. Unfortunately, the sequel has experienced multiple delays due to a number of factors. In addition, there has seemingly been an interesting casting development for the upcoming sequel. A recent report suggest that the film may have added a star from the animated Marvel Studios series What If...?.

Lake Bell, who most fans likely know for voicing the animated Black Widow for the Disney+ series, was spotted shooting scenes for Wakanda Forever. ComicBook.com got its hands on the behind-the-scenes photos that were leaked online, which seem to reveal Bell’s involvement in the sequel. And as you'd expect, there's currently no indication as to who the actress might be playing. This would be a solid pick-up for the production and seemingly indicates that Marvel Studios is keeping it in the family, as far as casting is concerned. Though one would assume she'll be playing a totally different character from her animated version of Natasha Romanoff.

The Black Panther follow-up has assembled a strong cast thus far. Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams (aka Ironheart) will be in on some of the action before her Disney+ series premieres, and it should make for an exciting introduction. She'll be joined by I May Destroy You’s Michaela Coel, who is playing a still-unknown role. Plot details are also under wraps at the moment, but rumors suggest the story could have major ramifications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The exciting report of Lake Bell seemingly joining the movie follows some not-so-good news. The production recently had to shut down for the remainder of the year, as Letitia Wright is still dealing with the effects of her on-set injury from August. Before film was paused, reports claimed that the actress was reportedly spreading anti-vaccination information. The star later came out and refuted the rumors.   

Though production has been halted, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever appears to be right on track to meet its release date. And fans can take comfort knowing that franchise stars Angela Bassett, Martin Freeman, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke and Lupita Nyong’o have returned along with Letitia Wright. With returning castmates and multiple additions, the world of Wakanda should expand greatly in the sequel. These pieces should help director Ryan Coogler craft a film that pays ample tribute the late Chadwick Boseman.

Following this recent report on Lake Bell, one would imagine that fans will begin to speculate away on her role. Hopefully, the underrated actress has a part that truly allows her to shine. Moviegoers will just have to wait until Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arrives in theaters on November. 11, 2022 to find out who she's playing. But in the meantime, you can stream Black Panther and Marvel's What If...? on Disney+.

It used to be that actors did animated films because that was the only work they were typically hired for. All of that changed once Robin Williams let the proverbial genie out of the bottle with his performance in Disney's classic Aladdin, and nowadays animated films are normally stuffed with heavyweight Hollywood names. In the case of The Secret Life Of Pets, Louis CK and Kevin Hart are the anchors, and they've got some interesting back up checking off all of the other boxes.

Courtesy of a report from The Hollywood Reporter, we learned that the recently rescheduled Universal Studios project is not only another one that sees them teaming up with animation studio Illumination Entertainment, it's also attracted the comedic likes of Eric Stonestreet, Ellie Kemper, Bobby Moynihan, and Jenny Slate for starters. As if that wasn't impressive enough, fellow laugh makers Lake Bell and Hannibal Buress have roles in The Secret Life Of Pets as well. But the MVP of the back bench line up happens to be someone with a little bit of experience with animated films, as well as Academy Award nominations: legendary comedian, and star of Finding Nemo, and its sequel, Finding Dory, Albert Brooks.

The Secret Life Of Pets is about, "the lives our pets lead after we leave for work or school each day." In other words, Illumination Entertainment is going back to the old animation well with a movie about objects or organisms that don't normally talk... except when we're not around. Considering the project is being crafted by key members of the same team that made Despicable Me a smash hit back in 2010, there's a good chance this film can overcome the rather overdone plot and become a movie that should stand with its more Minion-heavy compatriots. Considering how original Despicable Me's logline sounded before anyone even caught a glimpse of it, perhaps it's not as easy to judge this one by its concept alone.

