Earlier this month, “Jurassic Park 4” was rumored to be facing extinction after Universal announced the project would be delayed indefinitely to accommodate filmmakers’ ambitious plans for the long-awaited sequel. While the studio put a sunnier spin on the decision — the delay would allow “adequate time to bring audiences the best possible version” of the film, Universal said — some crew members were less optimistic, insinuating on social media that the movie was in serious trouble.

Now, Sam Neill, who starred as Dr. Alan Grant in the first and third films in the “Jurassic Park” franchise, may have shed some light on why the delay was necessary. In a short comment to The Dominion Post, Neill said that he was unlikely to reprise his role in the sequel, and shared a rumor about the movie’s purported plot.

“I’m told it’s a big reboot, a total re-jig,” Neill told the paper.

That theory coalesces nicely with director Colin Trevorrow’s recent announcement that the new film would take place in the same location as the original movie, the fictional Isla Nublar. And while producers have denied reboot plans in the past, history shows that when it comes to “JP4,” myriad plotlines have been considered; maybe they’re now circling back to some previously abandoned ideas?

Only time will tell what “JP4” brings, or when the movie will actually appear in theaters. It was once set for a July 2014 release; we’ll have to wait for production to resume before we know a new debut date.

[via The Dominion Post h/t ScreenCrush]

Melissa McCarthy is proving to be one stern boss.

The “Bridesmaids” actress fired an extra on the set of her directorial debut, “Tammy,” after she witnessed the woman abusing her child, according to TMZ. The incident happened yesterday on the film’s set in Wilmington, NC.

Witnesses reportedly saw the woman — in her 20s — struggling with the young child all morning, telling the kid to behave and keep quiet. The mother’s scolding was apparently loud enough to disturb production, which included more than 200 extras.

According to TMZ, McCarthy had had enough once she witnessed the extra “harshly jerk” her child up into the air by the wrist. The Oscar nominee then had production assistants escort the woman off set, claiming she would not tolerate the abuse.

Show ‘em who’s in charge, Melissa!

[via TMZ ]

LOS ANGELES — “Star Trek: Into Darkness” has warped its way to a $70.6 million domestic launch from Friday to Sunday, though it’s not setting any light-speed records with a debut that’s lower than the studio’s expectations.

The latest voyage of the starship Enterprise fell short of its predecessor, 2009′s “Star Trek,” which opened with $75.2 million.

“The Avengers 2″ isn’t due out until 2015, but we’re all eager beavers for as much info as possible. Luckily, writer/director Joss Whedon is happy to oblige.

Whedon was at the ABC Upfronts this week chatting up the new Marvel show “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” when he revealed a few more details regarding the follow-up to 2012′s big-budget blockbuster. Earlier, Whedon had let slip some juicy tidbits about “a brother/sister act” that would appear in “The Avengers 2,” which fans speculated would be Scarlet Witch and her twin Quicksilver. In an interview with IGN, the director more or less confirmed that assumption.

“You know, they had a rough beginning. They’re interesting to me because they sort of represent the part of the world that wouldn’t necessarily agree with The Avengers. So they’re not there to make things easier. I’m not putting any characters in the movie that will make things easier.”

Another confirmation from Whedon? Tony Stark will (not surprisingly) be back for the sequel as well, even though he destroyed his suits at the end of “Iron Man 3.”

“Well, I feel like in ‘Iron Man 3,’ even though he said, ‘I’ve changed’ — he blew up his remote suits, but I don’t think anybody thinks he doesn’t have one anymore. The question is, if The Avengers are called, does he show up? And the answer is, ‘Yes!’”

How will Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver figure into all of this? Guess we’ll have to wait until the next time Whedon decides to let another tidbit slip. Perhaps on Twitter?

[via IGN]

Edward Furlong, star of “Terminator 2″ and “American History X,” was arrested last night for violating a restraining order his ex-girlfriend filed against him, according to TMZ.

The troubled, 35-year-old actor has been arrested twice before, TMZ reports, for domestic violence charges involving the same woman. He was sentenced to six months in jail in March on the same charges, but didn’t serve the full term. This time, when police arrived at his ex’s home in West Hollywood, they found Furlong hiding under a stairwell close to her home.

Furlong was later taken into custody and charged with a felony. He’s now being held on $100,000 bail.

[via TMZ]

It’s like something out of a movie.

One-million dollars worth of Chopard jewelry was stolen last night at the Cannes Film Festival, according to Guardian UK.

