AWN Headline News

Konami Digital Ent. Inc. announced a multi-year agreement with FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas that gives the company the exclusive interactive videogame rights for AMERICAN IDOL. Pursuant to the agreement, FLW, Americas grants Konami the rights to develop games for current and next generation videogame systems. The games will be distributed throughout America, Canada and Latin America with more details to be revealed at a later date.

Shane Acker has landed an animation student's dream. Focus Features has agreed to turn his student short 9 into an animated feature with Tim Burton, Timur Bekmambetov (Russian director of NIGHT WATCH) and Jim Lemley (exec producer of RED EYE) producing, reports the trades. Acker will even get to direct. Focus president of production John Lyons will shepherd the film.

THQ Inc. announced that it has engaged United Talent Agency (UTA), a leading Hollywood talent and literary agency, to expand the brand of THQ's recently-released, top-selling DESTROY ALL HUMANS! videogame title. UTA aims to guide the property through its development into major motion picture and television projects, overseeing activities related to development, financing, production and distribution. This is the first time THQ has secured agency representation for one of its own original properties.

Disney has won a bidding war for the domestic distribution rights to Mel Gibsons next directorial effort, APOCALYPTO, reports VARIETY. Gibsons Icon will handle international distribution. THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST director also wrote the script for the film, which will start production in Mexico in October for a summer 2006 release. Icon partner Bruce Davey will produce alongside Gibson.

Autodesk Inc. released new versions of its visual effects, editing/finishing and digital color grading systems. Used to create high-value feature film and television content, Autodesk's systems have been used on such major projects as CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, FANTASTIC FOUR, SPIDER-MAN 2, THE SOPRANOS and the CSI franchise.

Atari Inc. and Marc Ecko announced an star-studded lineup of Hollywood talent providing voices for the characters featured in the videogame, MARC ECKO'S GETTING UP: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Rosario Dawson, Brittany Murphy, George Hamilton, Giovanni Ribisi, Adam West, Andy Dick, Charlie Murphy, The RZA and Michael "M.C. Serch" Berrin will all add their voices to the first authentic videogame based on urban culture and graffiti art. Hip-hop artist Talib Kweli who will voice Trane the game's lead character was announced earlier this year.

Children's digital media and publishing company FableVision Inc. extends its educational products offerings with the acquisition of the award-winning GET A CLUE software program from the Core Learning Group Llc as well as the release of its new ESSAY EXPRESS software product.

John Moore (BEHIND ENEMY LINES, FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX remake) has been fired by 20th Century Fox to direct a remake of the 1976 horror classic THE OMEN titled, THE OMEN 666, reports VARIETY. Writer Dan McDermott is contemporizing the tale of the birth of the Antichrist to an unsuspecting family. Fox president Hutch Parker and Peter Kang will shepherd the project, which is set to start filming in October.