Tuesday 25th Sept 2007

Jackson is a Soul Man but is Mac?
Samuel L. Jackson is signed and Bernie Mac is in negotiations to star as estranged soul-singing legends on a reunion tour in the Dimension Films comedy "Soul Men" reports Variety. Scripted by Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone ("Intolerable Cruelty," "Life"), Jackson and Mac will play two former backup soul singers who are part of a famed group.They haven't spoken to each other in 20 years but reluctantly agree to travel together for a tribute performance in honor of their recently deceased band leader.Both Jackson and Mac will dance and sing, and the film is negotiating for access to the Stax Records catalog.

Bateman's "State of Play"

Jason Bateman will join Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in the Kevin Macdonald-directed adaptation of the British miniseries "State of Play" for Universal Pictures and Working Title reports Variety. The drama revolves around a newspaper's investigation of the murder of a girlfriend of a fast-rising congressman (Norton) with Pitt playing the former campaign manager of the pol who spearheads the paper's investigation.Bateman will play one of the key reporters chasing the story, likely the role of the editor's son played by James McAvoy in the original.

"G-Force" for Gabriel Casseus
Gabriel Casseus ("Black Hawk Down") has joined the cast of Disney's "G-Force" for director Hoyt Yeatman reports Variety. Casseus will play an NSA agent tracking a group of genetically enhanced animal commandos. In the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced live-action/CGI family feature, the animal commandos try to prevent an evil billionaire from taking over the world.

McTiernan sentenced to prison
A federal judge sentenced director John McTiernan to four months in prison Monday after refusing to allow him to withdraw his guilty plea to charges of lying to the FBI about his association with disgraced private eye Anthony Pellicano.Judge Dale S. Fischer gave the director of such films as "Die Hard" and "The Thomas Crown Affair" until Jan. 15 to turn himself in to authorities. McTiernan's attorney said he would appeal.McTiernan was also ordered to pay a $100,000 fine (details).

A picnic win at Tropfest
Australian filmmaker Belinda King's "The Picnic" won the $10,000 Target Filmmaker Award at the Tropfest@Tribeca film festival Sunday night. A jury of actors Josh Lucas and Rose Byrne, and directors Griffin Dunne, Bennett Miller, Mary Harron and Tom McCarthy and last year's winner Matthew Bonifacio chose the award. It was presented following the premiere of 16 finalists' shorts in New York's World Financial Center Plaza. Some 7,500 people attended the free event. The fest, founded by Australia Tropfest founder John Polson and Tribeca Enterprises, also announced next year's short film theme will be "sunflower." This year's contestants created shorts around the signature item "slice.

Monday 24th Sept 2007

Sally's with "Abraham Lincoln"
Sally Field has joined the Steven Spielberg-directed "Abraham Lincoln" biopic for DreamWorks Pictures reports Newsweek. Liam Neeson stars in the title role, whilst Field will play Mary Todd - the wife of the 16th U.S. president.The film is based on historian Doris Kearns Goodwin biography, and a release is scheduled for the film in February 2009 - the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth.

Denzel is taking Pelham
Entertainment Weekly reports that director Tony Scott will reunite with Denzel Washington for "The Taking of Pelham 123."Based on the 1974 movie starring Walter Matthau, the story would feature Washington as a cop who must stop a hijacked subway car.Scott and Washington previously collaborated on Crimson Tide, Man on Fire and Déjà Vu. 'Pelham' is a pre-strike priority for Sony Pictures.

Clooney Injured
George Clooney and a companion were injured on Friday when their motorcycle collided with a car on a narrow road across the Hudson River from New York City reports The Associated Press.Clooney suffered a broken rib and scrapes while his passenger, Sarah Larson, broke her foot in the 3:30 p.m. collision. The 46-year-old actor was in the New York area to film the dark comedy Burn After Reading, co-starring Brad Pitt, John Malkovich and Frances McDormand.Clooney's spokesman, Stan Rosenfield, said "He's doing fine. He has a broken rib, it's very painful and it'll take a long time to heal."

