The first Demoted wave came in the form of Michael Vartan and David Cross. Both had signed onto the comedy that focuses on a jerky tire sales associate (Vartan) who torments his less-cool colleague (Cross) -- until the downtrodden gets promoted and gives the cool guy a taste of his own medicine. But it looks like Vartan isn't going to be the only jerky one; he's going to revel in the jerkitude with one of our beloved Goonies members.

The Hollywood Reporter posts that Sean Astin will team up with Vartan on the Cross torment, and also be demoted to secretary when Cross gets his revenge. Meanwhile, Sara Foster (D.E.B.S.) is signing on to play Astin's wife, "who's tricked into believing he was promoted," while Celia Weston (Dead Man Walking) will pop up as the head secretary. As such, she "inspires the best friends to plot their revenge." So, who will come out on top? Astin and Vartan? Cross? Foster?

Production begins this September in Michigan.

Mark and Michael Polish may not be as well-known a fraternal filmmaking pair as Joel and Ethan Coen, but they could out-weird the Coens any day of the week. Their films range from virtually inscrutable (Northfork) to very strange (Twin Falls Idaho) to merely offbeat (The Astronaut Farmer), but it's clear they won't be getting hired to direct the sequel to Alvin and the Chipmunks. So instead, they've formed their own production company, Prohibition Films, and are shooting two new projects back-to-back.

The first is entitled Manure, a title they should reconsider if only to make lazy film critics' jobs a little harder. Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Tea Leoni, and my man Kyle MacLachlan, the movie will explore the world of manure salesmen in 1960's heartland America. Upon reading that I frowned for a moment, but then realized that had you asked me who would be most likely to write and direct a movie about manure salesmen in 1960's heartland America, I would unhesitatingly have said the Polish Brothers.

Sean Astin is returning to the land of fantasy. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Astin is joining Angelica Huston, Giovanni Ribisi and Ron Perlman in the CGI-animated Spirit of the Forest, an eco fairy tale for Fantastic Films International and Spain's Dygra Films.

Astin and Ribisi play two gopher friends who's forest home is threatened by an evil businesswoman, voiced by Huston, who wants to build a highway in its place. With the help of an old oak tree, played by Perlman, the forest fights back with a vengeance. (I think they missed the boat by not having Viggo Mortensen play the oak tree.)

We've talked ... and talked ... and talked about a potential Goonies sequel, but in the past few months, it's beginning to look more and more like Steven Spielberg and Richard Donner are quietly attempting to put it together. And with the entire original cast! (Well, those who are still alive, mind you.) Both Corey Feldman and Sean Astin recently chimed in, alluding to the fact that they had been approached to work on it. And, now, Empire reports that they've spoken with Jonathan Ke Quan who confirmed that he, along with Jeff Cohen (Chunk), have been made aware of the possible sequel. He says, "We were approached a few months ago by Warner about doing it and asked if we would be interested. They even showed us character designs. It looks very cool."

They have character designs! The good (or bad) news, depending on how you look at it, is that this sequel will be animated and not live action. Empire also mentions that this could be a series, and not just a one-off flick, which doesn't sit too well with me. I don't know, to me Chunk is a little fat kid who loves his ice cream. I can't picture an adult with a child. Of course, I'm sure Chunk's kid will be just like Chunk, and Data's kid will be just like Data, but I would hope this sequel doesn't take anything away from my memories, as a kid, of The Goonies. I usually don't care as much when I hear about all these remakes and sequels, but they're f**king with one of my all time favorite movies here. To me, this is big -- animated, live action, puppets -- however the hell they decide to make it. I mention the parents and kids storyline because that's the one they seem to be leaning toward; the original cast is all grown up with children who go on an adventure of their own. What do you think of all this? And if you had a choice, would you want a straight-up live-action sequel, an animated sequel or an animated series?

It's one of those mid-'80s movies that everybody still seems to love. Just like A Christmas Story and The Princess Bride and C.H.U.D., Richard Donner's The Goonies has kept a more-than-loyal fanbase over the past two decades. And (of course) every once in a while we hear some vague rumblings about a new sequel or remake or spin-off of some sort ... but nothing ever comes of it.

But the MTV Movies Blog recently had a brief chat with former Goonie Sean Astin, and here's what Mr. Rudy Hobbit had to say: "Steven [Spielberg] and Dick [Donner] and all the powers that be ... they really feel like the thing that made the movie strong was that it was about kids, so they really want to make the next movie about kids...the next generation of Goonies. And they've had a hard time tackling that." He also contends that the sequel is some sort of "absolute certainty," as if maybe it's going into production tomorrow or something. (It's not.)

So the plan is a multi-generational adventure in which the parents tag along with a new batch of treasure-seeking tots? OK, could work, I suppose. Odds are the original screenwriter (Chris Columbus) wouldn't be returning, but if Spielberg and Donner are both on board, you can consider me completely curious. Plus it'd just be fun to see all the old kids again. I mean, we still hang out with Astin, Josh Brolin, Martha Plimpton (sometimes) and Corey Feldman (kinda), but what about Kerri Green, Jeff Cohen and Jonathan Ke Quan? Could we actually get all the Goonies back in one place?

The Fratelli Brothers (Robert Davi and Joe Pantoliano) are of course still around, but mean ol' mama (Anne Ramsey) and goofy-headed Sloth (John Matuszak) left us a few years back. Not to be insensitive, but just about anyone (large) could play Sloth, really. If the sequel does go forward, I'll be very disappointed if Davi and Joey Pants are not invited along. Anyway, read more of Mr. Astin's wishful thinking right here. And while we're at it, someone go ask Steven Spielberg for an Innerspace sequel, eh?

(A pat on the back to the first person who can tell me where that Goonies II pic comes from!)

Okay, raise your hand if Rudy is among your favorite movies of all time. (Hell yeah, you bet my hand is raised!) Heck, I'm not even a huge football fan, but there's something about that film -- the emotion, the heart -- that leaves me in tears once the credits start rolling. I've always thought Sean Astin was a good actor, though it seemed as if he could never land a big film. That is, until Peter Jackson took a chance and cast him in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. We love you Sam!

Astin followed up the monster blockbuster trilogy with a string of lesser-known films -- because that's how he rolls. Hey, I'm sure he's glad to be working, but how come we can't give this guy some bigger parts? For God's sake, it's Rudy! Anyway, Astin has just signed on for a lead role in Forever Strong, returning once again to a sports-themed flick. Pic revolves around a troubled youth (Sean Faris) who, in order to stay out of juvenile detention, must help coach a rugby team. To everyone's surprise, said team travels to the National Championship where our main character must face the toughest coach yet ... his father. Unfortunately, Astin will not be handling a ball this time -- instead, he'll be playing a social worker.

You know how every now and then all the geeks in a particular area gather together, often in costume, to celebrate their geekiness with one another while paying homage to some particular element of geekdom? They call them "conventions," typically. Well the official Lord of the Rings convention is having its way with Pasadena, California this month* (the 20th-22nd); and true to convention form, its got some pretty neat features lined up for the hobbit-clad fans that attend. The convention will feature appearances by actors  Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Miranda Otto and John Noble, and will also be screening a full lineup of outtakes from all three films. This bit, I think, sounds like a grand time. Given the cast, I imagine that a full on LotR outtakes reel could be quite amusing.

Although I do revel in my geekdom, cons aren't usually my scene. I poke gentle fun at the people who attend- but rest assured that I love you guys. Even the ones dressed as orcs. You are, after all, my people. If you are interested, you can dig the full details of the One Ring Celebration here.

 *thanks to sharp eyed-reader Lith for catching my mistake on the date.