Film News Roundup – October 2009 – Week 2
4 ways Free Enterprise 2 will be The Wrath of Shatner
Shatner, who is Jewish, will preach from the Jewish holy books. “There’s a plot element where he actually becomes a rabbi,” director Robert Meyer Burnett said. “That’s something that he’s constantly reminding [me]. He’s like, ‘That’s still in the plot?’ I’m like, ‘Yes, there’s actually a scene atop Masada with him.’”
Studio Ghibli Has Three Films on the Horizon
Isao Takahata, who hasn’t directed since My Neighbors the Yamadas in 1999, will be helming a new project for Studio Ghibli called Taketori Mogogatari, or The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. Hayao Miyazaki is ready to kick back and relax. He’s reportedly in discussions to create two more films over the next three years.
Ellen Page Says Don’t Try to Find Out About INCEPTION
“We’ve shot in a lot of different places so it kind of feels like…you know you do your England leg and then your France and then we were in Morocco and now we’re in L.A. It is a blast and I’m having so much fun. Working with Chris Nolan is a dream. He’s amazing to work with and a lovely guy. There is no ego at all. He’s just a filmmaker.”
‘Terminator’ rights may change hands again
Derek Anderson and Victor Kubicek, who acquired the science-fiction franchise in 2007 for $25 million and produced this year’s sequel “Terminator Salvation,” are looking to sell the rights as several companies owned by the two producers work their way through Chapter 11 reorganization.
Bay updates Transformers 3 and calls Megan Fox on her BS
Well its official: We have a great Transformers 3 story. The release date is now July 1st 2011. Not 2012. Today is Day One. This morning started with an ILM meeting for five hours in San Francisco. Currently I’m flying with writer Ehren Kruger to Rhode Island to talk to Hasbro about new characters. P.S. Megan Fox, welcome back. I promise no alien robots will harm you in any way during the production of this motion picture.
1-1 With Woody Harrelson On Zombieland
“Well, I guess you could say just, you know, that I had this script sitting in my bag forever and I wouldn’t read it. My agent was calling me, ‘Have you read “Zombieland”?’ I said, ‘Dude? Zombies? Zombies, really?’ Then I read it and I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is so funny –’ but then will it be funny onscreen. Then Ruben [Fleischer], a first timer, comes in and I felt kind of knocked it out of the park.”
‘Spore’ video game to be adapted by Chris Wedge for Fox
20th Century Fox has acquired the rights to Electronic Arts’ “Spore” video game to create a CG animated feature. Chris Wedge, who directed “Ice Age” and “Robots” for the studio, is attached to direct while writers Greg Erb and Jason Oremland are writing the screenplay. “Spore” allows gamers to create creatures beginning from a cellular level and taking them through various stages of evolution all the way up to galactic colonization.
Three actors join ‘Bureau’
Daniel Dae Kim, Michael Kelly join MRC/Universal film
Daniel Dae Kim and Michael Kelly have been cast in “The Adjustment Bureau,” an MRC project for Universal Pictures written and being directed by George Nolfi. John Slattery also has been cast. The story, which Nolfi adapted from a Philip K. Dick short story, centers on a congressman (Matt Damon), on the rise in politics, who meets a beautiful ballet dancer (Emily Blunt) only to discover that a strange organization is keeping them apart.
Jenkins joins ‘Right One’ remake
Smit-McPhee, Moretz also to headline cast
Richard Jenkins, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chloe Moretz have been tapped to headline “Let Me In,” the remake of the arty Swedish vampire pic “Let the Right One In.” The coming-of-age horror tale revolves around the relationship between a preteen boy and a girl who just moved to the neighborhood and happens to be a vampire. Smit-McPhee and Moretz play the kids, while Jenkins is the girl’s vampire-hunting guardian.
Hugh Jackman gets into the ring for ‘Real Steel’
Hugh Jackman is in talks to take on the lead role in “Real Steel,” a family adventure project that Shawn Levy is directing for DreamWorks Studios. Jackman would play a father who reunites with his estranged teenage son as they attempt to rehabilitate an extraordinary fighter headed into a robot boxing tournament in a future where boxing between humans has been outlawed.
‘Hobbit’ stays with MGM
Debt deal allows studio to remain a player in adaptation
MGM has secured support from key lenders to allow the studio enough cash to proceed with its participation in “The Hobbit.” A recent proposal by MGM’s new CEO Steve Cooper to defer interest payments on its debt load for the next three months on Thursday won a crucial endorsement from J.P. Morgan. Concern over MGM’s hold on “Hobbit” is at the heart of the activity. In a 50-50 rights partnership with Warner Bros.’ New Line unit, two “Hobbit” pics are being developed. The first “Hobbit” aims for theatrical release in 2011, with Guillermo del Toro on board to direct that and a sequel. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and del Toro are writing scripts for both and are expected to deliver the first screenplay by the end of November.
Walton Goggins Fighting Predators?
Things have quietly been moving forward on Robert Rodriguez’s Predators with Nimrod Antal directing. Although 20th Century Fox has already set a release date for July 7, 2010, there hasn’t been much casting news except for the ubiquitous Danny Trejo as someone named “Cuchillo.” That is, until now. One of Rodriguez’s cast will be none other than Walton Goggins, star of the FX series “The Shield.”
Columbia, Micheal Mann cop Capa
Duo team on film based on renowned war photog
The studio has acquired “Waiting for Robert Capa,” a Spanish-language novel by Spain’s Susana Fortes, and set Jez Butterworth to adapt it. The story begins in Paris in 1935, where Capa, renowned war photographer and refugee from fascist Hungary, met Taro, a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany. The outbreak of the Spanish Civil War a year later began Capa’s emergence as the most renowned war photographer ever and established Taro as the first frontline female battle photographer. She was killed in the Battle of Brunete in 1937.
‘Arrested Development’ script in works
Mitchell Hurwitz, James Vallely penning film adaptation
“Arrested Development” creator Mitchell Hurwitz and his co-executive producer James Vallely are working on a screenplay for the long-debated feature version of their short-lived Fox series. Even as they prep a new Fox comedy series with “Arrested” star Will Arnett, the writers are spinning more bizarre encounters for the eccentric, spoiled Bluth clan for possible feature production in the spring.
‘My Black Friend’ headed to big screen
Chris Rock to star in project from Lionsgate, Harpo
Lionsgate and Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films are partnering to develop the comedy “Will You Be My Black Friend?” with Chris Rock starring. The project stems from a November GQ magazine article written by senior correspondent Devin Friedman, who began a self-conscious search for black friends on Craigslist. The white, married Manhattan journalist then pursued his quixotic quest to expand his social circle, with unexpected results.
The Cutting Room Floor
- Exclusive: 1-1 With Jesse Eisenberg On Zombieland
- Antoine Fuqua to direct ‘Prisoners’
- Jessica Alba becomes a ‘Little Focker’
- DiCaprio attached to star in ‘The Deep Blue Goodbye’
- Q&A: Ruben Fleischer, ‘Zombieland’
- Josh Brolin to star in ‘Cartel’
- Jamie Foxx joins ‘Due Date’
- Stallone On Death Wish Remake
- John C. Reilly moves to ‘Cedar Rapids’
- Dwayne Johnson cast as ex-con in ‘Faster’
- ‘Thomas the Tank Engine headed to big screen
- ‘Secretariat’ wins three for cast
- ‘Good Luck, Anthony Belcher’ finds helmer
- Mark Wahlberg to topline ‘Reykjavik’
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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