I'm A Whale Watcher

John Krasinski and Drew Barrymore will star opposite each other in the fact-based drama "Everybody Loves Whales" says Deadline Hollywood.

Ken Kwapis directs the story about the real-life 1988 rescue of three California gray whales trapped under Arctic Circle ice. Their plight made world news and saw US and Soviet leaders teaming to help.

Krasinski plays a small town newspaper reporter who breaks the story while Barrymore plays a Greenpeace activist.

Jack Amiel and Michael Begler wrote the script

Steve Golin, Michael Sugar, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Liza Chasin will produce.

Production kicks off in the Fall

Over Killer Concept

Ed Brubaker's graphic novel series Incognito is being adapted for the big screen reports Deadline New York.

The story follows the super-powered villain Zack Overkill who goes into witness protection after ratting out his boss The Black Death.

Now working as a mail carrier, he soon learns recreational drugs counteracts the drugs the authorities gave him to suppress his powers and he goes on to become a vigilante.

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan is adapting the script.

Peter Chernin and David Engel will produce.

Bat-On The Fly

As if this were not interesting enough Bat-news for the week...

Warner Bros.has set July 20, 2012, as the release date for the third Christopher Nolan-directed Batman Project

The studio has barely begun the process of developing the movie; Nolan is in post on “Inception” but is hammering out a story with David Goyer and brother Jonathan Nolan.

There is no title and no start date. July is becoming Nolan’s month. “The Dark Knight” opened on July 18, 2008, and Inception on July 16

Summer 2012 is shaping up to be one of the greatest geek movie seasons ever.
The Avengers is slated to come out May 4, board game adaptation Battleship leaves port May 25, Star Trek 2 beams up June 29, and the Untitled Spider-Man Reboot, swings into theaters on July 3.

Maids All In A Row

Rose Byrne and Chris O'Dowd have joined the cast of the as yet Untitled Kristen Wiig Project says Variety.

Wiig stars as a maid of honor begrudgingly competing with a bridesmaid (Byrne) for the attention of the bride (Maya Rudolph).

O'Dowd plays the male lead.

Paul Feig (TV' s "Arrested Development") directs from a script by Wiig and Annie Mumolo.

Judd Apatow will produce the pic that puts a spin on Bride Wars

The flick is scheduled to debut on May 12th 2011.

Big Boom Theory

Kevin James is close to starring in the comedy Here Comes the Boom says Variety.

James and Rock Reuben ("The Zookeeper") penned the action comedy--plot details are not being disclosed.

Salma Hayek is circling the female lead

James and pal Adam Sandler will produce.

Filming could kick off as early as January.

Dark Sees The Light

J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof may not be adapting Stephen King's masterpiece Dark Tower for the big screen....But Imagine Entertainment and Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, and Akiva Goldsman will take over the long gestatating project says Deadline New York.

Written by Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind) Howard would helm the pic which Grazer produces-which-would lead to a TV series

The Dark Tower series is comprised of seven books and is a hybrid of the western and fantasy genres filled gunslinging trips through time, and a commentary on, connected to, and a culmination of King's work as a writer.

All I can say is Good Luck

Number Four's Gal

Dianna Agron (TV's Glee) has landed the female romantic lead in I Am Number Four says Heat Vision.

Based upon James Frey and Jobie Hughes's upcoming novel the story follows nine aliens who flee to Earth disguised as teenagers.

The title character, (Alex Pettyfer), soon learns the enemy alien race that caused them to abandon their home planet are still hunting them.

Agron will play a girl dating a high school jock who falls for Number Four and becomes his confidant.

Sharlto Copley is playing his adult guardian and Teresa Palmer will be one of the other aliens.

D.J. Caruso calls the shots from Alfred Gough and Miles Millar's script

Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg will produce the pic. Filming kicks off next month in Pittsburgh for release next February.

Norse Nod

Here's your first official look at Chris Hemsworth as Thor...!

Impressive...


The Kenneth Branagh directed comic book pic hits May 6th 2011

Isabelle Finds Salvation

Isabelle Fuhrman has joined the comedy crime thriller " Salvation Boulevard," says Coming Soon.

George Ratliff is directing the adaptation of Larry Beinhart 's book about a former Grateful Dead fan who, after discovering the Christian faith, later finds himself on the run from the fundamentalist followers of his "mega-church"

Ratliff works off a script he penned with Douglas Stone

Jennifer Connelly Greg Kinnear Pierce Brosnan, Ed Harris Marisa Tomei Yul Vazquez and comedian Jim Gaffigan co star.

