Scott’s News Roundup – April 2009 – Week 3
Fall/Spring Season is Ending and Now the Television Death Watch Begins…
There’s a lot of shows on the bubble so be prepared for your favorite show not making it through the network thresher. Starting next season, the face of television is going to radically change. What with NBC slotting Jay Leno in at 10pm four nights a week that means that many hour-long drama series are on their way out.
I’ve put in more news items on the business of the business this week because, frankly, they reflect what is happening to the entertainment business in general and the television in particular. The economy is starting to make itself felt and that is going to have long-term effects. Expect to see more low-cost shows, i.e. Reality Programming, and extended lengths: 90 minute to 2 hour programs.
It’s not pretty out there folks.
Let’s get on with the news:
Film News
Exclusive: First Look At the Red Dawn Reboot!
Latino Review has a script review
Alex O’Loughlin eyes ‘Back-Up Plan’
Jennifer Lopez stars in CBS Films’ rom-com
Alex O’Loughlin, who starred in the cult vampire TV show “Moonlight,” is in negotiations to nab the romantic male lead role opposite Jennifer Lopez in “The Back-Up Plan.” The rom-com centers on a single woman who turns to artificial insemination and her backup plan turned on its side when the man of her dreams shows up on the same day that her pregnancy test results come back positive.
Fox Searchlight acquires ‘Nice’
Reese Witherspoon may star in dark comedy
Fox Searchlight has acquired screen rights to Jen Sacks’ “Nice,” which will be developed as a potential star vehicle for Reese Witherspoon. The protag is a magazine writer who accidentally kills her boyfriend. She finds a way to get rid of the body and discovers that killing boyfriends is easier than breaking up with them.
Maggie Gyllenhaal boards ‘Nanny’
Actress, trio of thesps join ‘McPhee’ sequel
Maggie Gyllenhaal joins Rhys Ifans, Maggie Smith and Asa Butterfield in “Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang,” the sequel to Working Title’s 2005 hit “Nanny McPhee.” The script is penned and produced by Emma Thompson who will reprise her role as a magic-wielding governess. Action this time centers on a group of kids who are evacuated from the city to a farm during wartime.
‘Ip Man’ nabs Hong Kong award
‘ Way We Are’ grabs multiple prizes
Mandarin Films’ “Ip Man,” a biopic of Bruce Lee’s kung fu master, scooped the best pic kudos at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards, but the low-budget “The Way We Are” dominated the other top prizes, including helmer for Ann Hui. Fittingly, “Ip Man,” which was produced by Raymond Wong and directed by Wilson Yip, also won the award for action choreography at the ceremony on Sunday.
Kebbell joins Disney’s ‘Apprentice’
Actor cast in Bruckheimer production
Toby Kebbell (“RocknRolla”) has joined the cast of Disney’s “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” as Drake Stone, a celebrity illusionist who joins forces with Alfred Molina’s evil sorcerer, Horvath, to gain ultimate powers. Based on the popular “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” segment in Disney’s animated classic “Fantasia,” story revolves around a college student who is recruited to work reluctantly for a sorcerer and given a crash course in magic to help him battle dark forces in Manhattan. Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel also star.
Catherine Keener joins ‘Percy Jackson’ film
Fox 2000 feature puts Greek gods in modern times
Catherine Keener has joined the cast of “Percy Jackson,” which includes Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman, Sean Bean, Kevin McKidd and Melina Kanakaredes. Christopher Columbus’ adaptation of Rick Riordan’s fantasy-adventure book series which put Greek gods in modern times, involve Poseidon’s half-human son, Percy, who is on a quest in modern America to prevent a war among the gods.
‘Cliff Part 2′ tops Japan box office
Second part of John Woo epic wins weekend
“Red Cliff Part 2,” the second part of the John Woo period epic, topped the Japanese B.O. for the weekend of April 11-12 earning $6.7 million from 524,000 admissions on these two days. Counting its first day take, the pic raked in $8.7 million in its first three days.
Cartoon Network sets up King Arthur movie
Live-action movie described as modern retelling of tale
Written by Travis Wright (“Eagle Eye”), the project, tentatively titled “Reborn,” is inspired by the legend of Merlin. It is described as a modern retelling of the King Arthur tale, with archetypal characters from the legend transported to the present.
Demetri Martin catches ‘Moneyball’ role
Steven Soderbergh’s pro baseball drama stars Brad Pitt
Demetri Martin has been cast opposite Brad Pitt in “Moneyball,” a pro baseball drama Steven Soderbergh is directing for Columbia.
