Helmer Hang Out

From the director's corner of the industry comes these recent news bits...

**Ron Howard may be directing The Parsifal Mosaic an adaptation of author Robert Ludlum Cold War saga says Variety.

David Self will adapt the book of the samr name about a CIA operative who thinks he witnessed the execution of his lover after she was identified as a KGB double agent.

**Former child actor David A. Prior will both write and make his feature directing debut on an as yet untitled thriller says Variety.

The story is based on a series of terrifying events that occurred in Wisconsin in the 1990s.

Prior works on creating special DVD content for around three films per year of other high profile industry directors.

**Pierre Morel will direct the action-thriller "Pursuit" says Variety.

**Tron Legacy director Joseph Kosinski has signed on to helm the action "Oblivion", based on his own concept, as a feature film according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The story is set in post-apocalyptic Earth, where civilization lives above the clouds and scavengers illegally collect artifacts from the polluted and destroyed surface below.When one young scavenger discovers a crashed spacecraft planetside--and a beautiful women within--he rejoices at the find. Little does he realize that his discovery will lead him to a journey filled with romance, adventure and unimaginable danger

**Fredrik Bond is set to helm the comic book pic Hack/Slash .

The film version sees Cassie Hack, a young woman who has become a killer of killers and travels to small towns across the country hunting slashers.

Todd Lincoln had previously been attached to helm. Justin Marks adapted the script.

**VFX supervisor Matthew Gratzner makes his directorial debut on the feature adaptation of the classic 1970's TV series UFO reports Variety.

**Spike Jonze is set produce the film version of Shane Jones' debut novel "Light Boxes" says Variety.

The tale centers on a mysterious town that endures a deadly 1,000-day winter.

Music video helmer Ray Tintori is attached to direct

**David Cronenberg is set to direct an adaptation of Don DeLillo's novel "Cosmopolis:" says The Hollywood Reporter.

Robots And Serial Killers

2 more graphic novels are being adapted for the big screen...

*Uber-Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has picked up feature rights to Ashley Wood's graphic novel "World War Robot" reports Variety.

The story is recounted as a war-diary by participants on both sides, centering on a small band of humans and robots facing off in a battle on Earth, the moon and Mars.

WE INTERUPT THIS POST TO BRING YOI THE FOLLOWING RUMOR...

There are reports out there in cyber space that Pirates of the Caribbean 4 may be directed by song and dance man Rob Marshall, of “Nine” and Chicago fame...Nothing is official yet but a deal is said to be close.

Marshall takes over for franchise helmer Gore Verbinski--who decided to move on...Bruckheimer produces.... Johnny Depp is back as Captain Jack Sparrow before taking on The Lone Ranger...

If Marshall does take over P4 can we expect to see a singing and dancing Sparrow?...Sorry I couldn't resist the easy joke
WE NOW RETURN TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED POST...

*Sydney-based FX company Animal Logic has won the film rights to the mystery/horror graphic novel "Amazon.com: Night Mary" says The Hollywood Reporter.

Rick Remender's tale follows young Mary Specter, a dreamer who goes into the nightmares of the disturbed patients at her father's sleep disorder clinic. When one of these patients turns out to be a serial killer, her time sleeping and her time awake suddenly blend together

"What's the Buzz?"

A new film adaptation of the Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Webber 1972 musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" is on tap @ Universal Pictures says the Risky Biz Blog.

The musical was first made into a film in 1973 by director Norman Jewison and examines the last few weeks of Jesus' (played on stage and on screen by Ted Neeley) life.

The depiction of a conflicted and sympathetic African-American Judas Iscariot (played by the late great Carl Anderson) caused a bit of a stir upon its initial release.

500 Days of Summer helmer Marc Webb is circling the pic to possibly call action but is not officially signed on the dotted line.

Not much for musicals but I have to admit Neely and Anderson were a powerful duo when I saw the 70's pic with my sister--a number of years ago....Tough sandals to fill for sure...

The success of the Mamma Mia! musical adaptation last year has the big U. no doubt having visions of $ signs and Jesus.

Ready To Eat

Billy Crudup has joined the cast of the big screen adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert's bestselling bio memoir "Eat, Pray, Love" says Variety.

Crudup is Steven, who is married to Gilbert (Julia Roberts). His hopes to have children are dashed when her quest to get pregnant leaves her feeling she is not living the life she wants. She embarks on a journey of self-discovery around the world.

