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?