Spielberg to make film about Lincoln
Steven Spielberg is still a very busy man, and while his latest action flick “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is still awaiting release, the director already talks about shooting his next film, an epic about Abraham Lincoln.

Variety reports Spielberg is planning to make a Civil War film following the production of his next flick “Tintin,” which will head into principal photography early this fall. Tony Kushner ("Munich" and "Angels in America") already completed a script for the Lincoln project, and Spielberg could start filming as early as 2009.

Spielberg was initially supposed to direct “The Trial of the Chicago Seven,” but he ran into troubles with the script during the recent writers’ strike in Hollywood. Spielberg’s fourth “Indiana Jones” film will open May 22, 2008.


‘Fraggle Rock’ gets big-screen treatment
According to Variety, the Weinstein Co. will adapt Jim Henson’s series “Fraggle Rock” into a musical for the big screen. “Hoodwinked” helmer Cory Edwards is expected to write and direct.  

The live-action film will adopt the same format of the TV show, which included interactions between humans and puppets. The series first aired in 1983 on HBO and quickly became a worldwide hit.

Not specific plot details have been released, but the story will focus on characters Gogo, Wembley, Mokey, Boober and Red, who think humans are aliens. The title of the flick refers to their hometown.


‘Nailed’ heads back into production
Production has resumed on David O. Russell’s upcoming comedy “Nailed,” Variety reported Monday. Late last week, the Screen Actors Guild shut down filming due to a lack of funds to pay the actors.

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel, the film focuses on a waitress who, after getting a nail lodged in her head, falls for a charming senator who promises to help her out. The screenplay was co-written by O. Russell, who most recently directed “I Heart Huckabees.”

The financial trouble can be traced back to the film’s production company Thinkfilm, a division of Capitol Films. Thinkfilm ran into money issues earlier this year when it failed to pay director Alex Gibney his bonus after winning an Oscar for his documentary “Taxi to the Dark Side.”


‘Iron Man’ crushes foreign box office
Paramount’s hit action spectacle “Iron Man” not only dominated the U.S. box office this weekend. The Jon Favreau-directed comic book adaptation also ruled overseas, scoring $39 million in 57 territories, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The film lifted its international gross to $165 million after a solid two-week run. Debuting in second place with $24.2 million was “What Happens in Vegas,” a comedy starring Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz. New entry “Speed Racer” only took in $12.6 million.

Domestically, “Iron Man” beat “Speed Racer” with a weekend gross of $51.1 million. The Marvel Comics adaptation brought its total haul to $177.8 million.