Criminal Macabre: "Bragi Schut has been hired to write the comic book property "Criminal Macabre" for MGM. Based on the graphic novel by Steve Niles, the story revolves around Cal McDonald, a hard-drinking, impetuous detective who takes on the supernatural in a decidedly low-tech, film noir style. Niles did a first draft of the project. Schut will do an entirely new take, with Dark Horse Entertainment producing..." (more info). Killer's Game: "Intermedia is in final negotiations with Paramount Pictures for the studio to take worldwide distribution rights to the action thriller "Killer's Game." Mad Chance's Andrew Lazar is producing, with Scott Kroopf and Alex Litvak overseeing for Intermedia and Paramount's Brian Witten overseeing for the studio. "Game" tells the tale of an expert assassin who takes out a contract on himself. When he decides he'd rather live, he must match his skills against the best hit men of the world..." (more info). Spartan News: "In a mid-six-figure deal, Universal Pictures has acquired comedy spec script "Spartan News," written by feature scribe Mike Samonek. Samonek co-wrote the soon-to-be-released animated feature "Racing Stripes" for Alcon/Warner Bros. and penned "The Whole Pemberton Thing" for Alcon. Plot of "Spartan" is being kept under wraps, but it's understood to be a comedy of manners in the vein of "Mean Girls"..." (more info). The Island: "Ewan McGregor is headed for "The Island." The British star is in negotiations to topline the DreamWorks sci-fi film, which Michael Bay is set to direct. Originating as a spec script by Caspian Tredwell-Owen, "The Island" follows a "harvested being" who makes a bid to escape the utopian facility where he is being kept. Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are on board as screenwriters..." (more info). The Retreat: "New Line has tapped writer-director James Dodson to helm corporate comedy "The Retreat" for Guy Walks Into A Bar partners Jon Berg and Todd Komarnicki. Story centers on an exec who goes to his first company retreat on his second day at the job and finds he's the target of sabotage by a disgruntled employee who wanted the post. He's then forced to compete for his job by leading a ragtag group of co-workers in a paintball contest..." (more info). Untitled Self-Preservation Comedy: "In a rare pricey pitch sale, Warner Bros. Pictures has paid high-six against low-seven figures to acquire an untitled pitch from writers Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick. Comedy's storyline is being kept under wraps but is understood to concern a man who's lost all sense of self-preservation and fear. Scribes are best known for co-writing Disney's "The Santa Clause" and its sequel as well as Warner's "Space Jam"..." (more info). Zathura: "Dax Shepard is set to appear in Columbia's "Zathura" for director Jon Favreau. David Koepp penned the most recent version of the script, based on the children's book by Chris Van Allsburg, who also wrote the family adventure film "Jumanji." "Zathura" will be more of a companion movie and not a strict sequel because no characters from "Jumanji" carry over to "Zathura." Like "Jumanji," though, "Zathura's" plot centers on a board game that sends kids into another world -- this time an intergalactic environment rather than a jungle. Dax plays an astronaut the kids encounter who has been trapped inside the game and helps them find a way out..." (more info).Batman Begins: If you missed the Batmobile in action, a clip is back up Croqaudile. Cabin Fever: Adam Green and Robert Harris have signed for sequel says Moviehole. Dragonball Z: Some new rumours have emerged over at saiyanz-rage.net. DVD News: Details and art is up for Intermission, Grand Theft Parsons, Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban, Born on the 4th of July & Seinfeld. Enterprise: TREK Authors and Shatner Co-Writers Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens have joined the writing staff according to Trekweb. Hellboy: Allocine reports that the director's cut version is the one that'll go out in theatres in France and Japan. My Father: Thomas Kretschmann, F. Murray Abraham and Charlton Heston star in this film about a son meeting his Nazi war-criminal father in South America, and a trailer and pictures from it are up at the official site. Release Date Announcements: "Be Cool" on March 4th 2005, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" now opens June 10th 2005, and "Ice Age 2" on March 2006. Spanglish: Footage from the trailer of the Adam Sandler romantic comedy is up at The Trades. Spyhunter: 'Nick' went to the Sydney premiere of "Walking Tall" at Fox Studios and got some info about "Spyhunter" from The Rock - "He said that they are still finishing off the script, and that they expect to start lensing sometime in March. He told me that the script is very cool, and seemed genuinely excited about the film". Stargate: Atlantis: An interview with Joe Flanigan of the Sci Fi Channel's new spin-off is up at MediaSharx. The Downfall: Hitler and the End of the Third Reich: A trailer for the film is up at Moviegod, pics at Kino. Tru Calling: Pictures of Eliza Dushku and Jason Priestly on the set shooting the second season are up at HNR. Thanks to 'Mark', 'Sam', 'GeoC', 'David', 'redsimon', 'Gustavo', 'Ba Surrel', 'Olivier' & 'Alex'
News Bites: Monday, August 9th 2004
By Garth Franklin
Saturday August 9th 2008 11:46PM
- "Ice," "Public," "Fallen" Vie For Box-Office
- Collins Jr. Out, Jessica Biel In "Thor"?
