As we reported earlier, “The Debt”, starring Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Tom Wilkinson, Cieran Hinds, Martin Csokas and Jessica Chastain will be making it’s world premiere at The Deauville Film Festival this month. We now have a date! The film will be shown on Saturday Sept 4, 2010. We do not have any word on whether Sam, who is currently in Sydney, will or will not attend. We will keep you posted.

You can visit the Official site for the festival here:Deauville International Film Festival

Sam Worthington, looking quite scruffy.. even for him.. was spotted shopping at a liquor store in Sydney on Sept 1, 2010 with girlfriend, Natalie Mark, and another friend.

You can see all of the images here: Sydney September 2010 Album

The West Australian is reporting that Sam has signed on for a new project back to be filmed back in his homeland.

The thing that confuses me on this is when the filming will actually begin.. if they say “Autumn” .. that is the “Spring” in the US..
they didn’t mention a year.. and we know that Sam is busy early in 2011.. so maybe they actually mean “Australian Autumn 2012″??

Sam drifts back to WA for surfing drama
MARK NAGLAZAS FILM EDITOR, The West Australian

Hollywood star Sam Worthington is coming home to WA to make his first Australian post-Avatar feature, a surfing drama set in Margaret River.

In a major coup, the producers of Drift have secured the services of Worthington fresh from an amazing box office run which included Terminator: Salvation, Clash of the Titans and smash hit Avatar.

With an $11 million budget, Drift is expected to begin shooting next autumn to take advantage of the big waves, moodier skies and, if the schedule allows, the Margaret River Pro surfing event.

Worthington is a lifelong surfer and is excited about returning to WA.

“I’m a WA boy at heart and to go back there and put something back into my home town is something I am really looking forward to,” he said.

“There’s something pure and true about surfing, and there is something pure and true about this script.”

Drift tells the inspired-by-facts story of how surfing evolved from a pastime to a global industry, spawning household names such as Billabong and Rip Curl. Worthington will play a photographer and journalist instrumental in that revolution.

Drift has come together because of the desire of a group of film industry ex-pats anxious to come home and take advantage of the breathtaking locations and untold stories.
It will be produced by former Cowaramup resident Tim Duffy and former McLeod’s Daughters star Myles Pollard and directed by Sydney-based Morgan O’Neill and sports specialist Ben Nott.

We were wondering when Sam Worthington was going to find the time to film “Dracula: Year Zero” with his busy schedule..and now Collider has done some research and found out the specifics:

Worthington is attached to play real-life historical figure Prince Vlad of Transylvania and that the plan is to shoot in June 2011. As a fan of Alex Proyas (Dark City, I Robot) I’m very excited to see his take on this supernatural thriller, especially with the movie most likely getting a large budget to work with.

You can read the full story here:Sam Worthington Attached to Star in Alex Proyas’ DRACULA: YEAR ZERO; Filming Scheduled to Begin June 2011

We already have reported that Sam’s film “The Debt” will be making it’s North American premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. We now know that another of Sam’s films, “Last Night” with Kiera Knightley, Eva Mendes will close this year’s festival.

The following is from the festival’s
Official Site:
Closing Night Film
Last Night Massy Tadjedin, USA/France World Premiere
A married couple are apart for a night when the husband takes a business trip with a colleague to whom he’s attracted. While he’s away, his wife encounters her past love. The film stars Keira Knightley, Eva Mendes, Sam Worthington and Guillaume Canet.

Sam arrived at LAX yesterday ( Aug 15, 2010) forsaking his traditional “rock” tshirts and hoodies for an “Ultimate Fighting Championship” hoodie. We love that Sam took time to pose with the little girl. It would be so easy to be in a bad mood when you are being followed by a pack of razzi photographers, so it’s nice to see that Sam is keeping it real and didn’t diss the little fan.

You can see all of the photos in our gallery here:LAX 15 Aug ’10 Album

Like all good rumors, this one is taking on a life of it’s own. Supposedly Production Weekly said earlier this week that Sam Worthington was “interested” in this project. That has evolved in to many headlines saying that Sam is “attached” to the project. Now in my experience, “attached” usually means more of a commitment than just being “interested”. Usually “attached” means that the actor has said they will do the role if the film gets off the ground, while “interested” means only that.. “interested” with no promises. So, with that in mind, I’ll share some of the info floating around in cyber world, and then we can all wait and see who really ends up in the role.

Worst Previews used the word “interested” and gives us a little info on the plot and director:

The actor is apparently very interested, and director David Ayer (Street Kings, Harsh Times) will helm and pen the script, which will be a “real world” spin on the main character, retired elite special forces operative who sees his daughter kidnapped and is told she’ll die unless he gets on a plane and kills the rival of a nasty exiled dictator.

Back in April, CinemaBlend had this to say

Of course the only Commando question that really matters is who will replace Arnold? I’m sure at some point they’ll talk to Sam Worthington, and a year ago he might have been a realistic possibility. Now, after Avatar and Clash of the Titans, he’s probably too big a star to do it.