Nimble Numbers

Chris Evans will join Anna Faris in the R-rated comedy "What's Your Number?" says Variety.

Based on Karyn Bosnak's book "20 Times a Lady" the story follows a woman (Faris) who thought she'd find her perfect guy by the time she'd slept with a maximum of twenty men. Waking up after a drunken night in her boss's bed, she realises she's reached that limit but hasn't achieved it. Rather than increasing the number or staying celibate, she tracks down all her ex-partners in an attempt to make things work with one of them.

Bosnak adapted her own work which Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allan polished.

Beau Flynn and Tripp Vinson are producing the comedy.

Mark Mylod (HBO's Entourage) is directing.

Production should begin in May

Lycan Ways

Juno Temple ("Year One," "Wild Child") has joined Bradley Rust Gray's lycan lesbian drama "Jack and Diane" says Bloody Disgusting.

The kinky tale follows two teenage girls in New York City - the charmingly innocent Diane (Temple) whose affection manages to pierce the heart of the tough and closed off Jack (Olivia Thirlby). Ready to leave the country, Diane struggles to keep their love alive but hides the fact her newly awakened sexual desire has given her werewolf-like visions.

Temple replaces previously attached stars Ellen Page and later Alison Pill

Filming kicks off this May in New York.

Grisbys Get Made?

A rumor began over the weekend that Paramount Pictures was picking up "Grisbys Go Broke", an unproduced screenplay by late writer-director John Hughes hat several studios are said to be considering acordong to The Hollywood Reporter

The studio is, saying the company "is not negotiating to purchase the screenplay" which follows a wealthy Chicago family that loses it all and is forced to move to the sticks. The rumor had Paramount hoping to turn the film into a family comedy with Joe Roth producing. It may eventually happen someday...

The writer/director basically retired in the mid 90's but still did a lot of writing. Family members came upon reams of unpublished and unproduced material after his death last August.

Life Cycle

The new trailer for December 17th's Tron Legacy has gone live!

Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), is tipped off by Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner), to investigate an old arcade and a secret door opens to the digital world of Tron. Here he comes into contact with his father (Jeff Bridges) who has been there for some time.



Whoa Indeed!

Directed by Joseph Kosinski--Olivia Wilde co-stars.

Brother's Keeper

Actor Liam Hemsworth is following in older brother Chris Hemsworth's (Star Trek, Thor) footsteps as action star

Liam has joined the 3-D action feature Arabian Nights according to the Heat Vision Blog.

The period epic centers on a kingdom that has been involved in in a coup which killed the King.

Hemsworth will play a young commander who enlists the help of Sinbad and Aladdin to rescue Queen Scheherazade.

Chuck Russell’s calling action from a script he co-wrote with Barry P. Ambrose.

Bill Johnson, Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray will co- produce the pic

Filming is aiming to kick off late Summer.

Bible Thumping

Deadline Hollywood reports that Paramount Pictures and Walden Media are prepping a film called In the Beginning, a 3-D adaptation of the The Book of Genesis

John Fusco (Hidalgo) has written a script that David Cunningham will direct about the Judeo-Christian story depicting from Earth's creation to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Ugh Even this goes 3-D...

FX house Reel EFX is doing test footage for the project, if it goes well the pic will get a green light.

Cary Granat will produce the film.

3-Deeeeeee!

I suppose it comes as no surprise that Ridley Scott's as yet Untitled Alien Prequel will be coming at you in 3-D acoording to Shadowlocked who spoke with original "Alien" art-director Roger Christian

"Ridley's doing the next Alien in 3-D."

"Ridley told me some of his ideas when we were here in Toronto. He has a very clear understanding of where this should go. They kind of stopped dead one of the greatest horror franchises there's ever been, and it had legs to go on," he said.

Jon Spaihts is penning the script.

Meantime--Warner Bros. has confirmed that Martin Campbell's superhero film Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds, will be released in 3-D.

Also getting the extra-dimensional treatment is Zack Snyder's fantasy drama Sucker Punch, due out on March 25, 2011.

Sigh....

Suit And Tie

The second Iron Man 2 trailer is here! And it's Awesome! The film hits theaters on May 7th 2010!

Oscars 2010 Makes Herstory

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards are now over...And The Hurt Locker is the big winner...and so is director Kathryn Bigelow beating out her ex hubby James Cameron and his sci-fi pic Avatar- making history to become the first female to win the award--Locker won six awards in total...

