Sony Pictures has hired Shana Feste (COUNTRY STRONG) to direct and adapt Carolyn Turgeon's novel MERMAID: A TWIST ON THE CLASSIC TALE, reports Variety.

Playwright/comic writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who recently was called into to help rework Broadway musical SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK, has been hired to pen a new adaptation of CARRIE, reports Deadline.com.

David Fury (TV's BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER) has joined the writing staff of FRINGE, writes The Hollywood Reporter.

Lynda La Plante, the creator of PRIME SUSPECT, is set to develop Marcus Rediker’s historical pirate book VILLAINS OF ALL NATIONS into a TV series, reports Deadline.com.

Hannibal Classics is developing a spinoff of THE AMITYVILLE HORROR titled THE AMITYVILLE LEGACY 3D, reports ComingSoon.net.

Deadline.com reports that Warner Bros. has commissioned two separate scripts based on Tarzan.

Marcus Nispel (CONAN THE BARBARIAN) is set to direct the paranormal thriller BACKMASK, reports Deadline.com.

GK Films has hired IRON MAN writers Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby to re-imagine TOMB RAIDER for the screen, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Terry Rossio has handed in a script for PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 5, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This is the first script for the franchise Rossio penned without partner Ted Elliot.

Jay Baruchel, known to the animation world as the voice of Hiccup in HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, has landed two writing gigs, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Call it serendipity. The team of director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal were already prepping a fictional thriller about a special ops team hunting Osama bin Laden before Sunday's announcement from President Barack Obama that the U.S. had assassinated the Al Qaeda leader.

The Writer’s Guild of America has upheld a previous ruling regarding the credits on X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, reports Deadline.com. Jamie Moss, who adapted the original draft with Bryan Singer

Shane and Carey Van Dyke, the grandsons of Dick Van Dyke, have sold their horror/sci-fi spec THE WATCHING HOUR to New Line, reports Variety.

In the 900th issue of Action Comics, Superman renounces his U.S. citizenship.

Cate Blanchett is set to lend her voice to FAMILY GUY, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Jamie Moss, a screenwriter on X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, has appealed the Writers Guild of America's decision to not give him screen credit on the upcoming summer tentpole, writes The Hollywood Reporter.

David Koepp (SPIDER-MAN) has been tapped by Paramount Pictures and Skydance Prods. to rewrite their Jack Ryan reboot, reports Deadline.com.

Starz is developing a miniseries based on Dean Koontz's TWILIGHT EYES, reports Deadline.com.

Dimension Films has bought the sci-fi thriller spec script THE GREYS, writes The Hollywood Reporter.

Writers Guild of America arbitrators have ruled on the script credits for X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, reports Heat Vision.