Oh, don't worry, this isn't some too-soon remake of that Matthew Perry / Salma Hayek film. This is something a wee bit more serious.

Variety reports that Liam Neeson and Orlando Bloom have signed on to star, and Javier Bardem is in talks to co-star, on a currently untitled film based on Bill Carter's book, Fools Rush In. The book focuses on Carter's time as an aid worker in Sarajevo, as he was grieving the death of his girlfriend in a car accident. It certainly will be a challenging piece of cinema, as Carter was there during the 43-month Balkan siege. I'm guessing that the untitled nature of the project is related to the Perry film.

Anyhow, Bloom says: "I read the script, and the very human story and the very core of this film spoke to me very clearly. This is a departure from the very big Hollywood productions." Andrucha Waddington, a Brazilian director, will helm the feature, and the production is scheduled to begin later this year. Now if only I could get over my Orlando apprehension...

See, it's totally NOT Orlando Bloom. Instead, as previously rumored, Jake Gyllenhaal has landed the lead role in The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time for director Mike Newell, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer. Remember how we told you to expect both leads to be announced at the same time? Well, starring opposite Gyllenhaal will be ... Gemma Arterton. Yes, that random up-and-comer who recently nabbed a role in the new James Bond flick, Quantum of Solace.

In the film, Gyllenhaal will play Dastan, a young Prince who teams with an exotic princess named Tamina (Arterton) on a mission to stop "a villainous nobleman from possessing the Sands of Time, a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world," so says The Hollywood Reporter. The film, of course, is based on the popular video game (which I've personally never played) and, if successful, might turn into a brand new explosive franchise for Disney. Can Disney ultimately find a way to succeed with a video game adaptation where others have failed? And what do you think about Gyllenhaal playing the prince? Arterton as the princess? Good casting choices or completely off course?

Sound off you Persia fanboys (and girls)!

The man behind Election might not be heading to Hollywood yet, but he is heading to Europe, and he has a certain pirate in his sights. The Hollywood Reporter posts that Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To is heading to France to take on Red Circle, a remake of the 1970 crime thriller Le Rouge Cercle, and Wai Ka-Fai is developing it. So far, so funky, until you imagine that he wants Orlando Bloom to star in it.

I want to like Bloom. Really, I do. But the man just kills me. Rather, he has in his post-Lord of the Rings work. He inspired people to hope for his demise in Pirates, sunk with Elizabethtown, and is now being eyed to lead a crime thriller? A crime thriller that would have him star as a cool thief straight out of prison, no less. I just don't see it; he doesn't have the charisma for a tough thieving heist.

At least it's far from definite. To is said to have sent an offer to the actor, but negotiations haven't happened yet. Meanwhile, Chow Yun-Fat and Liam Neeson are in negotiations to co-star. Those two -- they sound just about right, but it makes me even more nervous about Bloom, who couldn't even begin to battle the presence of Johnny Depp. So, I ask you -- do you agree with To's selection, or can you think of someone better?

The cast and crew of New York, I Love You keeps growing and growing. There's not even enough room on the headline to list all the names that were just added. New York is a collection of short stories, part of a "Cities of Love" anthology that was begun by Paris, je ta'ime. New York will reportedly be followed by Shanghai, and then cities in South America and Africa.

The stories are showcasing an incredible variety of actors and directors. Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson are both making their directing debut, there's a good representation of international talent, and Brett Ratner hasn't been driven away by pitchforks and torches. Variety reported that Orlando Bloom, Olivia Thirlby, Hayden Christensen, and Ethan Hawke had climbed aboard the film. No word on who's segments they will appear in yet -- but a far better choice for Bloom's career than Prince of Persia, wouldn't you say?

I really dug Orlando Bloom in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, then recoiled in horror at his work in Pirates. Okay, not horror, but I was completely disappointed and wished the entire time that Will Turner would get killed and Sparrow would get Swann. When you're rooting for the womanizer, even when he's played by Johnny Depp, you know something is off. So, I wasn't really into the idea of him as the Prince of Persia, and was relieved to hear that he was out of the picture. Who's the next big name to make waves?

Latino Review says that Jake Gyllenhaal has been offered the lead role in Prince of Persia: Sands of Time. Now, if the site is to be believed, this will be the best film of all time. Well, the most visually appealing, that is. Okay, just something immensely appealing to my movie-fan heart. It's not just the Jake -- they say that lots of parkour is involved as well. (If David Belle got involved too...)

But seriously -- parkour is beautiful, and immensely great to watch on film -- unless it's being done by a bad guy who out-cools James Bond. And Gyllenhaal, he's got the acting chops and the body, and he'd also be a solid choice to make the film desirable to a larger audience. However, LR does note that Jake's messed up his ankle playing basketball, so he'd have to mend up first before taking on the role that starts this summer in Morocco. (Mend, please mend!)

I've said my piece, but what do you think?

UPDATE: Cinematical has talked with a Disney rep who would not deny nor confirm this rumor. Their "you'll see soon enough" stance leads us to believe there might be some truth here. Oh, and expect both leads to be announced at the same time.

Though this news hasn't officially hit the trades, Hollywood.com is reporting this morning that Orlando Bloom has landed the lead role in Jerry Bruckheimer's next giant adventure trilogy, The Prince of Persia. The deal is reportedly worth $40 million, and Bloom beat out Zac Efron (no way could I see him in that role) for the part. Bloom, as we all know, helped Bruckheimer's previous Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy become one of the most lucrative ever. So if Bloom is in, and a Princess still needs to be cast, does that mean we could be hearing Keira Knightley's name pop up in the near future?