The Coen's ger Serious
Shooting will begin April next year in Minneapolis on the Coen Brothers' "A Serious Man" for Focus Features.According to FilmJerk, the story will focus on Larry Gopnik, a Jewish college professor in the Midwest during the 1960s. Larry starts to question the value of life when he discovers his wife wants a divorce (she is also probably getting it on with one of the neighbors).He also has trouble with his children stealing money out of his wallet (his son is buying weed, while his daughter is saving for plastic surgery) and his deadbeat brother, who has moved in because he neither has the cash nor the maturity to live on his own.Add to that the hostile anonymous notes he keeps receiving which threaten his tenure at school, the grad student who will get a passing grade from Larry by any means necessary (who may or may not be the person leaving the threatening letters) and the hot neighbor who bedevils Larry with her nude sunbathing, and there is little wonder why Larry seeks to solve his existential issues from men of God whom he hopes will help him to become an austere and devoted man.The Coens are currently filming "Burn After Reading" with Brad Pitt and George Clooney, whilst their acclaimed adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's "No Country for Old Men" hits theatres this November. 'Serious' will release early 2009.

Tony's back for 24

Despite seemingly being killed off last year, Tony Almeida is set to return for all of the new season of FOX's "24" reports Zap2It.Executive producer Howard Gordon confirms that Tony's resurrection is "something, obviously, we're going to have to explain away... It's not the what of it, but the how, that's interesting."Could Michelle Dessler (Reiko Aylesworth) be making a similar appearance? "No, she's definitely six feet under."This time around, the show moves to Washington D.C, where Bauer is facing trial for his extreme actions in the pursuit of justice.

You could be in the Justice League

Audition took place this past week for the "Justice League" project and notices mailed out have confirmed some details.First up, shooting is slated to begin mid-February in Sydney, Australia and the shoot will run for approximately three to four months under the helm of the confirmed George Miller.The production is currently based out of Seattle, and they are searching "for the 8-9 leads for this action feature film".What do they require? "We are looking for Male actors 18-35 years old; Caucasian and Black. The primary focus should be to find Caucasian actors. There is 1 role for the Black Actor. We are looking for Female actors 20-32 years old; any ethnicity."

Phillippe visits "Franklyn"
Ryan Phillippe, Eva Green and newcomer Sam Riley will star in first-time director Gerald McMorrow's $12 million futuristic thriller "Franklyn" for the Recorded Picture Co reports Variety.Set in contemporary London and a future metropolis dominated by faith, it weaves the tale of four lost souls divided by two parallel worlds on course for an explosive collision when a single bullet will decide all their fates.

An "Avatar" for Giovanni
Giovanni Ribisi has signed on to James Cameron's $190 million 3-D feature "Avatar," playing a passive-aggressive character named Selfridge in the Fox film says The Hollywood Reporter.The story follows a band of humans pitted against a distant planet's indigenous inhabitants. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver and Michelle Rodriguez also star.The feature blends live-action photography and new virtual photorealistic production techniques invented by Cameron's team and features six computer-generated actors.

Winona becomes an Informer
Winona Ryder and Mickey Rourke have joined the ensemble cast of Gregor Jordan's "The Informers," an adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' novel says The Hollywood Reporter.The drama, which tells seven separate stories set in 1980's Los Angeles, follows a week in the lives of a group of morally challenged characters -- a movie executive, his wife, his mistress, a rock star, a vampire and a kidnapper.Billy Bob Thornton, Kim Basinger, Brandon Routh, Ashley Olsen, Jon Foster, Lou Taylor Pucci and Austin Nichols have already been cast.Ryder will play a newscaster who has just been dumped after a longtime affair with a married producer William Sloan.Rourke will play Peter, an amoral former studio security guard who plots to kidnap a small child to sell to the leader of a Los Angeles cult.

Katherine Heigl gets "Lost"
Katherine Heigl has optioned film rights to Jacqueline Sheehan's bestselling dramatic novel "Lost & Found" reports Variety.The story focuses on a widowed psychologist who moves to a remote Maine island and works in an animal hospital after her husband dies.

