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Category: Films

Movie Headline News

Seinfeld’s Animated Bee Movie Attracts A Swarm Of Talent

DreamWorks Animation has assembled a top-tier roster of voice talent for its upcoming computer-animated comedy, BEE MOVIE, which will star the films co-writer and producer Jerry Seinfeld. Starring opposite the famed comic will be Academy Award-winner Renée Zellweger (COLD MOUNTAIN, CHICAGO). BEE MOVIE is slated for release on November 2, 2007, following the May 18, 2007 release of the third SHREK movie.

Marvel Headline News

Marvel & Paramount Pact on Capt. America, Nick Fury Pics

Marvel Enterprises Inc. and Paramount Pictures announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Paramount will distribute a slate of feature films to be produced by Marvel, which include titles such as CAPTAIN AMERICA and NICK FURY. Marvel also announced a new, non-recourse financing facility to be provided by Merrill Lynch Commercial Finance Corp. that will allow the company to produce its own slate of feature films based on its renowned comic book characters.

Studios Headline News

Platinum Studios To Make CG Horror Flick Bonesaw

Platinum Studios and The Shop Prods. have chosen Alan McElroy (SPAWN) to write the screenplay for the $18 million budgeted first ever CG theatrical horror feature, BONESAW, based on the Platinum Studios graphic novel by acclaimed Scots writer Rob Moran. Relativity Management, one of Hollywood's leading talent management firms, will be co-financing the picture and is arranging the international elements. Production is set to begin in early 2006, and be completed fall 2007. McElroy will be splitting his time between his Ohio home and the Vancouver production offices of BONESAW.

Birds Headline News

Michael Bay To Produce The Birds Remake

Universal Pictures is set to remake Alfred Hitchcock's classic 1963 horror film, THE BIRDS, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes is in talks with the studio to produce along with Peter Guber and his Mandalay Pictures. The new version will be based on the original short story by Daphne Du Maurier, which inspired the Hitchcock film. The story chronicles the events that transpire in a small Pacific Coast town after the birds begin attacking in mass for no reason.

Films Headline News

Craven Can’t Wait to Produce Ghost Flick

Wes Craven's Craven/Maddalena Films is teaming with Gold Circle Films to produce indie horror flick THE WAITING, written by BOOGEYMAN scribes Juliet Snowden and Stiles White, reports VARIETY. Craven/Maddalena president Marianne Maddalena and Gold Circle president Paul Brooks will produce the film with Craven serving as exec producer. Craven/Maddalena Films vp of development Alix Taylor will co-produce with Wendy Rhoads of Gold Circle, whose Zak Kadison will oversee the project.

Headline News

Silent Hill Gets its Star

PITCH BLACKs Radha Mitchell will star in the film adaptation of the hit videogame SILENT HILL, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. TriStar Pictures will release the film in the States. Christophe Gans (BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF) will helm the $45 million-$50 million picture, which has started production in Toronto.

Series Headline News

Will Ferrell Travels to the Land of the Lost

Universal has tapped funnyman Will Ferrell to star in a big screen adaptation of campy '70s kids show THE LAND OF THE LOST, reports the trades. TV series original exec producers Sid and Marty Krofft will produce the film for the studio along with Mosaic Media Groups Jimmy Miller and Julie Wixson-Darmody. ANCHORMAN director Adam McKay will direct the film based on a screenplay by Chris Henchy (TVs SPIN CITY, ENTOURAGE) and Dennis McNicholas (TVs SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE).

Spot Headline News

The Interpreter Translates to Number One at the Box Office

Sydney Pollacks THE INTERPRETER, starring Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, captured the top spot at the box office in its debut weekend ended April 24, 2005. The old-fashioned suspense thriller took in $22.8M for Universal, upending MGMs remake of THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, last weeks champ, which hauled in $13.7M and $44.3M for a second place finish. Paramounts SAHARA (with vfx from Cinesite and Double Negative) dropped to third with $9M for a cume of $48.9M. Buena Vistas A LOT LIKE LOVE with Amanda Peet and Ashton Kutcher bowed in fourth place with $7.5M.

