Guy Pearce signs on for "Hungry Rabbit Jumps"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

English-born Australian actor Guy Pearce will star alongside Nicolas Cage and January Jones in thriller "Hungry Rabbit Jumps."

New Zealand movie producer, director and writer Roger Donaldson ("The World's Fastest Indian," "The Bank Job") has been hired to direct the movie which about a man (Cage) who hires an underground vigilante organization after his wife (Jones) is brutally assaulted.

Endgame Entertainment acquired Robert Tannen's script in 2008 for Tobey Maguire to produce. Maguire is producing the $30 million movie through his Maguire Entertainment banner, alongside Endgame’s James Stern and Gordonstreet Pictures’ Ram Bergman. Maguire Entertainment's Jenno Topping is executive producing.

Movie is scheduled to start shooting in New Orleans in two weeks.

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Noriko Sakai scandal being made into movie

Source: Tokyograph.com

The deadline for appeal in the Noriko Sakai (38) case passed on Tuesday night, finalizing the 18-month sentence (suspended for 3 years) that she received on November 9. Although the trial is over, the case is still on the media's mind, and an upcoming movie will extend the story for at least a couple more months.

Film distributor Psydirec announced that shooting has already started for a movie titled "Setsuna," a semi-documentary about the Sakai scandal. Masao Kasahara is directing the picture, which is based on the book "Sakai Noriko: Kakusareta Sugao" by entertainment reporter Masaru Nashimoto. The lead actress is said to be a former top star of the Takarazuka's Snow Troupe, though the specific name has not yet been publicly revealed.

"Setsuna" is expected to be released in January 2010."
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Kat Dennings the latest "Thor" addition

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Kat Dennings ("Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," "The Answer Man") has joined Marvel's upcoming feature movie "Thor."

Dennings will be starring alongside Chris Hemsworth, who is playing Thor, Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Tom Hiddleston who plays Loki, and Natalie Portman who plays Thor's love interest, Jane Foster. According to Variety, Dennings will play Darcy, who works with the Jane Foster character.

Director Kenneth Branagh "Sleuth" will direct the movie from the script written by Mark Protosevich and Zack Stentz, which tells of a partially disabled medical student, Donald Blake, who learned that he is Thor's mortal alter ego after the discovery of the Thunder God's disguised hammer that enabled him to change back and forth into the Thunder God.

The movie is scheduled be released on the 20th of May, 2011 by Paramount Pictures.

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Box Office Nov. 20-22 Results

1 The Twilight Saga: New Moon - $142,839,137
2 The Blind Side - $34,119,372
3 2012 - $26,410,206
4 Planet 51 - $12,286,129
5 Disney's A Christmas Carol - $12,275,024
6 Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" - $10,881,772
7 The Men Who Stare at Goats - $2,829,031
8 Couples Retreat - $1,943,075
9 The Fourth Kind - $1,747,085
10 Michael Jackson's This Is It - $1,617,417

Source: Boxoffice.com
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Box Office Nov. 21-22 Results (Japan)

1 2012 - SPE
2 MICHAEL JACKSON'S THIS IS IT - SPE
3 DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL - Disney
4 No More Cry !!! (JPN.) - Toho
5 INGLORIOUS BASTARDS - Toho Towa
6 Zero Focus (JPN.) - Toho
7 The Unbroken (JPN.) - Toho
8 I Give My First Love To You (JPN.) - Toho
9 Macross Frontier The Movie (JPN.Animation) - KLOCK WORX
10 Fresh Pretty Cure! (JPN.Animation) - Toei

Source: Cinemanavi.co.jp
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Yuen Woo-ping to re-adapt The Smiling, Proud Wanderer

By Siewaun
Reference: MonkeyPeaches

Chinese martial arts choreographer and movie director Yuen Woo-ping, who is now shooting True Legend (Su Qi-Er), is planning to re-adapt The Smiling, Proud Wanderer (Xiao Ao Jiang Hu), a 1967 Wuxia novel by Louis Cha.

The book has previously been adapted to movies by director Tsui Hark, titled "The Swordsman" in 1991 and the sequel "Swordsman II" in 1992.

According to MonkeyPeaches, Yuen Woo-Ping is looking to cast Takeshi Kaneshiro as the lead character Ling Wu Chung, Zhou Xun as the female lead character Ren Ying Ying and Jay Chou as the villain Dongfang Bubai (Asia the Invincible). Though no signing deal has been made yet.

Shooting will begin in Beijing right after the coming February 2010 Chinese New Year.

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Hugh Jackman to star in 'Real Steel'

Source: Variety

Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider are betting big on robots for their first project since securing $825 million in financing for the reconstituted DreamWorks.

The DreamWorks principals have greenlit the "Rocky"-esque robot tale "Real Steel," to star Hugh Jackman, as their first pic since raising $650 million from both J.P. Morgan Securities and Reliance Big Pictures and an additional $175 million from Disney, which will distrib DreamWorks titles.

Industry watchers have been eager to see what DreamWorks' first post-financing move would be. The Shawn Levy-helmed futuristic pic represents a recurring theme for Spielberg, who has explored the motif of human-like robots in a number of films in his role as a director, producer and DreamWorks executive -- ranging in recent years from "A.I.: Artificial Intelligence" to "Transformers" and "Eagle Eye."

Based on a short story by Richard Matheson, "Real Steel" was one of 17 projects that Spielberg and Snider took as part of DreamWorks' split from Paramount last year.

Insiders say DreamWorks will make the pic on a budget of about $80 million -- a far cry from the average price tag for sci-fi event films like "Transformers" or "Avatar." DreamWorks plans to be the sole financier on the project, though Paramount can opt in for half. No decision will likely be made on Paramount's end for several months.

DreamWorks initially bought the project, scripted by Dan Gilroy, in 2005 for a reported $850,000. John Gatins penned the most recent draft.

Story centers on a fighter who has to reinvent himself when human boxers are replaced by robots. Jackman will play a struggling Robot Boxing promoter who finds a discarded robot that always seems to win. He also discovers he has a 11-year-old son, and they bond as the robot brawls its way toward the top.

Although grounded in the father-son relationship, Levy describes the film as a "rousing sports movie" with Jackman's character "a former boxer who can no longer do the only job he's good at, and one particular robot that may be his return to grace."

Production starts in June.

