Fox Searchlight to release 'Tree of Life'

Fox Searchlight Pictures has acquired the theatrical rights to Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life," which stars Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain. The studio said it will release the film next year.

"Terrence Malick has crafted a deeply moving, keenly observed and magisterial film. Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and the entire cast's performances are simply amazing," said the studio's Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley.

"The Tree of Life" is the impressionistic story of a Midwestern family in the 1950s chronicling the journey of the eldest son Jack (Sean Penn) through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years.

Click to read more ...

Danny Boyle's '127 Hours' to open in November

Who's ready for Danny Boyle's next movie? No, it does not involve any dancing. It's a drama titled "127 Hours," and Fox Searchlight Pictures has announced it will unleash it into theaters Nov. 5, 2010.

"127 Hours" is based on the true story of Aron Ralston, who amputated his own arm and rescued himself after he got trapped under a boulder for almost five days during a big climb in Utah in 2003.

Simon Beaufoy, who also wrote Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire," penned the script. Boyle's directing credits also include "28 Days Later." James Franco is playing Ralston in "127 Hours." (via Coming Soon)

Latest film deals: Anchor Bay nabs 'After.Life;' Fox grabs 'Betty Anne Waters;' 'Catfish' also coming to screen

Pickups, sales and distribution deals. Here are the latest Hollywood deal news from across the Web:

- First up, Anchor Bay will release Agnieszka Wojtowicz-Vosloo's thriller horror thriller "After.Life," which centers on a young woman (Christina Ricci) caught between life and death and a funeral director (Liam Neeson) who may bury her alive. Bay will release this in the Spring (via THR)

- Fox Searchlight will distribute Tony Goldwyn’s upcoming drama “Betty Anne Waters," which follows a single mother (Hilary Swank) who fights her way through law school to represent and help free her imprisoned brother, who was wrongfully convicted of murder. Fox will release it this fall. (via Variety)

- Relativity Media and Rogue Pictures have acquired the rights to "Catfish," Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman's documentary that premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The film follows a Web romance between a photographer and a woman. Word is the film will hit theaters later this year. (via THR)

- Roadside Attractions will release "CA$H," a thriller helmed by Stephen Milburn Anderson. Starring Sean Bean, Chris Hemsworth and Victoria Profeta, the film follows a couple finding a mysertious suitcase full of cash. Roadside will bring the film to theaters March 26, 2010. (via THR)

Danny Boyle's next film is '127 Hours'

Danny Boyle, whose "Slumdog Millionaire" won a ridiculous eight Oscars, is prepping his next project with Fox Searchlight: "127 Hours," a drama focusing on the story of mountaineer Aron Ralston.

Simon Beaufoy, who wrote "Slumdog," is in talks to write the script from a treatment by Boyle. Variety says the plan right now is to have the film ready for release by late 2010.

"127 Hours" is based on the true story of Aron Ralston, who amputated his own limb and rescued himself after his arm got pinned under a boulder for almost five days during a climb in Utah in 2003.

Boyle's directing credits also include "Sunshine," "Millions" and "28 Days Later." "127 Hours" sounds like an intense project, and I'm already interested to see what Boyle ends up doing with it.

Reese Witherspoon finds 'Rule #1'

Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon boarded a whole series of upcoming projects recently, and the latest she's considering to star in and produce is the Terrel Seltzer-scrioted "Rule #1" for Fox Searchlight.

The Hollywood Reporter says the film follows a New York woman who develops a friendship with a Puerto Rican girl with attention deficit disorder. Seltzer's credits include 1996's comedy "One Fine Day."

Witherspoon was recenlty heard in the mediocre animated flick "Monsters vs. Aliens," and before that she was seen in the disappointing "Four Christmases." She recently wrapped a comedy by James L. Brooks.

Witherspoon totally deserved her Oscar for "Walk the Line," but I feel her projects following that film failed to stick with me. She'll also soon star in a film by Cameron Crowe and in 'Pharm Girl."

Fox Searchlight ready to ‘Rig an Election’

Billy Ray is set to direct “How to Rig an Election,” a project he wrote and sold to Fox Searchlight, according to Variety.

The trade says the flick traces GOP operative Allen Raymond’s downfall following a campaign to jam phone lines at Democratic Party headquarters in an effort to swing a 2002 Senate election in New Hampshire.

Fox also acquired Raymond’s memoir “How to Rig an Election: Confessions of a Republican Operative,” hoping to start production on the film next year.

Variety offers more details about Raymond’s tricks: “Raymond enlisted a telemarketer vendor to dump so many automated calls into phone banks at Democratic HQ that outgoing calls were impossible.”

Ray most recently wrote and directed “Breach.” He made his directorial debut in 2003 with “Shattered Glass.”

Short takes: WB addresses angry 'Potter' fans

• Now that a horde of angry fans complained to Warner Bros. about the studio's decision to move David Yates' "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" to July 2009, WB's President Alan Horn said he's sorry for the inconvenience. Read here how he explained the release date change.

• Variety reports Fox Searchlight and Warner Bros. have teamed up to distribute Danny Boyle's upcoming flick "Slumdog Millionaire," a drama about an Indian youngster whose life changes when he scores big on a local version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"

• Screenwriters Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten "Kiwi" Smith are gearing up to develop a "loosely autobiographical script," according to The Hollywood Reporter. The duo's writing credits include "Legally Blonde" and "The House Bunny."

• German actor Michael Fassbender is in talks to star in Quentin Tarantino's violent WWII drama "Inglorious Bastards," according to Variety.