FROM MTV.COM: In 2006, J.J. Abrams was largely known as a TV guy, one of the creative minds behind fare like "Lost" and "Alias." Then came a turn in the directing chair for "Mission: Impossible III," when he popped off explosions galore around Tom Cruise, and Abrams' career was never the same. Rebooted "Star Trek," anyone?

Now, a fourth "Mission" is in the works. Will Abrams step back into the role that brought him from small-screen whiz kid to big-screen guru? That seems unlikely, as Abrams made clear in an interview with MTV News.

Continue reading J.J. Abrams Isn't Planning To Direct 'Mission: Impossible IV'

Last time we checked in on possibility-defying super-agent Ethan Hunt, he had once again saved the world and was headed off on his honeymoon. Three years after "Mission: Impossible III" ended, Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams are gearing up for a fourth go at the franchise. So what's happened to Hunt during this period of "Mission" silence?

Has he given up the life of a secret-keeping secret agent for the pleasures and pains of committed matrimony? Or did Hunt ditch his bride Julia and dive back into a world of insurmountable obstacles, cool gadgets and witty one-liners? And how, if at all, would Hunt's character arc impact the possibility of Michelle Monaghan, who played Julia, returning to the franchise? Read more...

A year ago, it seemed a remake of Jerome Salle's French thriller "Anthony Zimmer" was all set to begin filming in early 2009 with Tom Cruise and Charlize Theron starring and Bharat Nalluri ("The Crow: Salvation") directing. All of those players have now passed their respective hats though. The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Theron is out and will potentially be replaced by Angelina Jolie.

The English-language redo, which is titled "The Tourist," had already seen Cruise replaced with "Terminator Salvation" actor Sam Worthington. Reportedly Nalluri is also off the film and producers seek a filmmaker who will work well with Jolie. Interestingly enough, the female half of Brangelina just finished shooting the action/thriller "Salt," for which she had replaced Cruise in the gender-switched lead role. Read more...

I don't know a whole lot about "Wichita." James Mangold is directing a powerhouse leading man and lady in stars Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. The story involves a woman (Diaz) who is inadvertently pulled into a global plot while out on a blind date with a man (Cruise) who turns out to be a government agent.

None of that really matters for the purposes of this post though. That image below comes from the set of "Wichita," which is currently shooting in Boston. There are more for you to enjoy. Click the image below to check out our newly added "Wichita" set photos.

-- The Sundance Film Festival will add the Next section for next year's gathering. The category will showcase six to eight films which make "innovative and original" use of low-/no-budget features. I wonder if "District 9" would have made the cut. (Variety)

-- Buried in a report on the upcoming lineup for Dino De Laurentiis Co., it was revealed that an adaptation of Karen Russell's novel "St. Lucy's Home For Girls Raised By Wolves" is in the works. The story follows a group of girls raised by werewolves as they are being prepared to interact with civilized society. (Variety) Read more...

This is double-take-worthy news. Hell, it's late. Go take yourself a triple.

"close talks" with Universal Pictures to play blood-sucker Lestat Du Lioncourt in a big screen return for Anne Rice's "The Vampire Chronicles," according to a report at Bloody Disgusting. It should be noted that there's no attribution for the news, though BD has a good track record with scoops.

Downey would be the third actor to wear Lestat's fangs after Stuart Townsend, in "Queen of the Damned" (2003), and, perhaps most famously, Tom Cruise in "Interview with the Vampire" (1994). There's no word yet on how the planned return to Rice's fiction will approach the story, with or without the "Iron Man" star. Read more...

Aah, the Fourth of July. It’s the perfect weekend for barbecuing, enjoying your family… and watching Rambo rip a man’s Adam’s Apple out with his bare hands?

We have tons of Christmas movies, Halloween movies; hell, there’s even a “Groundhog’s Day” film. But what do we watch when we gather around the TV on Independence Day? To help solve the problem, here are the top 10 films we’d recommend as must-see holiday viewing. Read more...

Even us film geeks at MTV Movies Blog must admit that there are times when we experience cognitive dissonance between our favorite actors and the characters they portray. Sometimes, an actor capable of delivering a beautiful performance can come off as something very different when thrust in the public eye. In other words, even the most talented performers can suffer from some severe image problems.

Need some examples? Here are five Hollywood personalities whose work we adore, but who could use a bit of a makeover when it comes to their public persona. Remember guys, we're saying this because we love you. Here's some unsolicited advice for a few of our favorite bad boys (and girls). Just a note that those awesome pictures after the jump are the work of MTV's talented associate producer/photoshop ninja/silent assassin Sohyung Kang. If you'd like to see them in their full-size glory, make sure to check out our "Hollywood's Public Enemies" flipbook! Read more...

Just as everyone has an opinion, a favorite meal and a nose — albeit a fake one at times — so too does everyone have a birthday. Even celebrities. Here at Birthday Bash, it’s my mission to salute the fine actors, filmmakers and other Hollywood heroes that are celebrating their special day this week. After all, it’s cheaper than mailing a cake.

This week is jam-packed with birthday celebrations -- so many, in fact, that I just couldn't include them all. Still, there are some personalities who I found impossible to ignore... Read more...

FROM SPLASH PAGE: While talking with writer Ed Brubaker about the return of Captain America to the Marvel Comics universe, the recent release of “Sleeper: Season One” (a collection of his 2003-2005 superhero crime series) reminded me that the “Captain America” comic isn’t his only project with big-screen connections. But what’s going on with the “Sleeper” movie these days?

Back in August, it was announced that “Sleeper” was tagged for adaptation with Sam Raimi producing the film and Tom Cruise starring as Holden Carver, a super-powered secret agent deep undercover within a supervillain cabal and left hanging when the only person who knows he’s one of the good guys falls into a coma. In October, word hit the wire that Hollywood newcomer Brad Ingelsby would write the screenplay for the adaptation, but updates have been few and far between since that time.

Continue reading EXCLUSIVE: New Screenwriter For ‘Sleeper’ Movie, Sam Raimi & Tom Cruise Still Attached