In the latest battle between studios and theaters in the theater-to-DVD windows war, Walt Disney has requested a shortening of a month for the home entertainment release of ALICE IN WONDERLAND, reports VARIETY.

James Cameron told AWN that AVATAR will be released on Blu-ray and DVD toward the end of April or May from Fox Home Ent.

UGO reports that Columbia Pictures has hired comic legend Jonathan Winters to voice Papa Smurf in their live-action/CG animated THE SMURFS.

Walt Disney Studios Intl. Prods. has hired Jason Reed as its new EVP and GM, reports VARIETY.

DreamWorks is putting out a nationwide casting call for the Hugh Jackman's son in REAL STEEL, VARIETY reports.

Disney has hired Jessie Nelson (FRED CLAUS) to write a sequel to ENCHANTED, reports VARIETY.

News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch told analysts during a quarterly earnings call that he is in "very early talks" with director James Cameron to do an AVATAR sequel, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

Warner Bros. Pictures has confirmed a series of upcoming 3-D releases.

VARIETY is reporting that Michael Bay's next project, TRANSFORMERS 3, might be getting the 3-D treatment at Paramount with help from Industrial Light & Magic.

Lionsgate announced that it will partner with Crest Animation Studios to co-produce NORM OF THE NORTH, a stereoscopic 3-D animated family feature, according to COMINGSOON.NET.

Only the second time in Oscar history, an animated feature has been nominated for Best Picture.

IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) and Twentieth Century Fox today announced that James Cameron's Avatar, which has received Golden Globe(R) awards for Best Picture and Best Director, has passed the $150 million mark at IMAX(R) theatres worldwide during the weekend from Friday, January 29, 2010 through Sunday, January 31, 2010.

Matt Damon told EMPIRE MAGAZINE that the next Bourne film will probably be a prequel under a different team.

Imagi International Holdings Ltd (OTCBB: IINHY, IINHY message board) has announced large scale review of operations which has mostly negative effect towards the staff.

The Previsualization Society, a non-profit, interdisciplinary organization dedicated to advancing previsualization ("previs") in feature film, games, commercials and architecture, has gone live this month, with membership applications now formally being accepted and an online portal newly active on the Web.

The 2010 AICE Awards competition has expanded its categories for eligibility to include a new Design category, open to work created by editors, digital artists and other professionals involved in design work for TV commercials, virals, web videos, music videos, spec spots, and PSAs.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures is teaming up with sister networks ABC, ESPN and ABC FAMILY for a week-long, cross-network extravaganza that will send viewers straight down the rabbit hole with “ALICE IN WONDERLAND.”

HEAT VISION is reporting that Lucasfilm is developing a CGI-animated musical at George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch in Northern California.

Image Metrics, the leading provider of facial animation technology and services for the entertainment industry, is providing facial animation for the characters in the upcoming animated science fiction thriller film, Ultramarines.

The 5,777 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences must return their completed Oscar nominations ballots to PricewaterhouseCoopers no later than 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 23.