Trailers: ‘The Box’

Source: AOL

Donnie Darko left me breathless, literally. The credits came up, my mouth was wide open, and I was completely in awe. Southland Tales left me another kind of breathless; pissed off, mouth agape in confused wonder. So with that, I present the trailer for Richard Kelly’s follow-up The Box, based on Richard Matheson’s short story, “Button, Button”, which later became a Twilight Zone episode. The story concerns a married couple who are offered a simple proposition: “Push the button and you’ll receive a million dollars, however; somewhere, someone you don’t know will die.” What would you do?

This trailer is a poor example (mostly the music), but I believe we’re in for something special. When I finished the script for his upcoming adaptation of  I actually had to stop a moment to pause. This isn’t like anything we’ve gotten from Richard Kelly before. It’s much darker than Darko, insanely more cohesive than Tales, and more mainstream than both. It’s a disturbing story, with a great hook, and an amazing ending. I don’t know what draft I read, but I’m really excited for Kelly to prove everyone wrong. The film stars Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, and Frank Langella. It is being scored by Win Butler, Regine Chassagne, and Owen Pallett, of Arcade Fire and Final Fantasy fame, respectively.

Daniel Craig Builds ‘Dream House’

Source: THR

Daniel Craig (Quantum Of Solace, Defiance) is in early talks to star in Dream House, a psychological thriller set up at Morgan Creek to be directed by Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In America). Scripted by David Loucka script, Craig would play a man who moves his family to an idyllic small town, only to find his house haunted by its former inhabitants, who were murdered there. Sources close to the project stress that the two sides have not reached a deal. Craig’s name recently surfaced in connection with The Eagle Of The Ninth, a period pic for Focus Features being helmed by Kevin Macdonald (The Last King Of Scotland).

Tidbits: June 23, 2009

Blood Simple
Zhang Yimou has started shooting a remake of the Coen brothers’ debut, Blood Simple. San Qiang Pai An Jing Qi (“The Stunning Case Of The Three Gun Shots“) recently began production. Details on the remake are being kept under wraps, but the thriller-comedy stars Chinese actor Sun Honglei, comedian Xiao Shenyang and actress Yan Ni. Blood Simple was about a Texas bar owner who hires a private detective to kill his wife and her lover. The 1984 movie starring Frances McDormand won the Grand Jury Prize for best film at the United States Film Festival — the predecessor to the Sundance Film Festival — helping establish Joel and Ethan Coen’s reputations. [Source: THR]

Burlesque
Cher is set to return to the screen for the first time in more than a decade in a contemporary musical for Screen Gems. Christina Aguilera will play an ambitious small-town Iowa girl with a big voice who comes of age in a neo-burlesque club on Sunset Boulevard that’s run by Tess (Cher), a former dancer who struggles to keep the club open and gives the young girl a chance to shine. “She brings a soulfulness and gravitas to this character that will ground the story,” Chris Culpepper, president of Screen Gems said. “The only person who was more excited than I am is Christina.” Steven Antin will direct from a script he wrote that was revised by Susannah Grant (Erin Brokovich, The Soloist). [Source: Variety]

Frank
Kevin Lima (Enchanted) has been tapped to direct romantic comedy Frank, a reimagining of Mary Shelley’s classic Frankenstein story. The film centers on a teenage prodigy who’s on the cutting edge of cell research in medical school and is encouraged by her guidance counselor to take a break from the lab and make some friends. After several unsuccessful attempts at socializing with her peers, she decides to use her scientific prowess and piece together a friend out of the med school’s instructional cadavers. The project is currently out to writers. Lima is also working on a remake of  The Incredible Mr. Limpet. [Source: Variety]

Ghostbusters 3
Sigourney Weaver confirms that she will not be in Ghostbusters 3. “No, I don’t expect to have anything to do with it, although I wish them well. I just did a benefit with Bill and we love working together, but I think they’re trying to create something new completely with the Ghostbusters. “I hope my little son Oscar [from Ghostbusters II] is a Ghostbuster!” [Source: Digital Spy]

Smallville
British actor Callum Blue (Dead Like Me, Rome) has joined the cast of Smallville, portraying General Zod in a role previously made famous by Terrence Stamp. Supervillain General Zod from the DC Comics books was introduced in 1980 feature “Superman II.” [Source: THR]

