Force Of Will

Tatum O'Neal, James Brolin and Tom Berenger have all joined the indie suspense drama "Last Will " according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The film sees Hayden (O'Neal) framed for the murder of her wealthy husband (Berenger) in their affluent Midwestern town. With all evidence stacked against her, she's arrested by a detective (Brolin) and begins a quest to uncover the truth.

Brent Huff directs from a script byAlan Moskowitz--in turn based on a story from Irmgaard Pagan..

Production began this week in Kansas City and runs through the end of November.

Forbidden Future

Writer J. Michael Straczynski (Changeling) will pen a long-in-the-works update of 1956 sci-fi classic "Forbidden Planet" says The Hollywood Reporter.



The original was a sci-fi take on William Shakespeare's The Tempest as a deep space expedition sent from Earth has the job of checking on a colony of scientists on a far-off planet. They crew arrive to discover two members survived, a man who has found alien technology that doubled his intellect, Dr. Morbius, and his daughter. All of this as an unseen monster roams the planet..

Straczynski seems to be the right guy for this as the creative force behind the hugely popular "Babylon 5"

Faith Based Initiative

Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant ate just about set team up for a now untitled romantic comedy previously known as "Buffalo Faith" says Variety.

The story centers on an estranged high-powered New York couple who witness a murder and are placed in a witness-protection program in a small Wyoming town.

Marc Lawrence writes and directs

Andrew Fleming was to direct the film when it was being prepped at Castle Rock Entertainment.

Gee, what a shocker! Grant and Parker are making a romantic comedy...What a stretch

Filming will begin in March.

Of Ogres And Superheroes

Pulitzer Prize winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire is finalizing a deal to write "Spider-Man 4" according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Lindsay-Abaire takes over for James Vanderbilt who wrote a draft of the script.

Plot details are being kept super top secret.

Lindsay-Abaire is the co-author of the upcoming Shrek The Musical among other plays like Rabbit Hole.

This choice comes out of left field but with both Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire now locked...Let's see where this goes. And hey at we know DLA can write very well.

That said--I'd love to read Vanderbilt's draft.

Ancient Rituals

The teaser trailer for Angels & Demons has hit as director Ron Howard promises that 'Angels & Demons' will fly faster than 'Da Vinci'...Which would be a good thing because I thought as a film The Da Vinci Code plodded along...



The film hits theaters on May 15, 2009

When Zac And Zack Attack

This weekend makes for one strange Halloween at the movies:

Kevin Smirh's controversial comedy Zack & Miri Make a Porno (reviews) opens amid a new bruh-ha-ha; Clint Eastwood's mystery Changeling (reviews) is solved; Haley Bennett screams a lot in the dopey looking horror flick The Haunting of Molly Hartley (reviews ); And Guy Ritchie's pre-divorce flick RockNRolla (reviews) opens wider...



Ben Fritz and Dave McNary of Variety:

Just how big a scare will Halloween give the movie biz?

That's the question going into this weekend, as debuter "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" and holdovers "High School Musical 3" and "Saw V" all contend with a holiday that's likely to distract their young-skewing auds.

Universal's "Changeling," which goes wide, should have less of a problem since its demographics are older.

It's expected to be an overall soft frame as the biz copes with its first Friday Halloween since 2003, when the holiday also had a major impact. Disney's tuner will most likely win the frame again, even if it takes a substantial 50%-plus drop after its strong $42 million bow. "Saw V" will likely see an even bigger drop, possibly more than 70%, since last year's "Saw IV" fell 67% and didn't have to cope with Halloween.

"Zack and Miri," which the Weinstein Company is bowing at 2,735 playdates, is looking to compete for the No. 2 spot with an expected bow in the low- to mid-teens. That would make it the lowest opener for star Seth Rogen, but quite possibly the biggest for writer/director Kevin Smith, whose previous record was "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" (2001) at $11 million.

"There's a chance [Halloween] will hurt us a little, but the reason we went out now is the lack of competition for our quadrant," Weinstein Co. distribution prexy Steve Bonnell said.

