PYTHONS REUNITE FOR "ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING"

EXCLUSIVE: Members of Monty Python's Flying Circus are reteaming for ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING,  a sci-fi farce combining CGI and live action, Variety's Dave McNary reports. Plans are for filming to begin in the U.K. this spring, with the Pythons voicing key roles as a a group of aliens who endow an earthling with the power to do "absolutely anything" to see what a mess he'll make of things -- which is precisely what happens. There's also a talking dog played by Robin Williams named Dennis who seems to understand more about the mayhem that ensues than anyone else.  "It's not a Monty Python picture, but it certainly has that sensibility," Director Terry Jones told Variety.  Jones co-directed 1974's MONTY AND THE HOLY GRAIL with Terry Gilliam and was the sole director on LIFE OF BRIAN  and MONTY PYTHON'S THE MEANING OF LIFE.  He said Gilliam and Python members John Cleese and Michael Palin have agreed to perform and added that producers are attempting to sign Eric Idle.  The five surviving troupe members last appeared together in 1998 at the Aspen Comedy Festival along with an urn that allegedly contained the ashes of late member Graham Chapman.

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SEVIGNY TO INVESTIGATE 'LOVELACE'

Chloe Sevigny is joining the cast of biopic LOVELACE, Variety's Dave McNary reports. She'll play a feminist journalist on assignment for a men's magazine to find out who the real Linda Lovelace is. Sevigny's casting was announced Wednesday. Addtionally, Demi Moore has ankled from the project to seek treatment for exhaustion. Moore had been tapped to portray Gloria Steinem and a replacement hasn't yet been announced. Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman are directing the pic, which stars Amanda Seyfried as Linda Boreman, aka DEEP THROAT star Linda Lovelace. Peter Sarsgaard and Sharon Stone co-star alongside Juno Temple, Wes Bentley, Hank Azaria, Bobby Cannavale, Chris Noth, Robert Patrick and James Franco.

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'HAUNTREPRENEUR' GETS BRAND-ED

Russell Brand is attached to star in "The Hauntrepreneur," Variety's Justin Kroll reports. The story revolves around a family that has trouble adjusting to a new town and hires a peculiar man who calls himself the Hauntrepreneur to help them. In an attempt to bring them together, the man creates a haunted house filled with an odd cast of characters. Brand can be seen next in ROCK OF AGES and is currently working on a special untitled series for FX, which he is also slated to produce. He is also expected to start production on the Untitled Diablo Cody film for Mandate.

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Headey heads to U's sci-fi "Vigilandia"

"Game of Thrones" star Lena Headey as landed the female lead in Universal's "Vigilandia," starring Ethan Hawke, Variety's Justin Kroll reports. Plot details of the sci-fi thriller are being kept under wraps. Besides "Game of Thrones," whose second season bows on April 1, Headey can also be seen next in "Dredd," starring Karl Urban.

Gutierrez to helm Relativity's 'The Crow'

Relativity Media has tapped "Before the Fall" helmer F. Javier Gutierrez to direct "The Crow," which will be written by Jesse Wigutow.

KING KNIGHTS BUTTERFIELD FOR TWO-YEAR DEAL

GK Films is betting big on youth -- specifically 14-year-old HUGO star Asa Butterfield. The banner, which produced HUGO, has signed Butterfield to an overall two-year deal to develop projects in which the Brit thesp would star, Variety's Dave McNary reports. Butterfield built a relationship with producer Graham King during HUGO, which won the National Board of Review and is among the leading award season contenders. Butterfield closed a deal in November to star as the title character in ENDER'S GAME, Odd Lot Entertainment's adaptation of Orson Scott Card's 1985 sci-fi novel.

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'THE CONJURING' SEEING STARS

New Line has selected Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson to star in the horror pic THE CONJURING, Variety's Justin Kroll reports. The two actors are in final negotiations to star and James Wan is on board to direct. The film is inspired by the true-life story of the Perron family, who claimed they “lived among the dead” in the 1970s as spirits both friendly and sinister inhabited their Rhode Island farmhouse.  Farmiga is no stranger to the horror genre having starred in the Warner Bros. pic ORPHAN and can be seen next in Universal’s SAFE HOUSE which opens next month. Wilson was most recently seen in Paramount’s YOUNG ADULT.

