Reporting by Jessica Goebel

If you’re Roger Avary, you must have one hell of an address book - his lauded screenwriting collaborators include fan favorites Quentin Tarantino (”Pulp Fiction”) and Neil Gaiman (November’s “Beowulf”). For his next project, however, Avary will act alone as writer and director for the first time since 2002’s eyebrow-raising ensemble drama “The Rules of Attraction.”

“I’m doing an adaptation of the [video] game ‘Return to Castle Wolfenstein,’” Avary enthused, referring to a gaming institution whose sequels evolved from a seminal 1981 Commodore 64 game. “I just love the World War II guys-on-a-mission movies; to me, ‘Castle Wolfenstein’ is all of that, plus monsters and horror and all that craziness jammed together. It’s my dream film.”

2001’s “Return” was a groundbreaking first-person shooter depicting an American military agent with a mission to infiltrate a Nazi stronghold. Once inside, the character found himself discovering the truths behind rumors of paranormal research on reanimated corpses, biotechnology, and secret weapons. Think “The Dirty Dozen” meets “Resident Evil.” Read more…

When she’s not tearing up the big-screen with Ryan Gosling in “Lars and the Real Girl,” actress Emily Mortimer is busy snapping photos for your good friends here at the MTV Movies Blog. Recently, she brought her camera along to the Toronto Film Fest, and we now present her delicious photo diary. Click on the pic below to see the visual goodness.

Attention Logan-3. Report to Carousel immediately. It is time for your re-birth…

A remake of the 1976 sci-fi classic “Logan’s Run” is still an absolute go, super-producer Joel Silver told MTV News, teasing that the story is “close to being great.”

“The [original] is such a creaky old seventies movie and kind of silly,” he said. “The book [meanwhile] is younger and cooler. We’ve gone back to that source material.”

Meaning “younger and cooler” aren’t just buzzwords, but quite literally true of Silver’s approach. Like the original novel on which the first movie was based, Logan is part of a society whose citizens voluntarily euthanize themselves before they reach old age. But unlike the first movie – where death occurred at 30 – all the citizens in Silver’s film die “at 21,” he said. Read more…

From the boys behind the “Saw” movies comes “Repo! The Genetic Opera,” a wacky musical about a mainstream market for human organs where people are buying, selling and upgrading their body parts. One of the stars of the film is none other than Paris Hilton, who we interviewed recently along with director Darren Lynn Bousman. Read about our full chat with Hilton during our visit to the film’s set here. For a taste, check out the clip below in which the actress says her character’s song “Come Up and Try My New Parts” is almost a hard-rock single.

“Total Recall,” “Blade Runner,” “Minority Report,” “Paycheck” – for years Hollywood has mined the twisted tales of science-fiction author Philip K. Dick to craft blockbuster movies. Now, seemingly, it’s the author’s own life that’s all the rage.

While “Your Name Here,” an unlicensed biography starring Bill Pullman and Taryn Manning, eyes a Sundance debut, Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti is setting his sights on a competing Dick project, titled “The Owl in Daylight.”

“There’s a guy writing a script right now,” Giamatti told us.

The “The Owl in Daylight,” which Dick was unable to finish before his death in 1982, is a complicated tale that involves Ed Firmley, a B-movie composer, a race of aliens that have evolved without the ability to hear sounds, and our deeply held believes about art, happiness, and, oh yeah, heaven. You know, light stuff.

But if reading the wiki synopsis makes the story sound complicated, that’s nothing compared to how Giamatti and Co. are handling Dick’s life – as a sort of Charlie Kauffman-esque experiment in blurring fiction and reality. Read more…

During a career portraying some 75 film and TV characters, actor Tobin Bell has kept extensive journals detailing the on and off-camera minutiae in every one of his characters’ lives. While some might see this as obsessive; to Bell, it’s simply the proper way to do his job. Now, with the release of “Saw IV,” the star of the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time is revealing his Jigsaw journals for the first time, exclusively to MTV.

TODAY’S ENTRY: This past weekend, “Saw IV” gave the series’ die-hard fans some eye-opening details about Jigsaw’s origins, which have since fueled further speculation online. Now, Tobin Bell’s journals continue to feed the fire by giving us an inside look at his thoughts regarding John Kramer’s attire during those early “engineer days.” First drafts of the script described Bell’s character as wearing khaki pants, a knit golf-type shirt and loafers - to Bell, a too-conservative depiction that reeked “country club.” Fearful of the cheese factor, this raised his eyebrow.

Click here to see the actual entry, hand-written by “Jigsaw.” Translation and commentary from Bell follow. Read more…

Harry Potter rests behind a tombstone, his leg throbbing, his arm cut, the taunts of Lord Voldemort growing louder. Desperate, alone, and wickedly outmatched, Harry decides to stand up and fight like a man, to die on his feet like his father.

It’s a brilliant Old West “shootout” with “one of the meanest bad guys that’s ever been” enthused “Goblet of Fire” director Mike Newell. In retrospect, it also happens to be the climax of the whole Potter series. Everything in books 5, 6, and 7 lead from Harry’s decision here to actively fight Lord Voldemort and, more importantly, his willingness to die doing it.

