Michael Signs on for Vin Diesel's action flick Redemption

Actor and action superstar Vin Diesel posted something very interesting on his official Facebook page yesterday and accompanied the post with this very strange photo of himself and some random tiger in a forest, both with glowing turquoise green eyes. Ok??? Anyway. In the post, which mostly talks about how his management is shocked that he runs his own Facebook page and the announcement that he will be debuting the teaser trailer for the fifth Fast and Furious film (titled 'The Fast and the Furious: Fifth Gear', opening April 27, 2011) on his Facebook page this coming Tuesday Dec. 14, he also mentions at the end that he is also producing and starring in a revenge thriller called 'Redemption' which will be directed by Dominic Sena (Invincible, Whiteout) and executive produced by Michael Bay (Transformers films, Armageddon, Bad Boys films). He mentioned that they are casting right now and plan to start shooting next summer for a summer 2012 release.

Where Michael gets mentioned is when Vin says: "We got a sick cast for you. We got some sexy ladies like Carla Gugino, Moon Bloodgood, and Abbie Cornish on board. We got Billy Bob Thornton playing a dirty cop whose after me. And we also got an Australian assassin for hire on my tail who I just learned will be played by none other than the best young actor working today, Mr. Michael Reese Meyers. I met the young man for a test read the other day at my office in L.A. and I gotta tell you, the guy is somethin'. He can do ANY accent, with no practice. We were looking at alot of really good Australian actors but Michael called us interested in the part after reading the script and after one meeting, we knew the part was his. No one else's. You guys aren't ready for this film. It's like a 70's throwback with some real good heart and tons of awesome twists. We are fine tuning the script right now and I promise it will be one of the best films I've ever done. Very deep, very spiritual, and very bad ass. Game on!"

Sounds kinda cool. The character doesn't seem like the deep and complex types of roles Michael normally goes for but we don't know much about him yet and Michael must've seen something in him to be interested in the part so I guess we will have to wait and see. Can't hurt to have two of the hottest men in Hollywood (Vin and Michael) in the same film, right?

Meyers brings Kunis to Fighter premiere//Interview with E! News

Well they claim they aren't dating but they are spending an awful lot of time together! Michael took Mila to his Los Angeles premiere of his new boxing film "The Fighter". They didn't kiss or do anything overly affectionate but they did hug and laugh alot. Who knows? Anyway, Meyers did not speak much but did give an extended interview of sorts to E! News correspondent Ben Lyons. Here's the exchange:

When asked what the hardest part of the role was for him Meyers said, "This was probably up there with Malibu's Most Wanted as one of my hardest physical transformations I ever had to make. I had to gain a lot of weight. Put on a lot of muscle. It was a lot of training and it was tough at times for sure, but it was so much fun. Growing up, before I discovered acting, I wanted to be a boxer. So it was like a dream come true to be able to train like a real boxer for 6 months and shoot this for two months and be a real boxer so to speak for 8 months essentially. It was a blast".

On working with such a great cast: "It was amazing. Everyone in the film I think gives arguably the best performance of their career. Mark was super dedicated. He trained for years. He got in insane shape. He brought Marky Mark back, making every man in America jealous. I think he'll get an Oscar nod. This story means so much to him. He's a Boston guy. He's a boxing fan. He was a big supporter of Mickey Ward. He was a hero to the Boston sports area. He is producer as well on this film and it meant alot to him to finally get this film made after all the struggles, losing actors, switching directors, all the setbacks. He never gave up hope and just soldiered forward to get this story made because it's truly one of the greatest true boxing stories in sports history. What sucks is this is my second film with Christian Bale and once again I hardly got to work with him. I saw him on set a couple times on 3:10 to Yuma, seemed like a nice guy. But only one scene together. Here we have no scenes but we hung out quite a bit on set. I made it a point to pick his brain and see how he works. He's a machine. He's so tuned in it's not even funny. In my opinion he steals the film and if he doesn't get the Oscar something is wrong. Very very wrong. I played a drug addict before and I've seen great drug addict performances before but what Christian does in this film takes it to a whole new level."

On injuries: "Yea I got banged up. Sure. Broken fingers, broken rib, broken jaw. But Mark got banged up too. But that's what we signed up for. It comes with the territory. It's a real man's man film. A throwback to Rocky and Raging Bull. Old school boxing classic films. That's what we were going for so we had to shoot it that way. And the director of the film, David O. Russell, he trained as a boxer for something like 15 years I believe so he knows this world inside and out. He was perfect."

