There’s a teaser up for 2012, the latest Roland-Emmerich-destroys-our-planet blockbuster. It sort of lays out the idea, and showcases another killer wave (Emmerich loves destructive water!)

Stay to the end for something more significant. This is the first time I can remember where a trailer encouraged us to “google” the title for more information. Don’t head to the official Web site. Don’t go to Columbia’s page. Google the movie first. Now that’s a major step for the search engine.

Well, here’s one Oscar The Dark Knight won’t be winning. Variety reports:

The score for “The Dark Knight” has been disqualified by the executive committee of the Academy music branch.

Formal letters to that effect are expected to go out this week to composers Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, who collaborated on the music. Their previous collaboration, on “Batman Begins,” was similarly disqualified in 2005.

Sources inside the committee said that the big issue was the fact that five names were listed as composers on the music cue sheet, the official studio document that specifies every piece of music (along with its duration and copyright owner) in the film.

Zimmer said, in an interview with Variety prior to this week’s Acad action, that listing multiple names on the cue sheet was a way of financially rewarding parts of the music team who helped make the overall work successful. (Performing-rights societies like ASCAP and BMI use the cue sheet to distribute royalties to composers.)

Zimmer, Howard and the other three individuals — music editor Alex Gibson, ambient music designer Mel Wesson and composer Lorne Balfe — reportedly signed an affidavit stating that the score was primarily the work of Zimmer and Howard.

That apparently wasn’t enough for the majority of the committee, which was also supplied with documentation indicating that more than 60%, but less than 70%, of the score was credited to Zimmer and Howard.

A few weeks back, Anne Thompson reported that Pixar planned to push WALL-E in the Best Picture race, thinking (rightfully so) that the well-received film could transcend the Animated category - for which it is a lock - and compete in the top category.

On the heels of this announcement came word that James Marsh’s captivating documentary Man On Wire had surpassed Toy Story 2 as the Web site’s highest-rated film (with the most number of reviews): 100% Fresh with 129 reviews. Not the highest-rated film of 2008, but of all time!

Why can’t Wire be considered for the Best Picture Oscar? Why can’t both of these fantastic films factor in? Will we really see better films before the year is up? It’s possible. But just because Animated and Documentary categories exist doesn’t mean films in those genres should be content with what amounts to a Runner-Up ribbon on Oscar night.

CNN reports that Michael Crichton, the best-selling author behind “Jurassic Park,” “The Andromeda Strain,” “Sphere” and “Rising Sun,” died in Los Angeles on Tuesday. He “died unexpectedly,” the release said, “after a courageous and private battle against cancer.” He was 66.

Crichton won an Emmy, a Peabody, and a Writer’s Guild of America Award for “ER.”

We tease. We deliver. You discuss!

"Don't do it Sam. I'm warning you."

Samuel L. Jackson is set to star as the bad guy in Columbia Pictures’ remake of Berry Gordy’s 1985 cult classic The Last Dragon, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Jackson will play Sho’nuff, the Shogun of Harlem, a role played in the original by the late Julius Carry.

“I’m a huge fan of the original and look forward to bringing Sho’Nuff into the 21st century,” Jackson said.

Let me be clear. LEAVE THE ORIGINAL ALONE. It doesn’t need to be remade. It’s perfect the way it is. Don’t mess with Bruce Leroy. You will ruin the film. Stop. Walk away. Please.

You can finally read Geoff Boucher’s three-part interview with “The Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan in its entirety. It’s an interesting read, though Anne Thompson basically says what all of us are thinking … this is a well-timed feature that’s meant to put DK back on radars as Academy members are contemplating votes.

Not film related, but worth mentioning. The BBC reports that Led Zeppelin may reunite without their lead singer Robert Plant, who doesn’t want to tour for at least two years. The group’s bassist John Paul Jones said he and his fellow band members would look for new singers to replace Plant.

No Plant and no Bonham? How is that Led Zeppelin?

God, I hate lists. But while surfing Empire’s site for that Superman story, I found the magazine’s “500 Greatest Movies of All Time” list. It’s here. Making a list like this is impossible, as everyone’s tastest are different. And they make you click around forever before you find their No. 1 film. Big surprise. So, agree? Disagree? Weigh in.

But will Mark Millar (Kick-Ass) ever be able to create this eight-hour, three-part Superman film series he’s been pitching?

Earlier this year it was Nicolas Cage. Then Angelina Jolie kicked it around. Now Joaquin Phoenix says he’s done with acting.

“I want to take this opportunity … also to give you the exclusive and just talk a little bit about the fact that this will be my last performance as an actor,” Phoenix told a reporter. “I’m not doing films any more.” The actor’s representative later confirmed the news.

This is a shame, but not a surprise. Phoenix often grumbled about the extra baggage that comes with acting (not the least of which being an obligation to speak with the press). If in fact he stays “retired,” we’ll have lost a talent … but something tells me he won’t stay gone for long.

Got your robes in a bunch because you have to wait a few more months for the next Harry Potter film? Maybe the international trailer will tide you over.

Up until now, Oscar pundits assumed Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino, scheduled for a December release, could drop into the races for the top categories. Eastwood has done this before with Million Dollar Baby (which won the Best Picture Oscar) and Letters From Iwo Jima (which was nominated).

Now we have a trailer. And I think it’s safe to say all talk of “Oscar” should cease. Not that this looks terrible. It could be a guilty pleasure. But Oscar worthy? Not a chance.

Daniel Craig was in L.A. last weekend promoting Quantum of Solace, and he told IESB.net he was offered the role of Thor but turned it down.

“(Craig) added jokingly, it would have been too much of a power trip, both Bond and Thor, and running around with long hair and a hammer.”

This is a wise decision on Craig’s part. He’s a good actor, but is wrong for Thor. And if Marvel hopes to keep that 2010 release date, they better find their leading God. Quick.

Yesterday, The Hollywood Reprter speculated that The Road might be held until 2009. Now, Paramount has annouced it is moving Joe Wright’s The Soloist from Nov. 21, 2008 to March 13, 2009. No idea what that means specifically (not finished, not an Oscar contender), but in general, it means the race for Oscar is thinning out.

Kind of early, but here you go:

Sony says an Angels and Demons trailer - the prequel/sequel to Ron Howard’s The Da Vinci Code - will debut Oct. 30. Finally, we’ll know if they kept Tom Hanks’ Jesus Christ, Superstar hair!

Based on this trailer, he’d offer a window to his soul if it means a potential Hollywood comeback. JCVD was the toast of Toronto. We’ll find out for ourselves soon enough if it’s any good.

IGN has an interview with Quarantine star Columbus Short, who reveals that he’s in talks to play Danny Glover’s son in a planned Lethal Weapon 5.

Short goes so far as to say they are “fast-tracking” the project. Of course they are! Original “Weapon” Mel Gibson is 52. Glover is 62. But if Harrison Ford and Sly Stallone can revisit past glories, why not Riggs and Murtaugh?

The Iron Man blu-ray is mindblowing, by the way. Director Jon Favreau recorded every step of his process. You’ll need a week to get through the extras. And then you’ll want to read this online chat with Favreau, which spills SEVERAL details on the planned sequel.