Still, animated films are becoming as competitive as blockbuster franchises and tween book phenomenons. Standing shoulder to shoulder with those equally successful genres is no easy feat, and The Secret Life Of Pets will face off against one of the two as it is opening on the same crowded summer day as Star Trek 3. The best chance this film has is the fact that both Louis CK and Kevin Hart are pretty big in the comedy world at this point in time. Hart will draw in the bigger box office crowd at large, while Louis CK stands to reel in the more cynical audience that enjoys his work no matter what the medium. Even with a cast stuffed with funny talent, it won't be a big surprise if we see this project tear a page out of the Dreamworks Animation playbook and shift its release to a date more friendly for potential new properties.

For the moment, The Secret Life Of Pets will be revealed on July 8, 2016. All we're saying is if we were betting people, we'd put a little money on this one changing its plans at least once.

There may have been some worries as to whether a romantic comedy starring Simon Pegg and Lake Bell would be a good idea or not. But with the first trailer of the duo's latest film Man Up having dropped, most of those worries can now be put to rest. The new trailer, which you can view below, has many elements that could make it one of the best rom-coms to grace our screens in years.

This is writer Tess Morris' first sole feature screenwriting credit. As for the director, Ben Palmer, this is his first feature film since his 2011 flick The Inbetweeners, based off his TV series of the same name. With that said, there isn't much to go on as far as a film track record for either, but from the looks of the footage here, it appears they have gotten the job done... potentially even done very well. The upcoming rom-com certainly looks to have been shot well, much thanks to film's cinematographer Andrew Dunn, known for his work on such films as The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Precious.

While I'll admit I wasn't prepared to hear Bell speaking with an English accent, it very quickly became a non-issue only seconds into the trailer. Another thing that caught me off guard, however, was learning Edgar Wright had nothing to do with this film. Here I thought the action director and frequent Pegg collaborator had decided to tackle a new genre—a passing moment that actually got me kind of excited. All complaints aside, the above trailer looks quite promising. It's difficult to say from the clip how funny the film will be, but it doesn't appear to be selling too hard on "laugh out loud" moments but rather billing more as a lighthearted indie feel-gooder. And on that note, it could prove to be a winner.

Working in favor of the film are its lead actor and actress, Simon Pegg and Lake Bell. You never quite know what kind of chemistry two actors are going to have until you see them interacting onscreen. There usually isn't a whole heck of a lot of room for a mediocre pairing—they've either got it, or they don't. In the case of the Shaun of the Dead actor and his New Girl co-star, thankfully, it seems to be a rather good matchup. From the moment they meet in the trailer with Pegg doing his typical nice guy routine as he attempts to greet Bell with a kiss, it seems as though the two have a nice spark.

Man Up hits theaters on May 29. What do you think of this first look?

Owen Wilson has played all sorts of characters in his storied career. He's played a cowboy, the perfect ex-boyfriend, even a writer nostalgic for the roaring 1920s. However, the trailer for his new film, No Escape, shows him playing a role he's never ventured to play before in his career: a badass. Take a look at his transformation in the newly released trailer, embedded below.

The Weinstein Company's official YouTube page dropped this trailer for the Dowdle Brothers produced film, which co-stars Lake Bell and Pierce Brosnan. No Escape tells the story of a man and his family who, after moving to an Asian country to start a new life, get caught up in a bloody revolt. What begins as a family drama, quickly turns into a fight for survival and a battle to get to the safety of the American embassy.

"Badass" is the last word I'd ascribe to quantify the type of characters that Owen Wilson has played in his career, but sure enough No Escape looks to turn that statement into a falsehood. In fact, some of the stuff we see Wilson do in this trailer is refreshing when compared to the rest of his work. Sure, we've seen him get into some interesting action and car chases in past films like Starsky And Hutch, and even I Spy, but there's only one other film that could really measure up to the levels of serious ass kicking that's on display in this trailer, and that's Behind Enemy Lines.

