Producer/director Ravi Chopra has shelved plans to make the animated film, LORD KRISHNA, and has now embarked on a new animation film, HUM PAANCH, based on the childhood of the Pandavas, reports BUSINESSOFCINEMA.COM.
Budgeted at slightly more than $3 million, animation studio Pix N Prix has been assigned to the animation.
Producer Kumar Mangat is making a 3D animated/live-action film titled, TOONPUR KA SUPERHERO, with actor Ajay Devgan for release in India in October 2008, reports BUSINESSOFCINEMA.COM.
Budgeted at nearly $10 million, 2nz Animation started work on the film six months ago with a team of 50 people.
2nz Animation ceo Kireet Khurana, who is directing the film, told BUSINESSOFCINEMA.COM, "Another 15 months of work will go into the film and it should be ready for a Diwali release next year."
DreamWorks has put its wishes behind P.B. Kerr's children book series CHILDREN OF THE LAMP, obtaining the film rights to the fantasy series, reports VARIETY. Nina Jacobson will produce and Lee Hall (BILLY ELLIOT) will adapt.
The British series chronicles the adventures of a djinn, or genie, family as they try to live in human society while possessing the talent to grant wishes.
More than one million copies of the first three books have sold worldwide and the fourth book, THE DAY OF THE DJINN WARRIOR, is set to hit stores in September.
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK star David Strathairn has joined the cast of DreamWorks' horror remake, A TALE OF TWO SISTERS, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Actress Elizabeth Banks has already signed on.
Based on Kim Jee-woon's 2003 Korean thriller, Strathairn will play the father of two girls who return to their country home from a stint in a mental institution, only to have to cope with their mean stepmother (Banks) as well as a ghost.
DreamWorks and Universal Pictures are teaming to make a live-action adaptation of the graphic novel COWBOYS & ALIENS.
Imagine partners Brian Grazer and Ron Howard and Platinum Studios chairman/ceo Scott Mitchell Rosenberg with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are set to produce. Ervin Rustemagic and Rich Marincic will be co-producers. IRON MAN writers Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby are penning the screenplay.
DreamWorks has hired former vfx artist Thor Freudenthal to helm HOTEL FOR DOGS, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Freudenthal previously worked as a CG artist on the live-action STUART LITTLE films.
The film will be based on Lois Duncan's novel, which follows two orphaned teenagers who harbor dozens of stray dogs in a rundown hotel. Jeff Lowell adapted the script.
Lauren Shuler Donner and Jack Leslie are set to produce. Marc Haimes and Chloe Dan are overseeing the project for DreamWorks.
Josephson Ent. and New Regency Prods. have obtained the film rights to the children's book series, THE SISTERS GRIMM, written by Michael Buckley, reports VARIETY. Barry Josephson is set to produce the film.
The first picture will be based on the first three books in what will eventually be a nine-volume series. Four titles in the series have been published in 15 languages, selling more than half a million copies.
In the tomes, orphaned sisters Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, who are the Brothers Grimm's descendants, set out to find their parents.
Infamous Japanese filmmaker Mamoru Oshii will direct a new animated feature film, THE SKY CRAWLERS, to be released in Japan in 2008. The film is based on a popular five-part novel, of the same name, by the bestselling writer Hiroshi Mori.
The story unfolds in the future in which the main characters are youngsters, called "Kildren," are destined to live eternally in their adolescence. The Kildren know that every day may be their last, because they fight a "war as entertainment," organized and operated by adults.
Graphic novel icon Frank Miller is moving ahead with a feature film project -- this time entering the world of film noir with an adaptation of Raymond Chandler's TROUBLE IS MY BUSINESS novella for Universal Pictures and Strike Ent., reports VARIETY. The project will reunite the 300 author with his SIN CITY star Clive Owen.
Strike partners Marc Abraham and Eric Newman are set to produce with Owen and Phil Clymer exec producing.
National Lampoon has obtained worldwide rights to Adam Rifkin's caveman laffer HOMO ERECTUS, VARIETY reports. National Lampoon plans to release the film in September.
Rifkin, who also wrote UNDERDOG and directed DETROIT ROCK CITY, penned, helmed and stars in HOMO ERECTUS, which follows a caveman, who despite inventing the toilet, the spoon and pants, can't gain the attention of his love. The pic also stars Ali Larter, Hayes MacArthur, David Carradine, Gary Busey and Talia Shire.
Signaling a continuation of the character-driven approach introduced by last year's phenomenally successful CASINO ROYALE, Marc Forster (THE KITE RUNNER, FINDING NEVERLAND, MONSTER'S BALL) will direct BOND 22, it was announced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of the James Bond films, Sony Pictures Ent. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios.
Forster will commence work shortly with screenwriter Paul Haggis on a draft of the screenplay by Neil Purvis and Robert Wade.
Carice Van Houten, star of Paul Verhoeven's Nazi drama BLACK BOOK, has joined the cast of Bryan Singer's WWII drama, VALKYRIE, according to the trades. The United Artists production also stars Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh and Tom Wilkinson.
Based on a true story, the screenplay from Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander follows plans to assassinate Adolf Hitler.
