Saturday, June 30, 2012

Issac Has "Two Faces"

Oscar Isaac has joined the film adaptation of author Patricia Highsmith's book The Two Faces of January says Variety.


The story follows the "follows a con artist, his wife and a stranger who try to flee a foreign country after one of them is caught up in the murder of a police officer".

Isaac would be reteaming with Drive writer Hossein Amini, who not only penned the adapted script of the crime tale, but will also make the film is directorial debut as well.

Viggo Mortensen co-stars.

Financing is just now coming together

Mad Max Reboot Will Get Converted To 3-D

 George Miller's "Mad Max: Fury Road"--the reboot of the Mad Max franchise will NOT be shot in 3-D as it was originally thought. Instead, the film will undergo the conversion process in post-production according to Inside Film.


Miller had been developing new 3-D cameras and rigs to use on the film, but concern that an unproven system could not withstand tough desert conditions in Namibia and the film's extensive stunt work made the decision for them to go this route instead.

Tom Hardy will star as post-apocalyptic drifter Max Rockatansky made famous first by Mel Gibson.

Nicholas Hoult, Riley Keough, Charlize Theron Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Adelaide Clemens also star. Aussie Supermodel Abbey Lee Kershaw will make her acting debut in the pic.

After a series of financial and weather related delays production is finally underway...

Fun Size Trailer: "I'm Betting Sexy Kitty..."

The first theatrical trailer for the Halloween themed teen comedy Fun Size has arrived...And I must say the film looks good from what's on display here...And it could actually be quite a treat.....

Nickelodeon Movies ain't targeting the Disney crowd with this this one that's fer sure....

In the film, a sarcastic teenage girl (Victoria Justice of TV's Tween comedy Victorious) is forced to take her little brother trick-or-treating on Halloween, then loses him and must find him before their mother finds out.

Thomas Mann, Jane Levy, Thomas Middleditch, Thomas McDonell, Osric Chau, Jackson Nicoll, Riki Lindhome Ana Gasteyer, Josh Pence, Holmes Osborne, James Pumphrey, Willam Belli Johnny Knoxville Chelsea Handler and Peter Navy Tuiasosopo also star.

Big fan of Levy thanks to her TV gig Suburgatory which adds inncentive for me to see this.

The Max Werner script is described as a cross between Superbad and Adventures in Babysitting

Josh Schwartz (The O.C.) made his feature film directorial debut here.

Schwartz and Stephanie Savage produced the flick

The film arrives in theaters October 26.

Long Starts Working For Holland @ "Ten O'Clock"

Justin Long is in talks for the lead role in the film adaptation of author Stephen King's short story "The Ten O'Clock People" says Deadline.


The premise follows Boston man Brandon Pearson (Long) who is trying to kick his smoking habit. As a result of this, a unique chemical imbalance allows him to see a frightening aspect of reality he hadn't previously seen - that many people living in positions of power are actually inhuman monsters disguised as people.

Tom Holland ("Child's Play," the original "Fright Night") wrote the adapted script and will direct

The tale was first published in the 1993 as part of the anthology "Nightmares And Dreamscapes". Five stories from the collection made up a basic cable anthology mini-series of the same name in 2006.

Production begins in September in New York City

Moyer Prosecutes The WM3 In "Knot"

True Blood's Stephen Moyer has joined the cast of Atom Egoyan's film "Devil's Knot" about the infamous West Memphis Three murder case says Deadline.


The WM3 were sent to prison for the brutal murder of the three 8-year old boys who were found hog-tied in a drainage ditch. The trio of teenagers were convicted despite not a shred of physical evidence pointing to their guilt. Fueled by sensationalized reports about devil worship and ritualistic sacrife public opinion was against them.

Reese Witherspoon will play Pam Hobbs, the mother of one of the murder victims, who initially believes the trio committed the crime. She is eventually is persuaded that they are innocent. The trio were exonerated from the 1993 murders this last August, after spending nearly two decades in prison.

Colin Firth will play Ron Lax, a prominent private investigator and the first pro bono supporter of the defendents as they headed to trial in 1993. Lax helped find the DNA in the knots that bound one of the victims, evidence which cast suspicion on the stepfather of one of the boys - Terry Hobbs (Alessandro Nivola).

