Tidbits from CinemaCon

CinemaCon, the official convention of NATO (that's National Association of Theatre Owners...not to be confused with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is happening this week in Las Vegas. Disney had several announcements to make and info to share. Here are just a few of the details that have surfaced concerning upcoming Disney projects:

• Cars 2 is going to be better than the first, if you can believe its star Larry the Cable Guy: "This second movie is so good, I’m ashamed I was in the first one." We think he was kidding. But with Michael Caine joining the cast as a British spy, we're certainly in for some laughs!


• The Muppets will start Jason Segall and Amy Adams, who made an appearance at the show. Have you seen the movie's title treatment? Not sure how I feel about the headless Kermit.


• 3D footage of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (and of Cars 2) was shown to exhibitors. In this 4th installment, Jack Sparrow is searching for the Fountain of Youth. Penelope Cruz also stars as a female pirate--girl power!


• Despite their $4 billion purchase of Marvel Entertainment, Disney will NOT be distributing the two Marvel movies this summer, Thor and Captain America. Paramount will. Instead, Disney will produce its own superhero film, The Avengers.


• Studio Chairman Rich Ross and Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter were noticeably absent.