Pairing newly initiated bad ass Wilson with veteran bad ass Pierce Brosnan is also something exciting to consider, as Brosnan's been looking to make an action oriented comeback with films like The November Man starting to take up real estate on his resume again. So far, it looks like the comeback is working slowly but surely, as it's a welcome sight to see the former James Bond actor taking up arms and defending the innocent once more. It's a shame this film will more than likely eschew any sort of comedic material for the majority of its run time, as the pair of Brosnan and Wilson cracking wise sounds like something that's worth admission alone

Of course, for every positive this project has to its credit, there is one particular drawback that makes this film a rather worrisome prospect: it's directed by John Erick Dowdle, the same man who brought us films such as Quarantine, Devil, and As Above, So Below. With a track record of taking interesting concepts and adapting/remaking them into flat motion pictures, the sneaking suspicion that all of the best beats are located in the trailer is rising. While every film is an opportunity for a filmmaker to turn everything around, No Escape doesn't seem like the type of film that should be used as genre training wheels to an uninitiated director.

We'll see how successful No Escape is with its subject matter, as it seeks the shelter of a theater near you on September 2nd.

When two actors I really like get together to make a movie, it’s supposed to make me happy - but the worry starts to sink in when that movie’s plot sounds like the most generic thing since sliced bread. Such is the case with Studio Canal and Big Talk Productions’ Man Up, a romantic comedy that will team actress/director Lake Bell with Brit comedy god Simon Pegg. Neither of these actors has been in a really good rom-com in their careers, but there are a few reasons to think this film will change that.

For one, Bell and Pegg are both excellent comic actors, so it’ll be great seeing them play off of each other rather than someone more Hollywood being thrown in there. Secondly, the Tess Morris-penned script was featured on the 2011 Brit List, the U.K. version of the Black List (it will be Morris’ first feature though, so we have nothing to compare it to), Thirdly, it will be helmed by Ben Palmer, best known for having directed quite a few episodes of the hilarious BBC comedy The Inbetweeners, as well as the almost-as-hilarious The Inbetweeners Movie in 2011.

With all those great pieces in place, I certainly wish Deadline’s description of the film made it sound a little better. Bell will play Nancy, a single woman on her way to her parents’ house for their anniversary when she gets mistaken for a stranger’s blind date, which of course leads her to finding the perfect boyfriend - whom we’ll assume will be played by Pegg. Sure, there is a lot of room for madcap zaniness to ensue, and I’m probably just being a mope for hating on a logline. I’ll try and kindle some faith on this one in the upcoming months.

Bell is coming off of her directorial debut In a World, which won her the Waldo Salt screenwriting award at Sundance earlier this year, and a stellar fourth season of Adult Swim’s Childrens Hospital, for which she directed a handful of episodes. She’s currently filming John Erick Dowdle’s thriller The Coup with Owen Wilson, and recently wrapped Craig Gillespie’s sports drama Million Dollar Arm with John Hamm. She’ll also be heard in the upcoming comedy Mr. Peabody & Sherman.

Pegg, who rocked fanboys’ worlds this summer with both The World’s End and Star Trek Into Darkness, recently finished two non-comedies: Kriv Stenders’ Australian thriller Kill Me Three Times and Peter Chelsom’s drama Hector and the Search for Happiness.

Have you guys seen In a World yet? If not you might want to after watching the trailer below.

With Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's apocalyptic comedy This Is The End in theaters this week - a film that sees Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, Danny McBride and Craig Robinson all playing themselves - we here at Cinema Blend have definitely found ourselves in the mood for some big meta Hollywood concepts. So how about we bring you the first trailer for a movie about making trailers?

Actress Lake Bell has made her writing/directing debut with a new film called In A World..., a star-stacked comedy that had its debut at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize and took home the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, but now finally Roadside Attractions has picked up the film for distribution and ahead of its release has put out a brand new trailer, which you can see above courtesy of Yahoo!

Like This Is The End, Bell's movie also seems to have at least a couple of famous faces playing themselves, including Eva Longoria (who seems to be practicing a cockney accent by holding a cork between her teeth). The film looks pretty damn funny, and it's hard to argue with a cast that includes Ken Marino, Nick Offerman, Rob Corddry, Fred Melamed, Demetri Martin, Tig Notaro and Geena Davis.

In the film, Bell stars as Carol a vocal coach who lives in the shadow of her father (Melamed), the king of movie trailer voice-overs. But when it's announced that they are looking for a trailer voice for a hot upcoming new franchise, Carol suddenly finds herself fighting for the gig.