Newcomer James Hamrick has been cast to play the role of Damien Echols , the presumed leader of the trio. Justin Castor is set to appear as Jason Baldwin and Kristopher Higgins (In Time) will play Jessie Misskelley rounding out the accused.

Moyer will play prosecutor John Fogelman.

Bruce Greenwood will play Judge David Burnett, who presided over the trial in a manner that was later criticized as being biased. Michael Gladis will play Dan Stidham, the defense attorney for suspect Misskelley Jr. Matt Letscher will play the defense attorney for Baldwin. Mireille Enos, star of the hit TV series The Killing will play Vicki Hutcheson, an important witness in the case and was a link between two of the trio. Amy Ryan would play soon-to-be ex-wife of Lax. Dane DeHaan would play a teen who had history with the three murdered boys. Robert Baker will star as Detective Bryan Ridge, one of the first responders and a main investigator on the case. Brian Howe will also star as a cop in the form of California’s Detective McDonough, who gets drawn into the case while chasing down a lead. Kevin Durand will play the role of John Mark Byers, the father of one of the murdered children in the case. He loved talking to the press and was initially a person of interest in the murders since his story changed from his initial police statement. Rex Linn will play Chief Inspector Gary Gitchell was the lead investigator in the case.

At least four documentaries about the story have been produced.

Paul Harris Boardman and Scott Derrickson wrote the screenplay for "Knot" adapted from Mara Leveritt's non-fiction book on the case. with Boardman and Egoyan doing re-writes recently.

Boardman, Elizabeth Fowler, Clark Peterson, Richard Saperstein, and Christopher Woodrow will produce.

Production on Devil’s Knot is underway.

Spall Is A "Son of the South"

Rafe Spall will play the lead role in the indie drama "Son of the South" says The Playlist.


The story follows a white author Bob Zellner who grew up in Alabama as the son of a minister and grandson of a Ku Klux Klan member, and who later joined the Civil Rights Movement.

Jacqueline Emerson and Louis Gossett Jr. also star.

The script is adapted from Zellner's book titled The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement.

Barry Alexander Brown will direct the picture with Spike Lee set to produce.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Jones Handles De Niro In "Malavita"

Tommy Lee Jones is in final tals to join Luc Besson's comedic  action thriller "Malavita" reports The Chicago Tribune.


The pic is an adaptation of author Tonino Benacquista's novel Badfellas and the story follows a mob family that relocates to Normandy under a witness protection program. However, the family finds that old habits die hard.

Jones will play Robert De Niro's stern handler in the FBI -sponsored program who tries to help them assimilate to their new life overseas.

Michelle Pfeiffer also stars as De Niro's wife

Besson who will also produce the film--writes the adapted script with Michael Caleo

Production kicks off in August.

For his part Besson is certainly one busy guy picking up yet another film....

Woodley Follows The "White Bird"

Shailene Woodley ("The Descendants") will star in the drama White Bird says Variety.


The story follows a young woman whose mother disappears, turning her life upside down.

Gregg Araki‘s calling action on the film from his own script.

Sebastien Lemercier, Pascal Caucheteux, and Araki will produce the film.

Woodley is expected to work on James Ponsoldt's "The Spectacular Now" before working on "Bird".

TDKR: How Much $$ Will It Earn When It Opens?

Three weeks out from release of Christopher Nolan's bat-capper "The Dark Knight Rises" and the early earning estimates estimates seem to indicate one of the biggest openings of all time reports The Los Angeles Times.


In fact folks who stated that they are 'definitely interested' in seeing the film and placed it as their 'first choice' are 64% and 22%, respectively - higher than "The Dark Knight" and identical to the numbers of "Marvel's The Avengers", three weeks away from its release.

TDKR won't get the 3-D ticket price bump that "The Avengers" had , and it's not appealing as strongly to women, so the possibility of it breaking that $207.4 million opening weekend record seems unlikely.

Anything can happen though- 'Avengers' ended up exceeding expectations, 'Knight' might end up doing the same as well. The film should easily surpass the $158.4 million opening of "The Dark Knight", in '08 the real question is how close will it get to $200 million.

