Summit Ent. has picked up the U.S. distribution rights to the 3-D animated feature, FLY ME TO THE MOON, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. nWave, in association with Illuminata Pictures, produced the film. Summit plans to release the movie on Feb. 15, 2008, in IMAX 3-D and 3-D-equipped digital-cinemas.
Gonzo's AFRO SAMURAI feature film will be released in theaters in Japan on Oct. 27, 2007, reports VARIETY. Featuring the voice of Samuel L. Jackson, the film is based on Takashi Okazaki's manga, which chronicles the tale of a samurai's quest to find the people who murdered his father.
The five-episode TV series aired on Spike TV in January. It was broadcast on Wowow in Japan in May.
Jackson, who also produced the TV series and feature, leads the voice cast, which also includes Ron Perlman and Kelly Hu. The hip-hop soundtrack was composed by RZA.
On the back of Buena Vista's investment in an all new TUROK videogame, Turok Prods. has completed an all-new TUROK animated feature titled TUROK: SON OF STONE. The Weinstein Company presentation will be released domestically by the company's subsidiary Genius Products. Gold Key, the games division of Classic Media, and home of properties such as MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER, DOCTOR SOLAR and M.A.R.S, will be selling the film at this year's American Film Market (AFM).
Jessica Biel (THE ILLUSIONIST) is in negotiations to take on the ironic role of Wonder Woman in Warner Bros.' JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, reports VARIETY. With George Miller officially announced as the director last week, this is the first piece of casting news from the epic undertaking, which will feature, not only Wonder Woman, but also Superman, Batman, the Flash and Aquaman. It is fairly certain that Christian Bale and Brandon Routh will not be joining the cast as Barman and Superman, respectively.
Dominic West (300) is in talks to play villain Jigsaw in Lionsgate's PUNISHER: WAR ZONE, says THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Additionally, Doug Hutchison (forthcoming THE BURROWERS) and Wayne Knight (TV's SEINFELD) are also in talks to join the cast of the Lexi Alexander directed picture. Ray Stevenson has already inked a deal to replace Thomas Jane as the vigilante lead in the Marvel franchise.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Israel's Animation Lab has added seven veteran animators and storytellers to its first feature film, THE WILD BUNCH (working title).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