FEMALE LEADS FINAL FOR CRUISE SCI-FY PIC

EXCLUSIVE: Universal has tapped Olga Kurylenko and Andrea Riseborough as the female leads opposite Tom Cruise in an untitled sci-fi pic Variety's Jeff Sneider and Justin Kroll report.  The film revolves around a soldier stationed on a future Earth, the surface of which was destroyed by aliens. When Cruise discovers a mysterious woman in a crash-landed pod, it sets off a chain of events that cause him to question everything he knows.  Production is expected to start sometime in the first quarter of 2012 after it seemed nearly every high-profile young actress in Hollywood had been connected to the project at some point. Jessica Chastain landed one female lead in September, but was forced to pull out after signing on for Kathryn Bigelow's untitled Kill Bin Laden pic. Kurylenko tested for one of the roles in August with Olivia Wilde and Noomi Rapace but seemed to be out of the loop after Chastain landed the part.  Sources said that Cruise had liked her from the original test, and though she didn't test again in November, she was still in consideration. As for Riseborough, it's the first time her name has been linked to the project.

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WARNERS VISITS 'OTHERLAND'

EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros. is heading to OTHERLAND, acquiring feature rights to Tad Williams' sci-fi book series, Varity's Dave McNary reports. The studio has tapped John Scott III to write the script based on the four books published by DAW-Penguin USA between 1996 and 2001 as CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOW, RIVER OF BLUE FIRE, MOUNTAIN OF BLACK GLASS and SEA OF SILVER LIGHT. The story is set 100 years in the future and follows a group of unexpected heroes who must escape an assassin and make their way through epic digital worlds to unravel a conspiracy that threatens to destroy humanity.

 

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SWINTON, BELL IN TALKS TO BOARD 'SNOW PIERCER'

Tilda Swinton and Jamie Bell are in talks to join Chris Evans in the indie drama SNOW PIERCER, Variety's Justin Kroll reports. Bong Joon-ho is helming from a script he penned with Park Chan-wook producing. Set in a world covered in snow and ice, the story follows a train full of travelers who struggle to co-exist. The pic marks Bong's domestic directorial debut and similar to Park, who also just wrapped production on his first U.S. film, the Korean helmer is drawing notable thesps because of his track record overseas.

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TOMMY LEE JONES' NEW GROOVE

Tommy Lee Jones will portray Gen. Douglas MacArthur opposite Matthew Fox in Peter Webber's Japan-set political thriller EMPEROR, Variety's Dave McNary reports. Producers announced Jones' casting Tuesday. Inspired by true events, EMPEROR is a story of love and understanding set amid the uncertainties of the days following the Japanese surrender at the end of WWII, when MacArthur, as supreme commander of the occupying forces, served as de facto ruler of Japan. Fox will play Gen. Bonner Fellers, one of MacArthur's Japan experts, who is charged with reaching a decision on an issue of historical importance: Should Emperor Hirohito be tried and hanged as a war criminal? Pic also will explore the story of Fellers' love affair with a Japanese exchange student and his quest to find her in the ravaged post-war landscape.

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SETH AND 'THEFT'

Seth Gordon is set to direct IDENTITY THEFT,Variety's Justin Kroll reports. Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy are attached to star. The pic revolves around a man whose identity is stolen by a woman. Steve Conrad wrote the initial draft and Craig Mazin is currently rewriting the screenplay. The plan is for the pic to go into production in early 2012. While Gordon has several projects in development, IDENTITY THEFT  marks his first since his comedy HORRIBLE BOSSES scored big at the box office, bringing in more than $115 million domestically.

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'Chronicle' director Trank rolling toward 'Fantastic Four' reboot

EXCLUSIVE: In a major sign of confidence in his upcoming supervillain pic CHRONICLE, helmer Josh Trank has emerged as the frontrunner to direct 20th Century Fox’s reboot of Marvel’s FANTASTIC FOUR franchise, Variety's Jeff Sneider and Rachel Abrams report. Trank has had several meetings regarding the project, but with his debut feature still three weeks away, insiders tell SHOWBLITZ that Fox is expected to wait to see how CHRONICLE opens over Super Bowl weekend before extending an official offer. That said, Fox is high on CHRONICLE, and would like to keep Trank in business with the studio. Internally, studio execs expect Trank to land the coveted helming gig.

