Martin Scorsese to receive DeMille award

Martin Scorsese

By Gregg Kilday – HollywoodReporter.com

The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. will bestow its highest honor, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, on Martin Scorsese at the 67th annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 17.

The award recognizes “outstanding contribution to the entertainment field”; the most recent recipients have been Steven Spielberg, Warren Beatty, Anthony Hopkins, Robin Williams and Michael Douglas.

Scorsese presented the award to Spielberg at the Golden Globes broadcast in January.

An Oscar winner for directing “The Departed,” Scorsese also has picked up two Golden Globes — for directing “Departed” and “Gangs of New York” — and has five additional Globe noms.

His next film, “Shutter Island,” will be released Feb. 19 by Paramount.

NBC will be broadcast the Globes from the Beverly Hilton; Ricky Gervais is the host.

Nominations will be announced Dec. 15.

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“2012″ director still has appetite for destruction

By Borys Kit – Reuters.com

Five years after he made Earth freeze over in “The Day After Tomorrow,” director Roland Emmerich is wreaking more havoc, this time with “2012.”

The disaster epic, which opens November 13 via Sony, sees the end of the world come from solar flares that cause the Earth’s core to melt and shift tectonic plates.

While the movie is preposterous, and recycles a set piece three times, you can’t deny the mesmerizing quality of devastation, especially on the big screen.

During Tuesday’s world premiere in downtown Los Angeles, Mickey Rooney began clapping during the epilogue, leading the crowd to applause during the credits.

“When you normally see disasters, you always see the aftermath; movies actually show it happening,” theorized Emmerich at the after-party as to why those kinds of movies are popular. People are fascinated.”

Roland Emmerich

While the German native got out of the directing gate with “Universal Soldier” and “Stargate,” it was the 1996 alien-invasion disaster movie “Independence Day” that really made his career. And he knows it, too.

“When (producer) Dean Devlin and I made ‘Independence Day,’ it had a lot of destruction in there and it became very successful. It became a signature for me. And I realized that people get very excited when things blow up. When we blew up the White House, people applauded! Because of ‘Independence Day,’ I get money to make these kinds of movies.”

Mark Gordon, who’s produced four of Emmerich’s movies including “2012,” says there’s a sweetness to Emmerich’s films influenced by the director’s love of Steven Spielberg’s works.

“When I see Roland destroy things, I howl because it’s fun. It’s not depressing,” said Gordon. “He shoots these scenes with a certain kinds of filter that as terrifying as it is, it’s magical at the same time. It’s not gritty, it’s clean. It’s pop.”

Emmerich may not want to be labeled as the disaster guy, he also admits to being very particular in what he likes directing.

“I don’t like superheroes,” he said. “And that takes out about 60% of the big movies Hollywood makes. And I don’t like very much fantasy, and I don’t like making famous books into movies. That’s another 20% cut. So it’s a very narrow field that I can service.”

Emmerich’s next project, however, will take him as far away from White House demolitions as possible. “Anonymous,” a drama set in 16th century England, tackles the question of whether William Shakespeare really was the author of his many plays. The project is targeting a spring 2010 shoot in Berlin’s Babelsberg Studios.

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Damon, Brolin in ‘True Grit’ talks

By Jay A. Fernandez and Steven Zeitchik – HollywoodReporter.com

 

Matt Damon

Matt Damon is in discussions to star in Ethan and Joel Coen’s remake of “True Grit.” Josh Brolin, who starred in the brothers’ “No Country for Old Men,” is also in talks for a major role.

Paramount Pictures and the Oscar-winning writer-director team are moving fast on their re-adaptation of the Charles Portis novel, first reaching out to Jeff Bridges, and now Damon and Brolin, to potentially star. Damon would take on the Glen Campbell role of a Texas Ranger tracking an outlaw along with a gruff U.S. marshal originally played by John Wayne, who won an Oscar for his role in the 1969 Western.

All three actors are in discussions with the studio, which hopes to move into production in the spring. The story concerns a 14-year-old girl traveling into dangerous territory with the two lawmen in search of the man who murdered her father, who Brolin would play.

