"Harry Potter" star Emma Watson raised eyebrows recently with comments that she might not return for future installments of the blockbuster franchise. Rupert Grint, however, swears that he'll be in it until the final wave of the wand -- and he's hoping that Hermione won't take a hike. "I'm doing the fifth one at the moment," he reported, referring to next year's darker film, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." "I have had a really good few years, and it would be good if [Watson] could do it -- but it's up to her. You miss school and your friends, but I'm definitely going to stay [in the franchise] until the end." ...

Red-hot "Nip/Tuck" creator Ryan Murphy suddenly has Hollywood at his feet, and he's using his newfound clout to push forward several projects -- including the star-studded political satire "Dirty Tricks." Listing a cast that includes Meryl Streep, Annette Bening and Gwyneth Paltrow, the writer/director also revealed who'll be playing the president in his movie about the behind-the-scenes women of the Watergate scandal. "Jim Broadbent is going to play Nixon," he said of the "Iris" Oscar winner. In addition, Murphy has coerced a longtime supporter into a star-powered role. "I'm talking to Brad [Pitt]; he's producing it and I'm like, 'Well, you've got to play Maureen Dean's husband [John] -- you have to play him.' " Murphy added that he and Pitt -- a producer on Murphy's "Running With Scissors," due in theaters later this month -- find the Nixon/Dean story particularly relevant today. "It's so applicable to [now]. It's about a woman who basically says, 'This government is corrupt. This government is not correct.' Meryl is Martha Mitchell, and that's what she did to Nixon, and I thought, 'That's so timely.' " Murphy is currently developing the film and targeting additional actors. ...

If you take a peek out your window right now, there's a chance you might see a geek dancing in the street. If so, feel free to offer your congratulations -- because it looks like a "Battlestar Galactica" movie may soon be in the works. "I have heard talk," revealed Tricia Helfer, who plays the sexy Cylon Number Six in the hit TV show. "Hopefully there [will be] ... I think it would be a great experience and also fun for the fans." Adding that the show's newest episodes will feature a "really huge shocker towards the end of the season," Helfer said she expects to appear in any big-screen incarnations of the franchise. ...

Somewhere in between "Iron Man," "Spider-Man 3" and "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," Marvel Comics is still planning to bring back vitriol-spewing vigilante the Punisher for a follow-up to his underperforming 2004 flick. According to series star Thomas Jane, the wheels are in motion for him to slip that trademark skull onto his chest again soon for "The Punisher 2." "The script comes in a couple of weeks, and it's going to be darker, bloodier and more unfriendly than the first one," Jane confirmed. Sneaking a peek at other upcoming projects, the actor added, "There's a movie with Nick Cassavetes called 'God Is a Bullet' ... and Frank Darabont and I are supposed to be doing Stephen King's 'The Mist.' " ...

The currently filming Ben Stiller flick "The Heartbreak Kid," has landed "Devil's Rejects" star Leslie Easterbrook as the newest member of its cast, along with a "Daily Show" veteran hoping to establish himself as a film star. "I play the mother of the bride. The bride is a girl that Ben Stiller's character, Eddie, dated for five years and then decided not to marry," Easterbrook explains of the movie, which reunites Stiller with his "There's Something About Mary" co-conspirators the Farrelly Brothers. "Rob Corddry ... is playing his best friend Mac, and [there's] a very funny sequence ... [Stiller's old girlfriend] invites him to the wedding, and of course he is depressed and he gets seated at the kids' table because it's the only table for singles." The flick, which is based extremely loosely on Neil Simon's old screenplay of the same name, also co-stars Michelle Monaghan and Carlos Mencia. It is due in theaters next year. ...

Movie fans are often inundated with stories about real people upset over big-screen portrayals, so it's all the more surprising -- or refreshing -- that the Kennedy family issued a statement this week to say the upcoming flick "Bobby" actually got things right. "Our family is grateful to Emilio Estevez and the extraordinary cast of 'Bobby' for remembering Robert Kennedy's life and his commitment to social justice, peace and equality," read a statement by Ethel Kennedy, whose husband's 1968 assassination is portrayed in the drama. "Hopefully the film will inspire a new generation to make gentle the life of the world." His daughter Kerry Kennedy added: "In the last 38 years, there has been no more important moment to remember his values and vision for our great country and its purpose in our troubled world. Younger generations will now hear Robert Kennedy's words, they will understand the greatness of his life and find the inspiration to dedicate themselves to all he sought to achieve." The film, which is directed by Estevez and opens November 17, stars Nick Cannon, Ashton Kutcher, Shia LaBeouf, Lindsay Lohan and Elijah Wood, among others. ...

Looking for the next big thing? Keep your eye on Kristin Chenoweth, a scene-stealing supporting player from "R.V." and "The Pink Panther" who might also be the only FHM cover model with operatic training and near-perfect pitch. The 4-foot-11-inch actress/singer will soon put both talents to the test for her first starring role, in a biopic about "Son of a Preacher Man" diva Dusty Springfield. "I've just read the final script and it's unbelievable," reported Chenoweth, who expects to shoot the flick about the late songstress next summer. "I'll be doing all of the singing and all of the Dusty songs ... it's going to be like 'Walk the Line.' It's about a 10-year period of her life when she really hit it big, and all that she went through ... she had a couple of mental issues, she had a sibling rivalry, she also had abusive parents and she battled her sexuality." Adding that Springfield was "a very petite woman, like me," Chenoweth will also produce the film. ...

"Shopgirl" co-star Jason Schwartzman recently shot down rumors that he'd be appearing in the cartoon version of the Roald Dahl classic "The Fantastic Mr. Fox," but confirmed that he's reuniting with "Rushmore" writer/director Wes Anderson for a quirky flick set in India. "We're doing just this one movie called 'The Darjeeling Limited' that I wrote with Roman Coppola and Wes Anderson. Wes is going to direct it -- and Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody will play brothers." Schwartzman is tight-lipped about the script -- which will also star him as one of the three brothers seeking spiritual enlightenment after their father's death -- but he did insist that it'll be unlike anything he's ever done before. "We wanted to do something different. It's a new experience for all three of us, writing this movie. It was very hard, but I loved every second of it ... I can't wait to go to India."

See everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," "Bobby" and "Seven Day Itch."

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