***Two More Images from THE HOBBIT ***Roland Emmerich’s SINGULARITY Winds up at Sony; Will Be Released May 2013 ***Warner Bros. Wants to Send David O. Russell and Brad Pitt on THE MISSION ***Will Ferrell and Adam McKay SWEAR TO GOD

Roland Emmerich’s SINGULARITY Winds up at Sony; Will Be Released May 2013 [Updated]

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 29th, 2011

Sony Pictures previously distributed Roland Emmerich’s 2012, they’re planning to release his new film Anonymous this fall, and now it’s looking like they’ll be working with him again.  Details on the film’s story are scant (as if there will be much story to begin with) but THR reports that Emmerich will be writing the script.  THR also says that the movie is untitled, but Deadline reports that the picture is called Singularity, a title that implies a sci-fi bent (a “singularity” is a term used in astrophysics to describe “A point in space-time at which gravitational forces cause matter to have infinite density and infinitesimal volume, and space and time to become infinitely distorted.”)
However, Singularity may not be Emmerich’s next film.  He’s also attached to direct an adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy as well as a movie based off the classic arcade game Asteroids.  Anonymous, which is a historical thriller that presumes Shakespeare didn’t write his plays, is set to open on October 28th. [Update: Deadline confirms that Sony has picked up Singularity.  The studio plans to release it on May 17, 2013, which implies that this will be Emmerich's next flick.  The only other film currently set for that date is Ron Howard's adaptation of Steven King's The Dark Tower]  http://collider.com/roland-emmerichs-singularity-sony-pictures/99526/

Roger Avary to Pen Adaptation of William Faulkner’s Crime Novel SANCTUARY

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 29th, 2011

Cops producer John Langley has tapped Pulp Fiction co-writer Roger Avary to pen an adaptation of William Faulkner’s 1931 crime novel Sanctuary.  Deadline reports that Ali exec producer Lee Caplin will co-produce with Langley.  The book was adapted back in 1933 as The Story of Temple Drake, but the plot had to be readjusted to adhere to the Production Code, and there’s a lot to readjust.  The story involves rape, murder, abduction, and other brutal acts set against the backdrop of the American South during Prohibition.
Avary’s last produced screenplay was 2007′s Beowulf and his career was slightly way-laid when he pled guilty to a vehicular manslaughter charge in 2009 and while he was at first given a work furlough and five years probation, he was dumb enough to complain about it on Twitter and as a result was sent to jail to serve out the remainder of his sentence.  He was released last July.  Personal problems aside, Avary is an interesting screenwriter who has no trouble tapping into the ugliness of characters and their situations and he sounds like a perfect fit for this adaptation.  Hit the jump for a synopsis of the novel. http://collider.com/roger-avary-william-faulkner-sanctuary/99506/

Warner Bros. Wants to Send David O. Russell and Brad Pitt on THE MISSION

by Matt Goldberg   Posted: June 29th, 2011

Killing Osama Bin Laden hasn’t just been great for America’s morale.  It’s also been great for Hollywood.  Columbia Pictures will distribute Kathryn Bigelow’s Kill Bin Laden next year, Relativity recently up picked up the Navy SEALs film Act of Valor and now Warner Bros. is getting in on the military-men-on-a-mission game with the appropriately titled The Mission.  Deadline reports that Warner Bros. is fast-tracking a film based on the real-life six-year mission between American and Columbian covert operatives to free 15 hostages from the Columbian jungle.  David O. Russell is reportedly circling the director’s chair and Brad Pitt is being courted to star.  The movie won’t focus on the hardships of the hostages but instead on “the numerous governments, diplomats and intelligence services and a vast network of spies, military advisers and soldiers plus high-tech surveillance measures.”
Hit the jump for more on O. Russell and Pitt’s current projects and likelihood of signing on for The Mission. http://collider.com/mission-david-o-russell-brad-pitt/99498/

Will Ferrell and Adam McKay SWEAR TO GOD

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 29th, 2011

Warner Bros. has picked up the buddy comedy Swear to God with Will Ferrell attached to star and Adam McKay set to produce and direct.  The script is from Due Date screenwriters Alan Cohen and Alan Freedland and Deadline reports that Ferrell will play “a narcissistic hedge fund manager who thinks he has seen God.”  If the project goes into production, it will be the fifth or sixth film directed by McKay that stars Ferrell.  However, it will be the first one McKay didn’t write (although I’d be surprised if he didn’t have input into the script).  Hit the jump to learn more about the Ferrell and McKay’s other projects. http://collider.com/will-ferrell-adam-mckay-swear-to-god/99493/

Two More Images from THE HOBBIT

by Matt Goldberg  Posted: June 29th, 2011

Last week, we showed you the first official images from Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit.  Now two more images from the film have gone online.  The images provide another look at Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Ian McKellan reprising his role as Gandalf the Grey.  Looking at all of these images, I’m curious to see if Jackson will retain the visual style he used for The Lord of the Rings trilogy or if he’ll modify it since the events of The Hobbit take place before LOTR.
Hit the jump to check out the new images.  The two-part film is currently shooting in New Zealand and also stars Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, and Stephen Fry. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released on December 14^th, 2012, with The Hobbit: There and Back Again hitting theaters on December 13^th, 2013. http://collider.com/hobbit-movie-images/99479/

