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Aliens for Breakfast: "Paramount has decided to put an extra-terrestrial twist on the buddy comedy, acquiring film rights to the trilogy of children's books "Aliens for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner" for Par-based producer Jordan Kerner as a potential franchise. Story revolves around a curmudgeonly alien space cop sent to Earth to find an escaped alien convict and landing in the apartment of an unsuspecting junior high school principal. The duo are forced to become partners and capture the convict alien..." (more info). Ask the Dust: "Idina Menzel, who plays the green-face Wicked Witch in hit stage tuner "Wicked," has landed a co-starring role in the Robert Towne film "Ask the Dust." Adapted from John Fante's Depression-era novel, the movie stars Salma Hayek and Colin Farrell. Menzel will play Vera, who harbors an unrequited love for the Farrell character Arturo..." (more info). Battle for Paradise: ""Kleopatra" scribe Karen Essex is rewriting Columbia Pictures' King Kamehameha project, "Battle for Paradise," which is being produced by Neal Moritz's Original Film and Rob Cohen. Cohen is also directing, and the Rock is attached to star. Pic's original scribe was Greg Poirier ("Runaway Jury"). "Battle for Paradise" is a biopic about Hawaii's ruler King Kamehameha, who conquered and united the Hawaiian islands in the 1700s, during a time when they were plagued by warring tribes..." (more info). Better Than Sex: "Maverick Films has acquired the pitch "Better Than Sex" by tyro scribes Varina Bleil and Betsy Landis. Pitch is based on the novel "Slow Hands" by playwright-turned-author Lynne Kaufman. Story concerns two very different sisters who turn their sorority house into a spa that caters to the "special needs" of women..." (more info). Black Book: "Tartan Films has come aboard as the U.K. co-producer and distributor of Paul Verhoeven's "Black Book," his first European movie since he left for Hollywood in the early 1980s. Pic, penned by Verhoeven with Gerard Soeteman, is a WWII revenge thriller about a young Jewish woman who works for the Dutch resistance while apparently collaborating with the Nazis. Shooting is scheduled to start in October. It's Verhoeven's first Dutch-based movie since 1983. Pic will be filmed in Dutch, German and English..." (more info). Dear, Wendy: "Eagle Pictures has taken all rights to Italy on Thomas Vinterberg's English-lingo "Dear Wendy." Set in the Midwest, the E7 million ($8.4 million) pic has also sold to Golem for Spain and Monopol Pathe in Switzerland, following a Japan deal with Wise Policy earlier in the market. Starring Jamie Bell and Bill Pullman and shot in HD, pic deals with the discovery of a gun dubbed Wendy in a small mining town..." (more info). Dorian: "After teaming on the Andy Garcia starrer "Modigliani," helmer Mick Davis next will direct "Dorian" for Bauer Martinez Studios. Pic, budgeted at about $15 million, is expected to start shooting in October in Romania and London. Supernatural thriller is a loose modern-day adaptation of "The Portrait of Dorian Gray". Davis has been eyeing Ryan Philippe to star in pic, but no deal has been inked..." (more info). Everybody Had a Camera: "Andy Warhol's Factory years are the subject of "Everybody Had a Camera," a project being mounted by U.K. helmer C.S. Leigh and music legend and Warhol associate John Cale. The pic will focus on a seven-year period in the life of Warhol's New York studio, each year seen through the eyes of seven Warhol cohorts. It will culminate with the revenge shooting of the artist by actress-writer Valerie Solanas in 1968..." (more info). Me Again: "Stephen Hopkins, whose HBO movie "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers" screens here in competition Friday, has committed to direct "Me Again" for Beryl Vertue's Hartswood Films. It's the story of a man who wakes up in a hotel room with no memory and a dead body in the room. He must figure out if he's a hitman or the undercover cop assigned to take down the assassin. Hopkins described pic as a light romantic-comedy thriller..." (more info). Mutt: "BAFTA-winning comedy screenwriter Dick Clement ("The Commitments") and Alan Shearman have come onboard to pen "Mutt," a live-action romantic caper pic that starts shooting this summer on location in the U.K. Set in modern-day Scotland and London, it's the story of a dog abandoned in the big city who "auditions" new owners. On a whim, he secures two new owners who are destined to meet and fall in love, but Mutt's mission is to keep them apart and keep his doggie dreams of double food, double walks and double love intact..." (more info). Nightfall: ""Romper Stomper" director Geoffrey Wright will direct "Nightfall," a sci-fi thriller for U.K. shingle Spice Factory and Aussie shingle Mushroom Pictures. Pic is about a group of backpackers terrorized by an alien. It was developed by Mushroom Pictures, also co-producer of "Chopper"..." (more info). Sammy: "Sony Pictures Entertainment and producer Laurence Mark