Sandra Schulberg's Phobos Entertainment has picked up all media rights to Ursula K. Le Guin's sci-fi novel "The Left Hand of Darkness." First published in 1969, "The Left Hand of Darkness" is set on Winter, a lost planet whose inhabitants defy standard gender roles and even physically change genders. Story follows a human emissary who must bridge a cultural gulf to fulfill his mission to bring the planet back into the galactic fold. Schulberg plans to exploit the property as both a feature and a vidgame..." (full details)

Sunrise Entertainment, through its deal at Mandalay Entertainment, has optioned the rights to "Admissions," Nancy Lieberman's comic novel on private-school admissions. The book, released in September by Warner Books, follows a family that gets caught up in the antics that occur every September in New York's prestigious private-school circuit as parents do everything imaginable to get their children admitted..." (full details)

The Frank Capra classic "Meet John Doe" has been bought for remake by Paul Mason, a longtime Viacom and Showtime executive who will produce through his Barstu Prods. banner. This is Mason's second foray: He optioned "Amityville Horror" sequel rights from the original pic's subject. In the original, Gary Cooper played a drifter who is groomed as a political candidate and pawn of a powerful group, who try to ruin him when he wises up. One of the manipulators, a newspaper reporter played by Barbara Stanwyck, falls in love with him and helps him navigate the mess..." (full details)

Thanks to 'KC'.