Robert Rodriguez has told MTV News that he hopes to start filming THE JETSONS live-action feature as early as next year. Rodriguez is currently reworking a script from FANBOYS' Adam F. Goldberg. The busy filmmaker did not give out any plot details or casting rumors.
Ain't It Cool News is reporting that Blue Sky is working on ICE AGE 4, titled ICE AGE TH4W. The rumored plot takes a page from the Scrat short NO TIME FOR NUTS, putting the prehistoric characters in a new modern setting. Apparently Manny, Sid, Diego, Ellie and Scrat get frozen and are thawed out in a modern museum.
Investors, noting that HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE will not open in IMAX screens until two weeks after the film's July 14 bow, dropped shares in the company, which ended Monday down 4 percent (per THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER).
HALF-BLOOD PRINCE will open on two IMAX screens (in New York and Los Angeles) day in date, but won't be released wide on the large format until July 29. TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN has a dedicated month-long window in IMAX, which didn't change when Warner Bros. moved Harry to July from its original November 2008 opening.
Red Giant Media is teaming with sci-fi writer Ben Bova's B-Four Productions to work on the writer's THE IMMORTALITY FACTOR for the big screen, per VARIETY.
Kevin Fox will pen the screenplay with Fox, Isen Robbins and Aimee Schoof producing for Red Giant and Grant Turck producing for B-Four.
The story is about two brothers, one a scientist, the other a medical doctor who are divided in their views of stem-cell research but who need to work together to save the life of a woman they both love.
Vivendi Ent. has purchased the U.S. distribution rights to CALL OF THE WILD 3D, per VARIETY.
The live-action flick starring Christopher Lloyd is the first digital 3-D release made entirely with live-action photography with no CGI. It will open on 15 3-D screens in middle-American markets, but could expand if the film performs well. With UP doing well in 3-D and ICE AGE 3 on its way, extra 3-D screens are a precious commodity.
The film is a low-budget update of the Jack London story to modern-day Montana.
With the final box office figures released, comedy opener THE HANGOVER (Warner Bros.) narrowly beat Disney-Pixar's UP for first place with $44.979M for the weekend of June 5-7. Pixar's first 3-D feature took flight for another $44.1 million, lifting its cume to $137.2 million.
Newcomer LAND OF THE LOST had to settle for third. Universal's TV show remake hauled in a disappointing $18.8 million. LAND OF THE LOST has visual effects from CafeFX, Gentle Giant Studios, Hammerhead Productions, Rhythm and Hues and Spectral Motion.
HEROES star Masi Oka has sold a family adventure idea called THE DEFENDERS to DreamWorks, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci will produce the project and EAGLE EYE director D.J. Caruso is in talks to helm. Gary Whitta (THE BOOK OF ELI) will pen the screenplay.
The story finds teenage multiplayer gamers coming together in the real world to become heroes.
In a chat with Film School Rejects, Kevin Eastman revealed that James Cameron will not only direct a segment of the HEAVY METAL feature, but also co-exec produce the film. Other directors attached to segments include David Fincher, Zack Snyder, Gore Verbinski, and Mark Osborne, whose segment will feature Jack Black. Additionally, Fincher will also co-exec produce.
Buried in Licensing Expo report on Jim Hill Media is the rumor that Pixar is working on a MONSTERS, INC. sequel. Disney reportedly has been telling buyers it will be the next project for UP director Pete Docter. No plot for the sequel has been leaked, but it seems that if this rumor is true we'll be seeing the new adventures of Sulley and Mike Wazowski in 2013.
Carpinteria, CA (June 3, 2009) Animation producer Animagic Entertainment announced today that it has reached an agreement with Fremantle Corporation for worldwide distribution of its BALLOONATIKS full-length, feature film project, which is currently in pre-production. Additionally, Fremantle Corporation is in discussion with Animagic to distribute 26 half-hour BALLOONATIKS CGI television series episodes, which are also currently in pre-production for the 2010 season.
Focus Features has provided AWN and VFXWorld with three exclusive images of the character "1" from Shane Acker's 9. As the oldest and most crudely designed of the stitchpunk beings, "1," voiced by Christopher Plummer, is constructed of rudimentary tools including simple metal plates and heavy canvas. As the elder, he is the group’s self-declared leader, and strives to bolster his air of authority with decorations such as his staff, cape decorated with a broach, and hat.
ROBOT CHICKEN writer Dan Milano has been hired to bring a new twist to the 1986 film, SHORT CIRCUIT, according to VARIETY. The original followed Number 5, a military robot, which after being struck by lightning, became a protector of humans.
