Zack Snyder will now direct The Last Photograph himself?

Apparently so, according to Collider:

The Last Photograph sounds far outside Zack Snyder’s wheelhouse. The story centers on a journalist (Christian Bale) and an ex-special ops soldier (Sean Penn) who travel to war-torn Afghanistan to help a missing family member who’s been kidnapped. However, he came up with the idea for the story, 300 co-writer Kurt Johnstad wrote the script, Snyder was producing, and now it looks like he’ll direct. Twitch reports that Snyder has stepped in to replace Niels Arden Oplev (the Swedish adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and that Snyder will make The Last Photograph his follow-up to Man of Steel.

It’s a major change of pace for Snyder since a drama that sends two men into present-day Afghanistan doesn’t lend itself to lingering shots on sexy bodies or constant speed-ramping. I would never criticize a filmmaker for stretching beyond their current expectations and with Snyder at the helm, The Last Photograph could garner newfound respect for the director or be an absolute disaster that consigns him to genre flicks.

-Joey's Two Cents: It attracted two strong actors, so there's something there in all likelihood...thoughts?

Here's the Trailer for This Must Be the Place

Behold:

-Joey's Two Cents: Well, that certainly appears to be...something. Thoughts?

Anthony Mackie is joining Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, and Josh Brolin in Gangster Squad!

indieWIRE has the story:

God damn if Ruben Fleischer doesn’t keep finding new ways to makes us excited about “Gangster Squad.” The “Zombieland” director is moving into more serious territory with Warner Brothers’ big-budget period actioner, and has assembled a mouth-watering cast of awards bait, with Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling and “Crash” star Michael Peña all confirmed for the film, written by ex-cop Will Beall, based on a series of L.A. Times articles about an L.A.P.D unit in the 1940s.

Now, one other name thought to be circling the project is officially locked in, with Variety reporting that fast-rising actor Anthony Mackie, last seen in “The Adjustment Bureau,” has now signed on to join Penn, Brolin, Gosling and Peña. The actor was rumored to be being courted for the film six weeks back, but it looks like things are now official: the actor will play an ex-cop, Rocky Washington, ‘the Sheriff of Central Avenue,’ the first black lieutenant in the LAPD who went back to be a beat cop, only to be recruited by Gosling and Brolin’s characters for their elite unite, which aims to take down legendary mobster Mickey Cohen (Penn).

Take a look at Sean Penn in the Oscar hopeful This Must Be the Place!

Here you go:

-Thoughts?

Sean Penn to potentially join Christian Bale in The Last Photograph...

...based on a story idea by Zack Snyder. Here's the article from Deadline:

Sean Penn is circling The Last Photograph, and I'm told he plans to join Christian Bale in the Kurt Johnstad-scripted drama that will be directed by Niels Arden Oplev, director of the Swedish The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. The film is moving from Warner Bros, and is in negotiations to move to Dark Castle, whose Joel Silver and Andrew Rona would board the project as producers and put up the financing. Zack and Deborah Snyder are producing with Hollywood Gang's Gianni Nunnari.

The film came from an idea by Snyder, who set it up at Warner Bros with his wife and Nunnari after they all worked together on 300. Set in Afghanistan, it is a timely drama that has elements of The Searchers and Taken. Bale plays a war correspondent who witnesses and is the only survivor of an attack on a group of Americans. Penn is circling the role of a retired ex-special ops soldier who comes to the scene determined to free a family member who has been kidnapped. The journalist agrees to help identify the kidnappers and travel the rough terrain to find them, in exchange for the story. The road brings them in confrontation with tribal regions of Afghanistan, and none of the diplomats will help.

Will Ryan Gosling and Sean Penn be joining Ruben Fleischer's Gangster Squad?

Via Variety:

Warner Bros. has greenlit "Gangster Squad" with "Zombieland" director Ruben Fleischer helming.

Warner issued the official greenlight on Wednesday. Studio brass and producers are interested in offering the leading parts to Sean Penn and Ryan Gosling but has not confirmed whether offers have been made yet.

Warner acquired the rights two years ago to the L.A. Times' seven-part series "Tales From the Gangster Squad." Dan Lin and Kevin McCormick -- both former studio execs with Warner term deals -- are producing the feature adaptation through their Lin Pictures and Langley Park banners. Jon Silk, of Lin Pictures, will co-produce.

The newspaper series, penned by Paul Lieberman, chronicled efforts by the LAPD to deal with a chaotic and corrupt Los Angeles by forming what was dubbed the Gangster Squad to keep the East Coast Mafia out of the city.

Feature script was penned by former LAPD officer Will Beall.

-Joey's Two Cents: This was a high priority project that was out to some big time directors (Ben Affleck and Darren Aronofsky were two that were circling it at one point), so I'm hopeful this is a flick with major potential...thoughts?

The Tree of Life gets a new Poster!

Click the image to make it bigger...thoughts?