Christian Bale Tom Hardy Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt Marion Cotillard Josh Pence, Alon Aboutboul and Nestor Carbonell star along with a return of the trilogy's ensemble cast such as Morgan Freeman Gary Oldman and Michael Caine Cillian Murphy and Liam Neeson might also be making cameos.

Matthew Modine Tom Conti Joey King Daniel Sunjata Diego Klattenhoff Christopher Judge "CSI: Miami" co-star Adam Rodriguez and Burn Gorman take on secondary roles. Rob Brown and Italian actor Massi Furlan have small roles in the film as well

Nolan called action on the DKR from a screenplay he wrote with bro Jonathan Nolan, from a story by Nolan and David S. Goyer that features Bane (Hardy) and Catwoman (Hathaway) plotting to take down Batman (Bale).

The sequel is set to hit theaters on July 20th, 2012.

Marvel Readies A Guardians Film?

Word is that Marvel is set to announce that "Guardians of the Galaxy" will be its May 2014 movie release.


The original story centers on a group of aliens, the last surviving members of their kind, who journey to Earth to protect the planet from an upcoming invasion.

Bleeding Cool reports that Marvel has filed for eleven trademarks under the title, applying the name to a variety of international classes including "jewelery, beverages, furniture, cosmetics, computer games, fabrics, foods, paper goods, entertainment, internet services and even retail store services."

Sources for Heat Vision also indicate that news on the 'Guardians' film is expected at the company's panel during Comic-Con 2012.

It is the pic considered "most ready" to go thanks to Nicole Perlman's well-regarded script for which she penned two drafts.

Carter "Stands Tall" As Director

"Coach Carter" and "Save the Last Dance" helmer Thomas Carter is set to direct the true life tale "When the Game Stands Tall" says The Hollywood Reporter.


The film is based on the inspirational true story of high school football coach Bob Ladouceur, who led his perennial losing California team, the De La Salle Spartans Football to twelve consecutive undefeated seasons from 1992 to 2004 and a streak of 138 straight victories.

The goal is to use a cast of relative unknowns.

Scott Marshall Smith ("The Score") is adapting the screenplay using the book by Neil Hayes

Cathy Schulman and David Zelon are producing the film

Production hopes to kick off in September

Cee Lo Green Sings A Song To Save A Life

Cee Lo Green is set to join "Once" writer/director John Carney's new musical romance pic "Can a Song Save Your Life?" says Reuters.


The film follows a woman (Keira Knightley) who moves with her boyfriend (Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine) to New York to pursue music careers. After he dumps her for a solo contract, she is discovered singing at a local bar by a down-on-his-luck record producer (Mark Ruffalo).

Green will play a successful hip hop star named Troublegum.

James Corden plays the best friend of Knightley’s character. "True Grit" star Hailee Steinfeld will play Ruffalo's daughter. Catherine Keener will portray a successful music writer and Ruffalo’s estranged wife.

Anthony Bregman, Nigel Sinclair and Guy East will produce while Judd Apatow will executive produce the film.

Production will begin on Monday In NYC.

Think Like A Man Gets A Sequel

Screen Gems is moving ahead with plans for a sequel to the recent surprise sleeper hit "Think Like a Man" says The Hollywood Reporter.


The first film, is based on Steve Harvey's bestselling 2009 book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, and starred comedian Kevin Hart as a self-professed relationship expert who is quick to give advice to his crew of friends, even as his own marriage heads toward divorce.

The film has grossed more than $91 million domestically since its release on April 20th.

Keith Merryman & David A. Newman who wrote the first film, are set to return to pen the sequel's script.

Will Packer's back to produce as well.

Trammell & Krause Follow The "White Rabbit"

True Blood's Sam Trammell and Nick Krause ("The Descendants") have joined the dark indie fantasy drama "White Rabbit" says Heat Vision.



The story follows a bullied, high schooler (Krause), who begins having visions of a rabbit that he killed when he was nine years old. The rabbit, along with other imaginary characters, turn menacing in the hopes of pushing him over the edge and luring him into one last fatal act of revenge. Trammell plays his father.

Anthony Di Pietro wrote the script from which Tim McCann will direct.

Robert Yocum, Shaun Sanghani, and Jacky Morgan are producing the pic.