Jean-Pierre Jenuet to Adapt THE SELECTED WORKS OF T.S. SPIVET and RED LEAVES

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 29th, 2011

French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet hasn’t directed an English-language film since 1997′s Alien: Resurrection, but he may give it another shot by adapting Reif Larson’s debut novel The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet.  Variety reports that Jeunet plans to make Spivet his next movie and that he is currently writing the screenplay with his Amelie co-writer Guillaume Laurant.  Per Variety, Spivet “tells the story of a 12-year-old cartographer’s cross-country adventure from Montana to the Smithsonian Museum. Project fits into Jeunet’s body of work as it explores the imaginative mind of a child, mixing realism and fantasy.”
Jeunet has also picked up the screen rights to Thomas H. Cook’s novel Red Leaves, although it’s unknown if the adaptation would also be in English.  Red Leaves is a markedly darker tale than Spivet and “centers around the crumbling life of a father of a 15-year old boy accused of kidnapping an 8-year old.”  While Jeunet at times struggles with story and can get lost in quirk, his visual flair is undeniable and hopefully he’ll be able to balance it with a compelling narrative.  Hit the jump for synopses of both novels. http://collider.com/jean-pierre-jenuet-ts-spivet-red-leaves/99471/

***Aaron Sorkin and John Krasinski Developing HBO Miniseries LIFE AT THE MARMONT ***James McAvoy to Replace Michael Fassbender in Danny Boyle’s TRANCE ***Julia Ormond in Talks to Play Superman’s Mom in MAN OF STEEL ***David O. Russell Testing Actresses for THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK Including Rachel McAdams and Olivia Wilde ***Exclusive: Jason Segel Talks BAD TEACHER, THE MUPPETS, THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT, JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME and More

Aaron Sorkin and John Krasinski Developing HBO Miniseries LIFE AT THE MARMONT

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: June 23rd, 2011

He’s already got a new drama series at HBO with More as This Story Develops on the way, but Aaron Sorkin is working on yet another project at the cable network now. THR reports The Social Network scribe and The Office star John Krasinski are developing a new miniseries at HBO called Life at the Marmont, based on the book of the same name by the infamous hotel owners Raymond R. Sarlot and Fred Basten. The landmark Chateau Marmont at the center of Hollywood has long been a popular location always drawing in the biggest names in film, television, music and literature. Apparently the series, which Krasinski which also have a role in, will have a series of interconnected stories of several different hotel guests over several generations. I’m always interested in projects Krasinski takes on outside of The Office, and with Sorkin involved, this is yet another promising piece of entertainment from HBO.

For more on the project, hit the jump to check out a synopsis of the book.  http://collider.com/aaron-sorkin-life-at-the-marmont-john-krasinski/98376/

James McAvoy to Replace Michael Fassbender in Danny Boyle’s TRANCE

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 23rd, 2011

It looks like Professor X is taking over a job originally set for Magneto. Variety reports that James McAvoy is in early discussions to join Danny Boyle’s Trance in a role for which Michael Fassbender was previously in talks. The film is a remake of Joe Ahearne’s 2003 TV movie of the same name and centers on an art heist gone wrong. The mastermind of the heist suffers a blow to the head during the operation, and subsequently suffers from amnesia. When his team questions the validity of his claims, and given that he’s the only one who knows where the painting is hidden, a female hypnotist is hired to get into his brain.

Boyle plans to start production in September, and after filming wraps he will immediately move on to directing the opening ceremony for London’s 2012 Summer Olympics. After the Olympics conclude in August, he’ll return to Trance to begin post-production, with a March 2013 release date being eyed. So all-in-all, Boyle has a very busy year coming up. While Fassbender’s a fantastic actor and it would’ve been nice to see him team up with Boyle, McAvoy is no slouch himself, so the casting change doesn’t seem too drastic.

http://collider.com/james-mcavoy-trance-danny-boyle/98338/

Julia Ormond in Talks to Play Superman’s Mom in MAN OF STEEL

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 23rd, 2011

Director Zack Snyder continues to fill out the cast for Man of Steel, and it looks like he’s found Superman’s mom. Deadline reports that Julia Ormond is in talks to star as Superman’s Kryptonian mother Lara Lor-Van, opposite Russell Crowe who was recently cast as father Jor-El. Their counterparts, Clark Kent’s adoptive Earth parents, will be played by Kevin Costner and Diane Lane.

