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-- Entertainment News For March 21, 2003 (http://www.vcdhq.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=19800)

Entertainment News For March 21, 2003

Notes: All of these articles came from The Hollywood Reporter, as I like the way their articles are written and aren't opinionated like so many other sources.

Witherspoon off to 'Sheba'
Reese Witherspoon will star in "Daughter of the Queen of Sheba," a big-screen adaptation of Jacki Lyden's nonfiction book that Paramount Pictures is in negotiations to acquire. The mother-daughter tale will be produced by Susan Cartsonis and Matt Williams. No start date has been set, and no director is attached. Meryl Streep has expressed interest to also star, pending a helmer. Karen Croner (1998's "One True Thing") adapted the project, based on Lyden's memoir of growing up with a mother whom everyone labeled as crazy but actually suffered from what is now known to be manic-depression. Lyden's mother often would become convinced she was a woman with power, such as the Queen of Sheba or Marie Antoinette, then act out her delusions. Her mother's escapes from reality inspired Lyden to seek a career in radio journalism, where she could "escape" to exotic places like Baghdad to cover the Persian Gulf War, among other places. Lyden's feelings of helplessness growing up, her mother's refusal to seek treatment and her mother's relationships with the opposite sex -- which, in turn, affected Lyden's relationships -- are among the complex issues explored in the script. Lyden is repped by literary agent Sylvie Rabineau. Witherspoon, repped by WMA and Management 360, is in production on Focus Features' "Vanity Fair" and next stars in MGM's "Legally Blonde 2: Red White & Blonde."

Stockwell, New Line in on 'Sunset' caper
"Blue Crush" director John Stockwell has been tapped to helm the New Line Cinema feature "After the Sunset," starring Pierce Brosnan. Produced by Firm Films, "Sunset" begins where most heist movies end: with a master thief (Brosnan) sailing off to an island paradise after his last big score. However, when his lifelong nemesis, an FBI agent, shows up to make sure the thief is really retired, a new cat-and-mouse game of friendship, suspicion and thievery begins. Based on a Paul Zbyszewski spec script (which Craig Rosenberg was recently hired to rewrite), the film is being produced by Beau Flynn and exec produced by Tripp Vinson. Chris Pollack is associate producing, while New Line production execs Kent Alterman and Keith Goldberg are overseeing for the studio. Production is scheduled to begin in October. "Sunset" marks the first time Stockwell has worked with New Line. His past credits include "Blue Crush," "crazy/beautiful" and "Cheaters." He is repped by UTA and attorney Jared Levine. Rosenberg is repped by UTA, the Firm and attorney Craig Emmanuel.

Sparx fly on sci-fi 'Robota'
CANNES -- French animation and digital effects studio Sparx is putting together financing on the $50 million sci-fi feature "Robota," currently being developed with art director Doug Chiang, which will combine live-action and digital animation. The movie is part Shakespearean love story, part thriller and is set in a world that has fallen under the control of the machines. The picture will incorporate regular 3-D animation and rotomotion techniques, a more sophisticated version of motion capture that was used for the Gollum character in the "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Chiang's previous credits include "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "The Mask" and the two most recent "Star Wars" films. He is currently working on "The Polar Express," by Robert Zemeckis.

$50 mil live-action future for 'Onimusha'
CANNES -- Samuel Hadida's production label Davis Films has pacted with Gaga Prods. to make a $50 million live-action adventure fantasy picture, "Onimusha," adapted from Capcom's eponymous best-selling video game. "It's samurai fighting against demons -- it's very close to this simple pitch. There's also a love story woven in. It's a big adventure movie with lots of special effects," said Hadida, who with brother Victor heads French distributor Metropolitan Filmexport. The film is set in 16th century Japan, where warlords are using the forces of darkness to rule the country. But a young warrior has to battle the evil. Keiji Inafune created the game version, which runs on Sony's PlayStation 2 and has sold more than 4 million units worldwide. A third installment of the game is due out soon. The subsequent episodes of the "Onimusha" game allow the story to be moved through both time and space, so the sequel possibilities are extensive. "It's going to be a franchise, absolutely," Hadida said.

Hunter's name in 'Black Book' for Revolution
Holly Hunter will star opposite Brittany Murphy in Revolution Studios' romantic comedy "Little Black Book" for British helmer Nick Huran. Production is slated to begin in August. Written by Melissa Carter and Elisa Bell, "Book" stars Murphy as Stacy, an associate producer for a daytime talk show who opens up a Pandora's box when she goes into her boyfriend's Palm Pilot to learn more about his ex-girlfriends and ends up learning much more about herself. Hunter will play Barb, a senior associate producer at the television station who befriends Stacy and shows her the ropes. Revolution partner Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas is producing the project with producers William Sherak and Jason Shuman of Blue Star Pictures. Deborah Schindler and Rachael Horovitz are executive producing. Hunter, repped by WMA and Management 360, next stars in Fox Searchlight's feature "Thirteen." The actress, who won an Oscar for her role in "The Piano," was most recently seen in the feature films "Levity" and "Moonlight Mile." In January, Hunter was honored at the Sundance Film Festival with the 2003 Tribute to Independent Vision Award.

