J.J. Abrams: He may be focusing on completing Star Wars: The Force Awakens for release next year, but J.J. Abrams has multiple irons in the fire, including a mystery science fiction movie. Sony Pictures is acquiring the top-secret project, which is reported to have something to do with extraterrestrials; Chris Alender will make his feature directorial debut. [Deadline]
Steve Jobs: Michael Fassbender is now confirmed to star as Steve Jobs in the upcoming but still-untitled movie about the Apple cofounder, written by Aaron Sorkin and to be directed by Danny Boyle. Jeff Daniels, who starred in Sorkin's HBO series The Newsroom, is under consideration to play Apple exec John Sculley, while the search for a female lead to play an Apple marketing exec continues after Natalie Portman passed on the role. [The Wrap]
Minecraft: The video game adaptation now needs a director. Shawn Levy (Real Steel; Night at the Museum 3: Secret of the Tomb), who was developing the uber-popular computer game for the big screen, has left the project. Reportedly he and writers Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney presented their idea for the movie but "it didn’t mesh with what the video game developers were looking for." Warner Bros. will start over with a new director. [Variety]
Kingsman: The Secret Service Trailer: A new trailer for Kingsman: The Secret Service looks insanely kinetic. Colin Firth stars as a British spy who recruits a new young agent -- and then things get crazy! Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Caine lead the supporting cast; the movie is due in theaters on February 13. [YouTube]