On the reputations of himself, Mark, Bale, and Russell for having tempers and how they got along on set: "Oh it was so peaceful it was like summer camp, haha. Come on. I mean, all that stuff is blown out of proportion. Mark is not the guy he was as a teen. He went through alot but he is the biggest Catholic in Hollywood right now. He's so calm and collected. Just a sweet guy. Bale got caught up in one bad moment on Terminator Salvation that got recorded and now he gets pegged as some hothead but from working with him twice now I can tell you that couldn't be farther from the truth. He is such a shy and cerebral and hard working guy. And David (O. Russell) was great too. Is he intense? Is he tough? No nonsense? Sure. He's a real salt of the Earth kind of guy. He doesn't sip lattes and talk about nature. He's a beer drinking do it yourself kind of man's man. But he was very cool on set. I liked working for him. So yea everyone got along."

On how he met Mila and if they're dating: "We got the same weed dealer! Haha. No, um, James Franco, my friend, he introduced us. I am directing her in a commercial and she is in it. She's great. We're just two crazy animals in a crazy crazy world just trying to have some fun ya know? Plus she worked with Mark in Max Payne and Date Night and wanted to see him again."

On James Franco's Oscar chances: "You know he is gonna be so pissed at me because I haven't seen it yet but I got to see it soon. Of course I will be rooting for him. That's my boy." (after being asked if he will be there to see him host) "Oh no. He said he doesn't want me there. He'll be too nervous. And I get it. He didn't come when I was nominated. We're weird like that. We will congratulate each other afterwards if we win, but not on the night, no. Too awkward."

On what actors he'd like to work with: "Um. Well I'm about to do a film with Daniel Day Lewis. I'm kinda nervous about that. But I'm excited. I dunno. Sean Penn. Anybody good. I wanna work with some legends, some veterans. Test myself. Outside of guys like Franco, DiCaprio, Ryan Gosling, no one in our generation really excites me right now. I dunno."

Mila Kunis denies relationship with Michael on The Talk

Today Mila Kunis was on the new talk show called The Talk (similar to The View) hosted by Leah Remini and Sharon Osbourne, amongst others. She was there to promote her new ballet dancing thriller Black Swan co-starring Natalie Portman. Of course she was asked about what's going on with her and Michael. When asked if they were dating she smiled and said "My lips are sealed". When asked how they met she said: "Well actually he is a director as well and he's directing his first commercial in L.A. this week and it's for a great suicide prevention charity that I'm a huge fan of called To Write Love On Her Arms. He contacted me via Facebook saying that he wanted me to star in it. I asked him why me and he said he's a fan and actually his best friend is James Franco, who I've worked with before. Once on a movie called Date Night and again on this Funny or Die skit we did where we spoof that MTV show The Hills. Which is funny since I was spoofing a girl Michael dated once haha! But yea James told him about me and he met with me over lunch and he wanted me to star in the commercial and I was like sure, but in this town a guy and a girl can't eat food together unless they are dating so...it is what it is you know? I'm used to it now." When asked, "so we won't see you two out and about together?" She goes: "Look, he's a nice guy. He's not what people think he is. He's going through a transition phase right now. I can tell he wants to tone down the partying, the drama, the craziness, just focus on his acting, staying clean, staying sober, staying positive. He's a funny guy. He's really funny and sweet and genuine and kinda shy. I love that. I think he's a cool guy and if we hang out we hang out. I don't see it as some big deal."

Michael and James Franco leave court...charges dropped

Today Michael and James Franco had their court hearing at Los Angeles municipal court for their arrests in June of this year for DUI and resisting arrest. Apparently, the cops who arrested Franco and Meyers did not show up so the charges have been dropped! Meyers is especially lucky since he was still serving his year long probation (from his June 2009 arrest at JFK airport) when this arrest was made and if convicted he would have been in violation of that probation and could have possibly served some jail time (in addition to any possible jail time this sentence may have given him). Lucky break for him and Franco and let's hope they dont' get themselves in this situation again. Both are so young and talented and have alot going for them. There are some photos from PerezHilton.com of them leaving the courthouse this morning and goofing off for the cameras. You can tell their friendship is as tight as ever and they truly enjoy having fun together (although, sometimes TOO much fun, haha). In fact rumors are saying it was Franco who introduced Meyers and Mila Kunis (Franco and Kunis did a film called Date Night as well as a Funny or Die skit making fun of MTV's The Hills where Kunis plays Meyers' ex, Audrina)...in fact, speaking of Mila...

P.S. Tomorrow Mila Kunis is scheduled to be promoting her new film Black Swan on The Talk, a new all women hosted 'The View-like' talk show hosted by Leah Remini, Sharon Osbourne and several others. Let's see if she talks about Michael, since she'll probably be asked about him. She is notorious for dodging questions about her love life (and Michael even seems uncharacteristically coy about their status) so we will see if they can get anything out of her. I wouldn't get my hopes up but you never know. Also this Friday is the premiere of The Fighter. Michael is scheduled to attend. Let's see if he shows up solo or with a certain Miss Kunis. That should answer once and for all what's what....

