FINALLY! A First Look at "Zero Dark Thirty"

When Kathryn Bigelow won the Oscar for Best Director and her film "The Hurt Locker" won for best picture, film fans around the world were eagerly anticipating what her follow up would be. Entertainment Weekly offers the first in-depth interview about the film and also has exclusive screen shots.

Not looking to take it easy after the gritty and hyper-real Iraq war film, Bigelow looked to take on another story from her "Hurt Locker" screenwriter Mark Boal, about the hunt for Bin Laden. After the criminal mastermind was killed by Seal Team 6, Bigelow and Boal re-worked the movie into "Zero Dark Thirty," which Bigelow explains: "It’s a military term for 30 minutes after midnight, and it refers also to the darkness and secrecy that cloaked the entire decade long mission."

The film has a strong ensemble cast, including Kyle Chandler from "Friday Night Lights," recent Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain, Mark Strong as a CIA agent, Chris Pratt, Mark Duplass, Harold Perrineau, Jason Clarke and Edgar Ramirez.

The interview offers many details about the film, while also keeping the story and build up a secret. Said Bigelow: "There are over 100 speaking roles, featuring teams of operatives, from [Department of Defense], CIA, Navy SEALs, et. al. that intersect with foreign nationals and enemy combatants."

Here are a few of the screenshots, check out the rest at EW's main website.

Jeremy Renner Possibly Fills Out Spandex for "The Avengers"

Though its been rumored for months, it now looks like Jeremy Renner is in final negotiations to play Hawkeye in "The Avengers."

According to Heat Vision, Renner was first connected to play the character in "Thor" last year, reports that were shot down as Renner was circling two other projects. Now it seems he'll finally play the character in "Avengers" when it kicks off filming next year.

Renner will play the bow-and-arrow-carrying hero Hawkeye, who--while not one of the initial members of the team when it was created in the 1960s--became an integral member soon after when the misguided villain switched sides.

Renner will join Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man/Tony Stark, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Don Cheadle as War Machine.

The Hulk may also be a character in the movie, but there is no deal that would bring back Ed Norton, who starred as the giant in 2008's "The Incredible Hulk."

While this still isn’t fully confirmed, this would be yet another dream casting choice for Marvel and “The Avengers.” Anyone who saw “The Hurt Locker” knows how powerful and amazing Renner can be, but also the confidence and bravado he has onscreen would be perfect for the Hawkeye character. Here’s hoping this works out.

Filming on 'Captain America' kicks off next month in the UK.

Anthony Mackie, Evangeline Lilly Join "Real Steel"

Anthony Mackie ("Eagle Eye," "Notorious") and Evangeline Lilly ("Lost," "Afterwards") have joined the cast of Hugh Jackman led "Real Steel" for DreamWorks Pictures.

According to ComingSoon: Mackie and Lilly ("Lost"), who each had roles in "The Hurt Locker," are joining Hugh Jackman in the Shawn Levy-directed film.

The film is based on a short story by Richard Matheson that was originally adapted into an original "Twilight Zone" episode that starred Lee Marvin.

Set in the near future, in which boxers have been replaced by human-controlled two-ton robots, Hugh Jackman portrays a former boxer-turned-manager who reunites with his estranged son to take his fighter to the championships.

Jackman will play an ex-fighter who becomes a promoter when human boxing is outlawed for being too violent. The new gladiators are 2,000-pound robots with human qualities.

The ex-fighter's access to sub-standard robot parts hampers his hopes for glory in Robot Boxing, until he discovers a discarded robot that always seems to win. The ex-fighter also has discovered he's the father of a 13-year old son (Dakota Goyo), and they bond as the robot brawls its way toward the top.

Mackie will play a boxing promoter while Lilly will portray a friend of Jackman's character.

I love Jackman, but I’m even more excited about Mackie and Lilly being added to the cast. Anyone who watches “Lost” knows Lilly is great, but Mackie might be the best actor of the bunch. He was fantastic in “The Hurt Locker” and over the years, he has put together some fine acting roles.

The story sounds a bit weird, but knowing that it is adapted from a Richard Matheson short story makes it better. He is considered to be one of the best sci-fi writers of his time, and many of the “Twilight Zone” episodes he was involved in are considered classics.

Shawn Levy will direct and produce alongside Don Murphy and Susan Montford.

Jeremy Renner Lines Up Three Projects

"The Hurt Locker" star Jeremy Renner already has set his next two projects and is heavily considering a top secret third one.

According to Reuters: The first off the block is "Raven," an indie period thriller co-starring Ewan McGregor which Renner begin work on shortly. The story is a fictional spin on acclaimed author Edgar Allan Poe's final five days when he joins a hunt for a serial killer who has been inspired by his macabre stories.

After that Renner is in talks to star in Peter Berg's film adaptation of the classic board game "Battleship" for Universal Pictures. That film goes into production this summer for a May 2012 release.

He's also had half a dozen meetings for another project, but declined to reveal what that would be, other than it will also be shooting over the summer, as well, and he may have to choose between it and "Battleship."

I’ve liked Renner ever since I saw him in “The Assassination of Jesse James,” and his performance in “The Hurt Locker” was one for the ages. I think Peter Berg’s “Battleship” project has a lot of potential, so if Renner chooses to go in that direction, he might have a blockbuster on his hands.