Henry Cavill is set to play the titular Man of Steel, with Amy Adams poised to play Lois Lane and, in an inspired bit of casting, Michael Shannon will be taking on the role of General Zod. Antje Traue will play villain/Zod’s partner Faora. Details on David Goyer’s script are mum, but production is set to get underway next month in Vancouver. Produced by Christopher Nolan, Man of Steel is currently eying a holiday 2012 release.

http://collider.com/julia-ormond-man-of-steel/98328/

David O. Russell Testing Actresses for THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK Including Rachel McAdams and Olivia Wilde

by Adam Chitwood   Posted: June 23rd, 2011

Director David O. Russell is readying his follow-up to last year’s The Fighter, and he’s begun searching for his lead actress. Russell will next tackle an adaptation of The Silver Linings Playbook, which already has Mark Wahlberg set to star as a former high school history teacher who has just been released from a mental institution and plans on reconciling with his estranged wife.

Now Risky Business reports that Russell will be testing a number of actresses throughout the weekend to find his leading lady. Those meeting with Russell include: Elizabeth Banks, Kirsten Dunst, Blake Lively, Rooney Mara, Rachel McAdams, Andrea Riseborough and Olivia Wilde. Jennifer Lawrence is also mentioned, but her status is unclear. Filming is set to start in August. Angelina Jolie had recently been mentioned as a possibility as well, but she’s not included in this report. Hit the jump to read a synopsis of the book. http://collider.com/david-o-russell-silver-linings-playbook-rachel-mcadams/98325/ 

Exclusive: Jason Segel Talks BAD TEACHER, THE MUPPETS, THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT, JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME and More

by Christina Radish    Posted: June 23rd, 2011

Jason Segel is such a charming, funny and genuinely nice guy that it’s easy to like him, as a person and as an actor. The fact that he has the talent to back all that up makes it impossible not to be a fan. In the new raunchy comedy Bad Teacher, starring Cameron Diaz as the inappropriately foul-mouthed and ruthless middle school teacher Elizabeth Halsey, Segel plays happy-go-lucky gym teacher Russell Gettis. Unfazed by rejection, he keeps flirting with and pursuing Elizabeth, even though she has told him that it’s never going to happen because he’s just not rich enough for her.

At the film’s press day, Jason Segel spoke to Collider for this exclusive interview, in which he talked about working non-stop while juggling films with his television series How I Met Your Mother, his relationship with Rush since shooting I Love You, Man, how much fun he had working opposite Cameron Diaz for Bad Teacher, and the tremendous respect he has for Justin Timberlake. He also talked about what attracted him to Jeff Who Lives at Home (he’s seen the film and says it’s fantastic), The Muppets being a dream project, how great the Freaks & Geeks / Undeclared reunion was at PaleyFest earlier this year, how much he’s been enjoying shooting The Five-Year Engagement with Nic Stoller, and that he’d really like to eat a Reuben, once he’s done playing a leading man for that film. Check out what he had to say after the jump: http://collider.com/jason-segel-interview-bad-teacher-muppets-5-year-engagement/97423/

***David O. Russell Talking With Robert De Niro About The Silver Linings Playbook ***First Crazy, Stupid, Love Poster And Why Steve Carell Really Needs This To Work ***Megan Fox Fired From Transformers Because Steven Spielberg Fears Hitler? ***Guillermo Del Toro Would Love to Direct Maleficent ***Colin Farrell: 'Total Recall' in Canada!

David O. Russell Talking With Robert De Niro About The Silver Linings Playbook

published: 2011-06-20 14:46:51 Author: Eric Eisenberg
Apparently David O. Russell really wants to make a movie with Robert De Niro. When the director was still attached to make an adaptation of the video game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, he made a deal with the actor to co-star alongside Mark Wahlberg and Joe Pesci. Now that Russell has moved on from that project, however, he apparently wants to bring De Niro with him.

According to Variety, The Ghetto Film School honored Russell with an award earlier today at New York's The Standard Hotel, with Melissa Leo and Blake Lively presenting the prize, but Russell showed up a half-hour late to the ceremony. What was his reasoning? Said the filmmaker, "I was in a meeting with Mr. De Niro, possibly about The Silver Linings Playbook: A Novel." Just like Uncharted, the project is already set with Mark Wahlberg to star and apparently Angelina Jolie has also met with the director about a role. In the film, a former teacher who has been released from a mental asylum tries to win back his ex-wife.

I wonder if this means that Pesci will be signing on soon as well. More importantly, this seems to solidify the idea that Silver Linings Playbook will be Russell's next film, beating out about 2 Guns, Cocaine Cowboys, a Russ Meyer biopic, The Fighter 2,and Maleficent. Then again, after what happeend with both Uncharted and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies I'm not willing to put money on it. http://www.cinemablend.com/new/David-O-Russell-Talking-With-Robert-De-Niro-About-The-Silver-Linings-Playbook-25312.html

First Crazy, Stupid, Love Poster And Why Steve Carell Really Needs This To Work

published: 2011-06-20 14:32:35 Author: Josh Tyler
We’ve gotten our hands on the first poster for Crazy, Stupid, Love, Steve Carell’s first movie after his departure from NBC’s The Office. The movie stars Steve as an uptight 40-something whose perfect life is thrown into chaos when he discovers his wife is cheating on him and wants a divorce. He teams up with Ryan Gosling, who tries to play wingman for him in the dating world. Sounds like kind of generic stuff, but I think this could be a good move for Carell. More on that after the poster.