The pricey bling was supposed to be worn by celebrities at the French film fest, but instead the jewels were taken from the hotel room of one of the Swiss luxury jeweler’s employees. The pieces were in a security box, which French police say was smashed and hauled out of the room.

Funnily enough, the jewelry, which was scheduled to be worn on the red carpet last night, was taken during the premiere of Sofia Coppola’s new film, “The Bling Ring,” which tells the story of teen thieves who stole from the rich and famous in Hollywood. Mere coincidence, or a copy-cat crime? We’re going with coincidence, unless Emma Watson is prepping for “Bling Ring 2: The Big Heist.”

No word yet on which celebrities were left jewel-less by the crime.

[via Guardian UK]

Thirteen years after its release, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” is getting a sequel.

The Weinstein Company announced Thursday that the movie, which won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, is set to be followed up by “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon II – The Green Destiny.” It will follow the story of “Iron Knight, Silver Vase,” the fifth book in author Wang Du Lu’s Crane-Iron Pentalogy, the same series on which the first “Crouching Tiger” film was based.

“Crouching Tiger” became a surprise international hit in 2000, grossing over $200 million worldwide and $128 million in the United States to become the nation’s highest-earning foreign language film of all time. The story, set in western China, centered around two warriors’ quest for a missing sword and the assassin who follows their every move.

“I loved Ang Lee’s film,” said TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein. “I thought it was a master class in directing, but I know we are in fantastic hands with Yuen Wo Ping directing the second installment of ‘Crouching Tiger.’ … [Yuen] is a first-class director and choreographer, and I am thrilled to be teaming up with him once more. With John Fusco’s incredible script and the dream team of [original stars] Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh we are in great shape.”

Weinstein, Yuen, and Yen will further discuss the project at the Cannes International Film Festival this weekend.

2009′s “Star Trek” reboot rejuvenated the franchise beyond anyone’s expectations.

It was fast, funny, and sexy, and director J.J. Abrams took his sweet time developing a sequel (keeping it shrouded in mystery, of course). Now that sequel is (FINALLY) here, with “Star Trek Into Darkness,” which pits the crew of the USS Enterprise against a terrorist villain known as John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch).

In all likelihood, this will be Abrams’s last go ’round in the captain’s chair, as he starts work on the seventh “Star Wars” movie for Disney and Lucasfilm some time this year, for release in 2015. The question then is: Does he go out on a high note, or will he leave you begging for another director to helm the Enterprise? Well, here are 10 things you should keep in mind as you travel “Into Darkness.”

1. It’s Not That Dark
The trailers and title for “Star Trek Into Darkness” make it seem like a more oppressively heavy piece of machinery than it actually is, full of explosions and terrorists and sooty spaceships falling out of the sky. Thankfully, it’s really not. In fact, it’s just as zippy and entertaining as the original film. So don’t worry — it’s just pretending to be “The Dark Knight.”

2. The Cast Is Still on Fire
What made the original 2009 “Star Trek” so much fun was that director Abrams and his confederates had assembled a crack team of newcomers that embodied the spirit and fun of the original series (and, to a lesser extent, the original set of films). That means everybody is back and ready to party, and while the movie again focuses on the relationship between Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and his first mate Spock (Zachary Quinto), each character does get his or her moment in the sun (and Karl Urban’s McCoy is given a chance to really shine). You could watch these actors read the phone book and it’d probably be pretty riveting.

3. The New Additions Are Great
And what’s more, Abrams and his crew have welcomed the new cast members with open arms. Of particular note is Alice Eve, as Carol Marcus, who Trek diehards can tell you holds a very special place in the series’ mythology. She’s got a wonderful asymmetrical haircut and an adorable British accent, and adds some much-needed emotional depth to all of the Star-Trekking craziness. (Her father, a Starfleet superior played by Peter Weller, is also totally brilliant and not altogether a good guy.) And speaking of bad guys…

4. Yes, Cumberbatch Is Very, Very Bad
A lot of the speculation about “Star Trek Into Darkness” has been around Benedict Cumberbatch’s character and who, exactly, he plays. We’re not going to spoil that here because we want J.J. Abrams to still talk to us if we ever run into him at a party. But that doesn’t really matter because, yes, Cumberbatch is a really scary bad guy and totally makes the character (whoever that character might be) his own. We also love that his floppy hair seems to react to whatever mood he’s in. It’s pretty great, too.