"When we took it with us, we really highlighted it as something we would put the pedal to metal on," said DreamWorks co-president of production Mark Sourian. "It's a project that Steven always wanted to do. It just came together rapidly after we left Paramount."

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Emily Watson has gone for "Oranges and Sunshine"

By Siewaun
Reference: Benzinga

Emily Watson ("Breaking the Waves," "Synecdoche, New York") is starring alongside David Wenham "The Lord of the Rings trilogy" and Hugo Weaving ("The Matrix trilogy," "The Lord of the Rings trilogy") in Jim Loach's feature directorial debut movie "Oranges and Sunshine."

Rona Munro wrote the script based on Margaret Humphreys' book "Empty Cradles."

Based on a true story, the movie centers on Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham, who uncovered social scandals surrounding the organized deportation of children in care from the United Kingdom to Australia. Against overwhelming odds and single-handedly, she reunited thousands of families, brought authorities to account and worldwide attention to the miscarriage of justice.

Sixteen Films' Camilla Bray is producing along with Emile Sherman and Iain Canning of See-Saw Films.

Shooting in UK has commenced in Nottingham three days ago on 21st November, and is now moving filming location to South Australia, where it is scheduled wrap up on 31st January 2010.

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Joshua Jackson makes deal with "UFO"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Joshua Jackson ("The Mighty Ducks" franchise, "Fringe" TV series) has signed on leading role in the feature movie adaptation of "UFO," a 70's hit British TV series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson.

Jackson will take on the role of Paul Foster, a test pilot who joins S.H.A.D.O. (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organization), a secret international military organization built under a Hollywood studio that defends Earth against a race of aliens who have been abducting humans for their body parts.

Matthew Gratzner, a visual effects supervisor who worked on the upcoming horror thriller "Shutter Island" and previously "Iron Man" and "Hancock," will make his feature directorial debut on the movie.

Producers Avi Haas and Henri M. Kessler secured the feature rights from ITV Global, and will be collaborating with Robert Evans Company to produce the movie from script written by Ryan Gaudet and Joseph Kanarek.

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'New Moon' tops foreign boxoffice

Source: Hollywoodreporter.com

"While not quite matching its blazing opening pace domestically, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" nonetheless topped the foreign circuit on the weekend, finishing at No. 1 with an estimated $118.1 million from 6,681 screens in a relatively contained opening break comprising 25 territories.

The girl-meets-vampire sequel notched an astronomical $17,677 per-screen average overall.

Ranking No. 2 was the prior weekend's No. 1 title, director Roland Emmerich's disaster epic "2012," which dropped nearly 40% from its mighty $165.2 million opening frame to finish with $100.5 million from 13,487 screens in 107 markets. Its 12-day overseas gross totals $341.1 million.

"New Moon," the second film version of Stephenie Meyer's teen-favorite novels starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, set opening records in Australia ($13.3 million from 268 sites or a nearly $50,000 average per screen) and in New Zealand ($1.9 million from 90 sites), according to distributor Summit International.


"New Moon" dominated the U.K. ($18.7 million from 499 locations, or nearly $37,500 per screen), Italy ($13 million from 770 sites), France ($17 million from 751 situations) and in Spain ($13.7 million from 652 sites). The film's opening weekend gross worldwide came to $258.8 million.

"New Moon's" predecessor, 2008's "Twilight," grossed $384 million worldwide over the course of its entire run, of which $192 million came from outside the U.S. and Canada.

"2012" finished No. 3 on the weekend domestically, but its overseas total so far is more than three times its domestic cume. A No. 1 Japan opening, the biggest weekend bow of 2009 in the market, generated $7 million from 627 screens. Worldwide cume stands at $449.3 million.

"2012's" No. 1 second China frame came up with $9.7 million from 1,988 sites for a market cume of $30.5 million. In all, the disaster epic took the top weekend spots in at least 13 territories. Top five markets for the film so far: China, France (cume $28.6 million), Russia ($27 million), Germany ($24 million) and the U.K. ($21.3 million)

Opening in Italy was "Planet 51," a family-oriented animation title about an American astronaut confronting little green people on an alien planet, which grossed an estimated $600,000 from 242 screens. The HandMade Films/Ilion Animation outing features the voices of Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Gary Oldman and John Cleese.

Third on the weekend "Disney's A Christmas Carol," which continues to draw strongly in Russia ($3.5 million from 350 sites) and the U.K. ($3.3 million from 650 locations for a market cume of $13.9 million). The weekend overall for the director Robert Zemeckis' 3D performance-capture version of Charles Dickens' 1843 novella, starring Jim Carrey as Scrooge, provided $18.5 million from 4,434 screens in 41 markets for an overseas cume of $60 million.

No. 4 was "This Is It," which captured $5.8 million from 3,490 screens in 75 markets. Since its Oct. 28 overseas bow, the Michael Jackson concert-preparation docu has an accumulated boxoffice of $168.5 million. It ranked No. 2 in its fourth Japan round on the weekend with $2.9 million from 309 screens for a market cume of $39.7 million.

Fifth was the Pixar/Disney animation title "Up," which boosted its offshore cume to $379 million thanks to a $3 million weekend from 3,015 situations in 25 territories. A Japan opening is due Dec. 5.

Universal's "Couples Retreat" pushed its international cume to $37.7 million thanks to a $2.5 million weekend at 1,100 playdates in 23 territories. The Vince Vaughn comedy opened No. 4 in the Netherlands, held at No. 4 in Germany and was No. 2 in Austria. It has 38 more territories to play with openings in Bulgaria, Egypt and Finland due this week.

Making its Japan debut was the Weinstein Co./Universal's "Inglourious Basterds," which fought its way to $2.2 million overall on the weekend from 1,300 sites in 30 markets. Its No. 4 Japan bow generated $1.6 million from 315 screens.

The World War II drama from director Quentin Tarantino is winding down its overseas run and has accumulated $190.6 million overseas to date. The title has two more territories to play: Ecuador and the Philippines.

In the U.K., Lionsgate's release of "Harry Brown," a crime drama starring Michael Caine as avenger of a friend's murder, finished No. 4 in its second round with an estimated $1.3 million from 357 screens. Market cume is about $4 million.

