A Little Trip to Heaven: "Julia Stiles will join Forest Whitaker in psychological thriller "A Little Trip to Heaven." The film, budgeted at $12 million, is skedded to commence in Iceland and Minnesota in mid-August. Baltasar Kormakur also penned the script, about a dead scam artist with a million-dollar life insurance policy. His sister (Stiles), her husband (Jeremy Renner) and the insurance investigator (Whitaker) all become embroiled in the case..." (more info). Chasing the Whale: "Twentieth Century Fox-based Regency Enterprises has netted scribe-helmer John Stockwell to rewrite and direct the casino drama "Chasing the Whale." Story is set in the world of high stakes casino gambling, in which "whales" -- big betting players like billionaire gambler Kerry Packer -- can lose millions on any given night. These star casino clients are hotly pursued (a practice known as "chasing the whale") and handled by a harassed group of service professionals who compete for their business..." (more info). City of Men: "Helmer Fernando Meirelles' O2 Filmes is developing a sequel to multiple Oscar nominee "City of God." Lensing for the sequel, titled "City of Men," is slated to begin in 2006. Paulo Morelli, Meirelles' partner in O2 Filmes, would likely direct the gangland epic set in Rio's hillside slums. Miramax will not be involved this time around. At this stage, no distrib is involved with the project..." (more info). Die Hard 4: "Twentieth Century Fox has hired Doug Richardson to rewrite "Die Hard 4," which is being developed under the supervision of star Bruce Willis and his Cheyenne Enterprises partner Arnold Rifkin. Richardson will be rewriting a script by Mark Bomback, who redrafted a pre-existing Fox script called "World War 3.com." Richardson's deal is being finalized by WMA, but he will be working from the same storyline..." (more info). Family Portrait: "Gold Circle Films has optioned the Graham Masterton thriller "Family Portrait," with J.T. Petty negotiating to adapt. Story concerns a corrupt clan who have achieved immortality via a magic ritual that allows their souls to remain trapped forever within an ancient painting..." (more info). Find Me Guilty: "Vin Diesel will star in "Find Me Guilty," a Stratus-financed drama to be directed by Sidney Lumet in New York this October. Bob Yari is producing. Based on a true story and scripted by T.J. Mancini and Robert McCrea, pic concerns a mobster who refuses to play the rat and instead defends himself in court..." (more info). Lust for Life: "The Walt Disney Co. has tapped Jillian Tohber to write "Lust for Life" for Disney-based Farrell Paura Prods. Pic is a comedy about a seventysomething widower whose life becomes more free-spirited and romantic when he retires, unnerving his fortysomething children and delighting his adoring teen grandson..." (more info). Skinny Dip: "Using his own coin, Mike Nichols has bought screen rights to "Skinny Dip," the new novel by Carl Hiaasen ("Strip Tease"), and intends to direct and produce the adaptation. The story is about a crooked bureaucrat/biologist in danger of losing his lucrative business when his wife finds out about his pollution scam. So he tosses her off the back of a cruise liner, far out in the Atlantic. Unfortunately for him, his curvy wife is surprisingly buoyant, and floats on a bale of marijuana until she is rescued by an ex-cop..." (more info). Tennis, Anyone?: ""Grounded For Life" star Donal Logue has spent his hiatus making his feature directing debut on "Tennis, Anyone," an independently financed comedy. The black comedy is set in the world of celebrity tennis tournaments, where the stakes are small and the battles are bitter. Logue pulled double duty, appearing in the film along with Kirk Fox, Jason Isaacs, Paul Rudd, Stephen Dorff, Henry Thomas, Greg Lauren, Danny Trejo, Kylie Bax, D.W. Moffett and Noah Wyle..." (more info). The Tortilla Curtain: "Kevin Costner and Meg Ryan will team in "The Tortilla Curtain," a Dayan Ballweg-scripted adaptation of the T.C. Boyle novel. This is the story of two families, one wealthy and experiencing suburban angst, the other illegal immigrants from Mexico trying to make a new life for themselves. The two clans cross paths in a hit-and-run accident. Pic will cost $20 million; no studio is yet attached..." (more info). Trophy Wife: "John Herzfeld has been tapped by Universal-based Mandalay Pictures to direct the thriller "Trophy Wife." Herzfeld will also rewrite pic's original script by Steven Peters ("Wild Things"). Story revolves around an executive at a powerful global bank whose seemingly unstoppable rise to the top is derailed when his mistress and his wife conspire to destroy his career..." (more info). 