Cate Blanchett is in talks to join Disney’s live-action Cinderella movie. The Oscar-winning actress is circling the role of the Evil Stepmother in the film, to be directed by Mark Romanek (Never Let Me Go). The titular role has yet to be cast. [TheWrap]

Director Bryan Singer tweeted that Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen will reprise their roles as Professor Xavier and Magneto, respectively, in X-Men: Days of Future Past. While no one knows exactly how these characters will be utilized in the sequel to the X-Men prequel, it’s safe to assume that they will share screen time with their First Class counterparts, played by James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender. [Twitter]

First, it was reported that Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg were signed to write and produce Episodes VIII and IX in the new Star Wars trilogy. Now, it looks like the scribes will pen Star Wars spin-offs instead. According to THR, who originally reported the writers’ involvement in the new trilogy, “[the] scripts could turn into official ‘Episodes’ in the main Skywalker storyline, or they could form the basis for spinoffs focusing on side characters.” This story seems to confirm that the new trilogy will center on the Skywalkers. [The Hollywood Reporter]

Speaking of Star Wars, Safety Not Guaranteed director Colin Trevorrow was rumored to be in contention for directing one of the new films. Now, the director and his Safety writer Derek Connolly have signed on to rewrite the remake of Disney’s Flight of the Navigator. The 1986 original centers on a boy goes missing who returns to his family 8 years later. The catch? He hasn’t aged a day. Trevorrow may also direct the remake. [Variety]

Joe Carnahan is trading in the wolves from The Grey for vampires. The writer-director is in talks to helm and rewrite the script for Undying Love, based on the popular graphic novel. Warner Bros. will release the film, which revolves around a former soldier who falls in love with a girl who happens to be a vampire. In order to be with her, the soldier must battle the man who sired her: A Hong Kong crime lord protected by hired killers. So it’s a comedy, clearly. [Deadline]

Lots of news to discuss here, movie fans. That’s your cue to drop some comments below. Also, watch the trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey below.

Someone forgot to tell Hollywood to shut down for the holiday.

The news cycle was in overdrive on Tuesday, providing updates on two of the biggest franchises out there – The Hunger Games and Star Wars.

So puff on your inhalers, movie nerds – this S is about to get R.

1. Disney Finds Writers for 2 Star Wars Sequels

There was a great disturbance in The Force on Tuesday, when The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Simon Kinberg and Lawrence Kasdan will write and produce Episodes VIII and IX.

Celebuzz has the full story - Click here for more details!

2. First Poster for Hunger Games: Catching Fire Revealed

Like the first Hunger Games movie before it, Lionsgate has released a motion poster unveiling the title treatment and logo for Catching Fire.

The much-anticipated sequel, starring Jennifer Lawrence as archer Katniss Everdeen, hits theaters November 22, 2013.

Click here to see the poster in action!

3. Man of Steel: New Trailer Announced

On December 14, Superman fans can expect a new trailer for Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel to run before prints of The Hobbit.

The Watchmen director confirmed the trailer’s release to MTV News on Tuesday, saying that he can’t wait for audiences to see “our crazy Man of Steel trailer”.

The trailer will be attached to both 2D and 3D prints of The Hobbit. The second Superman reboot in less than ten years, starring Henry Cavill as the popular DC hero, arrives June 14, 2013.

4. Fox Shuts Down Plans for Independence Day 3D

Those wanting to see Jeff Goldblum stop an alien invasion with a 1996 PowerBook, in 3D, are going to be disappointed.

Exhibitor Relations took to Twitter on Tuesday to report that 20^th Century Fox will no longer re-release Independence Day in 3D.

The post-converted project was scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 3, 2013, but it seems that the studio has changed their mind.

No specific reason for the cancellation was given, but Celebuzz will keep you updated as soon as word comes in.

5. Watch the New Trailer for Epic

Blue Sky Studios (Ice Age) released a new trailer Tuesday for their next animated title, Epic.

The film, described as Avatar by way of Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, centers on a shrunken girl (voiced by Amanda Seyfried) who is forced into a forest battle between Leafmen and their enemies.

Hunger Games’ Josh Hutcherson also lends his voice. Epic is scheduled for release May 14, 2013. Watch the trailer via YouTube below!

Star Wars and Hunger Games enthusiasts? Two things: Weigh in on the above stories in the comments section, and watch Celebuzz’ interview with Katniss herself below! 

Lucasfilm and Disney have secured Toy Story 3’s Michael Arndt to write Star Wars: Episode VII, and now they’re looking at two more writers to pen the rest of the trilogy.

The Hollywood Reporter claims that Simon Kinberg and Lawrence Kasdan have locked deals to “write and produce Episodes VIII and IX.”

No one knows who will write which film, or if they’ll do one or both as a team.

The goal is to have Kinberg and Kasdan work on the scripts while Arndt writes Episode VII, so that the next installments can be ready for release in 2017 and 2019, respectively.

Having Kasdan in the running is welcome news for Star Wars fans; he wrote The Empire Strikes Back, which is considered to be the best of the Star Wars films.

Kinberg is no stranger to writing big franchise fare. The Mr. and Mrs. Smith scribe helped bring 2009’s Sherlock Holmes to the big screen, as well as 2011’s X-Men: First Class.

The first film in the new trilogy is scheduled to arrive in theaters in 2015.

On a scale from 9 to 10, how excited are you for the new batch of Star Wars films? Tell us all about it in the comments below! And if you can’t wait till 2015 to get your Star Wars fix, check out the trailer for The Phantom Menace.