“Alcatraz” Will Give Answers

Fans of Alcatraz won’t be left hanging should Fox decide to pull the plug on the series after one season.

Actress Sarah Jones tells Collider she just finished reading the first-season finale clip and that the writers will provide some resolution to the on-going mythology.

“We’re working on Episode 12, right now. I’ve read Episode 13, which is the last episode, and man, the writers really delivered,” she said. “If you like the show and you like the mythology and the mystery, Episode 13 is such a pay-off for the entire season. I think it’s brilliant. Fans of the show are really going to like the last two episodes. They’re going to be shocked and amazed!”

In a chat with TV Guide, producers Dan Pyne and Jennifer Johnson said some of the specific threads introduced this year—such as what’s behind that mysterious door in the bottom of the prison in 1960—will be answered.

“We’re going to open it before the end of the season,” Johnson said. “We’ll understand by the end of the season what’s behind that door, at least one layer of it. It was very important to the Warden. There may only be one person that he shares that secret with.”

The larger mysteries of what caused the disappearance—and specifically who caused the disappearance—of all those ’63s will also be addressed by season’s end.

“But definitely by the end of the season there will be more of a sense of the game that’s afoot,” Pyne said. “We won’t be coy about it and keep holding back. There will be a better sense of what’s going on. We may not understand what the endgame is, but at least the players will become a little bit clearer.”

No Red Skull In “Avengers”

For weeks we’ve heard the Avengers will assemble to battle the Red Skull later this year.

It appears that rumor has been shot down by someone working on the film. Special effects supervisor Chris Wells tells Starburst Magazine that he can confirm the Red Skull is not part of the movie.

However, he does add that fans won’t be miss him.

“There’s nothing small in this movie,” he says. ”I went to a screening with all the temporary visual effects and it was pretty fleshed out. It’s a long movie but it doesn’t feel like it. Out of all the comic book movies and franchises I’ve worked on, this is the best one I’ve seen so far.”

“I promise you it’s not going to be boring,” he added. “This thing has gone so big that Marvel are dwarfing their other franchises. For people who enjoy the comics and haven’t really liked the way some of the characters were treated in other movies, I think they’re going to be a little more appeased by this one. Especially the Hulk. They let the Hulk be Hulk and that’s great. He acts more like the comic book Hulk. It’s fun. My biggest problem with every single superhero movie is I don’t think the payoff ever matches the build up. This one definitely does.”

Stanton Says “John Carter” Rumors Aren’t True

Have you heard the stories about how John Carter will have to earn at least $700 million at the box-office just to break even and how it went over budget during production?

Director Andrew Stanton is stepping up to defend himself and the production, saying the rumors of it being over budget are false.

“I want to go completely on record that I literally was on budget and on time the entire shoot,” Stanton said. “Disney is so completely psyched that I stayed on budget and on time that they let me have a longer reshoot because I was such a good citizen, so I find it ironic that we’re getting accused of the opposite.”

Stanton says he never upset Disney with his numbers, and that’s likely true, but the flick still probably ended up costing Disney more than it would have liked. It’s not that Stanton spent their money recklessly; it’s just that the cost of the flick went up as it transitioned from conception to reality.

Nachmanoff Replaces Zwick On “Assassin”

Jeffrey Nachmanoff (“Traitor”) is set to replace Ed Zwick at the helm of “American Assassin” for CBS Films says Deadline.

An adaptation of the Vince Flynn novel, the aim is to launch a potential spy thriller franchise following the central character – CIA agent Mitch Rapp. Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz wrote the most recent draft of the script.

‘Assassin’ is the eleventh book in the series, but is a prequel which makes it perfect for a first film to explore how personal tragedy transformers a college scholar and athlete into a ruthless hunter of terrorists for the CIA. Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Nick Wechsler are producing.

CBS Films acquired rights to the series back in 2008 when it attempted to adapt “Consent to Kill” with Antoine Fuqua helming and the likes of Gerard Butler and Colin Farrell up for the role of Rapp.

Buffini Pens “Night Circus” Adaptation

Moira Buffini (“Jane Eyre,” “Tamara Drewe”) has been hired to pen an adaptation of Erin Morgenstern’s fantasy novel “Night Circus” at Summit Entertainment says Heat Vision.

