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Category: Films

Headline News

Miller's Spirit Finds Its True Love

By Rick DeMott | Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 12:00am

Sarah Paulson (TV's STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP) leads a host of newcomers joining the cast of Frank Miller's adaptation of Will Eisner's THE SPIRIT, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The other new additions include Dan Lauria, Stana Katic, Johnny Simmons and Louis Lombardi. They will join lead Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Mendes and Scarlett Johansson.

Film Headline News

Cuppa Coffee Pours Out Eastern Promises Titles

By Rick DeMott | Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 12:00am

Cuppa Coffee created the title sequence for David Cronenberg's latest thriller EASTERN PROMISES, which went into wide release on Friday, Sept. 21. This marks the third time Cronenberg has collaborated with Cuppa Coffee, which previously providing credits for Cronenberg's EXISTENZ and SPIDER. Cronenberg's latest, starring Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts, recently won the People's Choice award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Million Headline News

Resident Evil 3 Makes Box Office Foes Extinct

RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION laid waste to the box office competition, premiering on top for the weekend period ended Sept. 23. The Screen Gems release (with vfx by Gentle Giant Studios, Invisible Pictures, Mr. X, New Deal Studios & Tatopoulos Studios) earned an approximate $24 million. The next closest competition came from the debut of the Dane Cook/Jessica Alba raunchy-com GOOD LUCK CHUCK, which scooped up $14 million. Last week's box office champ, THE BRAVE ONE, came in third with an additional $7.43 million, making its cume $25.1 million.

Film Headline News

Atopia Acquires North American Rights to The District!

Montreal-based Atopia Distribution has announced its acquisition of all North American rights to Aron Gauder's acclaimed Hungarian animated comedy THE DISTRICT! (NYOCKER!). The edgy animated social and political satire musical had its North American bow at the Toronto International Film Festival and went on to screen at 59 fests across the world, including Karlovy Vary, Rotterdam International, Philadelphia Film Festival, Austin Fantasticfest, Mar Del Plata, Melbourne International and Sitges, winning awards at no less than 13 of them.

Avatar Headline News

Ribisi Added to Cameron's Avatar

Giovanni Ribisi (SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW) has joined the cast of James Cameron's 3-D feature AVATAR, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. He will play passive-aggressive Selfridge. The story follows a group of humans who must face the residents of a distant planet.

The cast also includes Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver and Michelle Rodriguez.

Series Headline News

Paul Dini To Pen Gatachaman Feature

Paul Dini has been signed to collaborate on the screenplay for Imagi Animation Studios' upcoming CG-animated motion picture, GATCHAMAN.

"We are excited to have Paul on our talented GATCHAMAN team," said Francis Kao, Co-CEO/CCO. "His extensive background in animation and superhero comics will contribute greatly to this ambitious action movie."

Film Headline News

Happy Feet Helmer Rushes to Justice League

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 12:00am

After months of rumors, Warner Bros. has hired HAPPY FEET helmer George Miller to direct the big screen adaptation of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, reports VARIETY. The studio hopes to get the production going before a potential strike, setting summer 2009 as a release target.

Kieran and Michele Mulroney have penned the top-secret script, which will most likely feature superheroes Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash and Aquaman.

Headline News

Pulitzer Prize-Winner The Road Winding to a Theater Near You

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 12:00am

2929 Prods. are preparing a screen adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel THE ROAD, according to the trades. Marc Butan, Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban are exec producing the film, which Dimension Films is in talks to distribute in North America.

The story follows a father and his son as the wander a post-apocalyptic America, looking for other human beings. Viggo Mortensen is rumored to be the top choice for the lead.

Ghosts Headline News

Garner Connects with Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 12:00am

Jennifer Garner is in talks to join Matthew McConaughey in New Line's supernatural romantic comedy GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Mark Waters (MEAN GIRLS) is directing. Jonathan Shestack and Brad Epstein are the producers.

Upon attending his younger brother's wedding, a bachelor (McConaughey) is haunted by the ghosts of old girlfriends who try to lead him toward his true love (Garner).

Cale Boyter and Sam Brown are shepherding for New Line.

Dreamworks Headline News

Monsters vs. Aliens to Invade Earlier

MONSTERS VS. ALIENS, DreamWorks Animation's first-ever film produced in stereoscopic 3-D technology, has been pushed up to a March 27, 2009 release. The Paramount Pictures release had been previously slated for May 15 and now avoids splitting the market with James Cameron's 3-D/CG fantasy, AVATAR, which opens May 22. However, CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS, the next 3D-animated feature from Sony Pictures Animation, is currently scheduled for March 27 as well.

Star Headline News

Star Trek Finds New Uhura

By Rick DeMott | Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at 12:00am

Paramount Pictures has added Zoe Saldana (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL) as Uhura to the cast of J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK, reports VARIETY. In the original series, Uhura was the U.S.S. Enterprise's communications officer.

Abrams will produce the prequel via his Bad Robot company. Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci have penned the script. Bryan Burk and Damon Lindelof are the exec producers. The release date is set for Christmas Day 2008.

Headline News

Bad Santa Helmer Builds $40,000 Man

New Line Cinema has hired director Terry Zwigoff to helm its comedy THE 40,000 MAN, reports the trades. Zwigoff will work with his GHOST WORLD and ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL collaborator Dan Clowes on retooling the script.

