Weekly Movie News

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Brian Grazer Acquires Magnum, P.I. Feature Rights Source: Variety Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Universal Pictures and Imagine chairman Brian Grazer acquired the rights to turn the long-running CBS drama Magnum, P.I. into a feature film.

Grazer will team with series co-creator Donald Bellisario to produce the film. They've hired scribe Michael McCullers, who with Mike Myers wrote the second and third installments of the "Austin Powers" trilogy. McCullers also adapted the classic kid book series Curious George for an upcoming Universal/Imagine animated film.

Tom Selleck became a star playing Thomas Magnum, a former Naval intelligence officer hired to head security at the estate of wealthy absentee owner Robin Masters. Magnum used the mansion as a base to work his own detective cases, employing the resources of the estate owner that included the signature red 308 GTS Ferrari. Magnum often clashed with estate caretaker Jonathan Higgins.

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Get Ready for Underworld 2 & 3! Source: Variety Thursday, September 25, 2003

Underworld is set to become a trilogy for Lakeshore Entertainment and Screen Gems. Screen Gems has made a deal for Danny McBride and Len Wiseman to write a sequel to the vampire and werewolf thriller, which Wiseman has said he would again direct.

Screen Gems and Lakeshore hope to put the second film into production as soon as possible. A third film, a prequel, could follow. No deal is in place for star Kate Beckinsale, though she has expressed interest in reprising her part.

The first film earned $21.8 million last weekend, Screen Gems' best opening for a film ever.



The first one was horrible!!!

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Parker Posey Takes Bite Out of Blade: Trinity Source: The Hollywood Reporter Thursday, September 25, 2003

Parker Posey (A Mighty Wind) has joined the cast of Blade: Trinity, currently shooting in Vancouver.

She will play a vampire in the New Line film, which also stars Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Jessica Biel and Ryan Reynolds.

The third installment of the Marvel Comics-based franchise was written and is being directed by David Goyer.

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Csupo Directing Green Monkeys Adaptation Source: The Hollywood Reporter Thursday, September 25, 2003

Gabor Csupo, one half of animation production facility Klasky Csupo, will make his directorial debut on Green Monkeys, a live-action/CGI feature film based on a comic strip that the company is producing for Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies.

The film is based on the comic book by Mickey and Betty Parskevas and follows green monkeys who think they are human.

Dave Connaughton and John Tozak will write the screenplay, which aims to be the beginning of a potential franchise and will follow the monkeys on their first adventure.

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Crusades: Ridley Scott's still doing the "Matchstick Men" rounds out there, and continues to talk up both it and his upcoming "Alien: Director's Cut" opening next month. Over the last few weeks he's mentioned minor details about his proposed "Crusades" epic now that "Tripoli" has fallen by the wayside, today he discussed it a little more with The San Bernardino County Sun: "It's a movie I've been thinking about for 20 years. It's going to take place in the middle of the Crusades, around 1130, 1136, and feature Saladin, a Muslim, who was the wisest of all the knights, a trustworthy man of his word. He kept the peace around Jerusalem, which was held by Baldwin, a Christian who believed that any religion should be able to come to the city and pray. The two men had a connection of respect. I don't want the movie to be about knights in armor and chaps charging around with red crosses and waving swords and hacking off heads. It really should be a fundamental discussion between the two religions and not only that, but the actual misrepresentation of the Holy Roman Empire by the Catholic church, which was in those times seriously corrupt. When they got down there, the people the church regarded as infidels had a faith that was as strong, if not stronger than the fundamental rules of Christianity". What comes after that? "It will be "Gladiator 2,' probably in '05. The script is done. It's very simply the next generation. Roman history is so exotic that where you go next is taking the son, Lucius, somewhere". There's also some talk about the additions to the "Alien" re-release: "I added 4 1/2 minutes of unseen material. There's more stuff at the alien's nest; you see where the crew members disappear to and you see their demise more vividly spelled out. Mainly though, it's an opportunity to reconfigure the negative digitally and get the bloody thing looking like it should for new generations that haven't seen it properly, i.e. on the big screen".

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Rumour has it that Richard Donner is finally getting going on "The Goonies" sequel, with scouting reportedly taking place in the Oregon State Park, Astoria, the same place where the first film was filmed.

We checked in with a representative of the park to see if he's heard – or better still – seen anything. "I've heard that they're probably going to shoot - and probably in Astoria once again. Nothing about a state park location", he says.

For a better confirmation we turned to actor Corey Feldman, who is believed to be starring in the flick – when [if it ever] gets going. "I just got off the phone with Mr. Donner and I can tell you that the source of your information is incorrect. Although they are working on a script idea for the movie that is as far as it has gone at this point." So I guess that means we've a story – but still no go on the sequel. Corey's currently working on “Cursed”, which is getting back on track. Last week the digital creature was shown – and it's apparently sensational. Good news for those awaiting the troubled flick. More news on "Goonies 2" when or if it comes to hand.

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Don Bluth Gives Dragon's Lair Movie Update Source: DonBluth.com Thursday, September 25, 2003

Good news for those fans who are eager to see Dirk the Daring on the big screen. Don Bluth has given an update on the Dragon's Lair movie, which will be based on the popular games.

"We have a current budget for a traditional animated approach with CG backgrounds and props at just under $30 Million. The script and presentation is with a couple of distributors at this time. Keep your fingers crossed."

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"Matrix" star Monica Bellucci has signed to play the evil queen in Terry Gilliam's Brothers Grimm, now shooting in Prague.

A Dimension Films-MGM co-production, Brothers Grimm is the story of two traveling con artists who perform bogus exorcisms and pretend to protect people from enchanted creatures until they encounter a real magical curse in a haunted forest.

Bellucci will portray the forest's ruler, a woman who has found eternal life but not eternal beauty. She turns to the forest in order to procure the young virgins whose blood she needs to stay lovely.

The film stars Matt Damon, Heath Ledger and Jonathan Pryce. Written by Gilliam, Tony Grisoni and Ehren Kruger, production is expected to continue through mid-November.