Well, the good news is that the sequel to Journey To The Centre Of The Earth 3D is going ahead, with director Brad Peyton in place to take the reins; the bad news is that it looks like Brendan Fraser will not be joining the mine-cart race this time, with Josh Hutcherson taking over as the lead character.
As you may remember, the first film in 2008 was a 3D extravaganza wherein geologist Trevor Anderson (Fraser), his nephew Sean (Hutcherson) and mountain guide Hannah (Anita Briem) headed off to investigate some unusual readings from an Icelandic volcano (omigod it was ahead of its time!), only to find themselves in an adventure that owed more than a little to Jules Verne's classic sci-fi tale.
According to Deadline New York, Fraser was keen for original director Eric Brevig to return for the sequel and bowed out when Brevig got held up making Yogi Bear and the studio decided to push ahead with Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore director Peyton instead.
Assuming he doesn't reconsider (because studios like stars, and who doesn't like Brendan Fraser, the big loveable mug?), the script will be reworked to make Josh Hutcherson the lead character on another journey way, way, way underground.
We can expect to see this sequel - in proper 3D again - in 2011, so watch out for it sometime late next year, we're guessing. You'll be able to spot it when half the posters in London start spelling the word "centre" with an "er" because the publicity materials weren't translated when they crossed the Atlantic.