Hayes makes 'Date' with DreamWorks
CANNES -- Sean Hayes is poised to take his comedic talents to the big screen. The actor is entering final negotiations to join the cast of DreamWorks Pictures' "Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!" for director Robert Luketic and Red Wagon Entertainment. "Will & Grace" co-star Hayes joins Kate Bosworth, Josh Duhamel, Topher Grace and Nathan Lane in the project, which is filming in Los Angeles. The romantic comedy centers on small-town grocery store clerk Rosalee (Bosworth), who wins a contest that gets her out of West Virginia to Hollywood for a date with a hot movie star (Duhamel). Once in town, she finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with the hunk and her longtime best friend (Grace), a fellow clerk who has been in love with Rosalee since the sixth grade. Hayes will star as Hamilton's inappropriate manager alongside Lane, who plays his agent. Ginnifer Goodwin rounds out the cast. Red Wagon's Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher are producing from a script by Vic Levin. At DreamWorks, the project is shepherded by production exec Marc Haimes. Hayes is repped by WMA, Mosaic Media Group and attorney Alan Hergott. The actor recently re-signed with NBC in a deal that will keep him and his "Will & Grace" co-stars on the show through at least through the 2004-05 season.

quote:

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Sparx fly on sci-fi 'Robota' CANNES -- French animation and digital effects studio Sparx is putting together financing on the $50 million sci-fi feature "Robota," currently being developed with art director Doug Chiang, which will combine live-action and digital animation. The movie is part Shakespearean love story, part thriller and is set in a world that has fallen under the control of the machines. The picture will incorporate regular 3-D animation and rotomotion techniques, a more sophisticated version of motion capture that was used for the Gollum character in the "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Chiang's previous credits include "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "The Mask" and the two most recent "Star Wars" films. He is currently working on "The Polar Express," by Robert Zemeckis

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Thanks to CczuAzul for starting the thread

In my "I'll be interested to watch the progress of this one" File

Miramax and Creative Will Release COMIC BOOK: THE MOVIE

Miramax and Creative Light Entertainment will release Mark Hamill's (STAR WARS) semifictional documentary COMIC BOOK: THE MOVIE. The film, starring and directed by Hamill, is about the world's biggest comic book fan being hired to direct a documentary about his favorite heroes. The film was shot entirely at the San Diego Comic Con and features appearances by Stan Lee, Hugh Hefner, Kevin Smith and Matt Groening. "We're excited about being in business with the team at Creative Light because of their great track record of creating highly successful fan-based productions," Miramax executive vice president Kevin Kasha said. "Our first project together, COMIC BOOK: THE MOVIE, promises to be an exciting undertaking with widespread appeal to audiences young and old -- from comic book fans to action hero fans to loyal followers of Mark Hamill."

A little old but updates news I suppose:

Frost to Rewrite FANTASTIC FOUR

20th Century Fox has tapped Mark Frost (HILL STREET BLUES) to rewrite the film adaption of Marvel Comics' FANTASTIC FOUR. Peyton Reed is directing the film, which is about four adventurers that are imbued with superpowers after being bombarded by cosmic radiation while in outer space. Their archnemesis is Dr. Doom, a onetime friend of The Four's Reed Richards. Doom blames Reed for his disfigurment during a lab accident in college.

One question..Hill Street Blues? FF arent cops


And in the "Oh please GOD why do we need a sequal" file

Peter Boyle is Old Man Wickles

Peter Boyle (EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND) has joined the cast of SCOOBY DOO 2: MONSTERS UNLEASHED, playing classic SCOOBY villain Old Man Wickles; Wickles was the first villain Mystery, Inc ever faced. Raja Gosnell is directing the film.

__________________
"If somebody said to me, in twelve years you’ll be in a band with your brother and two carrot munching geezers who don’t like football, I would've said 'fuck off, I’m not joining the Bee Gees." -Noel Gallagher 2005

Yep, I agree, Scooby Two is pointless. They better fix that damn CGI Dog. Here's another story about Director Story.

Story eyes Imagine-Urban's 'Ralph'
"Barbershop" helmer Tim Story is in negotiations to develop and direct Universal Pictures' comedy "Ralph" (aka "Pookie Poo") for Brian Grazer's Imagine Entertainment and Urban Entertainment. No start date has been set. Eddie Murphy is said to have sparked to the script, though no offer has been made. Written by Jordan Moffet, "Ralph" is about a black man who, tired of being made to feel invisible, makes a wish and winds up in a parallel world where he is the only man of his race in existence. The project is based loosely on an episode of the animated cartoon series "Pookie Poo" on Urban's Web site, www.urbanentertainment.com.