It was over two years ago that word started to rumble that Paul Reubens, otherwise known as Pee-Wee Herman, was going to find his way to the big screen once again in two new features -- something for kids, and something a bit more adult-tantalizing. Most recently, there was word in April, when Ruebens said the one was in "pre-pre-pre-production." Making a tortoise look speedy, neither are in the works yet, but Pee-Wee talked with MTV recently and said that they're both ready to go, and gave some plot details.

The first, you might remember, is a kid-friendly spin-off of his Playhouse, featuring all the original characters. This time, however, the film would take him and his friends out of the house for the first time. "this [film] takes place out of the playhouse. I think there are one or two scenes in the playhouse in the beginning. Basically, it's all in a fantasy land. It's like a Wizard of Oz, H.R. Pufnstuf epic adventure story." The second, the "dark" Pee-Wee movie, won't be R, but it will be Herman as a famous singer: "He has a hit single and gets brought out to Hollywood to make musical movies. He does everything wrong and becomes a big jerk." He insists that it isn't biographical.

But there's the kicker. He feels confident that he can star in both, but if he doesn't... "My second option is to have Johnny Depp play Pee-Wee." He says that he has even approached Depp about it, and that Johnny told him: "Let me think about it." Could that mean Tim Burton could return to the Herman fold? Of course, Reubens also talked to him, and says: "I have talked to Tim about one of them about a year ago. But Tim is booked. I think he would be interested in it, but he's really busy."

Reubens wants to "switch into a higher gear" to get these films made in the New Year, so maybe we won't have to wait another two years before something actually happens with this production. Excited yet?

If I were to sit down and make a list of every celebrity I'd ever want to endorse a pair of shoes for me to wear, I can't imagine Paul Reubens (aka Pee-Wee Herman) appearing anywhere on said list. Now granted, I usually buy shoes based on cost and not celebrity endorsement (read: I'm a cheapskate), but my point still stands. Although I was a big Pee-Wee fan while he was in his prime (and actually enjoy Reubens in Mystery Men, as well), never in my life did I expect to see Pee-Wee Herman kicks. However, if current tales are to be believed, then Nike has proved me so very, very wrong. My friends, I give you the Pee-Wee Herman Dunks SB, straight from the Playhouse.

If you care to take a peek, you'll see these shoes are modeled after Pee-Wee's classic look; the grey suit and red bow tie. The shoes themselves are primarily grey, with white laces and a bright red tongue tag. They almost need to be seen to be believed. And, on the insoles is a picture of -- oh yes, it's true -- Pee-Wee sitting all alone in the last seat of a movie theater with one arm angled in a very ... suspect direction. Could the timing of these shoes have something to do with Reubens' recent attempts to revitalize his Pee-Wee career, or is Nike just casting about in a blind attempt for success?

Every Sunday night, when it gets to be a certain time, I sit down at my computer and try to come up with a Monday Morning Poll. Mind you, this is not easy. What are people talking about? What do people want to talk about? How am I still hungry? Those three questions probably cycle through my mind a good hundred times before I finally settle on a topic ... and a late night snack.

This week I was stumped. Luckily, a good friend was over at my apartment and, after reading my Pee-Wee Herman returns post, he began to contemplate which of his favorite movie characters he would like to see back on the big screen. The thing about Pee-Wee is he's a great character around whom a story is built. These days, it's usually the opposite.

Now, I'm not necessary talking sequel here -- this is strictly character. After talking with my friend, we agreed Ferris Bueller would be a great character to see return after all these years. Or how about The Dude? And I've always wanted to see Pumpkin and Honey Bunny from Pulp Fiction in their own warped romantic comedy.

So, I ask you: Who are some of your favorite movie characters? And, which ones would you like to see return to the big screen?

Way back in November, Martha told us how Paul Reubens was planning on revisiting his alter-ego Pee-Wee Herman for at least one more film. In a recent interview with the Onion's A.V. Club, Reubens talks about the new film, as well as his plans to also make an additional "darker" Pee-Wee flick.

As far as the first movie goes, Reubens says it may be ready to start filming early next year. Described as a feature film version of the old TV show Pee-Wee's Playhouse, the story will follow all of your favorite characters from the show as they take part in an "epic adventure" outside of the playhouse. On whether he will be giving the puppets an updated look, Reubens wants the whole thing to look as low-tech as possible ... probably because the budget for this puppy is pretty low.

Personally, I'm not sure how I feel about this. While I'm a big fan of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, it's been 18 years since the guy has taken on the role. At 54, does he still have enough juice in him to bring back the extremely lively and vivacious character? Will his one perverted mistake come back to haunt him and prevent audiences from truly accepting Pee-Wee back into their hearts? What do you think?

[via Cinema Fusion]

Let's see: a Richard Linklater double-feature, Pee-Wee Herman at midnight, a Black History Month film series, and an animated comedy about the Mansons, all in the same week. Yep. Must be Austin.

Speaking of Linklater, Filmmaker has a good interview with the director about A Scanner Darkly. It's going to be hard to wait until July.

• Live Freaky! Die Freaky! is an animated musical comedy film about the Manson—excuse me, the Hanson— family and their crime spree. Doesn't that sound charming? The voice talent includes members of Green Day, Asia Argento, Kelly Osbourne, and Jane Wiedlin (I loved you in Clue, Jane). Alamo Drafthouse Village is showing this controversial film at midnight on Friday and Saturday, 1/27-28. Austin Chronicle has an interview with director John Roecker in this week's issue.
• Lunafest, a mini-festival of eight short films by and about women, will screen at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown on Sunday 1/29. Suju Vijayan, who directed the short Blessing, will be in attendance.