Friday, September 30, 2011

Fall Into Stew

Lots of industry news nearly slipped away during September--Thus this latest installment of Cinema Stew...


-A rare cut of Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining", with additional footage that seems to make the supernatural threat more ambiguous, will be screened late next month in New York according to  Bleeding Cool.

-Jaylnn Bailey ("Betty’s Ready") has reportedly been hired to re-write the script for "The Low Self-Esteem of Lizzie Gillespie" at Mandate Pictures and Mr. Mudd reports Variety."The Office" writers Brent Forrester and Mindy Kaling penned the original draft which centers on a woman who only attracts losers, but one day finds herself pursued by an extremely hot guy.

-CBS Films is in negotiations to co-finance "In Bruges" writer/director Martin McDonagh's next project "Seven Psychopaths" reports Variety.

-"A History of Violence" writer Josh Olson will pen "Tabloid", a project being setup as a starring vehicle for Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger at Shangri-La Entertainment says Deadline.

-Benderspink has optioned the rights to Adrian Magson's spy thriller novel "Red Station" says Heat Vision.

-Brad Pitt has been offered the lead role in Doug Liman's film adaptation of the manga "All You Need Is Kill" at Warner Bros. Pictures says Variety.

-Liman will call also action on "Everest", an adaptation of Jeffrey Archer's historical novel "Paths of Glory", says Deadline.

-Sam Trammell ("True Blood") and Zach Gilford ("Friday Night Lights") joined Sarah Siegel-Magness' already filming indie directorial debut "Long Time Gone" reports True Blood Online.

-Just off the success of the recent digital series for Warner Premiere, New Line has hired "Fame" director Kevin Tancharoen to direct a reboot of the "Mortal Kombat" film franchise reports Heat Vision.

-Stuart Paul writes the script while Todd Lincoln is set to direct an adaptation of the comic "The Nye Incidents" reports Heat Vision.

-While many are still wondering if Mel Gibson's long planned Judah Maccabee biopic will go ahead at Warners, someone else has already begun work on a rival project says Risky Biz Blog.

-Niki Caro ("North Country," "Whale Rider") has signed on to write and direct the biopic "Callas" at De Angelis Group says The Hollywood Reporter.

-Warner Bros. Pictures wants Steven Spielberg to direct their upcoming Moses biopic epic "Gods and Kings" reports Deadline. The story chronicles Moses' entire life span from birth to death using the Book of Exodus and other Old Testament biblical stories for reference. Despite the obvious similarity to "The Ten Commandments", this is reportedly NOT a remake of that Cecil B. DeMille classic. Michael Green and Stuart Hazeldine wrote the script which Steve has reportedly read, though no formal offer is on the table and the odds of getting Spielberg are long. Dan Lin and Matti Leshem are producing.

-Chris Columbus ("Percy Jackson," "Mrs. Doubtfire") is in talks to direct the action comedy "The Secret Lives of Road Crews" says Deadline. The story follows a clandestine group of road crew workers who are the last line of defense against a subterranean alien race. Kevin Lund and T.J. Scott wrote the initial script Craig Mazin did a re-write with writers being sought to do another re-write. Hal Lieberman is producing the pic.

-The Guardian reports that producers are serious about perhaps making a franchise out of the remake Tinker Tailor Solder Spy and are expected to make an announcement soon in Paris about development of a sequel.

-Screen Gems is in negotiations to score the remake rights to Gareth Evans' Indonesian action thriller "The Raid" reports Heat Vision.

-20th Century Fox has won the film rights to Isaac Asimov's 1954 novel "The Caves of Steel" reports Deadline Set in the 30th century, the story is set in a time when humans have grown increasingly paranoid of 'spacers', robots who perform slave labor on outer planets.When a reformist "spacer" ambassador is murdered, a detective pairs up with a robot disguised as a human to solve the crime. Henry Hobson will direct from a script adaptation by John Scott III. the duo are currently in pre-production on the teen zombie girl tale "Maggie".

-Sony Pictures has confirmed via Facebook that "Ghostbusters" will be getting a theatrical re-release for a special limited engagement on October 13th, October 20th and October 27th. 500 U.S. cities are getting the film

-Frankie & Alice" writers Marko King, Mary King and Jonathan Watters are re-teaming to pen an American remake of the 2006 Taiwanese supernatural thriller "Silk" reports Heat Vision.

-Rob Zombie confirmed via Horror Movies.ca that Meg Foster ("They Live," "The Osterman Weekend") has joined the cast of his "The Lords of Salem". Foster will play Margaret Morgan, the leader of a secret coven of witches in Salem.

-Here's a 'Friday Night Lights' Movie Update.

-DreamWorks has picked up the film rights to Roald Dahl's book "The BFG" reports Reuters."E.T." writer Melissa Mathison will adapt the classic 1982 children's book about a big friendly giant. Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall will produce.

-“Crazy Stupid Love” directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa and re-teaming with Steve Carrell on a new project reports Moviehole.

-Top Model Tyra Banks' young adult novel "Modelland", the first in a potential trilogy, could already be coming  to the big screen says The Hollywood Reporter. Banks was approached by a successful film producer about the rights. The story centers on an awkward teen who gets invited to attend an elite modeling academy.

-Lionsgate has optioned the film rights to the zombie-themed video game "Dead Island" from publisher Deep Silver says The Hollywood Reporter.

-Michael K. Williams ("Boardwalk Empire") and Isaiah Washington ("Grey's Anatomy") are teaming to star in and produce the indie-thriller "The Suspect" says Shadow & Act.

-Spike Lee took to Twitter recently to announce deets about a secret project.

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