Film Headline News

Donnie Darko Director Gets Southland Stars

Cherry Road Films and Darko Ent. announced that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will star opposite Seann William Scott (AMERICAN PIE films, THE DUKES OF HAZZARD) and Sarah Michelle Gellar (THE GRUDGE) in the science-fiction thriller SOUTHLAND TALES for writer-director Richard Kelly (DONNIE DARKO). Sean McKittrick will produce under the Darko Ent. banner he co-founded with Kelly. Cherry Road principals Bo Hyde and Kendall Morgan will produce.

Headline News

Star Wars: Episode III Smashes Fandango Tickets Sales Records

Its still a month away but fans crazy to see STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH, have inundated Fandango, the nation's largest online and phone movie ticketing service, which is reporting unprecedented sales for the eagerly awaited movie, with sold-out shows in select markets. The George Lucas epic opens May 19, 2005.

SITH ranks as Fandango's fastest-selling movie to-date, selling five times as many tickets as the company's next best-selling movie (THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST) at this point in the film's sales cycle.

Headline News

Amityville Horror Haunts Box Office

Moviegoers were ready for a good scare as MGMs remake of THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (with vfx from Asylum) debuted in first place with $23.5M for the weekend ended April 17, 2005. Paramounts actioner SAHARA (with vfx from Cinesite and Double Negative) dropped to second place, taking in $13.1M for a cume of $36.4M while Foxs romantic comedy, FEVER PITCH hung in at third place, earning $8.5M, giving it a total $23.6M in its second week of release. Robert Rodriguez SIN CITY collected another $6.7M for Dimension Films is it dropped to fourth place.

Production Headline News

Jonathan Strange Gets Screenwriter

New Line Cinema has hired Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton (DANGEROUS LIAISONS) to adapt the bestselling British fantasy novel JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL for the big screen.

Based on author Susanna Clarke's critically acclaimed debut novel, the story follows two feuding magicians who attempt to restore English magic in the age of Napoleon and combines the dark mythological fantasy of J.R.R. Tolkien with the social comedy of Jane Austen.

Headline News

Lucy Liu Gets A Rise Out of Vampire Flick

Lucy Liu has signed on to star in Ghost House Pictures horror/thriller, RISE, reports VARIETY. Sebastian Gutierrez has written and will direct the film, which will start shooting this summer.

Liu will play a reporter who wakes up in a morgue to discover she is a vampire, spurring her to seek revenge on the vampires responsible.

Kingsgate Films Greg Shapiro (RULES OF ATTRACTION) and Carsten Lorenz (exec producer of THE GRUDGE) are producing. Ghost House will fully finance the flick. Sister firm Mandate Pictures will handle worldwide sales.

Film Headline News

Spy-Hunter Heads Back to Writing Desk

Universal has hired Stuart Beattie to rewrite the film adaptation of famed Midway videogame SPY-HUNTER, reports VARIETY. The film has been close to a production start for awhile now with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson starring and John Woo directing. Universal hopes to have the film ready in time for a big summer 2006 release.

Beatties credits include story on PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL and screenplay on COLLATERAL and the upcoming DERAILED, which stars Clive Owen.

Film Headline News

Craven’s Breed Finds Five Stars

Michelle Rodriguez (RESIDENT EVIL), Taryn Manning (8 MILE), Oliver Hudson (TVs THE MOUNTAIN), Hill Harper (THE SKULLS) and Eric Lively (TVs THE L WORD) have signed on to star in Wes Craven-exec produced horror film THE BREED, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. First Look Media and DEJ Prods. are handling worldwide rights. Cravens longtime collaborator Nick Mastandrea will make his directorial debut on the film, which starts filming next week.

Film Headline News

Schrader’s Exorcist Prequel Coming to Theaters

After ditching it to virtually remake the entire film with director Renny Harlin, Morgan Creek has decided to release helmer Paul Schraders EXORCIST prequel in theaters on May 20, 2005, according to VARIETY. Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute the film to a limited number of theaters. Having made two complete films for roughly $70 million dollars, the Renny Harlin version of the film grossed only $80 million worldwide.