The other pic with a shot at No. 2 is Universal's Angelina Jolie starrer "Changeling," which expands from 15 to 1,850 theaters. Clint Eastwood-helmed drama grossed a boffo $33,000 per play last weekend and appealed to a somewhat younger and more male aud than the studio expected given that it's a period piece and deals with a family tragedy. Two years ago, Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers" opened with a similar print count in late October and grossed just over $10 million.

Also opening wide this weekend is Freestyle's horror pic "The Haunting of Molly Hartley," which is expected to gross single digits from 2,652 playdates.

Warner Bros. expands Guy Ritchie's thriller "Rock N Rolla" from 19 theaters to 826...

Joshua Rich of EW:

Kevin Smith's ''Zack and Miri Make a Porno'' will try to take down Zac Efron's ''High School Musical 3'' at the box office this weekend...

Look for High School Musical 3: Senior Year to be scaring up more big bucks at #1 come Sunday night...

Next Week:The CGI animals are on the loose again in the animated Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa ....The late Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes are remembered in Soul Men...while Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd are Role Models...

"Better Than The Movies"

Sony Pictures is prepping a film version of the popular 1990's comic book series "Preacher" says The Hollywood Reporter.

Created by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, the story followed a down-and-out Texas preacher possessed by Genesis, a supernatural entity conceived by the unnatural coupling of an angel and a demon

Given powers beyond measure, the preacher teamed with an old girlfriend and a hard-drinking Irish vampire and set out on a journey across America to find God -- who apparently had abandoned his duties in heaven -- and hold him accountable for his negligence.

Sam Mendes is due to call action on the pic-- And with the quirkiness of the Oscar winning American Beauty on his resume--He just might be the right guy to handle this very different comic book flick

The property was set up as a Mark Steven Johnson-penned, Howard Deutch-directed pilot for a HBO series in '06 but that was put into turnaround. Before that a $25 million feature with James Marsden in the lead was planned.

Itchy Palms

Dylan McDermott Zoe Saldana, (pictured as Uhura in '09's Star Trek), Lake Bell, Nick Stahl,Paz Vega and Shannen Doherty will star in "Burning Palms" says The Hollywood Reporter.

Christopher B. Landon satire makes fun of Los Angeles stereotypes as told through five interlacing stories that exagerate the views of people who live in Hollywood...

Is it just me or can this be called 2 Days in the Valley meets Short Cuts?

And the cast is already quite crowded....

Slay The Dragon

Samuel L. Jackson will play the villain for the remake of the 1985 cult classic "The Last Dragon" says The Hollywood Reporter.

The original film saw a young martial arts student Leroy Green on a quest through the streets of New York to achieve the highest level of martial arts accomplishment, known as the Last Dragon.

Those who achieve the high ranking possess the Glow, making them the greatest fighter alive.

Jackson will play Sho'nuff, the Shogun of Harlem, a role played in the original by the late Julius Carry.

Dallas Jackson is writing the new screenplay.

Sam L can certainly chew scenery if requited I just hope this one turns out better than his last "cult" film did--remember Snakes on a Plane?

Reading Is Fundamental

Gary Oldman joins Denzel Washington on the post-apocalyptic action film "The Book of Eli" reports Variety.

The plot has a lone warrior Eli (Washington) who must fight to bring mankind knowledge that could be the key to its salvation.

Oldman will play the despot of a small makeshift town who's determined to take possession of the book Eli's taking care of.

Brothers Allen and Albert Hughes call action...

Oldman can certainly play villian to Washington's hero--Good match...

Shooting begins in February in New Mexico with a release set for January 15th 2010.

THE FIRST NON-MOVIE POST

...AND NOW...

AFTER 28 YEARS AND NEARLY A 48 HOUR RAIN DELAY FOR GAME 5....

CONGRATS TO The Philadelphia Phillies 2008 WORLD SERIES CHAMPS AND MVP Cole Hamels!!!!

THANK YOU GUYS!!

Vill-Thrill

Universal Pictures has landed the movie rights to Adam Cogan and Ryan Cody's graphic novel "Villains" says The Hollywood Reporter.

The story follows a 20-something slacker Nick Corrigan who discovers that his aging neighbor used to be the notorious super-villain known as "Hardliner", now retired and living in hiding for the past few decades.

Rather than turn him in to the authorities, Nick decides to blackmail him in exchange for lessons in the fine art of career super-powered crime.

