It's always hard being the first panel of any comic convention, but WonderCon kicked off with a full room, as fans of Mitch Hurvitz's Emmy-winning show "Arrested Development" were given a chance to see a first taste of his new animated show "Sit Down, Shut Up," which will premiere on FOX at 8:30 PM on April 19. Before they went to questions from the audience, the moderator asked about the much-anticipated movie based on "Arrested Development" that has been discussed a lot both by Hurvitz and the cast of the show.
Before Hurvitz could give a serious response, Will Arnett, who provides one of the voices for the new show, joked, "We are dangerously close to confirming that… we have read the rumors on the internet."
"Here's what's going on with the movie," Hurvitz told the audience of his fans. "Everyone goes off and has careers and that kind of thing, so it's been a little challenging to schedule everybody together, but everyone who has agreed to make this movie and we're going to make the movie. I haven't written it yet, so I'll be accepting pitches. We're determined to do this."
"It was a great joy and privilege, all kidding aside, to do a show that took risks and with such a wonderful cast and wonderful writers," he continued. "For us, it's irresistible. Here's an interesting thing about it. When we did the show, one of the things that really made it work is that we didn't hold ourselves up to any standard. We got a lot of positive critical recommendations, but we even kind of ignored those and just did what was funny to us, and kind of remained the underdog in a great way. It was very clear early on that we weren't going to be a big hit, so it really was a labor of love. Now suddenly, there is a bar to hit. I think the key to this is once we get as many pieces as we're going to, which appears we have, we'll just dive in and have fun and see if we can create the same thing. But we're excited about it."
Friday, February 27, 2009
Jerry Seinfeld is Returning to NBC
NBC has announced a new comedy-reality series created by superstar comedian and producer Jerry Seinfeld's Columbus 81 Productions. Seinfeld has partnered with Ellen Rakieten, a 23-year veteran of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on this project.
This new series titled "The Marriage Ref" (working title) will feature opinionated celebrities, comedians and sports stars who will candidly comment, judge and offer different strategies for real-life couples in the midst of a classic marital dispute.
The announcement was made today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.
Describing his new creation, Seinfeld said, "This is not a therapy show, it's a comedy show. After nine years of marriage I have discovered that the comedic potential of this subject is quite rich."
"It will be revealing, edgy, controversial and very, very funny. Picture well-known people weighing in on a couple's relationship issues -- and deciding who is right and who is wrong -- right on the spot, like a referee," added Rakieten.
Rakieten joined "The Oprah Winfrey Show" as a producer at its inception in 1986, and was a major force in creating the most dominant program in daytime history.
"There is no better partner for me on this venture than Ellen. She has had such an amazing experience at Harpo, and our minds seem perfectly synchronized on the potential of this idea," said Seinfeld.
For two decades Rakieten's leadership and creativity earned "The Oprah Winfrey Show" unprecedented ratings. During her long tenure at Harpo, Rakieten produced over 3500 hours of television.
"NBC has a long and enormously successful relationship with Jerry and this great new concept reflects his incredible and unique point of view," said Silverman. "Viewers will love this highly relatable new comedy."
Added Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios, "While 'Seinfeld' was a hilarious look at single life, this new show will focus on the humor of relationships and marriage. It's a great fit with the slate of alternative comedy we are building at NBC."
This new series titled "The Marriage Ref" (working title) will feature opinionated celebrities, comedians and sports stars who will candidly comment, judge and offer different strategies for real-life couples in the midst of a classic marital dispute.
The announcement was made today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.
Describing his new creation, Seinfeld said, "This is not a therapy show, it's a comedy show. After nine years of marriage I have discovered that the comedic potential of this subject is quite rich."
"It will be revealing, edgy, controversial and very, very funny. Picture well-known people weighing in on a couple's relationship issues -- and deciding who is right and who is wrong -- right on the spot, like a referee," added Rakieten.
Rakieten joined "The Oprah Winfrey Show" as a producer at its inception in 1986, and was a major force in creating the most dominant program in daytime history.
"There is no better partner for me on this venture than Ellen. She has had such an amazing experience at Harpo, and our minds seem perfectly synchronized on the potential of this idea," said Seinfeld.
For two decades Rakieten's leadership and creativity earned "The Oprah Winfrey Show" unprecedented ratings. During her long tenure at Harpo, Rakieten produced over 3500 hours of television.
"NBC has a long and enormously successful relationship with Jerry and this great new concept reflects his incredible and unique point of view," said Silverman. "Viewers will love this highly relatable new comedy."
Added Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios, "While 'Seinfeld' was a hilarious look at single life, this new show will focus on the humor of relationships and marriage. It's a great fit with the slate of alternative comedy we are building at NBC."