Bridges and Brolin have worked with the Coens before, but Damon is new to their coterie of actors. Bridges famously portrayed Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski in the Brothers’ comic noir, “The Big Lebowski,” in 1998. Presumably, the new role will involve fewer acid flashbacks and bowling montages.

And Brolin played the doomed Llewelyn Moss in “No Country,” based on the Cormac McCarthy novel.

Scott Rudin, who produced the Best Picture winner “No Country,” is producing “Grit” as well, along with Steven Spielberg. Focus Features recently released the Coens’ latest film, “A Serious Man,” after premiering it at the Toronto film festival last month.

The WME-repped Damon recently starred in “The Informant!” and will next appear in Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus” in December.

The WME-repped Brolin recently starred in “W.” and “Milk.” He is currently shooting Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps” and will next star in Warner Bros.’ “Jonah Hex” in June.

Shawn Levy is new man of ‘Steel’

Shawn Levy

By Jay A. Fernandez and Borys Kit – HollywoodReporter.com

How’s this for an unexpected switcheroo?

Action director Peter Berg, who had been talking with DreamWorks about taking on the studio’s futuristic robot boxing movie “Real Steel,” has moved on, opening up the gig to Shawn Levy.

Levy is known for directing and producing broad, hit comedies such as the two “Night at the Museum” movies, which have grossed nearly $1 billion in worldwide boxoffice. But the “Steel” story line takes place in a near future where human boxing has been outlawed, and heavy, humanoid robots slug it out in the ring instead. Into this world step a father and his estranged teenage son, who train an extraordinary fighter.

Levy’s participation could mean a change in tone for the adventure project and/or a stretching of the creative muscles for the director, who has signed on with DreamWorks to take a swing at it.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Shawn on this project,” DreamWorks CEO and co-chair Stacey Snider said. “He’s a master of combining heart and human stories with fantastic visuals. I’m sure that in his capable hands, ‘Real Steel’ will be a film that touches and excites all audiences.”

John Gatins (“Dreamer”) is writing the most recent draft of the “Real Steel” screenplay.

Angry Films’ Don Murphy and Susan Montford are producing. Steven Spielberg will exec produce along with ImageMovers’ Robert Zemeckis, Steve Starkey and Jack Rapke. Levy also will serve in a producing capacity.

DreamWorks originally purchased the Dan Gilroy-penned spec in 2003 for ImageMovers to produce, and new Paramount Film Group president Adam Goodman developed it there as production president. Screenwriters Jeremy Leven (“The Notebook”) and Les Bohem (“The Alamo”) worked on the script as well.

The project was then among those that DreamWorks purchased from Paramount when it split from the studio last fall. In recent months, DreamWorks has been bustling with activity as it completed its multistrand financing deals with India’s Reliance ADA and a syndication of banks.

“Steel” would be distributed by Disney.

The project began generating heat this summer when Berg (“Hancock”) started circling it. The WME-repped director ultimately decided to concentrate on two Universal projects — an adaptation of the Hasbro game “Battleship” and the Afghan war story “Lone Survivor” — so Spielberg called Levy last week to ask if he were interested.

“Steven’s passion for this project was absolutely infectious and I’m so excited to bring this story to life,” Levy said. “In a movie filled with these mechanical warriors, at its core ‘Real Steel’ is an incredibly human story.”

The WME-repped Levy is finishing up his latest comedy, “Date Night,” which Fox will release in April. He has a dozen other projects in development as a director and producer through his 21 Laps Entertainment banner.

Jay A. Fernandez reported from Los Angeles; Borys Kit reported from Toronto.

Harrison Ford ready for fifth ‘Indiana Jones’

Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones

Dust off the fedora and clear out the snakes — Indiana Jones is ready to ride again.

Harrison Ford, 67, says he’s already ready for the globe-trotting archaeologist’s next adventure, only a year after one of history’s most successful film franchises was revived — and that the next chapter is already well on its way.

“The story for the new ‘Indiana Jones’ is in the process of taking form,” Ford told France’s Le Figaro. “Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and myself are agreed on what the fifth adventure will concern, and George is actively at work. If the script is good, I’ll be very happy to put the costume on again.”

