CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGERThe Los Angeles Times Hero Complex blog has the first clear image of Bucky, as played by Sebastian Stan:

In the accompanying article, director Joe Johnston explains this version of James Barnes is more than just a sidekick. "Sebastian brought something really interesting and slightly on the dark side and really compelling to watch - when he's on camera, you're fascinated by watching him," he says. In the film, Bucky and Steve Rogers are roughly the same age, with Bucky entering the service first. Their friendship changes when Rogers enters the super solider program and becomes Captain America.

Starring Chris Evans, release date: July 22nd, 2011SUPERMAN (BEGINS)The drama begins before cameras even role. According to the New York Daily News (via MTV News), Kristen Stewart turned down the role of Lois Lane and director Zack Snyder is miffed about it. "The source says the intense-eyed actress ... was 'caught off guard' by the success of [the 'Twilight'] franchise and wasn't ready to leap into a similar situation just yet. Instead, the source said, Stewart professed an interest in 'smaller, independent films,'" they write. As for the directors feelings? "Our source says Snyder was left feeling 'slighted' by Stewart and that the awkward beauty had 'wasted his time.'" Ouch. Of course, the whole thing could be a lot of hot air. Their source simultaneously says Snyder did and didn't offer her the role. Also, Stewart's representatives tell People Magazine that "she has not met on this film nor has she been approached for this film." Somewhere in between is the truth ... though I doubt Snyder's feelings were ever hurt.

Release date: 2012?V.I.C.E.Deadline reports that Plantinum Studios and producer Andrew Lazar have picked up Top Cow's "V.I.C.E." for a big screen adaptation. According to the article, the plot involves a group of "hard-core teen felons who join the FBI's Critical Response Unit as a way to clear their records. Their bad attitudes and formidable powers make them as dangerous as the bad guys they pursue." The project will be a joint venture with Top Cow.

Release date: TBATHE AVENGERSSamuel L. Jackson appeared on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" and offered a number of details on Marvel movies, according to our pals at Spinoff Online. "They have this new character that I guess is my sidekick or something that's with me all the time," he said. "So they're auditioning girls for it." Make your guesses as to which S.H.I.E.L.D. agent it could be. He also confirmed that he will cameo in both "Thor" and "Captain America." As the actor put it, "I'm just connective tissue for them to join the Avengers." He expects to shoot both scenes in the next month.

Directed by Joss Whedon & starring everybody, release date: May 4th, 2012THE DARK KNIGHT RISESScreen Junkies attempted to get some DKR skinny from effects supervisor Paul Franklin, but just like director Christopher Nolan, he's pretty tight-lipped. He did offer a few tidbits, like the overall tone of the effects. "We always start something like this trying to keep it as real as possible. We would only ever resort to digital doubles for some stunt moments or things like that. We try to keep them real. That's the way Chris likes to make a film," he said. He also explained that Gotham City gets an overhaul on each film. "We try to keep it different every time. There might be a few things, maybe features of Gotham City that will turn up again to give it some sort of visual continuity. Obviously we'll try and keep some sort of thematic style with that but really, it's a film in its own right."

Release date: July 20th, 2012X-MEN: FIRST CLASSDirector Matthew Vaughn talks with Empire Online about the film. "I've always wanted to do a movie set in the '60s. The difference is that now I have experience. On X3 [which he was at one point set to direct] it was cast and I just had to tell the story. Here we have to recast every role, recreate the '60s - which is not easy - and redesign everything. We've been playing catch-up, but it's working," he says.

Release date: June 3rd, 2011THE WALKING DEADProducer Gale Anne Hurd tells Screen Junkies about some of the material they may explore in second season. "I think there's still a lot more that we can learn from Daryl, the Norman Reedus character. I think that episodes focusing on Lori played by Sarah Wayne Callies, we've got a great triangle between Rick, Laurie and Shane. I have a sneaking suspicion that might be something we're going to explore even more deeply in the new season," she says.Airs: 2011THE CAPEChad Lindberg spoke with The Daily Blam! about his role on the series. "Me and Pruitt Taylor Vince [Goggles] are tech-savvy assassins that are hired by Peter Fleming [James Frain] to bring down the Cape and we discover the Cape's identity. I play a straight up bad guy!" he said. "These are kind of eccentric characters and I'm an oddball anyway. [laughs] They just sort of let me do what I wanted to do and they kept a lot of my funny stuff in there. I'm really excited cause this is unlike anything I've ever done before. I've never played a villain this cold."

Airs: MondaysFRANCO ON FRANCOYou have to respect James Franco. He makes interesting choices as an actor and goes where few people go. Though he started as Harry Osborn in the first "Spider-Man" trilogy, he's gone on to have a very diverse career. From his role in "127 Hours" to his stint on "General Hospital" to staging a dramatic reading of the first three episodes of "Three's Company" at Sundance. Now, Movieline reports that Franco will offer a class at Columbia College Hollywood ... on James Franco. According to the press release, "Academy Award-nominated actor James Franco has partnered with Columbia College Hollywood to offer an innovative course through which 12 of the private film school's best editing students will create a 30 minute documentary film from videographic footage from Mr. Franco's own unorthodox career." There is some brilliance in that. Meanwhile, if any of you in the great, wide Internet discover something awesome, disheartening, or just plain weird, let us know! Take credit, come up with a clever nickname, or go anonymous. The choice is yours. Fresh rumors and movie news every weekday morning. I am Erik Amaya, bracing for the future threat of Franco's next big thing.