Universal opened "A Serious Man" in the U.K. (finishing at No. 9 with $525,000 from 50 locations), Australia and New Zealand for an overall total of $770,000 from 93 sites. Focus Features is also releasing overseas the Coen brothers' look at the Jewish community circa 1967 in a Midwestern suburb.

Finishing at No. 4 in France was Pathe's release of director Claude Berri's final film, "Tresor" (Treasure), which in its second round garnered $1.4 million from 473 screens for a market cume of $4.5 million. Finishing fifth in the market was Diaphana Films' release of "Rapt," a drama from director/co-writer Lucas Balvaux about the kidnapping of a billionaire in the 1970s. Opening gross was $1.3 million from 230 locations.

Other international cumes: Disney's "G-Force," $159.1 million; Fox's "Amelia," $1.7 million; Mandate International's "Saw VI," $26.6 million; Fox's "Fantastic Mr. Fox," $13.4 million (U.K. and Singapore only); Universal's "Public Enemies," $107.7 million; Fox's Wild Bunch Distribution's "Le petit Nicolas," $46.4 million (from eight frames in France only); Universal's "Away We Go," $150,000 (Universal territories only); Disney's "Surrogates," $69.2 million; and Fox's "(500) Days of Summer," $22.9 million."

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Spielberg, King team on 'Dome'

Source: Variety

It's a potent combination: Steven + Stephen.

Steven Spielberg and Stephen King are joining forces to develop a limited series based on King's just-released supernatural thriller "Under the Dome." DreamWorks TV has optioned the book and is looking to set it up as an event series, likely for cable.

DreamWorks principal Stacey Snider was key in bringing the project to the company. Spielberg, King and Snider will exec produce along with DreamWorks TV chiefs Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey.Book, which has earned strong reviews as a return to form for the prolific author, revolves around the drama that unfolds after an invisible force field suddenly descends on a small vacation town in Maine. As the locals fight for their survival, the town descends into warring factions led by enigmatic characters.

DreamWorks is starting to meet with writers for the project. The plan is to set a writer before shopping the skein to prospective buyers.

Spielberg and King have worked together in the past, developing a screen adaptation of King's 1984 novel "The Talisman," on which Spielberg has had the option for more than 20 years. That project has been developed as a feature, and it came close to being done as a mini for TNT a few years ago until it was tabled for budgetary reasons.

The "Dome" deal continues a burst of activity on the smallscreen side for Spielberg and DreamWorks TV. Among the high-profile projects in the works is a series about the development of a fictional Broadway tuner for Showtime. Another Showtime contender is a costume-drama revolving around the Borgia clan, penned by Neil Jordan and with Robert Zemeckis also producing.

DreamWorks TV also produces the pay cabler's dramedy "United States of Tara," for which star Toni Collette won the lead comedy actress Emmy in September. "Tara" bows its sophomore season in March.

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Sam Worthington signs on for "The Last Days of American Crime"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

"Avatar" and "Terminator Salvation" star, Sam Worthington has been hired to star in sci-fi feature adaptation of Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini's comicbook "The Last Days of American Crime."

The three-issue miniseries which is set in the midst of a "Clockwork Orange" crime prevention scheme, where the United States government will broadcast a signal that will essentially make anyone impossible to commit crime knowingly, will hit the shelves next month.

Remender wrote the screenplay for the feature version, which Radical Publishing's Barry Levine will produce with Michael Schwartz.
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Uma Thurman is falling for "Bel Ami"

By Siewaun
Reference: thehollywoodreporter

Uma Thurman will star alongside Rob Pattinson "Twilight" and Kristin Scott Thomas in the feature adaptation of "Bel Ami," a classic novel by Guy de Maupassant.

"Bel Ami" centers on George Duroy, a journalist who rose from the rank of a lowly reporter to chief editor through immoral sexual manipulation, such as sleeping with his boss's wife and seduces his boss's daughter.

According to THR.com, Pattinson will play George Duroy, while Thurman is playing the wife of Duroy's friend, a woman who helps Duroy in his ascent, later becoming his wife. Thomas plays a socialite who falls for Duroy, becoming clingy in the process.

British theatre director and writer Declan Donnellan will be making his feature directorial debut with "Bel Ami." Redwave Films' Uberto Pasolini ("The Full Monty," "Machan") will produce the movie.

Shooting is scheduled to begin next year in Paris.

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Brad Pitt has landed in the "Dark Void"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Brad Pitt, through his Plan B Entertainment banner, and India's Reliance Big Pictures have reached a deal with international video games developer Capcom to develop a movie based on the "Dark Void" video game.

Capcom stated that the feature version is being developed as a sci-fi action franchise and potential starring vehicle for Pitt.

The sci-fi world of Dark Void is centers on Will, a pilot who crash lands in the Bermuda Triangle following a routine mission, and wakes up to find himself in an alternate world resembling a primitive earth where aliens with superior technology are planning to take over civilization. Together with a faction of humans, Will takes on the alien race using their own advanced technology including a high-powered jet pack.

Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment has produced films such as the Oscar-Winning The Departed, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, A Mighty Heart, and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

Reliance Big Pictures is the flagship media and entertainment arm of Indian conglomerate, Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG), (www.relianceada.com) with significant presence in film entertainment (film production, distribution, and exhibition), broadcasting and new media ventures.

Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices. The company has created hundreds of games, including best-selling franchises Resident Evil®, Street Fighter®, Mega Man® and Devil MayCry®.

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Baker and Johnson teamed up for "Breath"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Simon Baker "The Mentalist" and producer Mark Johnson ("The Chronicles of Narnia - franchise," "My Sister's Keeper"), have jointly acquired the feature rights to the Australian author Tim Winton's award-winning bestselling novel "Breath," which they will produce together.

The novel which was published in 2008, started with in a small South Coast, West Australian town, where two 15-year-old boys Pikelet and Loonie take up surfing under the tutelage of former professional surfer named Sando (Baker) and his mysterious American wife, Eva. Spurred on by their mentor, the boys test the limits of courage and recklessness as they try to escape the ordinariness of their lives.

Variety quotes Baker as saying, "Winton's book beautifully captures the excitement and brutality of growing up in a way I've only experienced but have never been able to articulate."

Johnson said, "While 'Breath' is at its heart a coming-of-age story, I see it primarily as a celebration of teenage anarchy and a youthful rejection of anything that smacks of the ordinary."