Sarkissian on ‘Mad’ mission
Producer to remake two Johnnie To films
“Rush Hour” producer Arthur Sarkissian has acquired rights to remake “The Mad Detective” and “The Mission,” two crime thrillers directed by Hong Kong helmer Johnnie To.
Sofia Coppola books Marmont film
Director turns to Hollywood hotel for pic
The writer-director will set her next film at the iconic Chateau Marmont in Hollywood. Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning will star in the Focus Features dramedy “Somewhere.” Story centers on a bad-boy actor stumbling through a life of excess at the Chateau Marmont. With an unexpected visit from his 11-year-old daughter, he is forced to reexamine his life.
Ricky Gervais finds female lead for ‘Pru’
Felicity Jones will star in 1970s insurance-world dramedy
Jones will play Julie, who is led to believe by the men around her that a woman should focus on raising a family but who wants to break out and pursue a career in photography.
Rampling, Hawkins in ‘Never’ land
Keira Knightley stars in Romanek film
Charlotte Rampling and Sally Hawkins have signed on to co-star in the Keira Knightley starrer “Never Let Me Go.” Directed by Mark Romanek, based on a 2005 Kazuo Ishiguro novel and adapted by Alex Garland (“28 Days Later”), the story revolves around a trio (Knightley, Mulligan and Garfield) who, as children, spend their childhood at a seemingly idyllic English boarding school only to find that they have to prepare themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them.
Zack Snyder adds two to ‘Sucker Punch!’
Jamie Chung, Jena Malone join all-female action fantasy
Chung and Malone join Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens and Abbie Cornish in the pic, which Snyder is directing and producing with his Cruel & Unusual Films partner, wife Deborah Snyder. Set in the 1950s, “Sucker” centers on a girl confined to a mental institution by her evil stepfather, who intends to have her lobotomized in five days. While there, she imagines an alternate reality to hide from the pain and in that world begins planning her escape, needing to steal five objects to help get her out.
Duo are ‘Born to Be a Star’
Edward Herrmann, Tyler Spindel join Sony’s comedy
Edward Herrmann and Tyler Spindel will co-star in Sony’s “Born to Be a Star” opposite Christina Ricci and Nick Swardson. The comedy, about a small-town Midwestern nerd who discovers his parents were famous porn stars, was co-written by Adam Sandler, who is producing with Jack Giarraputo. Tom Brady (“The Hot Chick”) will direct.
New Line buys ‘Thinking’
Leslie Mann, Elizabeth Banks set to star in film
New Line has bought femme comedy pitch “What Was I Thinking?” with Leslie Mann and Elizabeth Banks attached to star. The story centers a woman getting dumped during her engagement party, causing her friends to spring into action and whisk her away on a ski trip for healing and hedonism.
‘Pooh’ writer tapped for ‘Wanted’ sequel
Evan Spiliotopoulos set to pen action film for Universal
Evan Spiliotopoulos, co-writer of “Pooh’s Heffalump Movie” and its DVD Halloween spinoff, has been hired to write Universal’s action sequel “Wanted 2,” based on a story by Chris Morgan.
‘Harry Potter’ to open two days early
‘Half-Blood Prince’ to bow on July 15
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” will open two days early on Wednesday July 15. Warner Bros. traditionally releases its big summer tentpoles on Wednesdays, but in this case, had scheduled “Half-Blood Prince” to open on Friday July 17.
Television News
The Future of “Terminator” with Brian Austin Green
“The third season is going to be incredible, if it happens. There were no intentions of this being a series finale. It was absolutely a season finale. There’s a plan where this can go and it’s so good.”
‘Fringe’ element haunts Fox shows
‘Observer’ spotted at games, in ‘Idol’ audience
Eagle-eyed Fox viewers may have seen a pale, well-dressed bald guy showing up in the strangest of places: the audience of “American Idol,” on the sidelines at an NFL divisional playoff game and a NASCAR race — all live events broadcast on the network. “Fringe” fans have quickly identified the man as the Observer, an enigmatic character who plays a part in the show’s mythology.
Jennifer Jason Leigh high on ‘Weeds’ role
Actress will play Mary-Louise Parker’s estranged sister
Jennifer Jason Leigh has been tapped to recur on Showtime’s comedy series “Weeds,” playing Mary-Louise Parker’s estranged older sister. Leigh is set to appear in at least two episodes of the Lionsgate TV-produced series, which was picked up last year for Seasons 5 and 6.
