MTV caught up with Kristen on the set of Party Down to talk about the Veronica Mars movie.

Astro Boy ran out of dough last month, but now Nicolas Cage’s animated robot movie has returned to production with plans to hit theaters in October.

Created by Osamu Tezuka in the mid-’60s, the Japanese TV character gets a shot at the big screen, thanks to an infusion of $25 million rounded up from new investors by Imagi Entertainment, according to Variety.

Cage heads the voice cast, which also includes Bill Nighy, Freddie Highmore, Eugene Levy, Donald Sutherland and Kristen Bell.

source: blog.wired.com

A movie version of the cancelled television series Veronica Mars is, it seems, much more than just another fan fever dream. Speaking to EW show creator Rob Thomas revealed that he’s preparing to pitch the movie to Warner Bros. and producer Joel Silver within the next week or two.

The television version first debuted on the now defunct UPN network back in 2004. It carried over to UPN’s successor, the CW network where it was cancelled in May of 2007. The show starred Kristen Bell as Veronica Mars, a high school student (and later college student) who moonlights as a private detective under the tutelage of her detective father.

Thomas has a few more plot details to work out, but EW says the movie version will involve the fem detective in solving a crime at college. This conflicts somewhat with statements made by Thomas last month when he said he was considering a movie which would start with Veronica’s college graduation.

For now the plot is not important. Focus people. We’ll get to that later. A Veronica Mars movie may actually happen. It’s rare that a cancelled television series gets any kind of second life, let alone one as a major movie franchise. Of course once Thomas makes his pitch they may say no, but at least for now there’s hope.

source: cinemablend.com

The “Veronica Mars” and Forgetting Sarah Marshall hottie Kristen Bell took some time from her busy schedule (right after an audition �€“ she wouldn’t say for what) to chat about her new film, Fanboys. She plays Zoe, the rare female diehard Star Wars fan, who joins her buddies in an attempt to break into Skywalker Ranch so their terminally ill comrade can watch Episode I before its release.

As she pauses to scarf down her vegetarian lunch, we touch on topics ranging from her fave Star Wars character to her upcoming projects, including Astro Boy and a possible Veronica Mars movie.

Fandango: What was it about Fanboys that brought you on board?
Bell: It was so fun and quirky�€”a legitimate love letter to Star Wars fans, and there were so many obscure references that subculture would enjoy. It was just about time that a movie like that was made.

Fandango: How did diehard fans react while Fanboys was filming?
Bell: The cool thing was, they all came out of the woodwork to help with props, set and costumes because it’s part of the culture to make your own costume. It was high-end stuff, like pouring the plastic, making the Jedi costumes�€”the real deal. They drove to where we were�€”shooting in Albuquerque�€”to let us use the costumes, which I thought was amazing and so supportive

Fandango: Besides re-watching the Star Wars films, did you do anything else for preparation, like meet George Lucas or tour Skywalker Ranch?
Bell: No, I wish. The director had some contact with George �€“ I mean, Mr. Lucas. He was really, really kind because Skywalker Sound mixed it for us. We got to use all the real Wookie and Chewbacca sounds from their archives.

Fanboys Fandango: Any scenes that didn’t quite go as planned?
Bell: None of the scenes with four boys in it really ever go as planned, but they were all a lot of fun! I think the after-hours were even more fun than shooting. I remember they turned my entire room upside down at one point because they had gotten a key. The bed, the desk, all the shampoo bottles, shoes �€“ everything was completely upside down. They’re all absolutely hysterical.

Fandango: Who’s your favorite Star Wars character?
Bell: I like Chewie because he looks so cuddly. It makes me want to jump into his arms.

Fandango: Your �€œHereos�€� friend Zachary Quinto is in the upcoming Star Trek movie. Did you have any debates on Star Wars fans versus the Trekkies?
Bell: Oh no! I didn’t even think about it! Do we have to stop being friends now? Maybe we�€™ll once and for all settle the debate and get Star Wars fans and Trekkies to finally unite and just be friends. Between Zach and I, it’ll all be water under the bridge, so hopefully they’ll follow our lead.

Fandango: There are fans voting online that they want you resurrected on “Heroes.” What do you miss most about the show?
Bell: That’s so nice! I miss the people and the stunts. It’s really fun to go to work and have blood splattered all over you. It makes you feel like you’re a mob boss or a gangster. There’s something really dorky and cool about it.

Fandango: You’ve got the animated Astro Boy coming up�€”what was it like voice acting and which character do you play?
Bell: Astro Boy was really fun because I’ve always dreamed of being a cartoon voice. I play a girl named Cora who Astro hooks up with toward the beginning of the film. They become best friends, then get into a turbulent relationship when they find out that he’s actually Astro Boy.