Cathy Schulman and Celine Rattray will produce

Filming is currently underway in Michigan.

Teleprompter Breakdown

Earlier this week Anchorman director Adam McKay told the world that he was in discussions with the suits at Paramount Pictures for Anchorman 2 and its financing.

As it turns out the studio has decided to pass on the the idea...McKay broke the news via Twitter

Not really a big fan of the first film--despite its popularity--Still perhaps another studio could pick it up down the road

I suppose that means McKay can start prep on the film adaptation of the Garth Ennis' comic book The Boys that he's been rumored to be in line for

Nightmare Scenario

This weekend at the movies Brendan Fraser Brooke Shields Matt Prokop and Skyler Samuels get a taste of Furry Vengeance (reviews) when animals attack But its Eco message is as "subtle as a sledgehammer" and Freddy Krueger kills a new generation of victims in the reboot of A Nightmare On Elm Street (reviews)



Carl DiOrio of 'THR

The spring boxoffice season's final weekend matches an R-rated horror pic against a family-friendly comedy as Warner Bros. debuts the remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street," and Summit Entertainment bows "Furry Vengeance."

"Nightmare" is sure to top the session, with solid tracking indicating prospects of scaring up as much as $30 million through Sunday. So that leaves the PG-rated "Vengeance" to duke it out with DreamWorks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon" in the competition for the frame's other two medal positions.

"Dragon" has mounted a leggier run than expected, running north of $180 million, and the Paramount-distributed adventure looks likely to fetch low-teen millions in its sixth domestic session playing in a mix of 2D and 3D auditoriums. The film has rung up more than 60% of its theatrical coin in 3D venues each weekend.

Imax venues have offered the richest vein of 3D loot for "Dragon." Family moviegoers have been its chief base of support.

Directed by music video helmer Samuel Bayer, the R-rated "Nightmare" stars Jackie Earle Haley as iconically evil Freddy Krueger in the New Line horror series' sixth installment.

"It's a great franchise," Warners distribution president Dan Fellman said. "We're looking for a strong opening."

Co-produced by Participant Media and Imagenation Abu Dhabi, "Vengeance" stars Brendan Fraser as a real estate developer beset by woodland creatures. Roger Kumble ("College Road Trip") directed.

"We're targeting young moviegoers between ages 7 and 11," Summit distribution topper Richie Fay said.

Tracking has been a bit soft, with a bow of $8 million-$10 million looking likely. That probably would put it behind "Dragon" in the weekend pecking order...

Nicole Sperling of EW asks:

Can 'Nightmare on Elm Street' turn around the box office ahead of 'Iron Man'?

Critics do not like either of these wide releases at all--But Freddy should claw his way to the top anyway...

Go Ahead Direct The Remake

Doug Liman ("The Bourne Identity") is circling the Joel and Ethan Coen-scripted remake of "Gambit" says Deadline Hollywood.
The original 1966 British caper comedy starred Michael Caine as a cat burglar who tries to rob a billionaire of his priceless statue enlisting the help of a waitress (Shirley MacLaine) who is a dead ringer for the victim's late wife.
Their blossoming relationship soon causes havoc with the burglar's carefully laid plans.
Mike Lobell will produce.
Liman's next film is the fact based drama "Fair Game" and is awaiting distribution by Summit

Is This Really Necessary?

Shia Labeouf will star in the romantic action pic "The Necessary Death Of Charlie Countryman" says Variety

As Charlie Countryman Labeouf falls for the absolutely irresistible Gabi, a woman already claimed by a violent crime boss named Nigel.

Armed with little more than his wit and charm, Charlie endures one bruising beat down after another to woo Gabi and keep her out of harm's way. Is his death the only way to save her?

Dante Ariola calls action from a 2007 Black List script by Matt Drake.

William Horberg, Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa will produce the pic

Filming will kick off this Fall

Ghost Buster

Director Wes Craven told Entertainment Weekly that he has signed on to direct all three films of the new "Scream" trilogy should Scream 4 be a hit

Craven says the story is set ten years after the events of the previous films - "There have been 10 years of no Ghostface, but there has been the movie-within-a-movie Stab. We have fun with the idea of endless sequels, or “sequelitis” as Kevin calls it in the script. Sid (Neve Campbell) goes through these three horrendous things, and Stab was based on those horrible things. And then they’ve been taken by a studio and run into the ground in a series of sequels. She has been off by herself and living her own life, and she’s even written a book that has gotten a lot of critical acclaim. She’s kind of put her life back together in the course of these 10 years. But, certainly, there would be no Scream without Ghostface, so she has to confront him again, but now as a woman who has really come out the darkness of her past."

