The Weekly Ketchup: The Owen Wilson Saga, Studio Puts Sweeney Todd Under the Knife

In this week’s Ketchup, Owen Wilson‘s unfortunate circumstances become clear, as he drops out of the upcoming Ben Stiller collaboration. And speaking of Stiller, Ben has mandated that the sequel to Night at the Museum be funnier than the original. Also, Warner Bros. apparently has decided to aim for a PG-13 rating for Sweeney Todd, resulting in a bunch of “cuts,” and a new trailer for Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. Read on.

This Week’s Most Popular News:

Owen Wilson Hospitalized **Updated**
Actor Owen Wilson has reportedly been hospitalized after a suicide attempt, according to two tabloid publications. He is in stable condition.

Warner Bros. Butchering Sweeney Todd?
You would think any studio that greenlighted an adaptation of Sweeney Todd — the classic musical about a homicidal barber — would be prepared for plenty of blood and guts. And, as it turns out, you’d be wrong: The Sunday Mail is reporting that Warner Bros. has ordered significant, um, cuts to Tim Burton’s grisly take on the story.

Owen Wilson Drops Out of Tropic Thunder
This one comes out of the “well, duh” files, but it’s been announced and we’re passing the news along: Owen Wilson has dropped out of his planned appearance in the Ben Stiller comedy Tropic Thunder.

Night at the Museum 2 Must Be Funnier
Sequels always have to be bigger and better. For Night at the Museum 2, all Ben Stiller asks is that it be funnier. Writers Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant are working on the sequel, following boss’s orders.

(Red Band) Trailer Bulletin: Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem
We’re all just now starting to come down from the excitement of last week’s announcement that Alien vs. Predator 2 will be undergoing a name change to Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. Can you handle more AVP thrills? Are you sure?

This film about a murderous barber will be undergoing some ‘cuts’. Get it?

In Other News:

• Constantin Film has hired Soenke Wortmann to direct the big screen adaptation of Donna Woolfolk Cross’ 1997 medieval bestseller Pope Joan, replacing original director Volker Schloendorff who was fired last month.
• Ulrich Thomsen (Kingdom of Heaven) will star alongside Clive Owen and Naomi Watts in The International with Tom Tykwer directing.
• James Belushi will make his feature directorial debut on The Catch, a real-life story about a 42-year-old who returns to school and plays college football.
• Passengers director Rodrigo Garcia has been signed to write and direct an English-language remake of the Argentinean drama Live-In Maid.
• Nicole Ari Parker, De Ray Davis and Ronny Cox will star opposite Eddie Murphy in the comedy NowhereLand for Paramount Pictures.
• Brazilian actress Alice Braga has been cast as the female lead opposite Jude Law and Forest Whitaker in the futuristic thriller Repossession Mambo for Universal Pictures.
• Dimension Films has signed a two-picture deal with writer-director Rob Zombie. Andy Gould, Zombie’s longtime manager and producing partner, will serve as producer on both projects.
• Billy Finkelstein has been signed to direct Bad Lieutenant ’08, a sequel, or re-imagining of the 1992 Harvey Keitel cult hit Bad Lieutenant.

Bad in ’08