"Internet blogger-turned-novelist-turned-screenwriter Diablo Cody will see Mandate Pictures financing, developing and the handling the worldwide distribution rights for her screenwriting debut "Juno." The project is described as similar to "Napoleon Dynamite" and tells the story of a unique teenage girl who is forced to make difficult, bizarre and sometimes humorous decisions regarding an unplanned pregnancy..." (full details)
Lakeshore Entertainment has bought "Barking Orders," a spec screenplay by Scott Sommer. Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi are producing via Lakeshore along with Craig Berenson. Details are being kept under wraps, but it is known that the script is a high-concept family comedy. The script was brought into Lakeshore by vp acquisitions and co-productions Bic Tran. Sommer, repped by Principato-Young, is writing "Open Season 2" for Sony's animation division and has "Daniel Boone" set up at Fox 2000..." (full details)
Columbia Pictures has bought pitch "Big Man on Campus," to be written by "Coyote Ugly" scribe Gina Wendkos and produced by Hal Lieberman under his first-look deal at the studio. Project percolated after Lieberman invited Wendkos for a meeting to sound out movie ideas. Wendkos most recently scripted "The Perfect Man" and "The Princess Diaries." "This is a comedy that takes place in a high school where beauty and brains duke it out, and what happens when the perception of popular changes and the power structure crumbles," Wendkos said..." (full details)
Lions Gate Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Neil Marshall horror film "The Descent." Pic is Marshall's follow-up to his debut, "Dog Soldiers." Story follows six young women on a caving adventure who are trapped underground and find themselves hunted by a race of humanoid predators. Cast includes Shauna Macdonald, Nora-Jane Noone, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid and Saskia Mulder..." (full details)
Thanks to 'KC'.