Craven confirms that Sidney, Dewey and Gale (Courteney Cox and David Arquette) will very much be central characters again. Also much of the humor and theme will be where the horror genre has gone in the past decade - "There are series of films, a lot of sequels, and a lot of remakes, and part of the humor of Scream 4 is when characters comment on that. “Enough of Saw 25 and all!” [Laughs]

"A lot of films, directors, and studios are the butts of some of the jokes. In order to figure out what’s happening around them, the characters have to figure out where the genre of horror is. So this is a look at horror after 10 years of a lot of sequels rather than original films coming up year after year."

Craven thinks it's"safe to say" Scream 4 will remain R-rated, and is currently scheduled for release April 15th next year. Shooting kicks off in June

One of the best things about the original Scream film series was its mocking of its own genre...With Horror on the upswing in general There's plenty to comment on....

Hobbit On Track

Despite the ongoing financial issues of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Heat Vision reports that the release date has been scheduled the Peter Jackson/Guillermo del Toro’s two-part adaptation of The Hobbit for December 2012 and Part 2 by December 2013.

When the project was first announced back in 2007, a 2011 release date was originally targeted but has since changed a few times

Protective Custody

Simon West (Con Air) will direct Dwayne Johnson in the action thriller Protection.

Set in Mexico City Johnson will play a disgraced former Special Forces soldier turned bodyguard of a judge's 21-year-old daughter who witnesses her father's murder at the hands of a member of a powerful Mexican cartel.

The pair go on the run across both sides of the border with the cartel's enforcers, who want to kill the girl before she can testify, in close pursuit.

West had previously been attached but left the pic-then Clive Owen and director Patrick Alessandrin were going to make the fillm but both recently left as well.

Brandon Noonan wrote.the script.

Johnson, Stuart Ford, Robert Lawrence, Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray will produce.

Filming kicks off this Fall in New Mexico.

Ask Again Later...

It's time for a film based on the classic fortune-telling toy Magic 8-Ball says Vulture and Deadline

Jon Gunn and John Mann ("My Date With Drew") are writing the script looking to become a National Treasure-style action-adventure family franchise.

Ugh!

Brad Weston will produce the pic.

Tom Shadyac was originally set to develop the Magic 8 Ball film back in 2006 but he is no longer involved

Happy Daze

Lionsgate is continuing its partnership with Tyler Perry, scoring the film rights to his eleventh feature "Madeas Big Happy Family" says Variety .

Adapted from his currently touring new stage play , Perry will reprise his signature role as the straight-shooting Madea for a sixth time on the big screen.

Lionsgate has already set a release date of April 22nd 2011. Perry's tenth film, "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf ", is scheduled for release on January 14th 2011.

Hex-tra Effort

The theatrical trailer for the troubled comic book inspired pic Jonah Hex has arrived....

Directed by Jimmy Hayward, the film stars Josh Brolin as Hex the scarred bounty hunter, and Megan Fox as the prostitute who helps him on his mission to bring down the evil plantation owner Quentin Turnbull (played by John Malkovich).

Consider me underwhelmed by what's here

The pic comes to theaters June 18th, 2010

The Marriage Ref

From TV's iCarly to the big screen...

Teen star Miranda Cosgrove is taking on another film role-the family comedy "How Could You Do This to Me?" says The Hollywood Reporter.

The film, centers on a teen girl who feels her parent's divorce has improved her life. But as her parents begin to rekindle their relationship, the girl vows to break them up.

Andy Marx and Andrea King sold the original pitch and now journalist and author Emma Forrest will rewrite the script to better suit Cosgrove's strengths

Gil Netter and Brad Weston are producing.the pic

With a TV show, a just released album called Sparks Fly and films on the horizon--Is world domination next for Cosgrove?

Double Down

Richard Gere and Topher Grace are teaming for the espionage thriller "The Double" says Variety.

Gere plays a retired Central Intelligence Agency operative who is reactivated to find the Soviet assassin Cassius, a killer long thought to be dead who seems to be behind the recent murder of a senator.

Grace would play a young FBI agent teamed up with Gere who spent much of his career tracking Cassius down.

Michael Brandt, co-writer of the "3:10 to Yuma " remake and "Wanted", makes his directorial debut on the project which he also wrote with pal Derek Haas,

Filming starts this June in Detroit.