Matthew Jennison and Brent Strickland ("Wonder Woman") will write the screenplay.

Casting Suggestions for the slacker: Nicholas D'Agosto or Justin Long

Poker Face

Universal Pictures has purchased Gavin O'Connor's comedic drama spec script "Sunny and 68" reports Variety.

Vince Vaughn has signed on to will play a superstar on the poker circuit whose alcoholism and recklessness cause him to flame out on national television. Wiped out and owing $500,000 to bookies, he heads home to upstate New York for the first time in 20 years, looking to take back cash he'd been sending his mother.Instead, he finds his mother dying of cancer and raising a 5-year-old girl who is actually his daughter. Mom has been positioning his former high school girlfriend to become the girl's eventual caretaker.

O'Connor ("Pride and Glory"), co-wrote the script with Peter Anthony Tambakis, and will produce and direct the film which shoots in upstate New York starting in February of 2010



It will be nice to see Vaughn flex those dramatic muscles for a role thar's tailor made.

Everything Nice

Chloë Sevigny, Rhys Ifans and David Thewlis are in final negotiations to star in writer-director Bernard Rose's "Mr. Nice" says The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on Howard Marks' 2002 best-selling autobiography...

Ifans will play Britain's one-time most-wanted man, a late-'60s-era University of Oxford graduate and teacher who turned to drug smuggling to impress his future wife Judy (Sevigny).

While enlisting the help of an Irish Republican Army boss (Thewlis) for a job, he was recruited by a British intelligence officer for a loose network of informants.The charming criminal assumed the alias Mr. Nice.

After encounters with the Mafia and Central Intelligence Agency and nearly 30 tons of pot smuggling, he spent seven years in prison.

Hell-O From France

Just in time for Halloween...

French helmer Pascal Laugier is in final negotiations to write and direct the redo of Hellraiser says The Hollywood Reporter.

The original 1987 film directed by Clive Barker based on his own book "The Hellbound Heart:", told the story of an unfaithful wife who attempts to assist her dead lover in his escape from hell.

The film also introduced the world to the demonic Pinhead who became a classic horror character.



Laugier, who claims that he'll be very faithful to Barker's material-helmed the brutally violent tMartyrs...

Imagine that--a director doing a remake--actually wanting to remain faithful to what's come before...

Edge Of Night?

Brian Nelson ("30 Days of Night") will write the PG-13 supernatural thriller "Devil", the first project in M. Night Shyamalan's three-picture pact to make horror films for Media Rights Capital reports Variety.

Based on an original story by Shyamalan, plot details are under wraps though Quarantine directors John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle will helm the project.

Sam Mercer will produce alongside Shyamalan under their The Night Chronicles company which will release one new film each year over the next three years.

Shyamalan will oversee all three films' development and production. Production on "Devil" is slated to begin next year.

Uh sounds great guys--but I would bet the only reason Shyamalan got this deal is because he promised to steer clear of the big chair and the typewriter...Given his recent track record at the cineplex...

Single Hits A Triple

Colin Firth, Matthew Goode and Julianne Moore are appearing together in the drama "A Single Man" says Variety.



Based on the 1964 novel by Christopher Isherwood, it follows a single day in the life of a gay British college professor (Firth pictured above) living in Los Angeles.

After losing his partner (Goode pictured below) in a fatal car accident, the professor is determined to persist in his usual routine. Moore plays a friend of his.



The film marks the directorial debut of former Gucci creative director Tom Ford

From Fashion to director--a first-timer no less...Should be interesting...

Filming is due to begin shooting in Los Angeles next week.

Marvels Men

Iron Man duo Robert Downey Jr.. and director Jon Favreau will work on the superhero team-up movie "The Avengers" for Marvel.

In an official press release its been confirmed that Downey has just signed a four-picture deal with Marvel Studios that retroactively includes the first "Iron Man", two sequels to that, and "The Avengers" movie.

Favreau as we know will direct "Iron Man 2 " but only serve as executive producer on "The Avengers" which will also star Don Cheadle as Jim Rhodes, the role that Terrence Howard played in the first "Iron Man" and which Cheadle will play in the second.