Brad Pitt could be a "Fighter"
Brad Pitt is in negotiations to team with Darren Aronofsky for Paramount's drama "The Fighter." Pitt is replacing Matt Damon, who had to bow out because of scheduling conflicts. Pitt famously pulled out of Aronofsky's "The Fountain" in 2002 which effectively killed that project for several years.Based on the life of boxer "Irish" Mickey Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and his trainer brother Dick Eklund (Pitt), 'Fighter' chronicles their early days on the rough streets of Lowell, Mass., through Eklund's battle with drugs and Ward's eventual world championship in London.

A moments silence for the master of Mime
PARIS -- Marcel Marceau, the master of mime who transformed silence into poetry with lithe gestures and pliant facial expressions that spoke to generations of young and old, has died. He was 84.Wearing white face paint, soft shoes and a battered hat topped with a red flower, Marceau breathed new life into an art that dates to ancient Greece. He played out the human comedy through his alter-ego Bip without ever uttering a word (details).

Esmeralda dies at 81
Alice Ghostley, the Tony Award-winning actress best known on television for playing Esmeralda on "Bewitched" and Bernice on "Designing Women," died Friday.She was 81. Ghostley died at her home in Studio City after a long battle with colon cancer and a series of strokes, said longtime friend Jim Pinkston (details).

Friday 21st September 2007

More sign on for "The Women"
Bette Midler, Cloris Leachman, Carrie Fisher, Lynn Whitfield, Joanna Gleason, Ana Gasteyer and Debi Mazar have joined the high profile remake of 1939 classic "The Women" reports Variety.Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Candice Bergen are already set to play friends who discover the pal they envied most is being cheated on by her husband.

Warners want Wild Geese

Hollywood Gang Prods. will remake the 1978 actioneer "The Wild Geese" with Rupert Sanders attached to direct reports Variety.Based on Daniel Carney's unpublished novel "The Thin White Line," the original film starred Richard Burton, Roger Moore and Richard Harris. The story followed a group of British mercenaries who are contracted to free an imprisoned African leader. Discussions are under way to bring the film to Warner Bros. Pictures. Hollywood Gang is also adapting graphic novels "Ocean" by Warren Ellis and "Ronin" by Frank Miller.

Terrance Howard is "Fighting"

Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard will star opposite Channing Tatum in Dito Montiel's action drama Fighting, which begins production on location in New York City this week for Rogue Pictures. Kevin Misher is producing Fighting through his Misher Films. Rogue co-presidents Andrew Karpen and Andrew Rona made the announcement today.Fighting is a rough-hewn heroic tale about realizing dreams of glory, putting audiences ringside at high-stakes underground street fights. Tatum stars as Sean Arthur, a young man who scrapes up a living hustling counterfeit merchandise in NYC. With family tragedy in his past and his father keeping him at a distance, this outsider has little to motivate him. A chance encounter with veteran street-fighting coach Harvey Boarden (Howard) leads to a whole new career for Sean. The ensuing bouts get tough, especially with the criminal element horning in, so Sean gets tougher. He will fight to win, not only the prize money but also the unexpected new relationships that are strengthening him.

Weinstein's Seals

The Weinstein Co. and Exodus Film Group will produce their first CG-animation co-production effort - the aquatic family comedy "Navy Seals" by scribe Justin Eick says The Hollywood Reporter.The pair unveiled their strategic partnership in Cannes - jointly developing, producing and financing a slate of CG-animated feature films, DVDs and TV series."Navy Seals," an adventuresome family comedy developed by Exodus and based on true Marine heroes, tells the story of an elite pod of U.S. Navy dolphins who are captured. Their only hope for rescue is a group of misfit seals.

Up up and away for "Superhero" spoof
Drake Bell, Sara Paxton, Christopher McDonald, Leslie Nielsen, Kevin Hart, Marion Ross, Ryan Hansen, Jeffrey Tambor and Brent Spiner will all star in the Dimension Films action-movie spoof "Superhero" reports the trades.The film will be cut from the same cloth as writer-director Craig Mazin's "Scary Movie 3" and "Scary Movie 4" parodies. David Zucker ("Airplane!") and Robert K. Weiss will produce.

