Wayne Kramer to direct 'Ecstasia'

Wayne Kramer, who directed the excellent "The Cooler" and followed up with the pretty exciting "Running Scared," is gearing up to helm "Ecstasia" for Relativity Media. It's a futuristic drama, and guess what, he also wrote the whole thing.

The flick is set at a time when love no longer exists, and people can still experience it through a costly simulation process. Those who can't keep up with payments though, will suffer a loss of emotions. Think "Repo Men."

In the film, a couple is facing the ending of their simulated love, trying everything to refinance the thing before it's too late. Kramer last helmed "Crossing Over," which didn't perform well (critics hated it too). (via Deadline)

'Snow White' release battle heats up!

It seems like a duel has broken out between Relativity Media and Universal over which studio will get their Snow White film out to the public first. Universal's "Snow White and the Huntsman" will star Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth, and it was originally slated for a December 2012 release.

However, after Relativity Media's announcement of "The Brothers Grimm: Snow White" project, which is set to star Julia Roberts and Armie Hammer, the two studios have been pushing up their release dates in order to get their Snow White to the big screen first. 

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Joe Carnahan to write/direct 'Umbra'

Roger Donaldson was set to direct Steven Karczynski's "Umbra," but he's out and Joe Carnahan has jumped on board as a replacement. Deadline says Joe will rewrite the script a bit and direct the project.

In a nutshell, the thriller follows a man who discovers a tape with a horrifying secret on it. Nicolas Cage was set to play the lead, but his other projects made it impossible to fully commit to this one.

Carnahan last directed "The A-Team." His credits also include "Smokin' Aces" and "Narc," and he's currently gearing up to direct "The Grey" with Liam Neeson. Relativity Media is housing "Umbra."

Netflix completes streaming deal with Relativity

Netflix is partnering with Relativity Media to offer its customers some of the studio's major theatrical releases for streaming during the "pay TV window." More details from the press release follow below:

Among the first wave of films covered under the Netflix-Relativity deal are upcoming flicks "The Fighter" (with Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg) "Skyline," "Season of the Witch" (Nicolas Cage) and "Movie 43."

Fifty Relativity films have become "Top 10" box office releases during the past two years. Current Relativity theatrical releases include "Robin Hood," "Get Him to the Greek" and "Grown Ups."

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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)

Christian Bale joins Mark Wahlberg in 'Fighter'

To be very honest, I already forgot about "The Fighter." You know, the film Darren Aronofsky was planning to do with Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon in the lead roles?

Well, according to Variety, the film is now finally going to happen, and joining Wahlberg is no other than Christian Bale, the dude who's in almost every big blockbuster these days. (Damon dropped out, and Brad Pitt was supposed to replace him; he too ended up ditching the project.)

But wait! That's not all! Also joining the project to direct is David O. Russell, the guy who helmed "Three Kings" and "I Heart Huckabees." He's got quite a bunch of future films lined up, including "Aaron and Sarah" and "The Silver Linings Playbook."

The trade says Relativity Media is backing "The Fighter" financially, with Paramount Pictures on-board to distribute. The story examines the special relationship between Boston fighter Mickey Ward (Wahlberg) and his brother Dicky Ecklund (Bale).

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Pierre Morel in talks to helm ‘Hunter-Killer’

Filmmaker Pierre Morel is in negotiations to direct Relativity Media’s “Hunter-Killer,” a script written by producer Arne Schmidt, according to Variety.
 
The trade says Schmidt, who produced “We Were Soldiers” and “xXx,” submitted the script under the pseudonym Ed Arnett.

Based on the novel “Firing Point” by Don Keith and George Wallace, the plot follows an American sub commander and a Navy SEAL team that head out to protect the Russian president and stop a ruthless admiral from executing a coup.

Morel’s directing credits include “Taken” and “Banlieue 13.” He also worked as cinematographer on “War,” “Danny the Dog” and “The Transporter.”

Morel is currently in France shooting “From Paris With Love,” a thriller starring John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

'Voltron' finds a director in Max Makowski

Last week we reported that Relativity Media was in talks to develop the big-screen adaptation of “Voltron,” and believe it or not, the film now has a director.

LatinoReview announced earlier that Max Makowski is the man directing the action flick, which is based on the famous Japanese animated TV series that kicked off in the early 1980s.

Don’t know who Max Makowski is? Well I don’t blame you, because he’s not exactly the kind of director you hear about in the news every week (at least not yet).

If you head over to IMDb, you’ll see that Makowski directed 2005’s “One Last Dance.” For more on his career, head over to LatinoReview.

As far as the plot is concerned, “Voltron” centers on a post-apocalyptic adventure in which five survivors of an alien attack gather to pilot the five robot lions that combine and form the powerful Voltron.

The project is described as using the kind of technology we’ve seen in Zack Snyder’s “300.”

Fox abandons ‘Voltron,’ but movie still possible

Variety announced earlier today that Fox-based New Regency has officially dropped the big-screen adaptation of “Voltron.” But that doesn’t necessarily mean the project is dead.

Relativity Media is currently in talks to develop the action flick, which is described as using the kind of technology we’ve already seen in “300.” This, however, would result in a significant budget cut.

Based on the famous Japanese animated TV series that kicked off in the early 1980s, this adaptation is a post-apocalyptic adventure in which five survivors of an alien attack gather to pilot the five robot lions that combine and form the powerful Voltron.

At this stage, I’m not so sure whether this is such good news. I’m glad Relativity is eyeing the project, but there is only so much you can do with a moderate budget. And “Voltron” definitely sounds like something that needs a whole lot of money to really deliver.