Tag: fox 2000

Angelina Jolie Starring as Patricia Cornwell’s Lead Character

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Fox 200 has acquired the rights to author Patricia Cornwell’s series of books featuring medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Â  The studio plans to develop the books into a series of starring roles for Angelina Jolie.

Based on real life medical examiner Marcella Fierro, MD, Scarpetta has appeared in 16 Cornwell novels. Â  However, Fox and Jolie plan to not adapt any one, particular Cornwell novel. Â  Instead, the film will be an original mystery culminated from the books. Â  The studio hopes to adapt the series into a franchise of mysteries in the vein of ‘Silence of the Lambs’ and ‘Seven.’

The rights to Cornwell’s novels were in Columbia Pictures’ court for years, but the studio was unable to develop a film before the rights lapsed. Â  Producer Mark Gordon picked the rights up and brought the idea to Jolie and her manager. Â  Cornwell only released the filmming rights to her novels after Jolie and her manager met with the author to discuss the direction they had for her character.

What do you think? Â  Is this a good fit for Jolie, who can pretty much do any project she wants? Â  Do these films seem like they would be a more apt fit on Lifetime Movies than in theaters? Â  What other long-running characters from novel would you like see be adapted for the big screen? Â  Let us know by commenting below!

Fox and Jolie are currently meeting with writers to adapt the screenplay.

Source: Variety

David O. Russell to bring ‘Aaron and Sarah’ together

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Finally, the director of one of my absolute favorite comedies (I Heart Huckabees) has finally got some new work coming out. David O. Russell (Flirting with Disaster, Three Kings) will direct ‘Aaron and Sarah’ for Fox 2000.

The story of ‘Aaron and Sarah’ is a romantic comedy that follows a nerdy dude who meets a popular girl his freshman year in high school. The two become friends over their four-year high school career, through four proms and one funeral.

Chad Gomez Creasey and Dara Resnik Creasey wrote the screenplay, which was originally titled ‘B.F.F.’ The movie has been described as a teen comedy that hearkens back to those of director John Hughes’ films, which is sort of new territory for Russell. ‘Nailed’ is set to come out this year, his first since 2004 when he finished ‘I Heart Huckabees’ and ‘Soldiers Pay’.

[source: Variety]

Uma Thurman and Pierce Brosnan become Gods

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If you’re a man then you understand why I say Uma was meant to play a Goddess. As far as Pierce goes, I’m sure there are plenty of women who would agree. Unfortunately, her “talents” are being mis-used in the case of the new fantasy flick being directed by Chris Columbus.

Story centers on Poseidon’s 12-year-old half-human son (Lerman), who embarks on a quest across modern-day America to save his mother, return Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt and prevent a deadly war between the gods. — Variety

Uma Thurman has been cast as the mythical non-God creature Medusa. What a waste! Anyway, Pierce Brosnan will play the part of Chiron and Sean Bean (The Hitcher) has been elevated to the role of Zeus. Kevin McKidd (Rome) becomes Poseidon and Melina Kanakerides (The Guiding Light) will be Athena.

With these names attached, the studio is still looking for the right thespians to fill the roles of Aries, Hades and Persephone. Any ideas? The production will begin shooting in April 2009 and is expected to hit theaters in February 2010.

[source: Variety]

‘Demonkeeper’ Scares up a Director

demonkeeper Fox 2000 purchased the rights to ‘Demonkeeper’ even before Puffin published the book. The studio is developing a live-action feature film adaptation of Royce Buckingham’s novel ‘Demonkeeper’. Sam Fell, whose work includes the animated films ‘The Tale of Despereaux’ and ‘Flushed Away’, has been selected to direct the movie.

Story follows a Seattle teen who inherits responsibility for a house filled with demons. When the youth finally breaks free of his charges to go on a date, he returns to discover that kids have broken into the house, unleashing its most vicious demon, the Beast, Killer of Lost Children. — Variety

While this is yet another crossover movie for an animated director to take on a live-action film, it does have a good side… Laeta Kalogridis (Pathfinder) is writing the screenplay. His best work is possibly yet to come, having written ‘Shutter Island’ for Martin Scorsese and ‘Battle Angel’ for James Cameron. The story sounds cool and while it could make a neat dark movie for kids both young and old, the concern with these kinds of movies is always one of whether the studio will dumb it down and lighten it up, maintaining the false belief that kid’s can’t handle darker subject matter.

[source: Variety]

‘Narnia’ Finds a New Home at Fox

It’s just been one month since Disney pulled out of co-financing for the third installment of the ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ series, ‘Voyage of the Dawn Trader’. Â  According to Variety, Walden Media has found a new partner in 20th Century Fox. Â  Fox had first crack at the film after Disney dropped out due to the shared Fox Walden marketing and distribution label. Â  The two sides are still working out budget and script issues, but the hope is to shoot the film at the end of summer for a holiday 2010 release through the Fox Walden label.

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