Hollywood Ink: Guillermo del Toro, James Cameron Embrace Madness

Also in today's edition of Hollywood Ink: The Streep/Fey wonder pairing Mommy and Me finds a studio... Russell Brand picks his battles... the powerhouse Duvall/Black tandem re-teams... and more...

· Sure, Guillermo del Toro is perhaps the nicest guy in the world, but please God please let At the Mountains of Madness be the last time any of us have to hear about the inner workings of his post-Hobbit plans to direct this or produce that or whatever. Like, just choose a movie and make it, already. The only downside to Madness -- an H.P. Lovecraft invitation which is to be shot in 3D for Universal -- is that now James Cameron is involved as a producer, which is guaranteed to slow everything down even further. Reports have del Toro shooting as "early" as next summer. Developing, literally... [Deadline]

· Mommy & Me, the Meryl Streep/Tina Fey dream comedy to be directed by Stanley Tucci, has officially landed at Sony after intense bidding. [LAT]

· Russell Brand is mobilizing Hawkwood, a period action-comedy about a "morally challenged but gifted swordsman [who] was paid to lead various European armies during the Renaissance wars." Not sure what the "Renaissance wars" are, but Brand famously knows from swordsmen, so he'll be fine. [Deadline]

· Robert Duvall and Lucas Black, who can be seen together this week in Get Low, will team again in Seven Days in Utopia, about a disgraced amateur golfer's relationship with an eccentric rancher. Guess who plays who. Production begins today. [Variety]

· Cillian Murphy and Thandie Newton will co-star in the thriller The Retreat, about a couple confronted by word of a population-vanquishing virus while vacationing on a remote island. $10 says that won't be the title by the time it reaches theaters. [Deadline]