2005 Sony Pictures: "Spyglass Entertainment, headed by co-chairmen Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber, has come on board to co-finance two of Columbia Pictures' biggest upcoming projects, "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "The Legend of Zorro." According to the terms of the deal, Spyglass, which signed a first-look, nonexclusive co-financing pact with Columbia in September, will own all international rights to both films..." (more info). Book of Skulls: "British screenwriter Terry Hayes is teaming with director William Friedkin on Paramount Pictures' "Book of Skulls." The "Dead Calm" writer has been hired to adapt Robert Silverberg's sci-fi novel for studio-based Alphaville. The psychological thriller follows four college students who discover an ancient book containing the secret to eternal life -- except that it comes with a price..." (more info). Glory Road: "Derek Luke is switching to basketball. The actor has signed on for the 1960s hoops drama "Glory Road" for producer Jerry Bruckheimer and the Walt Disney Co. Also joining the cast is "The Day After Tomorrow's" Austin Nichols. To be directed by James Gartner, "Glory Road" follows the true story of college basketball coach Don Haskins, whose all-black Texas Western team won the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship in 1966, beating an undefeated all-white Kentucky team..." (more info). Man About Town: "Rebecca Romijn-Stamos is in negotiations to be the woman to Ben Affleck's "Man About Town." The project is being eyed for a late-October start, with Mike Binder directing from his script. " Town" is the story of a top Hollywood talent agent (Affleck) who seems to have it all. But it all starts to unravel when he finds out that she is cheating on him and his journal has been stolen by a journalist who could expose him..." (more info). Mr. Woodcock: "Billy Bob Thornton has signed to star in the New Line Cinema comedy for helmer Craig Gillespie and Bob Cooper's Landscape Pictures. The script centers on a young man who returns to his hometown to stop his mother from marrying his old high school gym teacher (Thornton), who made life a living hell for him and many of his classmates..." (more info). My Bodyguard: "Tony Bill's "My Bodyguard" is next up for the remake treatment. The re-do of the 1980 film, which starred Chris Makepeace, Adam Baldwin and Matt Dillon, is being set up at Dimension Films. Jeff Lieber is penning the script about a boy who enlists his new school's most feared kid when he finds himself being bullied..." (more info). Pretty Persuasion: "Director Marcos Siega has started lensing the indie dark comedy "Pretty Persuasion" with a cast that includes Evan Rachel Wood, Ron Livingston, James Woods, Jane Krakowski, Christopher Meloni, Selma Blair, Danny Comden, Jaime King, Stark Sands, Elizabeth Harnois, Adi Schnall, Michael Hitchcock and Robert Joy. Described as "Election" meets "Heathers," the project is a comic satire about a high school girl (Wood) who turns her exclusive Beverly Hills private school upside down when she accuses her English teacher of sexual harassment..." (more info). Strangers with Candy: "Not everyone is afraid of "Strangers With Candy." Dan Hedaya, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ian Holm, Allison Janney, Kristen Johnston, Chris Pratt, Deborah Rush and Justin Theroux have signed on to star in the feature film version of the cult hit Comedy Central series..." (more info). The Big Friendly Giant: "Writer Ed Solomon ("Men in Black," "Charlie's