Sony Pictures Animation has confirmed that it has purchased the screen rights to Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson's fantasy book series THE FAMILIARS, in a deal worth low- to mid-seven figures. Sam Raimi and Josh Donen are in discussions to produce. Epstein and Jacobson will adapt.
WATCHMEN scribe David Hayter, along with his Dark Hero Studios partner Benedict Carver, will team up with Pandemonium's Bill Mechanic to bring the zombie comic series, DEADWORLD, to the screen, reports VARIETY. Hayter will pen the script. Producing with Hayter and Mechanic are Framelight's Robert L. Robinson Jr. and Jeffrey D. Erb. Carver, Pandemonium's Suzanne Warren and comic creator Gary Reed are the exec producers. Pandemonium and Framelight are putting up the coin.
Herold & Family of France has greenlit CENDRILLON, to be one of France's first digital 3-D animated films, per VARIETY.
The Wild West-set Cinderella update will be produced by Herold & Family and Belgian company Nexus. Animation will be done at Delacave Studio in Paris. Pascal Herold will direct, having last worked on MK2's THE TRUE STORY OF PUSS 'N BOOTS, a CG animated feature.
Alexandre and Jerome Apergis, Frederic Bolloc'h and Herold have written the screenplay.
Director Rob Cohen has stepped down from the reins of the third XXX film in order to helm MEDIEVAL, according to VARIETY. Sony's XXX: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE would have seen Cohen reuniting with original XXX star Vin Diesel, but Cohen seems more interest now in "THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN in the Middle Ages" film at New Regency.
Here we are at last! Welcome to the most fantastic, most exciting and I think "the" animation festival of them all. The 33rd edition of Annecy Festival began today, as always with the great welcome at festival centre Bonlieu next to the big, wonderful lake with the wonderful view on the French Alps.
Ever since it was announced that DISTURBIA director D.J. Caruso has signed on to direct a feature adaptation of the comicbook series Y: THE LAST MAN, it has been rumored that Shia LaBeouf was set to play Yorick Brown. Now LaBeouf tells WIZARD that he won't be playing the sole surviving male on Earth, because the role is too close to Sam Witwicky in TRANSFORMERS. Carl Ellsworth penned the script for the film.
VARIETY reports that Stephen Chow is in works on an animated sequel to his sci-fi comedy CJ-7. Star Overseas Co. and state-owned China Film Group are funding the project. MCDULL director Toe Yuen will helm the new film, which will feature the same characters and actors as the original live-action production. Chow will exec produce the film, which will start production in September for a spring 2010 release in China.
It was previously announced that THE HANGOVER star Bradley Cooper was in talks to play Faceman in the A-TEAM feature -- now VARIETY reports that Liam Neeson is in talks to play team leader Col. John "Hannibal" Smith. Early rumors had Common and Ice Cube playing Sgt. "B.A." Baracus, the iconic role originated by Mr. T, but it seems both choices have fizzled out. No word on who will play Capt. "Howling Mad" Murdock have been announced.
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.
