JESSICA CHASTAIN TO FILM "MAMA" IN TORONTO

Jessica Chastain

Things like this make me giddy like a School Girl. Tree of Life, The Debt, The Help, Take Shelter, Coriolanus, Texas Killing Fields, Wilde Salome and The Wettest Country in the World are among some of Jessica Chastain's recent projects to receive much critical buzz.  Count 'em - that's eight high-profile releases slated for release within the span of a year. In addition to there being much talk of her being a Front-runner in the Oscars Best Supporting Actress race for her work in The Help, Chastain just won the Gucci Award for Women in Cinema earlier this weekend in Venice.

But get this - the new Queen of Cinema will be filming in Toronto from October to December, in addition to attending the TIFF 2011 Premieres of Take Shelter and Coriolanus. She is set to star in Guillermo del Toro-produced Mama, a Thriller about two Girls who escape a cruel Woman they believe to be there Mother. Mama, which is one of two del Toro Films being produced in Toronto simultaneously (the other is Pacific Rim), will be directed by Andre Muschietti. OMG. Dying here.

(Photo credit: Alliance Films)

SAM WORTHINGTON: A SERIOUS ACTOR?

English-born Australian Sam Worthington is undisputedly the hottest new actor in Hollywood. Out of nowhere he's landed leading roles in big budget blockbusters like Terminator: Salvation, Avatar and Clash of The Titans, which is to be released April 2, 2010 and looks rather amazing.

But is he a "serious" actor though?  And is it all happening too soon?  In addition to Titans, he has another film out at the end of April called Last Night also starring Keira Knightley, about a couple whom encounter extra-marrital temptations. There is also The Debt which comes out later this year and it looks to be a little on the heavier side in its story line of Israeli spies seeking revenge on Nazi War Criminals. This one stars Ciaran Hinds, Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson and many more. And lined up after that is a role in The Texas Killing Fields, which is about a string of unsolved murders in Texas. How's that for serious?

Although we have yet to see Worthington's true acting chops with the material he's been in, we'll be getting a clearer picture of his "worth" before long.