But now that “Deathly Hallows” has been released, we wondered if Newell was aware of any of that, meaning did author J.K. Rowling happen to let slip any of Harry’s ultimate fate, like she did with some of the film’s young stars.

“No. Absolutely nothing. I asked her and she wouldn’t [say a thing]. She was very funny about that,” Newell recalled. “I asked her questions [and] she simply said ‘I’m not answering them. Not that. Not that. Not that.’” Read more…

Marc Anthony takes on the story of salsa king Hector Lavoe, with Jennifer Lopez playing the legendary woman behind the crown. Watch J-Lo describe what attracted her to the role in this bonus feature from the film’s DVD, out in stores this week.

We’ve already reported that Anthony Hopkins isn’t exactly the biggest fan of fantasy films, but there is one otherworldly epic that’s caught his eye, and it’s one that he seems up for joining.

While declaring he wasn’t a fan of the “Potter” series, the actor perked up while mentioning another blockbuster franchise. “The only of those fantasy movies that I was a fan of was ‘Star Wars,’ Hopkins stated excitedly to MTV News. Sensing his enthusiasm, we mentioned to Hopkins the upcoming live-action television show, and suggested he could give creator George Lucas a call.

“Maybe I could play the Alec Guinness [part],” he responded, seemingly only half-joking. “The Force be With You.” (Watch Hopkins tackle Obi-Wan below)

With only one day until Halloween our inner misfit runs wild, with news today from such troublemakers as Will Ferrell, Sean Penn, David Cronenberg, Russell Crowe and the Joker himself.

- Will Ferrell jokingly calls “Land of the Lost” remake a “nature documentary,” before stating that it will be “real” and “hopefully funny.” (ComingSoon)

- Sean Penn and Heath Ledger in talks to star in Terrence Malick’s “Tree of Life.” (Hollywood Reporter)

- “Halo” movie may have found an extra life. (AICN)

- Like rain on your wedding day. Alanis Morissette joins cast of Philip K. Dick biography “Radio Free Albemuth.” (Hollywood Reporter)

- David Cronenberg to direct “The Talking Cure”? (Obsessed with Film)

- American Gangster? Yeah right. Try Australian Missionary. Just for fun an old ad for a ministry college starring a young Russell Crowe. (YouTube)

All Tip’s character Steve wants to do when he grows up is be just like his Uncle Frank (Denzel Washington), the drug kingpin. Watch the scene below in this exclusive clip from “American Gangster,” opening this Friday.

With everyone from Common to Mary Elizabeth Winstead to Jessica Biel funneling through the “Justice League of America” rumor mill almost daily, we have a new name to throw into the mix: Columbus Short.

“I was up for that,” revealed the choreographer-turned-”Stomp the Yard” star, confirming that he has been approached for the part of The Green Lantern. The actor joins a long list of auditioners including T.I., Common and Tyrese Gibson, all of whom have been considered to slip on the most powerful ring in all of comic-dom.

“‘Justice League’ is going to be dope, it’s going to be huge,” grinned the fast-rising star, before dropping a second bomb: “But it’s not the movie for me.” Read more…

During a career portraying some 75 film and TV characters, actor Tobin Bell has kept extensive journals detailing the on and off-camera minutiae in every one of his characters’ lives. While some might see this as obsessive; to Bell, it’s simply the proper way to do his job. Now, with the release of “Saw IV,” the star of the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time is revealing his Jigsaw journals for the first time, exclusively to MTV.

TODAY’S ENTRY: This past weekend, millions of people lined up for “Saw IV.” Now, Bell’s “Saw IV” journal reveals even more about the failed pregnancy that fueled his vendetta with the world at large. The notes reveal details about the baby’s name, never-seen nursery and gravestone. In addition, there are some early ideas on the game that claims the life of Jigsaw’s first victim, Cecil.

Click here to see the actual entry, hand-written by “Jigsaw.” Translation and commentary from Bell follow. Read more…

In honor of the Red Sox World Series victory, “Cowboy Up” with our links of the day, back with news on “Green Lantern,” James Bond, and more.

- And Justice for all? A day after we reported David Dobkin was the man for “The Flash,” television director Greg Berlanti announced as “Green Lantern” helmer. (Variety)

- Die Another Day. And another one after that. And, sure, one more for good measure. Daniel Craig to return for four more Bond films, says MGM president. (First Showing)

- First pictures from the set of Peter Jackson’s latest “The Lovely Bones” surface online. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

- Brett Ratner no longer attached to direct “Escape from New York” remake. (AICN)

- Mark Ruffalo, Ethan Hawke, and Amanda Peet join forces for “Real Men Cry.” (Hollywood Reporter)

Reporting by Brandy Schaefer

“Every actor wants to be a rock star, every rock star want to be an actor,” John C. Reilly told a group of reporters recently at a “Walk Hard” Q&A.

Of course, nobody expects them to be better at their new job.

“F–k him, what is that? Stepping on MY territory!” writer and producer Judd Apatow joked of Whites Stripes frontman Jack White’s performance as Elvis in the musical spoof. “I found [him] irritating because he’s like the coolest guy on Earth, and the greatest rock musician, and writer, and performer you’ve ever seen – and ALSO funny? He could do what we do just in his sleep - as an afterthought.” Read more…