Into India with Mira Nair and Johnny Depp

Today is chock full of news about people I like quite a bit, so let's get right into it.

For years now I've been reading criticism of Mira Nair, principally from Indian movie fans, that she has abandoned her home country to make lightweight Western fare. And it has always pained me. While it is true that she has turned to the West, I count "Mississippi Masala," starring Denzel Washington and the radiant Sarita Choudhury, among my all-time favorite flicks, and "Monsoon Wedding" is a darn fine flick too.

Now, however, comes news that should make everyone smile. Mira is bound back to Bombay, and she's taking Johnny Depp and a great big budget with her. After Peter Weir dropped out on the Depp-starring project "Shantaram," Mira has stepped in and taken over.

That means Johnny will start work on this as soon as "Sweeney Todd" wraps, with a 2008 release in view. In "Shantaram," an Australian heroin addict (Depp) escapes from a maximum-security prison and reinvents himself as a doctor treating the destitute in the slums of Bombay. His drive to procure medicine leads him into counterfeiting, gun-running and smuggling. Sounds just about perfect to me.

And Mira Nair's more immediate project, coming March 9, also sounds pretty friggin cool. Kal Penn makes a serious upgrade from "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" (don't worry, stoners ... a sequel is in the works) to star in her "The Namesake," the story of an Indian man torn between his new life in Boston with girlfriend Jacinda Barrett (huzzah!) and the more traditional lifestyle envisioned by his parents.

Sounds like it will explore many of the same themes as "Monsoon Wedding," so I'll definitely be there to see it.

Aronofsky to direct ballet?

That's what I mistakenly thought when I first saw this story, but luckily I was mistaken. Darren Aronofsky's next movie will instead be "Black Swan," described as a psychological thriller that looks at the manipulative relationship between a veteran ballet dancer and a rival.

I'm ashamed to say - due to some hesitation on my part, a vacation, and the simple glut of movies that came out at the same time - I still haven't seen Aronofsky's "The Fountain," easily the most divisive multiplex movie of 2006. His movies demand a lot from viewers, but with "Pi" and even more so "Requiem for a Dream," the reward was more than worth the effort, so I'll eventually break down and see "The Fountain." and I'll definitely be keeping my eyes on "Black Swan."

Pixar prepping next film

I've heard rumblings about some kind of Michael Bay movie with Transformers in it, but the flick I'm most excited about for the coming summer remains "Ratatouille."

Brad Bird, who directed the best Pixar movie, "The Incredibles," and my favorite animated movie ever, "The Iron Giant," is back in charge for "Ratatouille," so it should be great. Besides, I didn't care too much for "Cars," so Pixar owes me.

After "Ratatouille," however, will come another Pixar project that also sounds like a lot of fun. Titled "WALL-E," it's believed to be about a young robot looking for a home in outer space (see the rather rough photo.) Andrew Stanton, who won an Oscar for directing "Finding Nemo" and co-directed "Toy Story 2," is helming. "WALL-E" will be released June 27, 2008.

Also in the works is a "Toy Story 3," but a robot lost in space just sounds much better to me.

Garner joins 'Juno' cast

Jason Reitman is just on a roll. After debuting with "Thank You For Smoking," he's soon to begin shooting the follow-up "Juno," which is rapidly assembling a first-rate cast.

Already on board for the coming-of-age comedy about a teenager faced with an unplanned pregnancy are Ellen Page (huzzah!), presumably as the young lady in question, and the very funny Michael Cera of "Arrested Development" fame, presumably as the impregnator. Now comes word that Jennifer Garner has joined the cast as the hopeful adoptive mother of said offspring. Production is expected to begin mid-February in Vancouver.

The script was written by St. Paul/Minneapolis City Pages scribe Diablo Cody, who pens the always entertaining Pussy Ranch blog, so it definitely deserves our support. Besides, it's virtually guaranteed to not suck, which can't be said for Garner's upcoming "The Kingdom," which is already in contention for worst movie of 2007 in my mind.

And as for Reitman, he'll go from this to making a movie with Dwight Schute about a ninja with too much downtime on his hands. For some people, life really is just way too good.