Downey and Cheadle are the first stars to sign on for "Avengers," which features heroes Iron Man, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk and Thor

Whether Edward Norton would return to the role of Bruce Banner is up in the air But a producer of that film wants to make a sequel nonetheless...



Meantime AICN talked with Favreau recently about the status of the "Iron Man" sequel

Justin Theroux is almost done with the first draft of the "IM 2" script and pre-production is on full throttle with boarding, animatics, location scouting and set design all underway.

Favreau adds that story wise there'll be definite Iron Man-Captain America connections:

"There's ome relationship between Tony's father and what was going on in World War II, in the Marvel Universe, and S.H.I.E.L.D, so we're trying to lay some pipe here so that when it all happens it feels somewhat inevitable."

Is it OK to be a grown man and turn giddy with fanboy excitement over all of rhis stuff??!!

"Iron Man 2" hits theatres on May 7th 2010, while "The Avengers" hits July 15th 2011.

The Sky Is Falling

Universal Pictures has agreed to make Mike Sobel's The Towering Inferno-esque disaster epic "Skyscraper" says Variety.

The story centers on a Donald Trump-type developer sets out to build a mile-high structure in the City of Chicago When the tower starts to falter, a crew must mount a rescue effort.

Ah! Memories of those old fashioned star-studded disaster flicks of the 70's--I hope this one turns out better than the '06 Poseidon-a remake of The Poseidon Adventure fron 1972.

Solitary Confinement

The always great Mary-Louise Parker will join Michael Douglas for the May/December romance Solitary Man according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The story sees an ex-auto dealership owner whose career and marriage have collapsed because of his less-than-ethical behavior. Parker will play Jordan, a high-powered society type of Douglas' playing Ben,

Brian Koppelman and David Levien (Ocean's Thirteen) will direct from Koppelman's script.

Filming begin next month in New York.

Another Other

Natalie Portman will take over the lead role recently vacated by Jennifer Lopez in the Don Roos' "Love and Other Impossible Pursuits" reports Variety.

Roos adapted Ayelet Waldman's book which revolves around a young woman who finds the key to recovering her marriage in her relationship with her stepson.

Aside from her strong turn in Out of Sight a decade ago--Lopez has had very lopsided film career to say the least...As far as I'm concerned Roos trades up with Portman in the role.

The film will begin shooting in Manhattan on November 10th.

Mother/Daughter Act

Amy Adams will star in the indie drama adaptation of the biography "Daughter of the Queen of Sheba reports Variety.

Based on the life of NPR correspondent Jacki Lyden, the story will focus on how a woman uses her mother's madness and delusions to empower herself.

Lyden was NPR's first correspondent on the air in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks...

Karen Croner will adapt the book.

This is quite a plum role for Adams. Great things could happen with the right folks around her.

Let Farting Dogs Lie

Also on the Teen Beat:

The singing Jonas Brothers--Joe, Kevin and Nick are headed to the big screen says Variety.




Based on a best-selling series of books by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray called Walter the Farting Dog, it follows a fat dog with severe flatulence.

Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas along with their younger brother Frankie will play musicians whose parents are asked to care for the dog by an aunt just before she passes away.

While his brothers play music, Frankie and the gaseous hound get involved in a plot that involves liberating a Koi fish and stopping jewel thieves.

Alec Sokolow and Joel Cohen are adapting the script. Shooting begins next spring and is a potential directing project for Bobby and Peter Farrelly.

The brothers appeared in Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour film-The telefilm Camp Rock...

As long as there's plenty of singing along with the smelly gas they should be fine...

Happy Feat?

Now that Zac Efron has proven himself a big box office draw--with High School Musical 3: Senior Year--Variety reports that he may finally be ready to "Kick Off Those Sunday Shoes"...

HSM director Kenny Ortega will call action, while " Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" director Peter Sollett has been brought in to rewrite the Jon Hartmere version of the script.

The studio is also working on putting together new songs for the pic.

Efron will likely land a seven figure paycheck (!) for his work.

In Treatment

Jean Reno has joined the comedy "Couples Retreat" says Variety.

The story follows four couples who go to a tropical island resort, where they discover that participation in the resort's couples therapy is not optional. Reno will play a therapist and operator of the resort.