Katie Aselton brought her debut film as a director to Sundance two years ago, premiering the low-budget, sweet and simple romantic comedy The Freebie. For her second effort she decided it was time to step things up, and though she still stars in her latest film in addition to directing, she's made a thriller that takes place entirely outdoors, features actual movie stars in Kate Bosworth and Lake Bell, and covers a whole lot of action that's bigger than anything you might have seen in The Freebie.

In Black Rock Aselton, Bell and Bosworth play three childhood friends who travel to a remote Maine island for a reunion, only to find their trip completely derailed by an accident that leads to them being hunted down by some off-kilter hunters bent on revenge. The movie was picked up for distribution by LD Entertainment almost immediately after premiering, which means that audiences will have a chance later this year to get a look at Aselton's distinctive style of telling a familiar thriller story. Over the weekend I spoke to Bell, Bosworth and Aselton for about 15 minutes; for now here's 8 minutes from that interview, in which we talk about improvising despite their tight script, "grilling up" the script written by Aselton's husband Mark Duplass, and how Bell and Bosworth had each other cracking up during the film's opening scene. Check out the interview below, and look for Black Rock in theaters later this year.

One of the most promising new sitcoms added to the FOX fall schedule is New Girl starring Zooey Deschanel. The actress has made a name for herself from her small, but frequent feature film roles as well as her blossoming singing career (she's amazing) but now she's headed to the smallest of screens, which should prove another successful notch on her belt. The show as already announced some premium guests and today they penned another two big names into the lineup.

According to TVLine, the comedy has added guest roles for both Lake Bell and Natasha Lyonne, both of whom should be welcome additions to any project with the high level of (comedic) talent they always bring. Lyonne's career started early and she's perhaps most well known for her turn in the original American Pies (even if she's far more impressive in Slums of Beverly Hills). Lyonne will play a character that Schmidt (Max Greenfield) meets at a Wedding, and can't stand yet ends up bedding anyways.

Lake Bell has arrived on the scene a little more recently, with impressive supporting turns in projects like No Strings Attached (which also features New Girls' Jake Johnson) and Children's Hospital. She's fantastic and hilarious on the Adult Swim medical spoof and will show up on New Girl for the third episode as, shocker, a love interest for one of Deschanel's male roommates, specifically Jake Johnson's Nick. Nick is my favorite non-Deschanel character so far, yes I've took advantage of the early online release and you can read my take on the episode here or Kelly's here.

They should both fit right in and add, not only two pretty faces, but some laughs as well and they're joining other big name guests like Justin Long. New Girl premieres proper on Fox on September 20 (tonight!) at 9 p.m.

No Strings Attached is about what happens when Natalie Portman forces Ashton Kutcher to have frequent, consequence free sex with her. If this were real life, the movie would be over in 5 minutes. She’d ask him to enter into this arrangement, he’d say absolutely, and then we’d see “they lived happily ever after” as a title card right before the credits rolled. You can’t sell tickets to a five minute movie, so eventually he’ll get hung up on her and want more than just sex, or at least that’s how the trailers seem to indicate it’ll work.

There’s no sign of that however, in the following two new clips from No Strings. Think of these as the “a little something for the ladies” version of the movie’s marketing. Last week we had a little something for the dudes in the form of two clips here which seemed tailor made to allow viewers the fantasy of pretending Natalie Portman was their girlfriend. In these clips, it’s Ashton’s turn to sit around in his underwear and make out with random women. Oh hey, that random woman is Lake Bell! Remember when she was going to be famous for like five minutes. Shame that never happened.

Here’s the clips:

No Strings Attached arrives in theaters January 21st. For more information visit the No Strings page in our Blend Film Database.

It’s been a little while since we served up some Scream 4 news, but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been a ton of action on the set. News outlets and paparazzi have caught an immense amount of the shooting through pictures and videos giving us peeks at stars Hayden Panettiere, Marielle Jaffe, Rory Culkin and much more. There’s certainly a ton of material floating around out there, so I’ve taken the liberty to sort through it all and pick out the best of the best.

