Dark Horizons - News

TV News: Spooks, T, Tudors, Numbers

2009-11-06T23:51:00-06:00

Spooks
The slickly-produced British spy thriller's eighth season premiere on BBC One on Wednesday in the UK kept the show's consistent ratings up - drawing 6.01 million viewers and a 24.8% audience share. Comparatively the previous three season premieres pulled in 5.89m (24.9%), 6.25m (27.7%) and 5.5m (23.4%) viewers respectively.

T
Variety reports Anya Epstein and Dan Futterman are set to produce a drama series about the gender transformation of a woman into a man for HBO. No casting decisions have been made. The pair have also signed on to serve as showrunners for the third season of "In Treatment."

Showtime (Tudors, Jackie, Tara)
Premium cable network Showtime has set the air dates for several season premieres. "The Tudors" fourth and final season will begin April 11th, the second seasons of "United States of Tara" and "Nurse Jackie" will begin March 22nd, and the new season of "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" begins January 25th.

Numbers
The procedural's co-creator, Count von Count, tells EW that the 16th and final episode of the season (and likely the series) will "be designed to stand as a [series] finale, but it won’t create story situations that would hamper us if the network should decide to order more episodes."

Daniel Craig Enters The "Dream House"

2009-11-06T22:56:00-06:00

Daniel Craig has joined the cast of Jim Sheridan's psychological thriller "Dream House" for Morgan Creek Productions says The Hollywood Reporter.

The story revolves around a man (Craig) who moves his family into a quaint new house in a small town, only to find out that the place is haunted by the former inhabitants that were murdered there.

Filming runs from January 25th to April 9th at Pinewood Studios in Toronto.

Paltrow Loves Transsexual "Danish Girl"

2009-11-06T22:53:00-06:00

Gwyneth Paltrow has joined the cast of transsexual artist drama "The Danish Girl" for Pretty Pictures, Harrison Productions and Blossom Films reports Variety.

Based on the non-fiction novel by David Ebershoff, Paltrow plays Greta Wegener, a portrait painter in 1920s Copenhagen who asked her husband Einar to stand in for an absent female model.

Slipping on a dress, stockings and woman’s shoes began a metamorphosis into Lili. When the photos became wildly popular, Greta encouraged her husband to do more.

The harmless game evolved into something deeper - the landmark 1931 first sex-change operation that shocked the world and threatened their marriage. Greta finally let go when she realized the man she married no lnger exists.

Nicole Kidman had already been attached to play Einar. Thomas Alfredson ("Let the Right One In") is directing from a script by Lucinda Coxon.

Kidman, Gail Mutrux, Per Saari, Anne Harrison and Linda Reisman are producing.

Cohen Lines Up Next Two Films

2009-11-06T22:50:00-06:00

"Borat" and "Bruno" creator/star Sacha Baron Cohen has lined up his next two projects, at least straight forward feature (not a mockumentary), at his new production company Four By Two Films says EW.

First up is "Accidentes" for Universal Pictures. Cohen will star as a personal injury lawyer who becomes a blue-collar hero when he helps an immigrant win a case against his employer after an on-the-job accident. Peter Baynham penned the script.

The second untitled film is being kept top secret but Cohen and all of his Borat/Bruno writers are involved in the project whose pitch alone started a massive bidding war that Sony Pictures eventually won.

News Shorts: November 6th 2009

2009-11-06T09:21:00-06:00

Russell Crowe on the set of Robin Hood, stills from Despicable Me, Michelle Rodriguez in Avatar, fish attack in Pirahna 3D, and both Colin Farrell and Ed Harris in The Way Back.

Four Kick-Ass character posters and eight superb Clash of the Titans beast/character posters. There's also one-sheets for A Single Man, Green Zone, It's Complicated and Creation.

There's also American Film Market teaser artwork for Scream 4, Tekken, Machete and Resident Evil: Afterlife.