Keep Cool

Edward Furlong (Terminator 2: Judgment Day) and horror icon Michael Berryman (The Devil's Rejects) will star in the scary pic Below Zero reports Variety

The story follows a screenwriter who locks himself in a slaughterhouse freezer as inspiration and motivation to finish a script.

He soon starts writing the story of a tow truck driver who finds himself accidentally locked in a slaughterhouse freezer with the barely alive victim of a serial killer. Soon his own personal demons, and the freezing temperatures, start to take its toll on his sanity.

Kristin Booth and Michael Eisner also star.

Justin Thomas Ostensen directs from a script by Signe Olynyk.

Production has already kicked off in Alberta, Canada.

The Throwback

The idea of J.J. Abrams paying stylistic homage to cinema master Steven Spielberg-specifically the 70's and 80's period-for his next flick sounds interesting....

Vulture reports that the pic "will deal with everyday people whose personal relationships are tested when they are thrown up against extraordinarily fantastic - and possibly other-worldly - events."--a la “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “E.T.” and “The Sugarland Express.” An insider calls the project "an interpretation of some of Spielberg's earlier films, but done in a personal way."

Spielberg may serve as either executive producer or a mentor on the project. The pic's title and plot details are being kept top secret (Cloverfield anyone?), but Vulture's source calls the film "the anti-Avatar " in that Abrams wants to do a genre film in a "fiscally responsible" way.

So what does all this mean for the Star Trek Sequel which Abrams has not yet formally committed to directing?

TrekMovie points out: "For the Star Trek sequel to make its delivery date of June 29, 2012, production would have to start no later than the Summer of 2011. That still gives Abrams time to direct another film, especially if it is a lower budget film, and then return to directing Star Trek. However, if Abrams commits to another project that is going to bleed well into 2011, he will have no choice but to bring in a new director for the Star Trek sequel."

Abrams not calling action on Trek II is a concern only because I can't think of anyone else right now to fill that possible void--But I love the idea of Anti-tar--because it goes against the current trend in Hollywood. Abrams already proved he can buck conventional wisdom once last year year with Trek I have faith he can do it again--and he still might have time for Trek

Commandoh!

Plans are underway to remake 1985 vengeful father 80's actioner Commando with a more 'grounded' and real-world approach says Deadline New York.

In the original Arnold Schwarzenegger played John Matrix, a retired special forces Colonel who learns that Bennett, a former disgraced member of his unit is still alive and has been killing off Matrix's former colleagues.

Bennett, now working for a warlord names Arius, kidnaps Matrix's daughter (Alyssa Milano) as leverage to get him to lead Arius' military coup of Val Verde. Matrix soon goes on a one-man rampage to rescue his daughter and essentially kills Arius' entire private army along the way.

David Ayer (Harsh Times Training Day Street Kings.) has been tapped to write and direct the new update,

Erwin Stoff and John Davis will produce.

No word on production start date or potential release date,

Ghost Chaser

Bill Murray’s talking Ghostbusters 3 to Coming Soon during the Get Low press junket.

He says the reason the sequel suffers from the on/off, stop/start, are they/aren't they-itis is the under-performance of Year One, Harold Ramis' 2009 comedy disappointment

Writers Lee Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky were working on drafts of the script that everyone seemed keen on.

But "These guys that were supposedly the writers that were going to do it, they wrote a film that came out and people saw the film and went, 'We're not going to do it after all, are we?'"

Murray says that he's actually finding the whole saga "irritating" but “Maybe it’d be fun to do… the guys are funny and I miss Rick Moranis and Annie Potts and Danny Aykroyd. That’s really a big part of it."

Clash Of The Sequels

Sequels for remakes Clash of The Titans and 2008's "Journey to the Center of the Earth" are on the radar reports Deadline New York.

The 'Titans' follow-up is aiming for a Spring 2012 release and Sam Worthington is expected to reprise the role of Perseus.

However director Louis Leterrier will not return, neither will writers Matt Manfredi Travis Beacham and Phil Hay. Instead Greg Berlanti continues the story with a new screenwriter to be hired shortly to expand upon it. The studio hopes to get the film into production so Worthington can get to work on it before he shoots the "Avatar" sequel.

'Earth' is up for a Fall 2011 release but as a result director Eric Brevig wouldn't be available to direct due to his commitments to "Yogi Bear". Thus star Brendan Fraser is resisting suggestions of potential replacements like Brad Peyton.

As a result the film may be refashioned around the son (Josh Hutcherson).

