Roger Ebert's job at the Chicago Sun-Times is fittingly going to his former colleague and friend Richard Roeper. On Thursday, the newspaper announced that it has named Roeper its movie columnist, making him the lead on its film coverage going forward. Ebert, who is arguably the world's most famous film journalist, died in April at the age of 70 after a long battle with cancer.  Like Ebert, Roeper will write columns and reviews about film for the print and online editions of the Sun-Times, and he'll also host two weekly online video shows.

Ebert's widow, Chaz, told the Associated Press that "Roger would have been thrilled as I am over the news." For his part, Roeper told Chicago media blogger Robert Feder that his approach to film criticism will remain the same as it has for more than 20 years and more than 2,000 reviews to date. "I'm here to tell the moviegoer what the movie is about, what I loved or hated about it, and whether or not I think it’s worth their time and money, whether they’re going to see it at the multiplex or on their gadget of choice," Roeper said.