Prduction kicks off in July in New Orleans.

Carr Plans A Wedding Day

Steve Carr is in talks  to helm the ensemble comedy Wedding Day says The Hollywood Reporter.


Andrew Goldberg's script centers around a number of guests who meet - and whose personalities collide - over the course of one day at a wedding.

Andrew Lazar will produce the film.

Marvel/Disney Will Do A Big Hero 6 Animated Film

Disney Animation Studios is developing a film based on the Marvel's comic book mini-series "Big Hero 6" as an animated feature film reports It's On the Grid (via Blue Sky).



Created in 1998, the Japan-based superhero team includes numerous Marvel characters such as Silver Samurai, GoGo Tomago, Honey Lemon, Hiro Takachiho, Baymax, Wasabi-No-Ginger, Sunpyre, Sunfire, Ebon Samurai and Fred.

Don Hall ("Winnie the Pooh") is directing the film which he apparently pitched to John Lasseter.

Lasseter reportedly "liked his take on the subject and approved it for development" but the project hasn't gotten the official green light yet. Still, a potential 2014 release could happen.

Kristina Reed will be producing.

One snag though is that some of the characters began in the "X-Men" comics and thus would not be able to appear in the film since Fox owns the film rights to them

Weekend Box Office Preview: Ted, Mike, & Medea!

This weekend at the cineplex: Things get really crowded as movies made for adults take center stage...

Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Seth MacFarlane hang out with Ted (reviews); Steven Soderbergh’s male stripper flick Magic Mike (reviews) gets its inspiration from Channing Tatum's pre-Hollywood days as a male dancer; Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks and Michelle Pfeiffer are just People Like Us (reviews); And Tyler Perry's back with his latest comedy Madea's Witness Protection (reviews)





Pamela McClintock of THR:

A raunchy stuffed animal and a posse of male strippers go to battle this weekend at the domestic box office as Hollywood readies for the lucrative July 4th holiday.

Univeral's R-rated comedy Ted, starring Mark Wahlberg opposite a teddy bear, has a good chance of besting holdover Brave for the weekend crown with a debut in the $35 million to $40 million range on the strength of younger males (the studio is predicting a more conservative $26 million to $35 million).

Directed by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, Ted was packaged and fully financed for $50 million by Media Rights Capital.

Opinion is divided as to how much Brave will gross in its second weekend after opening to a stellar $66.3 million last weekend. If the film drops 50 percent, it will earn $33 million; if it drops 40 percent, it will gross $40 million.

The wild card of the weekend is Steven Soderbergh's male-stripper dramedy Magic Mike, loosely based on Channing Tatum's early days as an exotic dancer. The film's cast also includes Matthew McConaughey and Alex Pettfyer.

Warner Bros. acquired North American rights to Magic Mike for only $7 million.

Magic Mike, benefiting from intense interest among women, has racked up strong advance ticket sales, in line with previous female-skewing films, including fellow Warner pic Sex and the City. Warners is predicting an opening in the $15 million to $20 million range for Magic Mike, although other box office observers believe it could earn as much as $25 million.

Magic Mike should see strong midnight business on Thursday.

The weekend's other two new entires are Tyler Perry's latest outing Madea's Witness Protection, from Lionsgate, and DreamWorks and Disney's adult Adult Drama, directed by Alex Kurtzman and starring Chris Pine, Olivia Wilde, Elizabeth Banks and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Witness Protection -- which is tracking strongly among black women -- could keep up with Magic Mike and debut in the $20 million to $25 million range, although Lionsgate puts the film's debut in the high teens.

Witness Protection is the first Perry film to be released in summer, and Lionsgate is betting on good midweek business over July 4th week.

People Like Us, going out in a smaller number of theaters than its rivals, is expected to open in the $5 million to $7 million range, a soft start for the DreamWorks film. The hope is that the movie will serve as counter-programming throughout the holiday period.

In New York and Los Angeles, People Like Us could end up competing with Fox Searchlight's critically acclaimed Beasts of the Southern Wild for adult attention. Beasts, an early awards contender, opened on Wednesday to promising numbers for an arthouse title, grossing $27,175 from four theaters in Ne York and Los Angeles for a location average of $6,794.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

New Total Recall Trailer

Here's the second trailer for the Total Recall remake.

