Category: Films

LipSync Post has completed the DI and 70 VFX shots for the forthcoming feature film THE SECRET OF MOONACRE. Directed by Gabor Csupo (BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA), the film tells the story of a 13-year-old's adventure into a magical world from which she must banish an ancient curse. The majority of LipSync's work focused on a mystical string of "moon pearls" that are key to the film's plot.

Nickelodeon has inked a deal with production company O'Malley Creadon to produce the first-ever SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS documentary in celebration of the series' 10th anniversary. Acclaimed filmmaker Patrick Creadon (WORDPLAY and I.O.U.S.A) will co-produce, direct and write the documentary, along with co-producer Christine O'Malley. The one-hour original television documentary (title TBA) will chronicle the ascent of the absorbing character's journey to pop culture stardom.

In an auction that concluded late Thursday, Columbia won the screen rights to FOUNDATION, the sci-fi trilogy by Isaac Asimov, per VARIETY. Roland Emmerich will direct the film.

Emmerich and Centropolis partner Michael Wimer are producing. FOUNDATION was originally published as a series of eight short stories in ASTOUNDING magazine in 1942 and is about humans scattered on planets throughout the galaxy living under the rule of the Galactic Empire.

Orbit Digital/Post Works and Post-Production Supervisor, Stuart MacPhee, recently asked Mechanism Digital for some last minute visual effects with the Fox Searchlight feature, NOTORIOUS, in theaters now. The film tracks the remarkable rise of Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace -- who burst from the tough streets of Brooklyn to the heights of hip-hop legend.

Last night at the Directors Guild in Hollywood, Director McG introduced four new clips from his highly anticipated TERMINATOR SALVATION (opening May 22 from Warner Bros.), and encapsulated his filmmaking journey thus far in an informal Q&A with journalists.

Keanu Reeves is attached to star in a live-action adaptation of Japanese anime TV series COWBOY BEBOP for Twentieth Century Fox, according to VARIETY.

Reeves would reunite with THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL producer Erwin Stoff (through his 3 Arts banner) and would play the role of Spike Spiegel, an adventurous bounty hunter traveling through space circa 2071. Spiegel and his fellow bounty hunters travel via spaceship, the Bebop.

Screenplay is being penned by Peter Craig and Joshua Long is exec producing.

A court conference that was scheduled for today between Fox and Warner Bros. has been canceled, per THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, with rumors circulating that the long-gestating WATCHMEN case is finally settled or nearing settlement.

U.S. District Judge Gary A. Feess ruled in December that Fox has distribution rights to the film WB made and is planning on a March 6 release, and the two studios have been meeting since Friday to settle.

Comicbook artist Joann Sfar will direct the upcoming 2D animated feature THE RABBI'S CAT, based on his most popular novel, per VARIETY.

Sfar was also recently hired to direct GAINSBOURG, VIE HEROIQUE. He will co-direct RABBI'S CAR with Antoine Delesvaux, who is also producing under Autochenille Production based in Paris, a shingle he founded with Sfar and comics artist Clement Oubrerie in 2007.

Shorts International will bring the Oscar-nominated short films in the live-action and animated categories to U.S. theatres on February 6 2009, giving audiences around the country an opportunity to see the nominated films prior to the 81st Academy Awards ceremony on February 22.

The Oscar Shorts program will open in theaters starting February 6, expanding to 60 cities throughout the country in the following weeks. This year's release will also in part be supported by Magnolia Pictures.

Walden Media, reports VARIETY columnist Tatiana Siegel, is still committed to the Narnia franchise, despite Disney bailing on a third film.

Disney decided to quit the franchise after crunching the numbers: PRINCE CASPIAN took in slightly more than half of THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE's gross. But sources say that Disney and Walden disagreed on the release date for PRINCE CASPIAN from the start. Disney released the film in May, when Walden wanted a holiday-season berth and was looking to avoid a similar scenario for the next film, THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER.

Warner Bros. is asking U.S. District Judge Gary Feess to make a decision sooner rather than later on the fate of WATCHMEN, according to VARIETY. Fox, having won Feess' ruling last month over distribution rights, is trying to block the release of the film on March 6.