What did I tell you?  What did I tell you?!  I said we'd get some pretty big movies news this week, and Comic Con hasn't even started yet.  Let's dive right in.

Philip Seymour Hoffman Ready to Catch Fire

Although there was a lot of initial rumor and speculation, it's been made official: Philip Seymour Hoffman will be in Catching Fire as Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee.

To make it simple for all you non-book readers, Hoffman will be Catching Fire's version of Wes Bentley's Gamemaker from the first film, Seneca Crane.  You know, the dude with the crazy beard from American Beauty who really really loved floating plastic bags?

It's big news for a film that is already widely anticipated due to the original's critical and commercial reception.  Adding the Oscar clout of Hoffman brings a good amount of flare (no pun intended) to the second entry in the Hunger Games series.  Additionally, the release dates for the final film(s) just hit yesterday: Mockingjay Part 1 is due in November 2014 and Part 2 hits a year later in November 2015.

Personally, I found Hunger Games to be a very poorly paced film but that's just how it had to be.  They needed to attract fans who had never read the books, and it worked.  And good lord the camera work was nauseating.  But I will still check out Catching Fire, now that Hoffman is officially signed on.  It's set for a November 22, 2013 release.

Check Out This The Dark Knight Rises Featurette

We're so goddamn close to TDKR release that I am giddy with excitement.  I bought my tickets last week; secured reserve seating in IMAX.  I'm like a child on Christmas Eve who can't wait to sprint downstairs and tear open every present.  One little nugget of a gift is this 13-minute featurette on TDKR, offering insight to the actors, scenes, costumes, set pieces, etc.  Check it.

And I know, I am a total liar and faker when I promote this video because I haven't watched even a second of it.  Why?  Because the movie is 9 days away and I am done having anything spoiled for me.  There's some new dialogue and shots shown that I just want to experience in IMAX.  Is that too much to ask?  Christopher Nolan's final Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises gets ready to make me change my shorts on July 20th.

Double Dose of Vids: Deus Ex Film Planned and Huge Assassin's Creed Casting News

We'll start slow with this: CBS Films has picked up the rights to Deus Ex, the very popular sci-fi video game series.  Last year DE: Human Revolution was a successful hit on the major platforms, and would serve as the basis for the film.

What's great is the CBS plans to include Square Enix and Edios-Montreal in development of the adaptation, which is sensible as they are the folks responsible for making the games themselves.  Of course there's still plenty of behind the scenes work to be done before the movie takes shape, but still exciting news nonetheless.  Now onto the biggest news (I think; it made me skeet) of the day...

Ever since the wild success of the first Assassin's Creed, many gamers were left thinking: 'wow, this could make a pretty solid flick.'  After the second game, everyone felt it. Now, everything is coming to fruition in an amazing way.  Ubisoft - after the not-so-great experience with the Prince of Persia film - has decided to develop the AC movie independently.  And who did they officially cast as ther main protagonist, Desmond/Altair/Ezio?  My motherfreaking boy, Michael Fassbender.

Hot damn, I am amped.  While I thought they'd make great movies, I was always shaky on the total potential the games would have as films.  They're convoluted, jumping through time constantly with lots of plot twists and turns that can leave your head spinning.  I remember when I played the original game for the first time drunk and had to restart in the morning because I didn't follow a thing.  But casting Fassbender?  That's what we call a power move.  My excitement level for this flick just skyrocketed.  The guy is my second favorite actor right now (behind Gary Oldman) and his star-meter is off the charts.  If anyone can make Assassin's Creed work as a movie, it's him.

Phew, incredibly that's it for now.  Again, Comic-Con starts tomorrow and movie news is going to start flowing like wine soon enough.  Check back for more updates y'all!