Jon Favreau wrote and will star in the comedy.

Peter Billingsley calls the shots.

Production is scheduled to begin shortly.

All The Wonder

Christopher Lee (pictured), Alan Rickman and Eleanor Tomlinson have all joined the cast of Tim Burton's new take of "Alice in Wonderland" according to reports via Digital Spy and This Is Hull & East Riding.

While rhe legendary Lee's role is not yet known Rickman will play the hookah-smoking Caterpillar.

Tomlinson will play a complete new character Fiona Chataway, a spiteful peer of Alice (Mia Wasikowska).

Whichever direction Burton goes here and no matter how things turn out... ya gotta admit he's assembled quite a cast here.

Meantime-composer Danny Elfman confirms that he'll be scoring the project for Burton with whom he's worked on a dozen projects over the past 2 decades-plus.

The film, which uses a combination of live action and performance-capture technology is scheduled for release in 2010.

Scripting Scroll

Alex Tse (Watchmen) has been charged to adapt the 1993 Japanese Anime feature flick "Ninja Scroll" says Variety

'Scroll' is one of the most popular animes in the world.

Set in feudal Japan, Yoshiaki Kawajiri/Kevin Seymour 's hard-R rated film revolves around ninja for hire Jubei who is forced to fight an old enemy who will stop at nothing to overthrow the government with the help of eight demonic warriors who must be stopped.

Leonardo DiCaprio's production company Appian Way Productions is producing--though the actor will not be in the film.

TSe has become the go to guy to adapt hot properties

CYA

Newbie screenwriter Andrea McCloud will pen the workplace comedy "Cover Your Assets" according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Described as a Working Girl in reverse--The story explores modern gender-role complications as a wealthy and powerful female executive gets involved with a new guy."

Assets" had been in turnaround at New Line Cinema when LionsGate picked it up.



Since the story has been done ad Nausea-no matter that the Working Girl angle is flipped--Casting and the right helmer can make it work though

By One Half

Here's the latest trailer for recently pushed back to '09 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince...



Were I a fan of Harry Potter--I would surely be jazzed by what I just saw--But I'm not so...

The film is set for a July 17th 2009 release.

Happy Birthday Michael Meyers

It's hard to believe but 30 years ago this weekend John Carpenter's Halloween opened in theaters across the country..

I was too young to see it during its initial run...3 years later I remember watching the premiere of the now famous TV Version....in which 12 minutes of footage was added to replace the more violent material of the original cut. These scenes were shot simultaneously with "Halloween II" in 1981...Anyway--I was hooked--Even in its edited form it scared the bejeebus out of me! it's one of those few films that's influenced my path in life and gave me a love of the horror genre overall...

What can one say about the performances of Donald Pleasence as Dr. Sam Loomis and a very young Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode...

One of the strengths of the film is its ability to scare viewers using suspense and shock-without having to depend on gore--to tell its story.

Written by Carpenter and Debra Hill--the story follows masked killer Michael Meyers institutionalized since childhood--as he escapes and returns home on October 31st to continue his spree while doctor Loomis tries to stop him.

A cluster of sequels and one remake later--not to mention countless imitators--and here we are.. For me, the original Halloween is one classic that just can't be topped...even after multiple viewings



A special thanks to my older sister Karen for watching Halloween on TV with ne 27 years ago and sharing a very special experience...

Pep Rally

High School Musical 3: Senior Year takes the top spot--Was there really ever any doubt? Meanwhile, Saw V is going to help the franchise cross a horror film milestone...

Dade Hayes of Variety:

Disney’s “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” and Lionsgate’s “Saw V” divided and conquered the box office with opening weekends of $42 million and $30.5 million, respectively.

Total B.O. rose about 30% from the year-ago frame, according to studio estimates.

The top two pics entered record territory. “HSM3” is the biggest musical bow ever, while “Saw” franchise is just $2 million shy of eclipsing “Friday the 13th” to become the top-grossing horror series ever.

“High School” also raked in $40 million from 22 overseas markets. Disney said 35% of the world is yet to come.

