Category: Films

Michael Eisner's Tornante Co. has hired Mike Hammer to write the screenplay for a BAZOOKA JOE feature, based on the comicstrip that where included in Bazooka bubble gum, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. This will be Hammer's first professional script after graduating from Chapman University. Hammer's spec script, SONNY TAKES TO PERU caught the attention of Tornante execs. Eisner acquired Bazooka in 2007 when he purchased the Topps trading card company for $380 million.

According to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, THE ROCK's writing team of Douglas Cook and David Weisberg has been hired to write POW Ent. and Disney's NICK RATCHET. Based on an idea from Stan Lee, the Jekyll & Hyde story follows a timid cop and his hard-hitting online avatar law enforcer Nick Ratchet. Richard LaGravenese (FREEDOM WRITERS) is set to direct. Larry Jacobson and Sonny Grosso are the producers with Lee and POW partner Gill Champion exec producing.

Warner Bros. has released the first teaser for Guy Ritchie's take on SHERLOCK HOLMES. The film stars Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Watson. Rachel McAdams is the film's love interest with Mark Strong taking the villain role. WB as set Dec. 25th as the release date.

View the trailer on AWNtv.

Magnolia Pictures has scooped up North American rights to historical epic WARLORDS, which stars Jey Li and Andy Lau, according to VARIETY. The distributor plans to release the film in late summer. Set during the 1860's Taiping Rebellion, the story follows a general (Li) who survives a slaughter by playing dead and the group of bandits he joins forces with afterward. Peter Chan (3 EXTREMES II) directed the Chinese hit.

If we're going to have films based on the Ouija Board, Candy Land and Monopoly, why not Battleship? Universal has hired HANCOCK director Peter Berg to sink battleships, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Jon and Erich Hoeber have been commissioned to adapt the classic Hasbro game. While no plot details have surfaced, Universal is looking for a big naval action flick out of this one.

VARIETY reports that Nu Image has secured foreign rights to Thomas Jane's 3-D thriller DARK COUNTRY. Jane also stars with Ron Perlman and Lauren German. The story follows newlyweds stuck on the Nevada highway and the hell they experience there. Hyde Park's Patrick Aiello and Ashok Amritraj produced. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group has the U.S. rights.

Making an impression at James T. Kirk's father in STAR TREK, Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth is now Thor, according to Nikke Finke. In addition, she reports that British actor Tom Hiddleston (THE GATHERING STORM) has been cast to play Thor nemesis Loki. The Marvel feature is set for release on May 20, 2011. Kenneth Branagh is directing the film about the Norse god of thunder.