The film is a new adaptation of the sci-fi saga based on the Philip K. Dick story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale"--and bares little similarity with Paul Verhoeven's 1990 version.

Colin Farrell is playing Douglas Quaid who begins to think he’s a spy, but he doesn’t know whether it’s for Euromerica or New Shanghai -one of the two superpower countries in this world.

Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel are the female leads--Quaid's real life wife Lori, and the "woman of his dreams" Melina, respectively.

Bryan Cranston Bill Nighy Bokeem Woodbine and John Cho also star; Ethan Hawke will have a small cameo in the pic

Len Wiseman called the shots from a script by Mark Bomback Kurt Wimmer and James Vanderbilt. Neal Moritz produced. The film is set to open on August 3, 2012.

I have to say--as much as I like the earlier version--color me impressed here...



But threre is one person that hates the idea of a remake...

Hart Thinks "About Last Night"

Comedian Kevin Hart is the first actor to join the remake of the 1986 rom-com About Last Night according to THR.

The original film , directed by Edward Zwick, starred Demi Moore and Rob Lowe. It was based on David Mamet's play “Sexual Perversity in Chicago,” and tracked the up-and-down relationship of a couple through their first year together.

Hart will play the role that Jim Belushi had in the earlier film.


Leslye Headland (writer-director of the upcoming “Bachelorette”) is penning the new adapted script.

No director is attached to the project yet.

Toy's House Fills Up

Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally have joined the indie comedy "Toy's House" says Digital Spy.


The pic follows Joe Toy (Nick Robinson), who along with teenage pals Patrick (Gabriel Basso) and Blaggio (Moises Arias) heads out into the wilderness to build a house and live off the land.

Erin Moriarty, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Alison Brie also star

Jordan Vogt-Roberts calls the shots from a screenplay by Chris Galletta

Tyler Davidson, John Hodges and Peter Saraf will produce the film.

Reynolds Still In The Mix For The Highlander Redux

Back in May, Ryan Reynolds was considered the front-runner to star in Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's remake of the cult classic Highlander

Today Reynolds remains linked but still unsigned for the upcoming reboot film says The Playlist...despite noise to the contrary.

In "Highlander", after centuries of dueling to survive against others like him, Connor MacLeod, an immortal Scottish swordsman must confront the last of his kind, a murderously brutal barbarian, who lusts for the fabled Prize

"Iron Man" scribes, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway penned the script which goes back to the original film franchise roots. Melissa Rosenberg reportedly gave the script a polish.

Neal Moritz and Peter Davis are producing.

Avellan Twins Return For Machete 2

Electra and Elise Avellan will reprise their roles as nurses Mona and Lisa in Robert Rodriguez’s sequel "Machete Kills" says Variety.


In the sequel to the 2009 action flick "Machete", the next film in a planned trilogy, finds Machete (Danny Trejo) recruited by the U.S. Government to battle his way through Mexico to take down a madman cartel leader and an eccentric billionaire arms dealer (Mel Gibson) who have hatched a plan to spread war across the planet with a weapon in space.

Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez are reprising their respective roles as Sartana and Luz from the first Machete. Amber Heard will play a manipulative assassin codenamed Miss San Antonio. Modern Family star Sofia Vergara is in talks to play the leather-clad Madame Desdemona, whose Mexican harlots have information that Machete needs. Charlie Sheen will play the President of the United States Oscar nominee Demian Bichir Edward James Olmos and Zoe Saldana also star.

Kyle Ward wrote the script.

Alexander Rodnyansky will produce the pic.

Production is underway in Austin Texas

Linn Investigates The "Devil"

Rex Linn has joined the cast of Atom Egoyan's film "Devil's Knot" about the infamous West Memphis Three murder case says Deadline.


The WM3 were sent to prison for the brutal murder of the three 8-year old boys who were found hog-tied in a drainage ditch. The trio of teenagers were convicted despite not a shred of physical evidence pointing to their guilt. Fueled by sensationalized reports about devil worship and ritualistic sacrife public opinion was against them.

Reese Witherspoon will play Pam Hobbs, the mother of one of the murder victims, who initially believes the trio committed the crime. She is eventually is persuaded that they are innocent. The trio were exonerated from the 1993 murders this last August, after spending nearly two decades in prison.