The first item comes from director Wes Craven himself. A little over a week ago, Craven tweeted, “My crew was wondering what my cameo should be in #SCREAM4. Suggestions? No janitor, doctor or tourist.” You might recall catching a glimpse of Craven as Fred the janitor in Scream, a doctor in Scream 2 or a man with a video camera on a studio tour in Scream 3. Craven will keep the tradition alive and make an appearance in this new installment. His twitter followers submitted a slew of suggestions ranging from a schoolteacher to the actual killer, so you’ll really have to keep your eyes peeled; he could be anywhere.

An interesting piece from the folks over at Fox News in Detroit popped up and I don’t mean interesting in terms of plot revelations. This reporter seems to have a thing for Jaffe. In fact, the whole video is more of a fan boy-type report. He talks to some Courteney Cox-obsessed girl and a local stand in who enjoys namedropping. What makes this clip worth watching is the shots of the set. We get a glimpse of the Woodsboro Police Station, which is actually a parking lot and a quick peek at the fountain scene, a moment you might remember from the original Scream.

Speaking of that fountain scene, Before The Trailer has some great shots of Jaffe, Panettiere, Culkin and two guys, who I assume are Erik Knudsen and Nico Tortorella, practically reenacting that moment shared between Sidney and the gang in the first film. Well, minus the new generation’s leading lady. Emma Roberts is assumed to be the one leading us through this new trilogy, but she’s almost nowhere to be found in all of the spy videos and photos.

It’s more like Panettiere is the face of Scream 4. Not only is she in nearly every image, but she’s the only one talking to reporters. She took the time to chat with Access Hollywood about the script drama that cropped up when Lauren Graham and Lake Bell ditched. Back then, some source claimed Pantettiere’s role went from “really sharp” to “dumbed down” and that she wasn’t happy about it. But of course the actress had nothing but the best to say of the film when chatting with AH. She explained all of that was “very untrue and I love my character.” From there she babbles on about how great everyone on the set is. She continues to babbles in a video interview with MTV, which basically consists of a minute of stuttering and gushing.

I’ll wrap things up with a strange set of images from Bananadoc showing Woodsboro decorated with ghostface costumes. Okay, I get that the town is supposed to be obsessed with the murders, but don’t decoration imply celebration? If I were related to a Woodsboro murder victim I might be a little disgusted having to get a glimpse of my family member’s killer every time I walked down the block.

It was one thing to have Lake Bell call it quits just three days before filming began, but now it seems as though Wes Craven has lost another actress right in the middle of Scream 4’s very first week of shooting, Lauren Graham. The site that first reported on Graham’s casting, Ghouls on Film, is now saying Graham is out “due to date conflict and script changes.”

A date conflict? Is her role really that prominent that scheduling issues couldn’t be resolve at this point? And what about those script changes? Does that mean Jill Kessler’s (Emma Roberts) mother Kate has been removed from the film entirely or will the role be recast? You’re guess is as good as mine, but I’m thinking it’s a little late in the game for a character to be completely written out.

Like Bell, Graham’s exit isn’t devastating, but it is disappointing and even a little bit of a concern. When she first spoke about her casting with Jay Leno she seemed so genuinely excited about the project and there’s nothing more reassuring than that. But, oh well, we’ll get over it. The lasting issue is the possibility of a more serious problem with the production. Losing two actresses in two weeks, one in the midst of filming? It’s a little suspicious. I’ve got my fingers crossed my intuitions are wrong.

With so many casting announcements for Scream 4 coming down the line this past few weeks, it's a bit of a shocker to hear that the long awaited Wes Craven sequel has already lost a cast member. Actress Lake Bell has unfortunately had to relinquish her role as Deputy Judy Hicks in the next installment of the beloved saga, according to her Twitter account (Via ComingSoon).

I can't imagine what she has going on that is MORE important than Scream 4, but it seems like maybe she should have somehow made time to be in the movie made by one of the most revered horror directors of all time. Just a thought.