Chris Evans Warms to 'Snow Piercer'

EXCLUSIVE: Chris Evans is setting down the shield for a moment, as the CAPTAIN AMERICA thesp is in negotiations to star in the indie SNOW PIERCER from THE HOST helmer Bong Joon-ho. Joon-ho also wrote the script with Park Chan-wook, director of the original Korean cult classic OLDBOY, producing. Set in a world covered in snow and ice, the story follows a train full of travelers who struggle to co-exist.

 

 

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Elizabeth Olsen Beats a Path to 'Kill Your Darlings'

EXCLUSIVE: Elizabeth Olsen, Dane Dehaan and Jack Huston are joining Daniel Radcliffe in KILL YOUR DARLINGS, the Killer Films/Benaroya Pictures thriller that tells the story of how a murder at Columbia University in 1944 brought together the young writers who would spark the Beat Revolution. Olsen, whose profile rose dramatically this year following her turn in MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, will play Edie Parker, the wealthy art-student girlfriend of Jack Kerouac (Huston). Radcliffe will play Allen Ginsberg; Dehaan plays Lucien Carr, a classmate of Ginsberg’s for whom the young poet develops feelings. Lensing is set to begin March 12 in New York at Columbia University. Olsen, whose resume was spare before bursting  onto the scene at last year’s Sundance Film Fest, will return to Park City this year with the paranormal drama RED LIGHTS.

 

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THE SENTIENT BECOMES AWARE

Quincy Pictures has launched with THE SENTIENT, a sci-fi thriller short with a trio of Oscar-nominated crew members, Variety's Dave McNary reports. Directed by Gabriel Scott from his own script, SENTIENT has over 80 FX shots in nine minutes of film time and the company hopes to make the film into a full-length feature. The Crew included Oscar nominees Randy Kerber as composer, Scott E. Anderson on VFX and Rick Kline, who’s been nommed for 11 Oscars, as sound mixer. The short was recently shown at a private industry screening at the Pacific Design Center.

MAD EYE MOON-EY

EXCLUSIVE: Timur Bekmambetov’s Bazelevs banner has acquired feature film rights to Stephen Tunney’s young adult novel ONE HUNDRED PERCENT LUNAR BOY and tapped Edward Ricourt (NOW YOU SEE ME ) to adapt the sci-fi tale, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Set 2000 years in the future, novel’s protag is 16-year-old Hieronymus Rexaphin, who lives on the now-colonized moon, where he meets a girl from Earth who is inexplicably drawn to him because of his special -- some say dangerous -- condition: Hieronymus can see the fourth primary color, which gives him the ability to see the future path of time and matter.

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HOLIDAY HANGOVER

EXCLUSIVE: DreamWorks has tapped hot comedy scribe Tim Dowling to write its untitled office comedy, which BLADES OF GLORY helmers Will Speck and Josh Gordon are attached to direct, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Initially, the HANGOVER-esque premise involved an office Christmas party that gets out of hand, but it’s currently unclear whether the film will be set during the holidays. Several top comic actors have expressed interest in the project, though no cast is officially attached. Dowling recently penned 20th Century Fox’s upcoming Chris Pine-Tom Hardy pic THIS MEANS WAR as well as the MIDNIGHT RUN sequel for Universal.

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RUNNING MEN

EXCLULSIVE: Brit thesps Douglas Booth and Billy Crudup are set to star in LIFE AT THESE SPEEDS, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports.  Script follows a rural teenager (Booth) who loses his best friends in a tragic accident and channels his survivor’s guilt into an addiction to running, becoming a world-class distance runner in the process. Crudup, who once mined similar sports material as track star Steve Prefontaine  in WITHOUT LIMITS will co-star as Booth’s coach and confidante. 

 

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Jeff Probst survives long enough to direct 2nd movie

More than a decade after making his feature directorial debut, “Survivor” host Jeff Probst has found his follow-up, as he’s set to direct John Corbett and Sarah Bolger in the coming-of-age tale KISS ME. Story follows a teenage girl who struggles with insecurities of having to wear a back brace to cure her scoliosis. Along the way, she must navigate complicated relationships with her mother, her best friend and a married man whose kids she babysits. Probst made his helming debut with the Wallin-produced 2001 pic FINDER'S FEE, which starred Ryan Reynolds and James Earl Jones.

