"Tollin/Robbins Prods. has signed scribes Karen Croner and John Scott Shepherd to each pen a project for Paramount. Croner ("One True Thing") will write "Tulia," which centers on a 1999 drug bust in Tulia, Texas, in which 10% of the town's African-American population was arrested. Halle Berry will topline. Shepherd will pen "Pennsbury," focuses on Philadelphia-area Pennsbury High School's lavish prom..." (full review)
"Universal Pictures has bought "The Strangers," a horror spec by first-time writer Bryan Bertino for Vertigo Entertainment's Roy Lee and Doug Davison to produce. Senator Films also will produce. "Strangers" is the story of three mysterious strangers who terrorize a young couple in a remote house after they return from a wedding..." (full review)
"Fox-based Davis Entertainment has bought a pitch from scribes Joe Gayton and Cade Courtley called "The Last Mission" for an undisclosed sum. John Moore is attached to direct. Pitch centers on an ex-Navy SEAL commander whose daughter is taken hostage in the Philippines. When the U.S. government refuses to intervene, he summons his retired SEAL colleagues from Vietnam -- now all in their late 50s and 60s -- to come to her aid..." (full review)
"Universal-based Working Title Films has paid six figures to purchase the spec script "Time Keepers" penned by "The Beach" author Alex Garland. Pic will be produced by Barry Mendel with Working Title's Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. Pic is the story of two boys who discover that magic is real, and that they have a strange role to play in the history of the world..." (full review) Thanks to 'KC'