Here are the WINNERS:

BEST PICTURE The Hurt Locker

BEST DIRECTOR Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

BEST ACTRESS Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

BEST ACTOR Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Best Foreign Language Film El Secreto do Sus Ojos (Argentina)

Best Editing The Hurt Locker

Best Documentary The Cove

Best Visual Effects Avatar Best Score Up

Best Cinematography Avatar

Best Sound Mixing The Hurt Locker

Best Sound Editing The Hurt Locker

Best Costume Design The Young Victoria

Best Art Direction Avatar

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Mo’Nique, Precious

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious

Best Makeup Star Trek

Best Live-Action Short The New Tenants

Best Documentary Short Music by Prudence

Best Animated Short Logorama

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker

Best Song “The Weary Kind,” Crazy Heart, T-Bone Burnett & Ryan Bingham

Best Animated Film Up

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds



As for the ceremony itself I thought it was pretty lifeless with a few exceptions; For all of the talk before the show about the unpredictable hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin--they fell pretty flat...The opening bit was actually painfully unfunny--Their best bit was the filmed before hand Paranormal Activity spoof otherwise...zzzz

There was some golden moments though...

Ben Stiller spoofs 'Avatar while handing "Star Trek" its win for make-up--It might be worth having Stiller host next year....

The best acceptance speech of the night goes to Monique as Best Supporting Actress for her turn in "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"

The Horror tribute montage...

And the heartfelt tribute to the late great John Hughes Introduced by Matthew Broderick and Molly Ringwald, the montage of great Hughes moments was followed by a handful of his most famous leading actors talking about him-- On stage were Hughes alum Anthony Michael Hall, Macaulay Culkin, Jon Cryer, Ally Sheedy and Judd Nelson wirh his family in the audience....

Having 10 Best Pic noms meant nothing in the end because it was always between 'Tar and Locker anyway...

Ready To Run Again

The suits at Universal Pictures want to develop a sequel to the Martin Brest directed bounty hunter comedy "Midnight Run says The Hollywood Reporter.

In the original, Robert De Niro starred as a bounty hunter on a cross-country journey attempting to bring back his latest catch, an embezzler (Charles Grodin)

Timothy Dowling ("Role Models") will write the script for the follow-up which will see De Niro's character paired with a young comedic foil.

De Niro and Jane Rosenthal will produce the pic.

Not a major hit, the first film was critically well-received and has a strong following since it's initial release.

It's one of my faves-Chemistry between Grodin & De Niro as well as a strong script--was key...And the same will hold true for the sequel.

Stilll More King To Come

Sylvain White ("The Losers," "Stomp the Yard") is in negotiations to direct the early days of the King Arthur legend called "Pendragon" says The Los Angeles Times.

Lee Shipman and Brian McGreevy's penned the script which essentially is an origin story of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table including Arthur, Lancelot, Guinevere, Galahad and Merlin.

The story will have a youthful romance aspect mixed with the action

Michael A. Connolly will produce.

The project is not to be confused with the two "Exaclibur" projects in development---- one with Bryan Singer, the other with Guy Ritchie.

Three Arthur pics Really? Won't they just cancel each other out?

Dark Times Ahead

Summit Entertainment and New Regency Enterprises are teaming up to release the thriller "The Darkest Hour" says Deadline New York.

The story follows a group of kids struggling to survive somewhere in Russia after an alien invasion.

Chris Gorak ("Right at Your Door") directs from a script by Leslie Bohem and Jon Spaihts that he re-wrote.

Timur Bekmambetov (pictured) and Tom Jacobson will produce the pic that sounds like 28 Days Later meets Red Dawn

Filming kicks off in Russia in June.

Morgan Goes For 2

Tracy Morgan has joined 2 comedy pics says Deadline New York.

In "I.D. Theft" Morgan will play a father who comes upon a wealthy suburban dad's credit card and sees a way out of his own financial hole

Colin Jost and Rob Klein wrote the script.

No production schedule was released for the film.

Morgan will also star in the comedy "Freshman Roommates" which John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky ("Blades of Glory") will re-write.

Love & Murder

Former Doctor Who duo David Tennant and Billie Piper are in negotiations to team up again on the London urban thriller "Love On The Murder Mile" says The Daily Mail.

Johnny Glynn wrote the script with story details being kept under wraps.

Matthew Rhys and Mackenzie Crook are also in negotiations for supporting roles.

Piper's husband Laurence Fox will call action and Fox's brother Robin will produce the pic.

Top Hatter

Tim Burton's take on Alice in Wonderland drove movie-goers Mad over the weekend...



Anthony Stewart of Variety

Disney certainly hasn't lost any of its muchness.

"Alice in Wonderland" slayed the worldwide box office, earning an estimated mammoth $210.3 million with domestic earnings figuring in at $116.3 million at 3,728 playdates to become the highest-grossing first quarter opener, as well as the all-time highest three-day, non-holiday bow for a non-sequel film in the U.S.

Overseas, "Alice" earned $94 million at 5,600 screens in some 40 territories in only 60% of the international market.

The 3D giant screened at 2,063 3D-equipped locations domestically with an additional 188 Imax locations, repping approximately 70% of the film's total domestic earnings.

Playing second fiddle to "Alice" was the frame's other wide release, Overture's "Brooklyn's Finest," exceeding expectations with an estimated $13.5 million at 1,936 screens. Pic comes just a week after the studio launched its horror remake "The Crazies," which grossed $7 million at 2,479 engagements in its soph sesh.

Overture benefited from strategic counter-programming, launching the R-rated "Brooklyn's Finest" opposite "Alice." Tracking for "Finest" was strongest in urban areas, including New York, Philadelphia and Boston, with 86% of auds non-caucasion and 60% over 60. Pic saw an even split between men and women.

EW has the Weekend's top 10 chart and more analysis from Nicole Sperling in
Alice' proves to be a wonderland...

Next Up: Director Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon reunite to explore the war-ravaged Green Zone; Robert Pattinson takes a break from playing a vampire with Emilie De Ravin for the romance drama Remember Me; And Jay Baruchel learns why She's Out of My League in the adult comedy.

Oscar Jittters

Hey gang just a few notes relating to 2 of tonight's Best Pic nominees at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards

Yes Yes I know it took me like forever but I finally saw James Cameron's Avatar on Saturday. My full review will be posted soon..but here's a taste of what you can expect--Visually it was indeed stunning, but it went on way too long and I had issues with the plot...

Cameron says that he doesn't want to call the "Avatar" sequel "Avatar 2" and offers up the following:

"Maybe we'll call it "Na'vi".

He wants to explore the spiritual aspects of the Na'vi more in the sequel after having to cut back on it somewhat in the first film. He plans on directing the sequel...

"Despite her character's fate in the first film, Sigourney Weaver told French television that she's already talked with Cameron about returning for an "Avatar" sequel





The Hurt Locker producer Nicolas Chartier, broke major protocol when he sent out an e-mail to Oscar voters recently urging them to vote 'Locker' first and Avatar last on their ballots, has been denied attendance to tonight's ceremony...

Cameron on the mini-scandal--"I really couldn't care less about that," Cameron told Access Hollywood

at the 47th annual Publicists Awards (They get awards too??!!) on Friday about Chartier's e-mails, "It doesn't reflect at all on [director] Kathryn [Bigelow]’s integrity or [screenwriter] Mark Boal's integrity because their producer made a dumb mistake.”

Meatime The LA Times reports that last Wednesday Locker producers were served court papers and are being sued by Sgt Jeffrey Sarver who claims that characters in the movie are not fictional, but based on him and his three-man team of bomb squad technicians.

Sarver alleges that virtually all of the situations portrayed in the film were occurrences involving him that were observed and documented by Boal, who followed Saver around for 30 days back in 2004 in order to write a Playboy article-- then used that article as the basis for the film's screenplay.

Boal says that the charges are baseless. "I think Sarver is a brave soldier and a good guy," he said. "Like a lot of soldiers, he identifies with the film, but the character I wrote is fictional. The film is a work of fiction inspired by many people's stories. I talked to easily over 100 soldiers during my research."

Sarver is seeking compensation for using his life story and the term "The Hurt Locker," which he says he coined.

Fizshizzle

On the eve of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, the 2010 Razzies were handed out "honoring" the worst in film last year..."Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, picked up three...



Of note is the fact that Oscar hopeful , Sandra Bullock won 2 as worst actress ("All About Steve") and screen couple (with costar Bradley Cooper).

Celebrating the Razzies' 30th anniversary year, special awards were given for worst picture of the decade ("Battlefield Earth"), worst actor (Eddie Murphy) and worst actress (Paris Hilton) as well

A COMPLETE LIST OF THIS YEAR'S WINNERS:

WORST PICTURE: "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"

WORST ACTORS: All three Jonas Brothers, "Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience"

WORST ACTRESS: Sandra Bullock, "All About Steve"

WORST SCREEN COUPLE: Sandra Bullock & Bradley Cooper, "All About Steve"

WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Billy Ray Cyrus, "Hannah Montana: The Movie"

WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Sienna Miller, "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra"

WORST PREQUEL, REMAKE, RIP-OFF OR SEQUEL (Combined Category for 2009): "Land of the Lost"

WORST DIRECTOR: Michael Bay, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"

WORST SCREENPLAY: "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" written by Ehren Kruger & Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman, based on Hasbro’s Transformers Action Figures

SPECIAL 30TH RAZZIE-VERSARY AWARDS

WORST PICTURE OF THE DECADE: "Battlefield Earth" (previous winner of eight Razzies, including worst drama of our first 25 years)

WORST ACTOR OF THE DECADE: Eddie Murphy, "Adventures of Pluto Nash," "I Spy," "Imagine That," "Meet Dave," "Norbit," "Showtime"

WORST ACTRESS OF THE DECADE: Paris Hilton, "The Hottie and the Nottie," "House of Wax," "Repo: The Genetic Opera"

Tracking Tron-A-Thon

Suits over at Disney are hoping that their December 17th release of "Tron: Legacy",the sequel/reboot of the 1982 sci-fi cult classic will be a major hit as plans are already underway to create a potential franchise.



A source told Blue Sky that "on the theatrical front, this could be the beginning of a new trilogy, and I'm not talking about including the original Tron. If all goes according to plan you could see this as the first in a trilogy of films that start with the word "Tron" and end somewhere else... Legacy is only the beginning. There are preliminary plans to milk this into a franchise of "Pirates " proportions."

There's talk of a TV spin-off as well - "Plans have been put into motion for a computer animated television series that could conceivably be up by late 2011/early 2012. This would be something of a placeholder to keep the fans interest still peaked in between this first film and the next one. No word yet on where it will wind up being broadcast... but as of now the concept has been greenlit."

Crossing Swords

Guy Ritchie is up to direct one of the completing flicks re-imagining the Excalibur legend says Pajiba.

The project is not to be confused with the remake of John Boorman’s 1981 movie Excalibur. also in development at the studio and which Bryan Singer has been attached to. That project is still in very early development and without a script or writer attached.

This "Excalibur" is based on a kitchy treatment by comic author Warren Ellis which is said to be "more in the tone of Star Wars".

Unlike other Arthurian adaptations, this one is "very specifically about the gathering of the Knights". A writer is being sought to turn Ellis' treatment into a full script.

The project will likely go forward after Ritchie finishes work on the Sherlock Holmes Sequel .

March To Rome

Rome creator/executive Bruno Heller has finished his script for the film sequel to HBO's acclaimed historical epic TV series says EW.

The film which starts off in Germany four years after the show's finale which primarily dealt with the death of Mark Antony and Cleopatra and the rise of Octavian to become Emperor Augustus

The story follows the fate of the show's two leads Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson), despite the former seemingly mortally wounded in the finale.

No specifics on what the plot would focus on as there were no major recorded historical events in the region around 25 BC, though the story could see the two former Roman soldiers hiding out amongst the Germanic tribes.

Heller previously said that his long-term plan for the series had it continued would've dealt with Rome's response to the rise of a messiah in Palestine.

Blue By You

George Lopez, singer Katy Perry, and Alan Cumming had joined the cast of "The Smurfs" live action/CGI hybrid flick according to Variety.

Just yesterday Neil Patrick Harris signed on to play the lead live-action character

Perry is Smurfette, Cumming is Gutsy Smurf and Lopez plays Grouchy Smurf.

Jonathan Winters who voiced multiple characters on the original "Smurfs" cartoon, will play Papa Smurf.

Raja Gosnell (Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Scooby-Doo) is directing from a script by David N. Weiss, J. David Stem, Jay Sherick and David Ronn.

The pic will go in front of the cameras in April and scheduled to hit theaters on July 29th, 2011

Conan's Lover Cast

Fanboy fave Rachel Nichols has been cast as love interest Tamara in director Marcus Nispel’s Conan remake says Latino Review.

The character is a novitiate at a Greek influenced monastery and serves as the Queen’s servant, bodyguard and best friend.

When Tamara is separated from the Queen, the martial arts-trained young protector finds herself teaming with Conan (Jason Momoa) to track down the evil Khalar Singh (Stephen Lang has been offered the role) before he kills the Queen and becomes immortal.

The G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and Star Trek gal beat out Jessica Lucas and The L Word’s Sarah Shahi for the role.

Mickey Rourke, Bob Sapp and Leo Howard also star in the film--written by Thomas Dean Donnelly, Sean Hood and Joshua Oppenheimer--which is due to start filming soon

Savage Tactics

Oliver Stone will produce and direct Savages according to Deadline Hollywood Daily.
Based on author Don Winslow's upcoming novel, the story follows a pair of Laguna Beach friends who share both a thriving marijuana business and a girlfriend.
When a Mexican drug cartel kidnaps the girlfriend, they agree to pay the ransom but at the same time plan a way to both get her back and get revenge.
Stone and Winslow will adapt the screenplay.
Work will begin on the pic as Stone's Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps hits theaters on April 23rd.

Face Facts

Actor Vin Diesel posted on his Facebook page status updates on the two sequels he's got going.

Fast Five: the fifth film in the The Fast and the Furious Franchise. Diesel says he had a meeting with director Justin Lin the other day who shared with him "some daring but fascinating thoughts in terms of action set pieces... and relationships, old and new. The team is on their way to Brazil this evening, to scout, and to see what selection of cars there are."

Chris Morgan worked on the script for the film.

The untitled Riddick Sequel. Diesel says he's talking with writer/director David Twohy next week . The next draft of the script is due this month and according to Twohy, scouting in Europe on the film went well.

Death Is Better

Stephen King''s Pet Sematary is being adapted for the big screen...again says The Hollywood Reporter.

King's 1983 novel follows a family who move to a small Maine town along a highway often used by high-speed trucks. Nearby lies a pet cemetery and further beyond that an ancient indian burial ground which can resurrect the dead, but those who come back aren't quite right.

When the toddler son is killed in an auto accident, the grieving father uses that power - but at the cost of several lives and his own sanity.

Matthew Greenberg,who adapted King's short story 1408 in'07 returns to pen the Semetary update replacing the previously announced writing duo of Mike Werb and Michael Colleary.

Previously adapted on the screen in 1989 starring Dale Midkiff, Denise Crosby and Fred Gwynne- directed by Mary Lambert with mixed results..

George Clooney was said to be was circling this remake project at one point??!!.

Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Steven Schneider will be producing the new version.

Self-Made Men

Benicio Del Toro will star in the biopic "Making Jack Falcone" reports Deadline Hollywood Daily.

The project is based on the true story of retired Cuban-born FBI agent Joaquin Garcia who infiltrated the New York mafia with such success that they were about to make him a "made man." His time with them led to the arrest of 39 members of the New York mafia.

The project marks a reunion between three key folks behind 2008's Che Two part biopic del Toro, director Steven Soderbergh and writer Peter Buchman.

Buchman will pen the script but unlike "Che", Soderbergh is only expected to produce this time out rather than direct.

As of now no director is yet attached.

Wagon Hero

Feel good director David Anspaugh ("Rudy," "Hoosiers") is set to helm the Little Red Wagon says Celebrifi.

Based on the true story of youth advocate Zach Bonner who in 2005, at age seven, formed a Tampa-based non-profit foundation to aid the 1.3 million homeless children in the United States.

Patrick Sheane Duncan ("Mr. Holland's Opus") wrote the script.

Dr. Michael Guillen and David Kanter will produce the pic.

Anspaugh is a perfect fit for this!

Production is due to begin this Spring.

Cute Momma

Current Melrose Place resident Jessica Lucas has joined the sequel "Big Momma's House 3" according to Variety.

Randi Mayem Singer's script follows Federal Agent Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence) and his nephew Trent (the recently cast Brandon T. Jackson) going undercover as women at an all-girls performing arts school in order to find a killer.

Lucas' plays one of the students who meets up with Trent early on and then later as his female persona Charmaine.

John Whitesell ("Big Momma's House 2") directs when shooting kicks off next month in Atlanta.

A More Perfect (Re) Union

Jessica Biel may reunite with her Valentine's Day director Garry Marshall for his remake of "State of the Union" says ComingSoon

Taken from Frank Capra's 1948 political drama, the story follows a businessman (Richard Gere) who must reunite with his estranged wife in order to boost his campaign run for the President of the United States

Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn starred in the original..

No-one has yet been set to play the wife, but Annette Bening has has been linked in the past.

Rod Lurie wrote the adapted screenplay.

Ga'Hoole Party

The teaser trailer for Zack Snyder's upcoming CGI animation pic, Legend Of The Guardians (previously entitled Guardians Of Ga'Hoole) has arrived onlline!

The September 24th computer animated film is an adaptation of the 14 book bestselling children's series by author Kathryn Lasky and illustrator Richard Cowdrey.

The film is based on the first three tomes in the series

It follows a young barn owl named Soren, who is kidnapped by owls of St. Aggie's, where owlets are brainwashed into becoming soldiers. He and his new friends escape to the island of Ga'Hoole to assist its noble, wise owls who fight the army being created by the wicked rulers of St. Aggie's.

Starring the voices of Geoffrey Rush, Sam Neill, Hugo Weaving, Helen Mirren, Abbie Cornish, Emilie de Ravin, Ryan Kwanten...

Time To Wonder

This weekend at the box office Tim Burton's much anticipated version of Alice in Wonderland (reviews) is here staring Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp; Director Antoine Fuqua is back on the police beat with Ethan Hawke in Brooklyn's Finest (reviews)





Andrew Stewart of Variety:

Disney is set for a very important date this weekend at the domestic box office with much-anticipated 3D film "Alice in Wonderland" launching at 3,728 locations.

Pic's total domestic 3D count stands at 2,063 locations plus 180 Imax 3D engagements, making it the largest 3D bow ever.

Also opening is Overture's second wide release in two weeks, cop actioner "Brooklyn's Finest," starring Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke and Richard Gere, at 1,936....

The Mouse House said tracking for "Alice," starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, is strong across all quadrants and should pique the curiosity of both families and young adults given the film's 3D component. Studio said the 3D aspect is an integral part of the film and expects 3D revenue to boost "Alice's" overall B.O. performance.

Previous record-holder for an opening at the most 3D engagements was "Avatar" at 2,023 3D locations, accounting for 59% of the film's total domestic count of 3,452.

Exhibs and 3D suppliers are grappling with not enough 3D screens for the bonanza of upcoming 3D releases. "Alice" begins the barrage, followed by Paramount's launch of "How to Train Your Dragon" on March 26 and Warner Bros.' "Clash of the Titans," bowing on April 2.

The frame's other wide release, "Brooklyn's Finest," hopes to gain traction from filmgoers looking for something harder-edged this weekend. The R-rated pic is directed by Antoine Fuqua, and revolves around three corrupt NYPD police officers who wind up at the same deadly event. Pic's exec producer John Langley created the reality series "Cops." Fuqua's "Training Day," also co-starring Hawke, opened to $22.6 million at 2,712 locations in 2001.

Warner's Kevin Smith buddy-comedy "Cop Out" debuted last weekend behind Paramount's holdover "Shutter Island." "Cop Out," starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan, debuted with $18.2 million for a cume of $22.1 million, while "Shutter" earned $22.7 million in its soph sesh with a gross of $80.9 million as of March 3.

Overture's "The Crazies" enters its soph sesh after last weekend's launch of $16.1 million. Horror-thriller remake, about small-town residents who go insane after being contaminated by a toxic water supply, has cumed $19.5 million...

Nicole Sperling of EW:

There's no doubt Tim Burton's 3-D movie will dominate; Bets on a record-setting March opening...

Slade Eclipsed By Shadow?

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, director David Slade is the fronrunner to call action on the new film adaptation of "The Shadow"says Latino Review.

The reboot will go back to the roots of the character in the 30's.Sam Raimi will produce. The duo previously worked together on the underrated 30 Days of Night

The previous film adaptation of the character happened in 1994 with Alec Baldwin as the pulp vigilante

Meanwhile Entertainment Weekly reports that four months from its release on June 30, 2010--Eclipse editor Art Jones who has worked with Slade on his two previous films, has been replaced by Nancy Richardson.

Seems that Jones delivered a cut that the studio found "very good" but they wanted a "stronger edit". Richardson edited Catherine Hardwicke’s original pic in the series and was brought in because she's apparently better at balancing the action and emotional elements of the story.

Ouch!