Sony Pictures Animation has acquired a pitch from FAST AND THE FURIOUS screenwriter Gary Scott Thompson that takes place in the mythical paradise of Shangri-La. Known for edgy material, Thompson, whose credits also include HOLLOW MAN, might not be the most obvious choice for animated fare. But Sony Animation VP Penney Finkelman Cox explained, "That’s exactly what makes Gary’s point of view as a writer so appealing to our creative instincts.

SCORPION KING star and wrestling champ The Rock may be cooking up a plan to play Johnny Bravo in the live-action feature film adaptation of the animated series. According to VARIETY, Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired the JOHNNY BRAVO feature film rights from Cartoon Network and creator Van Partible (who will exec. produce) in hopes of putting The Rock in the starring role. Neal Moritz and Marty Adelstein will produce for Warner Bros. via their Original Film production banner.

DreamWorks' new thriller THE RING, with visual effects by Tippett Studios, Rhythm & Hues and Asylum, debuted at number one this weekend with $15M. The film is a remake of the Japanese hit RINGU, about a cursed videotape that causes all those who watch it to die within seven days. THE RING certainly put a curse on RED DRAGON, which dropped to third after holding the top spot for two weeks. The serial killer thriller, with visual effects by Cinesite, earned $8.8M for a two-week total of $77.8M. JONAH: A VEGGIETALES MOVIE has edged out action comedy THE TUXEDO for eighth place.

C21 Media reports that Jim Henson Pictures' TIME DOGS will be the first project for The Shop Productions, a new Canadian animation company set up by former Mainframe Entertainment president and CEO Ian Pearson. The CG animated comedy was written by Christopher Leone and Laura Harkcom and stars Zack and Dingo, a real dog and a robot dog. The two friends must travel through time to save their master, inventor Dr Quirk, and all dogs from a life of slavery under the Grand High Dogcatcher.

Last week's number one film, RED DRAGON, held off six new wide-release films this weekend to hang on to the top spot. The thriller, with visual effects by Cinesite, earned $17.6M for a two-week total of $67.2M. Theatergoers are still sweet on SWEET HOME ALABAMA, which stayed in second adding $14.1M, for a total of $84.5M. Two new releases – the romance BROWN SUGAR and the action flick THE TRANSPORTER, took third and forth, with $11M and $9.1M, respectively.

Opening in just 940 theaters, JONAH: A VEGGIETALES MOVIE had a solid debut weekend, earning $6.5M for sixth place. A retelling of the biblical story of Jonah, starring a humble cast of vegetables, JONAH will expand into more theaters this Friday, ramping up to wide release on October 18th. Given the popularity of the VEGGIETALES stories, and that this is the first family-friendly release since August, JONAH looks to have some staying power at the box office. The number one film this weekend was RED DRAGON, the "prequel" to SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and HANNIBAL. The thriller debuted with $37.5M.

The high-tech suit worn by Jackie Chan in the action comedy THE TUXEDO didn't protect the film from being solidly trounced by Reese Witherspoon's romantic comedy SWEET HOME ALABAMA, as the two new releases battled it out for the top spot. SWEET HOME ALABAMA landed in first place with $35.6M, while THE TUXEDO, with visual effects by Sony Pictures Imageworks, had a so-so $15M debut, which was good for second. Last week's number one film BARBERSHOP moved to third with $10M and a two-week total of $51.3M. MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING landed in fourth with $9.4M and a cume of $136.6M.

Premiering in just 26 theaters up against four major wide releases, Hayao Miyazaki's SPIRITED AWAY averaged an amazing $17,307 per screen average for $450,000 and 18th place. The film is currently playing in ten cities and will expand into more North American locations on October 4. Last week's number one film BARBERSHOP cut down the competition, staying in first place with $13.3M and a two-week total of $38.8M. In second place is the comedy THE BANGER SISTERS with a $10.3M debut, pushing MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING to third, with $10M and a cume of $124.3M.

Nearly two years have passed since Disney's animated feature THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE was released, but the documentary made during the production is just now seeing the light. THE SWEATBOX details the troubled production of THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE. Or rather the turning of KINGDOM OF THE SUN into THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE. Produced and directed by John Paul Davidson and Trudi Styler (musician Sting's wife), the documentary premiered this September at the 2002 Toronto Film Festival and is now playing in Los Angeles for Academy consideration.

Variety reports that Michael Chabon, Pulitzer-prize winning author and comic book aficionado, will be re-writing the script for the newly titled THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, the sequel to this summer's amazing blockbuster hit SPIDER-MAN. Chabon, whose comic-book coming of age tale THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY is currently being developed as a live-action feature, also authored THE WONDER BOYS, which was adapted to a film starring Michael Douglas and Spidey himself, Tobey Maguire.