· Let's start with the good news, assuming they actually pull it off: Jason Reitman is in talks to reteam with Diablo Cody to direct her dark-comic script Young Adult, about a divorced author of that literary genre who returns to her hometown to attempt to reclaim the married ex-boyfriend "who got away." Which could probably end up going either way, except Charlize Theron is in talks for the lead, which just sounds... kind of great. I dunno. Juno co-producers Mandate Pictures are trying to close the deal now. [THR]]
· Nicolas Cage is said to have backed out of Trespass, the Joel Schumacher suspense thriller co-starring Nicole Kidman. The Oscar-winners would have appeared as husband and wife taken hostage for cash (Art imitating life? Or life... ugh, never mind); Cage reportedly wanted to play the lead baddie instead. Negotiations broke down, he walked, and now, with the production date bearing down, producer Avi Lerner needs a leading man who can justify his $35 million budget. Hmm. Looks like Charlie Sheen has some downtime. [Deadline]
· Nicholas Sparks wrote a thriller of his own, Safe Haven, and studios and producers this week are circling for the feast as rights go out to bidders. [THR]
· MGM can't pay its multibillion-dollar debts, has been at the eye of the Hobbit/James Bond-ravaging storm for more than a year, and may or may not be sold. Sounds like the perfect time to develop a big-screen updating of the classic sci-fi series The Outer Limits! [Variety]
· Warner Bros.' upcoming live-action/CGI hybrid Alien Zoo will "combine Jurassic Park with aliens." Of course it will. [Variety]