Angels"), who most recently penned "The In-Laws" has come on board to rewrite the adaptation of the popular book by the British author Roald Dahl. Solomon most recently worked on a rewrite of "Fun With Dick and Jane"..." (more info). The Guided Man: ""Saved!" writer-director Brian Dannelly has boarded Sobini Films' romantic comedy "The Guided Man." Described as a modern Cyrano story, "Guided Man" is a romantic comedy about an introverted guy who comes to rely on a new service that allows someone to see, hear, feel and speak through him in order to give him confidence around women..." (more info). The Little Fugitive: "Peter Dinklage and Justina Machado are teaming to play husband and wife in an indie remake of the 1953 film "The Little Fugitive" for helmer Joanna Lipper. The story centers on a 7-year-old who runs away to Coney Island and encounters a series of adventures after he erroneously thinks he's killed his own brother. The film is shooting in New York..." (more info).1963: Despite rumours on CHUD, Producer Don Murphy is NOT tied to an adaptation this Alan Moore comic. Anacondas: 33 new images are up at Rope of Silicon. Art School Confidential: Sophia Myles ("Thunderbirds") is tipped to have joined the Terry Zwigoff movie. Closer: Footage from the Clive Owen/Jude Law film trailer is up at The Trades. DVD News: Details are up for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Eternal Sunshine..., The Apprentice: Season 1, Dawson's Creek: Season 4 & Gothika: SE. Hellboy 2: Guillermo Del Toro talks about who's coming back for the sequel to UGOand guess what, the cutest of the cast is out.
Ladder 49: Some impressive banner art from the firemen flick is up at Filmrot. Memoirs of a Geisha: Hong Kong newspaper Oriental Daily reports that Michelle Yeoh has landed a role. Mortal Kombat 3: A bunch of updates about the sequel are up at mkrevolution.
Nicotina: The trailer for this flick is now up at Arena's Group. Once Upon a Mattress: Rumor has it Tracy Ullman & a bunch of other stars are going to make a TV movie adaptation, see Talkin' Broadway for details. Ray: Jamie Foxx talks about this Ray Charles biopic to Monsters & Critics.
Resident Evil: Apocalypse: The five finalist designs you can vote on are up at Sony Pictures. Seberg Biopic: According to a French TV Magazine, Kirsten Dunst wants to produce an adaptation of the life of Jean Seberg before the end of the year. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow: Controversy is brewing over the use of Laurence Olivier's visage in the film - see The Hollywood News for details. Star Wars: Episode III: For Hyperspace members, see the concept art at StarWars.com.
Star Wars Trilogy (DVD): Screencaps from the disc set are up at Photobucket.
Texas Chainsaw 2: Andrew Bryniarski talks about the prequel potential to MTV. Sheldon Turner (Amityville Horror) is writing the story about sibling soldiers who cross paths with Leatherface.
The Devil's Rejects: A description for the trailer is up at Bloody Disgusting.
The Forgotten: The one-sheet for the Julianne Moore flick is up at LatinoReview. The Phantom of the Opera: Music co-producer Nigel Wright confirmed to Phantom Movie that the song "The Phantom of the Opera" was sung by everybody in the cast and crew for fun and this feature will be included in the DVD. They are doing a full double album (full score) and a highlights album. There will be version in English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. The Simpsons (TV): The WBAL Channel reports that a long time character on "The Simpsons" is about to come out of the closet. Producer Al Jean said it happens during an episode where Springfield legalises gay marriage. Ray Romano, James Caan, Kim Cattrall and 50 Cent will all guest star next season. Warner Animated: A round-up of the San Diego Comic-con news from new series "The Batman" and "Justice League Unlimited" is up at Mediasharx. Wimbledon: Photos from the romantic comedy are up at The Hollywood News.
Thanks to 'George', 'Leonardo', 'viper', 'James', 'melt', 'Stef', 'Dust Bunny', 'Kellvin', 'Antoine', 'Sergio', 'KarlChilders', 'Paul', 'Dave', 'Marcus' & 'Brad'