Original's producer David Foster will return to produce alongside Ryan E. Heppe and John Hyde.
The original was written by S.S. Wilson and Brent Maddock.
HomestarRunner.com creator Matt Chapman and Craig Zobel (GREAT WORLD OF SOUND) have been hired by the Jim Henson Co. to write the feature version of Screen Novelties' MONSTER SAFARI, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Screen Novelties' Mark Caballero, Chris Finnegan and Seamus Walsh will direct the stop-motion feature. The original SAFARI short followed two hapless crypto-zoologists who try to protect Earth's monsters from a big game hunter.
Disney is moving forward on a hand-drawn animated theatrical release for Winnie the Pooh, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
The film is planned for spring 2011, featuring the second-biggest character franchise behind Mickey Mouse. The new film will include merchandise and book tie-ins.
Disney announced the film at Licensing International Expo in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
-- By News Editor Annemarie Moody
Per VARIETY, Columbia Pictures has hired Kurt Wimmer (SALT) to write TOTAL RECALL.
Neal Moritz and Original Films will produce the project, a remake of the 1990 sci-film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and based on the Philip K. Dick story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale." The new film will be updated to modern times.
Columbia got the rights from Miramax, which has the option to co-finance the film. Wimmer wrote the story for upcoming Angelina Jolie thriller SALT with Brian Helgeland.
-- By News Editor Annemarie Moody
Takashi Shimizu has started filming THE SHOCK LABYRINTH, Japan's first digital 3-D film, per VARIETY.
Shimizu directed the Japanese THE GRUDGE series and the two American remakes. LABYRINTH will be distributed by Asmik Ace Ent. in Japan in October 2009.
The story is based on a popular scare house attraction at the Fuji-Q High Land amusement park near Mt. Fuji and is about a group of teens who take a friend to an old hospital that turns out to be a horrific labyrinth. The film will be shot at the actual attraction.
Culver City, CA: June 3, 2009 -- Director Sam Raimi and visual effects supervisor Bruce Jones recently turned to Culver City-based I.E. Effects to deliver key visual effects sequences for DRAG ME TO HELL. The horror film, which opened May 29, tells the story of a woman who is subject to a supernatural curse and features stunning visual effects sequences.
Lionsgate has hired Jose Padilha to direct AGENT IN PLACE from a script by Braulio Mantovani, per VARIETY.
AGENT is based on an upcoming videogame from Flint Dille developed by Union Ent. Lionsgate production president Alli Shearmur and Union Ent. president Richard Leibowitz will produce. Dille and Dan Jevons will exec produce.
Dille's game is a character-driven action thriller. He also created CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK: ESCAPE FROM BUTCHER BAY and DEAD TO RIGHTS.
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. and PROVIDENCE, R.I., June 2 -- Executives from Universal Pictures and Hasbro, Inc. today announced that the first feature film to be released under Universal and Hasbro's six-year partnership, STRETCH ARMSTRONG, has been dated for theatrical release on April 15, 2011.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY reports that Robert Luketic is working with Dino De Laurentiis to develop a BARBARELLA remake.
Robert Rodriguez had been attached at one point with Universal, which wanted to shoot in Germany while Rodriguez reportedly wanted to stay in Austin, Texas to be close to his family. De Laurentiis is looking to move the film to a different studio and " It will be a big intergalactic adventure with a sexy twist," according to a source close to the project.
Disney-Pixar's 10th film UP opened at the top spot at the box office with $68.1M, with an impressive $18,085 per-screen average and stellar reviews from Rotten Tomatoes (98 %) and an A+ from Cinemascore. VARIETY reports an estimated $36M of the take came from 1,534 3-D screens. The opening beats out all but two other Pixar films -- FINDING NEMO with $70.3M in 2003 and THE INCREDIBLES with $70.5M in 2004.
The teaser trailer for TOY STORY 3 is now online, and playing with UP in theaters. Watch it now!
NEW YORK -- (June 1, 2009) -- After 35 years as the world's best known street-smart cat, Heathcliff is poised to bring his non-stop mischief and shenanigans to a whole new generation of viewers with a new agreement between FitzRoy Media and Magic Lantern Entertainment, it was announced by FitzRoy Media CEO Hamp Hampton.
Universal Pictures has purchased the rights to a secret Mattel toy for a live-action musical film, per VARIETY.
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will produce with the HAIRSPRAY team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who are in talks to write the original score.
Mattel has not publicly disclosed even the name of the property, saying only that it "aspires to add a fresh twist to monster lore."
