Real-life couple Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke have signed onto star in Iron Man 2, the tentpole release set for 2010. Johansson will play Black Widow and Rourke will don the role of Whiplash.

Johansson and Rourke, who are by no means a couple, fill out an already impressive cast that now includes six Oscar winners or nominees and a Golden Globe nominee. In fact, practically everyone in the cast has been recognized for their acting talent at some point or another. (more…)

If you haven’t noticed, I haven’t been seeing a lot of movies lately. At least not at theaters. I have been making my rounds through the DVD racks, but with a lull in new releases worthy of my time, I haven’t been reviewing a whole lot. Even though the end of August and September are considered dead times for theaters, there have been several films out that I want to see, one of them being Vicky Cristina Barcelona, the latest Woody Allen movie that stars Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem.

Why? Because I actually like Woody Allen movies for the most part, the cast rocks and the film has Johansson and Cruz going at it… and I don’t mean fighting. Alas, due to an extremely busy month and some so-so reviews from friends, I have yet to get around to the romantic comedy-drama, and probably won’t see it until DVD.

Thankfully, my coworker Alice Graves, who is a diehard Woody Allen fan, did see the movie and has weighed in with her opinion. I trust it, even though she did think Javier Bardem was “cute” in No Country for Old Men.

Read Alice’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona movie review!

Yes, Scarlett Johansson is replacing Emma Watson in the final Harry Potter movie. Warner Brothers said, “We felt, as Hermione Granger reaches a proper age, that she needed to have more curves and sex appeal. Scarlett brings that to the table.” Reports are also coming in that the ending of the series will be modified: Hermione and Harry will actually end up together, as will Ron and Ginny.

Interesting.

Wait, what? I think I got something wrong here.

Oh. Emma Watson is replacing Scarlett Johansson in Napoleon and Betsy, a film that The Hollywood Reporter says is “a period drama being written and directed by Benjamin Ross.”

The movie is about a British noblewoman (now: young noblewoman) who is trapped on the island of St. Helena, where Napoleon is being kept in exile. She falls in love with the French conquerer.

Watson is replacing Johansson because, apparently, the role has skewed younger, making it more appropriate for the 18-year old Harry Potter star to be cast as Betsy rather than a luscious vixen who is known for her sex appeal. Of course, Johansson is only 24 years old (younger than me!).

Personally, I have to wonder if Emma Watson is going to end up becoming hotter than Scarlett Johansson. She has a different look, certainly, but she’s quite a looker. I feel comfortable saying this now that Ms. Watson is of age.