"Nine Lives" for Disney and Bruckheimer
"Disney Pictures has acquired Jonathan Hensleigh action-drama pitch "Nine Lives," with Hensleigh ("The Rock," "Armageddon," "Con Air") to pen the script. The story revolves around a Manhattan detective called Nine Lives because of the number of shootings he has survived while on duty. Jerry Bruckheimer will produce..." (full details)

"Monsters" moves to avoid battle with "Avatar"
DreamWorks Animation has moved up the 3D CG-animated feature "Monsters vs. Aliens" two months to March 27th 2009 reports the trades.The date change avoids a head-to-head collision with James Cameron's "Avatar" which would have meant the films would be fighting over the growing number of digital 3-D screens."Monsters" will now look to take advantage of the Easter holiday, which falls on April 12th. It will also go head-to-head with Sony's animated feature "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs".

Chris Tucker works with Frank Sinatra?
"Rush Hour" director Brett Ratner and actor Chris Tucker will reteam for New Line's "Mr. S: My Life With Frank Sinatra" reports Variety.Ratner is attached to direct and produce and Tucker eyeing the starring role of valet George Jacobs who worked for Sinatra from 1953-68.The story is based on the 2003 book which offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of Sinatra and the Rat Pack. William Stadiem, co-scribe of the book, has been tapped to write the screenplay.The story weaves in celebrity anecdotes involving Marilyn Monroe, Peter Lawford, the Kennedys, Ava Gardner, Humphrey Bogart, Mia Farrow, Elvis Presley, Swifty Lazar and Marlene Dietrich, among others.

"Zigzag" for New Line
New Line has landed screen rights to the just published Ben Macintyre book "Agent Zigzag: True Wartime Story of Love and Deception" reports the trades.The book, published last week by Harmony Books, centers on the true-life story of Eddie Chapman, a criminal, con man and philanderer who was recruited and trained by the Nazis at the beginning of World War II.Chapman quickly became a master of espionage, and while on a mission to destroy an airplane factory in Britain, contacted the M15, Britain's secret service, thus beginning his life as a double agent.

Indy 4 plot (SPOILER ALERT)
An extra on-set in early September revealed to The Edmonton Sun some big SPOILERS about what they saw being shot:"Indiana Jones is blackmailed by the Russian Army as they are both searching for a crucifix skull in the jungles of South America. They threaten to kill Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) take Indy hostage and find the skull. The Russian soldiers celebrate by dancing to balalaika folk music next to a campfire. Indiana is being interrogated inside a tent, where he is strapped to a chair. Cate Blanchett is also now confirmed to play the Russian interrogator."

Thursday 20th Sept 2007

More from Indy 4
"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" executive producer George Lucas confirms to TV Guide that with Sean Connery not returning as Indy's father, the role has been re-written for another character.

From model to miracle

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has scored a role in Spike Lee's WW2 drama "The Miracle at St. Anna" says Vogue. The film deals with a regiment of black soldiers stationed in Tuscany during World War Two. Campbell has confirmed that she had meetings with and just signed a contract with Lee the other day.

Thunder for McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey will make an uncredited cameo in "Tropic Thunder," the Ben Stiller-directed DreamWorks comedy reports Variety. Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Nick Nolte, Bill Hader and Steve Coogan all appear in the project about a group of actors who gather on a remote island to shoot a big-budget war movie and are forced to become the soldiers they are playing. McConaughey takes the role that Owen Wilson left after he was hospitalized. Shooting is underway in Hawaii.

G-force in 2009
Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed today that May 1st 2009 will be the release date for his live-action/CGI produced family feature "G-Force".