Last we heard from Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, shooting was to begin in Morocco this summer, with a release date of June 16, 2009 already in place (check out some concept art here). Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) will direct off a script from Jordan Mechner. Prince of Persia, of course, is based on the very popular series of video games. The story will revolve around a Prince (Bloom) who teams with a rival princess (Knightley???) to stop an evil ruler from unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy the world.

So, what do you fans of the game think about Orlando Bloom in the lead role?

UPDATE: Disney has gone on record with several sources (including Cinematical) claiming this story is absolutely not true. Of course, we will let you know whenever the real casting announcement has been made.

Last month, I was sold on the idea of Peter Sarsgaard being a lascivious '60s swinger who gives Carey Mulligan An Education. In the sea of my hopes for a good film, I sort of glossed over the fact that Orlando Bloom was also involved. (He might make a great, stunt-performing Legolas, but he hasn't impressed me in anything else.) Well, now it seems that he's not on the roster.

The Hollywood Reporter posts that the actor has pulled out of Lone Scherfig's An Education, citing scheduling conflicts, which seems a bit weird since the film just began shooting. One would think that he would have someone watching his calendar and noticing that he was double-booked...

Whether that's the real reason or not, Orlando is out, and has been replaced by Dominic Cooper, the guy who recently popped up in The History Boys, and who will soon be a leading man in Mamma Mia! The Brit already has experience acting in the '60s/'70s as well -- he was a "Squaddie at Disco" in 2005's Breakfast on Pluto.

Which would you prefer? Orlando Bloom, or Dominic Cooper?

A retro film set in 1960s London is interesting. Hearing that Nick Hornby wrote the script makes it intriguing. An awesome cast -- that just makes the upcoming film An Education sound downright tasty. Variety reports that Lone Scherfig, the Danish filmmaker behind Happy-Go-Lucky, is gearing up to helm the feature, and these are the names she'll get to mold with her directorial hands: Peter Sarsgaard, Orlando Bloom, Alfred Molina, Sally Hawkins, Rosamund Pike, Emma Thompson, Olivia Williams, and newcomer Carey Mulligan. (Some of the cast signed on earlier this month.)

While I vowed that I learned my lesson about great actors not necessarily making great movies after Derailed, I so, so, so want to see this. The film will focus on a 17-year-old girl played by Mulligan who lived in the quiet burbs of London. However, it's during the swinging '60s, and she gets pulled into craziness by a 30-something Brit played by Sarsgaard. (Cradle robber.) As THR described it: "He courts her with chic dinners, clubs, and foreign trips, charming her father (Molina) but putting her future at Oxford University in jeopardy." Thompson, meanwhile, plays her school's headmistress.

Dumb joke of the day #2: She should've bought a SarsGuaard.

Production begins in London this March.

I've watched the Extras Christmas Special twice now, and I still can't get through the end without crying. I'm so lame. I know this is TV related, but if you haven't watched Extras yet, do yourself a favor while on holiday break and check out both seasons (and the X-Mas special) of this amazing HBO show. Written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (both of whom brought us the Brit version of The Office), Extras is about just that -- Extras. Folks who spend their entire careers as the guy or girl in the background of a shot. Though it's only two seasons long, the show has a great story arc and while I would've loved for it to go longer, it definitely feels complete.

Aside from an excellent day-to-day cast (special kudos to Ashley Jensen), each episode also includes hilarious celebrity cameos -- all of whom are either obsessed with sex, obsessed with themselves or both. Clive Owen's cameo in the X-Mas special was absolutely friggin' priceless, and the same can be said for folks like Daniel Radcliffe, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Patrick Stewart, who have all appeared in various episodes as themselves. And speaking of Stewart, below you'll find one of my favorite scenes from Extras -- featuring Stewart -- which appeared in a pivotal episode that changed the scope of the entire show. I adore this scene, and it gives you a good taste of what to expect from the rest of the series. Anyway, I just felt like getting that out there. Go watch Extras. Gervais and Merchant are comedy Gods.

According to Hollywood Wiretap (via Screendaily), Roman Polanski has officially pulled out of directing Pompeii -- that giant epic drama (based on the Robert Harris book) he'd been working on for the past nine months. Apparently Polanski left due to scheduling conflicts, when Summit International said they may have to postpone shooting in Europe next summer due to -- can you take a wild guess -- The Strike! Yes, The Strike, well, strikes again! In an official statement, Polanski said, "I put a lot of work and energy into the development of Pompeii, so it is not without regret that I have to decline my further involvement." This will most likely come as a huge blow to the film, which at one point had Orlando Bloom and Scarlett Johansson rumored to be up for the lead roles. As of now, no cast is official.

There's no word on where Summit (who've already sold the film to a number of foreign territories, including Mexico, Brazil, South Korea, France, Italy and Spain) will go from here, or who they will try to get to replace Polanski. Seeing as this was Polanski's little pet project, and that it would have been much easier to cast a couple of hot American actors (which Polanski wanted to do ) with the director still attached, there's a chance Pompeii could go in an entirely different direction. Will they opt for European stars instead? Are there any other top-notch directors willing to pick it up? One thing's for sure, there's no way in hell they're signing anyone at this point -- at least not until the whole strike thing is settled. And if they have to wait months to line up a director and cast, we're looking at a start date that, at the very best, will need to be postponed until at least next fall.