made a preemptive purchase of "Sammy," a romantic comedy spec script by Delia Ephron with Reese Witherspoon attached to star. Witherspoon would play a woman who can sense what animals are thinking. She crosses paths with a man who claims to have the same relationship with dead people..." (more info). Shadowboxer: "Cuba Gooding Jr. is starring opposite Helen Mirren in Lee Daniels' indie pic "Shadowboxer". Ryan Phillippe was originally cast as the lead but had to drop out of the project due to a scheduling conflict. Mirren and Gooding will play a mother-stepson team of contract killers. Pic centers on the pair's unusual relationship, which is both romantic and lethal..." (more info). Sin City: "Robert Rodriguez has closed his cast on "Sin City" by adding Benicio Del Toro and Clive Owen to the Dimension Films ensemble pic. Rodriguez wrote the script and is co-directing the screen version of the graphic novel series with its creator Frank Miller. Del Toro and Owen will be seen in the last of the three segments "The Big Fat Kill", along with Brittany Murphy..." (more info). Stone Me: "Veteran Brit character actor Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean, Spice World), who appears in Cannes closer "De-Lovely," is developing a biopic of iconic Brit comedian Tony Hancock for himself to star. Hancock was the prototype of the depressive comic genius. Along with Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers, he was one of the most influential comedians of his generation..." (more info). Twice Upon a Time: "Fox 2000 has decided to take a chance on "Twice Upon a Time," purchasing Susan Brightbill's romantic dramedy spec script for mid six-figures. Project centers on a divorced couple slowly fall back in love and the impact it has on their children..." (more info). Alibi: ""X-Men" star James Marsden is to star in Summit Entertainment and Endgame Entertainment's "Alibi," opposite Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Steve Coogan. Shooting starts in July in Los Angeles on the project, with Kurt Mattila and Matt Checkowski making their directorial debut. The project centers on a man (Coogan), who runs an alibi service for men and women who cheat on their spouses. One specific client (Marsden) gets into a situation over his head, and Coogan's character must help him fix it..." (more info). All the Invisible Children: "John Woo and Ridley Scott are two of seven acclaimed directors attached to participate in a uniquely ambitious multinational production called "All the Invisible Children," which is being produced by MK Film Prods. and co-produced by RAI Cinema. "All the Invisible Children" -- composed of seven segments, each representative of a geographical region -- will unite Woo and Scott, who will direct the China and the U.K. sections, respectively..." (more info). Bewitched: "Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth has a way with witches. The actress-singer, who stars in the hit Broadway show "Wicked," is in negotiations to play opposite Nicole Kidman in Columbia Pictures' feature film adaptation of the popular TV series "Bewitched." Chenoweth will play Kidman's nosey next-door neighbor Marie in the production, which co-stars Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine and Will Ferrell..." (more info). Brando and Brando: "Reclusive veteran actor Marlon Brando is in final negotiations to star as himself in Ridha Behi's "Brando and Brando," to be produced by British Oscar-winning producer Norma Heyman ("Dangerous Liaisons"). The $5.5 million-budgeted movie details the story of a young innocent with a fascination for the American dream -- embodied by the iconic Brando -- on a journey of hope to the United States. Brando's portrayal of himself is central to Behi's story of disenfranchisement and broken spirits..." (more info). Brown Bunny: "Multihyphenate Vincent Gallo's "Brown Bunny," which became the story of Cannes last year, has found a home at indie banner Wellspring. However, the film that has been acquired is much different than the one that screened and created such controversy here last year -- which Gallo subsequently contended was a rough version..." (more info). Da Vinci's Mother: "Diane Keaton is set to star in "Da Vinci's Mother," a drama that Michael Besman and casting guru Bonnie Timmermann have set up at Fox Searchlight. The Oscar-winning actress will play a woman who sets out on a journey to get to know her son after he commits suicide. She takes a job where he waitered, spends time with his friends and girlfriend and in the process makes some major discoveries about herself..." (more info). Return of the Living Dead: " Anatoly Fradis' Los Angeles-based Aurora Entertainment Corp. is set to start back-to-back shooting from June 7 in Romania on the fourth and fifth sequels to the "Return of the Living Dead" series of films, with Ellory Elkayem attached to direct and Peter Coyote headlining. Both films have been fully financed by a $35 million equity fund that Fradis ("Eight Legged Freaks") set up last year. Titled "Return of