The Special Relationship
Peter Morgan has pulled out as director of the HBO Films/BBC Films movie The Special Relationship. Richard Loncraine has come on board to direct the project, written by Morgan, who will remain “integrally involved in every aspect of the production” in his role as a writer/executive producer. The cast, crew and filming schedule for “Special Relationship,” which has been greenlighted for production, remain intact. Dennis Quaid is on board to play President Clinton, Michael Sheen as Prime Minister Blair, Julianne Moore as Hillary Clinton and Helen McCrory as Cherie Blair. [Source: THR]

The Testament
After a decade of saying no, John Grisham has made a movie deal for his 1999 bestselling novel about a billionaire defies his greedy relatives and leaves his $11 billion fortune to a mysterious illegitimate daughter doing charity work in the Brazilian wetlands. A down-and-out lawyer helps her battle her relatives over the fortune. [Source: Variety]

Untitled Zac Efron Thriller
Zac Efron has signed to star in an untitled thriller for Mandate Pictures, which is being written by Leslie Dixon. The plot is being kept under wraps but it is described as “a sexy thriller.” Efron will act as executive producer with Mandate’s Nathan Kahane. [Source: THR]

‘Dorian Gray’ Poster

Source: Dark Horizons

Garth @ Dark Horizons scored a look at some early promotional work for the upcoming, Dorian Gray. In the film, based on the Oscar Wilde story, Ben Barnes (Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian)’ tells the story of a strikingly beautiful young man named Dorian who arrives in Victorian London and is swept into a social whirlwind by the charismatic Henry Wotton (Colin Firth), who introduces Dorian to the hedonistic pleasures of the city.

When a portrait of Dorian is unveiled, such is its beauty that he makes a pledge: he would give anything to stay as he is in the picture – even his soul. “Dorian Gray” examines the destructive power of beauty, the blind pursuit of pleasure and the darkness that can result. The film was directed by Oliver Parker (An Ideal Husband, The Importance Of Being Earnest), and written by newcomer Toby Finlay hits UK cinemas on September 11th.

Massive Tidbits Update: June 19, 2009

Note: I fell behind a bit the past few days, so here’s a massive roundup to get reasonably caught up.

Boo-U
Dreamworks Animation is pushing forward with their “super secret ghost project“, competing for a fourth-quarter 2012 release slot. Referred to internally as Boo U., the story centers on a ghost who is bad at his job and must return to ghost school. The film recently picked up writer Jon Vitti (The Simpsons Movie). It’s kinda sad, because this is a project that would inspire all sorts of possibilities if it were being made at Pixar. Another ghost-centric film, referred to as Freakers, is being written by Joe Syracuse & Lisa Addario (Surf’s Up) centers on a ghost story told from the ghosts’ point of view, in their world. [Source: THR]

Bounty Hunter
Jason Sudeikis (SNL, 30 Rock) has been cast in the Columbia comedy opposite Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler. The movie centers on Milo (Butler), a bounty hunter hired to track down his ex-wife, Casidy (Aniston), who has skipped out on bail. Sudeikis will play Stewart, a work friend of Casidy’s who falsely believes he is her boyfriend and takes off after her when she goes on the run. Andy Tennant (Fool’s Gold) directs from a script by Sarah Thorp (Twisted). [Source: THR]

Bride Of Frankenstein
Neil Burger (The Illusionist) is in talks to resurrect the Bride Of Frankenstein for Universal. Burger would pen the script with writing partner Dirk Wittenborn. The sequel continued the story of Frankenstein’s monster who persuades Dr. Frankenstein to create a mate. The doctor is successful, but the Bride (who is not a central character) winds up rejecting the monster at the end of the movie. About five years ago, American Splendor scribes Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini were attached to write, setting the  picture in contemporary New York, with a young woman dying and then unnaturally brought back to life. Burger’s version is expected to differ significantly from that concept. [Source: Risky Biz Blog]

The Experiment
Adrien Brody, Forest Whitaker, Elijah Wood and Cam Gigandet will star in a remake of the German psychological thriller Das Experiment. The original centered centered on a group of ordinary men recruited to take on the roles of guards and prisoners as part of a research study and examined how the effects of assigned roles, power and control affected the participants. Brody will portray the de facto leader of the prisoners while Whitaker will play a guard who’s corrupted by the power he’s given. Prison Break creator Paul Scheuring writing and directing with filming set to begin in Iowa next month. [Source: Variety]

