One of the most highly anticipated movies on the horizon is James Cameron's Avatar, slated for release in 2009. The film marks Cameron's return to a genre he pretty much defined in the 80's and early 90's -- science fiction. Avatar has a budget of $200 million, it will be projected in 3-D, and will contain sure-to-be-mind-blowing special effects designed by Cameron and Peter Jackson's effects company -- Weta. Not much is known about the film at this point, but we do know that it stars Miss Aliens herself, Sigourney Weaver, and Australian actor Sam Worthington. Worthington's not well known here yet, but he played the title role in the 2006 version of Macbeth. Cameron favorite Michael Biehn is rumored to be attached as well, which would be awesome. There's a lot of secrecy surrounding the project, but Weaver talked it up a bit to Hit while on a break from the film.

"It's a fantastic movie. So ambitious. So romantic and sweeping. I can't wait to get back," says Weaver, who will play a botanist (hopefully an ass-kicking botanist) and mentor to Worthington's character. Weaver describes Worthington as "a terrific actor, he really is. And a lovely guy. I think he's going to do a wonderful job. His humor and charm and just genuineness as a person are very evident as soon as you start working with him." Any chance we can get some juicy details, Miss Weaver? "I'm not allowed to give too much away, but we have parallel adventures. There's a younger person's story and a smaller, older person's story all happening at the same time. All my scenes are with [Worthington]. It's really a lovely relationship." Parallel older/younger stories, eh? Sounds a bit Titanic-y. Speaking of Sigourney, can I just beg for a moratorium on these DirecTV ads that brutally assault my childhood memories? I don't need to hear Doc Brown and Ellen Ripley begging me to switch cable companies. It really stings.