‘Law & Order: SVU’ will definitely be back in the fall
Actors Meloni, Hargitay still in talks to return
“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” will be back next fall – with or without stars Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay. Both Meloni and Hargitay are looking for changes, including a bump beyond their $350,000-per-episode salaries. Their contracts with the show are up at the end of this season.
TBS greenlights animation series
‘South Park’ alum behind ‘Neighbors From Hell’
“South Park” alum Pam Brady is behind “Neighbors,” which revolves around the Hellmans — an all-American suburban family that happens to hail from Hell. TBS ordered 10 episodes of “Neighbors,” which it plans to pair with its off-net run of “Family Guy.”
Will Ferrell goes wild for ‘Man’
Actor to guest on Discovery Channel show
Will Ferrell is crawling into the extreme trenches with Bear Grylls for an upcoming episode of Discovery Channel’s “Man vs. Wild.” Discovery announced Ferrell’s guest stint, set to air in June.
Will Smith in ‘Business’ with Sci Fi
Crime procedural will serve as backdoor pilot
Sci Fi Channel is teaming with Will Smith for a new crime procedural. The network has ordered “Unfinished Business,” a drama about an ex-cop who starts seeing flashes of memories from the recently deceased. The visions compel him to help wronged souls resolve their unfinished business.
Documentary makes History
High-profile ‘People’ to power project
History channel is rolling out the red carpet for “The People Speak,” a star-driven multiplatform project from Matt Damon and Chris Moore (“Project Greenlight”). The doc, an adaptation the book “A People’s History of the United States,” weaves together archival footage and interviews with dramatic readings by Damon, Josh Brolin (also an exec producer), Don Cheadle, John Legend, Viggo Mortensen, Bruce Springsteen, David Strathairn, Marisa Tomei, Eddie Vedder and Kerry Washington, among others.
‘Doctor Who’ assembles new team
Willis joins Simpson, Bennett, Moffat, Wenger
The BBC’s flagship sci-fi show “Doctor Who” has tapped a new production team as it gears up for its 31st series. They are Tracie Simpson, who produced the recent “Doctor Who” special “Planet of the Dead,” and Peter Bennett, whose credits include “Torchwood,” Also on board is Beth Willis, who produced the high-profile U.K. drama skein “Ashes to Ashes.” They join the program’s new showrunner Stephen Moffat and Piers Wenger, head of drama at BBC Wales.
Crunch time for bubble series
Dozen or so network series are anxiously awaiting fate
Check in on this article and see what they are saying about the chances of your favorite show coming back….
Comic Book Movie/TV/Stage
WOLVERINE WATCH
‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Star Hugh Jackman Records ‘Free Comic Book Day’ Message
Free Comic Book Day is the closest thing to a holiday you’re going to find in the comic book world, and with only a few weeks until it happens, one of Hollywood’s biggest supporters of the comic book scene has stepped up to spread the word about FCBD to the masses.
Gondry Talks About The Green Hornet
“Seth and Evan, they are the writers, but they really listen to my ideas on the movie. I think the story is getting much better and better and I feel like I’m really a part of the process.”
‘I, Frankenstein’ comic headed to big screen
Death Ray teams with Patrick Tatopoulos, Kevin Grevioux
Director Patrick Tatopoulos, “Underworld” co-creator Kevin Grevioux and Death Ray Films are teaming up to bring the comic book “I, Frankenstein” to the big screen. An upcoming Darkstorm Comic written by Grevioux it brings together classic monster characters, including Frankenstein’s Monster, the Invisible Man, Dracula and the Hunchback of Notre Dame, in a contemporary film noir setting.
Greatest American Hero Film Fizzles
“It was a really funny script – about a reluctant hero who gets in way over his head – and it had a lot of really cool stunts”, Eric Christian Olsen (“Fired Up”) says. “I had a blast working with all of those guys. Then we get a phone call just as we were starting the deal to say they hadn’t got the financing. I’m not attached anymore”.
Eric Powell Explains Why ‘The Goon’ Movie Needed To Be Animated
“I have the feeling the Adult Swim crowd is there, and that wasn’t there before. And films like ‘Beowulf’ have come out that aren’t family-style animated films. I think the doors are opening. American audiences are starting to embrace different types of material animated.”
Green Lantern’s light shines on Sydney
FILMING of a big-budget movie based on the comic book superhero Green Lantern will begin at Sydney’s Fox Studios later this year. The Hollywood adaptation will be produced by DC Comics and Warner Bros with Donald Deline, producer of the Italian Job, and director Martin Campbell who worked on Casino Royale.
