'Buffy' Reboot in the Works, but Joss Whedon Not Involved

Warner Bros. is rebooting the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise with a new film, but without Joss Whedon. Whedon only wrote the screenplay for the 1992 movie and was the mastermind behind the oh-so-popular TV series. He had a long response to E!, where he dealt with his disappointment with humor. After letting out audible sighs and joking about the residuals he'll pull in, he also joked, "But seriously, are vampires even popular any more?"

This film remake, written by Whit Stillman, will indeed involve a girl named Buffy who slays vampires. However, she won't be in high school. And given their exclusion of Whedon (boo), she probably won't be portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar (double boo).

Edward Norton Will Not Play the Hulk in 'The Avengers'

Marvel Studios has fired Edward Norton from his role as The Hulk/Bruce Banner in the upcoming film The Avengers.

Unfortunately, they did it in a rather classless and unprofessional way. Kevin Feige, President of Production for Marvel Studios said "our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members." Yikes. I know Norton's Incredible Hulk wasn't that great of a movie, but it certainly wasn't so bad as to warrant a callous press release. And while Norton may have a reputation for having some strong opinions, he's a great actor with a lot of solid working relationships.

So now that Edward Norton is out, who will join director Joss Whedon in his superhero film? Already signed on are Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and Chris Evans as Captain America. Some rumors indicate Joaquin Phoenix may be the new face of the Hulk. And of course, his appearance as the Hulk in The Avengers could lead to The Incredible Hulk 2.

No matter which direction they go, we wish the best of luck to both Edward Norton and Whedon and his Avengers. The film is still scheduled to open May 4, 2012.

Joss Whedon to Direct The Avengers

Joss Whedon is in talks to direct the upcoming superhero movie The Avengers. The Marvel Comics characters will include recent movie favorites Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D. leader (Samuel L. Jackson).

The Avengers is set to be released in May 2012. Before it comes out, we will see these superheroes in their own movies: Iron Man 2 comes out April 30, The First Avenger: Captain America opens July 2011, and Thor starts in May 2011.

Whedon is known for his great TV shows, both long running and prematurely canceled. It will be great to see what he can do on the big screen, especially with such an all-star cast.