Colin Firth will play Ron Lax, a prominent private investigator and the first pro bono supporter of the defendents as they headed to trial in 1993. Lax helped find the DNA in the knots that bound one of the victims, evidence which cast suspicion on the stepfather of one of the boys - Terry Hobbs (Alessandro Nivola).

Newcomer James Hamrick has been cast to play the role of Damien Echols , the presumed leader of the trio. Justin Castor is set to appear as Jason Baldwin and Kristopher Higgins (In Time) will play Jessie Misskelley rounding out the accused.

Linn will play Chief Inspector Gary Gitchell was the lead investigator in the case.

Bruce Greenwood will play Judge David Burnett, who presided over the trial in a manner that was later criticized as being biased. Michael Gladis will play Dan Stidham, the defense attorney for suspect Misskelley Jr. Matt Letscher will play the defense attorney for Baldwin. Mireille Enos, star of the hit TV series The Killing will play Vicki Hutcheson, an important witness in the case and was a link between two of the trio. Amy Ryan would play soon-to-be ex-wife of Lax. Dane DeHaan would play a teen who had history with the three murdered boys. Robert Baker will star as Detective Bryan Ridge, one of the first responders and a main investigator on the case. Brian Howe will also star as a cop in the form of California’s Detective McDonough, who gets drawn into the case while chasing down a lead. Kevin Durand will play the role of John Mark Byers, the father of one of the murdered children in the case. He loved talking to the press and was initially a person of interest in the murders since his story changed from his initial police statement.

At least four documentaries about the story have been produced.

Paul Harris Boardman and Scott Derrickson wrote the screenplay for "Knot" adapted from Mara Leveritt's non-fiction book on the case. with Boardman and Egoyan doing re-writes recently.

Boardman, Elizabeth Fowler, Clark Peterson, Richard Saperstein, and Christopher Woodrow will produce.

Production on Devil’s Knot is underway.

Garcia Dates Vaughn In "The Internship"

JoAnna Garcia has joined the comedy "The Internship" says Deadline.


In the film "Wedding Crashers" duo Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson play old school salesmen who try to reinvent themselves by becoming interns at a major tech company.

Garcia plays Vaughn’s girlfriend in the film

Max Minghella is in talks to play a ruthlessly competitive intern who plans to sabotage them. O'Brien would play another young intern in the office. Josh Brener Tiya Sircar Teen Wolf" series co-star and NJ native Dylan O'Brien and newcomer Tobit Raphael co-star

Vaughn wrote the script from which Shawn Levy will direct.

The film shoots this Summer in Atlanta.

More On "Starship Troopers" Redux

Now that their Total Recall remake is ready for its August 3rd release producers Neal Moritz and Toby Jaffe are talking about the new version of another sci-fi cult classic - "Starship Troopers".


First announced last December when screenwriters Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz, who have written the superhero movies Thor and X-Men: First Class were charged to pen the new Troopers screenplay

The original film--of which I am a fan-was based upon the book by noted sci-fi author Robert A. Heinlein and directed by Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct) the story chronicled a war between mankind and giant alien bugs, following a military unit as they progressed from recruits through to ranking officers. The film featured impressive Oscar nominated visual effects, gory violence, a fair amount of male and female nudity, a cast of young unknowns with equal amounts of sex appeal, and a tone that blended war-time action with a campy commentary on fascism.

Starring Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Jake Busey, Neil Patrick Harris, Clancy Brown and Michael Ironside, the film had 2 DTV sequels Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation and Starship Troopers 3: Marauder; As well as a TV series called "Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles"

Jaffe told Empire that this new version will be closer to Heinlen's work "Verhoeven took it from one extreme and made it almost comical, whereas our job, as I see it, is to be a little more faithful to the book, and ground it a little more. The novel is extremely widely read, even today; it's on school and university reading lists, and it's read at all the military academies in the United States."

Jaffe adds "Verhoeven had an agenda that made his movie a critique of fascism, whereas I think Heinlein was writing from the perspective of someone who had served in World War II as an American soldier, and was writing it at the time of the Korean War. Y'know, one man's fascism is another man's patriotism."

