Friday, February 25, 2011

The Bits Are Back

Lots of no frill industy bits to end the work week

-Naomi Watts, Rachel Weisz, and Rebecca Hall are all under consideration for the lead roles in "The Trade", the true story of two former Yankee pitchers in 1972 who swapped partners and families reports The New York Post

-Charles McDougall is in talks to direct the Steve Carell-led magician comedy "Burt Wonderstone" for New Line says The Hollywood Reporter

-Kat Dennings will star in the upcoming drama "Renee" which has just begun production in Florida reports The Orlando Sentinel.

-"The King's Speech" producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman are teaming with Christina Piovesan on the romantic comedy "American English" for See-Saw Films and First Generation Films reports Variety

-Acclaimed stop-motion filmmaker Henry Selick ("Coraline," "The Nightmare Before Christmas") and Disney Pictures are teaming for a new horror feature aimed at children reports Bleeding Cool.

Superman The Movie Credits

-A list (with videos) of the fifty greatest opening title sequences of all time is up at IFC.com.

-24" producer Howard Gordon told TV Squad "The '24' movie is on hold for now, although conversations are ongoing"

-Simon Pegg tweeted about the "Star Trek" sequel, saying "Word on the bridge is the new script is AMAZEBALLS and I cannot wait!!!!"

-Nicolas Cage says that the upcoming "Ghost Rider" sequel will include an entirely new origin sequence.

-King's Speech director Tom Hooper has revealed to the LAT that he was offered  to direct "Iron Man 3". When he turned it down, Shane Black is gonns helm Iron Man 3 instead. Hooper is instead focused on a new adaptation of "Les Miserables".

- "Inception" is undergoing 3D conversion for an upcoming 3D Blu-ray release according to filmmaker Jonathan Liebesman via MovieWeb

-Stephen Root has signed on to play Arthur Koehler, a wood specialist who was instrumental in the case of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, in Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar" says Variety

-Actress Kristin Davis told E she's against the idea of a prequel to “Sex and the City”

-With her most recent film "In A Better World" is expected to walk away with the Best Foreign Film Oscar, Susanne Bier has already moved onto her next project says Deadline.Bier’s longtime writing collaborator Anders Thomas Jensen (“Brothers,” “After the Wedding”) is said to be almost done with the script for "Rapt", a remake of the Cesar-nominated French true story thriller.

-The Animation Picture Company will make the 3-D animated feature "Zombie Pet Shop" reports Variety.The story concerns a mysterious plague that sweeps through a mall pet shop, turning all of the animals into zombies. An ordinary pug must find the antidote that will save his four-legged friends, as well as the humans that might take them home.

-Arrested Development" creator Mitch Hurwitz is set to direct a remake of Lars von Trier’s Norwegian comedy "The Boss of it All" ("Direktoren For Det Hele") says  The Wrap. The story centers on an IT company that hires an actor to serve as the company’s president in order to help sell the business. Turns out the current boss pretended there was another boss above him so it would be easier to break bad news to employees

-Norwegian actress Ingrid Bolsø Berdal has joined the cast of "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters" says Bloody Disgusting.The story picks up the fairy-tale siblings 15 years after their traumatic gingerbread house incident, which has provoked them to become witch bounty hunters. Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton play the pair.Berdal will portray one of the witches, and is described as a “superbad killing machine". Famke Jansenn also stars in the 3D feature.Tommy Wirkola ("Dead Snow") directs from a script he co-wrote with D.W. Harper. Shooting kicks off in a few weeks in Berlin.

-Robert Downey Jr is in talks to star in one of Paul Thomas Anderson's potential next projects "Inherent Vice" says Risky Biz Blog.

-Malcolm D. Lee, Spike Lee's cousin and the director of 1999's The Best Man, has some criticism for Tyler Perry. Lee said, "He’s not interested in art, he’s interested in turning out a product" via BET What???!!

-Gabriele Muccino ("Seven Pounds," "The Pursuit of Happyness") is said to be in the running to helm "Adaline" states Variety. The story follows a young woman killed and then revived in a freak accident that physiologically locks her into her late 20's. After decades of living a solitary existence, she finally meets a man who might be worth losing her immortality over so they can grow old together. Mills Goodloe and Sal Paskowitz penned the screenplay.

-Christopher McQuarrie ("The Usual Suspects," "Valkyrie") has reportedly signed on to provide the screenplay for a new feature film adaptation of "Star Blazers" reports Deadline.But AICN says they've heard the rights are still up for grabs with several companies negotiating for them.

-John August ("Big Fish," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory") is the latest scribe to have a go at the screenplay for "The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft" reports Tracking Board. Mac Carter and Jeff Blitz penned the graphic novel which transforms the young writer's darkest nightmares into reality when he comes across a book that puts a curse on him and lets the evils he conjures up loose on the world. The story also borrows elements from the legendary horror author's life, such as his family's struggle with mental illness and his own bouts with writer's block.

-Paramount Pictures has acquired the film rights to John Scalzi's Hugo award-winning novel "Old Man's War" reports Variety.The first book in a series, the story follows a 75-year-old man who joins an off-world military coalition to protect human colonies after his wife dies. He is given a genetically enhanced body, allowing him to have the experience of age but the strength of a younger man.Wolfgang Petersen ("Air Force One," "Poseidon") is set to direct while David Self will adapt the script. Petersen and Scott Stuber will produce

No comments: