True Believer

Director Chris Columbus is in negotiations to helm the long-in development g "Ripley's Believe It or Not! according to Variety.

Jim Carrey is still attached to star as newspaper columnist-explorer Robert Ripley who goes on strange adventures that defy explanation.

Originally supposed to go into production last year with Tim Burton in charge, Columbus has pitched a new concept that the studio suits and Carrey seem to like.

As a result, the original China-based storyline will be totally scrapped. Very soon a writer will be charged to draft the new script.

As the man who first brought Harry Potter from page to screen--Columbus seems ideal for this project.

The film is now aiming for a 2011 release.

Rock Formation

File this one under strange but true:

Director Steven Soderbergh--the guy behind such dramas as Traffic and lightweight fare as the Ocean's movies-is developing a $30 million 3-D live-action rock 'n' roll musical about Cleopatra reports Variety.



Soderbergh is keen on getting Catherine Zeta-Jones to play the Egyptian queen and Hugh Jackman to play her lover Mark Antony in "Cleo" which will be shopped around for financing and distribution within the next two weeks.

Indie rock band The Official Guided By Voices will do the music for the film while their former bass player turned author Jim Greer will pen the script.

This is really odd if only because Soderbergh has never done anything remotely like a musical before in his career...Hmmm...In 3-D No less!...This could either be a true cult classic or total bomb. It's definately obscure...

Murphy On The Boonty

Cillian Murphy, Jim Broadbent and Brendan Gleeson are set to star in the comedy thriller "Perrier's Bounty" says The Hollywood Reporter.

Set in contemporary Dublin, the script sees three unlikely fugitives on the run from a gangster kingpin.

Murphy is gonna play the lead with Broadbent as his long-lost father. Gleeson will take on the role of Perrier.

Murphy replaces James McAvoy, who was signed on for the lead in the film.

Mark O'Rowe penned the script

Actor turned director Ian Fitzgibbon calls action on the project and shooting is scheduled to begin early November in Ireland




Murphy (pictured) is not known for comedic turns but is so talented he will be able to pull this one off...

Fighting For Tolerance

The politics of Hollywood:

Paul Bond of THR:

At a recent event for Republicans in Hollywood, an actress was asked whether she had ever worn her pro-Sarah Palin pin to an audition.

"You must be joking!" she said with a laugh, adding, "But I see Obama stuff all the time."

It's no secret that the entertainment industry is overwhelmingly liberal -- political donations this presidential cycle from the movie, TV and music industries recently were running about 86% Democratic versus 14% Republican. But being outnumbered is one thing, but being bullied by your liberal co-workers into keeping your opinions to yourself is quite another.

Is that what's going on? Yes, say many of the industry's conservatives. That's why secret organizations with such names as "SpeakEasy" and "The Sunday Night Club" spring up every so often. They're not conservative per se, they just let it be known that attendees of their gatherings may freely discuss politics without being chastised for not toeing the liberal line



"Are you kidding me? Of course it's true," Kelsey Grammer (pictuted) said when asked whether the town is hostile to conservatives. "I wish Hollywood was a two-party town, but it's not."

Grammer said he knows of a makeup trailer that sported a sign warning Republicans to keep out and of U.S. war veterans who keep their backgrounds a secret from their Hollywood co-workers because they hear them belittle the military.

He even said that, earlier in his career, his job was threatened by a prominent sitcom director who demanded he donate money to Barbara Boxer: US Senate campaign. To keep his job, he gave $10,000 to Boxer and the Democrats.

Nowadays, Grammer is a bankable actor who is unafraid to speak his mind. His advice to less established industry players, though, is to shut up about politics -- "unless you think the way you are supposed to think," and that means liberal.

Unlike Grammer, most Hollywood conservatives appear to be of the closeted variety. "I know every liberal at work and don't know any conservatives because they never speak up," a longtime executive at Warner Bros.. said.

However, there are many who are trying to make Hollywood more accommodating to political diversity. Andrew Breitbart is one. At his Breitbart.com, he's launching a "Big Hollywood" blog with 40 industry conservatives tasked with -- among other things -- highlighting liberal intolerance.

"There's an undeniably vicious attitude against those who dissent," Breitbart said. "Hollywood is the most predictable place on the planet, not exclusively because of politics but because of narrow-mindedness."

Breitbart maintains that liberals have pushed conservatives too hard in Hollywood and that Americans have noticed. His intent is "to stop the bullying."

One "Big Hollywood" blogger is Andrew Klavan, an accomplished novelist-screenwriter who made a splash with a Wall Street Journal article comparing Batman and the "The Dark Knight" to President. Bush and the War on Terror.

"It's not easy being different," he said. "The liberals aren't all that liberal. We think they're wrong, but they think we're evil, and they behave like it." ...

I thought the Dems were supposed to be the party of acceptance...and compassion? To me, this is just another form of The Hollywood Blacklist from the 50's and 60's...To fear speaking your mind because it may hurt your career is a shame....

Most of the Entertainment Industry is Liberal because they can afford to be....

Teaser Doubleshot

The Friday the 13th remake opens February 13th 2009



My Bloody Valentine 3-D opens January 16th 2009.



I have to admit I'm curious how Friday will try to top the classic twist of the 1980 original...As for Bloody-3D Meh..

"Once A Wildcat..."

Zac Efron Vanessa Hudgens and the entire gang are back--this time on the big screen in High School Musical 3: Senior Year (reviews)--But so is Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) in Saw V (reviews); While Edward Norton and Colin Farrell fight for some Pride and Glory (reviews) amid the two very big openers...

Dave McNary and Pamela McClintock of Variety:

Just how loudly will Disney’s “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” sing when it makes its theatrical debut at the worldwide box office this weekend?

Loudly.

The wildly successful franchise — built on the strength of girls, young and old — has already conquered television and the music biz, as well as spawned stage plays. Now, it’s looking for validation on the bigscreen.

In North America, “HSM3,” toplining Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, will bow opposite Lionsgate and Twisted Picture’s R-rated “Saw V,” the latest installment in the blockbuster Hollywood horror franchise. Together, the two pics are expected to energize the B.O. despite the crippled economy.

The weekend’s other new wide release is New Line/Warner Bros.’ crime drama “Pride & Glory,” from director Gavin O’Connor and starring Colin Farrell and Edward Norton. Pic, which unspools in 2,585 runs, isn’t expected to display much firepower.

On the specialty side, Universal opens Clint Eastwood’s Angelina Jolie starrer “Changeling” in 15 theaters in nine markets. Film, a natural awards contenders, opens nationwide next weekend. Moviegoers buying tickets for “Changeling” will get to see the first trailer for Eastwood’s other upcoming film, “Gran Torino,” which opens in a limited run Dec. 17.

There’s also action on the 3-D front. Disney opens Tim Burton’s annual “The Night Before Christmas in 3-D” in 280 theaters, some of which are playing a digital 3-D movie for the first-time in a run-up to Disney’s 3-D Thanksgiving tentpole “Bolt.” “HSM3” has a good shot at beating the $31.1 million debut of Disney’s 3-D concert film “Hanna Montana/Miley Cyrus: Concert Tour,” which played on only 683.

“HSM3” and “Saw V” may seem like strange bedfellows, but they’ll actually compete for older teen girls, who are diehard horror fans.

The similarities end there. “HSM3,” opening in 3,623 runs domestically, should have no trouble winning the weekend crown. It’s even on track to score the best-ever domestic opening for a live-action musical. Reigning champs are “Mamma Mia!” ($27.8 million) and “Hairspray” ($27.5 million).

Disney should have a golden weekend between “HSM3” and family holdover “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” along with “Night Before Christmas” (exhibitors can charge a premium for 3-D ducats).

Likewise, Lionsgate is looking at strong returns for “Saw V,” which debuts in 3,060 runs.

“Saw V” should come close to matching last year’s $31.7 million debut of “Saw IV.” In 2006, “Saw III” debuted to $33.6 million, while “Saw II” opened to $31.7 million in 2005. The original “Saw” bowed to $17.2 million.

With the release of “Saw V,” the franchise is on its way to eclipsing franchises “Halloween” and “Friday the 13th” in terms of domestic box office receipts.

On the foreign front, “HSM3” will likely dominate the international box office with day-and-date launches in 22 markets, including Brazil, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan and the U.K.

Rival estimates of Wednesday launches portend a tuneful weekend take with $3 million in the U.K. and $650,000 in France. The two telepics and DVDs have shown solid international traction, particularly among pre-teens.



Joshua Rich of EW:

G-rated Disney movie takes on an R-rated gore-fest -- which film will prevail in this fall's bloodiest battle...

The class of 2008 will surely dull Saw's teeth--Why they didn't wait a week to release it...?

Next Week: Zack & Miri Make a Porno--while we can also witness the Haunting of Molly Hartley...Clint Eastwood returns for Changeling...

Kingdom Ruler

Guy Pearce Ben Mendelson, Jackie Weaver and Joel Edgerton,will star in the crime drama "Animal Kingdom" says The Hollywood Reporter.

The film centers on 17-year-old boy trying to survive a criminal family with help from a cop (Pearce).

L.A. Confidential and Memento are two of my faves from Pearce--COULD this film be my third?

David Michôd calls the shots for the fitst time

Through The 80's Lens

Twilight star Ashley Greene, Haley Ramm,James LeGros and Shiloh Fernandez will star in the coming-of-age drama "Skateland" according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Set in the 1980's, the film finds teen Ritchie Wheeler (Fernandez), forced out of a job when his small-town roller rink shuts down. He faces tough decisions about his future, his parents' divorce and complicated relationships with friends Brent (Heath Freeman) and Kenny (Taylor Handley pictured), his sister Mary (Ramm) and Brent's sister Michelle (Greene). LeGros plays Brent and Michelle's father.

Brandon and Heath Freeman co-wrote the screenplay with Anthony Burns who also directs.

As a teen in the 80's myself--I am all for films from and about that time...

Production gets underway in Louisiana shortly.

Post-Apocalypse

"Terminator Salvation" has wrapped principal photography says director McG via his official blog:

"We wrapped principal photography. Now we're heavy into post. I've already shown early cuts to Christian and Sam They seem pleased with where the film is headed. Our focus is on story and character, but it's fun diving into the world of visual effects.

Charlie Gibson is aware of his responsibility as the VFX supervisor and second unit director of this film. He works with ILM and A S Y L U M every day and makes revisions to the finest detail. We want the patina of the machines to be dirty and heavy and perfectly realistic - that's why we built so much practically with Stan Winston.

But at some point the effects kick in and like any Terminator fan, Charlie wants his mind blown. There's one sequence in particular where we're trying to achieve something that's never been done before. I don't want to talk about it because we haven't been successful yet...But we're working on it.

Christian and Sam bring power to the roles of John Connor and Marcus Wright. This is a story of two destinies colliding. Connor is part of a resistance comprised of the ethnicities that make up the globe. This film is so much more that just Los Angeles. It reflects the global crisis of man, all of man versus machine."



As the world eagerly awaits The End on May 22 2009--The franchise got another boost as the underrated and ratings challenged TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles received Salvation for its second season....They probably have the film to thank for that....as much as anything.

Trial By Fire

Actor/director Ben Stiller is in early talks to call action on "The Trial of the Chicago 7", says The Hollywood Reporter.

The film is a political drama about the 1968 riots at the Democratic convention and its aftermath...Stiller joins Steven Spielberg and Paul Greengrass as folks attached to direct...

If a deal with Stiller is made--the film marks a major departure for him --breaking out of the comedy genre.. A big move for Ben...

Under terms of the DreamWorks/Paramount split agreement, DreamWorks has taken over development of the project and wants to put the film into production right away.

Cue Cards

The latest on Strike II:

SAG, studios get ready to talk

The sides are poised to get back to the bargaining table soon — but the more important question is whether the Screen Actors Guild or the majors are inclined to budge enough to reach a deal.

SAG's endgame is still a mystery...

Soon Is not soon enough--It's time for both sides to man up and either settle or strike--Clearly limbo is not working...

Stay Tuned...

Pirated Heresay

Pirates of the Caribbean" co-writer Terry Rossio denied many of the rumors currently circling the fourth film in the series.

On his blog, he recently posted this: "For the record, none of the recent Pirates 4 rumors have any truth, including the so-called record 50 million dollar payday for Depp. Some pretty funny stuff, though. Sacha Cohen Tim Burton ? Studios are way too protective of their franchises for that sort of thing."

That said...the tabby fodder seems to show no signs of stopping anytime soon



Responding to one more such rumor High School Musical 3: Senior Year star Zac Efron told MTV News that he has never been approached for a role in the next sequel, rumored to be the son of Will and Elizabeth.