Ryan Murphy is directing off a script he wrote with Jennifer Salt. Javier Bardem and Richard Jenkins co-star.

If you have not seen Crudup as Dr. Manhattan in Watchmen yet you should

Shooting is scheduled to kick off next week.

Finding Bliss

Dexter star Michael C. Hall has signed on to star in the indie drama "East Fifth Bliss" reports Variety.

Hall will play a 35-year-old whose static life comically unravels when he embarks on an awkward relationship with the 18-year-old daughter of a former high school classmate.

Michael Knowles directs and adapted the script with Douglas Light from Light's novel of the same name.

Filming kicks off late October in New York.

Cinema Shorts

A Few Industry Bits...

*Not a good sign at all...Universal Pictures pushes back release of 'The Wolf Man,' film yet again‎

*A March 4th 2011 release date has been set for I Hop a live-action/CGI family comedy says Variety.

The story revolves around an out-of-work slacker who runs over the Easter Bunny while driving home late. Since the bunny can't hop with a broken leg, the slacker is pressed into duty to save Easter. Russell Brand is the voice of the Easter Bunny.

*Brad Ingelsby will adapt Vivian Schilling's thriller novel "Sacred Prey" for the big screen says The Hollywood Reporter.

The story centers on a loan shark who kills a man he believes duped him, only to wake up and find himself in the body of that man three days before the murder. He then must undertake a furious effort to prevent the murder he committed.

*Michael Hirst is to pen the script for "Agincourt". reports Variety.

*Robert Mark Kamen will pen the script for the action thriller "The Lord's Day" says Reuters.

The story centers on a hostage takeover of Britain's House of Lords by terrorists on the first day of a legislative session. Harry Jones, a member of Parliament who is also a former ranking military officer, attempts to stop the terrorists, and uncovers a more complex and consequential global conspiracy than anyone could have suspected.

Based on a novel by Michael Dobbs

*Plans to create a franchise character-based film from Sheldon Turner's pitch for a film adaptation of the PlayStation.3 video game "InFAMOUS" has been picked up to become a flick says Wired.

The story centers on bike messenger Cole MacGrath, who survives an explosion that destroys entire blocks of Empire City only to find he has new electricity-derived super powers.The game allows the player to use his powers for good or evil, as MacGrath's karma affects how the devastated city's people and infrastructure deal with him.

*Allentown Productions plans a feature film based upon Knott's Berry Farm attraction Calico Mine ride/Ghost Town reports Variety.

*A new feature film adaptation of author Robert C. O'Brien's award-winning children's tale "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh" says The Hollywood Reporter.

The story centers on a mouse Mrs. Frisby, re-named Mrs. Brisby in the animated '82 movie -- The Secret of NIMH--is faced with a crisis when her son falls ill and she must move her family to escape a farmer's plow. She is helped by a group of former lab rats, whom she soon discovers run a highly evolved society, that posses advanced technologies and divide labor in the manner of a human community.

Getting Egg-cited!

Ridley Scott's officially attached to direct the Alien prequel that's been in development since May reports Variety.



Preceding Scott's 1979 classic, the news that Scott is back calling action has my Geek Meter going nuts with joy and anticipation....

Rising screenwriter Jon Spaihts (Passengers) is going to write the screenplay. Spaihts got the job after pitching to the studio and Scott. The premise must be very solid to have Scott direct...

I know it's a prequel and all but I wonder if Sigourney Weaver will coaxed back in some way...

Welcome Matt

As always Steven Spielberg keeps himself very busy and now we can add another project to his slate

He is set to produce a film about fictional secret agent Matt Helm reports Variety.



Author Donald Hamilton created the character who starred in a series of 27 novels about a government agent whose mission is to take down enemy agents.

The character was brought to life on the big screen in 4 films starring Dean Martin in the 60's

Spielberg, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are set to produce. Paul Attanasio delivered a rewrite last week which reportedly renewed Spielberg's interest in the project.

Kurtzman and Orci have spy cred from their days on "Alias" Attanasio wrote Donnie Brasco and The Sum of All Fears...

Landing In Hollywood

Spanish helmer Nacho Vigalondo is coming to America having been set to direct the action comedy "Gangland" says The Hollywood Reporter.

A team of video-game developers get in over their heads after they promise to deliver the most realistic game of all time, titled "Gangland," and soon find themselves having to survive by their own wits in a real-life criminal underworld.