"Kathy Morgan International has picked up Steven Soderbergh’s Liberace biopic starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon. Richard LaGravenese is currently writing the script and producer Jerry Weintraub said he was forecasting a June 2010 start once Soderbergh had completed duties on spy thriller "Knockout" for Relativity and Lionsgate..." (full details)

"Method Man ("The Wackness") and Angelic Zambrana ("Precious") have joined the cast of gritty, urban drama "The Mortician 3D". Tom Hardy and and Edward Furlong are also in talks. Filming kicks off this month in Louisiana..." (full details)

"Image Entertainment, Inc. has snapped up all North American rights to the Australian-shot bittersweet drama "Accidents Happen" starring Geena Davis. An early 2010 release is planned..." (full details)

"Reid Warner, Darrin Bragg and Ben Rovne have joined the cast of "Area 51", Oren Peli's first film after the success of "Paranormal Activity"..." (full details)

"Magnolia Pictures has picked up the U.S. rights to Dagur Kari's "The Good Heart" for a VOD platform release next year. The story focuses on the grouchy owner of a New York bar that serves host to "a motley assortment of professional drinkers." Brian Cox, Paul Dano and Isild Le Besco star..." (full details)

""It's a bit more stripped down and darker. It's definitely changing tone. What 'Casino Royale' was to the Bond movies, hopefully this will be to 'Ghost Rider'" says scribe David Goyer about the upcoming "Ghost Rider" sequel set eight years after the first film. The film will begin shooting in 2010..." (full details)

"Nicole Kidman's representatives have denied yesterday's report that she's involved in the Robert Pattinson-led period piece "Bel Ami". The rep says the film is "categorically not happening for her"..." (full details)

"Just one week out from completion, production has halted on Gheko Films' Spanish Civil War comedy "The Mule" (La mula). Michael Radford's $10.5 million project has been suspended due to "lack of availability of co-production coin" from UK co-producers Workhorse Entertainment and Subotica Entertainment..." (full details)

"J.J. Abrams is being more open about the idea of redoing Khan in the upcoming "Star Trek" sequel..." (full details)

""Prince of Persia" game creator Jordan Mechner has delivered an audio commentary version of the recent "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" trailer..." (full details)

Bradley Cooper Hoes The "Dark Fields"

2009-11-06T09:19:00-06:00

Bradley Cooper ("The Hangover," TV's "Alias") is set to star in the thriller "Dark Fields" for Relativity Media and Rogue Pictures says Heat Vision.

Based on Alan Glynn's book, the story follows a down-and-out writer (Cooper) who gets his hands on a top-secret pharmaceutical drug that makes one smarter. He experiences sudden financial and social success but soon discovers that the drug has lethal and lasting side effects.

Before long, mysterious antagonists are pursuing him. Cooper replaces Shia LaBeouf who was originally attached to star

Neil Burger directs from a screenplay by Leslie Dixon ("The Thomas Crown Affair").

Stephen Frears To "Take The Dog"

2009-11-06T09:18:00-06:00

Stephen Frears ("The Queen") is set to direct "Lay the Favorite, Take the Dog" for Random House Films and Focus Features says Reuters.

D.V. DeVincentis ("High Fidelity") is adapting the script from Beth Raymer's memoir. The book revolves around a group of fiftysomething math geeks who figure out how to work the sports book system in Las Vegas for their own profit.

It centers on a woman in her early thirties who has made a series of bad choices but achieves a redemption of sorts when she meets and then becomes involved with the gamblers.

Filming kicks off in June. Frears ("The Queen") is currently working on the coming-home drama "Tamara Drewe."

Eminem Joins 3D Film "Shady Talez"

2009-11-06T09:16:00-06:00

Eminem will star in and produce the 3D feature film "Shady Talez" for D.J. Classicz and Davis Entertainment says Screen Daily.

Described as "The Twilight Zone" meets "Creepshow", the project marks Eminem's first feature for seven years. Dallas Jackson and Kevin Grevioux are co-writing and producing the project alongside the rapper and John Davis.

"Shady Talez" is also being turned into a four-issue comic book series.

Timberlake, Faris Fall For "Yogi Bear"

2009-11-06T09:15:00-06:00

Justin Timberlake, Anna Faris and Dan Aykroyd are in talks to star in the "Yogi Bear" feature film for Warner Bros. Pictures says The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon, Faris will play a nature documentarian who follows the antics of a bear in fictional Jellystone Park.

