Random News of the Week (November 3 - November 9, 2008)

MGM is working to acquire the rights to the THREE STOOGES franchise from Warner Bros. A brand new feature length film is planned with the characters in the $45 million range. It will consist of the same format as the old films as four 20 minute shorts. The Farrelly brothers are attached to direct. A nation-wide search for actors to play the characters will be set in motion.

The creator of ROAD TO PERDITION has been hired to write and direct 2 sequels. The first sequel is titled ROAD TO PURGATORY. It follows a grow-up Michael J Sullivan who has come back from World War II and wishes to avenge his father (played by Tom Hanks) death.

Dennis Hopper had some funny comments about the SUPER MARIO BROTHERS film he did in the early 90’s that was a complete disaster. "I made a picture called Super Mario Bros., and my six-year-old son at the time -- he's now 18 -- he said, 'Dad, I think you're probably a pretty good actor, but why did you play that terrible guy King Koopa in Super Mario Bros.?' and I said, 'Well Henry, I did that so you could have shoes,' and he said, 'Dad, I don't need shoes that badly.'"

Clint Eastwood’s next directing adventure will be a biopic of Mark Twain called REMEMBERING MARK TWAIN. Producer Albert Ruddy says , “Eastwood is directing the movie, and he's going to bookend the movie playing Samuel Clemens in the hospital. It's a really sweet, beautiful movie. So that's what I'm all about.”

More is out on the remake of FORBIDDEN PLANET. AICN news said, “it will apparently be an "enormous, giant, retro sci-fi movie"; in other words, they're going to implement the design of the original rather than attempt something modern.” I’ve been waiting a long time for someone to have the guts to do retro sci-fi right.

A sequel to Rob Zombie’s HALLOWEEN remake has the green light. Tyler Mane is encoring as Michael Myers with pre-production expected to begin this January. Shooting is scheduled to commence sometime in March.

Yet another remake of the classic novel GULLIVER’S TRAVELS is planned. This time with Jack Black playing the title character. Rob Letterman (SHARK TALE) is directing.

A WANTED sequel is being written and on the fast track.

20th Century Fox is considering a remake of CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. This would not be a sequel to Tim Burton’s version nor would it be a reboot of the series. It would be a direct remake of the 4th film in the series. The new script entitled "Genesis: Apes" by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver is set in a more contemporary present day society and has Caesar being created by a genetic scientist who ends up taking it home and raising him as the son he and his wife were unable to conceive.

James Cameron chimed in about his thoughts on TERMINATOR SALVATION. “The truth is there never was a blessing to rescind, and there's been some kind of misunderstanding between me and McG, perfectly innocent I believe. He asked me in a phone call when I was shooting in New Zealand earlier this year if I would be a supporter and creative participant in the new film. I said sure, send me the script and I'll give you my thoughts. And I warned him that free advice is usually worth what you pay for it. For whatever reason I never got the script and to date I haven't seen a foot of film other than what everybody's seen in the trailer, which is not enough to form an opinion. So I have zero basis for supporting or dissing the film. As I said in an interview, for all I know it could be a masterpiece or it could be a big steaming pile. I think all people heard was the steaming pile part and concluded I was against the film, which I'm not. In fact, it might be very good, an opinion based solely on what Sam Worthington has shared with me. He's nobody's fool when it comes to material, and has absolutely the lowest bullshit quotient of anyone I know, and he has repeatedly told me that he reckons the film is going to be good. I know him to be very critical (in a healthy way) of his own work, and an actor who always aspires to excellence, so I know he wouldn't praise the film if he didn't feel it. Obviously I can't give my blessing (whatever that means anyway ) to the film completely blind. But I'm predisposed to be supportive based on Sam's involvement and his judgment, because I believe in him. So there you have it. Let's all keep our fingers crossed that it's not a steaming pile.”

Stallone is going to direct, write, and star in THE EXPENDABLES alongside Jason Statham. The script follows a team of mercenaries on a mission to overthrow a South American dictator.

John Boorman (EXCALIBUR, DELIVERANCE) is attached to direct a remake of THE WIZARD OF OZ using CG. The English-language adaptation maintains the tale's main characters and settings. Unlike the MGM classic, however, it's not a musical.

UNIVERSAL SOLDIER 3 is looking like more of a reality. Peter Hyams is said to be the Director of Photography but will not be directing. Dolph Lundgren is out. Van Damme is in it albeit with a small role.