Fandango: Are you down for a possible Veronica Mars movie?
Bell: I’m really excited about the prospect of a Veronica Mars movie because we’ve been talking about it for so long. If they write it, I’ll do it. Absolutely.

Fandango: What’s one of your favorite vegetarian dishes?
Bell: Can you hear me eating? [Laughs] I’ve been really into using the crock pot lately, which is amazing because you can put anything fresh or frozen in there and it cooks for 10 hours and you have a stew. It’s fantastic! I actually cooked meat for the first time the other day. I made a dish that was somehow fried chicken with Italian dressing and A1 sauce. It was so weird and the reviews were stellar�€”I made it for my roommates and they really liked it. [Laughs] I didn’t eat it, but I figure it’s about time I learned to cook it.

Fandango: Do you find yourself getting recognized a lot more in public?
Bell: I think I have one of those faces where people think, if they do know me, they think I might just be friends with their sister. I don’t have that much of a problem with it and I�€™m thankful for that.

Kristen was on Craig Ferguson last night and here’s the video from it! I’ll try to have some screencaptures up shortly!:

If the phrases “scruffy-looking nerf herder,” “stay on target” and “I thought they smelled bad on the outside” have special meaning for you, there’s a good chance that the film “Fanboys” will, too.

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Set in the suburban Midwest of 1998, “Fanboys” follows a group of obsessive “Star Wars” fans who hit the road to the San Francisco Bay Area with a plot to break into George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch and attempt to steal an unreleased copy of “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace.”

“Fanboys” is directed by Kyle Newman and stars Jay Baruchel (the least-narcissistic character from “Tropic Thunder” and the goofy boxer Danger in “Million Dollar Baby”), Sam Huntington (TV’s “Cavemen”), Chris Marquette (TV’s “Joan of Arcadia”), Dan Fogler (“Balls of Fury”) and “Gossip Girl” Kristen Bell (the title character in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”).

Cameos from Seth Rogen, William Shatner, Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian in “Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back”) and original Princess Leia Carrie Fisher add to the self-deprecating fun.

We checked in with Bell, 28, who plays Zoe, the fanboys’ only friend who happens to be a girl. By e-mail, she shared some of her thoughts about the new film, as well as the mojo of “Star Wars” character Chewbacca the mighty Wookiee.

Q: At what point did it occur to you that you wanted to act in this film?

A: I first met Kyle, the director, who was, for lack of a better word, “geeked” about the script. After reading it, I thought it was so special and pretty accurately portrayed a group of people who live and breathe for “Star Wars.” I thought it would be a cool love letter to “Star Wars” fans.

Q: Which scene was the hardest to complete without laughing?

A: Every scene the boys had me rolling. And my character is so sarcastic and cynical they made it very hard to keep a straight face.

Q: Roughly what percentage of the esoteric “Star Wars” jokes did you understand before getting involved with “Fanboys”?

A: Ha-ha-ha! Not many. But living alongside only “Star Wars” references for two full months, I can now say I understand about 75 percent of it all.

Q: “Star Wars” fans are a tough breed. What kind of feedback have you received from those who have seen previews? Anything surprising?

A: It’s amazing how much heart “Star Wars” fans have. They came out of the woodwork and helped us with costumes and hard-to-find props and were extras in the film. I feel bad they have been waiting so long for it to be released.

Q: Was your preparation for this role any different from what you’ve done for your other films? Did you watch all of the “Star Wars” movies?

A: I did watch all of the original “Star Wars” movies before starting to film, and it is obvious why they are still so popular.

Q: From what we’ve heard, there were several alternate endings. Was the final one your favorite, or is there another one you especially like that we can look forward to seeing on the DVD?

A: There are two versions of the film. In the original script, Linus (Marquette) has cancer and that is the catalyst for breaking into Skywalker Ranch: one last road trip. Some people felt that was too heavy, and (the script) was revised and we reshot some scenes so he is not sick but gets a slight concussion from a car accident on the road trip.

Q: Do you have a favorite memory or anecdote from being on the set of “Fanboys”?

A: Well, my least favorite memory would have to be the scene in which Hutch (Fogler) was scraping his toe jam off on the bed and flicking it at me. Because it was not prop toe jam.

Q: Hypothetical scenario: You’re a senior in high school. Boba Fett, Han Solo, Darth Vader, Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian all ask you to be their date to the prom. Whose invitation do you accept?

A: I would accept Chewie’s invite. Because he makes me laugh, and he looks like he’s a great cuddler.

Kristen will be on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on February 6th at 12:05am. I should have screencaptures and video soon after airing.