Hugh Jackman Eyes 'X-Men' Wolverine Reprisal; George Clooney & Paul Greengrass Plot Crime Thriller: Biz Break

Hugh JackmanHugh Jackman is in talks for the role in the film that is looking like an X-Men: First Class sequel. Also in the news, Angela Bassett is joining Gregg Araki's latest; Plans are in the works for a Humphrey Bogart Film Festival; China's box office set to surge to number one; And the Hamptons International Film Festival gets new leadership.

Hugh Jackman Eyes Reprising Wolverine in New X-Men Movie
Jackman is in negotiations to reprise the role in the movie with is shaping up as a sequel to X-Men: First Class, featuring actors from the first X-Men trilogy - the first two of which were directed by Bryan Singer. Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult are also on board, THR reports.

George Clooney, Paul Greengrass Plot Crime Thriller
Greengrass will direct and produce the project along with Clooney and Grant Heslov, with writer Chris Terrio. Clooney will star in the project which re-teams some of the main figures behind Argo, Variety reports.

Angela Bassett Joins Gregg Araki's White Bird in a Blizzard
She joins Gabourey Sidibe and will play Dr. Thaler in the indie drama about a young woman whose life spins out control when her mother disappears, Deadline reports.

Humphrey Bogart Film Festival to Host Film Noir
And, of course, a parade of Humphrey Bogart films are also on tap for the event taking place - naturally - in Key Largo, FL. The inaugural edition will be held on May 2-5, 2013.  The festival will be hosted by Stephen Humphrey Bogart, the son of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, and will feature preeminent film historian and critic Leonard Maltin.

China Box Office Expected to Surpass U.S. by 2020
China has already surpassed Japan as the number 2 movie market. It's media and entertainment industry is expected to grow 17% annually through 2015, Deadline reports.

Hamptons International Film Festival Appoints New Head
Longtime advisor Anne Chaisson has been named the festival's new Executive Director. She has been an advisory co-chair since 2003. Director of Programming David Nugent, meanwhile, has been promoted to Artistic Director at the organization.



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