Film Headline News

Sony Makes Horror Pact with Ghost House

Sony Pictures Ent. has inked a two-picture distribution deal with Ghost House Pictures, which includes THE GRUDGE 2 and the English-language debut film from the Pang brothers, according to HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Columbia Pictures execs Matt Tolmach, Doug Belgrad and Shannon Gaulding will develop the GRUDGE sequel with Ghost House.

Cartoons Headline News

Inspector Gadget Movie Debuts at Cartoons on the Bay

DIC Ent. and Mainframe Ent. have announced the world premiere of the all-new full-length animated feature INSPECTOR GADGETS BIGGEST CAPER EVER: THE CASE OF THE FLYING LIZARD at Cartoons on the Bay 2005 in Positano, Italy.

The movie features the beloved detective in CG animation for the first time. Cartoons on the Bay will screen the film at 9:30 pm on April 27 the inaugural evening of the festival at the Cartoons Village.

Spot Headline News

Sahara Tops Sin City

Paramounts actioner SAHARA (with vfx from Cinesite and Double Negative) debuted with $18M for the weekend ended April 10, 2005, good enough for the top spot, beating out Robert Rodriguez SIN CITY, last weeks headliner. The visually provocative and stunning adaptation of Frank Millers graphic novels which debuted in the top spot last week collected $14M for Dimension Films in its sophomore outing.

Headline News

Mummy Maker Molds When Worlds Collide Remake

THE MUMMY helmer Stephen Sommers has been tapped by Paramount to write, direct and produce a remake of George Pals 1951 sci-fi film WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE, reports VARIETY. Sommers Co. partner Bob Ducsay will also produce. Paramount co-president Tom J Jacobson is shepherding the film. The original flick followed a small group of humans set into space to stop a runaway planet from colliding with the Earth.

Headline News

Anderson Gets Crazy for Romero Flick Remake

Brad Anderson (THE MACHINIST) is in talks to remake George A. Romero's THE CRAZIES for Paramount Pictures, according to the trades. Paramount-based Penn Stations Michael Aguilar and Dean Georgaris are producing. Romero will receive an exec producer role. Ally Shearmur and Andrew Haas will oversee the film for the studio. Scott Kosar (2005s THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, THE MACHINIST) is penning the screenplay. The 1973 flick was set in a Pennsylvania town where the military tries to contain a killer man-made virus.

Headline News

Imagi Locks Top Talent for Cat Tale Voice Cast

Imagi Services has announced the voice talent for its upcoming feature CAT TALE. LORD OF THE RINGS star Sean Astin will voice lead character Rover, a cat who grows up in Dogtown by accident and returns to Catopolis to find his roots. Elisha Cuthbert (TVs 24) is Cleo, the feline daughter of a wealthy kitty litter baron and Rovers romantic interest. Stanley Tucci (THE TERMINAL) is Simon, the arrogantly ambitious kitty litter exec who vies for Cleos affections.

Million Headline News

Make Way for Garfield 2

Fox is revisiting the lasagna-loving orange cat Garfield in a sequel to GARFIELD: THE MOVIE, which will be directed by Tim Hill (MUPPETS IN SPACE), reports VARIETY. John Davis will produce through his Davis Ent. label. No word on whether the first film stars Breckin Meyer and Jennifer Love Hewitt will return or whether Bill Murray will again voice the fame fat cat.

Hill was a writer on Nick Films' SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE and along with Tim Rubiner, created the short-lived Warner Bros. CG TV series GAME OVER.

Film Headline News

DreamWorks Gives Perfume to Domestic Audiences

DreamWorks Pictures has pacted with Germany's Constantin Film to acquire the domestic distribution rights to the new thriller, PERFUME, based on the bestselling novel by Patrick Suskind.

Set in 18th-century France, the story of murder and obsession centers around a man who, strangely lacking any scent of his own, has a unique talent for identifying smells, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. His gift leads to obsession when he turns to murdering young women on the verge of womanhood in order to capture their aroma.

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