"Sony Pictures is negotiating to acquire film rights to counter-terrorism expert Richard Clarke's first novel, "The Scorpion Gate," which Putnam Adult will publish in October. John Calley will produce the project, which the studio hopes will become the first in a series of John Clancy-style political thrillers. The realistic geopolitical thriller is set five years in the future as oil-hungry forces in Washington are ready to reshape the map of the Middle East to further their own ends by launching a global nuclear war. The plot involves a fictional takeover of the House of Saud by extremists..." (full details)

"Paramount has bought film rights to Daniel H. Wilson's "How to Survive a Robot Uprising: Tips on Defending Yourself Against the Coming Rebellion" and setting up the comedy sci-fi project with Michael De Luca. Par made the deal based on a pitch from the writing team of Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant ("The Pacifier", "Herbie: Fully Loaded"), who will script. Wilson penned "Uprising" while a doctoral candidate at the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon U. with much of the information based on actual robotics. Book includes sections such as "Know Your Enemy," "Fight Back," "How to Treat a Laser Wound" and "How to Pose as a Humanoid Robot"..." (full details)

"Desperate Housewives star Nicolette Sheridan has joined the cast of a new comedy film The Cleaner. The story follows an amnesiac janitor played by US comic actor Cedric the Entertainer who believes he is an undercover agent. The 41-year-old Sussex-born actress who stars as serial divorcee Edie Britt in Desperate Housewives will play a woman claiming to be Cedric's wife. Charlie's Angel star Lucy Liu will also star in the movie..." (full details)

Thanks to 'KC'.