The Simpsons Picked Up for Two More Seasons
Fox has ordered two additional seasons of "The Simpsons," which will bring the longest-running series in primetime television history through its 22nd season. The 44-episode pickup ensures the series will reach an astounding 493 episodes. "The Simpsons" airs Sundays (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) on Fox.
Since its debut on January 14, 1990, "The Simpsons" immediately struck a chord with viewers across the country as it poked fun of itself and everything in its wake. With its subversive humor and delightful wit, the series has made an indelible imprint on American pop culture and has become one of television's most iconic families.
"Best. 20 Years. Ever.," a year-long global celebration honoring all things "The Simpsons," launched in January 2009 and will culminate on January 14, 2010, the 20th anniversary of the series' debut.
"The Simpsons" is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Al Jean are the executive producers. Film Roman is the animation house.
Since its debut on January 14, 1990, "The Simpsons" immediately struck a chord with viewers across the country as it poked fun of itself and everything in its wake. With its subversive humor and delightful wit, the series has made an indelible imprint on American pop culture and has become one of television's most iconic families.
"Best. 20 Years. Ever.," a year-long global celebration honoring all things "The Simpsons," launched in January 2009 and will culminate on January 14, 2010, the 20th anniversary of the series' debut.
"The Simpsons" is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Al Jean are the executive producers. Film Roman is the animation house.
Warner Bros. Brings Together Suicide Squad
Warner Bros. Pictures has set up the DC Comics property Suicide Squad for Dan Lin (Sherlock Holmes) to produce as a potential franchise.
In a departure from normal comic-based fare, Suicide Squad concentrates on a group of incarcerated supervillains rather than the usual focus on superheroes. The first version of the squad debuted in a 1959 DC Comic, and a series was launched in 1987.
Stephen Gilchrist from Lin Pictures will co-produce. Justin Marks (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Hack/Slash) is penning the screenplay.
Suicide Squad will feature a mix of well-known and unknown villains recruited by the government to accomplish a task deemed too dangerous for superheroes. The historically independent operators must bury their own interpersonal conflicts and agendas to form a cohesive unit to take on a singular task.
In a departure from normal comic-based fare, Suicide Squad concentrates on a group of incarcerated supervillains rather than the usual focus on superheroes. The first version of the squad debuted in a 1959 DC Comic, and a series was launched in 1987.
Stephen Gilchrist from Lin Pictures will co-produce. Justin Marks (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Hack/Slash) is penning the screenplay.
Suicide Squad will feature a mix of well-known and unknown villains recruited by the government to accomplish a task deemed too dangerous for superheroes. The historically independent operators must bury their own interpersonal conflicts and agendas to form a cohesive unit to take on a singular task.
Next Friday the 13th Moving Forward
The Hollywood Reporter's Risky Biz Blog reports that New Line and Platinum Dunes are moving forward on a new Friday the 13th and that Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, who wrote the recently released Friday the 13th, are beginning work on a script for the new picture.
The next film is expected to be not a sequel so much as a follow-up. Jason Voorhees will be the villain, of course, but the new film is expected to use elements of the original franchise more as a jumping-off point than as a template.
The trade says the reason is that the reboot drew from the first four movies in the "Friday" series, and producers are said not to be keen on the plot elements of the half-dozen movies that followed.
Marcus Nispel, who directed the latest film, is a possible but unlikely candidate to helm the Friday the 13th follow-up; the director is believed to be fielding offers for movies across other genres.
Risky Biz Blog cautions that there is no green light and Platinum Dunes and New Line are actively working together on another franchise reboot, A Nightmare on Elm Street< which is set to start shooting in two months.
The Marcus Nispel-directed Friday the 13th has earned $71.9 million worldwide in two weeks.
The next film is expected to be not a sequel so much as a follow-up. Jason Voorhees will be the villain, of course, but the new film is expected to use elements of the original franchise more as a jumping-off point than as a template.
The trade says the reason is that the reboot drew from the first four movies in the "Friday" series, and producers are said not to be keen on the plot elements of the half-dozen movies that followed.
Marcus Nispel, who directed the latest film, is a possible but unlikely candidate to helm the Friday the 13th follow-up; the director is believed to be fielding offers for movies across other genres.
Risky Biz Blog cautions that there is no green light and Platinum Dunes and New Line are actively working together on another franchise reboot, A Nightmare on Elm Street< which is set to start shooting in two months.
The Marcus Nispel-directed Friday the 13th has earned $71.9 million worldwide in two weeks.
A Total Recall Remake is Very Real
Neal H. Moritz and his Original Films are in final negotiations to develop and produce for Columbia Pictures a contemporary version of Total Recall, the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi action movie directed by Paul Verhoeven, says The Hollywood Reporter.
