FROM HOLLYWOOD CRUSH: Whether he's slaying vampires with stakes or slaying audiences with laughter, there's one thing that everybody can agree upon when it comes to actor Ryan Reynolds — he's pretty awesome.

The Canadian-born actor, recently seen in this summer's "The Proposal" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," turned 33 years-old today, prompting the crew here at Birthday Bash — which mostly consists of me, but I like referring to myself as a team — to wish the erstwhile Van Wilder a very happy birthday!

If you're not as convinced as I am that Reynolds is a fantastic Hollywood icon worth celebrating, then please indulge me as I run down five reasons we should all be thankful for the actor's continually evolving career.

Continue reading Canada's Finest Ryan Reynolds Turns 33 Today, So We Celebrate His Career!

Some of the best comedies are about guys dressing up as girls. But for every "Some Like It Hot" and "Tootsie" there are a lot of dumb, unfunny drag movies like "Sorority Boys" and "Juwanna Mann." It's therefore easy to assume that any new cross-dressing comedy is going to not only be unfunny but potentially also offensively backwards in terms of gender jokes.

So what hope can I have for a "dude-in-drag romantic comedy" pitch that, according to Variety, just sold to Working Title for around $1 million after a heated bidding war? Despite the apparent popularity of the premise, my expectations are actually quite low. Even if the production company does manage to cast rising star Ryan Reynolds in the temporary transvestite role as planned. Read more...

--Terry Gilliam is getting back to his work on the man of La Mancha, Don Quixote. The filmmaker's seemingly cursed efforts at bringing the mad knight to the silver screen seem to have finally paid off, likely thanks to the goodwill his work on the soon-to-be-released "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" has fostered. Said Gilliam of "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote": "We're up and running again, we've rewritten the script and finally got it back, the budget's come in... and I think we've found our Quixote! But who's it going to be? Well, I'm not going to tell you, but it'll start next Spring." (Empire Online)

--Accomplished filmmaker Paul Schrader (he wrote "Taxi Driver" and "Raging Bull"!) is coming back to Hollywood. Halfway at least. In a joint Hollywood/Bollywood production, Schrader will direct "Xtrme City," which follows a U.S. ranger and an Indian commando as they comb the Mumbai underworld for the Yank's kidnapped sister-in-law. (Variety) Read more...

“Adventureland” is a great little movie that came out last April, got strong reviews, and then, for reasons that call into question the whole concept of justice, sank from sight after taking in a pathetic $16 million. Happily, the film was released on DVD today, and so those who missed it or ignored it or otherwise showed it no love now have a chance to make things right.

It’s a movie about young love, youthful confusion and dumb summer jobs. This doesn’t begin to sum it up, but then neither did the film’s trailer (which may have been part of the original problem). Kristen Stewart gives a performance in this picture that outclasses anything she’s yet been called upon to do in the vampire franchise with which she’s currently involved. And she’s ideally teamed with Jesse Eisenberg, at his skittery, hyper-intelligent best; and Ryan Reynolds as a predatory older guy with enough of a soul left to realize what a scumball he is. Read more...

-- Along with Summit Entertainment's announcement that "Eclipse," the third movie in the "Twilight" series, has started shooting comes confirmation that Jodelle Ferland will play Bree and Julia Jones will play Leah. (Hollywood Crush)

-- Rosario Dawson has joined the cast of Tony Scott's "Unstoppable," joining Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. The story of an out-of-control train loaded with toxic chemicals is currently set for a Fall 2010 release. Also, Heather Graham will star in Harold Becker's "Vengeance: A Love Story." (Production Weekly Twitter feed, via ComingSoon) Read more...

FROM SPLASH PAGE: It appears that Ryan Reynolds has landed the lead role in the live-action “Green Lantern” movie. After a flurry of rumors, speculation and announcements over the last 24 hours regarding who would star in the film, the “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” actor was named as the star of the Martin Campbell-directed film this evening.

Earlier this morning, it was announced that Reynolds was one of three official contenders for the role alongside “The Hangover” star Bradley Cooper and musician/actor Justin Timberlake. According to Variety, “the momentum built for Reynolds in the last week, as he was the only actor whose option was extended.”

Continue reading Ryan Reynolds Cast As ‘Green Lantern’ Lead

History was made on Friday when Ryan Reynolds officially became the first actor to star as both a Marvel and DC Comics character. Fresh off of his spin-off spinning turn as Deadpool in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," Reynolds is now getting to headline a “Green Lantern” film.

The "Van Wilder" star is just one of many actors who have made the smart –- and profitable –- choice to double-dip in the biggest and the best film franchises. Here is a look at a few of Hollywood's other famous double-dippers. Read more...

Ryan Reynolds has built a sturdy, marketable reputation on being a hunky wisecracker. He is so determined to shake up that image that he's going underground... six feet under, to be precise. Reynolds is taking the lead in "Buried," an independent thriller directed by Rodrigo Cortes ("The Contestant"), according to a report in Variety.

The actor will play a civilian contractor who is living and working in Iraq. After being kidnapped by forces unknown, he awakens in a coffin buried in the desert, armed with only a cell phone, a candle and a knife. It's not the first "buried alive" story and it won't be the last, but I bet you still feel claustrophobic just reading that! Read more...

Sure, Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds have a movie to pimp (“The Proposal”), but when we sent "Hills" star Stephanie Pratt to catch up with the duo today, they were even more preoccupied with their big day to come at the Movie Awards on Sunday.

You see, Ryan and Sandra are slated to present the Best Kiss award, and lest you thought showing up to an awards show with such a responsibility is a walk in the park, they’re about to set you straight. Remember, there’s the witty presenter pitter-patter to contend with. And even before that there’s the red carpet and the challenge of making a big splash amid dozens of the hottest celebrities around. Luckily Sandra Bullock is a woman with a plan. Watch below and see.

FROM MTV.COM:

The nominees for the 2009 MTV Movie Awards are in, and you should be casting your votes right now. So, with just weeks to go until the big show, we're now revealing our first set of Hollywood presenters.

Lil Wayne, Denzel Washington, Cameron Diaz, Leighton Meester, Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell, Vanessa Hudgens and Jonah Hill will be joining host Andy Samberg live on Sunday, May 31, at 9 p.m. ET for the 18th annual awards show. Eminem is also set to take the stage, where he'll perform music from his new album Relapse.

Continue reading Lil Wayne, Will Ferrell Announced As MTV Movie Awards Presenters