Olga Goes Deep

Olga Kurylenko ("Quantum of Solace," "Hitman") has joined the Chinese 3-D underwater flick "Empires Of The Deep" reports Screen Daily.

Set in Ancient Greece, the story follows a young man (Steve Polites) who travels to an underwater kingdom in order to save his father. Along the way he encounters monsters, demons and full on mermaid battles.

Kurylenko is playing the Queen of the Mermaid Empire.

Anthony Arendt ("Avatar") is on board to consult on the 3-D techy.

Frank Randall and Jiang Hongyu came up with the script and a second instalment is already penned and the third in treatment. Several directors have been involved including Michael French, Jonathan Lawrence and Pitof

Shooting has been underway in Beijing, the Fujian province and Greece for six months with a month left to go.

A 2011 release is planned.

Guggenheim Gets Two

"Green Lantern" writer Marc Guggenheim has been hired to work on new drafts of two major adventure films that could become franchises says Heat Vision.

The first is fantasy actioneer "Leonardo da Vinci and the Soldiers of Forever" which re-imagines the Renaissance-era Italian genius as a member of a secret society that tracks and hunts down Biblical demons.

daVinci soon sets out on an action-packed quest involving secret codes, lost civilizations, hidden fortresses and fallen angels. Adrian Askarieh, Roy Lee and Doug Davison will produce the pic.

Guggenhem will also work on a draft of "Thieves of Baghdad", a 10th century family adventure borrowing heavily from the "One Thousand and One Nights" fables.

Cole Haddon's script is described as an ancient Arabian "Ocean's 11" with the likes of Sinbad, Ali Baba and various others teaming for a major heist. Flying carpets, sword fights and genies are all worked into the action.

Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne will produce.

Condon Catches A Break

After weeks of guessing and many different names being mentioned director. Bill Condon will call the shots on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" says THR

The suits at Summit Entertainment announced today that Oscar winner Condon of "Dreamgirls," "Kinsey" and "Gods and Monsters fame has the job of steering the Vamp saga's final chapter on film.

Sofia Coppola Gus Van Sant and Stephen Daldry were on the radar as well.

Production on 'Dawn' will kick off in the Fall.

Waltz Wower

One of my favorite funny folks is close to landing a feature film gig...

Sarah Silverman may join the indie dramedy Take This Waltz says Variety.

The film follows a young woman (Michelle Williams) who realises her infidelity is due to her addiction to the honeymoon period of her relationships.

Seth Rogen also stars casting Silverman as the sister of Rogen's character would be just inspired.

Actor-turned-filmmaker Sarah Polley wrote and directs the film when filming kicks off this Summer in Toronto.

Susan Cavan is producing the picture

Paxton's A Keeper

Sara Paxton ("Last House on the Left," "Superhero Movie") will headline the horror pic "The Innkeepers says The Hollywood Reporter.

The film sees Paxton and Pat Healy play the last two clerks in a century-old New England haunted hotel just days before its closure when some rather odd guests come to stay.

Kelly McGillis and George Riddle also star.

Ti West ("The House of the Devil") wrote and is directing the pic.

Derek Curl, Peter Phok, Larry Fessenden and West are producing.

Production begins this week in Connecticut at the famed Yankee Pedlar Inn

Snooty Beauty

Bryce Dallas Howard has signed on to join the "The Help" reports Deadline Hollywood.

Based upon Kathryn Stockett's book that explores the the complicated use by the upper class matriarchs of their servants in the American South of the early 1960's.

The story follows Skeeter Phelan (Emma Stone), a white recent college graduate uncomfortable with the current social norms of Mississippi at the time - a time when black maids did all the work and received no respect. Her plan is to write a book detailing the life of the various maids in the area, but her research soon uncovers not just racism but cruelty and criminal action by white society women, some of them even her friends.

Viola Davis is playing the role of Aibileen, a maid whom aspiring writer Phelan candidly interviews. That interview sets off shock waves that reverberate across the entire community as it uncovers not just racism but cruelty and criminal action by white society women.

Howard plays Hilly Holbrook, a beehive hairdo-wearing busybody socialite who is cruel to the black maids.

Tate Taylor is directing and adapted the script

Taylor, Brunson Green, Michael Barnathan, Chris Columbus and Mark Radcliffe will produce the pic.

Filming kicks off this summer in Mississippi.

Sexplots

Michael Seater, Emily Meade and Bo Burnham have joined the cast of the indie coming-of-age comedy "Sin Bin" says The Hollywood Reporter.

