Movie buzz: Liam Hemsworth's 'Nights'

WHO Liam Hemsworth

THE MOVIE "The Arabian Nights"

THE DEAL The actor known as Gale Hawthorne in "The Hunger Games" is starring in a movie scheduled to begin production in August, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "The Arabian Nights" is a 3-D adventure film based on the book of Middle Eastern folklore and includes such recognizable figures as Aladdin, Sinbad and Scheherazade. The writer and director is Chuck Russell ("The Scorpion King"). Long delayed while Russell searched for financing, the film is now a joint U.S.-China production. China's Film Bureau approved the project after receiving an altered plot synopsis from the film's producers, though the nature of the alterations is unknown.

THE MOVIE "To the Wonder"

THE DEAL Terrence Malick, who directed the modern classics "Badlands" and "Days of Heaven," has always been a favorite among art-house fans for his visually sumptuous and meditative films. It turns out he also has at least one faith-based fan. Tom Petriano, professor and chairman of religious studies at St. Joseph's College in Patchogue (he teaches "Faith on Film"), will host a screening of the director's latest, "To the Wonder." It stars Ben Affleck and Olga Kurylenko ("Oblivion") as American and Ukrainian lovers. Javier Bardem plays a conflicted priest.

INFO Thursday night at 7:30 at The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center, 20 Terry St., Patchogue. The film also screens alone tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. 631-438-0083; plazamac.org

WHO Richard Nixon

SEE PHOTOSThe 50 biggest box office hits of all time

THE MOVIE "X-Men: Days of Future Past"

THE DEAL The disgraced president may play a "pivotal" role in the latest installment of the "X-Men" franchise. Director Bryan Singer has been actively tweeting pictures from the set, including one titled "Welcome to 1973" that showed Hugh Jackman, as Wolverine, wearing a wide-lapeled leather jacket. Earlier this week, he sent out a picture of protesters -- in vintage outfits and waving Vietnamese flags -- titled "GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!!!" Singer also tweeted a photo of what appears to be a Nixon look-alike surrounded by advisers in the Oval Office and labeled it "Pivotal meeting." This wouldn't be the first time the mutant X-Men changed history: They joined 1962's Cuban Missile Crisis in "X-Men: First Class."