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Bonaventura to produce "The Secrets"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

After the successful "Transformers" franchise, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura who also produced "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" and the upcoming Angelina Jolie starrer "Salt", has acquired the rights to feature produce Michael Scott's six-part fantasy series "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel."

The series revolves around fifteen-year-old twins Sophie and Josh Newman, as they adventure across several continents with the immortal alchemyst Nicholas Flamel, while being pursued by the evil immortal John Dee.

The first three of Scott's series, "The Alchemyst," "The Magician" and "The Sorceress" were published by Delacorte Press Books, while the fourth book "The Necromancer," will be published on 25th of May 2010. The last two books are "The Warlock" and "The Enchantress."

Scott and Barry Krost will executive produce the movies.

According to Variety, The "Flamel" series rights was bought by New Line three years ago for Mark Burnett to produce. But due to New Line's downsizing by Warner Bros. last year, the "Flamel" rights became available again.

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Hudson to star as Winnie Mandela in "Winnie"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Singer/Actress Jennifer Hudson, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in 2006 movie "Dreamgirls," will star as Winnie Mandela in veteran South African award-winning director Darrell J. Roodt's "Winnie." She is also expected to sing the movie's theme song.

Andre Pieterse, Roodt and Paul L. Johnson wrote a script based on the Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob biography - Winnie Mandela: A Life.

Movie will take an in-depth and intimate look at Winnie Mandela’s personal and political life, which depicted her as the mother and wife who was a steadfast supporter of her activist husband and who was jailed herself for campaigning for his release and fighting against apartheid, and her subsequently tarnished image for being in association with a bodyguard who murdered a 14-year old alleged informer and later convicted of fraud.

Andre Pieterse is producing alongside Canada's Equinoxe Films' Michael Mosca.

Shooting will start May 30 in the South African locations of Johannesburg, Cape Town, Transkei and Robben Island, where the future president spent 18 of his 27 years in prison.

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Eric Dane has joined "Burlesque"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Eric Dane "Grey's Anatomy" has joined pop singer Christina Aguilera and Oscar winner Cher in Screen Gems' upcoming musical "Burlesque." Other cast includes Stanley Tucci, Cam Gigandet, Kristen Bell and Alan Cumming.

Steve Antin "The Good Mother" is directing the movie which centers on Ali (Aguilera), an ambitious small-town girl with a big-town voice who finds love, family and success in a neo-burlesque club. Dane will star as Marcus, a charming, successful businessman who offers to buy Tess (Cher) out of the burlesque club and vies for Ali's heart.

De Line Pictures' Donald De Line, who produced movie such as "Body of Lies" and "I Love You, Man" will produce the musical feature.

Shooting has already started on Nov. 9 in Los Angeles, and is scheduled to be released for Thanksgiving 2010.

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Antoine Fuqua and Spike Lee are making "Crime"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Antoine Fuqua and Spike Lee will collaborate on the feature adaptation of the graphic novel "Miss: Better Living Through Crime" for Vigilante Entertainment.

John Ridley "Red Tails" is adapting from Philippe Thirault, Marc Riou and Mark Vigouroux's graphic novel, which Fuqua will direct, and Lee executive producing.

The story which is set during the early 1900s in New York revolves around two unlikely partners in crime, Enola and Slim. Enola is a poor white girl who has learned to survive by hook or by crook since being expelled from the orphanage. Slim is a black pimp with an uncertain past, trying to keep one foot out of the grave. With options running out, they forge a partnership as killers for hire.

Producing the crime thriller is Vigilante's Hicham Benkirane, while Pierre Spengler and Fabrice Giger are executive producers.

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Carl Erik Rinsch debuts the "47 Ronin"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Carl Erik Rinsch is a commercial director known to shoot commercials with excellent creativity, imagination and cool visual effects, and finally now he is able to use his genius to make his feature directorial debut.

Variety says that Rinsch is nearing a deal with Universal Pictures to direct big budget epic period samurai swordsmen tale "47 Ronin," which will star Keanu Reeves.

The movie is based on a true story about Forty-seven Ronin (known as Chushingura) with mission to avenge their master's unjustly execution. In Japan, it was popularized in numerous plays including bunraku and kabuki. The play has been made into movies and TV series many times starting from 1910, including the 1994 movie starring Ken Takakura, titled "The 47 Ronin." And just 2 weeks ago in Japan, Warner Japan announced that the studio will produce director Shigemichi Sugita's "The Last Chushingura."

Writer Chris Morgan "Wanted" tailor-made the script for Reeves to play one of the swordsmen.

Stuber Pictures' Scott Stuber is producing the movie alongside Pam Abdy, while Walter Hamada and Chris Fenton are executive producing.

Rinsch, a commercial director for Ridley and Tony Scott's company RSA, was originally tapped to direct a prequel to "Aliens," until Ridley Scott decided to direct the franchise movie instead.

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Anna Faris going to get her "Wedding Banned"

By Siewaun
Reference: hollywoodreporter

After we heard that she will be starring alongside Ryan Reynolds in comedy movie "TMI," now Anna Faris is reported by THR.com to be in negotiations with Touchstone to star as Robin Williams' daughter in romantic comedy "Wedding Banned." Busy, Busy!

The movie script which was written by "Raising Helen" co-writers Jack Amiel and Michael Begler is about a long-divorced couple who kidnap their daughter "Faris" on her wedding day in order to keep her from making the same mistake they've made. The divorced parents end up reviving their relationship as they elude cops and the angry groom.

Williams will play the father, while the cast for the mother is still unknown.

Mandeville's David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are producing alongside Nicole Rocklin and Blye Faust, and Touchstone's Kristin Burr. Director for the movie has not been announced yet.

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Ryan Reynolds and Anna Faris cast for "TMI"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Ryan Reynolds ("X-Men Origins: Wolverine," "The Proposal") and Anna Faris "The House Bunny" will be co-starring in a new comedy movie titled "TMI."

Universal Pictures' Adam Fogelson and Donna Langley recently acquired the script by Kirsten "Kiwi" Smith ("The House Bunny," "The Ugly Truth") and Marc Klein (" Serendipity," "Suburban Girl").

The plot details has yet to be released, but basically the idea is that while honesty is the best policy for a relationship, "too much information" might not be the best thing.

