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Archive for January 22nd, 2009

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

THURSDAY JANUARY 22, 2009

PROJECTS ANNOUNCED

Warner Bros. is turning to Tom and Jerry to create its own “Alvin and the Chipmunks”-like family franchise. Plans are to bring the constantly warring cat and mouse to life as CG characters that run around in live-action settings. Studio-based Dan Lin, currently producing the upcoming “Sherlock Holmes” and exec producer on “Terminator: Salvation,” will adapt the classic Hanna-Barbera property as an origin story that reveals how Tom and Jerry first meet and form their rivalry before getting lost in Chicago and reluctantly working together during an arduous journey home. Eric Gravning is penning the script.

Abigail Breslin has booked three bigscreen roles, including a pair of animated pics. The “Little Miss Sunshine” thesp will star opposite Johnny Depp in Gore Verbinski’s animated adventure “Rango” for Paramount Pictures. Film centers on a household pet (Depp) who goes on an adventure to discover his true self. She’ll also voice the lead character in toon “The Wild Bunch.” Story revolves around a team of common wildflowers and plants that are attacked by an evil army of genetically modified cornstalks. Finally, Breslin is in negotiations to join Columbia’s horror comedy “Zombieland” opposite Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone. Film is set in a world overrun by zombies, where two men (Harrelson, Eisenberg) join forces and cross paths with a pair of con-artist sisters (Stone, Breslin).

Universal Pictures has acquired the David Wroblewski novel “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” to adapt into a feature to be produced by Playtone’s Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman and Harpo Films partners Oprah Winfrey and Kate Forte. Published in September by Ecco, the book has been at or near the top of the bestseller lists for 30 weeks. It got a boost when it was selected as a title for Oprah’s Book Club. Novel revolves around a mute teenager who lives on a farm in Wisconsin with a family that’s raised a coveted breed of dog for generations. Sawtelle’s father dies mysteriously after his uncle comes to stay with the family, which sends the youth fleeing into the woods with three of his dogs. “Edgar Sawtelle” marks the first collaboration for Hanks’ and Winfrey’s shingles.

PROJECT UPDATES

Tom Wilkinson and Jim Belushi round out the cast of Roman Polanski’s “The Ghost.” Lensing on the thriller based on the Robert Harris novel of the same name is to begin Feb. 4 in Berlin. Pierce Brosnan, Kim Cattrall, Ewan McGregor and Olivia Williams had been previously announced as cast members. Screenplay, penned by Harris and Polanski, centers on a former British prime minister who’s holed up on an island writing his memoirs when his aide drowns, triggering political and sexual intrigue.

Zoe Kazan, Lake Bell and Hunter Parrish have been set by writer-director Nancy Meyers for her untitled comedy at Universal Pictures. The film stars Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. Scott Rudin and Meyers are producing.

“Big Fish” scribe John August has been tapped to adapt the supernatural graphic novel “Preacher” for Columbia. Sam Mendes will direct the pic, which centers on the preacher of a Texas town who is struggling to get by and is driven only by his strong moral sense. When the city is decimated by an otherworldly force, he embarks on a journey across the country to take on the evil. Critically lauded graphic novel was created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon. The 75-issue “Preacher” series, which ran from 1995-2000, nabbed four Eisner Awards.

ACQUISITIONS/FESTIVAL NEWS

There’s nothing funnier than Nazi zombies. IFC Films, which had remained quiet throughout most of the Sundance Film Festival, suddenly jumped Wednesday to purchase U.S. distribution rights to the Norwegian horror-comedy “Dead Snow.” Elle Driver also sold the film in foreign territories Germany, Benelux, the U.K. and Canada. The mixed-genre flick premiered Saturday night in the Park City at Midnight section at the Egyptian Theatre, where interest was high enough that people were turned away. Written and directed by Tommy Wirkola, the film follows eight medical students who head into the mountains for a skiing vacation only to find themselves sharing the slopes with maniacal Nazi zombies intent on turning the snow blood red.

Among the hot events people have been hitting while at Sundance (the festival wraps up this weekend) were two from GenArt over the weekend. The 7 Fresh Faces in Film (based on the organization’s spring film festival, featuring “7 films in 7 days”) and It’s Better in the Dark featured such luminaries as Michael Cera, Virginia Madsen, Nick Cannon, Eliza Dukshu, Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Harvey Weinstein, Andie MacDowell, Emily Vancamp, Denise Richards, and Jeff Daniels. The “7 Fresh Faces” included Zach Gilford of the film Dare (and TV’s Friday Night Lights), Charlyne Yi of Paper Heart (and 30 Rock), and Humpday’s Mark Duplass.

BUSINESS NEWS

Participant Media has inked a multi-picture distribution deal with Summit Entertainment that runs through 2013 and covers titles financed by the new $250 million film fund set up by Participant and Abu Dhabi-based Imagenation Media. Under the non-exclusive deal, Summit could release as many as four Participant films a year. Summit has the option of co-financing select titles. Otherwise, it will take a distribution fee.

INDUSTRY MOVES

CBS Films has tapped Teri Boggess, Cherie Crane and Maggie Schmidt to fill key marketing posts. The three will be responsible for designing and implementing all of CBS Films’ creative advertising, media and publicity campaign outreach and will report to Debbie Miller, exec VP of worldwide marketing.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has signed with the William Morris Agency, the first step in what is being called the “reinvention and evolution” of her career. The agency said Rice will focus on books, lecture appearances, philanthropic activities and “new business initiatives in the media, sports and communications sectors.” Rice will be represented by WMA chief Jim Wiatt and Wayne Kabak.

TECHNOLOGY/MULTI-PLATFORM CONTENT

Even in a tough economy, consumers want their iPods and iTunes music. On Wednesday Apple reported record profit and revenue for the quarter ended Dec. 27 on best-ever sales for iPod and its iTunes Store. There was one fly in the ointment, however: The boffo earnings report coincided with word that the SEC is investigating the company over the way it has disseminated info about CEO Steve Jobs’ health.

WEBSITE TO WATCH

http://www.whitehouse.gov/

At exactly 12 noon ET Tuesday an important transfer of power also took place on the web: This official web address of the President launched a new design to reflect the aims of the White House’s new tech-savvy resident. Macon Phillips, Director of New Media for the White House, promises the site will be the educational hub where Americans can turn to for the latest information issued from the oval office. The briefing room will house executive orders, proclamations, video addresses and blog entries. The agenda page details the administration’s positions on everything from Civil Rights to Technology. The site also promises to foster citizen interaction: Whitehouse.gov will post non-emergency legislation 5 days before the President signs it to give users a chance to peruse and comment upon it before it becomes law. There’s not much up here yet. Let’s hope the administration is genuinely serious about fostering web 2.0 interactivity. Whitehouse.gov could become a place to incubate some cool new apps, such as crowdsourcing tools to efficiently put the power of the people to work in the democratic process.