Also gone. Verhoeven's gory violence and tittilation - "The more expensive a film is, the harder it is now to have it be that violent. It's about re-interpreting it with a very new sensibility for a new generation that doesn't really know the first film. It gives the studio, and us as producers, the opportunity to reintroduce it in a new way."



Jaffe also confirms that they plan to make full use of the giant mechanical Jump Suits from the books which the heroes use to fight the bugs.

No director is yet attached

Chan's New Action Comedy

Jackie Chan is the early planning stages on an as yet Untitled English-language action comedy that he will star in says Heat Vision.


The story sees Chan play a detective who must track down an American gambler that has skipped out on his debt owed to a Macau casino syndicate.

Jay Longino is writing the script based on an original idea of Chan’s.

Chan will also produce with Esmond Ren and David Gerson.

Locations that will be featured in the story include Hong Kong, Macau, Eastern Europe and mainland China.

Catch The Buzz For A Human Fly Film

A feature film based on the 1970's limited run Marvel comics character The Human Fly is in development says Deadline.


Alan Brewer and Steven Goldmann picked up the rights to the property recently.

Goldmann will direct while Brewer and James James Reach will produce.

There were two versions of the character, the first proved a villain to various characters including Spidey.

The second saw a young man of unknown identity severely injured during a car crash. Reconstructive surgeries replaced his skeleton with steel and he became a stunt performer who helped children with disabilities while getting into conflict with various criminals.

Of course the more heroic version of the character will be adapted in this film.

Tyler Perry Hints At Sci-Fi Filn

Tyler Perry's been out promoting his latest comedy Madea's Witness Protection, and told Blackfilm that he was among the many folks disappointed with Ridley Scott's "non" latest chapter in the Alien franchise called "Prometheus"...



So much so in fact that he might attempt to make his own sci-fi genre film very soon

"I love sci-fi, I love the Alien movies and the Alien franchise. I was very disappointed with Prometheus, but I love that whole franchise. Those are my favorite movies. I’m actually working on a sci-fi movie right now" Perry says.

Asked if he could talk a bit more about the idea, he says "No, but I’m writing a sci-fi movie that I’m really excited about."

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Jennifer Lopez Is Carmen Sandiego

Darren Lemke will write the latest live-action film adaptation of the classic educational video game and animated TV Show "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?" says Heat Vision.


The story follows the ACME agency’s greatest detective Carmen Sandiego having become the world’s greatest thief, so it’s up to her former partner to follow her clues and track her down. Their cat-and-mouse game leads the partner to confront a greater mystery: Is Carmen really a thief or a hero?"

The film will be "National Treasure" meets "The Thomas Crown Affair" in tone.

Jennifer Lopez, Benny Medina, Simon Fields, Nick Osbourne, Trevor Engelson and Devin Andre will produce with Lopez tipped to star. 

Disney had optioned the film rights back in the late 1990s starring Sandra Bullock, but that project never materialized

A Damon/Renner Bourne Film?

The Bourne Legacy director Tony Gilroy , star Jeremy Renner (taking over for departing series star Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne playing Aaron Cross.) and producer Frank Marshall talked up the film with Empire Online and briefly spoke about where the films might go next.


Gilroy says "If you think of the first three Bourne films as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, then we're showing you Elsinore. You thought you were seeing something you weren't. What if there's a much larger story? What if Treadstone wasn't the only black-ops program?"

Renner says his character is "coming from a completely different background to Jason [Bourne]. He knows exactly who he is; he signed up to this...He wants to be part of a team. I can tell you he was in the military then he joined the [program]. He's a person who wants to be part of something... to have a sense of purpose. But then it's taken away."

Marshall had the most tantalizing quote: "You see there are several different [programs] in the movie with different skill sets. All possibilities are open. My dream is that in the next one we see Matt and Jeremy team up."

Rachel Weisz also stars as the female lead while Edward Norton is set to play the villain Oscar Isaac plays a brainwashed assassin named 'Number 3' While Joan Allen and Albert Finney have signed on to reprise their roles from the original Bourne films. And Stacy Keach has joined the cast of the film as a new as yet unknown character.

Marshall, Jeffrey M. Weiner and Ben Smith produce the new Bourne.

