David O. Russell to direct 'Uncharted'

David O. Russell has locked down a new project: the big-screen adaptation of the popular video game "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune." Columbia Pictures is developing the fillm with Russell writing it too.

Matt Tolmach of Columbia Pictures said, "David is a tremendous choice to take on this film. He has a brilliant vision for this material and we know he will bring his original, unique voice to this adaptation."

Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer wrote a draft of the screenplay, and Russell will make his changes and submit it to the studio. The game follows the quest of treasure hunter Nathan Drake.

Brad Pitt to adapt 'Dark Void' video game

Brad Pitt and his Plan B production house have acquired the film rights to Capcom's upcoming video game "Dark Void," which will hit stores in North American and Europe in late January 2010.

The plan is to develop the game into a franchise, and Pitt may end up starring in the project as well. The game follows Will, a pilot who crash lands in the Bermuda Triangle following a routine mission.

Will wakes up to find himself in an alternate world resembling a primitive earth where aliens with superior technology are planning to take over civilization. He decides to stop them along with some humans.

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Sam Raimi spills 'Warcraft' movie details

Sam Raimi recently talked to the folks at MTV and had a lot to say about his upcoming big-screen adaptation of the ultra-popular "World of Warcraft" online role-playing game. First up: a new screenwriter.

Raimi said Oscar-nominated writer Robert Rodat ("Saving Private Ryan") would tackle the script for "Warcraft," which the director said will be an original adaptation of the game itself.

"We want to be really faithful to the game," Raimi told MTV. "We would have our writer, Robert Rodat, really craft an original story within that world that feels like a 'World of WarCraft' adventure.

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Are you ready for 'Silent Hill 2'?

Like it or not, but Christophe Gans' 2006 horror flick "Silent Hill" is getting a sequel, and screenwriter Roger Avary will return to write the script. Producer Samuel Hadida is also back on board for a follow-up to the big-screen version of the popular video game.

The first film, which I hated by the way, brought in $47 million domestically and starred Radha Mitchell as a woman heading to the desolate town of Silent Hill to find her daughter.

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'Just Cause' video game set for big-screen debut

I've already lost track of how many video game adaptations are currently in development, but here's another one to hit the big screen in the near future: Eidos' action adventure "Just Cause."

Variety reports producer Adrian Askarieh has scored the rights to the game, which Eidos released in 2006. Askarieh has also been involved in the big-screen adaptations of "Hitman" and the upcoming "Kane & Lynch."

In the game, a CIA black ops agent known as the Scorpion must complete a series of missions as he tries to overthrow the ruthless dictator of a fictional Caribbean island.

Eidos' big-screen credits also include two "Tomb Raider" films, and as I recently learned, they're currently trying to develop a reboot. Oh yeah, and a sequel to "Hitman" is also in development.

D.J. Caruso to bring 'Dead Space' to big screen

Filmmaker D.J. Caruso is teaming up with Electronic Arts to develop a big-screen version of the video game "Dead Space." Caruso is currently attached to direct the flick.

Set in space in the 26th century, the game follows an engineer who boards a mining ship infested with an alien virus that turns humans into ruthless creatures called Necromorphs.

No screenwriter has been hired yet, but Caruso and the folks at EA are apparently listening to some writers' ideas and concepts, according to Variety.

Caruso recently helmed the entertaining but over-the-top thriller "Eagle Eye." His credits also include "Disturbia" and "Taking Lives."

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What will happen to Verbinski's 'Bioshock' movie?

Back in April, Universal decided to delay Gore Verbinski's big-screen adaptation of "Bioshock" because the budget was quite simply too high, and in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" director briefly spoke about his uncertain involvement in the project:

"The bottom line is it has to shoot out of the States for budget reasons and my schedule may be prohibitive. There's a great script and a really interesting cast. It really comes down to the financial model now. Big movies are just not being shot in the States. I'm weighing whether I can physically go the U.K. or Australia or one of those other places with a tax rebate for a year-and-a-half."

So there you have it. "Bioshock" may move ahead without Verbinksi if he's too busy to shoot overseas. If that's the case, then too bad, because I would have enjoyed seeing his vision on the silver screen. Besides the "Pirates" trilogy, Verbinski also directed "The Weather Man" and "The Ring." He's got "Rango" coming up in 2011.

Review: “Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li”

Seen on: February 27, 2009

The players: Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak, Writer: Justin Marks, Cast: Kristin Kreuk, Michael Clarke Duncan, Chris Klein, Rick Yune, Moon Bloodgood

Facts of interest: None whatsoever.

The plot: Chun-Li, a female fighter, heads to Bangkok to track down Bison and kick his butt.

Our thoughts: I walked into Andrzej Bartkowiak’s “Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li” with the lowest possible expectations, but to be honest, I had no idea this film could end up boring me as much as it did. Feel free to hate me for saying this, but this big-screen reboot stinks.

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Miss Lara Croft packs for big-screen return

Nope, a joke this is not. Warner Bros. and producer Dan Lin are indeed planning a new big-screen version of the popular "Tomb Raider" games. Lara Coft will be back!

Not much is known about the film because it's only entering early developmental stages, but here is what the Hollywood Reporter has at this stage:

"The new project, however, is expected to revamp the character and her mission and bear little resemblance to the original pictures. It will reimagine the origins of the character, her love interest and the main villain."

Angelina Jolie starred in the first two films based on the Eidos game. "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" opened in 2001 and grossed $274.4 million worldwide. The sequel, "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life," was released in 2003 and pulled $156.5 million.

Don't expect Jolie to return though. Of course, that leaves the question: who should be the next Lara Croft? A prominent actress, or a newcomer? Feel free to share your thoughts below.

I always enjoyed (and actually still do) playing the "Tomb Raider" games, and I even admit I enjoyed the two film versions. With all the remakes and reboots currently taking over Hollywood, why not Lara Croft?

Japanese 'Legend of Chun Li' trailer online!

It may be the Japanese version, but the trailer after the jump gives us a good first look at Andrzej Bartkowiak's upcoming "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li."

I've been having trouble warming up to this project ever since I first heard about it, and I really haven't changed my mind even though I've now seen the first trailer. Let me know what you think about it, but I'm not really impressed.

Based on the popular video game series, the film follows female fighter Chun-Li on her quest for justice. Kristin Kreuk, Michael Clarke Duncan, Taboo and Moon Bloodgood star.

The quality of the footage below is not the best, but maybe we'll soon get to see an English high-def version. After all, the film is set to open Feb. 27, and we haven't really seen any promotions for it yet.

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