Anthony Peckham to write new Jack Ryan flick

As you may know already, Chris Pine will slip into the role of Jack Ryan in Paramount's reboot of the franchise based on Tom Clancy's novels. Today, news strikes about the studio having hired a writer.

Heat Vision reports Anthony Peckham is set to attack the project, which will focus on the early days of the action hero's career. Adam Cozad and Hossein Amini were both previously involved with the script.

Jack Bender (TV's "Lost") is in talks to direct the untitled film, which Paramount wants to shoot next year. As for Peckham, his recent credits include "Sherlock Holmes," "Invictus" and "Don't Say a Word."

'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' gets new writers

Last year, news broke that John Fusco would be writing the live-action reboot of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," but Paramount Pictures is now heading into a different direction. It's time for new writers.

Deadline reports Art Marcum and Matt Holloway have been hired to write "Turtles." Paramount is eager to get this thing into production for a release in 2012, so they have to write a draft for October.

Wait, who are these guys? Holloway and Marcum co-wrote "Iron Man" (yay!) and "Punisher: War Zone" (damn). They also penned the upcoming "Highlander" reboot. Film will likely focus on the turtles' origin.

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Brad Pitt to star in 'World War Z' adaptation

Brad Pitt is apparently attached to star in Paramount Pictures' big-screen adaptation of "World War Z," which is based on Max Brooks' bestseller. It's a thriller about a worldwide war trigged by zombies.

We have not heard much about the project for a while now, but J. Michael Straczynski wrote the script, which Matthew Michael Carnahan rewrote. Marc Forster ("Monster's Ball") is attached to direct the flick.

In the book, a U.N. researcher interviews survivors from all over the world about what happened 10 years ago during the bloody international crisis. Pitt's involvement should boost the project's exposure.

In related news, Paramount will also develop a movie based on Brooks' "The Zombie Survival Guide" and "The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks." This all sounds pretty intriguing, right? (Source: MTV)

'Legally Blonde' writer sets 'Camp Rules'

Kirsten Smith, the screenwriter behind "Legally Blonde," is making her directorial debut for Paramount Pictures with "Camp Rules," a comedy feature based on the novel by Jordan Roter, according to Variety.

The film follows a 16-year-old during her stay at a girl's camp in Maine. Smith is writing the screenplay with Deanna Kizis. Her other credits include "The Ugly Truth," "The House Bunny" and "She's the Man."

'Rango' teaser trailer is so weird...

Gore Verbinski has been working on an animated family flick titled "Rango," and Paramount has released a short preview for the film. It's sort of a teaser, but it's incredibly weird. See for yourself after the jump.

Okay, so what you see there isn't special or even that visually pleasing, right? It is a tease, sure, but then again, there are better ways to get people excited. Personally, I'm intrigued, but that's it, really.

Written by John Logan, screenwriter of “The Aviator,” the plot focuses on a pet that embarks on an adventure to discover its true self. Johnny Depp is on board to voice the pet. Isla Fisher is also on board.

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J.J. Abrams to produce untitled project

J.J. Abrams is at it again. The filmmaker and his Bad Robot label will develop an untitled pitch Paramount bought for a couple of million from screenwriters Aline Brosh McKenna and Simon Kinberg.

As usual, Abrams doesn't reveal a word about the project. Plot details are strictly kept under wraps, and at this stage, I don't even know what genre to expect from this one.

Brosh McKenna penned "The Devil Wears Prada," "27 Dresses" and the upcoming "The Ivy Chronicles," which leads me to believe this one could be a comedy. Kinberg's credits include "Sherlock Holmes" and "Jumper."

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Bad news: 'Shutter Island' pushed to 2010

Bummer! Martin Scorsese's upcoming thriller "Shutter Island" won't be opening as scheduled on Oct. 2. 2009. Instead, Paramount has decided to push back the release to Feb. 19, 2010 because of economic reasons. Yep, that's how bad it is out there...

Paramount basically said that the slate for 2009 was set up under a different economic climate, according to Variety. I don't know why they waited this long to go forward with this or announce it, but the economic climate has been sucky for a while now, no?

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Daily news dose: Michael Bay to direct 'Number Four;' Brandon Camp to helm 'Relativity'

Here is your dose of film news for June 29, 2009:

• Brandon Camp, whose directorial debut "Love Happens" opens Sept. 18, 2009, is set to helm Walden Media's family comedy "Relativity." The story follows a family gathering for the parents' 30th wedding anniversary. Things quickly get out of hand when their children find out they're adopted. Peter A. Craig wrote the original script, with Daniel Cohn and Jeremy Miller completing recent drafts. (Variety)

• Michael Bay, whose "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is leading the box office worldwide, is in early talks to prooduce and maybe direct "I Am Number Four" for DreamWorks. The film is based on an unpublished sci-fi book and follows nine alien teenagers who are sent to high school on Earth after their planet is destroyed. One of them then discovers he's targeted by an ruthless enemy. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Paramount Pictures has acquired "License to Steal," a pitch for an action comedy Shane Salerno ("Shaft") will write. Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, screenwriters of "Star Trek" and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," will produce the flick, which is loosely based on a Salon.com article about the top-line repo business. (Variety)

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Hollywood deals update: Paramount goes casino; Fox revisits 'Family History'

Here's what's currently going on inside the Hollywood studio world:

• Paramount is developing a project about online casinos in Costa Rica, with Leonardo DiCaprio attached to produce and maybe star in. Brian Koppelman and David Levien ("Ocean's Thirteen") came up with the pitch. Look for DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island." (Variety)

• Fox is working on a project entitled "Family History," written by Marc Haimes from a draft by Michael Punke. Haimes told the Hollywood Reporter the film centers on a family embarking on a treasure hunt through time. Haimes also wrote "Elevator Men."

• Paramount also bought "Honey Pot," a pitch from Elizabeth Meriwether. Described as an action comedy, the film centers on two women caught up in the world of international espionage. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Stuart Beattie, whose credits include "Australia" and "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," is developing a flick based on John Marsden's novel "Tomorrow, When the War Began." The series follows a gang of Australian teens battling the invasion of their homeland. (THR)

Daily news dose: 'Tintin' gets release date; 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' gets remade

Here's your daily dose of film news for May 29, 2009:

• Chevy Chase has joined the cast of Steve Pink's upcoming comedy "Hot Tub Time Machine," about a group of adults who visit a hot tub they once used and realize it can transport them back in time, to their younger selves. Chase is set to play a repairman, says the Hollywood Reporter. John Cusack, Rob Corddry and Craig Robinson co-star.

• Paramount and Sony just announced Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn" will open in theaters Dec. 23, 2011. The film will also be released in 3D. Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook star in the motion capture film based on the books by Herge. (Variety)

• Michelle Morgan is set to write 20th Century Fox's remake of the 1985 comedy "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," which starred Helen Hunt and Sarah Jessica Parker. The original flick was directed by Alan Metter and follows two girls going nuts over a dance who titled "Dance TV." (Variety)

• Paul Verhoeven ("Black Book") is gearing up to direct "The Surrogate," a thriller based on the book by Kathryn Mackel. The story follows a couple who discovers the surrogate they hired to carry their baby is completely nuts. Roderick Taylor and Bruce Taylor wrote a first draft. This film is not to be confused with the Bruce Willis vehicle "Surrogates." (THR)