Comic book legend Todd McFarlane says that for the upcoming Spawn reboot he plans on getting behind the camera himself, to direct his own creation.

The artist tells My DVD Insider that his goal is to write, direct and produce a brand new feature film, reintroducing his anti-hero to the big screen. Black Dynamite star Michael Jai White played Spawn in his last theatrical adventure back in 1997.

Now McFarlane, who created Spawn in 1992, says that protracted studio battles over a potential sequel have led him to conclude that the only way to get the movie done is to do it himself.

“There’s only one way a studio is going to say yes, that’s if it’s a low-budget movie,” he tells the site. “To be honest, as a producer, even I wouldn’t hire myself to direct a big-budget film. There are smarter people out there. But if you’re making it for $10 million to $12 million, you’re just going to go get some schmuck director so let me be the schmuck.”

McFarlane says his plans for the reboot are to strip things down to their basics and explore the essence of the character.

“In this new version, there are no supervillains, archenemies or any of that,” he says. “It’s just a spook movie, something scary going bump in the night. I think I can shoot that for almost next to nothing.”

McFarlane says that while there’s no production date just yet, he’s been working on the script for the new Spawn flick since 2009.

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Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth says he’s excited about the prospect of starring in a remake of the Michael Caine, Shirley MacLaine heist flick Gambit, but says it shouldn’t be called a remake.

Firth, who starred in Best Picture winner The King’s Speech, tells Empire Online that the Gambit script – written by the Coen Brothers – is laugh-out-loud  funny.

“It’s out there, it’s a farce, it’s a caper movie, it’s not a romantic comedy,” he tells the movie site. “And it’s rare to read things that make you laugh. I need to do something that does…I think it’s a highly intelligently crafted piece.”

But the star says he’s a bit confused as to why the Coens and director Michael Hoffman insist that the film is a remake of the 1966 original.

“It’s been called a remake – I don’t quite understand why it’s been styled as a remake. The original Gambit was a lot of fun, but really this doesn’t resemble it. If you were to change the names of the characters I think you could get away with calling it [original].”

Fans of Firth can look forward to seeing the star next grace the silver screen in the upcoming spy flick Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Gambit isn’t expected to hit theatres in 2012.

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When Chris Hemsworth was ordered to bulk up for his role as Norse God Thor for the upcoming Marvel superhero flick, the hunky young star reportedly went too far, getting so big his costume needed to be resized.

The broad-shouldered 27-year-old Australian tells the Los Angeles Times that when he first won the role in Kenneth Branagh’s upcoming blockbuster he was intimidated by the comic book sized muscles of the hero.

“I got the part and immediately started looking at the comic books, and the guy is 500 pounds or something and looks like Schwarzenegger,” Hemsworth tells the paper. “And I thought, ‘OK, I’m not gonna get to that.’ But I have to get bigger. (The filmmakers) kept saying ‘Yeah, get as big as you can, as big as you can.’”

But the star says the problems began when he returned from the gym and attempted to slip back into his skin-tight costume.

“I came back right before Christmas, just before we started the movie, and had a final sort of camera test and put the costume on and within a couple of minutes, my hands started going numb. “Everyone was like, ‘Yeah, that’s not cool.’ And I started getting pins and needles and you’d touch the skin and the blood wouldn’t return to that area so quick. And I thought, ‘OK, it doesn’t fit’.”

Hemsworth says last minute alterations to the costume were ordered, while he was advised to pull back from his intense work out routines.

Thor, tight suit and all, lands in theatres May 6.

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Once Ridley Scott comes back from outer space, the veteran Hollywood director wants to make his next picture a bit more down to earth.

Scott, who is currently busy putting together his upcoming sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus, is also staking a future claim on the story of pivotal historical figure Gertrude Bell.

Deadline reports that Scott has hired Constant Gardener screenwriter Jeffrey Caine to develop the story of Bell and her Middle Eastern adventures for a big screen biopic.

Born in England in 1868, Bell was an archaeologist and diplomat, and an instrumental figure in Arab politics. A contemporary of T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia), Bell played a central role in the creation of modern Iraq. She died in Baghdad in 1926.

Scott reportedly views the project as a huge opportunity for the right actress to tackle a strong and complicated role, something the director has favoured ever since Sigourney Weaver first kicked in a door in Alien.

Empire Online reports that one person likely not thrilled with Scott’s plans will be acclaimed European filmmaker Werner Herzog. The Rescue Dawn director has reportedly been developing his own take on Bell’s story, with Naomi Watts playing the part.

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