1. Marvel might have another TV series in the works
We're less than a week away from the long-awaited premiere of ABC's irritatingly punctuated Avengers spin-off Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but according to The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel already has its sights set on a second TV series set in its popular superheroic universe. Agent Carter — a TV series based on the exploits of Peggy Carter, a character last seen in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger — is in the very, very early stage of development, though neither the show's stars nor its network have been confirmed yet. If Marvel keeps going down this road, fans can probably expect even more TV shows based on peripheral Marvel characters in the years to come. (We're crossing out fingers for Galaga Guy.) [The Hollywood Reporter]
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2. There's a J.D. Salinger biopic on the way
Today in news J.D. Salinger would have hated: The phonies at The Weinstein Company are in the early stages of developing a narrative feature film based on the life of the reclusive author. Entertainment Weekly reports that the as-yet-untitled biopic would focus on Salinger's life between World War II and the 1951 release of The Catcher in the Rye — conveniently ending right before he retreated from the world to prevent things like a J.D. Salinger movie from happening. [Entertainment Weekly]
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3. The stars of The Big Bang Theory want more money
The Big Bang Theory has turned its wildly successful "nerds saying nerdy stuff" formula into the highest-rated scripted comedy on television, but its poor deprived stars are making a mere six figures — and according to The Hollywood Reporter, they've decided it's time to cash in. Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, and Kaley Cuoco are reportedly seeking a pay increase from $325,000 to $1 million per episode to return for the show's eighth season — a raise that would make them as powerful in the TV business as Superman while basking in the yellow sun (cue overlong laugh track). [The Hollywood Reporter]
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4. Kelsey Grammer might star in The Expendables 3
When you think about a tough, beefy actor who could stand up to the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, who comes to mind? If you said Frasier star Kelsey Grammer, congratulations! You're completely insane — but you're also correct. According to Deadline, Grammer is in talks to play an ex-mercenary who teams up with the eponymous Expendables in the upcoming Expendables 3. The report adds that Grammer has supplanted Nicolas Cage, who was originally tapped for the role — unless he and Grammer switched faces and it's really Cage after all. [Deadline]
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5. Jeff Bridges wasn't big on R.I.P.D. either
Universal's R.I.P.D. was one of the biggest flops of the summer, grossing a terrible $68 million worldwide on a $130 million budget and earning a scathing 14 percent positive reviews on aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. If you were one of the many who was disappointed in the supernatural blockbuster, you're in good company: Jeff Bridges, the film's star, was similarly unimpressed by it. "When I saw it, I was a little underwhelmed," said Bridges in an interview with GQ. "For my mind, the studio made some, uh, choices I wouldn't have made" — like, say, failing to promote the movie as Men in Black 4. [GQ]
