Friday, November 6, 2009

Faris, Aykroyd and Timberlake Board Yogi Bear

Anna Faris, Dan Aykroyd and Justin Timberlake are in talks to star in Yogi Bear, Warner Bros.' big screen adaptation of the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon.

The film is being directed by Eric Brevig and produced by Donald De Line and Karen Rosenfelt as a live-action/CG hybrid.

Faris will play a nature documentarian who follows the antics of a bear in fictional Jellystone Park. Aykroyd will voice Yogi, and Timberlake may voice Yogi's companion, Boo Boo.

The studio hopes to get Yogi Bear under way in New Zealand in December. Brad Copeland penned the current script with Joshua Sternin and Jeff Ventimilia writing the original draft.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Galifianakis to Voice Puss in Boots Character

Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover) is in negotiations to voice Humpty Dumpty in "Shrek" spin-off Puss in Boots, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Tom Wheeler is writing the screenplay for the prequel, which will feature the voices of Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek in a story about the events leading up to the feline assassin's first meeting with Shrek & Co. in the second film.

Chris Miller, who co-directed and co-wrote Shrek the Third. wrote an earlier draft of the "Puss" screenplay and is directing the DreamWorks Animation movie.

The film is scheduled for a November 4, 2011 release.

Kevin Williamson Gives Scream 4 Update

Kevin Williamson teased earlier via his Twitter page that he's "writing" and that it's been a "late night." After a brief chat with MTV, it's evident that he's hard at work completing the script for Scream 4, with the 5th chapter also on cue. (He tells the site he's contractually obligated to Part 5 as well.)

We already know that stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette are all returning, and although director Wes Craven hasn't fully committed, he has expressed interest and excitement over Williamson's ideas. So, what can we expect from the next sequel?

"The fourth one is an ensemble. It'll take place right now, 10 years later, and it's going to take place in [Sidney Prescott's hometown of] Woodsboro. We'll have our three main characters, and we'll be introducing several more. We'll also be introducing a little group, a little ensemble of new castmembers. That'll take us through the next three."

The plan has always been to launch a new trilogy of "Scream" films.

David Goyer Talks Ghost Rider 2

MTV talked to David Goyer about what we can expect for Ghost Rider 2, which he says is "not exactly a reboot," picks up eight years after the first film, and is targeting a 2010 shoot.

"I hate to say it's more realistic, because he's got a flaming skull for a head, but it's a bit more stripped down and darker," Goyer added. "It's definitely changing tone. What 'Casino Royale' was to the Bond movies, hopefully this will be to 'Ghost Rider.'"

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

No More Conchords?

Series star reveals that the Flight might be over.

Things are looking a little bleak for the future of our favorite Kiwis over at HBO's Flight of the Conchords. According to The Hollywood Reporter, series star Jemaine Clement admitted that there might not be a third season of the Emmy-nominated show.

"It (Conchords) very likely might not" return for a third season, Clement said. "It could come back in a shorter season or like a special."

Nothing is set in stone just yet, and the final decision about Season 3 will be made within the next month, but due to the fact that it requires so much work and preparation Clement and co-star Bret McKenzie might not have the time to do it.

"We've got to write the series, but we've also got to write the songs, and just dividing your time into those two writing tasks is really tricky," Clement said.

HBO is hopeful though. "We've left their future entirely in their hands," said Nancy Lesser, a spokeswoman for the network. "We would love to have more, and we left an open door at HBO."

Owen Wilson to Voice Great Dane Marmaduke

Owen Wilson has signed on to voice the rascally Great Dane Marmaduke, Fox's adaptation of the long-running comic strip, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The film follows a family named the Winslows who move from Kansas to Orange County with their dog Marmaduke, a slobbery pooch who creates chaos wherever he goes.

In adapting the strip created in 1954 by Brad Anderson and Phil Leeming, the script by Tim Rasmussen and Vince Di Meglio sees Marmaduke navigate a volatile Mutts vs. Pedigrees turf war, woo the purebred of his dreams and overcome a fall from grace.

Judy Greer, Lee Pace and William H. Macy play the humans, while Fergie, Emma Stone, George Lopez, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Steve Coogan, Damon Wayans, Marlon Wayans supply the voices.

Tom Dey is directing the family comedy for a June 4, 2010 release.

Monday, November 2, 2009

TNT Picks Up Acclaimed Drama Southland

TNT has picked up the critically acclaimed series "Southland," closing a deal with Warner Bros. Television that will bring the drama from Emmy-winning producer John Wells ("ER," "The West Wing") to the network in January. TNT has obtained exclusive rights to air all six episodes that have been shot for the second season, as well as the seven episodes from the series' first season. "Southland" will air on TNT Tuesdays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), beginning with the first episode of the series on Jan. 12.

"This is a great win for fans of 'Southland' and a perfect opportunity to introduce the series to new viewers," said Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks. "It's also another outstanding example of how TNT has established itself as the go-to place for the best dramas on television."

