CONTACT writer James V. Hart has been hired to write CHINESE ODYSSEY, a 3-D adventure for director Rob Minkoff, reports Variety.

Ronan Bennett (PUBLIC ENEMIES) is set to adapt Dean King’s true-life bestseller SKELETONS ON THE ZAHARA, reports Deadline.com.

Bruce C. McKenna, co-exec producer and writer of the Emmy-winning miniseries THE PACIFIC, has sold a pitch on The Battle Of Midway to Warner Bros., reports Deadline.com.

Sony has hired KUNG FU PANDA writers Cyrus Voris and Ethan Reiff to pen a sequel to the KARATE KID remake, reports Heat Vision.

Marvel Studios has hired XXX scribe Rich Wilkes to pen a feature adaptation of IRON FIST, reports Deadline.com.

Chris Wedge, via his WedgeWorks company, has picked up the rights to Kirsten Bakis' novel LIVES OF THE MONSTER DOGS, reports Heat Vision.

Disney has snatched up a pitch from writers Ahmet Zappa and Michael Wilson called MONSTER WITNESS RELOCATION PROGRAM, reports Deadline.com.

Warner Bros. has paid seven figures for the rights to David Goyer and Michael Cassutt's sci-fi book series, which starts with the novel HEAVEN'S SHADOW, reports Deadline.com.

DreamWorks Animation has hired the married screenwriting duo of Joe Syracuse and Lisa Addario to pen its IMAGINARY ENEMIES, reports Risky Business.

Warner Bros. has tapped David Berenbaum (ELF) to pen the script for a live-action/CG hybrid Bugs Bunny feature, reports Deadline.com.

20th Century Fox TV has signed FAMILY GUY writers Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild to a three-year deal, reports VARIETY.

Max Landis, the son of director John Landis, is in talks to sell his script CHRONICLES to 20th Century Fox, reports HEAT VISION.

Warner Bros. has tapped Michael Goldenberg (HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX) to pen the screenplay for a sequel to its upcoming GREEN LANTERN feature, reports VARIETY.

Dimension Films is in negotiations with THE NUMBER 23 writer Fernley Phillips to pen a remake of AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, reports 24 FRAMES.

Despite its financial woes, MGM is working on an OUTER LIMITS theatrical adaptation, reports VARIETY.

LOST's Damon Lindelof has been tapped to rewrite Ridley Scott's ALIEN prequel, reports Deadline.com.

Producer Ed Pressman told TheWrap that Nick Cave has been hired to pen a new version of the CROW reboot.

Paramount has bought the CONFIDENTIAL ALIEN PROJECT pitch from Bobby Glickert, reports HEAT VISION.

The top players behind the new Muppets movie have gone to Pixar for some creative consulting, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

Zack Snyder told the L.A. TIMES that he and 300 co-writer Kurt Johnstad have begun adapting the script for a feature version of Frank Miller's XERXES.