Here’s the first poster for Crazy, Stupid, Love:
Steve Carell really needs this movie to be good. Not just because it’s his first film without the built in support of The Office behind him, but because, well… when was the last time he made something people loved? Steve Carell hasn’t really done anything people truly care about since Little Miss Sunshine in 2006. Since then he’s wandered into a string of forgettable, high-concept, low-delivery comedies. Some of them made money, though not a ton, many of them didn’t. All of them were forgotten the minute they left theaters. Is anyone sitting around rewatching Evan Almighty? Who’s rushing out to buy Dinner for Schmucks on Blu-Ray? No one.

For awhile it seemed like Carell had huge comedic potential. He seemed poised to become the next big, classic, comedy star. He’s still working but it hasn’t really happened. Most of his mediocrity has come in the form of crazy, high-concept comedies like Schmucks in which he was sort of funny even though the movie never worked. So… maybe it’s time he tried something a little more grounded?

There’s enough in this premise that could work, and Carell’s ideally suited to play a lonely, sad sack divorcee. It's characters like that which made us fall in love with him in the first place. Crazy, Stupid, Love could be just what Steve Carell’s post-Office career needs. http://www.cinemablend.com/new/First-Crazy-Stupid-Love-Poster-And-Why-Steve-Carell-Really-Needs-This-To-Work-25310.html

Megan Fox Fired From Transformers Because Steven Spielberg Fears Hitler?

published: 2011-06-20 12:14:27 Author: Josh Tyler
There are a million theories out there, attempting to explain Mega Fox’s sudden dismissal from the Transformers franchise and subsequent replacement by a human catfish. The one she’d like you to believe is that she simply quit because she was tired of robots and stuff. We’ve always believed, however, that Michael Bay didn’t like it when she called him Hitler, and so he fired her. But maybe it wasn’t Bay who didn’t want her.

Steven Spielberg is the executive producer of Transformers and the Daily Mail claims that Michael Bay recently told them it was Spielberg who made them fire her. Bay says, "You know the Hitler thing. Steven (Spielberg) said, fire her right now.”

I’m not sure I buy it. I guess we’re supposed to think that Spielberg is Jewish and thus really touchy about Hitler stuff, but he’s also an adult and I’d hope that would mean he’s able to, you know, apply logic to a situation. What Fox originally said was that Michael Bay, “…wants to be like Hitler on his sets, and he is. So he’s a nightmare to work for.” It was a metaphor for cruelty, not a way of threatening to march the Jews off to camps all over again. Maybe it was a dumb metaphor, but it’s not like Spielberg and Bay hired Megan Fox because she was smart. At the time Michael Bay seemed to get it, and simply fired back some snarky comments at her and moved on.

It seems weird that Spielberg would be so overly sensitive about his Jewish heritage that he’d run around firing people for simply using the word “Hitler”, as if he’s a professor at Hogwarts trying to keep people from saying “Voldemort”. It seems weirder still that Michael Bay would actually tell anyone that his boss is that ridiculous, even if it were true. I think the thing to keep in mind here is that the report of this Michael Bay quote from the Daily Mail, where there as likely to invent a fake quote as they are to report a real one. Don’t be surprised if Bay comes out and tells everyone he was misquoted, some time soon. http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Megan-Fox-Fired-From-Transformers-Because-Steven-Spielberg-Fears-Hitler-25304.html



Guillermo Del Toro Would Love to Direct Maleficent
Jun 21, 2011 by Courtney O.
Hero Complex recently spoke with Guillermo del Toro and asked the filmmaker if he would be interested in directing Disney's upcoming Maleficent feature, which is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty from the point of view of the sinister green witch who transforms into a majestic black and purple dragon.
Tim Burton was previously attached to direct the film, but has since dropped out.

"Let me put it this way, if they ask I'll take the meeting," Guillermo del Toro said. "I think Maleficent's dragon is the only design with the wings separate from the front legs, the only time that design has ever worked. And let me tell you how much of a fan I am. I have a collection of over two or three dozen Maleficent figures, some of them four or five feet tall. I own about 10 pieces of conceptual art from Sleeping Beauty that include the dragon and a lot more pieces that are just from Sleeping Beauty. It's one of my three favorite Disney films. I would love to. But I don't want to put too many hopes on it. They're probably on a fast track and I cannot take any more projects on a fast track."

No production date has been set.

Maleficent comes to theaters in 2013 and stars Angelina Jolie. The film is directed by Tim Burton. http://www.movieweb.com/news/guillermo-del-toro-would-love-to-direct-maleficent

Tue, 21 June 2011

Colin Farrell: 'Total Recall' in Canada!

Colin Farrell gets ready for his close-up on Friday (June 17) in Toronto, Canada.

The 35-year-old Irish actor is currently in Canada filming his movie, Total Recall.

Colin recently signed on to star in the movie Seven Psychopaths, which also features Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, and Mickey Rourke. It’s about a screenwriter who gets caught up in his pal’s dog-kidnapping plot.

Be sure to check out Colin’s next movie Horrible Bosses, which also stars Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, and Jason Sudeikis. The film will hit theatres July 8! http://justjared.buzznet.com/2011/06/21/colin-farrell-on-set-with-total-recall/

***New Poster for STRAW DOGS Breaks James Marsden’s Glasses ***Quentin Tarantino’s DJANGO UNCHAINED Opens Christmas Day 2012 ***Relativity to Distribute MACHINE GUN PREACHER This Fall; Paramount Picks Up Comedy Spec BASTARDS ***David O. Russell Circling MALEFICENT, Talks About Upcoming Projects and Why He Left UNCHARTED ***Akiva Schaffer May Direct NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH With Ben Stiller Circling Starring Role

New Poster for STRAW DOGS Breaks James Marsden’s Glasses

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: June 14th, 2011

I have yet to see the 1971 Straw Dogs (it’s on my Before I Turn 30 list), but I love that poster.  The image of Dustin Hoffman in the broken glasses tells me everything I need to know about the film, a thriller about a man pushed to the edge of reason when they move to a small village where the locals prove anything but hospitable.

James Marsden fills in for Hoffman in the upcoming remake, and now dons the broken glasses for a remake of the iconic poster.  There are a few twists: Screen Gems found a way to get Alexander Skarsgård’s beautiful Swedish face in the picture and added the slogan “Everyone has a breaking point.”  The image can’t be as powerful four decades later, but this is smarter than your average poster.  Kate Bosworth also stars in Straw Dogs, opening on September 16.  See the new poster and its inspiration after the jump. http://collider.com/straw-dogs-poster/96490/

Quentin Tarantino’s DJANGO UNCHAINED Opens Christmas Day 2012

by Brendan Bettinger   Posted: June 14th, 2011

How cool is your family?  For instance, if the new Quentin Tarantino movie opened on Christmas Day, would you have to ditch the folks for a couple hours, or could you bring them along?  The Weinstein Company will put these family ties to the test with a December 25, 2012 release date for Django Unhcained [Box Office Mojo].  The supporting cast is mostly set: Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, and Leonardo DiCaprio are all on board or about to be barring any sticking points in negotiations.  Much less certain is who will play Django, the freed slave taught the tricks of the trade by a German bounty hunter (Waltz) to liberate his wife from an evil plantation owner (DiCaprio).  Will Smith was the early frontrunner, though a deal has not come easy.  More recently, Idris Elba, Chris Tucker, and Jamie Foxx came up as possible Djangos.  Showbiz 411 hears Foxx is the closest to the role, but all is heresay until it’s in the trades.  Production is scheduled for later this summer or early fall — with the finish line in place, we’ll meet our Django soon enough.

Christmas Day is a Tuesday in 2012.  As of this writing, Django Unchained has the holiday all to itself, but Hunter Killer, Life of Pi, and The Lone Ranger open the Friday before, December 21.

http://collider.com/django-unchained-release-date/96506/

Relativity to Distribute MACHINE GUN PREACHER This Fall; Paramount Picks Up Comedy Spec BASTARDS

by Brendan Bettinger   Posted: June 14th, 2011

Lionsgate had tentative plans to release Machine Gun Preacher in the fall, but three other films — Warrior, Abduction, and Safe — will occupy the studio’s resources with September/October release dates.  Relativity’s fall is lighter, with Shark Night 3D in September and Immortals in November — as newcomers to distribution, the studio is eager for product to push.  The schedules worked out such that, per Risky Business, Lionsgate will hand off the domestic release for Machine Gun Preacher to Relativity.  (Lionsgate will still handle international distribution.)  Gerard Butler and Michelle Monaghan in the biopic about Sam Childers, “a drug-dealing biker who found God and became an activist on behalf of child soldiers in Sudan.  Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace) directed the $30 million independent production from a script by Jason Keller.  No official release date is set, but Machine Gun Preacher is still on the agenda for Fall 2011.

Hit the jump for details on Bastards, the latest acquisition at Paramount. http://collider.com/relativity-machine-gun-preacher-paramount-bastards/96513/

David O. Russell Circling MALEFICENT, Talks About Upcoming Projects and Why He Left UNCHARTED

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 14th, 2011

When a director is coming off an Oscar nomination, or better yet a win, he or she automatically has some clout in choosing his or her next project.  It’s a tough decision, and you may only get once chance, so you best choose wisely. David O. Russell, coming off his Oscar nomination for The Fighter, seems to be circling 1,000 projects at the moment, and another one has just been added to the list.  THR reports that Russell is currently one of the directors being considered to helm Disney’s fantasy flick Maleficent. Angelina Jolie is attached to star, and Tim Burton was previously set to direct before backing out last month.

Disney is looking at a number of directors for the job (Darren Aronofsky and David Yates have been mentioned) and Russell has plenty on his plate already, so this deal is far from a sure thing, but it appears Russell is on the list of candidates.  The Fighter director recently dropped out as director of Uncharted, and today he explained a bit about why he left that project.  Hit the jump to check out what he had to say, which includes updates on a number of his upcoming projects. http://collider.com/david-o-russell-maleficent-uncharted/96494/

Akiva Schaffer May Direct NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH With Ben Stiller Circling Starring Role

by Adam Chitwood   Posted: June 14th, 2011

It looks like The Lonely Island member and Hot Rod director Akiva Schaffer may next helm a high-profile sci-fi comedy. Schaffer, who currently serves as a writer on SNL, has been offered the director’s chair on Fox’s long-in-development comedy Neighborhood Watch. Heat Vision reports that Schaffer has the offer, and that Ben Stiller is circling one of the starring roles. The plot revolves around a suburban neighborhood watch group that serves as a front for some dads just wanting some time away from their families. You know, for fantasy baseball and such. Things go awry, however, when the stumble upon a plot to destroy the world.

Originally, Peter Segal (50 First Dates) was going to direct the flick, but it appears that he’s now left the project. Last we heard, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg had come aboard to perform a rewrite of the script. Hit the jump for more. http://collider.com/akiva-schaffer-neighborhood-watch-ben-stiller/96438/

**Eva Mendes, Kate Bosworth, Diane Kruger Among Actresses Reading for Female Leads in TOTAL RECALL Remake **Exclusive: Uma Thurman Talks BEL AMI **David O. Russell May Write Sequel to THE FIGHTER

Eva Mendes, Kate Bosworth, Diane Kruger Among Actresses Reading for Female Leads in TOTAL RECALL Remake
by Matt Goldberg Posted: March 22nd, 2011
Now that Len Wiseman’s remake of Total Recall has Colin Farrell in the role originally played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1990 Paul Verhoeven film, the film is casting for the lead female roles. For those who haven’t seen the original film, the two lead female roles are Douglas Quaid’s (Farrell) wife Lori (played in the original film by Sharon Stone) and the other is Martian freedom fighter Melina (originally played by Rachel Ticotin).


Deadline reports that Diane Kruger and Kate Bosworth have read for the role of Lori; Paula Patton, Jessica Biel, and Eva Green have read for Melina, and Eva Mendes has read for both roles. Hit the jump for my thoughts on the casting. Total Recall is set to open on August 3, 2012.
.......
http://collider.com/total-recall-remake-eva-mendes-kate-bosworth/81832/



 



Exclusive: Uma Thurman Talks BEL AMI
by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub Posted: March 22nd, 2011
Almost a year ago we posted the first images from Bel Ami. However, since that time, news on the Robert Pattinson film has been rather quiet.


A brief refresher: slated for a 2011 release, Bel Ami follows Georges Duroy (Pattinson), a nineteenth-century French journalist who ascends Paris’ social ladder through a number of manipulative trists with talented and influential women. The film is based on Guy De Maupassant’s celebrated 1885 novel and will be helmed by noted theatre directors Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod. Uma Thurman and Kristen Scott Thomas co-star and, to the envy of Twifans the world over, be thoroughly taken advantage of by Pattinson. Thurman will play Duroy’s central paramour and ladder rung, Madeleine Forestier, while Thomas will play a socialite who is seduced by the suave, power-hungry protagonist.


This morning at the Ceremony press junket, I got to speak to Uma Thurman about who she plays in Bel Ami and has she seen the movie yet. Hit the jump for her comments.
........... read more; http://collider.com/uma-thurman-interview-bel-ami/81833/

 





David O. Russell May Write Sequel to THE FIGHTER
by Matt Goldberg Posted: March 22nd, 2011
Over the past few weeks, Mark Wahlberg has been openly mulling a sequel to The Fighter. Wahlberg, who produced the flick in addition to starring as boxer Micky Ward, has said that the sequel would focus on the trilogy of fights between Ward and Arturo Gatti. He also says that everyone, including Oscar-winners Christian Bale and Melissa Leo, had such a great time that he couldn’t imagine them not wanting to return. However, a larger question mark was whether or not director David O. Russell would be willing to get behind the camera.


MTV caught up with O. Russell and learned that he would be willing to not only direct, but also write the script this time around. Says O. Russell:


“I think Micky’s story has a lot of heart whichever way you cut it. You’d go towards the Gatti fights and you could go into the history of the family more. I really like the sisters.”


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http://collider.com/david-o-russell-the-fighter-sequel/81870/

 





Casting Call: Chris “Ludacris” Bridges Joins NEW YEAR’S EVE; Alan Rickman and Tom Courtenay Join GAMBIT Remake
by Matt Goldberg Posted: March 22nd, 2011
We have some quick casting stories for you this afternoon. First up, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges has joined Garry Marshall’s upcoming romantic comedy New Year’s Eve. The ever-expanding cast already includes (deep breath) Robert De Niro, Ashton Kutcher, Halle Berry, Jessical Biel, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sarah Jessica Parker, Hilary Swank, Zac Efron, Sienna Miller, Lea Michelle, Sofia Vergara, Abigail Breslin, Til Schweiger, Seth Meyes, Jon Bon Jovi, Josh Duhamel, and Carla Gugino. So where does Bridges fit into this collection of actors getting paid for what probably amounts to a few days work in under-developed storylines about people falling in and out of love on New Year’s Eve? According to THR, Bridges will play “a NYPD cop who is working with the director of the Times Square festivities (Swank).”