SCHIFF GAINS PHD CRED FOR 'MAN OF STEEL'

Richard Schiff has joined the cast of MAN OF STEEL, playing a character dubbed Dr. Hamilton. The Zack Snyder pic has been lensing in Vancouver and Chicago. Schiff, an Emmy winner for his role on NBC’s THE WEST WING, has most recently guested on a number of TV skeins, including ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME, NBC's UP ALL NIGHT and USA's WHITE COLLAR.

'RIDDICK' HOLLERS FOR MOLLA

EXCLUSIVE: After coming close to nabbing the coveted villain role in J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK 2, Spanish actor Jordi Molla is taking his sinister sneer to another sci-fi franchise, as he's in negotiations to play the villain opposite Vin Diesel in David Twohy's RIDDICK, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Molla is in talks to play Santana, a mercenary who heads up an eight-man crew tasked with finding and killing Riddick.

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HEDLUND HEADED FOR COENS' FOLK PIC

EXCLUSIVE: With production on AKIRA pusing to a later date, Garrett Hedlund has found time in his schedule to jump into another music movie. The COUNTRY STRONG star is in negotiations to join the cast of the Coen Brothers’ INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, Variety's Justin Kroll reports. Pic also stars Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake and John Goodman. Based on the 1960s Greenwich Village folk music scene, the story follows the title character, who’s is loosely based on Dave Van Ronk. The folk singer was friends with Bob Dylan and other famed musicians. Hedlund’s role wasn’t immediately clear, but he’s shown in COUNTRY STRONG that he has the chops for a singing part.

'BRUCE ALMIGHTY' PLANNING FOR DEUCE

EXCLUSIVE: Universal wants to bring BRUCE ALMIGHTY back. The studio is in talks with the scripting team of Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel (HOT TUB TIME MACHINE) to write a follow-up to the 2003 hit, Variety's Dave McNary reports. Project's being developed as a starring vehice with BRUCE ALMIGHTY star Jim Carrey in mind. Carrey starred as TV reporter who's given the chance to be God for a week after complaining to God about a rival co-worker, portrayed by Steve Carell, being promoted to the anchor slot. BRUCE grossed nearly $500 million worldwide and led to 2007's EVAN ALMIGHTY, with Carell in a spinoff as a freshman Congressman who's told by God to emulate Noah and build an ark.

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PEYTON PREPARES FOR 'INVASION'

EXCLUSIVE: JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND 3D director Brad Peyton has sold the pitch INVASION to Cary Granat's Reel FX banner, Variety's Justin Kroll reports. Peyton will produce and direct from a script by J. Daniel Shaffer. Story revolves around a group of unarmed, unprepared students from Philadelphia who discover they'll have to become soldiers to survive an attack from a supernatural force. Mostly known for family fare, Peyton takes his first trip to adult fare with INVASION, described as in the vein of CLOVERFIELD. JOURNEY 2 comes out next month, and Peyton has also just closed a deal to direct the third installment.

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'POLICE ACADEMY' remake gets director

EXCLUSIVE: Longtime "Tosh.0" helmer Scott Zabielski will make his feature directorial debut with New Line's remake of POLICE ACADEMY, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Zabielski beat out several more experienced helmers for the coveted comedy gig, which the director is well suited for, having gone through actual police academy training as a reserve officer in West Hollywood. David Diamond and David Weissman wrote the script, while original "Police Academy" producer Paul Maslansky will return to produce the remake. New Line is expected to start production this year, though they'll have to find a cast first.

'BRIDESMAIDS' DIRECTOR FEIG FALLS FOR 'BETTER WOMAN'

EXCLUSIVE: Paul Feig is back in business with Universal Pictures, which has tapped the BRIDESMAIDS director to helm its romantic comedy THE BETTER WOMAN, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Story follows a high-powered young executive who is dumped by her boyfriend for an older woman. She befriends the woman to discover why her boyfriend chose her, and rediscovers herself in the process. Reese Witherspoon had been circling the project but is no longer involved. After BRIDESMAIDS grossed over $288 million worldwide, Universal moved fast to hang on to Feig, tapping him to direct the third film in the BRIDGET JONES. Feig left that project in October after developing a draft of the script. He also remains hesitant to commit to directing Universal's planned BRIDESMAIDS sequel, as co-writers Kristin Wiig and Annie Mumolo are currently focusing on other projects.

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GONE BABY GONE

James Franco's latest extracurricular film-making project will make its world premier at the Rotterdam Film Festival, which opens on Jan. 25, Variety's Ian Mundell reports. FRANCOPHRENIA (OR: DON'T KILL ME, I KNOW WHERE THE BABY IS) is described as a humorous psycho-thriller made up of footage shot by Franco during the making of television series GENERAL HOPSPITAL. One images a series of smash cuts with a backing track of a baby alternately crying and laughing manically, but we'll give 3/1 odds that its more lively than his OSCAR hosting performance. Best known as an actor, Franco has produced a steady stream of experimental films in recent years, reworking footage of River Phoenix in MY OWN PRIVATE RIVER and probing the life of Sal Mineo in SAL.

 

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MOLINA, O'CONNOR CAN HANDLE 'THE TRUTH ABOUT FISHES'

EXCLUSIVE: Alfred Molina, Frances O’Connor, Jimmi Simpson and rising Brit thesp Aneurin Barnard are joining Kaya Scodelario and Jessica Biel in Francesca Gregorini’s EMANUEL AND THE TRUTH ABOUT FISHES, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Scodelario stars as the title character, a troubled 17-year-old girl who babysits her new neighbor Linda’s “baby,” which is actually a very life-like doll. She goes along with the delusion while befriending Linda (Biel), who happens to be the spitting image of Emanuel’s late mother. Molina will play Emanuel’s father, while O’Connor will play her stepmother. Simpson will play one of the protag’s co-workers at a medical supply store and Barnard will play her love interest.

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'WARRIOR' EDGERTON TO TAKE ON TERROR IN BIGELOW'S BIN LADEN PIC

EXCLUSIVE: Joel Edgerton’s name has long been associated with the untitled Osama Bin Laden pic from Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal, and now the WARRIOR thesp has officially signed on to star, Variety's Justin Kroll reports. Story revolves around the Navy Seal team that tracked and eventually killed Bin Laden. A number of roles are still open, including a female reporter embedded with the Seal 6 team. Rooney Mara had been eyed, though her THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO promotion schedule prevented it.

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CUMBERBATCH TO PLAY 'STAR TREK 2' VILLIAN

On the heels of his well-received turns in WAR HORSE  and TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, Brit thesp Benedict Cumberbatch has been tapped to play the villain in J.J. Abrams’ STAR TREK 2 Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Cumberbatch landed the role that Edgar Ramirez had auditioned for last month. Cumberbatch joins fellow Brit newcomers Noel Clarke and Alice Eve, as well as Peter Weller. Paramount had no comment on the casting.  J.J. Abrams will direct the intersteller sequel. The film is skedded for release on May 17, 2013. Cumberbatch has won a legion of fans for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on the BBC series  SHERLOCK.

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NOEL CLARKE JOINS 'STAR TREK 2'

EXCLUSIVE: Brit actor-director Noel Clarke, who has a recurring role on the BBC's hit series DOCTOR WHO has been cast in J.J. Abrams' Paramount tentpole  STAR TREK 2 Varity's Jeff Sneider reports. He joins franchise newcomers Alice Eve and Peter Weller in the sci-fi sequel, which is skedded for release on May 17, 2013. Paramount had no comment on the casting. While the details of Clarke's role are being kept under wraps, he will play a family man with a wife and young daughter. A major star in the U.K., Clarke is the third high-profile Brit to join the ensemble, following Eve and returning thesp Simon Pegg. Clarke wrote and co-starred in the 2006 pic KIDULTHOOD and went on to write, direct and star in its 2008 sequel, ADULTHOOD.

 

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Amanda Seyfried joins 'Les Miserables'

Amanda Seyfried is in final negotiations to play Cosette in Universal's adaptation of LES MISERABLES, Variety's Justin Kroll reports. Twitchfilm.com first reported that Seyfried would be joining the cast that already includes Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne. Tom Hooper will direct the script adapted from the Victor Hugo novel.  Story follows Jean Valjean, played by Jackman, the intrepid protagonist on the run during the French Revolution. Universal has slated the film to bow on Dec. 7.

 

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ROGEN SUITS UP FOR 'THE B TEAM'

Seth Rogen is joining THE B TEAM, coming on as a producer on Disney's spy comedy with an eye toward starring, Variety's Dave McNary reports. The show is centered on the kidnapping of a top secret agent, leaving his tech support team and researchers to rescue him. Disney had no comment about the project, currently in the development.  The actor will be seen next in Paramount's mother-son road-trip comedy MY MOTHER'S CURSE opposite Barbra Streisand, which he will also exec produce.

