Dennis Hopper died Saturday morning in Los Angeles after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 74.

In a career spanning over 50 years, Hopper appeared in over 100 films, including cult classics "Easy Rider," "Apocolypse Now" and "Blue Velvet."

Peter Fonda, Hopper's friend and co-star in "Easy Rider" wrote:

“Dennis introduced me to the world of Pop Art and ‘lost’ films. We rode the highways of America and changed the way movies were made in Hollywood. I was blessed by his passion and friendship.”

Gene Hackman, who co-starred with Hopper in the sports classic "Hoosiers" said in a statement:

”As an actor, one is always taken by someone who is different. An iconoclast, Dennis was an artist and I will always treasure having worked with him. He will be missed.”

Isabella Rossellini, who appeared with Hopper in David Lynch's cult favorite, "Blue Velvet" wrote:

“When I first met Dennis on the set of Blue Velvet, he had just come out of rehab. I was afraid of him, but Dennis turned out to be infinitely kind, compassionate and understanding. He had gone to hell and came back from it with great wisdom. It will take me a while to realize and accept he isn’t with us any longer.”

Hopper died at his home in Venice, CA. He was surrounded by friends and family.

After the release of "Baghead," people weren't quite sure what to expect from writer/directors Jay and Mark Duplass. Their previous effort, "Puffy Chair," was a brilliant combination of lo-fi humor and careening romance while "Baghead" found the Duplass brothers almost struggling with a cautionary tale.

But with "Cyrus", fans of the indie duo can rest assure: the Duplass brothers are back, perhaps in a big way.

One of the brightest films at this year's Sundance, "Cyrus" stars John C. Reilly as a middle-aged loner who meets the woman of his dreams (Marisa Tomei). Only thing is--her twenty-something son, played by Jonah Hill, has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Fox Searchlight will release "Cyrus" (limited) on June 18.

Watch trailer:

"The Hobbit" is still on hold, according to director Guillermo del Toro.

During a recent telephone press conference for "Splice", del Toro said the New Line-Tolkien pics remain in limbo until the MGM financial crisis is resolved.

"It's not greenlit," he told reporters. "That's categorical. We've been caught in a very tangled negotiation. There cannot be any start dates until the MGM situation gets resolved. They do hold a considerable portion of the rights."

Del Toro added, "We have designed all the creatures. We've designed the sets and the wardrobe. We have done animatics and planned battles sequences.... We are very, very prepared for when it is finally triggered."

Back in March, thesp Ian McKellan wrote on his own website that "The Hobbit" films would begin shooting in July, an assertion that New Line later denied.

New Line shares financing rights with MGM/UA, which bought the original rights in 1969. MGM could potentially sell those rights as part of the Lion's restructuring.

Del Toro also revealed that, as of now, the "Hobbit" team had not been planning on a 3D production.

"3D has been discussed literally once in the room," he notes. "The budget and the schedule and everything that we are handling – the cost of the film, the number of days it would take to shoot – is being handled right now without looking towards 3D. Is there a chance it will become 3D in the future? Maybe. Right now, it’s not being planned as such."

Based on the JRR Tolkien novel, "The Hobbit" films are being exec produced by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh with MGM and New Line co-financing. Story follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, who obtains the ring that was the centerpiece for "The Lord of the Rings."

Disney has front loaded its release date for "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," moving the pic to  Wednesday, July 14.

Originally skedded for release July 16, the Mouse House said the mid-week bow should help boost the pic's opening take. Disney screened "Apprentice" with enthusiastic reactions.

"Apprentice" reunites thesp Nicolas Cage with "National Treasure" director Jon Turteltaub. Pic tells the story of master sorcerer Balthazar Blake (Cage), who trains an average guy as his apprentice, played by Jay Baruchel, to help defend New York. Alfred Molina and Monica Bellucci co-star.

Jerry Bruckheimer, whose "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" for Disney opens this weekend, produces.

"Apprentice" will go up against Warner Bros.' Christopher Nolan-directed "Inception," which launches July 16.

Universal has created a detailed look at the reconstruction of New York Street, which was all but destroyed by an electrical fire in the summer of 2008.

In a video shot by Universal and narrated by topper Ron Meyer, Steven Spielberg and other industry vets discuss the multi-million dollar "Phoenix" Project which aimed at rebuilding Universal's infamous production space that was home to such films as "Back to the Future," "The Sting" and "Blues Brothers."

In addition to burning down New York Street and Universal Studios' King Kong ride, the 2008 fire also destroyed nearly 100% of the studio's archived prints. The Courthouse from "Back to the Future" was also lost.

Investigators concluded that the fire was caused by workers repairing a roof on one of the lot's faux streetscapes.

Watch video below:

EW is reporting that thesp Emma Roberts will play one of the heroines in Wes Craven's "Scream 4."

"I'm so excited to be part of this ground-breaking franchise," says Roberts, who most recently appeared in "Valentine's Day" and can be seen in the upcoming Schumacher pic "Twelve." "It's the perfect opportunity for me to do something completely different than I've ever done before."

The "Scream" franchise has grossed over $500 million to date and helped revitalize the suburban horror genre in the late 90s. 

Roberts joins a cast which already includes "Scream" vets Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette.

Dimension Films will release the horror sequel on April 15, 2011.

Captain America may have found its General Chester Phillips, this according to AintItCool News.

In a recent LeicesterSquareTV interview (below), actress Hayley Atwell says that she's looking forward to working with Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan in "The First Avenger: Captain America," as well as Tommy Lee Jones, who was not publicly attached to the Joe Johnston-helmed pic.

The Tommy Lee reveal begins at 2:22 in the video below.

MAY 27, 2010—Village Roadshow Pictures Group ("VRPG") today closed a $1 billion film finance credit facility to finance its current and future slate of motion pictures.

 JPMorgan Chase and Rabobank acted as joint syndication agents and, with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, are co-bookrunners and co-lead arrangers.

Said Greg Basser, Chief Executive Officer of Village Roadshow Entertainment Group ("VREG"), the parent of VRPG and Concord Music Group, "At a time when capital is at a premium, we’ve managed to attract the confidence of a diverse group of investors and secure significant financing. We are grateful to all involved with the close of this deal and to our unwavering partners at Warner Bros."

Since its formation in 1997, VRPG has been one of the industry’s leading financiers and producers of studio released motion pictures, amassing a library of 65 films, 61 of which have been released in partnership with Warner Bros. – representing the studio’s longest continuous relationship with an independent film financing and production company.

Said Bruce Berman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VRP: "We are in the business of making movies. This new financing enables us to expand upon the solid foundation we’ve established within the industry and grow our slate of tentpole and star-driven films."

"We have had a long, successful relationship with Village Roadshow, and are very pleased they will continue to be our partners in making great movies," added Barry Meyer, Chairman and CEO and Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. Entertainment.

As it has throughout its partnership with Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures will continue to co-finance and co-produce high caliber, star driven films such as today’s release of Sex And The City 2 and recent blockbuster hits Sherlock Holmes, and Gran Torino and the Academy Award animated picture winner, Happy Feet. Village Roadshow Limited Chief Executive Officer, Graham Burke said, "VRL is committed to VREG and our joint ventures with Warner Bros.

This is a unique partnership established in 1971 and marked by success in distribution, theme parks, and a pictures group that has released 65 films and grossed $10 billion in box office results to date. It is a great alliance and our best years are ahead." The facility, first established in 1997, is earmarked, among other projects, for the financing and production of Sex and the City 2, Cats and Dogs 2 in 3D, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’hoole, in 3D, and Life As We Know It starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel slated for 2010 as well as Happy Feet 2 in 3D slated for 2011.