Check out what’s currently making waves online with our up-to-the-minute Scoop This:

So What’s the Deal with Pirates of the Caribbean 4?

Actually, we’re glad you asked. British comedian Russell Brand (remember the foul-mouthed rocker from Forgetting Sarah Marshall?) spoke to Access Hollywood recently about rumors that he was up for a part in the much buzzed-about (ie: will it ever happen?) Pirates sequel. Brand says, “There’s been some talk of doing a ‘Pirates’ movie. But, I’ve got eight other things to do [including] Get Him to The Greek with Judd Apatow… So I don’t know if there’ll be time to be a pirate, I’ve got enough of that in me private life.” So long as he’s not replacing Johnny Depp, we’d be down for a scoop or two of Brand’s absurd humor – that’s if the film ever gets off the ground in time to make its potential 2012 release date.

Has Marvel Chosen Their Thor?

Considering the popularity of Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, Marvel seems to be on a roll when it comes to the new hip, slick superhero movies currently dominating the summer multiplex and the online movie news world. Next up for them is a big-budgeted Thor movie (due in theaters on July 16, 2010), which is a bit different than those other comic book movies because Thor most likely won’t be played by an A-lister, and the character isn’t as well known as, say, Batman, Superman or Spider-Man.

That said, it’s still a very hot property, and if Latino Review is correct, Marvel may have found their new Thor in Alexander Skarsgård, whom you may know from HBO shows like True Blood and Generation Kill. Supposedly Thor director Kenneth Branagh and Skarsgård were spotted having lunch together in Los Angeles … and, well, lunch in Hollywood is never about the food.

Is It Time for a New Batman?

Speaking of superheroes, word out of Australia has pegged Sam Worthington to replace Christian Bale as Batman in the next installment (aka the most anticipated sequel in the history of sequels – and if you don’t agree, go play with your broken Green Lantern action figure and leave us alone!). Of course there’s a very good chance this is absolutely false, but don’t tell Australia’s Herald Sun that since they’re the ones who made it up published the rumor.

Rumor claims Warner Bros. might want to go in a different direction for their next Batman after Christian Bale’s widely publicized tirade kinda tarnished his rep a bit. Worthington, though not very hot at the moment, is poised to have a big 2009 with starring roles alongside Bale in Terminator Salvation and James Cameron’s Avatar.

Here’s a question: On a scale of 1-10, how upset would you be if Bale was replaced in the next Batman movie (with 1 being “Eh, I’m not upset at all”, and 10 being “Holy crap – I’m gonna kill someone!)?