Aykroyd will voice Yogi, and Timberlake is in talks to play either Ranger Smith or the voice of Yogi's companion, Boo Boo. The project will fuse live-action and CG animation ala "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and "Garfield".

Eric Brevig directs from a script polished by Brad Copeland, while Donald De Line and Karen Rosenfelt are producing. Filming kicks off in New Zealand in December.

Ashley Greene In Talks For "Apparition"

2009-11-06T09:14:00-06:00

Ashley Greene ("Twilight") is in talks to star in Dark Castle thriller "The Apparition" says Variety.

The story, inspired by true events, centers on a young couple haunted by a supernatural presence unleashed during a college experiment.

Todd Lincoln is writing and directing with filming kicking off on February 1st. Joel Silver, Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman are producing.

J.J. Abrams Producing "Micronauts"

2009-11-06T09:12:00-06:00

J.J. Abrams ("Star Trek," TV's "Lost") is in talks to produce "Micronauts", a film version of the Japanese Microman toy line reports The Wall Street Journal.

The toys, first released in 1974 and later in 1976 in the US under the 'Micronauts' name, were a mix of 3.75-inch tall action figures, vehicles, robots, play sets, and accessories. All used a universal, five millimeter inter-connective design allowing people to swap around various parts.

Palisades Toys bought the rights to reproduce Micronauts in 2002. Marvel Comics published a tie-in comic book line starting in 1979.

Rhys-Meyers, Bacon Have A "LottaSole"

2009-11-06T09:11:00-06:00

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Kevin Bacon, Sophie Okonedo and James Nesbitt are all joining the comedy "Whole LottaSole" for Essential Entertainment says ET Online.

Terry George and Thomas Gallagher are producing and penned the script which centres on a botched fish market robbery that leads to the involvement of the local police and a gangster out for revenge.

Jay Russell ("The Water Horse," "Ladder 49") will direct on location in Belfast in early 2010.

Isla Fisher Lines Up A "Desperados"

2009-11-06T09:09:00-06:00

Universal Pictures is lining up the comedy "Desperados" as a potential starring vehicle for Isla Fisher says The Hollywood Reporter.

The story is set in motion when a woman sends an indignant e-mail to her new beau, who's gone silent after they have sex.

When she discovers he's comatose in a Mexican hospital, she races south of the border with her friends in tow to intercept the e-mail before he recovers.

Ellen Rapoport penned the script. Mark Gordon and Jason Blum are producing.

Nakata Gets Sound From "Stone"

2009-11-06T09:08:00-06:00

Hideo Nakata ("Ringu," "The Ring 2") has signed on to direct the independent supernatural thriller "Voice From the Stone" says Variety.

The story centers on a female psychologist who takes on the case of a young boy who made a promise to his dying mother to remain silent until her spirit returns.

The psychologist begins to realize that the boy's dead mother has manipulated her in order to take possession of her body so she can be reunited with her son.

Former online columnist turned film scribe Mark Wheaton ("The Messengers") wrote the adaptation from the Italian novel of the same name.

Keitel, Simmons Open A "Beginner’s Guide"

2009-11-06T09:07:00-06:00

Harvey Keitel and J.K. Simmons have joined the cast of the dark comedy "A Beginner’s Guide To Endings" says Screen Daily.

The story follows three brothers who upon learning they only have days to live set off to reverse a lifetime of mistakes.

Keitel will play Duke, the hard-living, gambling family patriarch. Paulo Costanzo and Jason Jones also star as two of the sons.

Jonathan Sobol is directing from his original screenplay while Nicholas Tabarrok is producing. Shooting kicks off in Niagara Falls on November 4th.

"Crazy Heart" Releases Next Month

2009-11-06T09:05:00-06:00

Fox Searchlight has just announced that it plans to release the Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal indie drama "Crazy Heart" on December 16th says Indie Wire.

The story tells the tale of boozing and beat-up country singer Bad Blake (Bridges), who finds who he really is with the help of a young journalist (Gyllenhaal).

