The Bulletin: Junior's On His Own in Next 'Jones'

The next "Indiana Jones" installment will not be another father-son affair. Sean Connery will not return as Dr. Henry Jones Sr., archaeologist and professor Indiana Jones' father, in the fourth installment of "Indiana Jones" (May 22, 2008), reports Paramount Pictures and Lucasfilm. Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, Ray Winstone and John Hurt star in the sequel, now in production with Steven Spielberg, director, and George Lucas, producer. Connery writes in a press announcement: "I get asked the question so often, I thought it best to make an announcement. I thought long and hard about it and if anything could have pulled me out of retirement it would have been an Indiana Jones film. I love working with Steven and George, and it goes without saying that it is an honor to have Harrison as my son. But in the end, retirement is just too damned much fun. I, do however, have one bit of advice for Junior: Demand that the critters be digital, the cliffs be low, and for goodness sake keep that whip by your side at all times in case you need to escape from the stunt coordinator! This is a remarkable cast, and I can only say, 'Break a leg, everyone.'" Connery was cast in the series only once, in 1989’s “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.”

Damon, Greengrass Reunite for 'Emerald City'
Matt Damon will star in an adaptation of Rajiv Chandrasekaran's novel "Imperial Life in the Emerald City," about chaos in Iraq, reports Variety. Paul Greengrass will direct ("The Bourne Supremacy," "United 93") for Universal Pictures. Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce.

Watts to Light Up 'Same'
Naomi Watts is in talks to star in "We Are All the Same for the Bureau of Moving Pictures," an adaptation of Jim Wooten's true account in which Gail Johnson, a South African woman, adopts a child with AIDS and tours the world to raise awareness about the disease, reports Variety. Keir Pearson ("Hotel Rwanda") will write the script. No word yet on a director.

McTiernan to Direct 'High Stakes'
John McTiernan ("Predator," "Die Hard," "Basic") will direct "High Stakes," a Las Vegas thriller in which a pair of hustlers emerge as unlikely collateral in a risky bet, reports The Hollywood Reporter. Ronnie Christensen wrote the script. Matt Rhodes will produce. Production will begin in Shreveport, La., and Las Vegas later in the year.