Even before Kick-Ass hit theaters in the Spring of 2010, there was talk of a sequel to the adaptation of Mark Millar's ultraviolent comic book series.  After the film debuted, sequel discussions continued, even as a follow-up looked increasingly improbable, if not impossible.  Often, reports of progress on the next installment in the Kick-Ass saga came from hyperbole-prone Millar himself, but apparently Kick-Ass 2 might actually, really happen soon.

Warner Bros continues to power ahead with Winter's Tale, its rather improbable adaptation of Mark Helprin's classic and seemingly unadaptable novel.  Last month, the studio cast Downtown Abbey's Jessica Brown Findlay as female lead Beverly Penn, and we've been left wondering just who would play Peter Lake, the rakish burglar and world-class second story man who falls for her.  Our wondering might just be over, as Variety is reporting that Warner Bros. has offered the role to Colin Farrell.

As promised on Monday, the first trailer for Oliver Stone's Savages has arrived online, following up the nicely executed poster that debuted at the beginning of this week.  Narrated by Blake Lively, the trailer lays out the basic story, which starts with a pair of Orange County entrepreneurs whose with a thriving marijuana concern that ends up bringing them to the attention of the Mexican Baja Cartel.

After a reportedly wondrous test-screening earlier this year, Universal Pictures rescheduled Savages from September to smack dab in the middle of summer.  Accordingly, marketing for the action-thriller directed by Oliver Stone should be getting underway in earnest shortly.  A trailer is set to arrive this Thursday, April 5th.  The first one-sheet for Savages has arrived online today, and it gives a feel for the story, but mostly highlights the ensemble cast with a nifty vertical design.

Over the last several months, Downton Abbey fever has swept America, and with so much of the Colonies digging the Masterpiece Theater stylings, it was only a matter of time before a young castmember ended up in a big Hollywood movie.  Jessica Brown Findlay, who plays the strong-willed Lady Sybil  – everyone's favorite Crawley daughter – will star as the female lead in Winter's Tale. Not only that, but the search for a young thespian to play male lead Peter Lake is down to two familiar actors.

Just last week the first image from Savages arrived online, showing Benicio Del Toro rather menacingly blowing smoke into Blake Lively's face.  It was probably an appropriate introduction to the new film from Oliver Stone, one which follows a battle of wills and probably over the top violence between a trio of California pot-dealers and a vicious drug cartel.  Now there's a visual representation of the movie, and it looks like Universal is pretty confident in Savages, as the studio has moved the release date into prime summer territory.

Most any avid user of one of America's favorite illicit substances knows that it is a good and charitable thing to be euphemistically smoked out, but the first image from Savages makes the term look altogether threatening.  The film is co-written and directed by Oliver Stone, a filmmaker comfortable with violence, but even if you didn't know that, you'd know something unsavory is going on between Blake Lively and Benicio Del Toro, with the latter blowing smoke into the former's face in an entirely uncharitable manner.

Though he's most known for his classy, period adaptations Pride and Prejudice and Atonement, as well as the drama The Soloist, director Joe Wright's last film, Hanna, was a whirling dervish of an action movie, a jubilantly stylized tale of cinematic ass-kickery doled out by young Saoirse Ronan.  For his next film, Wright returns to more familiar territory, directing his two-time leading lady Keira Knightley in Anna Karenina, adapting the novel by Russian literary colossus Leo Tolstoy.  Universal Pictures and Focus Features issued a press release today announcing that production will begin this month in the United Kingdom and Russia, with Jude Law and Aaron Johnson also in the cast.

Emile Hirsch is the latest actor to join the already-stacked cast of Savages, the adaptation of Don Winslow's novel from director Oliver Stone.  Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, John Travolta, Salma Hayek, Uma Thurman, and Benicio del Toro are all starring in the film, as well, leading one to wonder if they've seen any of the films Stone has directed since 1995.

Every year, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts allows the British public to vote for the winner of their Rising Star award, which recognizes an up-and-coming actor or actress who has particularly made an impression.  This morning, BAFTA announced this year’s line-up of nominations, which features Emma Stone as the lone non-Brit on the list. 

BAFTA's Orange Wednesdays Rising Star Award 2011 Nominees: