"The world premiere of Robert Towne's "Ask the Dust" will open the 21st Santa Barbara International Film Festival. "Thank You for Smoking," the directorial debut of local Jason Reitman, will close out the festival, which runs Feb. 2-12. "The SBIFF will offer 20 world premieres and 11 U.S. premieres, as well as its "Conversations With ..." series, which offers a dialogue with filmmakers and actors. Towne, Maria Bello and Felicity Huffman are slated to participate..." (full details)
"Disney Pictures has acquired "The Missing Link," a pitch for a live-action comedy, to be written by "Chicken Little" scribes Ron Friedman and Steve Bencich. Studio and producers were keeping the storyline of the family film under wraps. Scribes most recently sold the pitch "The Treehouse" to Warner Bros., and they are working on several projects for Sony Animation..." (full details)
"The latest casting rumour involves Josh Lucas ("Glory Road", "Hulk") for the role of District Attorney and future Two-Face Harvey Dent. Previously Liev Schreiber had been the most oft mentioned rumoured name for the role. Personally I've still yet to hear a name I think that fits the part (whereas Phil Seymour Hoffman as Penguin and Geoffrey Rush as Joker are rumours I hope come true)..." (full details)
