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Entries in Universal (52)

Tuesday
22Sep2009

Diablo Cody goes back to high school

"Jennifer's Body" didn't exactly deliver an explosive opening at the box office last weekend ($6.8 million), but Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody is set for her new project: an adaptation of "Sweet Valley High."

"High" will be a big-screen version of the book series created by Francine Pascal. Universal is backing the movie, and the studio is in the process of acquiring the rights to the books published by Random House.

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Monday
14Sep2009

Daily news dose: 'Battleship' gets release date; Harrison Ford says 'Indy 5' story in the progress

Here is a collection of short but important movie news out of Hollywood and from the Web:

• Universal plans to release Peter Berg's "Battleship" July 1, 2011. The film is a live-action version of the popular Hasbro board game. Berg told Variety the film is "a contemporary story of an international five-ship fleet engaged in a very dynamic, violent and intense battle."

• Harrison Ford apparently can't wait to return to the world of Indiana Jones. Speaking with France's Le Figaro, he said the story for a fifth "Indiana Jones" flick is already taking shape. George Lucas is busy working on the story, he said. I think they should just leave Indy alone for good. Enough is enough.

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Tuesday
25Aug2009

'Fame' helmer Kevin Tancharoen to direct 'Arcana'

Kevin Tancharoen

Kevin Tancharoen (pictured on the far right), who just directed the "Fame" remake for MGM, is set to helm Universal Pictures' upcoming sci-fi action flick "Arcana," which Brett Ratner will produce.

John Ridley ("Red Tails") wrote the script, and as much as I would love to give you more information about the project, that's all I know about it at this point. Plot details are being kept under wraps.

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Monday
24Aug2009

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo to direct 'Bioshock'

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, who directed the excellent horror sequel "28 Weeks Later," is now officially in talks to direct "Bioshock" for Universal. Believe it or not, but this project really looks like it's finally moving along.

Gore Verbinski was originally set to helm the film, but he recently dropped out. Universal slowed down the project because of budget concerns, setting it up to be shot overseas. That decision did not work with Verbinski's schedule, so he left the director's chair.

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Friday
21Aug2009

Josh Zetumer set to write 'Bourne 4'

Last thing we heard, things were still pretty much unclear on that fourth "Bourne" film, but it seem to be shaping up now, as Joshua Zetumer is set to write the script for the next film in the popular action series.

The Hollywood Reporter says George Nolfi, who worked on "The Bourne Ultimatum," was originally set to write the script. However, his work on "The Adjustment Bureau" made it impossible to get "Bourne" done in time.

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Wednesday
12Aug2009

'Hangover' star Ed Helms boards 'Central Intelligence'

Ed Helms in The Hangover

Ed Helms, who's currently on-screen in "The Hangover" and will next be seen in the surprisingly funny comedy "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard," is set to star in Universal's upcoming comedy "Central Intelligence."

Written by Ike Barinholtz and Dave Stassen, the film follows an accountant pulled into the world of espionage after he catches up with a friend on Facebook, according to Variety.

Helms' credits include "The Daily Show" and "The Office." Besides "The Goods," in which he delivers another hilarious performance, the actor will soon be seen in "Cedar Rapids."

Of course, Helms is also attached to return in the sequel to "The Hangover." The guy sure has a funny face, and so far, his performances have succeeded. Here's a guy who can make audiences laugh, and I bet we'll see a lot more from him soon.

Monday
10Aug2009

Jonah Hill knows the 'Best Thing About Pam Rooney'

Jonah Hill in Spuerbad

Funny guy Jonah Hill is on a roll, and he's attached to star in "The Best Thing About Pam Rooney," a comedy Andrew Jay Cohen and Brendan O'Brien will write for Universal Studios.

Plot details are kept under wraps right now, but Variety calls "Pam Rooney" a high-concept romantic comedy. Cohen and O'Brien will also serve as executive producers on the project.

Hill can currently be seen in Judd Apatow's "Funny People." I also really enjoyed his performances in "Superbad," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Knocked Up."

Next up for Hill is "The Invention of Lying," Ricky Gervais' next flick. He's also got "Get Him to the Greek" and "The Adventurer's Handbook" soon.

Thursday
30Jul2009

Judd Apatow lands three-film deal at Universal

Judd Apatow

Universal Pictures and Judd Apatow are in it for the long haul after the studio and the acclaimed filmmaker sealed a three-film deal this week.

Universal and Apatow recently teamed for "Funny People," which will open in theaters tomorrow. He also worked with the studio on his two previous directorial efforts, "Knocked Up" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the deal allows Apatow to produce projects at other studios. His most recent producing credits include "Year One," "Pineapple Express" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall."

No projects have been announced yet, but Apatow will write and direct all three films. His next producing gig is "Get Him to the Greek," which Nicholas Stoller is directing.

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Tuesday
28Jul2009

Dr. Seuss' 'The Lorax' to hit the big screen

Universal Pics and Illumination Entertainment are gearing up to bring Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax" to the big screen as a 3D animated feature.

First published in 1971, "Lorax" follows the consequences that ensue when a greedy entrepreneur strips a forest of its Truffula trees despite the warnings from a man-like creature called the Lorax.

Variety says Universal has set the film's release for March 2, 2012, with Chris Renaud, Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio directing. Paul and Duario ("Horton Hears a Who!")will write the script.

Hard to believe, but I've never read a Dr. Seuss book. Maybe it's got something ot do with me growing up in Europe. Who knows...

Tuesday
28Jul2009

Universal moves 'The Wolfman' yet again

Universal yet again changed the release date for Joe Johnston's upcoming horror thriller "The Wolfman." The film is now set to open Feb. 12, 2010.

"Wolfman" was last set to invade theaters Nov. 6, 2009, but that was already the film's third release date, after a move from Feb. 13, 2009 to April 6.

Universal prefers opening the film during the first quarter of 2010, citing a bigger potential to score at the box office. Right now, "Wolfman" will go up against "Valentine's Day" and "Remember Me."

Benicio del Toro stars as Lawrence Talbot, a carefree Londoner lured back to his family estate after the disappearance of his brother.

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