Helmers are leaping into seats like a big ol' game of musical chairs today with five major projects announcing they've found directors to take their reins, according to the trades.
TV super exec Darren Star, the man behind "Sex and the City," and "Melrose Place," is in negotiations to make his feature directional debut on the romantic comedy "100 Weddings," which he will develop for Working Title Films. The story follows a cynical war reporter who gets demoted to the wedding beat, where she has to cover 100 weddings before she can get her old job back. (<a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000682404" target="_blank">more details</a>)
Michael Mayer has signed to Fox 2000's "My Friend Flicka," which is headed for a spring start in New Zealand. Based on the classic novel by Mary O'Hara, "My Friend Flicka" centers on determined teenage girl whose father gives her the horse of her dreams. It's set against the backdrop of a modern, working ranch in Wyoming. (<a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000682392" target="_blank">more details</a>)
Michael Schultz ("Woman Thou Art Loosed") will direct Mike Jones' adapted screenplay of Michael Simmons' young-adult novel "Pool Boy". Story is about a rich, arrogant 15-year-old named Brett Gerson. When his dad is jailed for insider trading, Brett's forced to take a summer job assisting the old guy who used to clean his swimming pool. (<a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117912330?categoryId=13&cs=1" target="_blank">more details</a>)
"Thirteen" director Catherine Hardwicke has been tapped to develop and direct "Vivaldi" for Imagine Entertainment and Columbia. The film will follow the forbidden romance between the young composer priest Antonio Vivaldi and his muse Anna, which inspired his masterpiece "The Four Seasons." Hardwicke has just wrapped "Lords of Dogtown". (<a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117912311?categoryId=13&cs=1" target="_blank">more details</a>)
Finally, Dean Parisot is attached to direct "The Lavendar Hill Mob", a remake of the 1951 Ealing Studios comedy which starred Alec Guinness as a mild-mannered bank clerk who comes up with a plan to steal a fortune in gold bullion from his employer. David Sussman will adapt the screenplay for Odd Lot Entertainment. (<a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117912324?categoryId=13&cs=1" target="_blank">more details</a>)
Thanks to 'KC'