"We are extremely pleased that TNT has acquired all 13 episodes of 'Southland,' giving devoted fans the opportunity to watch a show that they passionately support," said Peter Roth, president of Warner Bros. Television.

"We're delighted that TNT has stepped forward to pick up 'Southland.' We are all extremely proud of the show," Wells said.

In "Southland," John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz) is a veteran cop assigned to train young rookie Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie). Cooper attacks his job with a no-nonsense firmness that sometimes leaves Sherman wondering if he's really cut out to be a cop.

The series also follows Detective Lydia Adams (Regina King), who spends her off-work hours serving as her mother's primary caregiver. Her partner, Detective Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott), is a father struggling with an unhappy marriage. Detective Daniel "Sal" Salinger (Michael McGrady) oversees a unit of gang detectives, including Nate Moretta (Kevin Alejandro) and Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy). And patrol officer Chickie Brown (Arija Bareikis) is a single mom determined to make her mark as the first woman in the SWAT unit.

"Southland" is from John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Created by Emmy winner Ann Biderman ("NYPD Blue," Public Enemies), the series is executive-produced by Biderman, Emmy winner Chris Chulack ("ER," "Third Watch") and Wells. Chulack is also a primary director of the series.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Michael Jackson Concert Doc Isn't Quite It

The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio estimates for the weekend.

With only one new movie opening in wide release over the Halloween weekend, it was thought by many that Kenny Ortega's concert doc Michael Jackson's This Is It (Sony) would bring in a lot of the King of Pop's diehard fans as well as the morbidly curious, but despite reports of huge advance ticket sales and sell-out shows, it opened rather moderately on Wednesday with $7.4 million in just under 3,500 theaters. It managed to pick up some steam over the normally slow holiday weekend, bringing in an estimated $21.3 million, roughly $6200 per site, to end up with a weak $32.5 million in its first five days. Even so, the Los Angeles Times reports the concert doc grossed $101 million worldwide in its first five days, which was enough for Sony to extend what was originally intended as a limited two-week run.

Adding another 459 theaters, Oren Eli's DIY horror movie Paranormal Activity (Paramount) dropped to second place with $16.5 million and an astounding one-month total of nearly $85 million. With Halloween over and four new movies opening next week, one wonders whether it can hold up its unstoppable momentum, but $100 million seems guaranteed at this point.

Two returning movies took advantage of the lack of new movies to move up a place as the crime-thriller Law Abiding Citizen (Overture Films), starring Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx, moved up to third place with $7.3 million and $51.4 million total. The Vince Vaughn and friends comedy Couples Retreat (Universal) followed suit, moving back into fourth place in its fourth weekend adding another $6.1 million to its total of $86.6 million.

As expected, Saw VI (Lionsgate) dropped drastically, plummeting 61% to fifth place with $5.6 million and $22.8 million in ten days. Likewise, Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are (Warner Bros.) took another massive hit in its third weekend, dropping 64% to 6th place with $5.1 million and a three week total of $61.8 million.

Screen Gems' remake of The Stepfather joined the weekend's winners, moving up a place to 7th with $3.4 million and just under $25 million total.

The animated adventure Astro Boy (Summit) was another family movie hurt by the Halloween holiday, dropping 55% to eighth place to add another $3 million to its ten-day total of $10.0 million.

Moving up two places and landing in the Top 10 at #9, Mira Nair's biopic Amelia (Fox Searchlight) starring Hilary Swank, benefitted from an expansion to hold steady with a minor drop of 22% and another $3 million, followed by Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (Universal) in tenth place with $2.8 million.

The Top 10 grossed roughly $75 million, up slightly from last Halloween weekend where Kenny Ortega's High School Musical 3: Senior Year remained on top of the box office with $15.3 million while Kevin Smith's Zack and Miri Make a Porno took second place with just $10 million.

Opening in 68 theaters in select cities, Troy Duffy's long-anticipated sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saint's Day brought in $462 thousand, just under $7,000 per site to claim the honor of the highest per-theater average for the weekend. By comparison, Jared Hess' Gentlemen Broncos (Fox Searchlight) tanked in a major way, grossing just $10,000 in two theaters. We probably won't be seeing this one following the success of Hess' debut Napoleon Dynamite.

Nintendo Confirms North American DSi XL Release

Newer, heavier DSi coming early next year.

Announced this morning from Japan, Nintendo has revealed it will release the new DSi LL in North America and Europe in Q1 2010. The console will receive a bit of a name change over here, though, now being called the DSi XL.

"A new iteration of the Nintendo DSi; system will be introduced in Japan on November 21, 2009," Nintendo said in a statement sent to IGN. "To be known as Nintendo DSi LL in Japan, and as Nintendo DSi XL in North America and Europe, it will offer a screen 93% larger than the current Nintendo DS Lite with a better view angle, an additional longer touch screen stylus, and preinstalled Nintendo DSiWare software."

"The new version will arrive in North America and Europe in the first quarter of calendar year 2010."

Pricing details have not been revealed, though the DSi LL in Japan is said to cost 20,000 yen (about $220), up a bit from the DSi's current 18,900 yen price point.