the Living Dead 4: Necropolis" and "Return of the Living Dead 5: Rave From the Grave"..." (more info). The New World: "Native American actors Wes Studi and August Schellenberg are on their way to "The New World," director Terrence Malick's take on the Pocahontas tale for New Line Cinema. Joining the two are Raoul Trujillo and Michael Greyeyes. The film focuses on the relationship between explorer John Smith and young Indian princess Pocahontas. Colin Farrell already has been cast as Smith..." (more info). Untitled Jim Jarmusch Movie: "Funnyman Bill Murray is set to star in a yet-to-be-titled Jim Jarmusch movie that will shoot in the summer, sources said Wednesday. At press time, no international sales outfit was yet on board to handle rights to the intelligent comedy, but several top-flight sales companies were vying to get in on the action in Cannes..." (more info).2004 Licensing Show: The annual NYC event in June will see promotions and presentations for upcoming projects such as "Bewitched", "Stealth", "Underworld 2", "Stuart Little 3", "Zathura: Jumanji 2", "I Dream of Jeannie", "Ultraviolet", "A Princess of Mars", "King Kong", "Curious George", "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe", "xXx: State of the Union", "Madagascar", "Wallace & Gromit: The Movie", "Constantine", "Son of the Mask", "The Fantastic Four" and "Batman Begins". 2046: A bunch of pics from the new Wong Kar Wai flick are up at Moviegod. A License to Steal: IGN Filmforce reports that Frankie Valli will sing with Steven Tyler of Aerosmith on the soundtrack of the new Val Kilmer/Steve Buscemi film. A Princess of Mars: IGN Filmforce reports that Robert Rodriguez is confirmed to no longer the director. "Hellboy" helmer Guillermo Del Toro has been approached three times but has turned it down each time. Angel: A new interview with David Boreanaz discussing the end of Angel is up at Dark Commandos. Meanwhile Joss himself has confirmed all that talk of TV movies and stuff - crap. The Buffy-verse is officially over. Catwoman: Seven new pics from the Halle Berry flick are up at MySan. Collateral: The one-sheet from the Tom Cruise flick is up at LatinoReview. Dawn of the Dead: For Aussie viewers, Showtime are screening the entire pre-title sequence on Saturday the 29th at 8.15 and once again on the 30th after the Australian television premiere of One Hour Photo - should be about 10pm. DVD News: Details and artwork are available for Babylon 5: Movies, Another Country, The Guyver, Top Gun: CE, Star Trek: Generations, Ella Enchanted & Connie & Carla. In big news, The Digital Bits reports that "Survivor All Stars" will street on 8/31, "Friday the 13th Films 1-8 Boxset" on 9/9, "7th Heaven: Season 1" and "CSI - Season 4" on 9/14, "Frasier: The Final Season" on 9/21, "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment: Season 2" and "CSI: Miami - Season 1" on 10/12. The site also has news on sets for "Mork & Mindy", "Touched by an Angel", "I Love Lucy", "Taxi" & "Hogan's Heroes". Far East: PBS will re-air Stage on Screen's presentation of the TV movie with "Enterprise" star Connor Trinneer on Memorial Day Weekend. See TV listings for times. Judge Dredd II: The film is in pre production in Toronto. No actor has signed yet, but 'Dan' indicates "the Helmet will stay on, the bad guy is Judge Death, and the original creators of 2000 A.D are on board supervising the script". Open Water: Stills from the abandoned tourists in the ocean drama are up at Bloody Disgusting. Resident Evil: Apocalypse: Twenty pics from the sequel are now up at Rope of Silicon. Saved!: Some clips from the Mandy Moore flick are up at IFilm. Saving Private Ryan (DVD): There's a huge kerfuffle over the soundtracks of the upcoming DVD set, see Spielberg Films for details. Shrek 2: The first five minutes of the comedy sequel are up at official site. In its opening day the comedy took in a whopping $11.8 million. Spider-Man 2: Plenty of sweet new pics from the superhero sequel are up at Moviegod. Star Wars: Episode III: The official site reports that we'll get a teaser and a poster by year's end. Superman: Superhero Hype reports that Warner Bros. has brought special makeup effects guru Stan Winston on board to create the new Superman costume for the studio and director McG. The Devil's Rejects: Rob Zombie Casts one of the stars of American Pie for Devils Rejects, see Bloody Disgusting for details. The Longest Yard: The Adam Sandler/Burt Reynolds led remake will shoot about two-thirds of the production at the now closed New Mexico State Penitentiary in Santa Fe, NM starting July 13th. Shooting is expected to last there for about 15 weeks. The Ring 2: An ad for ther sequel recently appeared in the trades, see Rope of Silicon. Underworld: Director's Cut: An early look at the extended edition is up at DVD Fanatic. Thanks to 'GambitX3', 'Stax', 'Kate', 'Bill', 'PookieBear', 'Bob', 'John', 'Flex', 'Lisa', 'Gross', 'Jakob', 'Kellvin', 'Brad', 'Gustavo', 'Arma-0.4', 'Brad', 'James', 'thebatsignal' & 'Kenny'

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