Movie News Weekly Digest

AWARDS, ANNOUNCEMENTS
As I'm sure you heard, Whitney Houston died this weekend. RIP.

Rango took home most of the hardware at this year's Annie Awards.

The Art Director's Guild spread some love around to Hugo and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

FEATURES
Cinema Blend reviewed their top 10 Super Bowl commercials.

The New York Times gave us the 50 best uses of songs in movies.

John Williams celebrated his 80th birthday and Empire picked his 80 best pieces of music.

Cinema Blend gives us their 7 favorite film amnesiacs. 

The Hollywood Reporter takes a look at the Star Wars empire and sat down with George Lucas for a brief interview in which he claims Han never shot first. (Trying to stay calm right now.)

NEW PROJECTS, PICK-UPS, and DETAILS
The Wolverine sequel has been slated for July 2013.

Vin Diesel let some news slip regarding the plot of the new Riddick film.

Sony picked up Sundance darling Smashed starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Joseph Gordon Levitt has set up his directorial debut and will work with Scarlett Johansson.

The live-action Jetsons movie is still in production and has hired a new writer.

Johnny Depp will produce a film about Damien Echols, a member of the West Memphis Three.

After a tumultuous pre-production run, Bradley Cooper's Paradise Lost has been dropped by Legendary.

Jon Favreau will direct a pilot for JJ Abrams' Revolution.

Ridley Scott has signed on to helm The Counselor by Cormac McCarthy.

A sequel for X-Men: First Class is in the works as is a reboot for The Fantastic Four (thank God).

CASTING BITS
At first Harrison Ford was in talks to join the Blade Runner sequel...and then he wasn't...and then maybe he is again.

Jane Levy took over Lilly Collin's role in the Evil Dead remake.

Russell Crowe said he was not involved with the Robocop remake.

Michael Biehn signed a 3-picture contract with Aspect Film and all three films will be shot back to back.

Amy Adams will star in and produce An Object of Beauty.

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson will reteam for Shawn Levy's Interns.

Denzel Washington will join Mark Wahlberg in 2 Guns. 

Natalie Portman has jumped on board for not one but two Terrence Malick projects. 

Morgan Freeman will star opposite Tom Cruise in Oblivion. 

Christopher Plummer and Frank Langella will join up for an HBO film about Muhammed Ali. 

Saoirse Ronan has been tapped to star in The Order of the Seven which used to be a Snow White adaptation.

Hailee Steinfeld joins Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo for Can a Song Save Your Life.

Angelina Jolie confirms that her next project will be Malificent, of Sleeping Beauty fame.