Bridges was recently one of the few redeeming aspects of No Strings Attached and he’ll next be seen reprising his character “Tej” in the new Fast and Furious movie, Fast Five. Hit the jump for casting news regarding Alan Rickman and Tom Courtenay joining the remake of Gambit.
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http://collider.com/ludacris-new-years-eve-alan-rickman-gambit/81879/

**New Images from THOR and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER **D.J. Caruso to Direct PREACHER **Steve Carell to Star in DOGS OF BABEL ***David O. Russell Considers COCAINE COWBOYS With Mark Wahlberg

D.J. Caruso to Direct PREACHER

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 22nd, 2011

The screen adaptation of Garth Ennis’ Preacher has been stuck in development hell for years.  The latest incarnation has I Am Number Four helmer D.J. Caruso stepping up to the plate to direct the flick.  /Film first mentioned his name in connection to the film last week, and now Caruso has announced the deal on his Twitter page.  We have independently confirmed that the deal is in the final stages.
Preacher has had a rough road to the screen. Back in 2008, HBO decided to nix an adaptation directed by Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil).  Then Sam Mendes got into the director’s chair with John August set to write the script.  Mendes eventually moved on to do the 23rd James Bond film and it’s unknown whether or not Caruso will use August’s script.  Hit the jump for my thoughts on Caruso getting the gig.
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http://collider.com/preacher-dj-caruso/77295/

Steve Carell to Star in DOGS OF BABEL

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 22nd, 2011

Steve Carell has signed on to star in the drama Dogs of Babel.  Screenwriter Jamie Linden (Dear John) adapted the script from the novel by Carolyn Parkhurst.  Here’s the plot synopsis per the press release:

The story follows Paul Iverson, a linguistics professor, who returns home one day to find his wife dead in their backyard. Police rule her death an accident, but Paul is not quite sure. The only witness to her death is their dog Lorelei. In Paul’s grief-stricken search for answers, he endeavors to teach Lorelei to talk in the hopes that he can uncover what happened the day his wife died.

While Carell has done films with dramatic elements (Little Miss Sunshine and Dan in Real Life), this sounds like a big departure for him.  However, he also has tons of comedies on his plate, and it’s unknown when Dogs of Babel will go in front of cameras.  The project is currently searching for a director.  Hit the jump for press release.
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http://collider.com/steve-carell-dogs-of-babel/77310/

New Images from THOR and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 22nd, 2011

New images from Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger have just been released courtesy of Marvel.com. Though this isn’t the first time we’ve seen most of these images, this does mark their highest-quality debut. Thor stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins. The Kenneth Branagh-directed flick hits theaters on May 6^th. Joe Johnston’s Captain America: The First Avenger stars Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving and Sebastian Stan. The Cap’ is slated for a July 22^nd release. Both films are set to be released in 3D. Hit the jump to check out the images.
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http://collider.com/thor-captain-america-movie-images/77345/

David O. Russell Considers COCAINE COWBOYS With Mark Wahlberg

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: February 22nd, 2011

Mark Wahlberg has since 2008 been attached to Cocaine Cowboys, based on the Billy Corben documentary of the same name about late 70s/early 80s Miami drug trafficker Jon Roberts.  Wahlberg reaffirmed his involvement this summer, informing us that writers were working on the script.  Seven months later: Cocaine Cowboys is in the market for a director.  On the heels of the success of The Fighter, Wahlberg understandably turns to frequent collaborator David O. Russell.
The Playlist caught up with Russell at the ACE Eddie Awards, where he revealed that Cocaine Cowboys is among the many projects he is considering as his follow-up to The Fighter.  Hit the jump for a recap of Russell’s options and more on Cocaine Cowboys.
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http://collider.com/david-o-russell-cocaine-cowboy/77392/

***David O. Russell in Talks to Rewrite and Direct 2 GUNS Starring Vince Vaughn ***New Posters for RED RIDING HOOD and RED STATE

David O. Russell in Talks to Rewrite and Direct 2 GUNS Starring Vince Vaughn

by Jeff Ames    Posted: January 12th, 2011

Now that The Fighter has become a hit with both audiences and critics alike, it’s safe to say director David O. Russell (who recently received a DGA award nomination) has his choice of projects. Having already jumped on board to write and direct the film adaptation of the popular Uncharted video game series, Russell is also in talks to team up with actor-comedian Vince Vaughn. The duo are attempting to adapt Boom! Studios’ comic book 2 Guns for the big screen.

Universal Pictures originally positioned the adaptation as a starring vehicle for Vaughn and his Wedding Crashers co-star Owen Wilson with a script written by TV writer Blake Masters (Brotherhood). Russell will rewrite Masters’ script, and is considering tackling the project before heading into Uncharted territory. The 2 Guns comic was written by Steven Grant with art by Mat Santolouco. Hit the jump for more.

