The Screening Log - blogging film

Here are some brief film news you shouldn't miss on July 15, 2009:

• Hugh Jackman is attached to star in 20th Century Fox's "Avon Man," based on a pitch by Kevin Bisch, screenwriter of "Hitch." The story follows a man who's laid off and tries his luck as an Avon salesman. Variety says the project takes on a "Full Monty" vibe.

• David Frankel, director of "Marley & Me," is set to helm "Septimus Heap: Magyk" for Warner Bros. The project is based on the book series by Angie Sage. The story follows two babies - one how is the seventh son of a seventh son and is set to become a wizard, and the other who is destined to become a princess. (THR)

• Pierce Brosnan, Patricia Clarkson and Julianne Moore will star in Stanley Tucci's comedy-drama "The Hunter." Written by Tucci, the film follows a middle-aged man "desperately clinging to the vestiges of his once-charmed life and world." Variety describes it as a coming-of-age story.

Click to read more ...

Print Article tagged

Avon Man,

David Frankel,

Hugh Jackman,

I Hop,

Pierce Brosnan,

Russell Brand,

Septimus Heap: Magyk,

The Hunter in

Casting,

News

Tuesday

14Jul2009

Watch: 'Despicable Me' gets a funny first trailer

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 10:40PM | By

The first trailer for Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin's upcoming 3D-animated family flick "Despicable Me" has debuted online, and you can watch it after the jump.

Steve Carell voices Groo (or Gru), an evil man who plans to steal the moon. While his evil mother encourages him to execute his plan, Groo runs into trouble when he unexpectedly encounters three orphan girls.

The trailer below is more of a whole scene, in which we get a first glimpse at what Groo is up to. It looks funny, and I admit it got me to laugh a couple of times. At this stage, I'm quite excited about this one.

Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, the team behind "Horton Hears a Who!," wrote the script. Jason Segel, Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett, Danny McBride, Russell Brand, Jemaine Clement, Jack McBrayer and Julie Andrews are also part of the voice cast.

Click to read more ...

Print Article tagged

Will Arnett in

Tuesday

28Apr2009

Daily news dose: Pierre Morel books next thriller; Christian Bale talks 'Dark Knight' sequel

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 4:40PM | By

Here's your dose of film news for April 28, 2009:

• Pierre Morel, director of "Taken," is set to helm Paramount's upcoming untitled Tokyo thriller, which Frank Baldwin is writing. Accoring to Variety, the plot follows a CIA operative who is ordered to embark on a final mission before his retirement. Baldwin also wrote a remake of "The House of Flying Daggers."

• Universal is gearing up to remake "Drop Dead Fred" with Russell Brand attached to star. Writing the new version is Dennis McNicholas, who co-wrote "Land of the Lost." In the original, Phoebe Cates played a young woman who's reunited with her imaginary friend after returning to her parents' home. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Don Johnson is the latest to join Nick Swardson, Stephen Dorff and Christina Ricci in Tom Brady's "Born to Be a Star," a comedy Adam Sandler co-wrote and is set to produce with Jack Giarraputo. The plot follows a nerd (Swardson) who discovers his quiet parents were famous porn stars during the 1970s. Johnson plays a porn director. (THR)

• Total Film recently talked to Christian Bale and asked him about a sequel to "The Dark Knight." Bale said, "Will we do a third movie? It's got to be the right story. You can't make something like 'The Dark Knight' and then come out with something disappointing."

Print Article tagged

Universal in

News,

Studios

Thursday

04Dec2008

Russell Brand plans 'Arthur' remake

Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 8:46PM | By

And another remake will be heading our way soon. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Russell Brand is developing a remake of Steve Gordon's 1981 comedy "Arthur" for Warner Bros.

Now, "Arthur" got nominated for four Oscars in 1982, and it ended up winning best actor in a suporting role for John Gielgud and best original song ("Best That You Can Do).

Written by Gordon, the film followed a drunk who inherits a fortune if he agrees to marry the woman his family thinks is best for him. But then he suddenly falls for a working-class woman, which further complicates the situation.

Brand, who recently starred as Aldous Snow in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," is currently looking for screenwriters to help him co-write the project. The trade says he may even end up starring in it.

Brand's upcoming projecys include the Adam Sandler vehicle "Bedtime Stories" and "The Tempest." He's also got "Get Him to the Greek" in development.