There's an old saying that goes "don't change horses in midstream." Never is this more true than when you're talking about major Hollywood franchises. Rabid fans become comfortable with a long-running series' established mythology, and it's jarring to see a new face operating under a familiar name.

I wonder then what you Twilighters make of today's news, that Bryce Dallas Howard will step in to replace Rachelle Lefevre in the villainous role of Victoria for "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse." Lefevre filled the role in both "Twilight" and the upcoming "New Moon." The Hollywood Reporter reveals that the casting switch comes as the result of a scheduling conflict, as Lefevre will join Dustin Hoffman in the soon-to-shoot indie drama "Barney's Version." Read more...

George Lucas is finally realizing his decades-long dream of producing a film about the Tuskegee Airmen, and the wildly unique cast includes Cuba Gooding Jr. and Method Man. The Anthony Hemingway-directed flick "Red Tails" has popped up from time to time for Lucas in interviews, but an announcement today indicates that he has his actors and they're ready to suit up and start production.

“I’ve been wanting to do 'Red Tails' for 20 years, and we’ve finally got the means to showcase the skill of the Tuskegee pilots,” Lucas said in the press release. “We’re working on techniques which will give us the first true look at the aerial dogfighting of the era. And our top-notch cast will really make this story special.” Read more...

Channing Tatum is seemingly everywhere these days, with his high-profile starring turn in "G.I. Joe" coming up this summer. But before then he'll be taking it to the streets in "Fighting." In the film, Channing plays a young criminal who becomes immersed in the bare knuckle world of underground fighting.

Co-starring Terrence Howard, Luis Guzmán and Brian J. White, "Fighting" hits theaters on April 24. Check out an exclusive clip below, and read more about "Fighting" here.

He hosted the Independent Spirit Awards last year, so who better than "Office" worker Rainn Wilson to announce the nominees for the 2009 Golden Globes? Joining him was "Zack & Miri Make A Porno" star Elisabeth Banks, "Iron Man" sidekick Terrence Howard and "Blue Lagoon" throwback Brooke Shields.

We've got a sizzling image gallery of all the festivities, so click here or on the photo below to check out the hotness.

FROM SPLASH PAGE: We may never know what ultimately led to the Don Cheadle/Terrence Howard switch on "Iron Man 2," and if Robert Downey Jr. knows, well, he isn't talking (at least to us).

But one reason it definitely did NOT happen is because the character of Jim "Rhodey" Rhodes was scaled back for the sequel, "Iron Man 2” screenwriter Justin Theroux told MTV News. "I can't really speak to the plot stuff and all the rest of it but Rhodes is completely present in a very strong and big way," Theroux said of the man who would be War Machine. "He's COMPLETELY present."

Read more about the Don Cheadle/Terrence Howard shift and the future of War Marchine in the "Iron Man" sequels over at SplashPage.MTV.com.

"Iron Man," one of the year's biggest blockbusters in the theater (and the best-selling Blu-ray in the history of the format), will be minus one of its original marquee cast members when sequel production begins now that actor Terrence Howard has been replaced by Don Cheadle in "Iron Man 2."

The news of Howard's departure broke late last night, and came as a surprise to, well... just about everyone. For months, the actor had been telling anyone who would listen how excited he was about reprising his role and possibly donning the "War Machine" armor at some point in the franchise. Read more...

- Tony Stark appears in new ad for "The Incredible Hulk." (/film)

- Speaking of Mr. Stark, "Iron Man 2" to begin filming in March 2009, says Terrence Howard. (Military.com)

- Harrison Ford joins "Crowley," the story of a doctor who fights seemingly incurable diseases. (Variety)

- I just can't quit you. Oscar winning "Brokeback Mountain" to become an opera. (Playbill)

- Golden Gods. Ben Stiller and Reese Witherspoon topline new romantic comedy from Cameron Crowe. (Variety)

- Andrew Stanton cops to writing "John Carter of Mars" for Pixar. (Pixar Blog)