The reboot hits theaters on August 10th.

Bender Tagged For Devolution

Lost's Jack Bender is poised to direct the thriller "Devolution" says Heat Vision.


Plot details are being kept top secret--but we do know that the story is based on an original idea Max Brooks who created comic book "World War Z" which "Wrath of the Titans" scribe David Leslie Johnson will turn into a script.

Brooks, who also conceived the supernatural historical epic The Great Wall, is producing

Henry Up For McQueen's "Twelve Years A Slave"

"Beasts Of The Southern Wild" star Dwight Henry has joined the cast of "Shame" and "Hunger" director Steve McQueen's "Twelve Years A Slave" says The Washington Post.


Set in the mid-19th century, the film tells the true story of New Yorker Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who was kidnapped and shipped off into forced labor. Eventually he was rescued from a Louisiana cotton plantation in 1853.

There is no word yet on what Henry's role will be.

McQueen and John Ridley (”Bobby,” “Three Kings”) wrote the script.

Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch Garret Dillahunt Paul Giamatti Michael Fassbender, Sarah Paulson Alfre Woodard Brad Pitt Ruth Negga Michael Kenneth Williams Chris Chalk and Scoot McNairy also star.

The film began production 2 weeks ago in New Orleans.

Durand Likes The Media In "Devil's Knot"

Kevin Durand ("Lost") has joined the cast of Atom Egoyan's film "Devil's Knot" about the infamous West Memphis Three murder case says Variety.


The WM3 were sent to prison for the brutal murder of the three 8-year old boys who were found hog-tied in a drainage ditch. The trio of teenagers were convicted despite not a shred of physical evidence pointing to their guilt. Fueled by sensationalized reports about devil worship and ritualistic sacrife public opinion was against them.

Reese Witherspoon will play Pam Hobbs, the mother of one of the murder victims, who initially believes the trio committed the crime. She is eventually is persuaded that they are innocent. The trio were exonerated from the 1993 murders this last August, after spending nearly two decades in prison.

Colin Firth will play Ron Lax, a prominent private investigator and the first pro bono supporter of the defendents as they headed to trial in 1993. Lax helped find the DNA in the knots that bound one of the victims, evidence which cast suspicion on the stepfather of one of the boys - Terry Hobbs (Alessandro Nivola).

Newcomer James Hamrick has been cast to play the role of Damien Echols , the presumed leader of the trio. Justin Castor is set to appear as Jason Baldwin and Kristopher Higgins (In Time) will play Jessie Misskelley rounding out the accused.

Durand will play the role of John Mark Byers, the father of one of the murdered children in the case. He loved talking to the press and was initially a person of interest in the murders since his story changed from his initial police statement.

Bruce Greenwood will play Judge David Burnett, who presided over the trial in a manner that was later criticized as being biased. Michael Gladis will play Dan Stidham, the defense attorney for suspect Misskelley Jr. Matt Letscher will play the defense attorney for Baldwin. Mireille Enos, star of the hit TV series The Killing will play Vicki Hutcheson, an important witness in the case and was a link between two of the trio. Amy Ryan would play soon-to-be ex-wife of Lax. Dane DeHaan would play a teen who had history with the three murdered boys. Robert Baker will star as Detective Bryan Ridge, one of the first responders and a main investigator on the case. Brian Howe will also star as a cop in the form of California’s Detective McDonough, who gets drawn into the case while chasing down a lead.

At least four documentaries about the story have been produced.

Paul Harris Boardman and Scott Derrickson wrote the screenplay for "Knot" adapted from Mara Leveritt's non-fiction book on the case. with Boardman and Egoyan doing re-writes recently.

Boardman, Elizabeth Fowler, Clark Peterson, Richard Saperstein, and Christopher Woodrow will produce.

Production on Devil’s Knot is underway.

Henderson & Mulroney Will Swelter

Josh Henderson and Dermot Mulroney have joined the cast of the indie psychological actioner "Swelter" says Variety.



The story centers on four violent escaped prisoners arriving in a small dusty and sweltering California town in search of the fifth man who fled with over $10 million in cash.

Keith Parmer' will direct from his own script

Eleonore Dailly is producing the pic

Production will begin in August.