“No one has talked to me about it," Efron says. “I didn’t even know [about it].”

Wouldn't Efron be a bit too old to play the son of characters who are just about 10 years older? Still it could be done I suppose...And I'm sure Disney wouldn't mind if Efron stuck around the studio after "School"

He added “...cross your fingers for me guys!”

Max-ed Out

The film Max Payne may have been a hit at the cineplex last weekend...

As for Scott Miller, CEO of 3D Realms which financed and helped produce the video game series he, told Edge Online that he has problems with the flick--seeing "several fundamental story flaws" which had him "shaking my head in bewilderment".

"A big problem with the film is that we do not really know what is driving Max until we see the flashback scene. In the game, we put this scene right at the front of the story for a reason. Saving this scene until mid-film is a narrative blunder, because the audience needs to empathize with Max in order to like him and understand what drives him".

Miller 'thought the character of Max Payne himself fell short of the game series' standards'.

Movies often mix up the narritive on genre films opting instead to jump right into the action...

The reviews for the movie seem to bear out Miller's opinion that the flick's not that good.

Watts And Wells

Naomi Watts is talks in negotiations to headline the drama "My Name Is Jody Williams" says The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on the true story of Jody Williams as a strong-willed teacher working for a temp employment agency who left her life in Washington to pursue an unlikely career in global activism. Almost a decade and a half later, Williams was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize---leading an international effort to eradicate land mines.

Audrey Wells adapted the screenplay and is likely to direct.

Hole-ly Roler

Teri Polo will star in Joe Dante's 3D supernatural flick "The Hole" according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The plot: Susan (Polo), a mother who moves with her pair of teen sons to a rural house where the they are forced to face their fears after discovering a bottomless hole in the basement.

Mark L. Smith penned the screenplay.

Production on the film starts December 5th in Vancouver.

Polo will also reprise her role as Pam for the sequel "Meet the Little Focker".

Pathways

Anne Hathaway has lined up yet another romantic comedy called "The Fiance" says Variety.

She will play a woman who cancels wedding plans and breaks up with her seemingly perfect fiance so she can find herself. Her meddling parents take steps to try and patch things up between the pair, making it impossible for her to move on.

Etan Cohen has performed a re-write of Dyanne Stempel and Jennifer Robinson original script

Hathaway certainly has a full plate...Though she has enough rom-coms in her filmograpghy for 2 careers.

Burr Steers (17 Again) calls the shots when cameras begin to roll in March.

Killier Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher is set to star in the action comedy Five Killers reports Variety.

Kutcher will play a former hit man whose life is turned upside down because someone from his past has paid a group of killers to bump him off.

Ted Griffin is reworking the script from Bob DeRosa

Robert Luketic will call action while Kutcher will co-produce.

Production is slated to begin early next year.



Luketic's last pic 21 was a very solid drama,,,After a string of puffy comedies--Kutcher, of course, is most at home in the comedy genre for films like What Happens in Vegas...

--GOOD LUCK TO THE Philadelphia Phillies AS THEY TAKE ON THE Tampa Bay Rays IN GAME ONE OF THE World Series...!!

Scream Screeners

Spike TV's 2008 " Scream Awards" offered up new footage from a trio of high profile films...

Watchmen...in theaters March 6th 2009



Twilight in theaters November 21st 2008



The remake of Friday the 13th in theaters February 13th 2009.

"You Look Like Clay Aiken"

The theatrical trailer for Zac Efron's first comedy flick post High School Musical 3: Senior Year--17 Again--And it looks decent...My concern--as with any comedy really is that the funniest parts of the film may be in this footage...Fingers Crossed.....



The film opens aptly enough on April 17th 2009.

Getting Into Into The Act

Fox has begun an open casting call in Los Angeles to find the tile character for its new comedy based on Jeff Kinney's best-selling books from "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." This Saturday

The film will explore the adventures of wise-cracking middle school student named Greg Heffley over the course of a school year.

Your requirements:

- Young males, ages 11-14 only.
- Must be able to handle dialog and have a flair for ironic comedy.
- You must bring a current photo and snapshot which will not be returned.
- You must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Casting an unknown is a good way to go here because then it's about character/movie and not about star...