- Who watched the world before The Watchmen? The Minutemen, circa 1940. (AICN)

- First look at Sienna Miller as the Baroness pops up online. (IESB)

- Finally? Quentin Tarantino's WWII drama "Inglorious Bastards" coming in 2009, insists director. (Cannes 2008)

- Sydney Pollack, director of "Tootsie" and "Out of Africa," dead at 73. (Hollywood Elsewhere)

When we were little kids, each of us shared that one common dream: shrinking down to the size of your action figures, jumping onto a playset, and joining He-Man, Han Solo, and all the rest in their adventures. On Monday, the dream actually came true, as I found myself standing in the middle of the massive "G.I. Joe" soundstage in Downey, CA.

What you're looking at below is the first official photo of Channing Tatum, who plays Duke in the 2009 release. It'll give you an idea of what I was looking at as I toured the G.I. Joe submarine, the Docking Bay, Destro's MARS headquarters, an ice glacier set that looked like it belonged on the planet Hoth, the evil doctor's lab, and The Pit itself. Also, be sure to take note of that scar on Tatum's right cheek – its origin is a major plot point in the film.

In addition to the high-stepping heartthrob, I interviewed Sienna Miller (The Baroness), Ray Park (Snake Eyes) and super-producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who's such a cool guy he even drove us around in his own personal golf cart while enduring geeky questions about Tomax and Xamot. Unfortunately, the cart wasn't dressed up to look like a H.I.S.S. tank. Read more...

- It's official! Sir Ian McKellen on board for "The Hobbit." (Empire)

- Super-rad! Jonah Hill in early negotiations to star opposite Shia LaBeouf in "Transformers 2." (EW)

- This link will self destruct in 5 seconds: Tom Cruise all but certain to return for fourth "Mission: Impossible!" (/film)

- Knowing is half the battle. Producer discusses "G.I. Joe." (Collider)

- Nicole Kidman to play Dusty Springfield in musical biopic? Writer says yes. (New York Magazine)

- The more you know: Brendan Fraser and The Rock reportedly offered cameo roles in "G.I. Joe" as Gung Ho and Shipwreck, respectively. (Latino Review)

- Guillermo del Toro premiers the full trailer for "Hellboy II: The Golden Army." (Yahoo)

- Speaking of del Toro, the Mexican auteur briefly speaks "The Hobbit." (EW)

- Johnny 5 still alive! "Short Circuit" remake apparently in the works with original writers scripting. (Variety)

- Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench join Rob Marshall's "Nine." (Hollywood Reporter)

It's been suspected, it's been rumored, and it's been wisely deduced. Now, it's official: Joseph Gordon-Levitt admits that he's playing Cobra Commander in the "G.I. Joe" movie.

"I've got a good mask," he grinned recently, confirming that he'll play the man who challenges Destro for top dog status in the C.O.B.R.A. organization.

Various sources have revealed that Gordon-Levitt's mysterious character begins as a close friend of Duke (Channing Tatum), and might even be a former Joe himself; "USA Today" reported recently that the actor is playing "multiple roles." But this much is certain: By the end of the flick, he'll be the same blue-clad baddie we all remember. Read more...

- Shia's got his groove back in this video from the set of "Indiana Jones." (Indiana Jones)

- Leonardo DiCaprio reteams with Ridley Scott for dark thriller "The Low Dweller," about an ex-con trying to assimilate back into society. (Hollywood Reporter)

- Have Spielberg and Jackson found their Tintin? Thomas Sangster reportedly signed on for role. (Daily Mail)

- First look at Snake Eyes from "G.I. Joe." (/film)

Yup, we're back again with more links. Today, news on "The Neuromancer," "Transformers 2," "A-Team," "Eagle Eye," and more.

- I pity the fool who doesn't read Ice Cube's interview about "The A-Team," where he talks about the possibility of playing BA Baracus. (Blackfilm)

- Super-producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura talks Wayans casting on "G.I. Joe," says "Transformers 2" is "hurt" by the strike. (IESB)

- "Noooooooooo!" Hayden Christensen cast in "The Neuromancer." In all fairness, he was awesome in "Shattered Glass." (JoBlo)

- It's clobbering time. Michael Chiklis joins cast of "Eagle Eye" as Secretary of Defense. (Hollywood Reporter)

- On the cutting room floor: 15 big name actors who got left out of a movie. (IFC)

- Michael Cera isn't ticklish in this hilarious fake interview. (Funny or Die)

Words, words, words. A writer's strike hasn't stopped a slew of news from pouring into our laps, including the latest on Jessica Biel, Sylvester Stallone, Jake Gyllenhaal, and more.

- Hasbro says "G.I. Joe" will be a modern telling of the "Joe vs. Cobra storyline." (ComingSoon)

- Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel are "Nailed." Political satire is to be directed by David O'Russell. (Hollywood Reporter)

- Sylvester Stallone has a "Death Wish." 60-year-old star in talks to remake Charles Bronson vigilante classic. (Variety)

- Hayden Christensen to star in "Beast of Bataan," about the trial of a Japanese general implicated in the Bataan Death March. (Hollywood Reporter)

- Robert Rodriguez contacted for, not interested in, "Clash of the Titans" remake. (AICN)

If G.I. Joe taught me anything, it's that "knowing is half the battle." Know this: After months of speculation that he would play Action Man in the long-anticipated live-action adaptation from "Van Helsing" director Stephen Sommers, "Crank" star Jason Statham says he has nothing at all to do with "G.I. Joe."

"The old Internet can be quite misleading at times," Statham said. "I don't know where that came from."

More precisely, the rumors of his involvement merely indicated that Paramount was looking his way, and that he was the first choice for the role, presumably to add an international flavor to what would otherwise be a film focused exclusively on American soldiers. So we wondered: has he even been contacted at all?

"[I have] no connection with 'G.I. Joe,'" he insisted.

Statham doesn't strike me as someone likely to play coy, so now that his involvement has been put to rest, is there someone else you see in the role? Should Action Man even be included? Sound off below.

News today on "Captain America," "Castlevania," and "G.I. Joe" highlight our links of the day, along with the tragic death of an online entertainment legend.

- Marvel studio chief talks "Captain America," "Wolverine," "Avengers" and more. (ComingSoon)

- Rock on! Russell Mulcahy to helm "Scorpion King 2." (Shock Till You Drop)

- Know what's going on with "G.I. Joe?" Producer talks status of anticipated flick. And knowing is half the battle. (IGN)

- Classic video game "Castlevania" snares a director. "Stomp the Yard" helmer Sylvain White to join the Belmonts in stomping out vampires. (Variety)

- David Goyer to write and direct another "Invisible" movie. No, not that one...an update of the H.G. Wells classic. (Variety)

- Jeff Daniels and Andy Samberg lend their voices to "Space Chimps." (Variety)

- Carice Van Houten to play Tom Cruise's wife in Bryan Singer's Nazi flick "Valkyrie." (CHUD)

- Editor's Note from Brian Jacks: Finally and sadly, a fond farewell to my good friend Daniel Robert Epstein, whose thousands of interviews graced most of the online entertainment websites you read, but in particular UGO, SuicideGirls, FilmStew and Newsarama. At one point or another, you've read his amazing work, and he'll be very, very missed. (UGO / ComingSoon / CHUD)