Reynolds' Dark Trick Films partner Jonathon Komack Martin will co-produce the movie with Andrew Panay, who recently produced Kristen Bell's starrer "When in Rome." Reynolds will be executive producing.

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Three posters of Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland"

By Siewaun
Reference: Facebook

Disney has unveiled three posters of Tim Burton's upcoming remake of fantasy movie "Alice in Wonderland" via The Mad Hatter on Facebook.

Check out the high res posters here: Flickr

Alice in Wonderland is an upcoming remake fantasy movie directed by Tim Burton. Starring in the movie are Mia Wasikowska (Alice), Johnny Depp (The Mad Hatter), Helena Bonham Carter (The Red Queen), Anne Hathaway (The White Queen), and Crispin Glover (The Knave of Hearts).

The movie will be released March 2010 by Disney in Digital 3D and IMAX 3D and 2D.

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Box Office Nov. 13-15 Results

1 2012 - $65,237,614
2 Disney's A Christmas Carol - $22,308,913
3 Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" - $5,874,628
4 The Men Who Stare at Goats - $5,861,753
5 Michael Jackson's This Is It - $5,078,920
6 The Fourth Kind - $4,605,365
7 Couples Retreat - $4,164,940
8 Paranormal Activity - $4,043,417
9 Law Abiding Citizen - $3,796,327
10 The Box - $3,158,368

Source: Boxoffice.com
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Box Office Nov. 14-15 Results (Japan)

1 MICHAEL JACKSON'S THIS IS IT - SPE
2 DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL - Disney
3 No More Cry !!! (JPN.) - Toho
4 Zero Focus (JPN.) - Toho
5 I Give My First Love To You (JPN.) - Toho
6 The Unbroken (JPN.) - Toho
7 Fresh Pretty Cure! (JPN.Animation) - Toei
8 The Laughing Policeman (JPN.) - Toei
9 Kaiji (JPN.) - Toho
10 Feel The Wind (JPN.) - Shochiku

Source: Cinemanavi.co.jp
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'2012' destroys worldwide box office

Source: Variety

Disaster pic brings in total of $225 million

Sony's Roland Emmerich disaster pic "2012" was a global tidal wave at the worldwide box office, flooding screens to the tune of $225 million in its opening weekend. Pic wreaked far more destruction overseas, where it grossed $160 million, compared to $65 million domestically.

Emmerich's film saw the fifth best international opening of all time, and the best foreign launch ever for a nonsequel, if the estimates hold.

The specialty biz also sprang to life with Lionsgate's "Precious,"

zooming to No. 4 in its second frame at the domestic B.O. Drama grossed a boffo $6.1 million from only 174 runs for a location average of $35,000 and cume of $8.9 million, seeing a 225% jump as it successfully expanded from 18 runs the weekend before.

Twentieth Century Fox's prestige/family title "Fantastic Mr. Fox" successfully raided the chicken coop, scoring a per-location average of $65,000 for an estimated $260,000 from four runs in Los Angeles and New York. The Wes Anderson-directed animated film has earned $12.6 million from its run in the U.K., where it opened last month.

"Mr. Fox," with a voice cast led by George Clooney and Meryl Streep, expands nationwide in the U.S. on Nov. 25.

Focus Features' Brit pic "Pirate Radio," the only new wide release after "2012" at the domestic B.O., encountered rough seas. Directed by Richard Curtis and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, title grossed an estimated $2.9 million from 882 runs for a per-location average of $3,253. Focus distributed on behalf of parent studio Universal, which produced the film with Working Title.

Weekend brought some much-needed solace for the Mouse House as Robert Zemeckis' "Disney's A Christmas Carol" fell just 26% in its second frame to an estimated $22.3 million for a cume of $63.3 million. Disney insisted the film would have strong legs, and the weekend bore out that prediction.

Overseas, "Christmas Carol" grossed a solid $16 million from 3,229 screens in 21 territories to come in No. 2. Holdover markets, led by the U.K., dipped only 20%. Pic launched at No. 1 in Japan to $3.1 million from 375. Foreign cume is $33.6 million for a worldwide total of $98.6 million.

Two pics jumped the $100 million mark at the domestic B.O. this frame: Paramount's micro-budgeted blockbuster "Paranormal Activity" ($103.8 million) and Universal's "Couples Retreat" ($102.1 million).

Still, domestic ticket sales were down roughly 5% from the same weekend last year, when Sony's James Bond installment "Quantum of Solace" debuted to $67.5 million and Paramount/DreamWorks Animation's "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" grossed $35 million in its second sesh.

"2012" earned Sony's second B.O. victory in a row after Michael Jackson's "This Is It," which finished the sesh with a worldwide cume of $222.6 million.

Sony needed a big opening for "2012," considering the film cost at least $200 million to produce, plus hefty marketing costs.

"2012" also was a boost for Emmerich, whose previous film, "10,000 BC," couldn't crack the $100 million mark at the domestic box office, topping out at $94.8 million. That film did far more business overseas, cuming $175 million. That's a familiar pattern for Emmerich's action-disaster pics, which seem to appeal more to international auds than domestic.

In the U.S., "2012" skewed slightly older, with 55% of the audience over age 25. It also skewed slightly female, at 52%.

"The opening number says that Roland Emmerich is an incredible filmmaker whose work resonates everywhere. He has truly set a new bar with this film in regards to the amazing images and special effects, as well as the story," said Sony prexy of worldwide distribution Rory Bruer.

Overseas, "2012" opened No. 1 in all 105 territories where it bowed. France led with $17.2 million, followed by Russia at $15.3 million, Germany at $12.4 million, China with $12.3 million and the U.K. with $10.8 million. In some territories, including Russia and India, it was the second-best Hollywood opening of all time, based on local currency.

In terms of top international launches, "2012" comes in behind Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" ($236 million), Sony's "Spider-Man 3" ($231 million), Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," ($216 million) and "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" ($193 million). "2012" bumped Sony's "Da Vinci Code" ($155 million) from the No. 5 slot.

Placing No. 4 on the domestic top 10 chart was a significant achievement for "Precious," acquired by Lionsgate at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. The harrowing urban drama, toplining newcomer Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique, is playing both arthouses and theaters in predominantly African-American neighborhoods.

Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry are exec producers on the film.

"Precious" went into new markets including Philadelphia, San Francisco and Dallas, as well as adding screens in holdover markets Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and Chicago.