Jennifer haunts McConaughey
Jennifer Garner is in negotiations to star opposite Matthew McConaughey in New Line's romantic comedy "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" reports the trades. The story centers on a charming womanizer (McConaughey) who is visited by the apparitions of girlfriends past, present and future while attending the wedding of his younger brother. He eventually realizes that he is in love with his childhood sweetheart (Garner). Mark Waters is directing the film from a Jon Lucas and Scott Moore screenplay, with shooting scheduled to begin in January. Garner's husband Ben Affleck was previously set to be the male lead.

Ryan Reynolds in Adventureland
Ryan Reynolds and Kristen Stewart are joining Jesse Eisenberg in the coming-of-age comedy "Adventureland" reports the trades. Written and directed by Greg Mottola ("Superbad"), the 1987-set story follows an uptight recent college grad (Eisenberg) who is forced to take a degrading minimum-wage job at the local amusement park when he realizes he can't afford his dream European tour. The experience helps him to loosen up a bit as he finds first love, forms new friendships and emerges with a newfound sense of maturity just in time to enter the real world in the fall. Reynolds will play Connell, an aspiring rock star and the icon of cool to all the kids working at the park. Stewart will play the romantic lead, a tomboy who also works at the park. Shooting begins next month in Pittsburgh.

Fright Night remake in the works
Shock Till You Drop reports that Sony's Screen Gems is currently seeking a writer to pen a remake of the 1985 vampire classic "Fright Night". The original followed teenage horror film fan Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) who believes a vampire (Chris Sarandon) has moved into the large house next door.

Dimension walks down the "The Road"
Dimension Films is in final negotiations to distribute the apocalyptic thriller "The Road," based on Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, in North America says The Hollywood Reporter. The story centers on a father who walks alone with his son through a ravaged postwar American landscape in search of civilization.

Missed Connections for New Line
"New Line has picked up romantic comedy "Missed Connections," penned by Gustin Nash ("Charlie Bartlett"). The story centers on a multitude of characters in search of love and friendship in an era of instant communication..." (full details)

Wednesday 19th Sept 2007

More Sex in the City
Jason Lewis and David Eigenberg will reprise their roles as the significant others of Samantha (Kim Cattrall) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) in the "Sex and the City" movie reports MTV News. Lewis and Eigenberg join fellow returning paramours Chris Noth and Evan Handler. Jennifer Hudson as Carrie's assistant is the only new name to surface so far. Production is scheduled to begin in New York within the week.

Star Trek the next Uhara?
"The three week old rumour is confirmed - Zoe Saldana is in final negotiations to play a young Uhura in J.J. Abrams re-imagination of the "Star Trek" franchise. Saldana joins Anton Yelchin as a young Chekov and Zachary Quinto as a young Spock"

Michael Bay talks Transformers Sequel
"Transformers" director Michael Bay confirms on his official message board that he's keen to work on the "Transformers" sequel pre-strike (June 2008) but "I might jump ship and come back a year or so later cause people at the studio have been dragging for two months"

It's War for Maguire and Gyllenhaal
Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal are in negotiations to team up for Jim Sheridan's "Brothers" for Relativity Media reports Variety A remake of Susanne Bier's 2004 Danish-language war drama, the story centers on a man (Maguire) who is sent to fight in Afghanistan while his black-sheep younger brother (Gyllenhaal) cares for his wife and child.

Walken, Morgan & Macy are Lonely Maiden's?
Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken and William H. Macy will team for the Yari Film Group comedy "The Lonely Maiden" reports Variety. "Maiden," written by Michael LeSieur ("You, Me and Dupree"), centers on three museum security guards who have become attached to the artwork they've watched over for decades. When they learn their beloved pieces are to be transferred to another museum, they concoct a scheme to "steal" them back.

Steven Bloom's a stand in
"Warner Independent Pictures has acquired the rights to Steve Bloom's original screenplay "The Stand-In." The story centers on a working-class high school senior who earns money for college by escorting wealthy girls to formal high school
functions."

