In astonishing news that's leading some foolhardy optimists to believe that Chinese Democracy might actually be released this year, the New York Times reports this morning that "Shackler's Revenge," a track from the long-awaited, allegedly completed Guns N' Roses album, will make its debut on the soundtrack to the upcoming video game Rock Band 2, coming out in September via MTV Games. The deal makes clear the importance of video games in the marketing strategies of record labels, particularly now that all other forms of promotion have been rendered wholly ineffective by the Internet. But does this mean, as the Times suggests, that Democracy might actually hit the few still-existing record stores sometime in the fall? Of course not!

But if, against all odds, the album actually does come out in 2008 (which it will not) — what will usurp Democracy as the world's longest-delayed, most trouble-plagued entertainment product? This week, Warner Bros. seems to be hoping it's the upcoming (?) Spike Jonze–helmed film adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are, which was recently removed from the studio's 2009 release schedule. On Friday, Warner president Alan Horn told the L.A. Times that, despite rumors, Jonze has not yet been fired from Wild Things. "We've given him more money and, even more importantly, more time for him to work on the film," says Horn. "We'd like to find a common ground that represents Spike's vision but still offers a film that really delivers for a broad-based audience. We obviously still have a challenge on our hands. But I wouldn't call it a problem, simply a challenge." Yikes! With confidence-inspiring spin like that, we're pretty sure we'll be sick of Chinese Democracy before we see the first Wild Things trailer.

Planned Guns N’ Roses Deal Underscores Power of Video Games to Sell Songs [NYT]
Can Spike Jonze save 'Where the Wild Things Are'?

Earlier: Spike Jonze Not Yet Fired From ‘Where the Wild Things Are’
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Lauren Ambrose Reports Shouting Matches on Set of ‘Where the Wild Things Are’
We've Got Dave Eggers's and Spike Jonze's Script for ‘Where the Wild Things Are’