FROM SPLASH PAGE:

"30 Days of Night" creator Steve Niles has a healthy lineup of Hollywood options on the table this year, from "Pineapple Express" director David Gordon Green ready to adapt his miniseries "Freaks of the Heartland" to a "30 Days" sequel possibly going direct-to-DVD soon. His modern-day Frankenstein story "Wake the Dead," however, is facing some snags as its character designers find themselves occupied with the "Hobbit" films.

"That one’s kind of at a standstill for now," Niles told MTV News of the effects of WETA’s extended "Hobbit" commitment. "We just didn’t manage to get it set up as much as I had hoped."

Continue reading Steve Niles' 'Wake The Dead' Adaptation Stalled By 'The Hobbit'

- James McAvoy says they'll be no second breakfasts in his future, denies he's cast as "The Hobbit." (Collider)

- New trailers for "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Punisher: War Zone" pop up online. (Yahoo, /film & IGN)

- Judd Apatow/Adam Sandler comedy about stand-up comics gets a name, "Funny People," Jonah Hill. (Variety)

- Daniel Craig shaken and stirred in new poster for "Defiance." (Coming Soon)

- Russell Brand signs a book deal. (NY Observer)

- Christopher Lee game to step into the white robes of Saruman for "Hobbit" bridge film. (Empire)

- Ridley Scott to return to sci-fi, eyeing an NC-17 rating for "Blood Meridian." (Eclipse)

- Seth Rogen’s "Green Hornet" gets a 2010 release date. All it needs now is a director, a co-star, and a finished script. (EW)

- Matt Damon joins Morgan Freeman in Clint Eastwood directed "Human Factor," about post-apartheid healing in South Africa. (Variety)

- Elementary my dear Watson? Guy Ritchie to reinvent Sherlock Holmes. (Variety)

- Is "Nuke the Fridge" the new "Jump the Shark?" Goddamn the new Indiana Jones film was ridiculous. (FilmDrunk)

- Better than a second breakfast. Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson to talk "Hobbit" with fans, Register now. (The One Ring)

- There Will Be…singing and dancing? Daniel Day-Lewis reportedly in talks to join "The Nine." (Variety)

- Tom Cruise in talks for "28th Amendment," the story of a president who realizes he doesn't actually control anything. (Insert joke of your choice HERE) (Movie Hole)

- "Saw V" has three different endings, the best traps yet, insists producer. (Bloody Disgusting)

- Rob Corddry to play world's biggest jerk in "Project A." (Hollywood Reporter)

When word came last month that "Hellboy" director Guillermo del Toro was eyeing a voyage to Middle-earth, loyal fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's lengendarium reacted with general approval and glee. If they couldn't have Peter Jackson, then here, at least, was the next best thing.

You know what? Frodo himself agrees.

"I think [Guillermo's] the perfect choice," "Lord of the Rings" star Elijah Wood told MTV News. "I think he would certainly honor the previous work that Peter had done."

For Wood, and others like Orlando Bloom, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin and Cate Blanchett, that was precisely the issue that held up their promised involvement with "The Hobbit" — again and again actors from the original trilogy told us they would only come back with Jackson's blessing and involvement. Read more...

Geeked about certain movies this summer? You are SO 2007. News on '08 releases "Speed Racer," "Hellboy 2," and "Sin City 2" headline our links of the day.

- "Go Speed Racer! Go!" Wachowskis release picture of Speed Racer's car, the Mach 5. (USA Today)

- Still looking forward to that "Hobbit" movie? Yeah, well, 15 more "LOTR" actors have sued New Line over merchandising revenues. (Variety)

- "Sin City 2" definitely delayed, Frank Miller reveals. (IGN)

- Todd McFarlane to self finance "Spawn 2." (Moviehole)

- "300" and "Borat" the big winners at the 8th annual Golden Trailer Awards. (Golden Trailer)

- Doug Jones, aka Abe Sapien, blogs "Hellboy 2" from Hungary. (Doug Jones)

- J.K. Rowling names pure-blood parselmouth and Hogwarts founder Salazar Slytherin "Wizard of the Month." (J.K. Rowling)