Hard to believe it was a full year ago that notoriously reclusive auteur Terrence Malick's first film since 2005's The New World premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to equal parts enrapture and befuddlement.  Now, a year after The Tree of Life's first screening, we have word that the writer-director's next project now has an official title and an MPAA rating, both of which give an indication that the film, which stars Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams, is pretty much ready to go.

For his third feature as a director, Ben Affleck is getting away from Boston, the vividly-realized setting of his Gone Baby Gone and The Town.  Based on the first trailer for Argo, though, leaving Beantown isn't hurting Affleck one bit.  Warner Bros released the theatrical trailer and a teaser poster today, and while the latter is pretty standard, the former is outstanding, promising an intelligent, grown-up thriller with a sly, adroit sense of humor.

Paramount has been planning a rebooted adventure for Tom Clancy's signature character, Jack Ryan, for some time now.  The studio found its Ryan in Chris Pine following his terrific turn as James Tiberius Kirk in 2009's Star Trek, but getting the project off the ground hasn't been so easy.  Last week it suffered what could've been a big setback when it lost its director, but apparently Paramount found a replacement right quick.

Today Warner Bros. debuted the second official still from Argo, the upcoming directorial feature from Ben Affleck.  Like the first image released back in December, this one features Affleck, who also stars, rocking a thoroughly 1970's haircut, and this time he's doing so in a smoky room where his character is presumably giving a detailed rundown of the complex operation at hand.

I recently had the immense pleasure of speaking with one of my all time favorite actors, Titus Welliver, about his prolific and impressive television work. But as accomplished as his TV resume is, the actor has just as distinguished of a film and stage career. Welliver first gained attention in the groundbreaking off-Broadway play “Riff Raff,” which was written, directed and co-starred actor Laurence Fishburne. He would eventually reprise the critically acclaimed role that he originated on stage as the sympathetic drug addict and part-time thief Billy “The Torch’ Murphy in the film adaptation of the play entitled Once in the Life, which also starred Fishburne and marked his feature film directorial debut. In fact, while the actor and I were chatting about the making of Once in the Life and his work in "Riff Raff," which also happens to be my all time favorite stage play, the actor happened to mention that he and Fishburne are discussing doing a revival of the show. “I have to say Laurence and I have been sort of toying with the idea of doing the play again even though it's been about twelve years since we made the film,” Welliver admitted.

While the actor is probably best known for his extensive television work that includes playing Silas Adams on HBO’s Western-based series Deadwood, the pivotal role of Kyle Hollis on the brilliant but short-lived NBC series Life, season three villain Jimmy O’Phelan on FX’s motorcycle gang series Sons of Anarchy, a recurring role on the current Fox series Touch with Kiefer Sutherland, and of course, as the Man in Black (A.K.A. the Smoke Monster) on ABC’s cultural phenomenon Lost. But he’s also appeared in many popular feature films including The Doors, Mobsters, Twisted, Assault on Precinct 13, and most recently Man on a Ledge, which opened on January 27^th and is in theaters now. But his most famous film roles have come from his collaborations with fellow actor and now critically acclaimed writer/director Ben Affleck. Welliver first appeared in Affleck’s Boston-based directorial debut Gone Baby Gone as Lionel McCready, and also appeared as FBI agent Dino Ciampa in The Town (also set in the Boston area) opposite Jon Hamm (TV’s Mad Men). Now, Welliver will achieve the hat trick by also appearing in Affleck’s upcoming third directorial effort Argo, which will be the first of his films, as a director, not set in Massachusetts.

In addition to his successful stage and film work, actor Titus Welliver has appeared on some of the most iconic and beloved television series of the last decade and a half. While he was a regular on HBO’s acclaimed series Deadwood, Welliver has been mostly featured as a guest star on such popular and critically acclaimed shows as NYPD Blue, Prison Break, Supernatural, Life, The Closer, Suits, The Good Wife, and Sons of Anarchy, where he played the season-three villain Jimmy O’Phelan. But the actor is definitely best known by television audiences for his role as the Man in Black (A.K.A. – the Smoke Monster) on ABC’s mysterious island-set series Lost.

Welliver’s television domination will continue this week with the conclusion of his three-episode arc on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which culminates with Wednesday night’s episode entitled Willows in the Wind. The actor will reprise his role on the long-running CBS series as Mark Gabriel, the CEO of a Blackwater type company. In fact, Wednesday January 25^th marks a big night for the accomplished actor because in addition to his episode of CSI airing, it is also the premiere of Fox’s new series Touch, which stars Kiefer Sutherland and features Welliver in a pivotal recurring role. The actor will also be appearing on an arc of NBC’s Grimm, as well FX’s upcoming series Powers, which is based on writer Brian Michael Bendis’ extremely popular comic book series of the same name.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Titus Welliver, who has truly been one of my favorite actors for a very long time. While we had a chance to discuss his latest film Man on a Ledge, and his role in Ben Affleck’s next directorial effort Argo, that portion of our conversation will run later in the week so that I can tell you now about what the actor had to say regarding all of his upcoming television projects. Welliver spoke candidly with me about working on multiple television shows, if he would like to return to being a series regular, his role on CSI, why Kiefer Sutherland’s performance on Touch will surprise you, which comic book character he will be portraying on Powers, his character on Grimm’s dark history, why he thinks the well reviewed series Life was short-lived, and what one fan of Lost said to him about his legendary role on the now-classic show.

If I had told you, in the summer of 2004, that within eight years, Ben Affleck would be a successful director with two formidable feature films under his belt, you'd probably punch me right in the solar plexus then laugh your ass off.  But here we are, and based on his directorial track record, Affleck's third effort as director seems likely to be a highlight of 2012.  As part of a preview for the year ahead, Warner Bros has released the first official image from Argo, which Affleck both directs and stars in as part of a pretty ridiculous ensemble.  We've previously seen some unofficial photos from the Los Angeles set, but read on for your first bona-fide look Argo, with Affleck very seriously perusing some documents.

Prior to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in 2007, British director David Yates had never made a big international blockbuster, but with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 having come and gone, Yates has been responsible for half of the films in the biggest franchise of all time.  After four consecutive Potter adventures, his next project is a big question mark.  Back in August, he and Potter franchise screenwriter* Steve Kloves were reportedly in talks with Warner Bros, which distributed the Potter films, to direct and write, respectively, The Stand, an adaptation of Stephen King's massive apocalyptic tale.  Then, in October, it was revealed that the studio wanted Ben Affleck to take on the huge property.  So what happened with Yates?  Apparently he and Kloves voluntarily opted out of The Stand, and he's now explained for the first time just why.

After production began a week ago in Los Angeles, we have our first look at unofficial images from the set of Argo, the third directorial endeavor from professionally charming dude Ben Affleck.  Last Thursday, Warner Bros and GK Films officially announced that production had commenced on the darkly comedic drama, which tells the true story of a surreal CIA plan to pose as Hollywood movie-makers in order to save six Americans during the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979 to 1981.  These first set photos reflect Argo's period setting, with star/director Affleck sporting a very 70's style from his hair to his jeans.  Alan Arkin is also present and accounted for, though his appearance doesn't so immediately establish the setting.

Warner Bros and GK Films have officially announced that production on Argo, the new film from director Ben Affleck, has begun in Los Angeles.  The film, a drama with dark comedy sprinkled throughout, tells the true story of an usual CIA effort to free six Americans during the Iran Hostage Crisis that began in 1979.  As is his style, Affleck will direct and star, along with an impeccable ensemble cast that includes Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, Kyle Chandler, Kerry Bishe, Clea DuVall, John Goodman, and Michael Parks.