The screen legend was on hand to accept a career honor at the Deauville Film Festival, with partner Calista Flockhart on his arm.

In June, while promoting “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” Shia LaBouef — who plays Indiana Jones’ son, Mutt — told the BBC, “Steven’s just said that he’s cracked the story.”
But until it’s again time to fight Nazis and Stalinists and overcome the supernatural, Ford says he’s happy to be a simple househusband.

“I do the dishes. And I make dinner,” he said. “In the mornings, I get my 8-year-old son Liam ready for school, and then I pass my time flying around in my planes. You see, I’m just like anybody else. My children are between 8 and 42, and I’m also a grandfather.”

Though he’s got “Indy” in the works and two films (“Morning Glory” and “The Crowley Project”) set for release next year, Ford says there’s one stereotypical actor’s ambition he’s happy to leave alone.

“[Directing]‘s too hard, too long, and it doesn’t pay enough!” he joked. “To be a good filmmaker is the hardest job in the world. I’m not patient enough. And I don’t want to be the boss.”

Source(s) MSNBC, People

Downey Jr. and Favreau team again for Cowboys and Aliens

By Dave Campbell

It looks as if the chemistry of the Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau partnership isn’t limited to the Iron Man franchise. Today it is being reported in the trades that the pair will re-team immediately after Iron Man 2, for Cowboys and Aliens.

Creators Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley published the indie comic Cowboys & Aliens in 2006 with Platinum Studios. The story surrounds the wild west Arizona landscape in the mid-1800s. An extraterrestrial species crash lands with the intent of enslaving humans, but the Cowboys and native Apache who’ve previously been battling each other have other plans for the invading aliens.

Downey Jr. has been attached to the production since announcements of the project surfaced in the summer of 2008, but no director has been attached until the news broke that Favreau was in final negotiations to direct. Iron Man writing team Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus have been involved as one of the seven writing teams attached to the screenplay since Universal and Dreamworks gained the rights in 1997, before the comic was published.

The current draft is being penned by box office darlings Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who are the team responsible for the Star Trek (2009) and Transformers franchises. This is all being backed by a producer dream team of Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Alex Kurtzman, Richard Marincic, Roberto Orci, Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, Damon Lindelof, Ervin Rustemagic, and Steven Spielberg.

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Steven Spielberg Setting Sail With Michael Crichton’s ‘Pirates’

by Elisabeth Rappe – Cinematical.com

Steven Spielberg is going to need a bigger boat — a much, much bigger boat. He’s leaving this shore, sailing away to 17th century Jamaica for one last adventure with the late Michael Crichton. USA Today reports that DreamWorks has bought the rights to Crichton’s posthumous novel, Pirate Latitudes, and has hired screenwriter David Koepp to develop it into a film. Spielberg is producing, but plans on directing, though nothing has been scheduled until the script is completed.

While it’s a bittersweet reunion, it’s one that’s sheer luck and coincidence according to DreamWorks’ co-chair and CEO Stacey Snider. “Anything that Michael wrote, Steven would be keenly interested to read. But without Michael knowing it, or even me knowing it, it turns out Steven always wanted to direct his own pirate film.” Not surprisingly, Spielberg already is coolly confident in Pirate Latitudes. “Michael wrote a real page-turner that already seems suited for the big screen. Michael and I have had almost two decades of solid collaborations. Whenever I made a film from a Michael Crichton book or screenplay, I knew I was in good hands. Michael felt the same, and we like to think he still does.”

Pirate Latitudes doesn’t hit store shelves until November 24, so plot details are relatively scarce. But this isn’t going to be a tale of undead pirates and squid-faced Davey Jones like Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean. Latitudes is a semi-historical tale of piracy that takes place in 1665. Its star is the dashing Captain Edward Hunter, who infiltrates the notorious Port Royal, and plans to raid a Spanish galleon loaded with treasure. Cue the cannons and swashbuckling, though it sounds as though Spielberg plans to load it up with lots of grimy, historical details.

