I wondered when watching Crazy Stupid Love whether during the editing of the movie, it had become more about Ryan Golsing and Emma Stone than it had been in the original script, in order to make the most of their chemistry. Now it seems the film’s directors, Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, want to continue that chemistry, as they’re trying to get the duo to team up again for their new film, Focus.

Deadline reports that Warner Bros. picked up the directors’ script, which is about a con artist who teaches a new grifter the tricks of the trade, before they become romantically involved. Their paths then cross again in the future, which complicates both their lives.

No offers have been issued to either actor yet, but the hope is they will indeed agree to make the film and they have shown interest.

With Iron Man 3 due to start shooting next month, you’d have expected to hear more about new cast members by now, but it appears with all eyes on The Avengers, things are only starting to happen now. The film did sign up Ben Kingsley a couple weeks ago and has now added another new actor, as Variety reports Guy Pearce is in final negotiations to join the cast.

The actor will portray geneticist Aldrich Killian, who created the Extremis technology which will play an important part in the sequel. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) adopts the technology after Killian sells it to some terrorists. The story will follow the spread of a virus through nanotechnology, which Tony Stark tries to stop. Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), and Don Cheadle (James Rhodes) will reprise their roles from Iron Man 2, with Kingsley portraying the villain.

Production is scheduled to start next month in North Carolina, with Shane Black directing from a screenplay by Drew Pearce.

Disney may have lost its studio chief yesterday when Rich Ross resigned, but it’s business as usual as the studio has just acquired the spec screenplay Ground Control to Major Tom by Jason A. Micallef (Butter).

Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses) is attached to direct the romantic comedy. No plot details are known, and despite the title being one of the lyrics of David Bowie’s Space Oddity, it isn’t clear how the script relates to the song, if at all. The song is about a fictional astronaut named Major Tom, although it isn’t known if astronauts or outer space figure into the plot of this project, and it hasn’t been suggested the script is a director ‘adaptation’ of the song.

Seth Gordon is directing Identity Thief next, which starts shooting on Monday, so it’ll be a while until he gets round to this one. (Source: Deadline)

Jaden Smith had a big hit with The Karate Kid and after that Hollywood was falling over itself to offer him roles. However he’s taken his time to make sure he goes for exactly the right part, so that his first film following Karate Kid doesn’t arrive until next year, when he teams up with father Will for After Earth.

It appears he may now have the role he’ll play following After Earth, as Variety reports that Sony Pictures has acquired the rights to Allen Zadoff’s young adult novel Boy Nobody, setting it up as a starring vehicle for Jaden. The book is about a teenage assassin (Smith) who has been programmed not to feel any emotions. However his life becomes more complicated when he finally starts to feel once again. As you’ve probably already guessed, the character is described as a teenage Jason Bourne.

No producers or screenwriters have been attached to the project yet, which is viewed as the first part of a franchise, with Allen Zadoff already planning two more books featuring the character.

Although it seems there’s endless talk about making a film about Joni Mitchell, there’s never been a really good biopic about the singer. However it appears Taylor Swift is hoping to change that, as Variety reports that the country singer hopes to play Mitchell in Girls Like Us, an adaptation of Sheila Weller’s book of the same name.

The book looks at the musical careers of Carole King, Carly Simon, and Joni Mitchell. The actress does not have an official offer yet but has been linked to the role for a while, while Alison Pill has auditioned to play Carole King.

Katie Jacobs, who’s best known as an executive producer on House, will direct from a screenplay by John Sayles. The project doesn’t have the official greenlight yet, but production is expected to start later this year.

While Swift had a small role in Valentine’s Day and voiced a part in The Lorax, she’s been looking for a decent lead role to really launch her film career and hopes Girls Like Us will be it.