The film is set to begin shooting on Monday, which will make for a busy weekend for Scream 4's casting director depending on when Bell's scenes were scheduled to be shot. If you're in the Ann Arbor area and looking to be a part of Wes Craven's next, start driving around dressed as a lady Sheriff and maybe he'll hire you right on the spot just out of necessity.

It's a bummer that she had to drop, but if you are looking to satisfy your Lake Bell hunger, simply get on Netflix and watch the woefully short Surface that was cancelled after just one season, but remains big fun.

With shooting set to begin in just a few weeks, the blog Deep Said What (via Shock Till You Drop) came across one of the locations to be featured in Scream 4, Dearborn, Michigan’s Woodworth Middle School. The plan is to dress the build with a new façade. Why? So it’ll more closely resemble Woodsboro High from Scream because the building will be used for a flashback sequence.

As you can see in the image, the brickwork does look a lot like that of the Sonoma Community Center, the facility that starred as Woodsboro High in the first film. As STYD points out, Sonoma CC was Craven’s second choice for Woodsboro; he originally applied to use the Santa Rosa High School and struck a deal with the principal only to have the agreement revoked days before filming. Turns out the contract was merely verbal and when the school board decided the brutality of Scream might creep their students out, there was nothing Craven could do about it. Well, almost nothing. Craven threw this message in Scream’s closing credits, "And no thanks whatsoever to the Santa Rosa School Board."

So now back to this whole flashback concept; could it mean the Scream vets won’t meet a bloody end in the fourth film? Perhaps their involvement is restricted to these moments. Of course this is only speculation, but it’s certainly possible. Maybe the flashback will involve Lake Bell’s character who knew Sidney in her high school days. The character description does mention that Deputy Judy Hicks never made enough of an impression on Sid to remember, but possibly she’s got one instance buried deep in her memory when she and Hicks crossed paths and this could be it. Also, flashback or no flashback, if Scream 4 is about a new crop of Woodsboro High teens, wouldn’t you think they’d need to recreate the building anyway?

Sick of the Scream 4 casting news yet? I hope not because it’s still coming in. Shock Till You Drop caught two interesting details in EW’s piece on Lauren Graham’s casting, Anthony Anderson and Marielle Jaffe. EW includes the two names in their list of newcomers joining franchise alum Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette. Funny thing is, this is the very first we’ve heard about their involvement.

Even funnier? Anderson is a Scary Movie vet, the spoof franchise that began at Scream’s expense. Can the guy do a turnaround and legitimately act scared when a bowie knife is put to his throat? I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say yes. Returning to that casting call, perhaps he’ll play one of the two detectives. The character Detective Hoss actually seems like the kind of guy who could provide some comic relief. He’s described as “New school cop. College graduate raised on the CSI TV series.”

Jaffe is a little harder to place, because there are still a handful of vacant roles that she could qualify for. She’s young, blond and apparently had a role in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. I can’t recall ‘Aphrodite Girl’s’ big moment, did catch a YouTube video she posted of herself singing Christian Aguilera’s “Beautiful” and she’s pretty good. Oh, and apparently she’s a model. (Can’t you tell by the picture?) Of the four young female roles still up for grabs, I’m guessing Jaffe is best suited for that of Bette, Sidney’s personal assistant. She seems a little old to play a high school student, but since when does that matter? If Wes Craven goes the teen route, Jaffe could end up as Patty, “A bouncy teenage girl with a fountainhead of pop culture that is impressive. Like all teenagers who live in Woodsboro, she is obsessed with the Woodsboro murders and with the STAB films,” Marnie, “friend of Patty's. Funny and mischievous; loves practical jokes. Sometimes pushes too far. Bored with Woodsboro's obsessions with murders that happened when she and her friends were toddlers” or Rebecca, “Cute, vain, over-achieving student at Woodsboro High School. Editor in Chief of the high school newspaper. She's a future Gale Weathers.” Your guess is as good as mine.