The story follows a fame astronaut, who after being severely injured in an accident is remade as a bionic man by the government on the paltry budget of $40,000. Johnathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley penned the original screenplay.

Headline News

Trio Join The Haunting in Connecticut

Gold Circle Films and Lionsgate have added Elias Koteas, Martin Donovan and Kyle Gallner to the cast of the horror film THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. They will join lead Virginia Madsen. The director of the animated short WARD 13, Peter Cornwell, will make his live-action film debut on HAUNTING.

Headline News

Warner Bros. Taps Harry Potter Producer for Paddington

Warner Bros. Pictures is bringing Michael Bond's children's classic, PADDINGTON BEAR, to the screen in a live-action family comedy format for the first time. David Heyman, producer of the HARRY POTTER film franchise, will produce through his Heyday Films. Writer Hamish McColl (MR. BEAN'S HOLIDAY) is attached to adapt.

"We're eager to collaborate once again with David, as well as with our London creative team, on this ageless classic," said Jeff Robinov, President, Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Film Headline News

Weinsteins Write Check for Diary of the Dead

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 12:00am

The Weinstein Co. have snatched up the North American and Mexican rights to George A. Romero's DIARY OF THE DEAD for $2 to $2.5 million, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The purchase came on the heals of its screening at the Toronto Film Festival's Midnight Madness. Some of the offers coming out the fest were for home entertainment only, so the Weinsteins' sweetened the deal with a theatrical guarantee.

The fourth sequel in Romero's LIVING DEAD series follows a group of film students who encounter real zombies during the production of a horror flick.

Production Headline News

Polanski Passes on Pompeii

By Rick DeMott | Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at 12:00am

Roman Polanski is stepping down as the director of the screen adaptation of Robert Harris' novel, POMPEII, reports SCREEN DAILY. The move is due to producer Summit International's need to push the start date indefinitely on the massive production. The production had been set to begin next summer in Europe, but fears of an industry strike spurred producers Robert Benmussa and Alain Sarde to postpone the start of filming. The producers are pre-selling the project and have begun looking for a new director.

Headline News

Potter Becomes Top Film Franchise

With the success of HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, Warner Bros. Pictures' POTTER franchise has now become, worldwide, the top-grossing franchise in movie history. The combined worldwide box office gross for the five Harry Potter films to date is in excess of $4.47 billion, surpassing the JAMES BOND and STAR WARS franchises.

In addition to holding the franchise box office record, all five of the HARRY POTTER films have the distinction of being among the 20 top-grossing box office hits of all time.

Film Headline News

Animated Ten Commandments Coming to Theaters

By Rick DeMott | Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at 12:00am

American Cinema Int'l (aci-americancinemainternational.com) has announced that its animated feature, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, is set for a U.S. theatrical release on Oct. 19, 2007. The film will have its market debut during this year's American Film Market.

The CG feature is the first in a branded twelve-film series from Promenade Pictures, the family driven production and distribution outfit established by former studio head Frank Yablans. The film also marks the company's entry into the U.S. theatrical distribution arena.

Film Headline News

Tron 2 Gets New Life with New Director

By Rick DeMott | Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at 12:00am

Walt Disney Pictures is in final talks with commercial helmer Joseph Kosinski to develop and direct "the next chapter" of TRON, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Live Planet's Sean Bailey is producing along with original's co-writer and director Steven Lisberger, who will oversee visual and script development.

Headline News

Indiana Jones 4 Title Announced

During the live broadcast of the MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas, actor Shia LaBeouf announced the full title of the fourth installment in the INDIANA JONES franchise as INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL. The Steven Spielberg film is in production. LaBeouf co-stars with Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone and John Hurt.

Lucasfilm Ltd. is producing while Paramount Pictures will distribute the film worldwide on May 22, 2008. Frank Marshall returns as producer, with Kathleen Kennedy joining George Lucas as exec producer.

Headline News

3:10 to Yuma Arrives on Top

James Mangold's reworking of the cult western 3:10 TO YUMA debuted at the top of the box office chart, shooting its way to an estimated $14.1M for Lionsgate for the weekend period ended Sept. 9. Rob Zombie's remake of HALLOWEEN dropped to second place for MGM/Weinstein Co. with $10M and a two-week cume of $44.2M. Sony's SUPERBAD took third with $8M and a tally of $103.6M. Following in fourth was BALLS OF FURY (with vfx from Mr. X) from Rogue Pictures, with $5.6M and $24.2M.

Series Headline News

Tobey Maguire Gears Up for Robotech

Tobey Maguire and Warner Bros. will be producing a live-action adaptation of the classic anime series ROBOTECH, reports the trades. Maguire looks to star in the potential blockbuster as well as produce via his Maguire Ent. production co.

The 1980's mecha series was produced by Harmony Gold USA and Tatsunoko Prods. The sci-fi series followed Earth's use of alien technology to engineer giant robots to help fight various alien invasions.

Imax Headline News

Order of the Phoenix Sets IMAX 3-D Record

Warner Bros. Pictures' HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX continues to break IMAX box office records through its 7th week. The IMAX 3-D release, has now earned more than $35 million worldwide ($24 million plus on 91 IMAX screens domestically and $11 million plus on 52 IMAX screens internationally), making it the highest grossing live-action Hollywood IMAX release.

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