The original, based on the Philip K. Dick story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale," follows a man haunted by a recurring dream of journeying to Mars who buys a literal dream vacation from a company called Rekall Inc., which sells implanted memories. The man comes to believe he is a secret agent and ends up on a Martian colony, where he fights to overthrow a despotic ruler controlling the production of air.
The movie explores one of Dick's favorite topics, reality vs. delusion, as audiences never knew whether or not the story was a dream. Either way, the movie grossed a very real $261 million worldwide.
Calling Dick's story "prescient," Moritz said he hoped the advancements in technology and state-of-the-art visual effects can help tell the "Recall" story in a fresh way.
The original, based on the Philip K. Dick story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale," follows a man haunted by a recurring dream of journeying to Mars who buys a literal dream vacation from a company called Rekall Inc., which sells implanted memories. The man comes to believe he is a secret agent and ends up on a Martian colony, where he fights to overthrow a despotic ruler controlling the production of air.
The movie explores one of Dick's favorite topics, reality vs. delusion, as audiences never knew whether or not the story was a dream. Either way, the movie grossed a very real $261 million worldwide.
Calling Dick's story "prescient," Moritz said he hoped the advancements in technology and state-of-the-art visual effects can help tell the "Recall" story in a fresh way.
(And Of Course) The NeverEnding Story Gets a Remake
Warner Bros. and a pair of top-tier production companies are in the early stages of a remake of the 1980s children's fantasy classic The NeverEnding Story, says The Hollywood Reporter.
The Kennedy/Marshall Co. (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Leonardo DiCaprio's company Appian Way are in discussions with Warner Bros. about reviving the 25-year-old franchise with a modern spin. The studio recently acquired rights to the property, clearing the way for a potential remake.
Born out of a German-language novel by Michael Ende, the film centers on a boy named Bastian Balthazar Bux who discovers a parallel world in a book titled "The NeverEnding Story." As the boy, a loner, delves deeper into the book, he increasingly finds his life intertwined with the plot of the novel, in which a hero in the land of Fantasia must save the universe on behalf of an empress.
The new film--which original producer Dieter Geissler--will examine the more nuanced details of the book that were glossed over in the first film, that was directed by Wolfgang Petersen.
A sequel directed by George Miller came out in 1990; a third movie followed in the U.S. in 1996 but quickly went to video.
Those familiar with the project emphasize that it is in its early stages and that writers have not been attached.
The Kennedy/Marshall Co. (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Leonardo DiCaprio's company Appian Way are in discussions with Warner Bros. about reviving the 25-year-old franchise with a modern spin. The studio recently acquired rights to the property, clearing the way for a potential remake.
Born out of a German-language novel by Michael Ende, the film centers on a boy named Bastian Balthazar Bux who discovers a parallel world in a book titled "The NeverEnding Story." As the boy, a loner, delves deeper into the book, he increasingly finds his life intertwined with the plot of the novel, in which a hero in the land of Fantasia must save the universe on behalf of an empress.
The new film--which original producer Dieter Geissler--will examine the more nuanced details of the book that were glossed over in the first film, that was directed by Wolfgang Petersen.
A sequel directed by George Miller came out in 1990; a third movie followed in the U.S. in 1996 but quickly went to video.
Those familiar with the project emphasize that it is in its early stages and that writers have not been attached.
Ed Helms to Write and Star in Civil War Time Travel Comedy
“It’s the Nard Dawg meets Glory meets Bill and Ted’s.” Actor Ed Helms (The Office), a native of Georgia, will write and top-line an untitled comedy about a highly dedicated Civil War re-enactor who travels back in time to the actual event. Joining the character in the potentially history-’ploding debacle will be two fellow re-enactors and a black history professor. Office co-star, Steve Carell, will produce and joining Helms on script duties will be writing partner, Jake Fleisher. This summer, Helms co-stars in Todd Phillips’s The Hangover alongside Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis, which is being singled out as a break-out hit along the lines of Old School, Knocked Up, or Bachelor Party without a coke donkey.
There is no shortage of comedies (and hokey ghost hunting shows for that matter) that poke fun at re-enactors of all sorts. Choke featured similar re-enactors in Colonial Williamburg, The Cable Guy had a few memorable scenes at Medieval Times, and The Sasquatch Gang is filled with fantasy re-enactor nerds and their depressing foam weapons. Any others come to mind? Let us know in the comments.