Scott Cooper directed the film and adapted the script from Thomas Cobb's novel. Robert Duvall also stars.

The sudden release change from next Spring is that the studio, which picked up the film in July, plans to make it available for an awards run.

The move is likely to fill the hole left by Oscar hopeful "Amelia" which has flopped both critically and financially and has already generated buzz of a Jeff Bridges Best Actor nomination.

Ken Loach Drives "Route Irish"

2009-11-06T09:04:00-06:00

Director Ken Loach ("Looking for Eric," "The Wind That Shakes the Barley") and cinematographer Chris Menges ("Poor Cow," "Kes") are re-teaming on "Route Irish" for Sixteen Films Why Not Prods. and Wild Bunch says The Hollywood Reporter.

Paul Laverty penned the script which follows two men who make their living as private security contractors in Iraq who risk their lives in a city awash with violence and greed.

When Frankie gets killed on "Route Irish" -- the road that links Baghdad airport to the Green Zone -- Fergus, unable to overcome his grief and guilt, doesn't accept the official explanation and sets about investigating the truth of his friend's death.

Mark Womack, Andrea Lowe, John Bishop, Trevor Williams and Talib Hamafraj star.

Myriad Hears The "Cry of the Owl"

2009-11-06T09:02:00-06:00

Myriad Pictures is set to domestically release the psychological thriller "Cry of the Owl" later this Fall reports Variety.

Based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith ("The Talented Mr. Ripley," "Strangers on a Train"), the story centers on a young woman (Julia Stiles) who discovers she is being stalked by a troubled local man (Paddy Considine).

Her fear turns to attraction until her boyfriend finds out and devises an elaborate scheme to frame Considine's character for a murder that never happened.

Jamie Thraves penned and will direct the project.

del Toro Talks "Hobbit" Creatures

2009-11-06T09:01:00-06:00

Director Guillermo del Toro tells Total Film that after nearly a year, much of the design stage for "The Hobbit" is now done as the project gears up for production next year.

Most notably Smaug the dragon which will be unique - "we’re finishing his colour palette and a little bit of the texture. But the bulk of the design took about a year, solid. It’s because of the unique features of the dragon. Early in production I came up with a very strong idea that would separate Smaug from every other dragon ever made. The problem was implementing that idea. But I think we’ve nailed it" says Del Toro.

Asked about the story structure, the plan is to adhere to Tolkien's order of adventures in "The Hobbit", but they "will be integrating Gandalf’s comings and goings" and so unlike the book we will "see where he goes and what happens to him".

For the full and quite in-depth interview, click here.

"Single Shot" Takes Out Fassbender

2009-11-05T10:41:00-06:00

Michael Fassbender ("Inglourious Basterds," "Hunger") has joined the cast of "A Single Shot" for Hanway Films says Screen Daily.

Fassbender will portray a poacher who is on the lam from a group of brutal killers after he discovers a case of blood money. Forest Whitaker, William H. Macy and Thomas Haden Church also star.

Matthew F Jones adapted the screenplay from his novel of the same name while Chris Coen and Brad Arseneau are producing. David Jacobson ("Down in the Valley," "Dahmer") directs the feature which begins shooting in Ontario in January.

Sally Hawkins Is A "Dirty Girl"

2009-11-05T10:40:00-06:00

Sally Hawkins ("Happy-Go-Lucky"), Lisa Kudrow, Juno Temple and William H. Macy have joined the cast of "Dirty Girl" for The Salt Co. and WME says the trades.

Set in the 1980s, the story centers around a high school tramp who becomes pals with a shy and overweight gay teen. They team up to find her real father in California.

Jeremy Dozier also stars. Abe Sylvia is directing the film which begins shooting in March.

Hopkins & Bening Join Garcia's "Hemingway"

2009-11-05T10:39:00-06:00

Anthony Hopkins and Annette Bening are attached to star in "Hemingway and Fuentes" for Sobini Films reports Theater Mania.

Actor Andy Garcia stars in and is going to direct the film from a script that he co-wrote with Ernest Hemingway's granddaughter Hilary.