Pat Healy wrote the script.

Swash In Space

The Aussie directing brother duo of Peter and Peter Spierig are doing a remake of the classic 1935 swashbuckler classic "Captain Blood" says Variety.

Errol Flynn starred in the original as a wrongly imprisoned British doctor named Peter Blood who escapes with a French pirate (Basil Rathbone) and clashes with the buccaneer who kidnapped his woman (Olivia De Havilland).

The new film switches the location to space though we are told the update will keep quite close to the origina storyline

John Brownlow writes the script.

Battle Actors

Variety reports that Michelle Rodriguez, Michael Peña and Bridget Moynahan have signed on to star opposite Aaron Eckhart in the upcoming sci-fi action flick "Battle: Los Angeles.".

"Battle" revolves around a Marine staff sergeant (Eckhart) and his new platoon's battle against an alien invasion on the streets of Los Angeles.

Rodriguez will play Crpl. Adriana Santos, a member of a radio battalion. Pena plays the father of a boy the Marines find along the way, and Moynahan plays a veterinarian.

Scott Silver penned a rewrite of the script from Christopher Bertolini.

by Jonathan Liebesman (“Darkness Falls” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning"), helms the film.

I can't shake Independence Day vibe off this sucker--No matter who is involved.

Shooting kicks off in the Fall.

People Who Need People

This weekend Adam Sandler joins team Apatow for semi-serious adult comedy Funny People (reviews) A gaggle full of young kids find Aliens In The Attic (reviews); Saw VI scribes Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan do home invasion horror in The Collector (teviews)...





Dave McNary of Variety:

Will comedy fans support a more serious Adam Sandler?

That's the key question as Universal opens Judd Apatow's "Funny People" at 3,008 playdates amid widely varied box office forecasts ranging from the low 20s to the mid 30s.

The consensus is that "Funny People" will out-perform the second frames of Disney's 3-D toon "G-Force" and Sony romantic comedy "The Ugly Truth" as well as the third sesh of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

Fox's PG-13 family comedy "Aliens in the Attic," starring Ashley Tisdale, has been positioned in the mix as a counter-programming play, with 3,105 locations, and should launch in the low teens. And Freestyle's going after horror buffs with home-invasion thriller "The Collector" at 1,325. Pic is unlikely to approach last weekend's $12.9 million launch for "Orphan."

But the focus is squarely on "Funny People," which co-stars Seth Rogen and Apatow's wife Leslie Mann.

On the plus side, Sandler's box office track record is sterling, with 10 titles that have surpassed the $100 million mark in domestic grosses. And U's extensive promo push has highlighted the pic as Apatow's third helming effort, after major hits with "Knocked Up" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."

But "Funny People" has downbeat elements: Sandler's character deals with a disease, while the pic sports a running time of 150 minutes and an R rating -- though the rating didn't seem to hurt "The Hangover," now nearing $250 million after two months.

U distribution chief Nikki Rocco notes that the "Funny People" campaign is aimed at positioning the title as a more serious comedy as tentpole season begins winding down....

Nicole Sperling of EW:

Judd Apatow-Adam Sandler teamup is money in the bank; [about $35 mil]

The last time Sandler did a dramedy (2006 pic Click) I thought turned out to be a mixed effort at best....Though I think Funny's longer running will eat into its bottom line more than anything else will...

No matter how much $$ Funny brings in Apatow has reason to smile....

As the blockbuster season hits the home stretch for '09: Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller, and Marlon Wayans lead GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra into the box office battle; Amy Adams and Meryl Streep are Julie & Julia; It's anything but A Perfect Getaway for Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich under the helm of David Twohy...

Lorax Facts

Another one of Dr. Seuss's books is getting the 3-D CGI animated treatment for the big screen says Entertainment Weekly.

The Lorax tale is narrated by a greedy entrepreneur who, despite warnings from the tree-loving Lorax, strips a forest of its stock of Truffula trees to manufacture clothing. The results are catastrophic as all the animals leave and nothing's left.

The CG-animated film is aiming for a March 2nd 2012 release date to coincide with Theodor Geisel's birthday. Chris Renaud and Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio,will direct from a script byPaul & Daurio,

Stretching Seuss's books into feature length flicks have yielded mixed results...

Good luck gang.

72 Hours

Russell Crowe will star in the drama "The Next Three Days." says Variety.

Crowe will play a teacher whose wife is arrested and convicted of a murder she says she did not commit. He comes up with a desperate plan to free her.

The film, remakes the 2008 French film Pour Elle--with Paul Haggis ("Crash") in charge.

Shooting is slated to kick off late September in Pittsburgh.

This role is right up Crowe's alley...Will Oscar come calling again for Haggis or Crowe--or both here?

Puma Prowler

While her former "Friends" co-star Courteney Cox will lead the sit-com "Cougar Town" on TV this Fall Jennifer Aniston will star in the similarly themed romantic comedy "Pumas" says Variety.



The story centers on two thirtysomething women who make a habit of romancing younger men and take a French skiing vacation that challenges their romantic expectations.

Wayne McClammy ("Cool School") will direct from a script by Melissa Stack. Aniston will also produces the pic.

I would like to offer my help to Aniston with rehearsals on this one....LOL!

Town Resident

Jeremy Renner ("The Hurt Locker") is in negotiations to join Ben Affleck's "The Town," says The Hollywood Reporter.

The flick, based on Chuck Hogan's book Prince of Thieves follows a dedicated federal agent (Jon Hamm) trying to capture a crook (Afflrck) and his gang.

Renner plays Affleck's doomed best friend, a member of the gang. Production sets up shop in Boston this September.

Border Disorder

Matthew McConaughey and Eva Mendes are in talks to team up in Southbound." says Variety.



McConaughey plays a patrol officer on the border between California and Mexico who accepts a bribe from a beautiful Mexican woman, putting his family in danger and landing him in the middle of a war between the Mexican crime families and the U.S. immigration police.

The Peter Craig scripted drama begins production in September under the direction of Secuestro Express' helmer Jonathan Jakubowicz.

What! McConaughey is doing a film that's not a rom-com? The shirtless one is gonna have to actually wear a shirt in this pic .

The Love Fest Adds More

Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah and Carter Jenkins of this week's flick Aliens In The Attic have joined the omnibus cast of the romantic comedy "Valentine's Day" says Variety

The film follows five slightly interconnecting stories playing out in Los Angeles during Valentine's Day.

Foxx plays a TV sports reporter who has been sent out on a "Valentine's Day in L.A." story instead of covering his usual sports. Latifah plays the agent for Eric Dane's character, a football player.

Jenkins plays a young man who struggles to find time in the day to lose his virginity with his girlfriend (Emma Roberts) because of their hectic schedules,

Garry Marshall corals the cast as director which also includes - Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Shirley MacLaine, Bradley Cooper, Ashton Kutcher, Topher Grace, and Patrick Dempsey.

The film written by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein--is already shooting and set for release Feb. 12, 2010.

Peter And Paul

Resident Evil pals Paul W.S. Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt will adapt the Peter V Brett fantasy novel "The Warded Man." for the big screen says The Hollywood Reporter.

Set in an undetermined future, mankind is plagued by nightly attacks from demonkind and has been thrown back into a feudal state. Three young people demonstrate the potential power to turn the tide, including the title character, a man who has wards (spells) tattooed on his body.

“It was an occasion where it paid to be British,” Anderson told the trade. “It launched in the U.K. six months earlier than in the U.S., and we got wind of it when it was in galley form before the U.K. release. We think it has the potential to be a new Lord of the Rings-style epic, and the book has all this great imagery.”

LOTR yes. Sounds like a little Harry Potter style stuff is also thrown in for good measure too....

Ready To Run Red?

Director Robert Schwentke (who is next in theaters with August 14th's "The Time Traveler's Wife") is in talks to direct the comic book thriller adaptation "Red" says the gang over at Cinema Blend.

Morgan Freeman and Bruce Willis are already set to star in the spy film which follows a former black-ops agent forced out of retirement when a high-tech assassin threatens him and his girlfriend.

Erich and Jon Hoeber wrote the adapted screenplay while Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian are producing the pic.

Cloud Minder

Sex Drive co-star Amanda Crew has signed on to play opposite Zac Efron the big screen adaptation of the Ben Sherwood book called The Death And Life Of Charlie St. Cloud according to THR,

Efron is playing a young man, who has weekly conversations with his dead younger brother--as he meets a young woman (Crew), who is either missing after a sailing accident, or also a ghost

Burr Steers, who directed Zac earlier this year in the surprisingly good teen body swichero comedy 17 Again calls action on the script that he rewrote from Lewis Colick.

Crew played a great sidekick love interest in the also very good teen comedy Sex Drive....She will do fine opposite Efron as long as the pair create some solid chemistry.

Going With Flo

Actress Charlize Theron is set to become Florence of Arabia: according to Variety.

The film, based on a satirical novel by Christopher Buckley, sees Theron as a State Department employee who watches her friend marry and then be executed by the prince of a Middle Eastern nation. She then goes on to fight for women's rights in the country, which has yet to be named. If they’re smart, they’ll invent something fictional, as a way to minimize the inevitable death threats.

Dean Craig adapts the script while no helmer is yet set to call action...

Theron has been off the radar really since Hancock--but has lots of work to come out--Hopefully soon-I miss not seeing her.

Bryce Set To Bite

Summit Entertainment has announced in a press release that Bryce Dallas Howard has been cast to play evil vampire Victoria in the upcoming sequel The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.



BDH steps into the character played by Rachelle Lefevre in both Twilight) and The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Victoria is the vixen vampire who plots to destroy Kristen Stewart's heroine Bella Swan.

"We are incredibly happy that Bryce has agreed to come into the franchise," said the studio's President of Worldwide Production and Acquisitions Erik Feig

Adding:."Rachelle brought 'Victoria' to great screen life and Bryce will bring a new dimension to the character. The franchise is lucky to have such a talented actress as Bryce coming in to fill the role."

The reason for Lefevre's departure is said to be due to scheduling conflicts with another commitment.

Wow! Walking away from such a high profile series over a prior commitment seems a bit odd to me--then again--given the studio's release plans for the saga sequels....Howard is quite the get though for the producers

Gidget Goes Hollywood Again?

The fictional character Gidget created by author Frederick Kohner (based on his teenage daughter, Kathy) began as a series of novels and then appeared in a trio of films--beginning with 1959's Gidget and lasting through the early 60's. The 1965 TV show made Sally Field (pictured) a star...






Is the character poised for a big screen return in a new series of flicks?

The folks over at Moviehole are reporting that two of Disney's biggest names Miley Cyrus and Zac Efron have been approached to star in them. The ad suits would have fun on the marketing of the pic, eh,

While Zac's Hairspray co-star Brittany Snow may be on the beach as well....Talk about six degrees...

Cyrus in the tile role Efron would be her beachy boyfriend...

I find it hard to imagine that Efron would sign on since he wants to take on more serious roles....like Richard Linklater's still release dateless Me and Orson Welles...

Still it would give him a chance to showcase his ability to hang 1o on screen and Snow would look great in a bikini--Added bonus--Field could cameo!

A Reel Hamm

Jon Hamm and Rebecca Hall will star with Ben Affleck in The Town, a film being directed by Affleck and produced by Graham King (The Departed) reports THR.

An adaptation of Chuck Hogan's novel "Prince of Thieves" the story follows the relationship between a bank manager (Hall), a career criminal (Ben Affleck) who falls for her during a robbery, and a dedicated federal agent (Hamm) trying to bust him. The agent sees her as his golden ticket to catching the baddie, Boston's most infamous bank robber.

Hogan has adapted his own book for the screen, aided and abetted by Peter King and with a polish from Affleck.

Production will begin in Boston starting next monthworking around Hamm's TV gig--AMC 's Mad Men.

Climbing A Tree

Joe Morton, Daniella Alonso (pictured) and John Fiore have all joined the indie drama "The Mulberry Tree" says The Hollywood Reporter.

Actor Louis Crugnali wrote the script and also stars in the drama about a Italian-American family based on his experiences growing up near Providence, R.I., and working in the state corrections system.

The script centers on the meeting of Mickey Crugnali and Sam Morton, a convicted murderer dying of HIV/AIDS whose remaining days on "hospital detail" give him the opportunity for redemption through conversations with the young man about his own family issues.

Alonso (an alum of TV's "Friday Night Lights") plays Morton's long-lost daughter who strikes up a friendship with Mickey, and fellow TV vet Fiore ("Brotherhood") plays Mickey's father.

Mark Heller calls action on the film which is currently shooting in Providence.

Youth Culture

Here's the international theatrical trailer for the big screen adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray--simply called Dorian Gray...

Starring Ben Barnes (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian) and Colin Firth. The classic tale from author Oscar Wilde follows a young man (Barnes) who becomes the subject of a painting. As the man descends into a hedonistic lifestyle, the portrait begins to age and morph, but he doesn't. Firth plays Lord Henry Wotton, the aristocrat who corrupts Gray.

Oliver Parker directs from the adapted script by Toby Finlay.



I had not realized how much Barnes looks like fellow actor Orlando Bloom until I watched this...

Table Read

Writer Warren Ellis announced on his own site that he's working on a treatment for the co-producers of 300 Gianni Nunnari and Craig J. Flores called Excalibur...

Despite reservations about tying the film to the 1981 John Boorman epic. it’s not a remake...



Ellis then went on to give AICN a bit more info on his plans....

"[It] differs from the prior 751 King Arthur movies in many ways, but perhaps most obviously in that it is very specifically about the gathering of the Knights."

The legend has been done to death--Can Ellis put a fresh spin on it? Yes. But will it be enough for a cynical audience?

Liars Club

Dazed And Confused director Richard Linklater gearing up to helm the rom-com "Liars (A-e)," reports Variety.



The romantic comedy follows a woman who, on the way to President Barack Obama's inauguration, retrieves lost items from her ex-boyfriends. Kat Dennings is set to play the woman's pal.

Emma Forrest penned the script (Learn why you shouldn't date Ms. Forrest...)

Scott Rudin will produce the pic.

No production date has been set yet.

That didn't take long for Hollywood begin to use Mr Obama as a plot point in a flick did it...?

Going For Distance

Ron Livingston, Jim Gaffigan, Kelli Gellar, Rob Riggle and Jason Sudeikis have joinrd the in production rom com Going the Distance says Variety.

Geoff Latulippe's script follows a young couple (Drew Barrymore and Justin Long) navigating their way through the perils of a long-distance relationship.

The film, directed by Nanette Burstein, is being produced by team Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot

Like this cast even though I am not a big fan of the well-worn genre

Necromancer

D.J. Caruso is attached to call the shots on the sci-fi/horror video game adaptation "Dead Space" reports Variety.



Game Co. Electronic Artsi s developing the property and considering takes from prospective screenwriters. Once a scribe is set and the details worked out, the property will be auctioned off to studios sometime in September.

Dead Space is set in the 26th century in deep space, where an engineer responds to a distress signal from a mining ship and finds the vessel infested with creatures called Necromorphs. The creatures are human corpses (zombies), reanimated by an alien virus.

Another vid-game turned flick....Meh...

Mila Ticket

Mila Kunis is in talks to star inDarren Aronofsky's supernatural thriller "Black Swan." says The Hollywood Reporter.

The story follows a veteran ballerina (Natalie Portman) who finds herself locked in a competitive situation with a rival dancer (Kunis), with the stakes on the dancers reach a fever pitch as a big performance looms. However it's unclear whether the rival is a supernatural apparition or if the protagonist is simply having delusions.

Kunis has had a busy career boon of late with Denzel Washington in The Book of Eli, the Tina Fey/Steve Carell comedy Date Night and Mike Judge' Extract.

Great--I love Kunis!

Filming kicks off this Fall in New York.

Brolin Goes To Sleep

Josh Brolin is poised to play the villain role in Wall Street, called Money Never Sleeps says Deadline Hollywood Daily.

No Country for Old Men's Javier Bardem was gonna do it but backed out last week.

In director Oliver Stone's sequel Brolin would play a villainous hedge fund manager.

Shia Labeouf stars as a young trader who seeks revenge with advice from his fiancee's dad - Michael Douglas' Gordon Gekko character.

Brolin who played W last year for Stone and opposite Bardem in No Country, makes a good fit.

Is It "Our Time" Again?

Rumors of a sequel to the 1985 classic The Goonies have been around on and off for years-- As evidence of this listen to director Richard Donner talk about them on the DVD commentary for the film...

Well...The rumors are back!



Actor Corey Feldman spoke with the LA Times, and the article does hint around about another Goonies movie. The quotes in the article, has Feldman never actually saying anything about Goonies at all.

But the Times says that he told them that The Goonies 2 is in the works.

The kid in me would love to see a sequel--if the stars were aligned properly--The adult in me is a bit more skeptical that it will ever happen. Let alone work out well even if it does occur.

The Wrath Of Kong

King Kong is heading back to the big screen in a new fantasy adventure story says Variety

Spirit Films has picked up the rights to the book Kong: King Of Skull Island, which was published by Dark Horse Comics in December 2004, a year before the long but solid Peter Jackson's King Kong remake take hit the cineplex.

Authorised by the estate of Kong creator Merian C. Cooper, the book is both a sequel and a prequel to the original story.



Created by acclaimed fantasy writer Brad Strickland and artist Joe DeVito, the novel explains what happened following Kong's fatal plunge from the Empire State Building, both the ape's body and showman Carl Denham (who brought the giant ape to America) had vanished before any investigation could be launched.

Never read the book on which the film's gonna be based but the premise has me intrigued to see where this one goes....

Lesson Plan

Christine Lahti, Maggie Grace, Hal Holbrook, Cary Elwes, Jonathan Tucker and Joanna Cassidy have all joined the cast of the indie drama "Flying Lessons" says The Hollywood Reporter.

The story follows a young woman coming to terms with her father's suicide when she returns to her small town.

Actor Derek Magyar makes his directorial debut on the film from a screenplay by Thomas Kuehl.

Benjamin Statler is producing the pic.

Spending most of his career doing episodes of various TV shows Magyar is lucy to get to get time in the big chair...

Production kicks off August 24th in Santa Ynez, California

Lucky Duck Of SDCC '09

The event is history...but I give ya this as a coda:

At a very exclusive Comic-Con 2009 press event, Fox unveiled to a small number of journalists the first fifteen minutes of September 18th's "Jennifer's Body", a very unique "horror" film. Star Megan Fox, director Karyn Kusama and writer Diablo Cody were there to answer questions...The lovely Fox "showed off her funny side throughout this engaging press conference".

Paul Fischer of Dark Horizons.was lucky enough to ask the first question of Miss Fox.

Question: How was it playing a character that is so over the top and so incredibly outrageous?

Megan Fox: I think what I loved about the movie is it’s so unapologetic and how completely inappropriate it is at all times. That was my favorite part about the script and about the character. It’s fun to be able to say the s**t that she got to say and get away with it and how people find it charming....

I was quite uncertain how to take 'Body' when I first heard about it...but have since warmed up to the idea of Fox playing a killer zombie....And I mean c'mon it's Negan Fox after all!!






Fischer also chatted-with directorJon Favreau about both Iron Man 2 and The Avengers flicks

Question: How did you avoid the trap of sequels adding too many villains and characters?

Favreau: Well, we had to walk a fine line. I think you’re good for number two. Two seems to be the charm because you got your origin story out of the way. You can add some complexity to it and you have room, because you don’t have to tell the origin story, to introduce the characters. When you get to number three, you can get hidebound. You’re like a beached whale sometimes because you have so much, you collapse under the weight of the complexity that you’ve created. We looked at the successful sequels that we liked. I’m not talking about Two Towers or films that are chapters based on novels or Harry Potter. I’m talking about true sequels. The two that we liked the most, this was me and Kevin Feige talking, were Wrath of Khan and Empire Strikes Back. Those were the two that we said, “They did it right. Now let’s look at what they did right.” There were so many others that didn’t feel as good as the first but for those two, what we found was that it really gave room to explore the characters and the villain plotlines were very simple but the stakes were very high. The less you get bogged down in complexity, the more you could really let the audience enjoy what they really like which are the relationships. Two years later, I know I’m a pretty savvy audience member, I don’t remember the dynamics and the subtleties of it. It’s not as precious to me as it is to the filmmakers. So it’s putting yourself in the seat of the audience and saying, “What do they want to see more but you want to go bigger.” You go from Alien to Aliens and then you want to show them the characters that they’ve invested in and how they’ve changed and change those dynamics by introducing new characters. Don’t just add to the action but throw the relationship into a little bit of a curve ball.

Question: Do you have double responsibility to set up part of The Avengers too?

Favreau: Yeah, I think that’s fun. I think it’s inevitable and The Avengers might be the thing that helps rescue us from the inevitable sequel slump that you get into because you’re throwing everything on its ear. It might be a failed experiment or it might be something wonderful, but it allows you to add complexity in an organic way where you’re culminating with something bigger as opposed to trying to play out and not repeat the same story over and over again.

JF continues to have great instincts when doing comic book pics....
I'm with ya all the way brother!