Category: Films

DreamWorks Studios, in association with Film 4, has acquired THE LOVELY BONES, Peter Jackson's adaptation of the Alice Sebold bestselling novel.

Jackson will direct the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh. Carolynne Cunningham, Jackson, Walsh and Aimee Peyronnet will serve as producers. Exec producing will be Film 4's Tessa Ross, Ken Kamins and Jim Wilson.

DEUCE BIGALOW: MALE GIGOLO director Mike Mitchell is in talks to helm DreamWorks Animation's SHREK 4, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The script, which deals with the reason why Shrek left the land of ogres to live by himself in the swamp, was originally written by Tim Sullivan and was rewritten by Josh Klausner.

DreamWorks Animation's Jeffrey Katzenberg, Bill Damaschke, Kristine Belson and Chris Kuser are shepherding.

Columbia Pictures has obtained the film rights to the Dark Horse Comics graphic novel THE ARK, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Original Film's Neal Moritz will produce alongside Dark Horse publisher Mike Richardson. Comic creator Mark Verheiden will pen the screenplay. Debuting as part of the Dark Horse Presents anthology series in 1998, the series retells the Biblical account of Noah's ark combining it with UFOs.

Warner Bros. has obtained the rights to Frank Miller's RONIN, reports VARIETY. Sylvain White (STOMP THE YARD) is set to helm.

In the DC Comics-published graphic novel, a ronin is shamed by the death of his master at the hands of a shape-shifting demon in 13th century Japan. But when his master's sword is uncovers in 21st century New York, the ronin and the demon are resurrected to fight for ownership of the mythical sword.

Hollywood Gang's Gianni Nunnari and Nick Wechsler are the producers along with Craig Flores and Miller as exec producers.

Rainbow CGI, RAI Fiction and RAI Cinema have announced that WINX CLUB will make the jump to the big screen in WINX CLUB, IL SEGRETO DI UN REGNO (WINX CLUB, THE SECRET OF A KINGDOM), according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The 25 million Euros ($34.13 million) budget will make it the most expensive animated feature in Italian history.

The series follows five teenage fairies that battle evil witches who want to destroy their club.

Iginio Straffi, founder of production company Rainbow CGI, will direct the film.

Marvel Studios and 20th Century Fox have hired BATMAN BEGINS scribe David Goyer to direct the X-MEN spinoff, MAGNETO, VARIETY reports. The script was written by Sheldon Turner (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING).

The Weinstein Co. and Goldman Sachs are forming a $285 million fund to make films with Asian themes, insiders say. One of the projects will be a Quentin Tarantino-directed remake of the kung fu classic, COME DRINK WITH ME. The fund will also support the production, acquisition and marketing of approximately 31 Asian productions -- 21 theatrical features and 10 direct-to-videos -- over the next six years.

Gabor Csupo has lined up his follow-up to his first live-action film, BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA, which has grossed $108 million worldwide, reports VARIETY. His second directorial effort will be another adaptation of a family fantasy novel, this time based on Elizabeth Goudge's THE LITTLE WHITE HORSE.

The film, titled THE MOON PRINCESS, follows a 13-year-old girl into a magical realm where she must rid an ancient curse. Lucy Shuttleworth and Graham Alborough adapted the script and Colin Firth has signed on as the girl's eccentric uncle.

Universal and Imagine Ent. are set to remake the 1970 sci-fi epic COLOSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT, reports VARIETY. Ron Howard is interested in directing and Brian Grazer will produce.

Jason Rothenberg has been tapped to adapt the first three novels in D.F. Jones' COLOSSUS series into one film. The story deals with a scientist who creates a supercomputer for the government, which then decides the best way to protect the citizens is to take absolute control over everything.

Dave Collins is exec producing.

For the live-action summer tentpole, FANTASTIC 4: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER, 20th Century Fox has secured Laurence Fishburne (THE MATRIX) to lend his voice to the Silver Surfer, reports the trades. Doug Jones (HELLBOY, PAN'S LABYRINTH) is providing the performance capture.

Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis will all be returning to the live-action sequel. Weta Digital is the chief visual effects house on the film, which is set for release June 15, 2007.