The story look at the two decades Hemingway (Hopkins) spent in Cuba fishing with his best friend Gregorio Fuentes (Garcia) onboard the Pilar, the 34 foot Wheeler Playmate boat.

The author falls in love with an Italian girl who prompted him to write his greatest work - "The Old Man and the Sea." Benning will play Hemingway's third wife, Mary Welsh Hemingway.

Garcia plans to shoot along the Caribbean rim in the Summer of 2010 if financing comes together. The area will also substitute for Idaho where Hemingway eventually moved and committed suicide.

Temple Worships Art Fraud In "Fake!"

2009-11-05T10:35:00-06:00

Julien Temple ("Earth Girls Are Easy," "The Filth and the Fury") is set to direct "Fake!", an upcoming feature based on famed art fraudster Elmyr de Hory for Film and Music Entertainment says Reuters.

Based on the book by the equally notorious hoax writer Clifford Irving, the story follows an emotional triangle between the three main characters - de Hory, Irving and Orson Welles who made his last film about de Hory.

Michael Kalesniko ("Private Parts") penned the script with shooting to take place in Spain, France and Croatia in the Spring.

TV News: V, Numbers, Damages, Flight, Who

2009-11-05T06:54:00-06:00

V
The premiere episode of ABC's remake of the 80's sci-fi mini-series classic scored a very strong 13.9 million viewers and a 5.0 demo rating.

The number tripled the network's previous show in that timeslot and came in second only to ratings juggernaut "NCIS". The network will air a further three episodes this month and then return the series in March.

Numbers
CBS has cut back its full season order for the veteran crime procedural from 22 to 16 episodes.

Though its easily the leading network ratings-wide of the night, Friday nights have been brutal this year and CBS is no exception.

"Numbers" pulled in a 1.7/6 rating and 7.9 million viewers overall but with its syndication run secure and the high production cost associated with the show, its future is looking unlikely beyond the current sixth season.

Damages
"24" co-stars Reiko Aylesworth and Sarah Wynter will reunite on FX's drama series. The pair will have recurring roles in the upcoming third season alongside new regulars Martin Short and Campbell Scott.

Wynter will play a mysterious "security specialist" helping a high-level assistant district attorney (Martin Short) unravel a major financial scam. Aylesworth will play the wife of Scott's character, who is tied to the scandal.

Flight of the Conchords
Jemaine Clement tells Starpulse that the HBO comedy series "very likely might not" return for a third season because it requires so much work.

The final decision will be made within a month depending upon how he, Bret McKenzie and series director James Bobin feel.

Clement admits however a shorter season or a special to wrap up the show could be more likely.

Doctor Who
A new 60-second trailer for BBC One's "The Waters of Mars" special next week has premiered using dripping water noise to surprisingly creepy effect, not to mention a chilling ending.

Reconstruction
FX is developing a period western with "St. Elsewhere" co-creator Joshua Brand and director/producer Peter Horton says Reuters.

The story is set in a Missouri town during the post-Civil War Reconstruction era and centers on Jason, a proper East Coast gentleman who returns from the war a changed man and seeks refuge in the border state.

CIA Remote Viewing Thriller
Harris Wilkinson ("Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming") is developing a CIA-themed spy thriller series for Fox TV says Variety.

The untitled spy thriller centers on a division of the CIA that specializes in "remote viewing" -- the ability to gather information using paranormal means.

Len Wiseman will direct the pilot while Peter Chernin will executive produce.

Depp Replaces Worthington In "Tourist"

2009-11-05T06:17:00-06:00

Johnny Depp is in talks to replace Aussie thesp Sam Worthington on the upcoming spy thriller "The Tourist" for GK Films and Sony Pictures says the trades.

A remake of 2005 French spy thriller "Anthony Zimmer", Depp would play an American tourist drawn into a web of intrigue by a female Interpol agent (Angelina Jolie) who is attempting to locate a criminal who was once her lover.

Jolie remains attached but both Worthington and director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck have dropped out due to creative differences. Alfonso Cuaron ("Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," "Children of Men") is in early talks to replace von Donnersmarck.