Tuesday 18th Sept 2007

A Jigsaw for the Punisher
"Actor Paddy Considine ("The Bourne Ultimatum," "Hot Fuzz") has revealed that he was offered the role of villain Jigsaw in Lionsgate's "Punisher: War Zone," but the studio has withdrawn his offer and is going with their first choice (unknown at present) who previously dropped out..." (full details)

The return of Aragorn in The Hobbit
A full on production timeline for "The Hobbit" film reveals an interesting history of the troubled "Lord of the Rings" prequel, whilst Viggo Mortensen has talked about possibly reprising his Aragorn role in it.

More Justice League news
Ryan Gosling is apparently the top choice for playing Batman/Bruce Wayne in the "Justice League" film.

Jada's Human Contact
Jada Pinkett Smith will write and direct "The Human Contract" for her husband Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment reports FilmJerk.The film centers on Julian Wright, a charming and mega-successful businessman who hides a secret from the rest of the world which tears his soul apart every day.With his personal life in shambles, Julian will find himself willing to travel down the rabbit hole, as it were, when he meets Michael Reed, a gorgeous stranger who entices Julian to forget his rigid corporate world and try a more bohemian lifestyle.It's a decision that will not only affect his own life but those of his boss and co-workers, as well as inspire his half-sister Rita to re-examine her life with her abusive husband.

First pic of Benicio as The wolfman
A funny but effective test photo is out of Benicio Del Toro in his "The Wolf Man" make-up.

No Heroes for Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino has turned down the opportunity to direct an episode of hit TV show Heroes - because he's never watched the series.

YouTube inspires MTV to make feature film
MTV Films will turn YouTube music satire viral video series "Million Dollar Strong" into a feature film reports Variety. Mike O'Connell and Ken Jeong, who star in the satirical music video "What's It Gonna Be?" are set to star in the MTV comedy that O'Connell is writing with Peter Kline.The story revolves around the meteoric rise of a delusional rapper (O'Connell) and his Asian foreign exchange student friend (Jeong) as they take on the hip-hop world.Clay Allen helmed the viral video, but no director is attached yet for the film version. Todd Phillips will produce.

Moday 17th Sept 2007

Hi and thanks for joining us Behind the Red Carpet. Congratulations to all the winners at the Golden Globes.

2007 Golden Globe Winners
Drama Series: "The Sopranos," HBO.
Comedy Series: "30 Rock," NBC.
Miniseries: "Broken Trail," AMC.
Variety, Music or Comedy Series: "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central.
Variety, Music or Comedy Special: "Tony Bennett: An American Classic," NBC.
Made-for-TV Movie: "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," HBO.
Reality-Competition Program: "The Amazing Race," CBS.
Creative Achievement in Interactive TV: Current.
Actor, Drama Series: James Spader, "Boston Legal," ABC.
Actor, Comedy Series: Ricky Gervais, "Extras," HBO.
Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Robert Duvall, "Broken Trail," AMC.
Actress, Drama Series: Sally Field, "Brothers & Sisters," ABC.
Actress, Comedy Series: America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty," ABC.
Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Helen Mirren, "Prime Suspect: The Final Act, PBS.
Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Terry O'Quinn, "Lost," ABC.
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Jeremy Piven, "Entourage," HBO.
Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Thomas Haden Church, "Broken Trail," AMC.
Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Katherine Heigl, "Grey's Anatomy," ABC.
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Jaime Pressly, "My Name Is Earl," NBC.
Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Judy Davis, "The Starter Wife," USA.
Individual Performance, Variety or Music Program: Tony Bennett, "Tony Bennett: An American Classic," NBC.
Directing, Drama Series: "The Sopranos: Kennedy and Heidi," HBO.
Directing, Comedy Series: "Ugly Betty: Pilot," ABC.
Directing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: "Prime Suspect: The Final Act (Masterpiece Theatre)," PBS.
Directing, Variety, Music or Comedy Program: "Tony Bennett: An American Classic," NBC.
Writing for a Drama Series: "The Sopranos: Made in America," HBO.
Writing, Comedy Series: "The Office: Gay Witch Hunt," NBC.
Writing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: "Prime Suspect: The Final Act," PBS.
Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: Late Night With Conan O'Brien," NBC.

