Variety is reporting that they may have just scored their first coup by convincing Bruce Willis to take on the role of Adam “Kane” Marcus, a mercenary who makes an unlikely alliance with a schizophrenic killer named James Lynch. The duo is forced to go on a mission to retrieve a stolen microchip.

The videogame has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide since its launch in November, 2007. Kyle Ward wrote the screenplay adaptation of the game’s story.

If Willis comes on board as expected, the filmmakers will just need to find an actor to play Lynch in order to get shooting underway by the end of the year as they hope.

Askarieh and Alter are also developing Jonny Quest at Warner Bros., Hack/Slash at Rogue, and Spy-Hunter for Universal.”

The Surrogates is set in the near future where humans live in isolation, and, rather than making the effort to step out of doors themselves, interact through surrogate robots who are basically “better-looking versions” of themselves. Willis will play a cop who uses his surrogate to investigate the murders of other surrogates. As the mystery of a conspiracy unfolds he will have to do the unthinkable and actually leave his house for the first time in years in order to solve the crimes.

Rhames will play a charismatic cult figure who disdains the use of surrogates and tries to lead an uprising against the “new world order.”

Also joining the cast is are Australian actress Radha Mitchell (Silent Hill, Finding Neverland, Pitch Black) as Willis’ professional partner, and British thespian Rosamund Pike (Die Another Day, Fracture) as his wife. Ned Vaughn (TV’s Cane and The Unit) also recently joined the cast.

Shooting is scheduled to start in April in Boston for a November 20, 2009 release.

There is also a pretty evil barbershop film being released, and some silly chipmunks. Let’s get into it.

Unbreakable (Blu-Ray)

Bruce Willis can’t be hurt and the way the story unfolds in this dark, barely recognizable superhero tale, is just superb to me. The slow build and discovery is perfectly timed, one of M. Night Shyamalan’s best films.

It’s out on Blu-Ray, and how I wish I had a player. (Amazon)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Seville

A critically acclaimed film from 2007, because of the beautiful sets and amazing singing/acting by Johnny Depp, but it just wasn’t super appealing to me.

Besides the normal version, there is also a two-disc special edition. (Amazon)

John from Cincinnati: Complete First Season

I tried to watch this strange series from HBO, but it was pretty hard to get into and follow. Some interesting actors, like Bruce Greenwood and Luke Perry.

Some people totally dug it, I might have if I’d stuck it out.

More

• Coyote Ugly: Blu-Ray – Pretty girls dancing on bars in high definition. Need I say more?
• Becker: The First Season – Stars Ted Danson, who probably made more for the series than George Costanza
• Alvin & The Chipmunks – Ugh, never, ever will I see this…unless my future child demands it. Even so, I’m more likely to let him watch Die Hard than this helium-fest.

Blu-Ray Releases

• 10.5 Apocalypse: The Complete Miniseries (Echo Bridge)
• Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) (Fox)
• Artie Lange’s Beer League (Echo Bridge)
• Behind The Yellow Line (Celestial)
• Blackbeard (2006) (Echo Bridge)
• Category 7: The End of the World (Echo Bridge)
• Coyote Ugly (Walt Disney)
• The Curse Of King Tut’s Tomb: The Complete Miniseries (Echo Bridge)
• Hidalgo (Walt Disney)
• The Last Sentinel (Echo Bridge)
• Unbreakable (Walt Disney)

It’s called Rescue Dawn and stars Christian Bale as a stranded POW during the Vietnam War. I saw this movie back in July and absolutely loved it. It got a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, which I really like as a good judge of the quality of a movie.

Bale is amazing in this movie and it’s just another notch in his belt for great films.

Live Free and Die Hard

The fourth movie in the Die Hard series was pretty good and worth watching again. While Bruce Willis (John McClane) is the star of the movie, the MAC guy, Justin Long, really steals the movie and is perfect as the goofy sidekick that Willis is trying to protect.

McClane’s daughter becomes an integral part of plot and and she has some great lines. The only downside to this film is the PG-13 rating, which basically mutes the famous final line “Yippee Kiyaay….”

Some other notable releases:

• Charles in Charge, season 2: before Scott Baio became 40 and alone
• Ice Road Truckers, season 1: I heard this was good
• Hudson Hawk – Special Edition: This movie has kind of a cult following, I thought it was okay
• Hairspray (2007): Never saw it, heard it was good

You can see all 300ish DVD releases by following this link.

I have mentioned being a fan of Mostow before because of the work he did in Breakdown and U-571. He also directed Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. The screenplay for The Surrogates, based on a graphic novel by Robert Venditti from Top Shelf Comix, was written by Michael Ferris and John Brancato, who also collaborated with Mostow on T3.

Willis was originally set to star in Pinkville, a drama about the My Lai massacre, for Oliver Stone, but United Artists put that project on hold due to the writer’s strike. Willis moved into this project for Disney. The studio is eyeing a February production start in Boston.

The Surrogates is set in the near future (2054, I believe), where humans live in isolation, and, rather than making the effort to step out of doors themselves, interact through surrogate robots who are basically “better-looking versions” of themselves (yeah, seems like that could be near future). Willis will (once again) play a cop who uses his surrogate (his better half) to investigate the murders of other surrogates. As the mystery of a conspiracy unfolds he will have to do the unthinkable and actually leave his house for the first time in years in order to solve the crimes.

It all sounds pretty darn cool to me. I’m much more excited about the possibilities of this film than I was about the Oliver Stone war drama. I picture it as a cross between Minority Report and Blade Runner although I’ll admit that I haven’t read the comics and really don’t know the first thing about the tone of the story. I will definitely be keeping my eyes on this one.