Yesterday, news came through the tubes, thanks to Star Magazine, that long time friends an co-workers Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox would be reunited in Scream 4, where Aniston would play the film's opening scene victim. I mentioned in the original article that the source, who was unnamed, seemed kind of shaky and that the story was likely untrue. Being skeptical was the right call.

Reps from Dimension Films, speaking with Bloody Disgusting, have shot down the rumor as merely gossip. The film currently stars Cox, Neve Campbell, and David Arquette from the original trilogy as well as Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, and Lake Bell.

Oh well. It looks like Aniston will have to go back to making bad romantic comedies while someone else gets gutted and hung from a tree. Shucks.

Clearly Wes Craven is on top of things because as the Scream 4 June start date quickly approaches, the casting confirmations are pouring in. Just yesterday we told you Emma Roberts, not Ashley Greene, will lead the cast as Jill, Sidney Prescott’s cousin, and now her best friend and boy toy have joined, to be played respectively by Hayden Panettiere and Rory Culkin.

When we first found out Craven had his eye on Panettiere and Culkin, Panettiere’s role was describes as Jill’s best pal and a film geek and Culkin’s as Jill’s love interest. The report from Coming Soon doesn’t mention these parts, but I think it’s safe to assume those are the roles they’ll play.

The funny thing is, that initial announcement had Lake Bell one step ahead of her potential co-stars. While they merely received offers, she was already in the midst of negotiations, yet her involvement still hasn’t been confirmed. If and when that deal does go through, Bell’s character will be a police officer who knew Sidney in high school.

Assuming Roberts survives, that only leaves us with three potential deaths; well, six if you include David Arquette, Courteney Cox and Neve Campbell who are rumored to finally come into contact with the killer’s bowie knife early on in the fourth film. Where will Craven go from here? Will he continue casting young Hollywood’s hottest or save some cash for production time? We’ll probably find out soon enough.

Let the Scream 4 casting rumors begin, and begin with a bang at that. According to THR, Lake Bell is in the midst of negotiations and offers have been sent Ashley Greene, Hayden Panettiere and Rory Culkin’s way. But that’s not all--the article reveals the roles they’re going for, and they reveal some juicy plot details.

Much of the team from the first film--Wes Craven, Kevin Williamson, Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox-- are returning, which means the newcomers have to be tied into the characters we know. If all goes to plan, Bell will play a police officer who knew Campbell's Sidney, while Greene gets a juicier role as Sidney’s cousin, Jill, and the series’ new leading lady.

It’s thrilling to hear they’ve decided to keep the Scream films in the family and not ditch the original characters completely in this passing-of-the-torch effort. Yes, we need some hot young stars for a fresh look, but cutting off ties to the original films, minus Mr. Ghostface of course, would have been devastating.

As for the remaining two potentials, Panettiere will play Jill’s film geek friend and Culkin Greene’s love interest. Do we have a new Randy and Billy in the making? Maybe, but we won’t know for quite some time. Craven is being super sneaky with plot details and isn’t even releasing the script to agencies. He’s certainly doing a fine job keeping the story under wraps, but the situation is making it harder for the talent to decide to sign on the dotted line.

I’ll admit, I’m a major sucker for the Scream movies, but I’m also confident this is a serious step in the right direction. Craven is aiming high, leaving the no-names to the reboot realm and sticking with quality actors. Hopefully his taste in talent represents the production’s quality.

Lake Bell, that pretty girl who's in been in a ton of movies but somehow isn't actually famous, is at it again. Variety reports that Bell and Guy Brannum are joining the cast of that movie that used to be called Friends With Benefits but lost that title to another movie and TV show with the same concept. It's the one that Ivan Reitman is directing with Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher starring, as two people who sleep together and claim they're not falling in love, but of course, you know that won't last.

Bell is on board as a co-worker of Kutcher's on a show called "Secret High;" Brannum's role isn't specified, but he'll be making his acting debut after work as a writer and stand-up comedian. Already on board are Olivia Thirlby and Greta Gerwig, which is making this is a really, really femme-heavy cast-- does Kutcher really think he stands a chance here?