Urban theaters continued to overperform, but Saturday traffic in arthouse theaters was up significantly, a good indication that the film is crossing over.

Pic narrowly lost the No. 3 spot to Overture Films' George Clooney topliner "The Men Who Stare at Goats," which declined 51% in its second frame to an estimated $6.2 million from 2,453 theaters for a cume of $23.4 million. "Precious" could pull ahead when final figures are tallied for the weekend.

Like "Precious," "Mr. Fox" also is a marketing hybrid, targeting both Anderson's fans and families. Fox Searchlight is consulting with big Fox on marketing the toon.

Fox senior VP of domestic distribution Chris Aronson said 65% of the matinee crowd on Saturday were families, who also made up 35% of the Saturday nighttime aud.

"The film is satisfying for both audiences," Aronson said. "All manner of hens were flushed out of the coop with this one."

Focus said that while it was disappointed with "Pirate Radio's" overall performance, the turnout in arthouse theaters in major markets was strong enough to fuel good word of mouth. In the U.K., pic was released under the title "The Boat That Rocked."

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All set for "The King's Speech"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Helena Bonham Carter, Jennifer Ehle, Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi, Timothy Spall and Michael Gambon will be joining Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush in "The King's Speech," which director Tom Hooper ("Red Dust," "The Damned United")will direct.

Hooper will direct from the script written by David Seidler "Son of the Dragon."

The period drama is about the young King George VI (the father of the current Queen Elizabeth II) who reluctantly assumes the throne after his brother, Edward, abdicates, and formed an unlikely friendship with unorthodox speech therapist, Lionel Logue.

Producers are Iain Canning and Emile Sherman of See-Saw Films and Gareth Unwin of Bedlam Productions. Bedlam's Simon Egan is co-producer. Shooting has started in U.K.

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Harvey Keitel will "Meet the Fockers" too

By Siewaun
Reference: hollywoodreporter

The Hollywood Reporter reports that Harvey Keitel will be starring in the sequel to the 2004 family comedy "Meet the Fockers," joining the original cast of Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner and Owen Wilson. Jessica Alba and Laura Dern are also the newly added cast for the sequel.

Paul Weitz "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" will direct the movie from John Hamburg's script, who re-wrote the original script by Larry Stuckey.

The sequel's main focus is on the couple's children. Keitel will play a contractor employed by Stiller's character. The Universal and Tribeca Productions franchise comedy started with "Meet the Parents," and followed up with "Meet the Fockers," this sequel is the third in the series.

Producers are Jane Rosenthal and Jay Roach, who directed the first two series of the movie.

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Dante Harper to write "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters"

By Siewaun
Reference: hollywoodreporter

Writer Dante Harper, who wrote the screen adaptation of Charles Burns' dark teen horror story "Black Hole" for director David Fincher to direct, has been hired to write the script for director Tommy Wirkola's "Dead Snow" upcoming directorial project titled "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters," a horror-action comedy.

Harper will take Wirkola's original pitch and add some finishing touch to it, which carries on with the story of Hansel and Gretel 15 years after their traumatic gingerbread house incident which turned them into witch bounty hunters.

Producers are Kevin Messick, Adam McKay, Will Ferrell and Chris Henchy of Gary Sanchez Productions.

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Luke Greenfield to direct "Something Borrowed"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Director Luke Greenfield, best known for directing "The Animal," and "The Girl Next Door", and also producing comedy movie "Role Models," is set to direct romance movie "Something Borrowed."

Alcon Entertainment's Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson will produce the movie alongside Hilary Swank and Molly Smith's 2S Films and Wild Ocean Films' Aaron Lubin and Pamela Schein Murphy.

Jennie Urman wrote the script based on Emily Giffin's debut novel of the same name which revolves around Rachel, a Manhattan attorney who becomes involved with her best friend Darcy's fiance Dex after ending up in bed with him after her 30th birthday party, forcing her to decide between a life-long friend and the man of her dreams.

Shooting is scheduled to begin in spring and summer.

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David Koepp is starting the "Premium Rush"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Writer/director David Koepp, who was reportedly paid US$ 4 million for his "Panic Room" script, that made him one of Hollywood's highest-paid screenwriters, is preparing to direct his next movie.

Koepp, who recently directed "Ghost Town" for DreamWorks, which starred Ricky Gervais, will be directing a new movie titled "Premium Rush" for Columbia Pictures, reports Variety.

Koepp co-wrote the script for the movie with John Kamps. They had previously collaborated in movies including "Zathura: A Space Adventure" and "Panic Room."

The movie is about a New York City bike messenger in his twenties, who picks up an envelope at Columbia U, and ends up being chased through out the city by a dirty cop desperate to get his hands on the envelope.

Gavin Polone "Zombieland" will produce the big-budget actioner movie, which Sony is fast-tracking. Casting is set to begin very soon.

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Cecile de France joins Clint Eastwood's "Hereafter"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Belgian actress Cecile de France ("High Tension," "Russian Dolls") will be starring alongside Matt Damon and Lyndsey Marshal "The Hours" in Clint Eastwood's supernatural drama "Hereafter" for Warner Bros.

Eastwood who also co-produced the movie alongside Kathleen Kennedy and Robert Lorenz, will direct the movie from Peter Morgan's ("The Queen," "Frost/Nixon") script.

Story revolves around three people who are touched by death in different ways; De France will play a French journalist who has a near-death experience during the Asian tsunami of 2004; Lyndsey Marshal plays a drug-addicted English single mother who loses one of her twin 10-year-old sons in a car accident; Damon plays a person who can talk to the dead.

Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, Peter Morgan and Tim Moore are exec producers.

Shooting, which has already started last month, will take place in Paris, London, Hawaii and San Francisco. Movie is scheduled to be released in December 2010.

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Director Gao Qun Shu has started shooting "Fantastic Four Detectives"

By Siewaun
Reference: english.cri.cn

Chinese director Gao Qunshu who recently co-directed world war two spy thriller "The Message," has started his new project titled "Fantastic Four Detectives" (Xi Feng Lie).

The eight lead characters are played by an all-star cast. Playing the four detectives are Duan Yihong (Detective Leopard), Wu Jing (Detective Goatherd), Ni Dahong (Detective Mastiff) and Zhang Li (Detective Yak). The two assassins are played by Francis Ng and Yu Nan. Xia Yu is playing the escape convict, and Charlie Yeung playing his girlfriend.