Footloose
Dancing With the Stars‘ Julianne Hough will be make the transition to acting in the upcoming remake of Paramount’s 1984 classic. The dancer, singer and choreographer will join Chace Crawford (who recently replaced Zac Efron), assuming her scheduling works for the March shoot. The original told the story of a rebellious outsider who moves to a new town where music and dancing are banned and proceeds to shake everything up. Kenny Ortega (High School Musical) directs, while the latest draft was written by Susannah Grant (The Soloist). [Source: THR]

Inception
Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi feature has officially begun shooting in Tokyo. The film which stars Leonard DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt among others has a rumored budget of $150+ million. The story, which is being extremely quiet, is “a sci-fi thriller set within the architecture of the mind.” [Source: /Film]

The Invisible Man
David Goyer updated ShockTilYouDrop on the status of his version of the HG Wells classic. “I’ve since finished a draft and I’m in the midst of revisions for it right now,” he says. “Universal seems pretty high on it. So, they’re just breathing down my neck to get the revisions done. It’s a movie they’d like to make.” Universal also has The Wolfman coming to theaters this November, so the success of these two movies will most likely influence whether other classic monster franchies are revived. [Source: ShockTilYouDrop]

Just Wright
Rapper-turned-actor Common (Smokin Aces, Terminator: Salvation) has been cast opposite Queen Latifah in a romantic sports comedy directed by Sanaa Hamri. Scripted by Michael Elliott, film concerns a sports trainer who finds herself falling in love with a professional basketball player while rehabilitating him from a career-threatening injury. Paula Patton (Deja Vu, Precious) was also recently cast. [Source: Variety]

The Last Song
Greg Kinnear and Kelly Preston have been cast as Miley Cyrus’ parents in Disney’s adaptation of the upcoming Nicholas Sparks novel. The story centers on a rebellious teenager (Cyrus) who is forced to spend the summer with her estranged father (Kinnear), a former Juilliard professor and concert pianist. [Source: THR]

Money Never Sleeps
British actress Carey Mulligan (Pride & Prejudice) has been cast as Gordon Gecko’s daughter, Winnie, in Oliver Stone’s Wall Street sequel. Winnie Gecko is the fiancee of Jacob (Shia LaBeouf), and hasn’t spoken to her father Gordon in 11 years while he was away in prison since she blames her father for the suicide of her brother Rudy. Taking place 21 years after the events in Wall Street and set in the world of hedge fund managers around election time, Gordon Gecko agrees to help Jacob get his revenge against a hedge fund manager as long as Jacob helps restore and mend Gordon’s relationship with Winnie. Winnie works for a senator in Washington, DC. [Source: Latino Review]

Once Upon A Time…
Mike Mitchell (Shrek Forever After) is set to direct MGM’s live-action fantasy, based on a script Charlie Vignola, Kevin Marcus and Bradley Marcus. The story has Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty married to their handsome princes, the Charming brothers, and planning to live happily ever after — only to see their spouses go missing. The sisters-in-law set out to save their husbands and the fairy tale kingdom. An MGM rep said the studio does not have to license Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty from the Walt Disney Co. because the characters are in the public domain. [Source: Variety]

Teen Wolf
A remake of Michael J. Fox starrer Teen Wolf is in early development, because apparently Hollywood has given up and we should all get used to this. Warner Bros snagged the rights five or six years ago and are currently out to writers, looking for a fresh reinterpretation of Rod Daniels’ 1985 hit. The studio isn’t sure ”which way they’re going to go.” [Source: Moviehole]

The Secret History Of Tom Trueheart
Framelight Productions and David Uslan set to produce and adapt the children’s book trilogy into a series of feature films. The series follows a young boy and his older brothers in the Land of Stories. Production on a first live-action pic, based on the 2007 book, is aimed for a mid-2010 start on a planned $60 million budget. Framelight’s Jeffrey D. Erb and Robert L. Robinson Jr. will join Uslan in producing the film, with the series’ British author, Ian Beck, on board as exec producer. A screenwriter will be hired shortly. [Source: THR]

