Rhys Ifans is the villain in 'Spider-Man'

Now that Emma Stone is cast as Gwen Stacy in Marc Webb's upcoming "Spider-Man" reboot, it's time to focus on the villain, and Columbia today announced actor Rhys Ifans will play the bad guy this time.

"After seeing his performance in our upcoming film 'Anonymous,' we're in awe of his talent and think he's the perfect choice to take on this role," said Columbia Pictures' Matt Tolmach about the deal.

Nobody would comment on what character Ifans will end up playing, but I definitely buy him as a bad boy. James Vanderbilt wrote the "Spider-Man" script, and Andre Garfield will play Peter Parker.

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Johnny Depp's 'The Tourist' gets a date

Columbia Pictures has decided to release Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's thriller "The Tourist" Dec. 10, 2010. Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell and Timothy Dalton star.

The film revolves around Frank (Johnny Depp), an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise (Angelina Jolie) is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Trouble begins...

"The Tourist" is a remake of France's “Anthony Zimmer.” Christopher McQuarrie & Jeffrey Nachmanoff wrote the script. Also opening on that day are "The Fighter" and "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader."

Len Wiseman to direct 'Total Recall' remake

Paul Verhoeven's 1990 sci-fi flick "Total Recall" is being recycled into a contemporary version for Columbia Pictures, and Len Wiseman is pretty much set to direct the film, the studio announced today.

Neal H. Moritz is in talks to produce the remake of the film that was based on Philip K. Dick's story and starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. Kurt Wimmer, the guy behind "Salt," will write the screenplay.

"I've always been fascinated with Philip K. Dick's short story, and I'm excited at that prospect of diving even deeper into the type of world it evokes and the questions it asks," Wiseman said about the project.

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Next 'Spider-Man' will hit theaters in 3D

This was bound to happen, so it doesn't surprise me the least bit. Columbia today confirmed it will be releasing the new "Spider-Man" film in 3D. Release date is currently planned for July 3, 2012.

Marc Webb will direct the new "Spider-Man" film, which follows Peter Parker in high school. James Vanderbilt wrote the script, and I hear the film will start shooting later this year already.

"Spider-Man is the ultimate summer moviegoing experience, and we're thrilled the filmmakers are presenting the next installment in 3D," said Jeff Blake, chairman of Sony Pictures (via Variety).

Is all of this a good idea? That I won't really know until I see the film, but what I can tell you is that I am not at all excited about this right now. They should've left Spidey alone for a while. It just seems too early.

First 'The Karate Kid' remake images roll in

Columbia Pictures is currently making an unnecessary remake of "The Karate Kid," and the first pictures from the upcoming adventure have surface on the Web. Check out some of them above and below.

The film, a remake of John G. Avildsen’s 1984 version, follows a bullied boy (Jaden Smith) who learns all there is to know about karate with the help of an enthusiastic mentor (Jackie Chan).

The original “Karate Kid” was followed by three sequels. As terrible as this may sound, we'll probably see more remakes if this one ends up scoring big at the box office. I hope that won't happen though.

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'Men in Black 3' now in development

I don't think this is a real surprise, right? Considering franchise after franchise is being revived or rebooted or whatever right now, it would look weird if we didn't hear back from the "Men in Black."

As Variety reports, Columbia Pictures is definitely moving ahead with "Men in Black 3," and the studio has hired Etan Cohen to write the script for the third installment in the popular (and funny) sci-fi series.

Cohen co-wrote Ben Stiller's hilarious war comedy "Tropic Thunder." His recent credits also include "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa." He is also working on a "Sherlock Holmes" comedy and "Candy Land."

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Billy Ray to write Columbia's real-life pirate tale

Columbia is prepping a big-screen adventure based on the true story of captain Richard Phillips' capture by four Somali pirates earlier this year, and Billy Ray is pretty much set to write the script. Cool!

I say cool because I dig Ray's work. I really enjoyed his last directorial effort "Breach," and I enjoyed "State of Play" and "Flightplan," which he worked on as a screenwriter. He's now rewriting "Motorcade."

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Ridley Scott to direct 'Red Riding'

Ridley Scott may direct Columbia Pictures' remake of the U.K. miniseries "Red Riding," based on four David Peace novels. Oscar-nominated screenwriter Steven Zaillian is in talks to write the screenplay.

Variety says the series focuses on police corruption surrounding the investigation of the disappearance on a group of young girls. The compressed remake will be set in the U.S. rather than Britain.

The last U.K. miniseries to hit the big screen as a remake was "State of Play," a film I really enjoyed, even though I haven't seen the original series yet.

Scott is currently in post-production on "Robin Hood." He also directed "Body of Lies" and "American Gangster," which Zaillian wrote. Zaillian is working on "Moneyball."

Gary Ross to write and direct 'Venom'

Gary Ross is working out a deal with Columbia to rewrite and possibly direct "Venom," the “Spider-Man” spinoff that's been in development for quite a while already. It's based on one of Spidey's tough villains.

In "Spider-Man 3," Venom was played by Topher Grace, who played Peter Parker's rival and is later transformed into Spidey's opponent after being infected by a nasty alien organism sticking to his skin.

Variety says it is unlikely Grace will return to reprise the role, as the studio is looking to start a potential "Venom" franchise from scratch. In the film, Venom is the antihero turning into a defender of the innocent.

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Michael Mann develops Robert Capa movie

Michael Mann is gearing up to develop a biopic about the life and work of war photographer Robert Capa, with Columbia also jumping on board. The film will be based on the book "Waiting for Robert Capa."

Variety says Jez Butterworth ("Birthday Girl") will adapt Susana Fortes' Spanish novel. Word is the film will also focus on Capa's two-year romance with Gerda Taro, also a renowned photographer.

Capa gained popularity for his work during the Spanish Civil War. Taro was a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany, and she became a famous battle photographer herself.

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