This is just cool news all around. It’s about time Jack Sparrow got some competition, and I

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know I’m not alone in craving another glorious, original adventure story from Spielberg. While I haven’t been a fan of many of Crichton’s historical stories (I know I should have liked Timeline and Eaters of the Dead, but I just couldn’t), I’m a little more optimistic about anything based in Port Royal. It’s a period of history that there’s a lot of escapist room in, and I’m far happier watching pure fiction if it’s based in pillaging. I know there are plenty of ways this can fail, but there’s just as many ways a Spielberg-Crichton pirate story can go right. I can’t wait to watch this one come together

Museum of Moving Image honoring Eastwood

By Gregg Kilday – HollywoodReporter.com

New York City’s Museum of the Moving Image will honor Clint Eastwood at its 25th annual Salute on Dec. 1.

“Celebrating over five decades of making movies, Clint Eastwood is a man with phenomenal talent, both onscreen and behind the camera,” museum director Rochelle Slovin said in announcing the honor.

Eastwood joins the ranks of honorees including Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, Sidney Poitier, Julia Roberts, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and James Stewart.

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Cowboys and Aliens script is done

By Fred Topel – SciFiWire.com

Screenwriting duo Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (Star Trek) said they turned in their draft of Cowboys & Aliens on Aug. 5 and are now awaiting feedback on their screenplay adaptation of Fred Van Lente’s graphic novel.

“We literally handed it in yesterday,” Kurtzman said in a group interview on Aug. 6 in Pasadena, Calif., where the duo were promoting their Fox TV show Fringe. “So ask us Monday.”

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Damon Lindelof co-wrote the script with Orci and Kurtzman. Orci added that they’ve done the best they could, and now it is in producers’ and actors’ hands.

“We’ll find out, literally,” Orci said during the interview. “We’re waiting to hear from the principals. We try not to turn it in until we think it’s ready. Obviously, there are always things you can improve.”

The graphic novel deals with feuding frontier settlers and Native Americans in the Old West who team up to fight extraterrestrials. Orci and Kurtzman previously told SCI FI Wire that they put their own spin on the story. Now producers Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg, as well as potential star Robert Downey Jr., will get their say.

“We’re just literally waiting to hear if they hate it or what,” Orci said.

Cowboys & Aliens is tentatively slated for a 2011 release, with some sites reporting June 24 as the specific date.

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Spielberg Resurrecting a Halo Movie?

From TheHDRoom.com

Halo news has been percolating since Comic-Con where District 9 director Neill Blomkamp and producer Peter Jackson opened up about their ill-fated attempt to bring Master Chief to the big screen in 2007.

In the other corner stands Stuart Beattie, a big Halo fan who penned a Halo script during the writers strike. With G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra behind the scribe, he’s begun shopping the script and already has a big catch eying the lure.

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IESB.net is reporting multiple industry sources have confirmed that Steven Spielberg is actively negotiating to develop Beattie’s script into a big tentpole film with a $100+ million budget.

Spielberg’s ties to Microsoft and Bill Gates were evidenced back in June when he appeared on stage at E3 to help introduce the world to full body motion gaming in Project Natal. His success with Transformers and legend status would be, you would think, what Halo rights owner Microsoft would be looking for in a film partner.

Beattie’s script, based on Eric Nyland’s prequel novel Fall of Reach, serves as an introduction for the Master Chief character who does not become the lone Spartan warrior until the film’s closing scenes. It sets up two additional Halo films which would conclude roughly based on the events in Halo 3.

Before you discount Beattie’s qualification for the job, keep in mind he has read every Halo comic and played through all the games. He knows the lore forward and backward.

If Spielberg lands a deal with Microsoft then a different fear arises. Will we get the Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark Steven, or the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Transformers Steven? Big budget effects with Spielberg on board are a given, but in the case of Halo, millions of Xbox 360 Halo game owners are looking for something deeper than what Michael Bay brought to Transformers.

This story is obviously still developing but clearly the gears are in motion on a Halo movie again. Are you sad that Blomkamp and Jackson’s version isn’t being resurrected by someone else, or jazzed that Spielberg is now trying to get Beattie’s Halo off the ground?