MTV Movies Blog › Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe has been at the front of some of today's most intriguing casting rumors. A chain reaction of reports set off by a Deadline post places Crowe on the shortlist for two high-profile projects.

Wednesday night (February 1), Deadline's Mike Fleming reported that he heard that Darren Aronofsky has his top choices picked for his biblical epic, "Noah." According to Fleming, Aronofsky wants Russell Crowe for the title role and Liam Neeson for a different character.

The "Black Swan" director's first choice, Christian Bale, had to drop out due to a busy scheduling conflicts, and Crowe's credentials certainly qualify him as a suitable replacement.

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Tags darren aronofsky, liam neeson, Noah, robocop, Russell Crowe

Hoping to see "The Dark Knight Rises" a little bit early? Hang on for another two months and you just might get your chance.

The latest Batman buzz is that a six-minute "Dark Knight Rises" prologue will be attached to copies of the IMAX release of "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol" in December, just like the Joker-driven opening scene of "The Dark Knight" was attached to "I Am Legend" ahead of its release. Warner Bros. declined to comment on the story, so take this one as a rumor for now. We'll bring you official word when we get it.

Beyond the break, check out more comic book movie news courtesy of Splash Page!

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Tags Captain America 2, man of steel, mission impossible ghost protocol, Neal McDonough, Russell Crowe, the avengers, the dark knight rises, Tom Hiddleston

Remember when Anne Hathaway took to the Oscars stage to great acclaim? No, the entirety of her hosting gig wasn't a success, but when she sang "On My Own" opposite Hugh Jackman at this year's show, she impressed everyone with her Broadway-ready vocals and moves.

Well, Anne is ready to reunite with her Oscar partner (Jackman, not Franco) as Deadline reports that the star has signed on as Fantine in an upcoming big screen adaptation of "Les Miserables," with Jackman appearing as Jean Valjean.

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Tags anne hathaway, hugh jackman, Les Miserables, Russell Crowe

Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of Russell Crowe?

Well, you'll certainly be hearing his singing voice in full force come December 2012, as the Oscar winning actor has been cast as fugitive hunter Javert in Tom Hooper's "Les Miserables." Crowe is in talks to star opposite Hugh Jackman in the musical adaptation, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Additionally, the always creepy Helena Bonham Carter has been tapped to join the cast as Madame Thenardier, who sings the best line by far in "Master of the House." Great casting all around!

Check out the rest of today's casting news past the jump!

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Tags Adam Rodriguez, anthony hopkins, Helena Bonham Carter, Les Miserables, Magic Mike, Peter Stormare, Russell Crowe, Solace, the dark knight rises, the last stand

The casting announcements are coming as surely as winter for season two of "Game of Thrones."

The latest two additions are Hannah Murray and Roy Dotrice, Winter Is Coming is reporting. Murray will play Gilly, a young woman encountered north of the Wall, while Dotrice plays Pyromancer Hallyne, a man who will work alongside Tyrion Lannister. Fans will recognize Dotrice as the narrator for the first three "Song of Ice and Fire" audiobooks. Production on "Game of Thrones" season two begins this month in Belfast and Malta.

Check out the rest of today's casting news after the jump!

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Tags Broken City, Bryan Cranston, Frank and Francis, Game of Thrones, kevin james, Little Boy, mark wahlberg, matthew mcconaughey, Mud, reese witherspoon, Russell Crowe, world war z

Move over Liam Neeson, because Hugh Jackman is slated to be the next man to bring Jean Valjean to the big screen.

Universal and "The King's Speech" director Tom Hooper are planning on making a musical adaptation of "Les Miserables," and they're squared away on wanting Jackman to play Prisoner 24601. Deadline also reports that Paul Bettany is the top choice to play Javert, the police officer desperate to capture Jean Valjean.

Check out the rest of today's casting news past the jump!

