"FX has engineered a rare preemptive bid to buy exclusive cable rights to New Line's "Snakes on a Plane" in advance of its Aug. 18 bow. The cabler declined to comment, but it will probably end up paying about 12% of the pic's domestic gross. That percentage will be capped at about $150 million, so the maximum license fee would fall below $20 million. FX will get the network window premiere of the movie, beginning in the second quarter of 2009..." (full details)
"Regency Enterprises has acquired Joe Gazzam's heist spec script "Straight and Narrow." Ralph Winter ("X-Men: The Last Stand," "Fantastic Four") and Circle of Confusion are producing. The project marks the second spec script sale in the past year for Gazzam..." (full details)
"Brad Silberling is out and Jason Reitman is in as director of Mandate Pictures' "Juno." Silberling ("Lemony Snicket") bowed out due to creative differences over casting. Reitman ("Thank You for Smoking") will keep the project on track for an early fall start. The Diablo Cody-scripted film takes a darkly humorous look at the difficult choices facing a pregnant teen. Mandate will control distribution in all territories..." (full details)
