Whedon Probably Won’t Return For Next ‘Avengers,’ Disney Hires Weitz To Write ‘Star Wars’ Stand Alone, CBS Films Casts ‘Let It Snow’

Do Not Get Your Hopes Up That Joss Whedon Will Return For the Next Two ‘Avengers’ Movies

The writer-director of the first two Avengers films — the first of which is the third-highest grossing movie of all time and the second, Avengers: Age of Ultron, is due on May 1st — says in an interview that he can’t see himself giving another five years of his life to the franchise without doing any of his own, original material. But he would like to stay in the Marvel Universe somehow. (COL)

That ‘Star Wars’ Stand Alone Movie That Just Lost Its Writer Has Found a Replacement

In the wake of Book of Eli writer Gary Whitta leaving the project, Disney has hired Chris Weitz to step in and take over drafting duties for the story, thought to be a heist movie that would take place between Star Wars: A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. Godzilla helmer Gareth Edwards is directing the film, due in theaters December 16th, 2016. (CB)

CBS Films Will ‘Let It Snow’ With a Pretty Spectacular Cast For Its New Holiday Movie

The indie studio has set Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Ed Helms, Diane Keaton, Anthony Mackie, Amanda Seyfried, June Squibb, Marisa Tomei and Olivia Wilde in the film, which follows the exasperated members of an extended family as they attempt to gather for their annual holiday celebration. Jessie Nelson is directing from a screenplay by Steven Rogers. (VAR)

Warner Bros. Is Taking Another Shot At a ‘Jetsons’ Movie, and Keeping It Animated

Though the project, based on the popular ‘60s TV show, has been in development hell for two decades and has had incarnations both animated and live action, there has been no success in getting the film to the big screen. Now, the studio has hired Matt Lieberman to take a shot at a new draft of the project with hope that it will finally move forward. (EMP)

Over At Sundance, ’The Overnight’ Finds a Home, and Orchard Has It

Distributor picks up North American rights to the film, which stars Taylor Schilling, Adam Scott, Jason Schwartzman, and Judith Godreche. Schilling plays Emily, who with her husband and sun RJ makes a move to Los Angeles. After a chance encounter the couple meets another couple and when the night goes on they start to open up more and more.  (THR)

So Much For Luke Evans Starring In That Long-Awaited ‘The Crow’ Remake

After much speculation, the actor has officially backed out of the film, thanks to the departure of director F. Javier Gutierrez and the delays and expected script revisions that go along with a new director. That new director is Corin Hardy, who signed on just over a month ago, and he’ll be looking for a new star immediately after Sundance. (SF)

It’s a Big Day Over At ABC, as the Alphabet Picks Up Four Pilot Orders

The two comedies and two dramas hail from sister studio ABC Studios. The comedies include Chev & Bev, starring National Lampoon’s Vacation’s Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo, and a half-hour loosely based on the life of boundary-pushing columnist Dan Savage, from DiBonaventura Pictures Television. The dramas are The Catch, from Shondaland and Broad Squad, from Fake Empire. (DH)

Trailer Buzz, Part One: ‘Fantastic Four’

At long last, the first official look at the highly anticipated reboot of the popular Marvel Comics characters, from 20th Century Fox. Directed by Josh Trank and starring Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Miles Teller and Jamie Bell, the movie hits theaters August 7th. (TP)

Trailer Buzz, Part Two: ‘Knock Knock’

The first look at the new Eli Roth film, starring Keanu Reeves, that just premiered over the weekend at the Sundance Film Festival. No American release date has yet been announced, although Lionsgate just picked up the American distribution rights to the film. (TFS)

Screenwriters: ’10,000 B.C.’

The 120-page, unspecified draft by Roland Emmerich & Harald Kloser, with revisions by Roland Emmerich & Harald Kloser & Matthew Sand, further revisions by John Orloff and current Revisions by Robert Rodat, dated January 23rd, 2006. (DS)