Eastern Promises at the Toronto Film Festival
David Cronenberg’s thriller “Eastern Promises” drew the audience prize for best film at the 32nd Toronto Film Festival according to Variety. The Focus feature starring Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts explores the world of a notorious Russian mob family in London when a midwife goes looking for the truth after a teenager dies in childbirth.

Seven Two Days for Goodloe & Castle Rock
Castle Rock Entertainment has purchased J. Mills Goodloe’s pitch “Seventy-Two Days” in a preemptive bid. The romantic drama centers on a Wall Street trader who is convicted of insider trading and must report to a minimum-security prison in 72 days. With his career destroyed and loss of freedom looming, he faces difficult choices when he falls in love for the first time. Goodloe continues his relationship with Castle Rock, which earlier this year bought his spec script “Find.Love.Frost.”

A Brave One for it's first week
In the US Jodie Foster's vigilante flick "The Brave One" scared up $14 million at the box office to become the weekend's top film. The Warner Bros. tale of revenge transcended gender, appealing to older women as well as men who might naturally be expected to enjoy a violent film. "Revenge movies often appeal to men, but the fact that Jodie Foster was in it brought in the women," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. "That combination worked." While the film's box office take was fairly modest, it is about right for this transition time of year between the summer blockbuster season and the fall Oscar push. The Brave One displaced last week's box-office winner, "3:10 to Yuma," which placed second with $9.2 million in ticket sales.

Southern Comfort for Disney
Disney has acquired the rights to a romantic-comedy pitch from scribe Gren Wells.The Kentucky-set "Southern Comfort" focuses on themes of life, friendship and family.John Strauss ("The Santa Clause 2 & 3"), who collaborated on the concept with Wells, will produce under his Frontier Pictures shingle. Louanne Brickhouse is shepherding the project for Disney.Wells also is penning a pilot for Showtime/Fox 21 Studios, which is based on Allan MacDonell's novel "Prisoner of X." MacDonell is serving as co-writer, and Little Engine will produce.

Valkyrie breaks down the wall in Berlin
After months of debate and controversy, Bryan Singer's "Valkyrie," which stars Tom Cruise as would-be Hitler assassin Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, has been granted permission to shoot at a key historic site in Berlin according to The Hollywood Reporter. The German Defense Ministry on Friday overturned an earlier decision not to allow "Valkryie" to shoot at Bendlerblock building, the site where von Stauffenberg and his fellow conspirators plotted the assassination and where they were later executed by the Nazis. The German government had banned the production from shooting on site, saying that Bendlerblock, now a memorial to von Stauffenberg, was a building of important historic significance whose "dignity" could be damaged by a film shoot.

G-force and Astro Boy updates
Imagi's official website has posted two interviews with Gatchaman (G-force) director Kevin Munroe (TMNT) and Astro Boy director Colin Brady. The former is based on the 1970s Japanese TV series "Science Ninja Team Gatchaman" and the latter on the iconic character created by the "father of anime," Osamu Tezuka.

Russell Crowe to be beamed up
According to The Australian newspaper Russell Crowe is being tipped to play a bad guy in the new Star Trek movie.Film bosses were lining up the 43-year-old Australian-based Oscar winner for a role in the movie to be directed by JJ Abrams, producer of hit television series Lost, a source told Britain's Daily Mail. "They think Russell is ideal to play the bad guy. They want him to zoom through that black hole as the dude in the black hat." The movie, the 11th in the Star Trek series, is due to begin filming later this year and is scheduled to be released in December next year.

A cameo with Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell is auctioning a cameo spot in his new movie to raise money for a fraternity brother's cancer foundation. Ferrell came up with the idea to help Craig Pollard's Cancer for College foundation. The two were fraternity brothers at the University of Southern California.Online bidding will begin Monday and close Sept. 26. Ferrell will announce the winner on Sept. 27, and that person will meet the actor the next day at the 14th annual Cancer for College golf tournament dinner at Temecula Creek Inn. The opening bid for the movie appearance is $5,000.In October, the winner will join Ferrell on set of his new movie, ''Step Brothers,'' and appear in a scene.