5. See It in IMAX 3D
During our screening, people were literally ducking as things came flying out of the screen and into the audience. That’s how great the 3D looks. There’s this thing that Abrams does with the warp drive, where it leaves this glittery trail behind the ship in space (the soundtrack even “twinkles”), and it’s so amazing in 3D. The IMAX is another matter altogether — it’s genuinely stunning and just as immersive as the 3D. Yes, the tickets are considerably more expensive, but in the case of “Star Trek Into Darkness,” it’s worth it.

6. It Doesn’t Make a Whole Lot of Sense
Yes, 2009′s “Star Trek” had a whole superdome’s worth of plotting issues, but “Star Trek Into Darkness” makes so little sense that thinking about it for any prolonged amount of time will probably give you a brain aneurysm. Thankfully, the movie moves so quickly that you don’t have time to linger on questionable character motivations and plot mechanics. Forget about a roller-coaster ride, this is like spending the entire day at the theme park. Please keep all hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times.

7. Michael Giacchino’s Score Rules
The original “Star Trek” theme music is so iconic that it’s hard to think of anyone replacing that score — or even coming close to replicating it. Thankfully, longtime Abrams collaborator Michael Giacchino has made a score all his own that is just as exciting and heartwarming. His “Star Trek” theme is fast approaching the level of the original, and that’s no small feat.

8. Watch “Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan” Again Before You See This New Movie
That’s not giving anything away, either. It’s almost like both movies (2009′s “Star Trek” and “Star Trek Into Darkness) are subtle remakes of “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” for different ways and in different shades. Like putting them together and getting one huge, two-movie-length remake. What makes “Star Trek Into Darkness” so fascinating is how many direct callbacks there are to that movie (including exact copies of snippets of dialogue), with a bunch of extra “Star Trek” shout-outs to various parts of the mythology. If it’s been your dream to see a tribble on the big screen, consider that dream come true!

9. It Could Have Used More Aliens
Just saying. There are a whole host of aliens in the “Star Trek” universe, and while we get to see a few of the most familiar ones in this movie (no, we’re not saying who), there seems to be a genuine untapped goldmine for characters and creatures that Abrams and his collaborators could have drawn from (but chose not to). Oh well. There is some weird robot guy on the bridge that nobody calls by name or even really acknowledges. That’s something, right?

10. You’ll Be Ready for “Star Trek 3,” or “Star Trek Into More Darkness”
The movie ends on something of a cliffhanger, which makes you clamor for the third installment. Too bad J.J. Abrams is leaving the franchise for a galaxy far, far away…

“Star Trek Into Darkness” is in theaters now.

A slew of celebrities arrived for the opening of the 2013 Cannes International Film Festival today, kicking off the 66th annual event in full red-carpet glamour.

Attendees included French actress Audrey Tautou, the host of the festival’s opening ceremony; the cast of Baz Luhrmann‘s “The Great Gatsby” (including the fantastical film’s director himself); and the star-studded jury panel, this year featuring the likes of Nicole Kidman, “Django Unchained” star Christoph Waltz, director Ang Lee, and jury president Steven Spielberg.

Nicole Kidman looked stunning in a sleek black dress with a modernized sweetheart neckline, and “Gatsby” star Carey Mulligan wowed in her own little black strapless number. Unlike his ultra-dapper character Jay Gatsby, Leonardo DiCaprio showed up sans-tie but looked slick nonetheless, while co-star and longtime pal Tobey Maguire stepped it up with a spotted necktie.

Acclaimed directors and fellow festival jury members Ang Lee and Steven Spielberg appeared to have a friendly exchange just before Spielberg was seen yucking it up with Kidman.

Beautiful people, who were there, most likely, for the sake of being beautiful — like models Cara Delevigne, Georgia May Jagger, and Cindy Crawford — arrived in style as well.

Check out the best of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival red carpet arrival photos below.

Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are still not divorced, and the latest news about their two-year battle probably won’t help move things along.

According to Page Six, the exes are now fighting over $10 million Moore is technically entitled to from Kutcher’s share of his $100 million venture capitol fund. The “jOBS” star made “a lot of money after they were married” and feels Moore is asking for too much.

Kutcher and his business partner, Guy Oseary, recently announced that they were working “towards a private offering based on a valuation of $100 million” for their fund, A-Grade investments, which has invested in tech companies such as Shazam, Foursquare, and Spotify.

Since Ashton owns 20% of the company, Demi could be entitled to half of his share — $10 million.

An unnamed source tells Page Six that no divorce settlement has been reached, even though the pair has been negotiating for more than a year.

[via Page Six]