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'ENDER'S GAME' STAR WARS: FORD, BRESLIN ON BOARD

After confronting extraterrestrials in both INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF CRYSTAL SKULL and COWBOYS & ALIENS, Harrison Ford is ready to take on another alien race, as he has officially joined the cast of the sci-fi adventure tentpole ENDER'S GAME along with fellow Oscar nominees Abigail Breslin and Hailee Steinfeld, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Aramis Knight, Moises Arias, Jimmy “Jax” Pinchak, Suraj Parthasarathy, Conor Carroll and Khylin Rhambo are also aboard. Gavin Hood is directing from his own script, which is adapted from Orson Scott Card’s award-winning novel. Set in Earth’s utopian future, ENDER'S GAME stars Asa Butterfield as the title character, a genius strategist who’s recruited by the government to help destroy an insect-like alien race. Ford will play Colonel Hyram Graff, who’s in charge of training the young male recruits at an elite military academy known as the International Fleet. Breslin will play Valentine Wiggin, Ender’s older sister who he confides in and looks up to, while Steinfeld will play Petra Arkanian, Ender’s ally and trusted right hand.

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Swedish critics warm to Hollywood's 'DRAGON TATTOO'

So what does Swedish media have to say about Hollywood’s treatment of the country’s native franchise? A big, resounding “Ja,” apparently. According to translations provided by distributor Sony, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO is a hit with Swede crix, who lay it on especially thick for Rooney Mara’s transfixing performance as superhacker Lisbeth Salander. "So, we have a new Salander in town. Noomi Rapace must excuse me but Rooney Mara is so successful that the Swedish version of the hacker queen simply fades,” writes TT Spektra, the country’s top national news agency.

Other highlights:

“(DRAGON TATTOO) is a hell of a ride -- crazy, nasty and sexier than the Swedish original." – Aftonbladet, Sweden’s largest evening newspaper.

"That Rooney Mara could make the role with the same furious rage as earlier Noomi Rapace did not seem likely. But she did. And it is foremost her movie." – Expressen, Sweden’s second-largest evening newspaper.

"It is inevitable but also rotten to compare. The Hollywood version surpassed the Swedish film version with 130 miles per hour already in the start. It becomes more of everything: excitement, discomfort, violence, sex -- but the tone of Stieg Larsson's book is never lost. ... The newcomer Rooney Mara fits the Salander boots. Daniel Craig is a sharper Mikael Blomkvist." -- Dagbladet, a regional morning paper.

“Much better, much tighter thriller. Hollywood wins.” – Kulturnyheterna/SVT, a non-commercial national channel.

And it's more than just a consensus, as attempts to find a negative review in mainstream Swedish media have thus far proved unsuccessful (if you find one, tweet it to us at @Showblitz and we'll include it here). Back in the states, where CinemaScore reports that moviegoers are giving DRAGON TATTOO an 'A' in exit polling, the film kicked off the holiday box-office with $1.6 million from late-night Tuesday screenings, starting at 7 p.m. For more on early weekend box-office returns, click the link below.

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BARTKOWIAK CRUISES TO THE CARIBBEAN FOR 'BENEATH THE DEEP'

Andrzej Bartkowiak is going BENEATH THE DEEP, signing on to direct the action-adventure set in the Carribean,Variety's Dave McNary reports. Pic follows a group of tourists in search of an underwater adventure in the Caribbean. When natural forces strand them in a vacation spot from hell, they must contend with unexpected visitors that view them as intruders and a threat to their own survival. "I am always fascinated by what I learn about myself, when I'm thrown into an unknown and uncontrolled situation," Bartkowiak said.

BIEL TO BABYSIT BOGUS BABY IN 'TRUTH ABOUT FISHES'

Having wrapped a lead role in the upcoming reboot of TOTAL RECALL, Jessica Biel is returning to the indie scene, as she’s in final negotiations to star opposite Kaya Scodelario in Francesca Gregorini’s EMANUEL AND THE TRUTH ABOUT FISHES, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Gregorini wrote the script, which follows Emanuel (Scodelario), a troubled 17-year-old girl who babysits her new neighbor Linda’s “baby,” which is actually a very life-like doll. She goes along with the delusion while befriending Linda, who happens to be the spitting image of Emanuel’s late mother. Biel is in talks to play Linda, who has been completely traumatized by the death of her child and now cares for the baby doll as if it were actually alive. Gregorini’s TANNER HALL star Rooney Mara was originally set to play the title character before production was pushed from summer 2011 to early 2012.

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Franco After Dark: '127 Hours' thesp in talks to play Hefner in 'Lovelace'

James Franco is in talks to cameo as Playboy founder Hugh Hefner in the indie drama that will reunite him with his HOWL helmers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Should a deal close -- and that's still a maybe -- Franco would join newly-cast supporting players Hank Azaria, Bobby Cannavale, Chris Noth and Robert Patrick as well as stars Amanda Seyfried and Peter Sarsgaard. Set between the birth of the sexual revolution and the culmination of the feminist movement, LOVELACE depicts the life of Linda Boreman, who as 'Linda Lovelace' became the world's first erotic superstar due to the success of DEEP THROAT. Azaria will play DEEP THROAT writer-director Jerry Damiano, who prides himself on having made a porn movie with a story, characters and humor. Cannavale and Noth will play financiers Butchie Peraino and Anthony Romano, who go into business with Linda's pornographer husband Traynor (Sarsgaard) after he shows them a home movie of her special skill. Patrick will play Linda's father John Boreman, who initially falls for Chuck's charm when Linda brings him home, but later finds himself ashamed of his daughter's newfound celebrity. With Franco expected to be on set for a single day, his screentime as Hefner will be limited, as the magazine mogul welcomes Linda and Chuck to the Playboy Mansion for a screening.

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SERRALLES JOINS COEN FOLK FUN

EXCLUSIVE: Stage veteran Jeanine Serralles, who previously appeared in TWO LOVERS and ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, has joined the cast of Joel and Ethan Coen’s folk music pic INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Set amid the 1960s Greenwich Village folk music scene, story follows a protagonist loosely based on singer Dave Van Ronk, a friend of Bob Dylan’s, and other famous musicians. Oscar Isaac (DRIVE, SUCKER PUNCH) stars as the title character, a struggling musician from Queens who, despite being a talented singer and guitarist, can’t make ends meet. Justin Timberlake co-stars as another folk musician, while his wife will be played by Carey Mulligan, who shows off her vocal chops singing “New York, New York” in SHAME. John Goodman is set to play a jazz musician who takes a road trip with the protag, while AMADEUS star F. Murray Abraham is circling the role of Bud Grossman, a legendary manager.

 

 

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Witherspoon caught in 'Devil's Knot'

EXCLUSIVE: Reese Witherspoon is attached to star in Atom Egoyan’s West Memphis 3 pic DEVIL'S KNOT, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Witherspoon will play Pam Hobbs, the mother of one of the victims.

 

 

 

 

 

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Dog Days

Mark Bomback is penning the adaptation of Garth Stein novel THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN for Universal Pictures, Variety’s Justin Kroll reports. The film will star Patrick Dempsey who will also produce with Neal Moritz. Tania Landau and Joannie Burstein will exec produce. The story follows a family's daily life as seen through the eyes of their dog (no word yet whether the film will be in black and white). Bomback's credits include Fox's UNSTOPPABLE and RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN. He most recently did a rewrite of Fox's RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. UTA repped the novel on behalf of Stein and book agents, Folio Literary Management.

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Saoirse Ronan to survive again in 'How I Live Now'

EXCLUSIVE: HANNA star Saoirse Ronan is set to topline Kevin Macdonald’s HOW I LIVE NOW, an indie drama based on the 2004 novel by Meg Rosoff, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Ronan will play Daisy, a teenage girl from New York City who travels to England to spend the summer with family in the countryside. When World War II breaks out and insurgents invade, Daisy and a younger girl named Piper must survive alone in the woods as they try to make it to safety.