The story follows high school student Brian (Seater pictured) who loans out his van to his friends for their sexual exploits.

Things get dicey, because he is caught in a love triangle between a cute girl at school (Meade) and the villainous student liaison (Burnham).

Ben McKenzie, Jeff Garlin, Tim Blake Nelson, Brian Petsos and Gillian Jacobs also star.

Billy Federighi directs from a script by Christopher Storer.

Pestos, Gary Giudice and Storer are producing.

Has the potential to be an underrated teen romp gem ala Sex Drive

Filming on Sin is underway in Chicago..

Furry Vengeance

Fox is being sued over profits for Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel by Janice Karman, writer and daughter-in-law of the characters' late creator,Ross Bagdasarian Jr. says The Hollywood Reporter

The film was one of the biggest blockbusters of 2009, despite horrible reviewes with a haul of $442m worldwide. Now, a firm that represents the family of the series' creator is suing the studio for half of all profits from the film

The family's complaint reads: "Karman's provision of her screenplay writings to Fox was conditioned upon the payment of adequate compensation for those writings and her attendant services, which Karman never received."

Fox studio executives are planning to fight this one calling it "completely without merit".

Adding "We look forward to resolving our differences and, in the meantime, we are continuing to move forward with this franchise."

The plaintiffs want Karman to be made a co-owner of the script, and argue she should receive half of all profits "attributable to The Squeakquel's screenplay".

Yikes! Stay Tuned....

Rap Sheet

Rapper/actor Ice Cube has been cast of the police drama Rampart says Deadline

He will play a homicide detective sent to investigate a dirty cop (Woody Harrelson) in a story based on the Rampart scandal involving police corruption in Los Angeles, during the 1990s.

Ben Foster co-stars.

Oren Moverman (The Messenger) calls action from a script penned by author James Ellroy.

The movie is slated to start shooting in Los Angeles in late August

Generating Heat

Michael Bay will produce the action script called Heatseekers into a flick says The Hollywood Reporter

Described as The Fast And The Furious meets Point Break.the story comes from attorney-turned-screenwriter George Mahaffey, It sees a young former military pilot who is tasked with infiltrating a gang of aerial pirates in Bangkok. Their latest heist involves breaking into a massive tower using parachutes and powered gliders.

Andrew Form and Brad Fuller will co-produce the pic.

No director is attached yet

Resistance Is Feud-al

Crazy Heart director Scott Cooper is being tipped to direct the western about the legendary Hatfield-McCoy feud says:/Film.

The film would tell the story of the Hatfields and the McCoys, who were in the first wave of settlers in Tug Valley, with the McCoys living on the Kentucky side and the Hatfields on the West Virginia side. The wealthy Hatfields largely fought for the Confederacy, while the McCoys fought with the Union in the American Civil War.

Actor Robert Duvall said that Eric Roth (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) has written "an excellent script" and that Brad Pitt may join him in the film

Maximum Benefits

Maximum Ride is out of turnaround reports Heat Vision

Based on James Patterson's young adult novel series--Maximum Ride follows six children who've been genetically altered to be part bird.

Escaping their laboratory prison, they're pursued by their creators who send part human/part wolves after them.

Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby ("Iron Man ") will re-write "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer co scribe Don Payne's earlier draft.

Catherine Hardwicke remains attached to direct.

Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Steven Paul will produce.

Dog Days Of "Winter"

Oscar-winning writer Frank Pierson ("Dog Day Afternoon," "Cool Hand Luke") is set pen the script for the 3-D Korean War epic "17 Days of Winter" says Variety.

The story follows the pivotal 1950 battle of Chosin Reservoir, in which 12,000 American troops fought a 120,000-man Chinese force in sub-zero temperatures.

Pierson served in the Pacific during World War II and fought against the Japanese in New Guinea and the Philippines.

Eric Brevig ("Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D") directs with filming to take place in South Korea and New Zealand in time for a 2012 release.

Brevig and Charlotte Huggins will produce the picture

Friendly Sisters

Olivia Thirlby is in talks to join director Ivan Reitman's latest comedy says The Wrap.

Previously titled "F**kbuddies" and later "Friends with Benefits", Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher star as two long-term friends who try to find out if they can have a sexual relationship without falling in love.

Thirlby will play Portman's sister in the film.

Elizabeth Meriwether wrote the script.

Kevin Kline, Greta Gerwig, Ophelia Lovibond and Ben Lawson co-star

Reitman calls action and will produce the pic alongside Jeffrey Clifford and Joe Medjuck. A January 7th 2011 release is planned...