News was not as rosy for sophomores Fox’s “Max Payne” and Lionsgate’s “W.” “Payne” fell 57% to $7.6 million and “W.” dropped 49% to $5.3. Cume for the George Bush pic is $18.8 million, with a gross in the $25 million range likely after a post-Election Day exit.

Warner Bros.’ “Pride and Glory,” a long-gestating New Line title, debuted at No. 5 with $6.3 million.

Universal got spectacular results from 15 runs of “Changeling” in nine markets. The Clint Eastwood-helmed pic bowed with $502,000, or $33,441 per house.

Logo Features, the pic arm of Viacom’s gay cable channel, also got impressive results from “Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom,” which pulled in $161,302 from just five screens...

Joshua Rich of EW:

Disney's family film scored the No. 1 opening ever for a musical and trumped a bloody good bow by ''Saw V''

I'm sure Disney's already thinking HSM:The College Years...If so..Can they lure Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale to enroll?

Walking Tall

Director Richard Donner & his wife producer Lauren Shuler Donner received a Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame located at the Egyptian Theater on October 16, 2008 in Hollywood, California..

Actress Dakota Fanning was on hand...

Congratulations!

Stay Reel

Various Film News Items:

**Producer Charles Roven told STYD that there is "no momentum" on his film adaptation of The Flash comics..

He also confirms that Ron Perlman will co-star in the 14th century-set thriller "Season of the Witch " and that production on a 'Robotech' movie will begin next year..."

**Due to his commitment to the next one or two Spider-Man movies, Sam Raimi has taken himself out of the running to helm the relaunch the Jack Ryan film franchise..via MTV.

**Thanks to a financial downturn this year--Variety reports that Fox is shifting it's '09 slate

**A week after Paramount pulled The Soloist out awards season, it's yanked the drama out of the Oct. 30 AFI Fest opening night slot - which would have been the drama's world premiere...says Variety.



**"'I really do wish him all the best with it' said actor Kevin Bacon (pictured) to THN about Zac Efron starring in the remake of "Footloose-the movie that made Bacon famous...

**Samuel L. Jackson confirms to Black Voices that he'll have a much more prominent role in Iron Man 2 as S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury ...

**Star Trek director J.J. Abrams and writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have written 'Star Trek: Countdown', a four-issue comic book prequel series to be released from January to April of next year.

The story deals with the origin of the film's mysterious Romulan nemesis Nero (Eric Bana) and will bridge the events between "The Next Generation" era (from Unification through to post-: Nemesis) and the new film's continuity..Get full details via TrekMovie

**All aboard 'Transformers' The Ride at Universal parks

**"Die Hard " director John McTiernan will have a chance to withdraw his earlier guilty plea in the Hollywood wiretapping case that got him sentenced to four months in federal prison..says Reuters

**Director Wes Craven told Collider that his 25/8 might get a name change and the upcoming 'The Last House on the Left remake is a hard R...

Case Manager

Harold Perrineau will executive produce and star in the indie drama "Case 219" says The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on the book "Shooter" by award-winning children's author Walter Dean Myers --the story centers on the aftermath of a high school shooting from the perspective of three misfit teens.

The film will also include Evan Ross, Leven Rambin and Taylor Nichols with Leslie Hope in negotiations to join the cast.

Boy Perrineau is certainly keeping busy since leaving TV's Lost...

Triangulate

Henry Thomas has joined the cast of the romantic drama "Dear John" says The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on the book by Nicholas Sparks the story centers on a soldier on leave (Channing Tatum who falls for a conservative college student (Amanda Seyfried) but then re-enlists after the September 11 attacks

Thomas plays an older man whom the woman falls for while the soldier is away.

Thomas loves playing characters connected to war in some way see Legends of the Fall-This time playing the guy who stays behind...

Lasse Hallström is directing the film currently in production.

Crispin Has Heart

Crispin Glover is set to play the Knave of Hearts in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland says The Guardian.

In the classic story, the Knave of Hearts is put on trial for stealing the tarts of the Queen of Hearts (Helena Bonham Carter) and is defended by Alice (Mia Wasikowska).

Johnny Depp also stars

The film combines live action and performance-capture technology - a medium Glover knows well having played Grendel in Beowulf--another classic lit tale...

Glover's knack for the creepy should surface with Burton around...



The film hits theaters in March '09