Spider-Man has found a new face to wear beneath the mask! Andrew Garfield has been cast as the new Peter Parker and Spidey in the next installment of the Marvel super franchise. Along with Disney and Columbia Pictures, Marvel welcomes in the twenty-six year old, who replaces the former title-holder, Tobey Maguire. It’s been 5 months since Tobey got the boot (the web?) with reportedly just 2 years until “A.G.” makes his debut in theaters, with the latest Spider-Man film to launch July 3rd, 2012 – in Spidey-Sense 3D, of course. Filming begins later this year, written by James Vanderbilt and directed by the appropriately named Marc Webb.

“Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor’s work understand his extraordinary talents,” Marc Webb said. “He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit, and humanity. Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker.”

Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation have begun shooting principle photography in New York City for their upcoming live action and CG hybrid film, the Smurfs. The film, which is set to hit theaters on August 3rd of 2011, is based on the popular Peyo characters which dominated Saturday Morning cartons in the early 1980s. The film is written by J. David Stem, David N. Weiss, Jay Scherick, David Ronn, and features the on-screen talents of Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Sofia Vergara, and Hank Azaria as Gargamel. The voice cast includes Anton Yelchin as Clumsy Smurf, Jonathan Winters as Papa Smurf, Katy Perry as Smurfette, Alan Cumming as Gutsy Smurf, Fred Armisen as Brainy Smurf, and George Lopez as Grouchy Smurf filling the roles of the little blue characters, rendered by Sony Pictures Imageworks.

The Best Animated Feature for the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards will be boosted to 5 contenders this year, 2 more than in previous years. Why? Because toons are awesome and we are taking over!! Well, that, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association decided it’d be so. But I like my reasoning better. The films must be 70 minutes or longer, and at least 75% digital, so Transformers wouldn’t count. The Golden Globe Award will be handed out on Sunday, January 17th at 8pm to one of the following 5 finalists:

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation; Sony Pictures Releasing

Coraline
Laika, Inc.; Focus Features

Fantastic Mr. Fox
American Empirical Picture; Twentieth Century Fox

The Princess and the Frog
Walt Disney Pictures; Walt Disney Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

UP
Walt Disney Pictures / PIXAR Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

It’s been a few summers since we’ve had a new Spider-Man movie on the big screen. Last we saw him, the Web Slinger was battling the Sandman and Venom across the Manhattan skyline. A frightening villian team-up. Now, Columbia Pictures, Sony, and Marvel Comics are forming a team-up of their own, but this time to help Spidey! On May 5th, 2011, the pair will simultaneously release the fourth Spider-Man film in theaters and Imax theaters across the globe. Spider-Man 4 will feature Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, returning as Spider-Man and Mary Jane, and at least one not-yet-named villain. Can’t wait!

We’re now being treated to the very first look at a CG Smurf via the teaser image for the upcoming Sony Pictures Animation and Columbia Pictures film. Opening in theaters on December 17th, 2010, the Smurfs Movie will be directed by Raja Gosnell, taking the 1958 Peyo creation to the big screen in 3D animated style. The look is similar to the 1980s Hanna-Barbera toon that brought the name to fame, but with noticeable more detail in the design. What do you guys think?

After a long search, Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation have finally found the director for their upcoming film, the Smurfs. Raja Gosnell, whose previously films include Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Scooby-Doo, will be in charge of the mixed live-action and CG animated Smurfs film, based on those little blue guys Peyo created 50 years ago. As previously reported, the movie will be released in both 2D and 3D, so check your local theater to see which they’ll have — or, at least do that when the movie is actually IN theaters, expected December 17th, 2010.

Even after passing their 50th anniversary, the Smurfs are still kicking! The Smurfs movie ToonBarn reported earlier, a mixed CG and live-action film by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation, will also now be a 3D adventure. The movie’s official release date, as of now, is December 17th, 2010 – 52 years after Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford (Peyo) created the little blue guys. Now smurf to the big screen!

They may be turning 50, but that doesn’t mean they’re done yet!  The original series is already on DVD, but Sony Pictures Entertainment is hard at work,  developing a mixed live-action/animated Smurfs movie for theatrical release.  The film is being produced by Columbia Pictures and the folks that brought Charlotte’s Web and Shrek 2 / Shrek 3 to the big screen.