Movie News Quick Hits: Liam Neeson Returns to 'Star Wars,' New Magneto Image and More

-- Two more images from'X-Men: First Class'have arrived online courtesy ofSlashfilm, who have quotes from director Matthew Vaughn regarding that leaked first image and how he had no idea where it came from. The images show Michael Fassbender in full Magneto gear, as well as James McAvoy channeling the powers of Professor Charles Xavier.

-- Guess who's returning to 'Star Wars?"Yup, Liam Neeson willreprise his roleas Qui-Gon Jinn in two episodes of 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'on Cartoon Network. The episodes will air on January 28th and February 11th, and if you're a 'Star Wars' fan and don't watch this show, then what are you waiting for -- it's fantastic.

-- 'Battle: Los Angeles'haslaunched a new websitefor the film that's packed with concept art, language sound-bites and intel about the film's alien invaders. Above is a sketch of what the aliens partially look like. {viaMovieViral}

-- Sonywon the distribution rightsto'Elysium,'the next film from 'District 9' directorNeill Blomkamp.Sharlto Copley, Jodie FosterandMatt Damonare all set to star in the sci-fi film.

-- Disney haveshifted the release date of'John Carter of Mars'to March 9th, 2012, which puts it up against Ridley Scott's recently announced 'Promotheus.' It replaces Tim Burton's'Frankenweenie,'which the studio will now release closer to Halloween of 2012.


-- 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies'is in need of yet another director asMike Whitehasleft the projectdue to a prior scheduling commitment.

-- Josh Schwartz, producer of"Chuck"and"The O.C."will produce'Fun Size,'aHalloween-set comedywritten by"Colbert Report"staff writerMax Werner.
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-- The second trailer has hit forCatherine Hardwicke'snew supernatural romance movie,'Red Riding':



Vulture have posted thefirst fifteen pages(of 250) to'The Texans,'an unproduced script written bySam Peckinpahin 1980.

Bryan Singeris planning todirect a biopicabout dance choreographerBob Fossefor HBO Films. Though the production is currently untitled, it will be adapted from the book'Bye, Bye Life: The Loves and Deaths of Bob Fosse.'

'Let the Bullets Fly,'a period piece Chinese Western starringChow Yun-fat, is nowChina's highest grossing (domestic) filmof all time.

Paramount has locked down aMay 11, 2012release for'The Dictator,'a new comedy starringSacha Baron Cohendirected byLarry Charlesthat was inspired by Sadam Hussein's book 'Zabibah and the King.'

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