This will be the third 'refreshment' of the project which was originally slated to have Bharat Nalluri directing while Tom Cruise and Charlize Theron were attached to star.

Julian Fellowes wrote the original script which Christopher McQuarrie and Jeffrey Nachmanoff polished.

Despite the changes, filming remains scheduled to kick off in February.

"Hangover" Star Is Humpty Dumpty In "Puss"

2009-11-05T06:16:00-06:00

Zach Galifianakis ("The Hangover") is in negotiations to voice the character of Humpty Dumpty in the upcoming "Shrek" spin-off "Puss in Boots" for DreamWorks Animation says The Hollywood Reporter.

The story serves as a prequel to the character's appearance in the second "Shrek" film and deals with the feline assassin's first forays as an avenger.

"Desperado" duo Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek are reuniting to voice characters. Tom Wheeler is writing the screenplay.

Chris Miller ("Shrek the Third") wrote an earlier draft and is directing. The film opens November 2011.

Mandalay Upgrades To "Machine Man"

2009-11-05T06:15:00-06:00

Mandalay Pictures has picked up the film rights to Max Barry's online novel thriller "Machine Man" reports Variety.

The story concerns a tech engineer who's tired of going through life average and unnoticed, so he replaces parts of his body with titanium upgrades of his own design. He then discovers that he isn't the only one with plans for his new body.

Barry is revealing one page of the unfolding tome each day on his official site in an 'interactive literary experiment'. Reader suggestions are incorporated into the plot as the story unfolds.

When complete, the book will get a hard copy publication in 2011 through Vantage Books.

Emmerich Talks "2012" TV Sequel

2009-11-05T06:14:00-06:00

Director Roland Emmerich tells Entertainment Weekly that a dramatic television series is already in development that serves as a sequel to his big-budget global apocalyptic action epic "2012" which opens next Friday.

Mark Gordon ("Grey's Anatomy," "Private Practice") is on board to executive produce and in talks with ABC for the disaster drama.

"2012" SPOILERS AHEAD - CAUTION ADVISED

"2012" deals with a planetary alignment causing intense solar reaction to the Earth, essentially boiling it from the inside which causes the planet's crust to shift and change with numerous disasters from volcanic activity, massive tectonic displacement and mega-tsuhamis wiping out much of the surface of the planet.

The ending has several ark-esque ships surviving the cataclysm and heading toward one of the few remaining stable land masses to have survived - the African continent.

Emmerich says "The plan is that it is 2013 and it's about what happens after the disaster. It is about the resettling of Earth. That is very, very fascinating. [The show] will focus on a group of people who survived but not on the boats... maybe they were on a piece of land that was spared or one that became an island in the process of the crust moving."

Gordon adds "there are some people who survive and the question is how will these survivors build a new world and what will it look like."

Reilly, Parker See "Red" At Summit

2009-11-05T06:13:00-06:00

John C. Reilly and Mary-Louise Parker are in talks to join the DC Comics comic book adaptation "Red" for Summit Entertainment says Heat Vision.

The story follows a former black-ops agent (Bruce Willis), now in retirement, who has to contend with younger, more high-tech assassins who show up to kill him.

Reilly would play an overly paranoid retired CIA agent, Parker plays a federal pension worker who becomes embroiled in the Willis character's struggle to stay alive (and becomes his love interest).

Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren already are on board for the film as the villain and Willis' former mentor respectively.

Robert Schwentke ("Flightplan") directs from a script by Jon and Erich Hoeber. Lorenzo Di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian are producing.

Zhang Ziyi Plucks A "Snow Flower"

2009-11-05T06:12:00-06:00

Zhang Ziyi will star in and produce the English-language drama "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" says The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on the novel by Lisa See and set in 19th century remote China, the film revolves around the lifelong friendship of Lily and Snow Flower and their imprisonment by rigid cultural codes of conduct for women.

Wayne Wang will direct from a script by himself and Michael Ray ("The Princess of Nebraska"). Wendi Murdoch and Florence Sloan are also producing.

Shooting aims to begin early next year in China.