Best Friends Forever: "Paramount has tapped the tyro writing team of Alyssa Embree, Stacey Harman and Jessica Koosed to pen teen comedy "Best Friends Forever" for Paramount-based Lynda Obst. Project, originally written by "Reba" writers Patti Carr and Lara Runnels, centers on a pair of girlfriends known for their constant high school hijinks who turn a parent's house into a casino for a night..." (more info). Doonesbury: ""Doonesbury" comicstrip creator Garry Trudeau has inked a deal with Phoenix Pictures and Walden Media to script an original pic about a teen who becomes mayor of a small city in America. Despite Trudeau's regular skewering of the Bushies, pic is planned as a bipartisan film. It's loosely based on the stories of two kid mayors -- one a conservative Republican, the other a liberal Democrat..." (more info). Heavens Fall: "Leelee Sobieski, Timothy Hutton and David Strathairn are set to star in "Heavens Fall," an indie drama based on the trial of the Scottsboro Boys. Sobieski plays one of two women who accuse nine black youths of rape, making for one of the most volatile trials to take place in the segregated South..." (more info). The Barnyard: "Nick Movies has tapped Courteney Cox, Danny Glover, Sam Elliott and Wanda Sykes for the voice cast of its CGI-animated comedy "The Barnyard," joining Kevin James. James ("The King of Queens") will voice the lead character, a carefree cow named Otis. Story centers on Otis suddenly being placed in a position of responsibility around the barnyard, forcing him to find the courage and confidence to be a leader..." (more info). The Untouchables: Capone Rising: "Paramount has tapped scribes David Levien and Brian Koppelman to pen "The Untouchables: Capone Rising," a prequel to the 1987 pic. Antoine Fuqua will direct. The prequel will concern Capone and the early version of Irish cop Jimmy Malone, who is as crooked as every other Chicago cop until Capone becomes king of the underworld..." (more info). Vanishing Point: "Scott Free Entertainment and 20th Century Fox are remaking the road-trip pic "Vanishing Point," with video/commercials director Samuel Bayer behind the wheel. Paul Bernbaum has been set to write the script. The 1971 original revolved around a maverick's bet that he could drive from Denver to San Francisco in just 15 hours in a supercharged 1970 Dodge Challenger..." (more info). 2004 Toronto Film Festival: "Looking to become a bastion of heavyweight, star-filled indie cinema, the Toronto International Film Festival unveiled Tuesday a 328-film lineup that includes 100 world premieres and 81 North American premieres..." (more info). Capote: A Biography: "Oscar nominee Samantha Morton and Oscar winner Chris Cooper are in negotiations to star in an untitled Truman Capote feature, which United Artists is coming on board to co-finance and distribute. Philip Seymour Hoffman is set to play Capote in the feature based on the book "Capote: A Biography" by Gerald Clarke. The film concentrates on the period when Capote was writing "In Cold Blood," his so-called "nonfiction novel" about the murder of a Kansas family, which was published in 1965..." (more info). Deathlok: "David Self has come on board to rewrite the big-screen version of the Marvel Comics property "Deathlok" for Paramount and Marvel Studios. Stu Zicherman and Raven Metzner wrote the first draft of the script, which follows a suburban family man who becomes the test subject for a technology research lab that transforms him into a living computer. The studio is looking for a director. Paul McGuigan, who directed "Wicker Park," appears to be one possibility although no negotiations have begun..." (more info). Every Word Is True: "In related Capote news, Mark Wahlberg has dropped out of "Every Word Is True," a rival Capote project about the same period that is set up at Warner Independent Pictures. Wahlberg was to play Perry Smith, one of the killers whose story is recounted in "In Cold Blood."..." (more info). The Martian Child: "Filmmaker Menno Meyjes ("Max") is stepping up to take care of New Line Cinema's "The Martian Child," in which Cusack is set to star. Nick Cassavetes was slated to direct but fell out because of creative differences. Meyjes will rewrite and direct "Martian," which is about a sci-fi writer (Cusack) who, wanting to be a dad, adopts a 7-year-old boy who may be an alien..." (more info).Batman Begins: Superhero Hype has a copy of a call sheet which lists a "T. Welling" for the role of 'Kent'. Hmm!!. Colour of the Truth: Hong Kong paper Oriental Daily reports tha Tom Cruise and his partner Paula Wagner are set to produce a remake of Hong Kong thriller Colour Of The Truth. Released last year in Hong Kong, Colour Of The Truth tells a story of a cop who for many years carried the guilt of the death of his partner, not knowing his partner was secretly working for the gangs. DVD News: Details are up for Troy, The Saddest Music in the World, Mork & Mindy: Season 1, Traffic: The Mini-Series, Philadelphia, Dr. Strangelove, Footloose: CE & artwork for all six versions of Spider-Man 2. Father of the Pride: Audio interviews for the new CG animated series are up at Dreamworks Fansite. Lady White Snake: The Dominion Post reports that the $US40 million ($NZ60 million) epic will be a New Zealand and Taiwan co-production and one of the most expensive films to be made there. The legend of a white snake fairy that married a mortal is known throughout Asia. But the film will be an English-language version aimed at Western audiences. New Zealand and overseas actors will feature, and a Kiwi may direct it. Shooting could begin late next year.
Mr. 3000: An exclusive TV spot for the Bernie Mac comedy is up at Cinema Confidential. Smallville (TV): The girl playing Lois Lane talks about the new season to Sci-Fi Wire. Star Wars Trilogy (DVD): Some great pics of the FX cleanup shots in the new disc set are up at Willow. Superman: Patrick Stewart as Jor-El? The latest rumours, plus the truth on the Michael Rosenbaum talk is up at IESB. Taxi: The international one-sheet for the Queen Latifah comedy is up at Rafcart. The Aviator: The one-sheet for the Martin Scorsese flick is up at Latino Review. The Fantastic Four: Some apparent production art for the Fantastic Four movie is up at Production Illustration. The Longest Yard: A set visit report to the Adam Sandler remake is up at MTV. Vanity Fair: 29 photos from the Reese Witherspoon flick are up at Rope of Silicon. Thanks to 'Ramy', 'FanHalen', 'Jawad', 'Antoine', 'Hjeepers', 'Shannon', 'Gustavo', 'Robert' & 'Brad'