Tron 2
A pretty intensive, spoiler-filled early script review for Tron 2 has gone up over at CC2K. [Source: CC2K]

Trophy Boys
Josh Sugarman is setting eye on a group of young writers as a way of examining Generation Y in the narrative film as his feature directorial debut that has begun shooting in New York. Ryan Eggold (90210) plays a self-righteous twentysomething, with David Gallagher (7th Heaven) playing a friend who collaborates with him on a script. Tahyna Tozzi (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) plays a love interest for both. The film’s title describes members of a generation, coddled by their parents, that grow up with an overestimated sense of self-worth. Sugarman co-wrote the screenplay with Brandon Yankowitz. [Source: THR]

Unbreakable 2
M. Night Shyamalan is apparently still keen on doing a sequel to Unbreakable. “I don’t know where all the parties are in the world. Sam [Jackson] is like ‘Mr. Comic Book’ now. And Bruce, I don’t know what he’s up to. I don’t know where Disney’s at in their head and what kind of movies they’re up for making. But yeah, I love that movie.” Would Disney ever want to work with Shyamalan again after that entire Lady In The Water fiasco? [Source: MTV]

Untitled Facebook Status Project
Lisa Hamilton Day, a former exec at Dreamworks and friend of Christy Fletcher’s, wryly posted last week: “Lisa Hamilton Day’s Pomeranian raided Chinese takeout bag overnight, opened and ate a fortune cookie. Her fortune: You have strong spiritual powers, and you should develop them.” Fletcher, who runs a New York lit agency was thoroughly amused by the comment and immediately saw a story in it. Now Fletcher’s teamed up with Howie Sanders on a tween series about Charlotte, the Pomeranian, who uses her newfound superpowers to save her owner’s home after said owner loses her job and is forced to contemplate moving in with her folks, in a deal that would entail selling the Facebook update and optioning the dog’s life rights. Sigh. Seriously, I didn’t even make that up. [Source: Dark Horizons]

Wanted 2
Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch, Day Watch) is ready to start prep on a sequel to the Mark Millar adaptation. “In July we will start preparation for the film. I think in the late autumn or winter shooting will be performed, in America, India, and Russia,” Mr. Bekmambetov said to RIA Novosti. The film promises to bring back Angelina Jolie’s character, who was victim to the most awesome homicide/suicide ever filmed, aswell as introducing new characters. [Source: RIC]

Reese Witherspoon Is A ‘Pharm Girl’

Source: THR

Reese Witherspoon is set to produce and attached to star in Universal’s Pharm Girl, an aspirational comedy centering on one woman’s odyssey through the drug industry. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Bad Santa) are writing the screenplay and in talks to direct. The project centers on a woman (Witherspoon) who gets a job at a pharma powerhouse but begins to see the underbelly of the industry as she rises through the company’s ranks. Witherspoon, who recently signed onto the new James L. Brooks picture, is also prepping to other features to produce via her Type A banner; thriller Bell Witch, and romantic comedy Around the World in 80 Dates, both at Universal.

Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne Plan 9 Films

Source: Variety

Bob Shaye and longtime partner Michael Lynne, former moguls of the now absorbed New Line Cinema, have assembled a formidable slate of films through their new Unique Features production company. “Running a company with 650 people has its own excitement and thrill, but the reason you are doing it is to create quality content, and it is hard to feel close to that at the top of a big organization,” Shaye said. Lynne described the transition as “strangely exhilarating. Instead of patting a bunch of people on the shoulder for making movies for us, we are now doing it ourselves.”

Shaye and Lynne have 11 projects in development. They are as follows:

High In The Clouds
Animated feature “High in the Clouds” is an adaptation of a children’s book written by Paul McCartney, Geoff Dunbar and Philip Ardagh about a squirrel’s quest to find an animal sanctuary. The film will be directed by Rob Minkoff and adapted by Caroline Thompson. Paul McCartney will score the film.

7th Son
Warner Bros. has committed to develop “7th Son,” a drama based on a trio of graphic novels by J.C. Hutchins. Seven strangers, assembled after the assassination of the U.S. president, each realize they are the same man, with the same memories. Originally published as a digital download, the first novel, “Descent,” is being released in the fall by St. Martin’s Press. Justin Britt-Gibson is writing the script.

Alt-Delete
WB is also aboard “Alt-Delete,” a sci-fi comedy scripted by Tim Kelleher and Danny Zuker in which two guys working for a vidgame publishing company come to realize they are avatars in a larger game.

Thieves Of Baghdad
Warners will also develop “Thieves of Baghdad,” a 10th century family adventure steeped in the world of the Arabian Nights, with Cole Haddon writing the script. Shaye said he sparked to Haddon’s take on the original collection of folk tales “One Thousand and One Nights,” which is in the public domain. It is a film that weaves Sinbad, Ali Baba, flying carpets, sword fights and genies in urns.

The Birth Mother
Unique has made a Screen Gems deal for “The Birth Mother,” a Jack Olsen-scripted thriller about a couple whose marriage is threatened when their surrogate falls in love with the husband and becomes obsessed with keeping the baby.

City Of Angels
The Unique partners have reteamed with “Wag the Dog” director Barry Levinson for the “City of Angels” feature. Larry Gelbart will turn his original book into a script, and composer Marc Shaiman is attached to serve as music director, augmenting the original music by the late Cy Coleman. David Zippel, who wrote the lyrics for the original stage production, is back with the pic. Unique is producing with PicturePlay Films. “Barry brought it to us, and the story of a writer of classic film noir detective stories, with the same actor playing both the writer and detective … is as great an idea for the screen as it was the for the stage,” Shaye said.

Untitled Bart Scott Project
Shaye and Lynne have joined forces with journalist Gay Talese on a sports feature based on the formative years of Bart Scott, the Baltimore Ravens linebacker who just signed with the New York Jets at $48 million for six years. Talese sparked to the story of Scott’s upbringing in a tough area of Detroit. Talese “is at least going to join us to write an extended treatment, and then we’ll find a writer to fill it out,” Lynne said.

The Moral Instruments
“The Mortal Instruments” is a bestselling young-adult fantasy trilogy by Cassandra Clare (three more volumes are in the works) about a young girl who inherited an ability to see and interact with a clan of supernatural spirits.

Even
“Even” is an Andrew Grant novel published last month about an undercover Royal Navy intelligence operative who goes on the run after being framed for murder.

Phillip Noyce To Direct ‘Mixed Blood’

Source: THR

Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games, The Saint) is set to direct Samuel Jackson in a tale that centers on an American fugitive trying to protect his family who’s drawn into a world of murderers, kidnappers and corrupt cops in South Africa. Jackson would play a good detective who goes by the moniker of Disaster Zondi. Kelly Masterson (Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead) is penning the adaptation of Roger Smith’s novel. Noyce is currently directing Angelina Jolie in the Kurt Wimmer-penned Salt.

Catherine Hardwicke On Her ‘Hamlet’ Update

Source: Movieline

Moveline recently caught up with Catherine Hardwicke, the woman responsible for bringing Twilight to the screen to the joy of tweens everywhere, to talk about about plans for her update of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet with Emile Hirsch. Facts gleaned from the short interview: the film will be a bit of a supernatural thriller, a bit more violent, and a shorter tighter version than the Ethan Hawke update that was released awhile back.

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Hey, as long as the movie doesn’t have a goddamn intermission I’m there. Kenneth Branagh, I’m looking at you.

Trailers: ‘The Stepfather’

Source: Bloody-Disgusting

Ask anyone about my devout love for Lost and slight, but warranted, obsession with John Locke. Now don’t ask me why, but the original version of The Stepfather used to terrify me. Terry O’Quinn had a face that just creeped me the fuck out. The new version stars Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck) in the title role and actually doesn’t look like garbage. I also really love the “Who am I supposed to be here?” line. Creepy shit. Check out the trailer below.

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Michael Harding (Penn Badgley) returns home from military school to find his mother (Sela Ward) happily in love and living with her new boyfriend, David (Dylan Walsh). As the two men get to know each other, Michael becomes more and more suspicious of the man who is always there with a helpful hand. Is he really the man of her dreams or could David be hiding a dark side? The film reunites director Neil McCormack and writer J.S. Cardone who last worked together on the horrible horrible Prom Night, so with that in mind…this film will probably suck. But hey, at least Amber Heard’s in it, right?