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?

Man of Steel pushed back to 2013...

Variety has the details:

Superman will be back on June 14, 2013 with Warner Bros. selecting that date for the opening of Man of Steel -- six months later than what had been tentatively planned.

Studio made the announcement Thursday. Warner Bros. had said previously that the release was planned for December 2012 but had never set a specific date.

Man of Steel is the third title set for June, 2013. Disney has set Monsters University for June 21, 2013, and Uni has R.I.P.D. due to open a week later.

Zack Snyder's directing for Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. Pic's due to begin shooting this summer in Pittsburgh with Brit thesp Henry Cavill set to play Superman with Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane and Michael Shannon also starring.

Russell Crowe may play Superman's father in 'Man of Steel'

According to Variety:




Ever since he agreed to oversee the franchise reboot of Superman, Christopher Nolan had been seeking a star for the role of Jor-El, Superman's biological father.
Nolan now has his man: Russell Crowe.

Crowe is in negotiations for the key role in "Man of Steel," which has Zack Snyder on board to direct for Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. Brit thesp Henry Cavill is set to play Superman. Warner Bros. declined to comment on the talks with Crowe.

Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane and Michael Shannon are already set for the pic. David Goyer penned the script and developed the story with Nolan, who has kept plot details under wraps, as usual.

Charles Roven will produce along with Emma Thomas, Nolan and Deborah Snyder. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips will exec produce for Legendary.

With production set to start next month, Jor-El was one of the last roles to cast, though they also are looking for a name to play Superman's biological mother.

Marlon Brando played the part of Jor-El in Richard Donner's 1978 rendition of "Superman." Other thesps who were pursued for the "Man of Steel" role included Sean Penn and Clive Owen.

Thoughts?

Amy Adams will be Zack Snyder's Lois Lane...

...in his new Superman flick, according to Deadline:

The director revealed the news in an interview with a Los Angeles Times blog today from Paris where he was publicizing Sucker Punch. Zach Snyder phoned the 36-year-old three-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams with the news today. “There was a big, giant search for Lois,” Snyder said. “For us it was a big thing and obviously a really important role. We did a lot of auditioning but we had this meeting with Amy Adams and after that I just felt she was perfect for it.”