The movie revolves around four detectives, each with his unique traits and strengths, pursuing two escaped convicts who are all the way to the prairie, while two very experienced and skillful hired assassins keep getting in their way.

Shooting is now in progress on location at the deserts of northwestern China.

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Winona Ryder joins supernatural "Black Swan"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Winona Ryder, who is currently filming "When Love is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story" for CBS, is in negotiations to join Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis in Darren Aronofsky's supernatural thriller "Black Swan."

The movie which set in the world of the New York Ballet, revolves around Nina, a talented ballerina (Portman) and her rival Lilly (Kunis) who are tangled in a competitive showdown. Nina is not sure if the rival is real or a figment of her imagination. Ryder will play Beth, an aging ballerina who is coming to the end of her career.

Aronofsky will be directing from the script re-written by Mark Heyman, from John McLaughlin's original script.

Brian Oliver of Cross Creek is producing alongside Scott Franklin of Protozoa and, Arnold Messer and Mike Medavoy of Phoenix Pictures.

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Box Office Nov. 6-8 Results

1 Disney's A Christmas Carol - $31,000,000
2 Michael Jackson's This Is It - $14,000,000
3 The Men Who Stare at Goats - $13,309,000
4 The Fourth Kind - $12,521,285
5 Paranormal Activity - $8,600,000
6 The Box - $7,855,000
7 Couples Retreat - $6,428,250
8 Law Abiding Citizen - $6,172,000
9 Where the Wild Things Are - $4,225,000
10 Astro Boy - $2,588,000

Source: Boxoffice.com
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Box Office Nov. 7-8 Results (Japan)

1 MICHAEL JACKSON'S THIS IS IT - SPE
2 I Give My First Love To You (JPN.) - Toho
3 The Unbroken (JPN.) - Toho
4 Fresh Pretty Cure! (JPN.Animation) - Toei
5 Kaiji (JPN.) - Toho
6 The Rebirth Of Buddha (JPN.Animation) - Toei
7 Feel The Wind (JPN.) - Shochiku
8 DRAG ME TO HELL - GAGA
9 SAW VI - Asmik Ace
10 My Rainy Days (JPN.) - GAGA

Source: Chinemanavi.co.jp
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Goran Visnjic is set for "Beginners"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Former "ER" star Goran Visnjic who co-starred with Ashley Judd in the Sundance movie "Helen," will be starring alongside Ewan McGregor, Melanie Laurent "Inglourious Basterds" and Christopher Plummer in indie drama "Beginners" for Olympus Pictures and Parts and Labor.

"Thumbsucker" director Mike Mills is set the direct from his own script. There is no word yet on the storyline.

Dean Vanech, Jay Von Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Leslie Urdang and Miranda de Pencier are producing the movie. Shooting has already begun in Los Angeles.
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Gwyneth Paltrow is the wife of "The Danish Girl"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

It was mentioned earlier that Charlize Theron who was previously attached to Swedish director Tomas Alfredson's "The Danish Girl," has left the project. Now it's officially confirmed that the project has found a new replacement in Gwyneth Paltrow.

Paltrow is set to join Nicole Kidman who had already been attached to play real-life world's first post-operative transsexual Danish painter Einar Wegener/Lili Elbe. Paltrow will play Einar/Lili's wife Greta.

The story revolves around Danish painter Einar Wegener(Kidman) who dressed as a woman to do a favour for his wife Greta (Paltrow) a portrait painter who asked him to stand in for a female model. That eventually leads to a series of five sex-change operations by Wegener to transform into a woman, Lili Elbe.

Kidman is also co-producing alongside Per Saari, Gail Mutrux, Anne Harrison and Linda Reisman.

The Pretty Pictures, Harrison Productions and Blossom Films. co-production movie is scheduled for release in 2011.

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Jake Gyllenhaal is searching for the "Source Code"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Jake Gyllenhaal ("Brokeback Mountain," "Prince of Persia") is in talks with Vendome Pictures and The Mark Gordon Co. to star in sci-fi thriller "Source Code," playing the main character Colter.

Duncan Jones "Moon" is set to direct from the script originally written by Ben Ripley "Species III", and later revised by Billy Ray "State of Play".

The movie is about a soldier by the name of Colter (Gyllenhaal) who wakes up in the body of an unknown commuter. With no clue how he got there, he is forced to live and relive a harrowing train bombing until he can determine who is responsible for it.

Mark Gordon will produce through his The Mark Gordon Co. banner with Vendome's CEO Philippe Rousselet and Jordan Wynn. Production is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2010.

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Bradley Cooper steps into "Dark Fields"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Bradley Cooper ("The Hangover," "New York, I Love You") will star in Relativity Media suspense thriller "Dark Fields," replacing Shia Lebouf.

Neil Burger ("The Illusionist," "The Lucky Ones") has been hired to direct the movie from Leslie Dixon "Hairspray" adaptation, which is based on Alan Glynn’s novel.

The movie revolves around a lowly middle-aged New York writer Eddie Spinola (Cooper) who lives a depressing and undistinguished life until he takes a secret drug that enables him to access the full capacity of his brain. But he discovered that he had paid a heavy price for his success and new found brilliance.
brilliance

Dixon and Scott Kroopf will produce with Relativity Media’s Ryan Kavanaugh, while Relativity’s Tucker Tooley will executive produce.

Shooting is scheduled to begin in late spring 2010.

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Trio are heading to Jellystone Park for "Yogi Bear"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Anna Faris, Dan Aykroyd and Justin Timberlake are in negotiations to voice a role in Warner Bros.' live-action/CG animated feature "Yogi Bear."

Faris who recently voiced the Sam Sparks character in "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" and starring in "The House Bunny," is in talks to play live-action character Rachel, a nature documentary filmmaker shooting Yogi and Boo-Boo. Aykroyd is negotiating to voice the lovable Jellystone Park bear Yogi, while Timberlake to voice Yogi’s constant companion Boo-Boo.

Eric Brevig "Journey to the Center of the Earth" will direct from the script by Brad Copeland "Wild Hogs." Donald De Line and Karen Rosenfelt are producing, while DeLine executive Andrew Haas is exec producing.