‘Brotherhood’ creator loading ‘2 Guns’
Blake Masters tapped to adapt graphic novel for Universal
Marc Platt , the creator of Showtime’s “Brotherhood” has been tapped to adapt the Boom! Studios graphic novel “Guns,” written by Steven Grant with art by Mat Santolouco. Story follows a DEA agent and an undercover naval intelligence officer who are unwittingly investigating each other and who steal mob money for the good guys. They realize later that the mob actually got them to swipe $50 million from the CIA.
Iron Man’s ‘Raza’ looks ahead to a bigger role in future installments.
Faran Tahir, who played the terrorist leader Raza in the first Iron Man movie, told SCI FI Wire that he doesn’t have a role in the upcoming sequel, but that his character may appear in a later installment.
Producer stuffs ‘Lions, Tigers’ comic
Bonaventura, Paramount team on live-action pic
“Transformers” producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura will produce “Lions, Tigers and Bears,” based on Mike Bullock’s comicbook. Story, told from the perspective of an adult reminiscing about his childhood, revolves around a group of stuffed animals that come to life at night.
A possible third Hellboy film?
Hellboy Ron Perlman updates us on his various sci-fi projects the actor talks about The Devil’s Tomb, which has wrapped, and Bubba Nosferatu: Curse of the She-Vampires, Don Coscarelli’s long-awaited and soon-to-shoot Bubba Ho-tep prequel movie. Perlman also talked about the possibility of reuniting with director Guillermo del Toro for Hellboy III or The Hobbit.
Columbus Short joins forces with ‘Losers’
Film stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Idris Elba, Zoe Saldana
The “Stomp the Yard” actor will join Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Idris Elba and Zoe Saldana in the action film adaptation of the Vertigo/DC Comics graphic novel about a rogue black ops team on the hunt for revenge. Short will play Pooch, a smart-ass gunner who refers to himself in the third person and sports a tattoo of his infant daughter.
Bruce Willis returns to the world of Science Fiction with The Surrogates
Here’s an interview with its author, Robert Venditti about the comic sequel and the upcoming movie
“I do not have a problem with any of the changes in the movie adaptation. And I haven’t seen the whole thing from end to end yet… So I don’t have a problem with any specific thing if Hollywood has to dial things up to 11, you know?”
The Disney movie teaser site: http://tinyurl.com/d6uvy3
GI JOE: RESOLUTE – Broadcast Dates
Comic writer extraordinaire Warren Ellis penned G.I. Joe: Resolute, an adult fan oriented animated mini-series. The series is broadcast via Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim on television as well as online, with 60 minutes of total content. Episodes came online on April 17. It’s pretty awesome.
Enjoy the trailer: http://tinyurl.com/cvqrnu
Signs of the Apocalypse
Blagojevich to star in ‘Celebrity’
Impeached Illinois governor set for reality TV
Impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is set to star in NBC’s upcoming summer reality skein “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here,” NBC confirmed Tuesday.
MTV greenlights series with DJ AM
‘Gone Too Far’ will chronicle tough-love interventions
MTV is teaming with DJ AM to launch an intervention-style reality show. Tentatively titled “Gone Too Far,” the series will feature the celebrity DJ, who has had his own battles with drug addiction and last year survived a plane crash.
New Regency, Fox know ‘Best’
Studios set TV’s ‘Father’ for bigscreen
New Regency and 20th Century Fox are teaming to turn the classic TV series “Father Knows Best” into a feature. The contemporized film will involve a father whose modern-day parenting displeases his more traditional father, who comes to live with the family. They clash over which father knows best.
‘Amazing Race’ back for 15th cycle
Reality show will return to CBS this fall
“Race’s” pickup was never really in doubt, given its continued solid performance as a Sunday night staple. The latest edition of “Race” is averaging 10.5 million viewers and a 3.4 rating/8 share among adults 18-49. Show is also big with adults 25-54, averaging a 4.3/10. “Race” has won every broadcast ratings measure for four of the past five telecasts.
Business of the Business
‘Terminator’ lawsuit settled
Terms not available as of Wednesday
A settlement has been reached in Moritz Borman’s lawsuit against two of his fellow “Terminator: Salvation”. Borman sued Anderson, Kubicek and Halcyon last month in Los Angeles Superior Court. Borman alleged he had arranged for the transfer of the “Terminator” rights to Anderson and Kubicek but would not have done so had he known of the pair’s “shady” background.
