Why I haven't written off the Superman reboot film quite yet

We just learned who will play Lois Lane in the "Superman" reboot film, and rumors of filming in Chicago beginning in May are flying around faster than a speeding bullet. Pre-production on the Superman film is heating up, and most fans are happy. After all, it only took decades for us to finally get a new Superman film off the ground the last time around.

When I heard Warner Bros. was going ahead with a new film for 2012, I was overjoyed. Then came the news that Zack Snyder would direct. OK, my enthusiasm waned somewhat. Not the biggest Zack Snyder fan here. But I'll give anyone a chance to prove himself. Finally, we got our new Superman, Henry Cavill, and I was on the fence again. I would have much preferred Brandon Routh retain the role, but I like Cavill, and again, I'm willing to give him a chance. Then came word of casting Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Martha and Jonathan Kent. Odd choices, but OK. I admit, my enthusiasm for this movie has taken a nosedive pretty much every week news comes out about it. For a Superman fan who LOVES anything Superman, that's really saying something. After all, it's the character I love more than the actors who have portrayed him.

My biggest bone of contention has been with Zack Snyder's comments about his version of the film. He seems to be on the "let's make Superman dark" bandwagon from the beginning. Maybe I'm dead wrong, but I think you can pretty much tell each time he opens his mouth about this character that he isn't really all that familiar with the canon, or with the character of Superman himself. That really irks me.

I reluctantly dragged myself to the theater this weekend to see Snyder's newest film, "Sucker Punch," because I'm curious about his style of filmmaking now. It wasn't that I didn't want to see the movie -- hey, I'm all about girl empowerment stories -- but I feared I would absolutely hate it and, therefore, collapse in cardiac arrest over thoughts of what Snyder plans to do with Superman.

"Sucker Punch" wasn't a bad movie. It wasn't great, but I've seen worse. It actually reconfirmed that I should give Snyder a chance to have a go at Superman, especially after his comments at the premiere.

"Superman will be a documentary compared to this," Snyder told The Hollywood Reporter, comparing it to "Sucker Punch."

Well, OK then. That's somewhat reassuring.

The truth is, I am still holding out hope for this Superman film. Call me an eternal optimist (or a sucker). I'll wait with baited breath until the first trailer premieres, and I might change my tune then. Until then, though, I'm encouraged by the fact I like Henry Cavill and Amy Adams, and am hoping I will like them in the roles I have loved so much when played by other great actors.

The true test will be the script. Without a good story, all of the best acting in the world won't save this movie. But my fingers are still crossed.

It's official! Amy Adams is the new Lois Lane

It seems Warner Brothers is making a habit of announcing major casting for the "Superman" film on Sunday. The Hollywood Reporter announced earlier that Academy Award nominee Amy Adams has been cast as Lois Lane in the upcoming reboot film.

Finally!

A statement from Zack Snyder, director, reads like this:

"There was a big, giant search for Lois," Snyder told the LA Times. "For us it was a big thing and obviously a really important role. We did a lot of auditioning but we had this meeting with Amy Adams and after that I just felt she was perfect for it."

Now, I was pretty shocked by this selection since Amy Adams is just about the only actress I haven't heard connected with the role since casting began. While I love, love, love Amy Adams, I just don't know how I feel about this. I mean, will she dye her hair? Lois is dark-haired, not red headed. And I worry that Amy just doesn't have enough spunk to play Lois Lane. I wish her the best, though. She has made a habit of surprising me with her role choices, and nailing them.

Still, I have to admit, there were many other actresses I was rooting for; Olivia Wilde, for example, has become my top choice in recent weeks. I have never torn my hair out over casting for a film like I have with this one, folks. Zack Snyder, I hope you know what you're doing, but quite frankly, I am skeptical.

Finally, "The Hunger Games" officially casts Katniss! (and all the news surrounding it)

Apparently while I was on vacation, there was a lot of casting news released! The one that I'm most invested in, of course, is Jennifer Lawrence winning the lead role of Katniss Everdeen in the "The Hunger Games."

At first, I wasn't thrilled. JL is too old. She's too tall. She's blonde, for crying out loud. And, she's too -- dare I say it? -- fat (Katniss is literally starving in most of these books, so I'm truly not being mean here). Then again, I saw "Winter's Bone" and JL can definitely act, which is incredibly reassuring. I can get over physical differences if it means getting someone with talent. And then I read interviews with JL, director Gary Ross and the book's author, Suzanne Collins, and now I'm behind JL 100 percent!

Director Gary Ross spoke exclusively with Entertainment Weekly about why 20-year-old Lawrence is the right actress, at the right age, to bring Katniss to life on the big screen.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: There’s already quite a bit of hand-wringing that, no matter how good an actress Lawrence is, at 20 she’s simply too old for the role.

Gary Ross: First of all, I talked to Suzanne extensively about this. Suzanne saw every single audition. And not only did Suzanne not have an issue with Jen’s age, she felt you need someone of a certain maturity and power to be Katniss. This is a girl who needs to incite a revolution. We can’t have an insubstantial person play her, and we can’t have someone who’s too young to play this. Suzanne was incredibly adamant about this. Far from being too old, she was very concerned that we would cast someone who was too young. In Suzanne’s mind, and in mine, Katniss is not a young girl. It’s important for her to be a young woman. She’s a maternal figure in her family. She’s had to take care of Prim, and in many ways her mother, since her father’s death. She’s had to grow up pretty quickly.