Shooting is scheduled to begin next month in New Zealand. Warner Bros is aiming for a December 17th 2010 release.

Original script for "Yogi" was written by Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimilia.

Yogi bear first appeared in Hanna-Barbera cartoons in 1958 and was voiced by Daws Butler.

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Twilight's Ashley Greene in talks for "The Apparition"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen in "Twilight") is in negotiations with Joel Silver's Dark Castle genre label to star in supernatural thriller "The Apparition."

Todd Lincoln is writing the script which is inspired on true happenings. He will also direct the movie, which focuses on a young couple haunted by a supernatural presence unleashed during a college experiment.

Lincoln originally developed the movie with Silver Pictures/Dark Castle exec Heineman and Alter.

Silver is producing with Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman. Steve Richards, Sue Baden Powell and Daniel Alter are executive producing.

Production is scheduled to begin February next year.

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Hideo Nakata hears the "Voice From The Stone"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Zanuck Independent has signed on director Hideo Nakata ("Ringu," "L: Change the World") to direct supernatural thriller "Voice From The Stone," based on the Italian cult novel of the same name.

Mark Wheaton ("The Messengers," "Friday The 13th") wrote the adaptation which is about a female psychologist who takes on the case of a young boy who made a promise to his dying mother to remain silent until her spirit returns. The psychologist begins to realize that the boy's dead mother has manipulated her in order to take possession of her body so she can be reunited with her son.

Dean Zanuck and Stefano Gallini-Durante of Zanuck Independent will produce alongside Oliver Simon and Daniel Baur of K5 International.

Shooting is scheduled to begin in spring-summer 2010.

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Danny Boyle to team with Fox for "127 Hours"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Multiple awards winning director Danny Boyle is set to collaborate with Fox Searchlight for the fifth time to make a new movie titled, "127 Hours." Movies they have collaborated in the past includes "Sunshine," "28 Days Later," "Millions," and most recently the 2008 "Slumdog Millionaire," which won eight Academy Awards in total, including Best Director for Boyle.

Boyle will direct the movie, and has written a treatment of the story. "Slumdog Millionaire" writer Simon Beaufoy is in negotiations to write the script. Christian Colson will produce.

The movie tells the true happening of mountaineer Aron Ralston who was forced to amputate his lower right arm with a dull knife to free himself after it got pinned under a boulder for nearly five days during a climb in Utah in May 2003. He then scaled a 65-foot sheer wall and hiked out before running into a family that gave him water and food, and alerted the authorities. He was finally rescued by a helicopter search team.

Casting is still on-going to find an actor to play Ralston. Shooting is scheduled to begin next year, and will be released late 2010.

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Shooting has begun for John Woo's "Jianyu Jianghu"

By Siewaun
Reference: english.cri

Shooting has begun in Shanghai for the John Woo-produced martial arts movie "Jianyu Jianghu," literally translated as "the rain of swords in the martial art world."

The John Woo and Taiwanese director Su Chao-pin co-directed movie boasts a star-studded cast of Malaysian kungfu star Michelle Yeoh, South Korea's Woo-sung Jung, Taiwan's Chen Chang and Barbie Hsu, Hong Kong's Kelly Lin, and China's Wang Xueqi. Woo's daughter Angeles Woo, got a minor role as a mysterious killer.

The US$12 million movie is about an lady assassin (Yeoh) who falls in love with a postman (Woo-sung Jung), neither is aware the man's father was killed by her gang nor that he is a trained martial artist. Their love blossoms but then the past comes back to haunt them.

Producer Terence Chang of Lion Rock Productions, who is a long-time working partner of John Woo, and will also be working alongside him in this movie which he describes as a combination of "Face/Off" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" set in China's ancient Ming Dynasty.

Hong Kong's Media Asia and China's Galloping Horses Film are financing the movie, while John Woo and Terence Chang will be producing alongside Taipei-based Stellar Entertainment managing director David Tang.

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Bening, Hopkins join 'Hemingway' cast

Source: Variety

Andy Garcia has landed Anthony Hopkins and Annette Bening to star with him in "Hemingway and Fuentes," which Garcia will direct from a script he wrote with Hilary Hemingway, granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway.

The drama chronicles the two decades that Hemingway spent in Cuba fishing with his best friend, Gregorio Fuentes. There, the author fell in love with a beautiful Italian girl who inspired him to write "The Old Man and the Sea." Garcia will play Fuentes, and Bening will play the author's third wife, Mary Welsh Hemingway.

Garcia will produce, and Mark Amin of Sobini Films is exec producer. Garcia's CineSon and Paradigm Motion Picture Finance Group are shopping the film to international buyers at AFM with Sobini Films.

For Garcia, the project has been gathering momentum since the 1970s, when his passion for offshore fishing brought him in contact with some of the grizzled anglers who bent a rod alongside Ernest Hemingway in Cuba in the 1940s and '50s, chasing giant marlin.

“I was specifically most interested in Hemingway’s connection to Cuba, where he spent the last 20 years of his life, and his relationship with his last captain, Gregorio,” Garcia said. “As an avid fisherman, I got to know older Cuban fisherman who knew Gregorio from the fishing culture of the 40s and 50s, and who would compete in tournaments outside the city of Havana, which was really the beginning of competitive fishing.”

Garcia wrote a script, then put it down to direct the 2005 pic “The Lost City.” He was introduced to the author’s granddaughter by a mutual friend, saw a documentary she made about Hemingway, and began collaborating on a script that is squarely set in the fishing adventures Hemingway and Fuentes experience aboard Pilar, the modified 34 foot Wheeler Playmate craft.

Garcia has been hoping for months to land Hopkins, who recently committed to do the film after he completes "Thor." Now Garcia feels he has the bait to hook the financing to make the picture next summer, mostly in the Caribbean rim, and a location to replicate Ketchum, Idaho, where Hemingway moved and committed suicide shortly thereafter.

“Anthony is one of the greatest actors, and I’d heard he’d been interested in playing the character in the past,” Garcia said. “I’m blessed that he responded. The marketplace is ever changing in the film world, so you’re trolling many baits, waiting to see where the strikes are. Officially, we are going out with the movie and starting conversations with all foreign distributors. I’ve done about six movies that way, and sold domestic later. When I worked with Francis Coppola on `The Godfather 3,’ he said the way you make a movie is, you begin. We’ve begun.”

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