Scodelario has 'Fishes' to fry

EXCLUSIVE: SKINS star Kaya Scodelario is set to replace Rooney Mara as the lead in Francesca Gregorini’s indie EMANUEL AND THE TRUTH ABOUT FISHES, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Script follows Emanuel, a troubled 17-year-old girl who babysits her new neighbor’s “baby,” which is actually a very life-like doll. She goes along with the delusion while befriending the neighbor, who happens to be the spitting image of Emanuel’s late mother. Best known for her role as Effy Stonem on the controversial hit Brit series “Skins,” Scodelario next stars as the lead in Andrea Arnold’s adaptation of “Wuthering Heights.” Thesp, who also appeared in “Clash of the Titans” and “Moon,” recently wrapped Ol Parker’s indie drama “Now Is Good,” which stars Dakota Fanning and Jeremy Irvine.

Legendary picks newcomer Chadwick Boseman to play Jackie Robinson in '42'

EXCLUSIVE: Legendary Pictures is swinging for the fences with relative newcomer Chadwick Boseman, who’s in final negotiations to play Jackie Robinson in the biopic 42, Variety's Justin Kroll reports. Brian Helgeland will direct from a script he penned. Pic follows story of Robinson, the first African-American to play in the major leagues. Legendary had no comment on the casting. Recent credits include THE EXPRESS, about the first African-American winner of the Heisman Trophy (though he didn't play the lead role of Ernie Davis).

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Noble Jones tapped to re-adapt 'American Psycho'

EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate has tapped Noble Jones to adapt and direct a new version of AMERICAN PSYCHO based on the Bret Easton Ellis novel that was previously turned into a film in 2000 starring Christian Bale, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Project, which has not yet been greenlit at Lionsgate, is currently in development at the studio. Jones, whose only imdb credit is as the second-unit director for THE SOCIAL NETWORK, plans a low-budget version that hews closer to Easton Ellis' 1991 satirical tome.

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'Carlos' star Edgar Ramirez is front-runner for 'Star Trek' villain

Now that negotiations with Benicio del Toro have fallen through, J.J. Abrams is moving fast to find a replacement for the villain in Paramount’s STAR TREK sequel. While no offer has been made, sources tell Variety that is CARLOS star Edgar Ramirez is the front-runner, with COLOMBIANA thesp Jordi Molla also in the mix. Ramirez is expected to test for the role via Skype either later today or early tomorrow, as Abrams hopes to make a decision before the weekend, since production starts next month. Discussions with del Toro broke down last week, prompting Abrams and Paramount to rush their search for a replacement who could commit to a six-month shoot from January until June. The next question: What character Ramirez will play if he gets the part? It was reported last week — before it was known del Toro was out — that the villain may be Khan, but Abrams and Paramount denied it. Whether that denial was over the role (or just del Toro’s involvement, a convenient feint) still isn’t quite clear.

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Juno Temple, Wes Bentley to star in a porn (biopic)

Juno Temple (THE DARK KNIGHT RISES) and Wes Bentley (AMERICAN BEAUTY, THE HUNGER GAMES) are set to join Amanda Seyfried, Sharon Stone and Peter Sarsgaard in LOVELACE, the story of adult superstar Linda Boreman, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Seyfried toplines as Lovelace; Sarsgaard plays her pornographer husband; Stone plays her mother; Temple will play her best friend and Bentley will play Lovelace’s second husband. Production will start at the end of the month in Los Angeles.

'Real Steel' writer in talks to adapt new Stan Lee superhero pic

Stan Lee helped launch Magic Storm Entertainment this summer to bring his newest superhero characters to life, particularly for Asian auds — and now one is on the way, as the film finance company has hired REAL STEEL screenwriter Dan Gilroy to introduce The Annihilator, Variety's Josh L. Dickey reports. It’s the first film project for Magic Storm, a joint creation of Lee’s Pow! Entertainment, Hong-Kong-based Ricco Capital Holdings and Fidelis Entertainment. Gilroy will begin work on the story of a young Chinese man given a second chance as an international superhero who returns home to  mete out justice.

Sandler mulls 1st sequel as 'Grown Ups 2' gets a writer

EXCLUSIVE: Weird but true: Adam Sandler has never made a sequel to any of his movies. That could change in a hurry, as Variety's Jeff Sneider reports that Sony Pictures and Happy Madison Prods. are in talks with GROWN UPS scribe Fred Wolf to write a sequel to last year’s Sandler comedy, the funnyman’s highest-grossing film worldwide at $271 million. Sandler has no deal in place for GROWN UPS 2, as his involvement is contingent on the script. Still, the fact that Sandler would be open to a reunion likely comes as music to Sony’s ears.