Suzanne Collins, who created Katniss, told MTV.com this:

"Jennifer's just an incredible actress," Collins said. "So powerful, vulnerable, beautiful, unforgiving and brave. I never thought we'd find somebody this perfect for the role. And I can't wait for everyone to see her play it."

Jennifer Lawrence finally released her own statement to the fans, which was awesome, and gave an interview to EW, too. After reading it, I truly heart this girl. She's gonna kick butt as Katniss! Here's what she said to the fans:

“I couldn’t be happier about being a part of Hunger Games and to play Katniss. I have a huge responsibility to the fans of this incredible book and I don’t take it lightly. I will give everything I have to these movies and to this role to make it worthy of Suzanne Collin’s masterpiece.”

Plus, she loves Peeta as much as I do.

EW: What character besides Katniss are you fondest of, and what is it about them you love?

JL: Peeta. He’s good and nice in a world that’s harsh and unkind.

Now, the search is on to cast Peeta and Gale. I expect we'll be hearing news soon. The movie starts filming in a couple of months! Yay!

Photo Credit: Fanmade artwork found on the fansite The Hob. Check it out. It's my favorite Hunger Games site out there.

Kevin Costner cast as Jonathon Kent in new "Superman" film

First we learned Diane Lane would play Martha Kent, and now we know Kevin Costner will play Clark Kent's adoptive father, Jonathan Kent, according to a Warner Bros press release.

Still, no Lois Lane announcement? Obviously, with both Martha and Jonathon having roles in the new movie, we can deduce that the film will be taking a look at Clark's younger years, which could mean no Lois at all (remember "Smallville," the show that began with Clark's first girlfiend, Lana Lang, overload?). I'm hoping the script jumps into Metropolis and has plenty of Lois Lane, but I guess we will have to see.

First Look at the New "Wonder Woman"

NBC and Warner Bros. Television finally released the first photo of Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman for the David E. Kelley-produced television remake.

My first thoughts? It looks as though they have done a hybrid costume of the new costume in the comics (long, leather pants and less skin) and the classic costume most people recognize. I honestly doubt anyone outside of the comic book fandom will complain about the costume. I think I like it. It is kind of shiny, which I could do without, but I look it, and I know it's Wonder Woman. Adrianne Palicki looks great. Glad she dyed her hair. I was really dreading a wig.

What do you think? Love it or hate it?

Martha Kent gets cast in Superman movie, and Variety reports on frontrunners for Katniss

Diane Lane is Martha!

Finally, we get some official casting news from Warner Bros. about the new Superman film!

Today, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced that Oscar®-nominated actress Diane Lane will play Martha Kent, the only mother Clark Kent has ever known, in the new Superman movie to be directed by Zack Snyder.

Snyder stated, "This was a very important piece of casting for me because Martha Kent is the woman whose values helped shape the man we know as Superman. We are thrilled to have Diane in the role because she can convey the wisdom and the wonder of a woman whose son has powers beyond her imagination."

Lane will star with Henry Cavill, who was recently announced as the new Clark Kent/Superman.

Surprising they would announce Martha's casting before Lois Lane or the villain, but I'm perfectly OK with this. It reminds me of Annette O'Toole being cast as Martha in "Smallville," which turned out to be a stroke of genius. And I have been a fan of Ms. Lane's since "The Outsiders," one of my all-time favorite films. This is great, folks. Now, can we just hear who's going to play Lois, already?!

Jennifer Lawrence is now the frontrunner for Katniss in "The Hunger Games"

I was actually pretty shocked to hear today that Oscar-nominated Jennifer Lawrence ("Winter's Bone") seems to be the favorite to play Katniss in "The Hunger Games" film. At first I was highly skeptical, but now that Variety is reporting it, I have to assume there's some truth to it.

With the Oscars over, two of this year's up-and-coming nominees are being considered for the hottest female role available at the moment: the lead in "Hunger Games."

Sources tell Variety that 2010 Academy Award nominees Jennifer Lawrence and Hailee Steinfeld -- as well as Abigail Breslin, nominated for "Little Miss Sunshine" -- are all vying for the Liongate tentpole, due next March 23.

While no offer has been made, insiders say that Lawrence has generated the most interest.

I'm on the fence about this news. I've seen both "Winter's Bone" and "True Grit" and thought both actresses did fantastic jobs in those movies. I still prefer Steinfield as Katniss for two reasons -- her looks and her age. The impact of "The Hunger Games" comes from the simple idea that kids are being forced into this terrible situation. Casting a 20-year-old like Lawrence, who looks like a 20-year-old, will lessen that impact and weaken the story, in my opinion. Not to mention, there are three books in this series, which will hopefully lead to three films. By the time "Mockingjay" finishes production, Lawrence could well be in her mid-20s playing Katniss as a 17-year-old. Lord knows stranger things have happened, but I'd hate such a silly thing to diminish the power of this story.

However, if Lawrence gets the part, I just hope she dyes her hair and makes an effort to look younger.