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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Movie Review: “Pirate Radio”

Seen on: November 5, 2009

The players: Director: Richard Curtis, Writer: Richard Curtis, Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh

Facts of interest: Richard Curtis also directed "Love, Actually."

The plot: A group of radio pirates broadcast rock 'n' roll from a boat in the North Atlantic while the British government tries to shut them down.

Our thoughts: Board Richard Curtis’ new comedy “Pirate Radio” (formerly “The Boat That Rocked”), and you’re in for more than two hours of great rock ‘n’ roll and fabulous acting performances. The film is by no means perfect, but I admit it’s definitely not as terrible as some critics out there made it out to be.

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Teaser for 'Nanny McPhee' sequel hits

A first teaser trailer for Susanna White's upcoming sequel "Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang" has debuted on the Web earlier today, and you can check it out after the jump. It's short, so don't expect much.

In the follow-up to the 2005 family flick, Emma Thompson returns as the strict nanny who uses magic to get energetic kids under control and battle a villain while she's at it. The film opens in 2010.

As you can see below, the teaser is short and doesn't give us much story. It does gives us flying pigs though, and to be honest, that's not exactly stunning. I hope the "Big Bang" has more in store for us.

That said, count me among those who highly enjoyed the first film. It was goofy and fun, heartfelt and innovative, and it's something I can easily watch again. Plus, Emma Thompson is great, as usual.

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Daily news dose: Iliadis to direct 'Cure;' three more join 'Greenberg'

Here's your dose of film news for March 13, 2009:

• Dennis Iliadis, director of "The Last House on the Left," is set to helm "Cure," a thriller centering on a woman who undergoes a special treatment that cures her terminal illness but infects her with something horrific. Beau Michael Thorne wrote the script. (Variety)

• Joe Stillman is set to write "Alien Zoo," a family comedy Variety describes as a "Jurassic Park" with aliens. The film will mix live-action and CGI. Stillman's writing credits include "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America," the first two "Shrek" flicks and the upcoming animated film "Planet 51."

• Blackfilm.com reports Columbus Short will join the cast of Sylvain White's big-screen adaptation of the DC-Vertigo comic book “The Losers." The story follows a team of black ops commandos trying to survive are after learning their own government has planned to kill them.

• Rhys Ifans, Brie Larson and Juno Temple have boarded Noah Baumbach's "Greenberg." Ben Stiller is also on board. Stiller plays a man who moves to Los Angeles, where he ends up having a relationship with his brother's assistant (Greta Gerwig). (Variety)

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Ifans, Thewlis board ‘Mr. Nice’

Rhys Ifans, Chloë Sevigny and David Thewlis are in talks to star in Bernard Rose’s adaptation of Howard Marks’ autobiography “Mr. Nice.”

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the plot focuses on an Oxford graduate and teacher (Ifans) who becomes a drug smuggler to impress his wife (Sevigny) but quickly ends up on Britain’s list of most-wanted criminals.

While seeking help from an Irish Republican Army boss (Thewlis), a British spy offers him a job as informant.

Ifans, who recently starred in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” will next be seen in Gregor Jordan’s “The Informers,” followed by Jaco van Dormael’s “Mr. Nobody.”

Sevigny’s big-screen credits include “Melinda and Melinda,” “Broken Flowers” and “Zodiac.” She’s also known for her role as Nicolette Grant on TV’s ”Big Love.”

As for Thewlis, he’ll return as Remus Lupin in David Yates’ “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”