Category: Films

Walt Disney has confirmed that its has signed Tim Burton to a two-picture deal to make the 3-D films ALICE IN WONDERLAND and FRANKENWEENIE, reports the trades.

First up will be a performance-capture, live-action ALICE adaptation, which was written by LION KING and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST scribe Linda Woolverton based on Lewis Carroll's classic children's book. Richard Zanuck, Joe Roth and Suzanne and Jennifer Todd are the producers of the film, which will start production early next year.

Disney head Dick Cook said in an interview with BOX OFFICE MOJO that the JUNGLE CRUISE feature was "a top priority" for the company. David Hoberman is producing, but a script has not been written.

As for the plot, Cook said a family would play the central role, with the skipper as the impetus to their adventure, serving as a cross between Indiana Jones and Jack Sparrow.

CHICAGO actor John C. Reilly is set to play the lead vampire in Universal's adaptation of CIRQUE DU FREAK, reports VARIETY. Paul Weitz adapted Darren Shan's children's series and is set to direct.

The story follows a vampire who takes a 14-year-old boy as his assistant, turning the youth into a half-vampire, who will play a key role in a war between vampires and the rival Vampanese.

Weitz and Lauren Shuler Donner will produce the film, which will begin filming in February.

With many theaters equipping themselves for 3-D in anticipation of James Cameron's AVATAR, Hyde Park Ent. and Stage 6 Films are jumping on the 3-D craze with the noir thriller THE DARK COUNTRY, reports VARIETY. PUNISHER star Thomas Jane will make his directing debut on the film, which will shoot in high-definition. A 2-D version will also be made.

Written by Tab Murphy (TARZAN), the story follows a couple, played by Ron Perlman (HELLBOY) and Lauren German (HOSTEL: PART II), whose honeymoon trip turns into a nightmare.

Marcus Nispel, director of PATHFINDER and the TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE remake, is in closing talks to helm the reboot of the FRIDAY THE 13TH franchise, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. New Line, Paramount/MTV and Platinum Dunes are producing.

Written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, the story isn't a straight remake. The hockey mask-wearing Jason was not the killer in the original film and did not don the mask until the third film. This production will feature the iconic villain hacking up teenagers at the original film's Crystal Lake location.

MAX HEADROOM star Matt Frewer will play Moloch the Mystic in Zack Snyder's WATCHMEN, according to MTV. The cast also includes Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Matthew Goode, Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman, Carla Gugino and Stephen McHattie. In the graphic novel, Moloch is a vice lord who comes in conflict with "masks" such as Nite Owl, Ozymandias, and Doctor Manhattan.

Ridley Scott has signed on to direct Fox 2000's supernatural thriller STONES, reports VARIETY. Matt Cirulnick penned the script and Scott's Scott Free will produce. In the story, ancient religious sites around the globe are being destroyed and it is discovered that Stonehenge is the link that binds the strange occurrences. The project won't continue development until the conclusion of the writers strike.

A few weeks ago, the hot writer of JUNO, Diablo Cody, set up her horror comedy JENNIFER'S BODY at Fox Atomic. Now THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER says JUNO director Jason Reitman and his Hard C partner Dan Dubiecki have joined the film as producers, along with Mason Novick. TRANSFORMERS female lead Megan Fox has signed on to star.

The script follows a "Plain Jane" girl who must kill her cheerleader best friend after the girl is possessed by a demon and begins killing boys. Later, she must escape from jail to stop the Satan-worshiping rock band that transformed her friend.