Film News Roundup – June 2009 – Week 1
Halle Berry circling ‘Surrogate’
Actress in talks to star in Fox thriller
Halle Berry is in talks to star in thriller “The Surrogate” for 20th Century Fox. Paul Verhoeven is onboard to develop the project, which revolves around a couple who hire a surrogate to carry their child and find out mid-term that the surrogate is insane.
Duo to groom Heathcliff for screen
Magic Lantern, FitzRoy team on toon
The first Heathcliff project is being developed as an animated DVD special for potential U release in 2011, though Magic Lantern’s arrangement with the studio allows the company to expand it into a theatrical feature if the material warrants. Their hope is to create a live-action/CG hybrid similar to “Alvin and the Chipmunks” or “Garfield: The Movie.”
Chevy Chase jumps in ‘Hot Tub’
Time-travel comedy also stars John Cusack, Rob Corddry
The comedy vet is now taking a dip in UA’s time-travel comedy “Hot Tub Time Machine,” with John Cusack and Rob Corddry. The film follows a bunch of unsatisfied guys who get thrown back to their younger days in 1987 via their Jacuzzi. Chase plays a mysterious repairman who dispenses pearls of wisdom and may or may not be behind the metaphysical road trip.
Columbia slow to nab ‘Tom Swift’
Sonnenfeld, Grabinski to reimagine stories
Barry Sonnenfeld and Ben David Grabinski are reimagining the Tom Swift adventure novels. The Tom Swift character first appeared in a series of books that launched in 1910. Sonnenfeld and Grabinski’s version would feature Swift as one-half of a father-son team who are among the greatest inventors of all time.
Disney embraces Pooh
Plans film, promo push for classic bear
Disney is moving on a new Winnie the Pooh hand-drawn animated theatrical release, for planned release for spring 2011 and will come six years after “Pooh’s Heffalump Movie” was largely panned by critics while earning just $18 million at the domestic boxoffice. Pooh, though, is the world’s second-biggest licensed character franchise behind Mickey Mouse.
Seth Rogen to voice ‘Paul’ for Pegg
Cast added to Universal, Working Title comedy
Universal and Working Title Films have added Seth Rogen, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader and Jane Lynch to the cast of “Paul.” Starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as two science-fiction fanatics on a road trip whose conspiracy dreams come true when they trek to Area 51 and encounter the title character, an escaped alien. Rogen will provide the voice of the alien.
Where’s ‘Waldo’ now? Universal
Studio planning live-action film based on book series
Universal has acquired screen rights to turn the “Where’s Waldo?” book series into a live-action family pic. Deal was worth high-six against seven figures. The “Waldo” books have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. The books contain complex, full-page illustrations of large crowd scenes in which the main character is somewhere hidden, dressed in a red-and-white shirt, a hat, glasses and a walking stick.
Producer Dan Lin Talks About Lara Croft Origins Details
“It’s a great origin story that we’re going to tell, a very character oriented. I would say, more realistic than the past Lara Croft movies,” Lin says. When asked if it’ll be “full-on action” like previously, Lin said otherwise. “It’s not full-on action, I would say it’s like Terminator, it’s character-driven action. I think for me, the Lara Croft games and movies have gone a little too action oriented. I wanted to have action, but with character.” Lin also says they’re going with a younger actor, since it is the origins of Croft. I expect this means someone in their early 20’s, like Megan Fox or Olivia Wilde, so expect casting by the end of the year.
‘Girls Just Want’ to get remade
Michelle Morgan to write ‘Fun’ for Fox
Twentieth Century Fox and Lakeshore Entertainment are mounting a remake of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” the 1985 teen comedy that starred Helen Hunt and Sarah Jessica Parker. The comedy will be developed as a potential star vehicle for Miley Cyrus.
Cruise pairs with Diaz on Fox pic
Duo to star in James Mangold-directed film
According to sources, Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz have approved the script, and their deals are in advanced negotiations. Cruise will play a secret agent who pops in and out of the life of a single woman.
Scott, Brody join Kevin Smith’s ‘Dicks’
Seann William Scott, Adam Brody cast in comedy
Seann William Scott and Adam Brody are joining Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan in Warner Bros.’ “A Couple of Dicks,” a buddy action comedy being directed by Kevin Smith, that follows a maverick cop (Willis) and his partner (Morgan) who, while tracking a valuable stolen baseball card, tangle with a memorabilia-obsessed gangster and rescue a Mexican beauty who holds the key to millions in laundered drug money.
First Predator, Now It’s ‘Alien’ Being Remade
Fox is also going back to their catalog for a reboot of Ridley Scott’s Alien. Michael Costigan, Ridley Scott and even Tony Scott are all on board to produce and have tapped commercial director Carl Rinsch to direct. The plan is to stick with the original concept of only one alien on the ship.
‘Hamlet’ players move to screen
RSC cast reassembled for BBC version
The major players in the cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2008 production of “Hamlet,” including David Tenant and Patrick Stewart, have been reassembled for a screen version that will air on UK channel BBC Two later this year and in the U.S. and Japan in 2010.
Portman to star in ‘Your Highness’
Actress joins McBride, Franco in Universal comedy
Natalie Portman will star with Danny McBride and James Franco in “Your Highness,” a Universal Pictures comedy that concerns a lazy, arrogant prince who must complete a quest to save the kingdom and his brother’s fiancee. Portman will play a warrior princess with whom the lazy prince falls in love.
DreamWorks slates eight pics through 2012
Firm says it will lower production costs by outsourcing
The company’s slate through 2012 now includes eight feature films, including five original films and three sequels based on its “Shrek”, “Madagascar” and “Kung Fu Panda” franchises. All DreamWorks Animation films are available in 3D.
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 chime in on the feedback; we’d love to hear comments and have a conversation about it.
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