Singer, Paula Wagner and McQuarrie are the producers. Production is set to start in July in Berlin.
SCHOOL OF ROCK star Jack Black and director Todd Phillips are developing a new comedy titled MAN-WITCH for Warner Bros., reports VARIETY. Once again Black will play a schoolteacher, but this time around he will develop witch-like powers. After being taken in by a coven, he will be roped into joining an all-girls school for witches.
Fox's FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER (with vfx by Weta Digital, SOHO VFX, Hydraulx, Giant Killer Robots, Hammerhead, The Orphanage, Frantic Films, Lola Visual Effects, Digiscope and Image Engine) crested the box office to the No. 1 position taking in $58.4M for the weekend ended June 17, 2007. Warner Bros.' OCEAN'S 13 dropped to the second position with $19.7M and a cume of $70.4M.
Neil Gaiman has revealed on his website (www.neilgaiman.com) that DreamWorks Animation has optioned the author and Michael Reaves' INTERWORLD, which has been confirmed by a DreamWorks spokesperson.
With its new three-year first-look deal with Sony Pictures in place, Aardman Animation has announced its slate of animated features.
Writers Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah (LIFE ON MARS) will team with director Steve Box on the heist comedy, THE CAT BURGLARS. The feature follows a group of milk stealing stray cats and has been described as "family friendly Tarantino."
According to Imagi, Robert Mark Kamen will be writing the screenplay for GATCHAMAN, to be produced as a CG-animated motion picture by producer Lynne Southerland and director Kevin Munroe (TMNT). The CG work on GATCHAMAN will expand the visual boundaries of action sequences and dynamic camera work. Kamen's credits include 18 produced feature films, including THE KARATE KID and its sequels, THE FIFTH ELEMENT, TAPS, A WALK IN THE CLOUDS, THE PROFESSIONAL, LETHAL WEAPON 3, and KISS OF THE DRAGON.
Clint Eastwood's Oscar-nominated LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA was recently released on DVD, HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc (Warner Home Video, $34.99 for DVD and Blu-Ray, $39.99 for combo HD-DVD/DVD and $49.96 for five-disc Collectors Edition with FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, from Paramount Home Ent.).
Shown from the vantage point of the Japanese military during World War II, the film chronicles the horrors of Iwo Jima and the struggles of General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) and his troops as they prepare for battle.
The adaptation of Marvels GHOST RIDER starring Nicolas Cage bowed on DVD, Blu-ray and PSP on June 12, 2007 (Sony Pictures Home Ent., $34.95 for two-disc extended cut, $38.96 for Blu-ray and $28.95 for PSP). The extended cut contains 15 minutes of never-before-seen footage that offers a bit more characterization rather than tantalizing sex or violence.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Corkscrew Hill, an animated 3-D stereoscopic theme ride attraction, currently is being shopped around for a 3D animated feature according to The Hollywood Reporter. Jeff Kleiser and Diana Walczak, who wrote and directed the ride, penned the feature-length script idea. They plan to produce it using their own shingle, Synthespian Studios, along with Busch Entertainment. In addition, the pair plan to co-direct and have their company coordinate the animation, which would be produced at multiple sites.
According to Daily Variety, David Goyer has been selected by Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment to write and direct a new version of THE INVISIBLE MAN. This will be Goyer doing a new spin on the H.G. Wells' classic. Slated to produce is Brian Grazer.
The general premise is designed as a sequel to the original Wells story, with the nephew of the original Invisible Man. Once the British man discovers his uncle's secret for becoming invisible, he finds himself recruited by British Intelligence MI5 during WWII.
Universal Pictures announced the start of principal photography on the action/thriller HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY from writer/director Guillermo del Toro and film producers Lawrence Gordon (HELLBOY, LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER), Lloyd Levin (HELLBOY, UNITED 93) and Mike Richardson (HELLBOY, GONE). HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY stars HELLBOY alums Ron Perlman (OUTLANDER, THE MUTANT CHRONICLES), Selma Blair (THE FOG, IN GOOD COMPANY), and Doug Jones (FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER, PAN'S LABRYINTH).
Barry Sonnenfeld, known for blockbusters such as the MEN IN BLACK and ADDAMS FAMILY films, takes his first venture into animated feature film as a creative consultant on SPACE CHIMPS, as announced by CEO of Vanguard Films and Animation John Williams. Sonnenfeld's involvement with the intergalactic comedy dates back to the early production stages last fall.
The governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences approved the rules for the 80th Academy Awards at their Tuesday evening (June 12, 2007) meeting. According to Academy president Sid Ganis, the changes they approved represent a small number of refinements but no major shift in course.
Oscar winner Rachel Weisz has signed on to star in Peter Jackson's adaptation of Alice Sebold's novel, THE LOVELY BONES, reports VARIETY. The DreamWorks picture will start production in October. Paramount Pictures will handle worldwide distribution.
Weisz is playing the mother of a young girl who is kidnapped, raped and murdered. Jackson co-wrote the screenplay with Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh. Film 4 is co-funding the project.