Date set for ‘Watchmen’ mediation
Warner Bros., Larry Gordon will meet in court in May
Warner Bros. and producer Larry Gordon have set a date to figure out who’s responsible for the legal fracas that led to Fox owning a piece of “Watchmen.” But given the pic’s lackluster boxoffice performance, there might not be much loot to fight over.
Philip K. Dick’s widow files suit
Claims ‘Ubik,’ ‘Scanner’ rights violated
The widow of sci-fi scribe Philip K. Dick has sued the production arm of the estate and several other entities, alleging her rights to proceeds from “Ubik” and “A Scanner Darkly” were violated.
Best Buy plans downloads
Co. hatching digital movie biz
Stung by falling DVD sales, Best Buy is on the verge of launching a digital movie service that could debut as early as this summer, according to studio insiders. The chain is in talks with CinemaNow and other online movie services to create a download business that it hopes will offset falling DVD sales, studio execs said.
NBC Universal profits down 45%
Parent company GE gains 1% to close at $12.39
“While cable continued to deliver double-digit growth, NBC Universal had a tougher performance overall due to a soft advertising market and fewer major DVD releases compared with a year ago.”
YouTube logs film, TV deals
Co. pacts with major Hollywood studios
YouTube has brokered content deals with Sony, Lionsgate, the BBC, Starz, Discovery and National Geographic to offer up full-length movies and TV shows for free on the site. Other partners include Anime Network, Cinetic Rights Management, Current TV, Documentary Channel, First Look Studios and IndieFlix. YouTube plans to sell advertising during commercial breaks in TV shows. It may eventually charge for the premium content
French cinema admissions fall 15%
Lack of local blockbuster drags down figures
Total cinema theater tix sold in France plummeted a whopping year-on-year 15.2% January-March, according to CNC stats. The cause is Dany Boon’s “Welcome to the Sticks,” which took the lion’s share of its final 20.5 million admission trawl in March last year, going on to become the most-watched French movie in Gaul ever. The second most popular film in France last year, “Asterix and Obelix at the Olympic Games,” directed by Frederic Forestier and Thomas Langmann had a total 6.8 million admissions.
Planet of the Odd
Aussies tap into girl power
‘Breast Wishes’ among new productions
A girls’ night out is a good night for the legit biz, judging by the rash of distaff theater productions turning up in Oz. The latest entry, “Breast Wishes: An Uplifting Musical,” began its world-premiere run April 16 at Sydney’s Seymour Center. Penned by a phalanx of seven scribes, including novelist and former brothel receptionist Merridy Eastman, radio presenters Wendy Harmer and Richard Glover and screenwriter Sheridan Jobbins, “Breast Wishes” is billed as “a celebration of breasts and those who support them.”
Jackie Chan says China control good
Actor thinks country shouldn’t have more freedom
“I’m not sure if it’s good to have freedom or not. I’m really confused now. If you’re too free, you’re like the way Hong Kong is now. It’s very chaotic. Taiwan is also chaotic,” said the 55-year-old Chan. “I’m gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled. If we’re not being controlled, we’ll just do what we want.”
Turks remake ‘Golden Girls’
Play Productions signs pact with Disney
Veteran U.S. sitcom “The Golden Girls” has been given a Turkish twist.
Starring Turkish feature film actress Hulya Kocyigit as Dorothy, theater actress Nevra Serezli as Blanche, former politician and actress Fatma Girik as Sophia and one of Turkey’s most high-profile actresses, Turkan Soray as Rose, a 13-part adaptation of the classic ABC laffer premiered on satellite broadcaster ATV.
SkyTV broadcast angers Berlusconi
Political pic peeves Italian prime minister’s party
Rival media barons Rupert Murdoch and Silvio Berlusconi don’t get along. Murdoch’s Sky TV channel has upped the ante by broadcasting political pic “Shooting Silvio,” about a plan to kill the Italo prime minister, whom it portrays in a distinctly unflattering light. Airing of the film may be payback as, earlier this year, Mediaset owner Berlusconi introduced big value-added tax hikes that hit rival Sky hard.
The Fine Print
This is by no means meant to be a comprehensive roundup of the entire weeks’ news. All stories are chosen by me for no other reason than that they got my attention and might capture yours. If something you think is more important is not here, comment on the blog and let everyone else know.
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The Big Racket – Movie Review
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Separation City – Paul Middleditch Interview
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Predators – Featurette
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