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Tags Drift, hugh jackman, jason reitman, Jon Hamm, Josh Brolin, Kate Winslet, Labor Day, Les Miserables, man of steel, Melissa McCarthy, paul bettany, paul feig, Russell Crowe, sam worthington, tom hooper, Xavier Samuel

For those of you out there hoping that the next film "Little Miss Sunshine" directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris will make after their 2006 indie darling will be its sequel, continue holding your breath. But they're bringing us the next best thing.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Dayton and Faris are reteaming with "Little Miss Sunshine" star Paul Dano to headline their new dramedy, and producers Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa are back for more as well. The film, "He Loves Me," is written by and will costar Dano's real-life girlfriend, Zoe Kazan, and is described as "Adaptation" meets "Weird Science."

Berger told the Times that "the plot couldn't be more different than 'Little Miss Sunshine,' but in terms of a movie with comedy, with heart and with strong characters, I think it's very similar."

This is far from the first time directors have reteamed with some of their favorite actors for great results -- click past the jump for some other notable examples -- and we hope that "He Loves Me" can rank up there with them.

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Tags johnny depp, Jonathan Dayton, martin scorsese, Mia Farrow, paul dano, quentin tarantino, ridley scott, robert de niro, Russell Crowe, tim burton, Uma Thurman, Valerie Faris, woody allen

How much would you pay to see Muhammad Ali Will Smith face off against Micky Ward Mark Wahlberg in the boxing ring? Well, apparently the Hollywood Boxing Federation is willing to pay each $1 million to face off in Las Vegas in three one-minute matches. Of course, Wahlberg has already said he dove face-first into a giant pile of cookies after training for "The Fighter" for four years, and it's been nine years since Smith finished training for "Ali," but these are all minor details.

Damon Feldman, CEO of Hollywood Boxing Federation, explained to RadarOnline that "this will be a great opportunity for both stars to fight in the Superbowl of Hollywood boxing and to donate millions to their favorite charities... Come on, I really think that this would be a huge event and great way for them to donate to their favorite charities." The offer went out today.

While we think the likelihood of this actually happening is pretty slim, we like where the HBF's head is at. If either Smith or Wahlberg (or both) turn the idea down, we have a couple ideas for other celebs-turned-boxers who might be willing to step up.

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Tags Edward James Olmos, hilary swank, mark wahlberg, Russell Crowe, the fighter, will smith

What is a normal guy supposed to do when his beloved wife and the mother of his child is sentenced to 20 years in prison for a murder she claims she didn't commit? For Russell Crowe in the thriller "The Next Three Days," that answer is simple: break her out of prison.

Of course, this is Robin Hood and Maximus Decimus Meridius we're talking about, so it's easy to believe that Crowe could go from an average Joe living it Pittsburgh to the architect of an intricate and daring escape from a maximum security prison. With Elizabeth Banks playing Crowe's wife and "Crash" Oscar winner Paul Haggis directing, the film's got a stellar pedigree. Add to that the fact that it's based on the acclaimed French film "Pour Elle," has a supporting cast that includes Liam Neeson, Brian Dennehey and Olivia Wilde, and boasts one heck of a gripping trailer... and we're liking its chances to do well as counter-programming to "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" when it hits theaters on November 19.

Check out two exclusive photos -- one of Banks and Crowe on the lam, and another of Haggis doing his directing thing -- from "The Next Three Days" after the jump! Read more...

Tags elizabeth banks, paul haggis, Photo, Russell Crowe, The Next Three Days

My favorite news of the day, right here. Eli Roth and Wu-Tang producer/emcee RZA are teamed up for an ass-kicking martial arts flick, "The Man With the Iron Fist." That's not news. They've been working with Quentin Tarantino on this for five years, and only recently got the green light from Universal with a $20 million budget attached.

No, the news here falls more into the "so bizarre it's awesome" category. RZA was doing some talking on the red carpet at Sunday's 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, and he told E! Online that Russell Crowe will star in the film. Wait, really? Yup. The Wu founder wouldn't reveal much, but he did say that Crowe is "gonna be the baddest man alive." RZA, who writes and directs, will also have a starring role, as a weaponsmith in Feudal China. "That man will knock you out," he said of Crowe, adding, ""It's nerve-wracking [the idea of directing him]. He's a master of the craft. I'm quite sure that I may learn something from him."

Tags Eli Roth, quentin tarantino, Russell Crowe, RZA, The Man with the Iron Fist