"It looks like its official - Disney is planning to announce as early as today that it will acquire Pixar in a deal worth $7 billion. Mouse House would offer Pixar Animation Studios a stock deal of $59 per share; the animation unit would become part of Disney's filmed animation division. Deal would also grant Pixar CEO Steve Jobs a seat on Disney's board. Once an agreement has been reached, the deal must be approved by both companys' boards..." (full details)
"Roman Catholic group Opus Dei, demonized in the Dan Brown bestseller "The Da Vinci Code," won't take legal action against the distributor of the film adaptation. Helmed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, pic features a fictional Opus Dei monk, played by Paul Bettany, who commits murders to prevent the secret of the Holy Grail from coming to light. Opus Dei, a worldwide org founded in 1928, wields considerable influence in Catholic circles and is believed to have played a significant behind-the-scenes role in the election of Pope Benedict XVI..." (full details)
"Just days after selling the comedy pitch "Boss Go Home" in a pre-emptive purchase to Warner Bros. Pictures, scribe Matt Nix has been tapped to rewrite the studio's "The Giants of Groil," an adaptation of the British book "The Giants and the Joneses," by Julia Donaldson. "Groil" is an adventure story about two siblings who discover a beanstalk to the land of Groil in their backyard. In this magical place, the kids encounter giants and befriend the renegade, swashbuckling Jack of "Jack and the Beanstalk" fame..." (full details)