There is no shortage of comedies (and hokey ghost hunting shows for that matter) that poke fun at re-enactors of all sorts. Choke featured similar re-enactors in Colonial Williamburg, The Cable Guy had a few memorable scenes at Medieval Times, and The Sasquatch Gang is filled with fantasy re-enactor nerds and their depressing foam weapons. Any others come to mind? Let us know in the comments.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Michael Cera Stops Holding Out On Arrested Development Movie
Nameless inside sources have apparently told E! Online’s Watch With Kristin that Michael Cera has buckled and agreed to board the Arrested Development movie. I suspect the film would have happened in some fashion even without him, but this should make the fans happier and more optimistic at least. I like Michael. He’s genuinely charming, I think.
The best bit of the story? A quote from Ron Howard, speaking on the Oscars’ red carpet: “It’s looking very much like we’re going to make [the movie], but we’ve now been asked to stop offering any details. It’s cloaked in a little mystery, but it’s looking good.” Yeah - they have been running off at the mouth an awful lot these last months.
Howard apparently dropped that zinger on Ryan Seacrest, but we in the UK didn’t get to see much of Seacrest and had our own reps on the red carpet. Did they shame themselves as fully as he did? Nope, not quite.
MTV also spoke to Mr. Howard and while he said essentially the same things, he did add a few exclusive flourishes. For example, he told them that he met with Mitchell Hurwitz last Friday and that at the moment “Things are going really well. He’s writing.”
That’s enough confirmation that the film is going to go ahead for me but I’ll add a rumor tag to this post because it’s all still just pillow carpet talk from Opie Richie Ron.
I would hope that the Arrested Development movie is brought in on a very responsible budget - aside from more recompense for the cast and crew, the main reasons such a film would ever cost much more per minute of screen time don’t strike me as exactly respectable. A back end point deal would be a nice way to go with this, surely?
When it comes to possible upcoming TV to film adaptations, I’m all about the Veronica Mars, I’m afraid. Not even my little finger is about Arrested Development. Having said that, though, the more work Michael Cera, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, David Cross and Jason Bateman get, the better. Toss in my favourite guest stars (a list which starts but doesn’t end with The Winkler) and and we have a date.
I wonder if a Curb Your Enthusiasm movie will ever get proposed? Imagine the narrative tangles they could get that wild thing into over 90 minutes - it could be deliciously incomprehensible and break all known boundaries of good taste in narrative plausability.
The best bit of the story? A quote from Ron Howard, speaking on the Oscars’ red carpet: “It’s looking very much like we’re going to make [the movie], but we’ve now been asked to stop offering any details. It’s cloaked in a little mystery, but it’s looking good.” Yeah - they have been running off at the mouth an awful lot these last months.
Howard apparently dropped that zinger on Ryan Seacrest, but we in the UK didn’t get to see much of Seacrest and had our own reps on the red carpet. Did they shame themselves as fully as he did? Nope, not quite.
MTV also spoke to Mr. Howard and while he said essentially the same things, he did add a few exclusive flourishes. For example, he told them that he met with Mitchell Hurwitz last Friday and that at the moment “Things are going really well. He’s writing.”
That’s enough confirmation that the film is going to go ahead for me but I’ll add a rumor tag to this post because it’s all still just pillow carpet talk from Opie Richie Ron.
I would hope that the Arrested Development movie is brought in on a very responsible budget - aside from more recompense for the cast and crew, the main reasons such a film would ever cost much more per minute of screen time don’t strike me as exactly respectable. A back end point deal would be a nice way to go with this, surely?
When it comes to possible upcoming TV to film adaptations, I’m all about the Veronica Mars, I’m afraid. Not even my little finger is about Arrested Development. Having said that, though, the more work Michael Cera, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, David Cross and Jason Bateman get, the better. Toss in my favourite guest stars (a list which starts but doesn’t end with The Winkler) and and we have a date.
I wonder if a Curb Your Enthusiasm movie will ever get proposed? Imagine the narrative tangles they could get that wild thing into over 90 minutes - it could be deliciously incomprehensible and break all known boundaries of good taste in narrative plausability.
LL Cool J Toplining NCIS Spin-Off
LL Cool J has been set to star in CBS' planned spin-off of "NCIS," says Variety.
He'll play a tough but charming former Navy SEAL who works undercover for the NCIS unit in L.A. and is an expert on the Middle East.
The spin-off of CBS' durable drama will air as one half of a two-part episode of "NCIS" later this season.
"NCIS" showrunner Shane Brennan created the untitled spin-off and executive produces for CBS Paramount Network TV.
He'll play a tough but charming former Navy SEAL who works undercover for the NCIS unit in L.A. and is an expert on the Middle East.
The spin-off of CBS' durable drama will air as one half of a two-part episode of "NCIS" later this season.
"NCIS" showrunner Shane Brennan created the untitled spin-off and executive produces for CBS Paramount Network TV.
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