- Aussie Scribes Try Out For "Star Wars" Series
- "Fringe" Scribe Looks Through "View-Master"
- News Shorts: July 2nd 2009
- Universal Plans "Asteroids" Film Adaptation
- Perabo Conducts Some "Covert Affairs"
- Release Changes: July 2nd 2009
- The Game Is Baracus In "A-Team" Remake?
- Penry-Jones "Forgotten" By Slater
- Juliet, Potter, Getaway, Beastly Photos
- Sci-Fi Plans New "Alien Nation" Series
- Clooney Signs Deal With Sony Pictures
- "Duchess" Helmer Does Aussie "Dance"
- Dukakis, Fricker Join "Cloudburst"
- Bill Nighy Is Scrimgeour In Seventh "Potter"?
- Blair, Smart, Ribisi Enter Gallo's "Circle"
- Benning, Ruffalo, Moore Are "All Right"
- "Twilight Saga: Eclipse" Sets Filming Dates
- Applegate, Day Go "The Distance"
- "Crowley" Scribes "Get a Job"
- "Unstoppable" Proves A Misnomer
- Guy Pearce Is "Afraid of the Dark"
- "Moon" Director Jones Turns "Mute"
- Matt Reeves On "Right One" Remake
- Lee, Trachtenberg Are Interested In "Dicks"
- Gordon Pens "King of Sting" Con Tale
- Adams Tackles Wahlberg's "Fighter"
- Cirulnick Celebrates "Havana Nocturne"
- Brandon Camp Directs "Relativity" Comedy
- Collins Jr. Out, Jessica Biel In "Thor"?
- Aussie Scribes Try Out For "Star Wars" Series
- News Shorts: July 2nd 2009
- "Fringe" Scribe Looks Through "View-Master"
- The Game Is Baracus In "A-Team" Remake?
- Universal Plans "Asteroids" Film Adaptation
- The First "Avatar" Footage Screened
- Release Changes: July 2nd 2009
- Juliet, Potter, Getaway, Beastly Photos
- Bill Nighy Is Scrimgeour In Seventh "Potter"?
- Sci-Fi Plans New "Alien Nation" Series
- Perabo Conducts Some "Covert Affairs"
- "Twilight Saga: Eclipse" Sets Filming Dates
- Penry-Jones "Forgotten" By Slater
- Guy Pearce Is "Afraid of the Dark"
- Clooney Signs Deal With Sony Pictures
- "Unstoppable" Proves A Misnomer
- Dukakis, Fricker Join "Cloudburst"
- Matt Reeves On "Right One" Remake
- "Moon" Director Jones Turns "Mute"
- Applegate, Day Go "The Distance"
- Blair, Smart, Ribisi Enter Gallo's "Circle"
- Transformers Characters & Pics
- Benning, Ruffalo, Moore Are "All Right"
- "Crowley" Scribes "Get a Job"
- "Duchess" Helmer Does Aussie "Dance"
- "Harry Potter" IMAX Release Delayed
- MI4, "Ribbon" Set Release Dates
- "Wanted 2" Heading Into Production
- What A Body On Meagan Fox
- Stan Lee Joins "Iron Man" Sequel
- Fall 2009 TV Premiere Dates
- Adams Tackles Wahlberg's "Fighter"
- "Alice in Wonderland" First Look Images
- Sony Plans Somali Pirate Hijack Film
- "Uncharted" Video Game Becomes Film
- Michael Bay To Direct "Number Four"?
- "American Werewolf" Remake Planned
- Zack Snyder Talks "300" Sequel
- Trade Breaks: Mummy, Sex, Big
- "Ice," "Public," "Fallen" Vie For Box-Office
- Aussie Scribes Try Out For "Star Wars" Series
- News Shorts: July 2nd 2009
- Release Changes: July 2nd 2009
- Juliet, Potter, Getaway, Beastly Photos
- Bill Nighy Is Scrimgeour In Seventh "Potter"?
- "Twilight Saga: Eclipse" Sets Filming Dates
- "Unstoppable" Proves A Misnomer
- Guy Pearce Is "Afraid of the Dark"
- "Moon" Director Jones Turns "Mute"
- Matt Reeves On "Right One" Remake
- Adams Tackles Wahlberg's "Fighter"
- "American Werewolf" Remake Planned
- "Transformers" Slays The Box-Office
- Fall 2009 TV Premiere Dates
- "Uncharted" Video Game Becomes Film
- R.I.P. Michael Jackson
- R.I.P. Farrah Fawcett
- Transformers Gets $27M Second Day
- Cameron Fay Says "Don't Send Help"
- Zack Snyder Talks "300" Sequel
- Oscar Nominees Go From Five To Ten
- The First "Avatar" Footage Screened
- The Weekly Spin: June 24th 2009
- Blue Is General Zod In "Smallville"
- Fincher Helms Facebook Movie, WTF?
- Garth's Review: "Transformers: Revenge..."
- Grisham's "Testament" Finally Adapted
- Exclusive: Phillip Noyce Talks "Salt"
- Inception, Sorcerer, Hood, Avatar Photos