Set in the early 19th century, the film tells the story of two young magicians who are pawns in an age-old rivalry between their mercurial, illusionist fathers, and the enchanted circus where their competition and romances play out. The fates of everyone involved hang in the duo’s balance.

The film combines a period setting with young adult angst and supernatural elements. David Heyman and Jeff Clifford are producing.

Warners Likes The Taste Of “Bleach”

While the “Akira” remake looks to be stalled, Warner Bros. Pictures aren’t giving up on their plans for manga adaptations with their proposed take on Tite Kubo’s “Bleach” picking up steam. Variety reports that “Wrath of the Titans” writer Dan Mazeau has been hired to pen the script.

The supernatural thriller follows a teenage boy who becomes a Soul Reaper when a female member of that order bestows her powers on him during a fight with an evil spirit. Now he must escort the souls of the dead and protect the living. When his family is attacked by an evil lost soul called a ‘Hollow,’ he dedicates his life to stop such a tragedy happening again.

Peter Segal (“Get Smart,” “50 First Dates”) is attached as producer and may end up directing. Masi Oka and Michael Ewing will also produce.

Edgar Wright & Depp Team On “Night Stalker”

Edgar Wright (“Scott Pilgrim,” “Shaun of the Dead”) is set to direct a feature film remake of the cult 1970′s ABC telemovie and TV series “The Night Stalker” for Disney Pictures reports Deadline.

The series followed Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin), a reporter who investigates mysterious crimes that have a supernatural or sci-fi bent. The show was remade a few years ago with Stuart Townsend as Kolchak but was cancelled after a few episodes. The original was a major influence on producer Chris Carter and inspired him to create “The X-Files”.

Johnny Depp and Christi Dembrowski will produce through their Infinitum Nihil label, with the project being fashioned as a potential starring vehicle with Depp playing Kolchak.

No writer is yet attached, but with Wright now onboard it’s expected he, Depp and Dembrowski will reshape the project from the ground up.

Jai Courtney Is McClane Jr. In Fifth “Die Hard”

Australian actor Jai Courtney (“Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” “One Shot”) has been officially announced to play John (Jack) McClane, Jr., the estranged son of Bruce Willis’ iconic action hero John McClane, in the upcoming “A Good Day to Die Hard” at 20th Century Fox.

Courtney scored the role after a global casting search of several months, beating out the likes of Aaron Paul (“Breaking Bad”), Ben Foster (“30 Days of Night”), Paul Dano (“There Will Be Blood”), Milo Ventimiglia (“Heroes”) and Paul Walker (“Fast Five”). Fox has also released a photo taken from Courtney’s screen test.

The story takes John McClane to Moscow where his son is caught up in trouble. According to the press release, the son is “an apple that has not fallen far from the tree, Jack may even be more of a hardass than his father. Despite their differences, they must work together to keep each other alive – and the world safe for democracy.”

John Moore (“Flight of the Phoenix,” “Behind Enemy Lines”) directs the project and shooting kicks off in April with a February 14th 2013 release scheduled.

del Toro Goes CG In “Day of the Dead”

Guillermo del Toro is set to produce the Mexican CG animated feature “Day of the Dead” with Reel FX says Heat Vision.

“El Tigre” creator Jorge R. Gutierrez helms the film described as a Romeo & Juliet-style love story set against the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead. Gutierrez and Doug Langdale co-wrote the script.

Aaron Berger and Carina Schulze will also produce. The film is aiming for a Fall 2014 release.

Dean Parisot Set To Direct “RED 2″

Dean Parisot (“Galaxy Quest,” “Fun with Dick and Jane”) is in final negotiations to direct the “RED” sequel at Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment says Heat Vision.

Robert Schwentke helmed the original 2010 action film which had the likes of Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Brian Cox, Mary Louis Parker, Karl Urban and Morgan Freeman starring the story of over-the-hill special ops agents forced out of retirement. It grossed almost $200 million worldwide.

Much of the key cast are expected to return for the sequel though no deals are yet signed. Erich and Jon Hoeber penned the sequel and shooting aims to kick off later this year.