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There are many cool things about my job, but today I saw a rare convergence of three of them: The friends, the exclusives, and the access.

It occurred after weeks of watching the Facebook status updates by many of the wonderful Twilighters who’ve become my buddies over the last year-and-a-half, counting down the days to the March 21st release of the “Twilight” DVD. In the mail was a beta tape with exclusive featurettes - and one of those bonus features brought back great memories from the craziest fan-driven moment I’ve ever witnessed.

Yep, I was there at Comic-Con 2008 to witness “Twilight” taking over pop culture. Read more...

Tags catherine hardwicke, Comic-Con, kellan lutz, Robert patttinson, star trek, Stephenie Meyer, Taylor Lautner, the spirit, Twilight, watchmen

FROM SPLASH PAGE: It's been a couple of months (translation: "far too long") since we've heard any crazy casting rumors regarding "Batman 3" -- ever since the blogosphere erupted over since-denied reports that Eddie Murphy and Shia LeBeouf were joining the cast back in December. And while most of the recent attention regarding the follow-up to "The Dark Knight" has been focused on whether Christopher Nolan will settle back into the director's chair, the latest online scuttlebutt now questions if Batman himself, Christian Bale, will don the cape and cowl once more.

In a report coming out of Australia's Herald Sun newspaper this morning, unnamed sources claim that Bale's "Terminator Salvation" co-star, Sam Worthington, may indeed be taking on the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in the next installment of the award-winning Batman franchise. As usual, it's important to remember that when it comes to "Batman 3" casting rumors, nothing is confirmed until Warner Bros. says so, but given Bale's recent Internet infamy, could this speculation have some credibility?

For more on the "Batman 3" casting rumor regarding Christian Bale and Sam Worthington, head over to SplashPage.MTV.com.

Tags batman 3, christian bale, sam worthington

When it comes to the year 2009 in genre movies, there are the massively hyped, insanely anticipated (“Watchmen,” “Avatar”), the eagerly awaited (“Terminator Salvation,” “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”), the “Eh, maybe I’ll check it out” yawners (“G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra,” “The Wolfman”). And then there are those flicks that somehow slip through the movie geek blogosphere while making nary a peep.

I’d put Alex Proyas’ sci-fi thriller “Knowing” (out March 20) in that last category. Why exactly that is, I can’t say. Maybe because his last film, “I, Robot,” was pretty disappointing. Maybe because “Knowing”’s star, Nicolas Cage, has made a bunch of recent genre stinkers (“Next,” “Ghost Rider") and we don’t expect much from him anymore. Maybe all anyone cares about these days are films based on existing entertainment properties. Read more...

Tags alex proyas, knowing, nicolas cage

"17 Again" doesn't hit theaters until April 17th here in the United States, but lucky Australian Zac Efron fans get an early sneak peek at the film. It opens a week early down under, and premiered last night, an entire month before the film will be released there.

Fans flocked to the premiere to get a glimpse of Zac (swoon!) and were treated to a surprise: Taylor Swift also walked the red carpet. Zac and Taylor took the time to sign autographs and meet fans, while also posing for photos.

Swift's hair and makeup team never fail to impress, and the singer face was flawless yet again. However, her dress was not something I would have chosen for a tall, slender girl. With a long neck and excellent posture, Taylor Swift looked a bit giraffe-like in her white dress, which had vertical detailing in the front that elongated her neck. She looked flawless at the Grammy Red Carpet in February with a v-neckline -- she should stick with that, although you have to give her props for taking a risk. (Check out her dress after the jump, plus see more photos from the "17 Again" Australia premiere in our gallery.) Read more...

Tags 17 again, taylor swift, zac efron

It was early in 2003 and Australian writer/director George Miller was gearing up to begin shooting the fourth “Mad Max” movie almost two-and-a-half decades after the last one hit theaters. Mel Gibson was set to reprise the role that made him a star and filming was to begin in Namibia. Then the United States went to war in Iraq, and everything fell apart.

Miller, however, has never given up his dream of restarting the project. “You would think I would be done with ‘Mad Max’ by now, but once you let those stories creep into your mind they keep going around in your head,” he told MTV News.

One thing Miller has given up on is his leading man, who turned 53 in January. “The ideas we have for live action are very physical. The stories are pretty physical. It’s not like ‘Unforgiven,’ about an older person.” In other words, Mel, no one wants an elderly Max fighting freaks with one hand and popping Advil with the other. Read more...

Tags george miller, mad max, mel gibson

FROM SPLASH PAGE: When last we heard from "X-Men: The Last Stand" director Brett Ratner, who had previously denied rumors he was attached to a big-screen "Conan" revamp, he was telling MTV News who he'd like to see take on the "Conan" role made famous by a certain Governor of California.

And for someone who, by his own admission, isn't officially attached to the new project featuring one of US President Barack Obama's all-time favorite comic book characters, Ratner certainly knows quite a bit about the new "Conan" movie -- and it looks like "new" seems to be the key word there.

For more on Brett Ratner's plans for a new "Conan" movie, head over to SplashPage.MTV.com.

Tags brett ratner, conan

The "Twilight" franchise has officially replaced Batman for crazy rumors and speculation, causing many a Twilight fan to pull their hair out. Lately, the focus has been behind the camera as everyone seems to be in the running to direct the third installment, "Eclipse."

Drew Barrymore's possible involvement caused the most stir, with many doubting that she had the directing chops needed. Barrymore has only one film under her belt, the soon-to-be-released "Whip It!", but many actors successfully transition to directing. So why not? Read more...

Tags Drew Barrymore, eclipse, James Mangold, juan antonio bayona, New Moon, Paul Weitz, Stephanie Meyer, Twilight

Who wouldn't want Paul Rudd or Jason Segel for a best bud? Indeed in their new film out next week, "I Love You, Man" they serve that role for each other. But when I caught up with the very funny duo last weekend I had one ulterior motive in mind: join the gang! I knew it was a longshot but you can't fault a guy for trying. And at the very least I love the moment when Jason seems a bit jealous. "Wow, you guys have hung out way more than we have!" Score one for the little guy! Check out the full Rudd/Segel Rough Cut here.

Could you convince Paul or Jason to let you into their circle of friends? How would you do it?!?

Tags i love you man, jason segel, paul rudd

A psychotic killer who fashions suits out of human flesh. Traumatized war vets programmed to execute nefarious government conspiracies. A man slowly, painfully dying of AIDS. From “The Silence of the Lambs” to “The Manchurian Candidate” to “Philadelphia,” Jonathan Demme has made a career out of making the grim or unpleasant somehow entertaining. So when he started mapping out the approach to his latest film, about a recovering drug addict who reunites with her traumatized family before her sister’s wedding, the Oscar-winning director had a slightly odd operating principle.

“One of the challenges was not trying to make it too entertaining,” Demme told MTV News about last fall’s indie darling “Rachel Getting Married.” Read more...

Tags anne hathaway, Jonathan Demme, Rachel Getting Married

When Werner Herzog’s retooled “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” enters theaters later this year, don’t expect to see a tuned-in retelling of director Abel Ferrara’s original “Bad Lieutenant.” In fact, expect Nicholas Cage and Eva Mendes to be doing something completely different.

“I haven’t seen [‘Bad Lieutenant’],” Herzog told MTV News outside the Academy Awards this year. “So I can’t compare it. It has nothing to do with it.”

Herzog clarified that his film is its own story, and though this edition of “Bad Lieutenant” may share a name with its predecessor, it’s going to be a cop noir all of its own making. He went as far as to say that his film will reinvent the genre. Read more...

Tags bad lieutenant, werner herzog