Either way, it will be great to see such a talented actor like Renner up on screen in a few more projects. If you haven’t seen “The Hurt Locker,” go out and get it on DVD, because it’s pure filmmaking at its best and Renner is fantastic.

Producers Guild of America Dishes Out Awards

"The Hurt Locker" beat out "Avatar" to win the big award at the PGA Awards this past weekend.

Kathryn Bigelow’s Iraq War drama took home the Best Picture award, besting her ex-husband, James Cameron’s epic moneymaker, “Avatar,” to breathe some fire into this year’s Oscar race.

“Avatar” took home the big prize at the Golden Globes, and had it won this award as well, it would be the clear-cut favorite to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Two out of every three winners of the PGA award in the past two decades have won the 'Best Film' award at the Academy Awards.

Having said that, “Avatar” still will be one of the heavy favorites come Oscar time. It’s very possible that two other sci-fi films that were nominated (“Star Trek,” “District 9”) for the PGA award stole some votes that may have went to “Avatar”.

As we stand now, so far “The Hurt Locker” has swept most of the critic’s prizes, while the Golden Globes anointed "Avatar" their winner. “Inglourious Basterds” was the favorite with the Screen Actors Guild, and the PGA has now brought the momentum back to “The Hurt Locker.”

“Avatar” will most likely score the most Oscar nominations (with some help from the technical awards) with “The Hurt Locker” and “Basterds” not far behind.

It’s strange how momentum can help a movie during award’s season. I mean, is that movie any different just because it won the PGA award? Either way, it’s great to see the race heating up--and it’s never fun when George Clooney comes up to announce the award for Best Picture when you already know what it is.

Other winners include "Up," which scored best-animated film while "The Cove" took home best documentary.

The Academy Award nominations will be announced February 2, 2010.

Kathryn Bigelow, Terrence Malick Circling "Held by the Taliban"

Directors Kathryn Bigelow ("The Hurt Locker") and Terrence Malick ("The New World," "The Thin Red Line") are said to be circling the Afghanistan-themed "Held by the Taliban," says The Hollywood Reporter.

According to the Reporter: “'Held by the Taliban' is a package that has been out to studios that aims to adapt a five-part New York Times series about David Rohde's experience as a captive of the Taliban in Afghanistan for seven months.

The reporter was kidnapped with two Afghan colleagues on Nov. 10, 2008, as they traveled to an interview with a Taliban commander outside of Kabul.

Bigelow's name was linked to the package, as the director expressed interest, but she is not yet attached. Malick's involvement is a bit stranger, with the director saying he wants to act as a producer and pitch his take on the material to buyers.

Stephen Belber, who most recently wrote and directed the Jennifer Aniston comedy "Management," is attached to adapt, and Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall is attached to produce.

Bigelow, who has garnered a ton of awards and praise for her work on “The Hurt Locker,” could be a perfect fit for the film. Her gritty, realistic portrayal of the war in Iraq could translate perfectly to this film.

Malick’s involvement would be even better. A filmmaker known for being extraordinarily picky about his projects, if he wants to be involved in this, clearly he has some strong ideas. His films, including “The Thin Red Line” and “Badlands,” usually feature naturalistic settings and realistic elements

The deal for the articles, and who will direct or produce, is likely to be decided by the end of the week.

'The Hurt Locker' Wins National Society of Film Critics Best Picture

“The Hurt Locker” just continues to rack up awards this season. Kathryn Bigelow’s Iraq war drama swept the National Society of Film Critics awards this week, winning Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.

Written by Mark Boal, “The Hurt Locker” is the story of a bomb squad during the Iraq War and the life-threatening bomb-diffusion missions they take on. The margin of error is zero, and the soldiers talk of explosions as sending you to "the hurt locker."

“The Hurt Locker" already has won a slew of awards, including Best Pictgure by the New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Boston Society of Film Critics, Gotham Awards and other groups as well.

Okay, so “The Hurt Locker” won some more awards, but what does this mean for its Oscar chances?

Although the National Society of Film Critics is an influential group, they often stray from the more traditional films that end up as big winners at the Academy Awards. They have a reputation for choosing artsy and foreign films over big box office hits. The group also hands out their awards a little differently than everyone else. Instead of an awards ceremony, members vote at Sardi's restaurant in New York and send scrolls to winners instead of statuettes. Sardi's also is best known for the Broadway crowd.

But winning Best Picture from the National Society of Critics isn’t always the path to Oscar glory.

According to the Web site Cinematical: “Going back to 1999, seven of the last 11 films that they have named as Film of the Year have failed to even get a nomination. Only four times since there existence in 1967 have the group matched their choice with the eventual Oscar winner. Their first came in 1977 with "Annie Hall" with their most recent in 2004 with "Million Dollar Baby." They saw back-to-back victories in 1992-93 with "Unforgiven" and "Schindler's List.”

On the other hand, the site says things should look brighter for Bigelow and Renner. “Six of the NSFC's last 10 choices for Director went onto nominations and nine of their last 10 Actors have done the same. The better news for Mr. Renner is that their last five choices (and six of the last seven) have WON the Oscar.”

Obviously, only time will tell when it comes to Oscar nominations for “The Hurt Locker,” but it seems to be critic’s consensus for the best film of the year. I myself saw the film--fortunately it was playing in ONE theater in the New York City area way back in August (two months after it’s initial release) and it is just as good as the critics have said.

The Academy Award nominations will be announced Tuesday, February 2, 2010.