Inception Available today on Blu Ray 3 Disc

Today is the day Inception fans have been waiting for! Inception hits DVD shelves today in DVD and Blu Ray format. You can get the Blu Ray in 2 disc and 3 disc sets which contain dozens of features and interviews with the cast and crew so you can get behind one of the year's smartest and entertaining blockbusters and figure out the mysteries of Inception! One of the more interesting featurettes features Michael Reese Meyers interviewing dream scientists about dreams and their meanings. Pick it up today before they sell out, I know I will!

Michael Spotted Having Lunch with Mila Kunis & Responds to Portman Comments

Hmmmm...very interesting. Mr. Celibate was seen today in L.A. having lunch at Delicatessan with actress Mila Kunis. Paparazzi caught the two laughing it up pretty loud and being quite chummy but nothing 'obviously' romantic. Maybe new friends? Maybe more? Who knows? When TMZ caught up with both of them as they left Mila ignored all questions (and seemed quite drunk, requiring Michael's assistance to help her walk straight) while Michael when asked his response to Natalie Portman's recent COMMENTS about him, porn, and keeping her distance from him on the set of their film Brotherly Love, replied "You know what? Listen. I have nothing bad to say about her. I would have done the same in her shoes knowing how I was then. I dont' blame her. It hurts but it's no one's fault but my own and all I can do is show people I've changed. I promise in 2011 people will see a new Mike'. When asked if he and Mila were on a date he said 'No'. The pair hid from camera men for a while by ducking into a Duane Read store briefly before hopping into Meyers' SUV and driving off. Here's some pics of the two as they left:

EDIT: A few hours ago Michael tweeted "what a fun day! had an awesome dunch (brunch version of lunch & dinner) with Mila! No girl has ever made me laugh the way she does...she's so adorable!"

Natalie Portman Takes a Stand Against Pornography (and Michael)

In a recent interview with the movie website Digital Cinema.com, actress Natalie Portman, while promoting her new film Black Swan, was answering a question regarding her issues with doing nudity in films. She basically said she has no problem with it as long as it is completely necessary for the role because she knows there are certain porn sites that actresses like her can end up on when doing nude scenes and she finds that degrading. The interviewer than replied "so I take it you're anti-porn" and she goes "Oh of course, I think it's appauling. It's degrading to women, it's just absolutely disgusting, it's the worst. And studies have shown that one of the side effects of porn are issues such as increases in rapes and just a general disregard for women and the female form and sexuality in general".

He then says to her "well it's funny you mention that since someone like say, actor Michael Reese Meyers, whom you worked with recently in Brotherly Love, says that porn actually decreases rapes since it gives men deemed by women as un-fuckable an outlet to release their sexual frustrations and desires, whereas say without porn, the only way they could act out their sexual fantasies or desires would be to rape. What would you say to that side of the argument, coming from a guy of course so I'm a little biased, haha". Natalie goes on to say "Look everyone has the right to their own opinions but I think he's wrong. I mean these are proven facts. The numbers don't lie. I'd like to see where he gets his numbers from that they (rapes) go down because I mean you could look at the case of that guy in New Mexico from a couple years back who admitted he raped like three or four girls and had them do sexual things he had seen in porn films and wanted them to re-enact them and that's just one example. So I mean, I know he knows alot about it I'm sure with his experience...(interviewer reminds her he just directed a film on the adult industry)...right, yea, so I mean I respect his opinion on the matter but coming from a woman, I just see it a certain way but that's just me."

Here's where it gets really interesting. The interviewer then asks "So I'm guessing your guys' opposite stance on this issue must have made for some interesting conversation on the set of that film or no...?" and Natalie very cryptically answers "well, haha, you know, we actually stayed apart during most of the filming, which was awkward because we become lovers through the course of the story, but I made it a point to kinda keep my distance from him. I dunno whether it was because our characters were supposed to be grieving or just because I've...let's just say I've heard some things about him. He has a reputation. And I wanted no part of that. I come to work and I leave it at that." When asked if she cared to elaborate she just laughed and said "nope". Uh ohh....wonder what "reputation" she is referring to? Will Michael respond to this? Let the guessing game begin....! You can watch the video of this segment of the interview above.

P.S. I have to be honest, I wasn't that big a fan of Brotherly Love (I thought Portman and Ryan Gosling terribly overracted their parts and Meyers seemed unusually...uninterested...in giving any real effort into his performance). I noticed a lack of chemistry between Meyers and Portman's characters despite the fact they were supposed to be falling in love which was a disapointment (I'm clearly not alone since the film did receive some not so pleasant reviews) and maybe this issue of them not vibing on set reveals why the chemistry was lacking. Hmm....