Warner Bros.' new horror film "Orphan," opening next Friday, has sparked outrage from the adoption community, which says it promotes negative stereotypes about orphans. In this latest incarnation of the perennial paranoia, a middle-class family adopts an eerie 9-year-old girl who wreaks havoc on their lives.

The film has also sparked a 4,145-member Facebook group called "I Am Boycotting Warner Bros. 'Orphan' Movie" and outrage from various Christian and other adoption groups.

Already, Warner Bros. has changed the initial voice-over from the trailer that ominously stated, "It must be difficult to love an adopted child as much as your own," to "I don't think Mommy likes me very much."

Studio spokesman Scott Rowe said in a statement, " 'Orphan' is a work of fiction; it is not a depiction of any real-life events or situations and has never been portrayed as anything but an entirely fictional story. We apologize if we appeared insensitive with the initial trailer as it's never our intent to offend anyone with our products."

- Los Angeles Times

Toronto details

Real-life couple Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany will kick off the Toronto International Film Festival with the life story of Charles Darwin.

Bettany stars as the theory-of-evolution pioneer and Connelly plays his wife in "Creation," which opens the festival Sept. 10. The film is directed by Jon Amiel, whose credits include "The Core" and "Entrapment."

The Toronto event is among a flurry of film showcases, including the Venice and Telluride festivals, that help launch Hollywood's awards season each year.

Along with "Creation," the Toronto lineup will feature Jane Campion's "Bright Star," a drama about another 19th century Brit, John Keats. "Bright Star," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, traces the love story of doomed poet Keats (Ben Whishaw) and a passionate neighbor (Abbie Cornish).

Other films announced by festival organizers include Matt Damon and Steven Soderbergh's whistle-blower saga "The Informant"; Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner and Tina Fey's fantasy comedy "The Invention of Lying"; Clive Owen's widower drama "The Boys Are Back"; Michael Douglas' womanizer tale "Solitary Man"; Neil Jordan and Colin Farrell's Irish fairy tale "Ondine"; Robert Duvall, Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek's Depression-era drama "Get Low"; and Tim Blake Nelson's comic story "Leaves of Grass," with Edward Norton in dual roles as twin brothers.

- Associated Press

'Loop' preview

There will be a sneak preview of "In the Loop" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Vogue theater on Sacramento at Presidio. The film is a political satire about the fallout when a British cabinet minister uses an unfortunate word in reply to a reporter's question about the possibility of a U.S. war in the Middle East. Cast includes British stalwarts Tom Hollander and Peter Capaldi, and James Gandolfini plays an American general.

Aaron Peskin, former president of the Board of Supervisors and chair of the San Francisco Democratic Central Committee, will introduce the film. For information, go to www.voguesf.com.

- Chronicle Staff Report

Writing residency

The San Francisco Film Society, in conjunction with the Djerassi Resident Artists Program, will offer a monthlong residency in the Santa Cruz Mountains for an emerging or established screenwriter, starting Aug. 10.

The residency offers living and studio accommodations and all meals, at no cost to the winner. Both U.S. and international screenwriters may apply.

The aim of the Djerassi program is to provide "uninterrupted time for work, reflection and collegial interaction in a setting of great natural beauty."

Letters of inquiry may be submitted through Aug. 4. More information: sffs.org/filmmaker-services/grants-and-prizes, or djerassi.org.

- Chronicle Staff Report

Portman in 'Thor'

"Star Wars" co-star Natalie Portman is storming back into action films with a role in the comic-book adaptation "Thor."

The 28-year-old Portman has been cast as Jane Foster, who was a nurse and first love of the title character in the Marvel Comics. According to Marvel Studios, the character is being updated for the movie version of "Thor," in which the Norse warrior is cast down to Earth to live among humans. Chris Hemsworth stars as Thor in the movie, which begins shooting early next year. It is due in theaters May 20, 2011. Kenneth Branagh is directing "Thor."

Associated Press

This article appeared on page E - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle