Enjoy The Ride

Jason Mantzoukas will rewrite the action-comedy Ride Along says The Hollywood Reporter.

Ice Cube stars in the pic about a rogue cop who tries to break off his sister's engagement to an upper-crust white psychiatrist by inviting his future brother-in-law on a ride-along.

Greg Coolidge penned the original script which has since gone through several re-writes.

Cube and his biz partner Matt Alvarez are producing, while Chris Bender and Jc Spink executive producing..

Mantzoukas' penned the buddy-cop TV pilot "Off Duty" that was not picked up.

He's since writing anither pilot that takes place in a hospital and centers on a female doctor who is unraveling at the seams.

I Spy The Eye

Empire Magazine caught up with The Hurt Locker actor Jeremy Renner who told them that Marvel suits want him to appear as the superhero Hawkeye in at least one or two upcoming films from the studio



"Hawkeye could be interesting. They're going to send me some stuff on it, see what it is, but I think they're pretty awesome, trying to make superhero movies almost plausible and not just some fantasy thing" says Renner about the costumed, archer

Which films could he appear in, Renner says "If I was a betting man, I would bet that Hawkeye would probably show up in Thor and then be in "The Avengers," but do I know for sure? I can’t say. But I’d love for that to happen. It’d be fun."

He admits that no deals are set yet - "No offer has been made. I think there’s a little ways from that.".

The actor also shot down rumors he was considered for the role of Captain America. "I don’t know if I’d be right for Captain America. I met with the Marvel guys, actually, but we didn’t talk about Captain America. But one of the writers, Zak Penn, we've become friends over time...."

Renner would be a fine fit as Hawkeye and if he's willing to put on the tights--the suits at Marvel should make it happen.

Meanwhile Marvel chief Joe Quesada tells Comic Book Resources that Kenneth Branagh's "Thor" film "redefines what a super hero movie can be. It’s not the expected story or settings."

Deep In Waska

Thomas Dekker, Lynn Collins, Jeremy Piven and Kate Walsh have joined the cast of the indie drama "Waska" says Variety.





Based on a novel Angels Crest: A Novel by Leslie Schwartz, the story follows a young father (Dekker) whose 3-year-old son freezes to death during a fishing trip.

As a local prosecutor (Piven) goes after him, townspeople like his ex-wife (Collins) rage at him and others support him as he attempts to makes sense of what happened.

Mira Sorvino, Elizabeth McGovern, and Joseph Morgan also star.

On a Clear Day director Gaby Dellal calls action from Catherine Trieschmann's adapted script.

Never read the book but I'm intrigued by the gut wrench er premise. Dekker will have to stretch his acting skills here. It's nice to see Piven step away from the comedic stuff for a bit.

Filming is already underway in Calgary, Alberta.

Cameron Wants His MTV

It's all about the promotional push for blockbuster...

MTV will present a live webcast of a round-table with director James Cameron and other key crew from his scifi epic Avatar on Thursday Dec. 3 The net will then air a half-hour television special prior to its December 18th theatrical bow says Variety.

Time To Panic

Uruguayan filmmaker Federico Alvarez just scored a million dollar deal to make his feature film directing debut on an alien invasion film for Sam Raimi's Ghost House Pictures reports Variety.

Alvarez helmed the fantastic looking short "Panic Attack!" ("Ataque de panic"), a sub-$500 five-minute pic about an apocalyptic robot attack which became an on line video hit



He then pitched the alien invasion idea to Raimi who's production company signed him to a holding deal. A high-end screenwriter is being sought turn the idea into a pic that Alvarez will direct and Raimi will produce.

Clearly hoping to capture a vibe similar to things-going-bump-in-the-night hit Paranormal Activity or Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 of this year.

Moon Continues To Shine

With New Moon crossing the $200 million mark on Friday--the Twilight sequel dominated turkey weekend... Sandra Bullock football flick The Blind Side stays strong at #2..Old Dogs barks up the wrong tree.






Pamela McClintock of Variety:

Summit Entertainment's "New Moon" scored the winning touchdown at the Thanksgiving box office, but Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment's sports drama "The Blind Side" was the underdog to watch.

In its second frame of play, "New Moon" grossed an estimated $42.5 million from 4,042runs for the three-day holiday weekend, and a total of $66 million for the Wednesday-Sunday stretch for a staggering domestic cume of $230.7 million.

"Blind Side," also in its second sesh, nearly tackled "New Moon" in grossing $40.1 million from 3,140 theaters for the weekend, and $57.5 million for the five days. Pic jumped the $100 million mark, ending the weekend with an estimated cume of $100.3 million.

Between "New Moon" and "Blind Side," new entries had to fight for leftovers as they unspooled Wednesday.

Disney's John Travolta-Robin Williams comedy "Old Dogs" placed No. 4 after "New Moon," "Blind Side" and Sony's holdover "2012," from Roland Emmerich. ("2012" grossed a healthy $18 million from 3,444 runs for the weekend, and $25.6 million for the five days.)

"Old Dogs" grossed $16.8 million for the weekend from 3,425 runs and $24.1 million for the five days.

Warners' male-driven actioner "Ninja Assassin" opened to an estimated $13.1 million for the weekend and $21 million for the five days.

Wes Anderson's prestige/family hybrid "Fantastic Mr. Fox," from 20th Century Fox," grossed $7 million from 2,033 theaters for the weekend, and $9.5 million for the five days. Film expanded nationwide on Wednesday after a two-week limited run....



Adam Markovitz of EW: New Moon' wins first place over best Thanksgiving weekend ever...

Next up: Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal play war-torn Brothers; Get in the Armored car with Columbus Short, Matt Dillon and Laurence Fishburne; And Robert De Niro makes sure Everybody's Fine in the American remake of the Italian pic Stanno tutti bene.

Making Grades

Justin Chadwick is set to direct "The First Grader" says The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on a true story, the film follows an elderly Kenyan who signs up for school on the back of a government pledge of free education for everyone. Having fought for his country's liberation, the old man wants the chance of an education so long denied -- even if it means sitting in a classroom alongside 6-year-olds.

Naomie Harris and Oliver Litondo star

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe's Ann Peacock wrote the script.

Shooting is currently underway around Nairobi for a six-week shoot.

Chadwick remains attached to helm "Ironbow: The Legend of William Tell" and The Tenderness of Wolves both of which are in development.

First Lady In Line

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, former supermodel and wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, will make an appearance in Woody Allen's next project a French-set film which begins shooting in the Summer reports Variety.



The script for the $30 million English-French language is still being finished up, but Bruni is only expected to play a secondary role. She told Canal Plus television that Allen himself had asked the French First Lady to be in the project but wouldn't tell her what the role was.

"I said 'yes'... I do everything a little bit blindly. If I don't, I won't do anything... I'm not at all an actress. Maybe I'll be absolutely terrible" said Bruni-Sarkozy

Stuffed Flicks Bits

*The World Reacts To Unfilmed Shatner Star Trek 2009 Scene Here's my take on the matter....




*Even with their very public spat, Michael Bay told USA Today that Megan Fox has "got a great part in 'Transformers 3"and he has no plans of killing her off..."

*Director Jon Favreau hints via Twitter that the first "Iron Man 2" trailer could premiere in front of "Sherlock Holmes" at Christmas.

*Hide the kids--"Jackass 3 -D" is listed on the Paramount Pictures release slate for 2010 via /Film

*Katherine Brooks is attached to direct "Freak", the biopic of jockey Julie Krone says The Hollywood Reporter.

*Anne Hathaway is up for a part in Spider-Man 4 says Deadline Hollywood Daily

*A further casting call for Spidey 4 is seeking a two-year-old caucasian twins with red haired 'engaging personalities'. This has lead to much speculation that the character they will be playing could be a child of Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker and Kirsten Dunst's Mary Jane Watson

*BOF reports early plans for another as yet Untitled Batman Film film are expected to be complete around January and will then be presented to director Christopher Nolan. The longer it takes for him to commit, the less chance he'll likely return for a third time to this franchise

*Stephen Lang has joined the cast of the indie drama "White Irish Drinkers" where he will play a tortured longshoremam says THR.

*Mike White will write the comedy "Santa Wars " reports Variety. The story follows rival factions that developed within a union of professional Santa Clauses who became arch enemies during a Santa Claus civil war.

*Anthony Peckham is gonna rewrite the thriller Deep Sea Cowboys says The Hollywood Reporter

*USA Today has posted the first photos from "Shrek Forever After" which is supposed to be the final film in the series. The film, which will be shot in 3D, will premiere its first trailer in theatres with Avatar on December 18th.

*Francis Lawrence is poised to direct a film adaptation of the comic "In the Small" says Pajiba. Michael Hague's graphic novel concerns a strange explosion that leaves all humans six inches tall, yet nothing else is affected. Those who survive the transition are forced to create a new social order and adjust in a world where man is no longer at the top of the food chain. Earlier this month Lawrence replaced Guy Ritchie on the Sgt. Rock. pic.

*'Nubs the Dog: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle will soon be seen on the big screen says The Hollywood Reporter. It's the story of a stray dog that Major Brian Dennis rescued while on a tour of duty on the front lines in Iraq .After nursing the dog back to health and caring for it as his own, he arranged to have him shipped back to the U.S. and was reunited with the dog when his tour ended.

*Thora Birch will co-star opposite Kevin Zegers in the "The Story of Bonnie and Clyde" remake says Screen Daily

*MTV Networks has acquired the exclusive U.S. TV rights to air the posthumous documentary " Michael Jackson's This Is It". Sister networks such as VH1, BET and Palladia will also have the ability to air the film says THR

Toys At Play

Here's the International Trailer for Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3 sees Andy heading off to college, and consequently getting rid of his childhood playthings.

The toys are given away, but not liking their new home, they scheme up a plan to escape.

While the trailer has much of the same adventurous, funny vibe as its predecessors, it does seem this film may have a more serious tone than the first two movies

The film hits US theaters on June !8th 2010

Alba Goes Inside

After visiting Sin City and going invisible in the Fantastic Four movies Jessica Alba's signed on for The Insiders, the big-screen version of another comic book series...

According to ICv2 (via Pajiba), Alba purchased the rights to bring the Belgian graphic novel series to life on the big screen

Mabrouk el Mechri (Jcvd), will direct and Alba will star as the heroine, Naja Cruz, “a Colombian who is as deadly as she is beautiful. She has weapons expertise and combat skills. At the secret request of the White House she infiltrates a worldwide mafia-like organization composed of businessmen and politicians and becomes the bodyguard of the organization’s leader.”

Robert Rodriguez will produce the pic for his Sin City and Machete beauty.

After wasting her time in stuff like The Eye, Awake and The Love Guru, I'm glad Alba is trying to right her career with stronger sounding films like the Meet the Fockers Sequel The Killer Inside Me and now this one.

Alba kicking butt yeah!

New Owners Again....

Bloody Disgusting reports that yet another version of the The Amityville Horror is in the works??!!

The tale was based on a true story--later an admitted hoax--about a family moving into their apparent Long Island dream house, only to discover a murder took place in the house several years back and now the place is now haunted.





First put on film in 1979--starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder-- directed by Stuart Rosenberg that classic film spawned several horrid sequels

Then the story was remade in 2005-- sure the film grossed over $100 million at the box office worldwide but it was almost universally panned and is now more famous for showing off a very buffed up Ryan Reynolds than scaring anyone.

The site says a director is already in talks to develop the project but no schedule has been determined as yet.

The 05 pic was bad!! Unless you know for sure you can do right by the do-over; Don't bother.

Zombies Live Here

The writers of Zombieland Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick have already expressed an interest in a sequel, now director Ruben Fleischer joins the chorus wanting a follow-up to the horror action/comedy.



The director tells Moviehole that he and the studio are discussing a sequel to the film to be shot in 3-D and the "genre really lends itself" to the gim-, I mean format.

Fleischer adds that the principal cast - . Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin are all up for a return as well but that it would still be a while off as they don't have the story just yet.

Ya had me until ya said 3-D....Sheesh...

Ready To Carve

Before you slice into your holiday turkey today, take your first look at the new Freddy Krueger from the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street (played by Jackie Earle Haley)



The folks at Figures.com have posted a photo of an action figure based on Krueger's new look for the reboot from Neca Entertainment

Yello!

Speaking to Black Book Magazine Neve Campbell says that she's "pretty sure at this stage that Wes [Craven] is back on board to direct" Scream 4.

As for the also returning David Arquette and Courteney Cox--She says:

"I haven't spoken to them in a while. I'm sure it took a while to convince them to take part [in the picture], especially because they're now a very happy family, and of course, it was a long journey for them. I think it's going to be a lot of fun, and a lot like going back to summer camp."

She has yet to read Kevin Williamson.'s script yet - "No. Not yet. They had to wait for us all to sign on. I suppose that’s the way these days."

Filming is due to begin on the sequel in mid-April.

Of Dogs Hobbits And Bones

While attending the London premiere for The Lovely Bones director Peter Jackson looked ahead to his next two projects - the film versions of the "Tintin" graphic novel series and the literary classic The Hobbit

Filming on the motion-capture "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn" indeed wrapped a while back after a super fast month-long shoot. Now however, Jackson says the film is already cut together with only nearly two years of animation ahead to complete.

"'Tintin' is great. It's made. The movie is cut together and now [we] are turning it into a fully-rendered film. So the movie, to some degree, exists in a very rough state" he told The BBC.

"The Hobbit": he and his co-writers helmer del Toro, Fran Walsh and frequent collaborator Philippa Boyens, have already finished the first film's script and submitted it, and they're now halfway through the 2nd film's script.

Continuity will exist between the 'Hobbit' and his "The Lord of the Rings film trilogy" with much of the dialogue written in the same way, though director Guillermo del Toro will interpret the look and feel in his own way.

"Guillermo wants to shoot in 35mm, old-fashioned film, which suits me, because he wants to keep it in the same space as the original trilogy."--Meaning No 3-D and such!!

Meantime Early word on Bones is mixed...Yikes!

"Fascinating"

With the Star Trek reboot now out on DVD it's back in the news; Here are 3 interesting stories rolled in one...



Sure the proposed Shatner cameo for the film is old news but given new chatter about him appearing in the Star Trek Sequel it bears revisiting

TrekMovie.com has it...

ALTERNATE SCENE B

SPOCK PRIME

Then I ask that you do yourself a favor… put away logic, and do what feels right. The world you’ve inherited lives in the shadow of incalculable devastation… but there’s no reason you must face it alone.

And from around his neck, he removes the PENDANT that until now, we’ve only caught glimpses of. Places it on the table beside his younger self. The feeling in his eyes is profound…

SPOCK PRIME (CONT’D)

This was a gift to me. Representing… a dream. One we were unable to fulfill. (softly) The way you can now.

And moves to the door. Stops. Offers the VULCAN SALUTE:

SPOCK PRIME (CONT’D)

As my customary farewell would appear oddly self serving, I will simply say… good luck.

Their eyes hold. Spock turns, disappearing into the corridor. Young Spock stares at the empty doorway a beat, his mind a jumble of thoughts. Looks to the pendant… and realizes it’s a HOLO-EMITTER. After considering a beat, he hits an activation button and a MOVING HOLOGRAPHIC MESSAGE materializes before him:

CAPTAIN JAMES T. KIRK. WILLIAM SHATNER. As always, brash, wry, confident — and SINGING:

KIRK/ SHATNER

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…
(stops, grins)

I know I know, it’s illogical to celebrate something you had nothing to do with, but I haven’t had the chance to congratulate you on your appointment to the ambassadorship so I thought I’d seize the occasion… Bravo, Spock — they tell me your first mission may take you away for awhile, so I’ll be the first to wish you luck… and to say… (beat, emotional) I miss you, old friend.

… and we’re PUSHING IN on Young Spock, taking in the image of Kirk’s future self, the message, but above all — the clear, unquestionable friendship these two men had…

INT. CORRIDOR – CONTINUOUS

As Spock Prime walks off down the corridor, he passes right by a man conferring with a nurse — the man pauses, turns… it’s SAREK. Suddenly overcome by a feeling that the stranger who’s just passed him is… oddly familiar.

KIRK/SHATNER (V.O.)

I suppose I’d always imagined us… outgrowing Starfleet together. Watching life swing us into our Emeritus years…

INT. STARBASE ONE – HANGAR – ETERNAL NIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING — glass walls reveal THE ENTERPRISE at dock, UTILITY CRAFTS floating around it, repairing. Standing at attention in rows, THE ENTERPRISE CREW — over four hundred of them wearing DRESS UNIFORMS — TRACK DOWN the faces, all proud:

KIRK/SHATNER (V.O.)

I look around at the new cadets now and can’t help thinking… has it really been so long? Wasn’t it only yesterday we stepped onto the Enterprise as boys? That I had to prove to the crew I deserved command… and their respect...

Ah! what might have been--Shat didn't want to be limited to being a hologram and a V O.

Frankly I would rather NOT see him for the sequel as I think it would take away from the film--Anything other than a cameo would take away from the plot and we know how Bill feels about cameos.

Remember those nagging Matt Damon in Trek rumors back in 2006, J.J. Abrams says that he DID talk to the actor about playing not JTK but Kirk's dad...



Abrams told MTV: "I went to Damon for the role of Kirk’s father, and he declined in the most gracious and understandable and logical of reasons. We lucked out with Chris Hemsworth, and he did a great job. Maybe it would have been distracting to have someone as massively famous as Matt Damon in that role. … The decision was made very early on to have actors who were not necessarily the most famous but the most right for the role "

Finally Writer Harlan Ellison says on his Blog that despite his recent Trek Lawsuit He would answer the phone if Abrams called. “I would jump at the chance to work with the inordinately-talented J.J. Abrams on a new Star Trek film"

"Yes, I would likely try to steer him toward the original film idea I was asked to pitch, by the late Gene Roddenberry and a production exec whose name I have blissfully flensed from memory (but he had been, if I recall, a hairdresser or clothing designer or ex-boyfriend of someone or other, and he kept trying to press me to include the Mayan Calendar).”

“If the very smart Abrams didn’t want to go that way, I would be wide-open to rethinking such a film from the git-go,” said Ellison.

“Paramount would, of course, have to pay me from the first meet git-go; but I have absolutely no attitude that would prevent me from jumping in to work with such a clever fellah.”

Abrams might be intested in Harlan's imput but would the studio want him at the table....? I doubt it...

Rabbit Race

Aussie actor Guy Pearce joins the cast of the action thriller "The Hungry Rabbit Jumps" says Production Weekly.

The plot sees a man's (Nicolas Cage) wife (January Jones) the victim of a brutal crime. He then becomes entangled with an underground vigilante organization.

No word yet on the role Pearce will play in the pic.

Roger Donaldson is directing from a debut script by Robert Tannen that begins shooting next month in New Orleans.

Animal Crackers

It's Dogs, ninjas a fox a frog a stud and a future peek that await movie patrons this Thanksgiving weekend trying to take down Vamps and wolves...

Robin Williams and John Travolta are just a couple of Old Dogs (reviews) trying to learn new tricks: The Ninja Assassin (reviews) will kick your butt; John Hillcoat puts Cormac McCarthy's sci-fi tale The Road (reviews) on the big screen--bringing award buzz with it; Wes Anderson's CGI toon Fantastic Mr Fox (reviews) goes wide...Just as traditional 2-D animation returns (Yay!) in The Princess and the Frog (reviews) starts a limited run as does Zac Efron's dramatic debut in Me And Orson Welles (reviews) ...




Pamela McClontock of Variety:

A handful of films join the Thanksgiving week buffet today, going up against Summit Entertainment's colossal "New Moon" and other strong holdovers.

Warner Bros.' new entry "Ninja Assassin" has a key advantage in appealing to males, who aren't so interested in the "Twilight" series. The R-rated actioner, opening Wednesday in 2,503 runs, was produced by Joel Silver, the Wachowski brothers and Legendary Pictures.

Disney's John Travolta-Robin Williams topliner "Old Dogs," Walt Becker's follow-up to sleeper hit "Wild Hogs," will look to draw adults as the Mouse hopes it will profit from being the only new comedy. Pic plays in 3,425 theaters.

Twentieth Century Fox expands Wes Anderson's "Fantastic Mr. Fox" nationwide into 2,027 theaters after a successful two-week limited run targeting the arthouse crowd. Studio now hopes to get the family aud, small and big badgers alike, to the animated pic.

Also going after kids, Disney opens traditionally animated "The Princess and the Frog" today in a two-week exclusive run before going wide. It plays at the theater on the Disney lot in Burbank and at Clearview Cinemas' Ziegfeld Theater in New York...



From the clips I have seen of "Dogs" it looks pretty lame...It will be interesting to see where New Moon lands on the chart come Sunday...

Giant Guys Go For 3

"Human Giant" collaborators Aziz Ansari and Jason Woliner sold three comedy pitches to Judd Apatow and Universal Pictures reports Variety.

First up is "Let's Do This", a road movie about two guys who work for a motivational speaking company.

Next is an untitled project about a disgraced cosmonaut (Ansari) who is forced to return to outer space to clear his name.

The last somehow ties in with Ansari's supporting role in Apatow's "Funny People" (on DVD today).

Ansari and Woliner will write at least one of the projects together with Woliner attached to direct and Ansari to appear in all three.

Jones Drops His Lawyer

Tommy Lee Jones is no longer going to direct or co-star in film version of Michael Connelly's book "The Lincoln Lawyer" reports Variety.



Jones left the project over creative differences with John Romano's script.

Actor Matthew McConaughey is still attached to star in the pic.

Lakeshore Entertainment hopes to find another director hoping to keep production on schedule to begin in the Spring.

Thor Gets A Kat

Kat Dennings is the latest name to be added to the cast roster of Kenneth Branagh's comic book film Thor

Thor's on-screen love Natalie Portman told MTV News.

“Well I’m really excited… Kat Dennings is going to be in it with me and she’s a good friend and an amazing actress, so I’m looking forward to that.”

No word on what character Dennings will play in the flick.

I have a guess--Dennings could play the sister of Portman's character?

Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Jaimie Alexander, Colm Feore, Samuel L. Jackson, Stellan Skarsgard, Stuart Townsend, Ray Stevenson and Tadanobu Asano also star.

Filming kicks off early next year for release May 2011.

Beastly Peek

Here's a very quick teaser for the July 30, 2010. fantasy romance flick Beastly

A modern take on the classic tale of "Beauty and the Beast", the movie follows Kyle Kingson (Alex Pettyfer), a handsome rich kid with a mean streak. His life is turned upside down when a curse, which is placed upon him after he ditches a date (Mary-Kate Olsen), turns him into everything he hates. Now, he is left with the seemingly impossible task of finding true love to break the ugly spell.

Vanessa Hudgens also stars.

Daniel Barnz directed the pic

The next Twilight? The vibe is certainly what the filmmakers are going for.

HSM China Style

As the High School Musical film series lies dormant in the U.S. (for now anyway)--the winning fornula is going East.

Disney has started production on a Chinese version of the franchise for release in theaters next Summer.

"Disney High School Musical: China" tells the story of a new student who meets a gifted young man with whom she shares a secret passion for singing. With the help of their friends they overcome the odds to win an inter-school singing competition, and discover their true calling in the process.

Jason Reed, general manager of Walt Disney Studios international production: "We wrote an original screenplay from the ground up. This is inspired by the spirit of the first one. The young stars are not as well known as they will be soon. The key for us was that they could sing and dance and whether they had the energy and charisma needed."

Filming is underway in Shanghai and features six new young stars drawn from across China

Expanding the brand is a smart business move by the Mouse House....

Extra HSM related tidbit Former BMOC Zac Efron told Time that he 'Would Love To Try An Action Film"

What? Jonny Quest doesn't count as an action film...??

The 'Tar Push Picks Up

We are now just weeks away from the long awaited debut of James Cameron's sci-fi epic "Avatar" takes on the worldwide cinema--starting with its big premiere in London on December 10th...

It's everywhere.



The film and Cameron were profiled by TV newsmag 60 Minutes show last night...

Producer Jon Landau told The Wall Street Journal on Thursday that production crews are working around the clock to finish up basic elements from color and sound mixing to more complicated visual effects shots on the 30 minutes of the film that remain incomplete.

Cutting it close eh?

Last minute work is driving the film's cost up with the budget looking to go over the $300 million mark.

The running time--Cameron is known for making long films and early buzz had 'tar's tally up to three hours.

The Hollywood Reporter says that due to limits imposed by the IMAX conversion, the film's theatrical release will be kept to 150 minutes before credits.

The pic will be getting a ten-week run in IMAX theatres though, unlike most films who are limited to a three-week run for their releases.

Meantime, Market Saw says that New Zealand-based Weta Digital, one of around eight digital effects houses working on the project, had finished their commissioned work for the film.

The push picks up faster in the coming weeks...

Charting A New Course

Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer are set to write the film adaptation of the hit PlayStation video game series Uncharted reports Latino Review



The film will be based on the first game in the series, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, the story follows treasure hunter Nate Drake who believes he has learned the whereabouts of El Dorado, the fabled South American golden city, from a cursed golden statue.

The search becomes competitive when a rival hunter joins the fray, then is ratcheted up several notches when creatures -- actually mutated descendants of Spaniards and Nazis -- begin attacking those hoping to learn the treasure's true secrets.

The first game was the most acclaimed 'launch title' for the platform. Its sequel, Among Thieves™, (pictured) was just released recently and is likely to make many 'Game of the Year' lists for '09.

Kyle Ward ("Hitman 2" ) was charged as the film's writer over the summer, but the deal apparently fell apart.

Howling Foul

Hollywood operates in trends..Case in point:

Producers Joel Kastelberg and Etchie Stroh will reboot the The Howling franchise with "The Howling: Reborn" reports Variety.

Joe Dante directed the 1981 original that starred Dee Wallace and itelf spawned six sequels.

Story details on the remake/reboot are being kept under wraps. Joe Nimziki makes his feature film directorial debut from his own script.

Shooting kicks off in February for a release next Halloween.

The original pic is a fun and yes imperfect film-- limited mostly by budget and ultimately overshadowed by the '81 wolf comedy, An American Werewolf in London.

My problem with this particular remake plan though has more to do with the fact that Hollywood's got New Moon making a mint in theaters right now, The Wolfman on the way in February of 2010 and now this project.

Vampires are everywhere and now it's time for werewolves to saturate the entertainment landscape.

Hollywood operates in trends...

S.H.A.D.O. Knows

Fringe star Joshua Jackson is inked to headline a new film adaptation of the cult 70's British sci-fi TV series "UFO" reports Variety.

Jackson will star as Paul Foster, a test pilot who joins S.H.A.D.O. (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organization), a covert organization built under a Hollywood studio that defends Earth against a race of aliens who have been abducting humans and using the body parts.

Gerry Anderson who also created the cult marionette shows like "Thunderbirds" and ""Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons" went live-action with the original "UFO" show which ran for a single season of twenty-six episodes from 1970 to 1971.

A second series was initially commissioned but later cancelled, with much of the development work done on it incorporated into Anderson's more well-known mid-70's program "Space: 1999"

Ryan Gaudet and Joseph Kanarek are writing the screenplay

Iron Man and Shutter Island visual effects supervisor Matthew Gratzner is set to make his directorial debut on the pic.

Filming kicks off this Spring in the UK.

As a fan of Anderson's cult TV classics since childhood I'm jazzed over the possibilities here. Nice to see that Jackson not afraid to leave the genre once Fringe wraps its 2nd season.

Mulling Kull

A new film adaptation of Robert E. Howard' fantasy hero "Kull" is is on the way says Fantasy.fr.

Howard created the adventure hero in 1929 and would use the character as inspiration for his more famous follow-up creation "Conan the Barbarian".

Kull grows up with his family in Tiger Valley Atlantis until a flood wipes his clan out.

Another clan bring him up, but he stands up for a woman destined to burn alive and ends up banned from Atlantis.

He sails for the continent and take up the mercenary way. He'll become king, just as Conan will do thousands of years later. Under his influence, Valusia ends up as the most powerful kingdom of the time.

The character's first big screen go was 1997's critically-panned "Kull the Conqueror" starring Kevin Sorbo (pictured)

The Conan films were at least campy fun while Kull was just a bad film. Will the Kull redo be watchable?

Lawn Doctor

After the boffo box office debut of New Moon over the weekend director Chris Weitz has announced that he will helm"The Gardener" for Summit Entertainment reports Variety.



Eric Eason's script follows a hard-working Mexican gardener who lives in Los Angeles and his efforts to protect his son. Filming kicks off in March or April.

Weitz also says talk of his retirment from filmmaking was overblown saying the quote was lifted from an interview he did after "The Golden Compass" on which he got a rough treatment from the Summit suits.

He says he's been reinvigorated by the work on "Moon".

Anyone's career would reinvigorated... You would think twice about quitting your job if your work made a bazillion bucks as well.