Here’s the plot synopsis for 2 Guns according to Heat Vision:

A DEA agent and an undercover Naval Intelligence officer are unwittingly investigating each other and who steal mob money for the good guys. They realize later that the mob actually got them to steal $50 million from the CIA.

Russell and Vaughn were previously linked to Old St. Louis, but that it’s unclear where that project stands now. Since then Russell has been linked to various projects, including Under Cover with Jim Carrey and an untitled Ice Cube-starring Dirty Harry-esque crime drama, so I’ll remain skeptical until I hear some solid details regarding his involvement. However, 2 Guns sounds like a nice Three Kings-ish picture for the director — a comedy that mixes both action and intellect. Vaughn would do wonders with a Russell-penned screenplay, what with his rapid-fire delivery and deft comic timing. Personally, I hope this happens — in Russell I trust.

Here’s the official description for 2 Guns:

A pulp story about cops and thieves and the men that are something in between. Trench has targeted a local bank to rob, and asked Steadman in on the job. Trench figures it’s a great way to score — considering it’s a cover for mob money. They’ll be thieves ripping off thieves. But what Steadman doesn’t know is that Trench is a DEA agent. And what Trench doesn’t know is that Steadman’s a Naval Intelligence officer. They’re both cops! And neither one knows that they’re not robbing the mob, they’ve been set up to steal $50 million from the CIA! A light-hearted crime romp in the vein of Ocean’s Thirteen and The Italian Job from comics legend, Steven Grant! [Boom! Studios]

http://collider.com/david-o-russell-vince-vaughn-2-guns/69924/

New Posters for RED RIDING HOOD and RED STATE

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 12th, 2011

New posters for Catherine Hardwicke’s Red Riding Hood and Kevin Smith’s Red State have landed online.  While neither is that different from their previous offerings (Red Riding Hood here, Red State here), the Red Riding Hood layout features an ominous view of Amanda Seyfried making her way through a snow-filled forest.  As for the Red State sheet, it is another installation in the film’s character posters and it features James Parks in his role as Mordechai.

To check out the posters, hit the jump. Red Riding Hood also stars Lukas Haas and Gary Oldman and is scheduled to hit theaters on March 11th.  Red State also stars Melissa Leo, John Goodman, and Kevin Pollak and is currently looking at an unspecified March release.

Here’s the poster for Red Riding Hood (from Apple):

Here’s the synopsis for Red Riding Hood:

In “Red Riding Hood,” Seyfried plays Valerie, a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider, Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Max Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie’s older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life. Hungry for revenge, the people call on famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (Gary Oldman), to help them kill the wolf. But Solomon’s arrival brings unintended consequences as he warns that the wolf, who takes human form by day, could be any one of them. As the death toll rises with each moon, Valerie begins to suspect that the werewolf could be someone she loves. As panic grips the town, Valerie discovers that she has a unique connection to the beast–one that inexorably draws them together, making her both suspect…and bait.

Here’s the poster for Red State (via IMPA):

Here’s the synopsis for Red State [via Sundance]:

Ever since Clerks (cowinner of the Filmmakers Trophy at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival), Kevin Smith has been known for his sharp, subversive, comedic writing. He shifts from comedy to horror with Red State and aptly demonstrates that good writing transcends genre.

Red State begins by following three horny high-school boys who come across an online ad from an older woman looking for a gang bang. Boys being boys, they hit the road to satisfy their libidinal urges. But what begins as a fantasy takes a dark turn as they come face-to-face with a terrifying “holy” force with a fatal agenda.

Instead of relying on archetypes and predictable formulas, Smith meticulously fashions all-too-real characters, utilizing exceptional performances (notably by Michael Parks) and an intelligent script. His realistic style gives the film an intimate feeling, heightening the terror to biblical proportions. Red State is a shocking new kind of horror film that aggressively confronts higher powers and extreme doctrines with a vengeance.

http://collider.com/red-riding-hood-red-state-poster/69888/

Louis Leterrier’s Wife Béatrice to Direct WRECKING BALL; Eva Mendes to Star

by Talia Soghomonian    Posted: January 12th, 2011

Clash of the Titans director Louis Leterrier’s wife Béatrice is set to direct her first feature film, and in quite a different style from that of her husband. In a recent interview, Leterrier revealed that her project Wrecking Ball will be a dramatic comedy with Eva Mendes attached to star. Although Mendes is the only actor currently signed on to the movie, her star power should help in attracting bigger names to the film.

For more on Wrecking Ball, including small details regarding Mendes’ role in the film, hit the jump.

In talking with the French site Ecran Large, Leterrier gave this synopsis for Wrecking Ball:

During the Christmas weekend at home, a family reunion will bring back the awful memories of a tragic event that occurred 20 years ago and shake up the family core. And in the middle of all the uproar and arguments is a 5-year-old girl who unwittingly holds the key to their fate and the final outcome.

Although Wrecking Ball will be her first feature, Mrs. Leterrier has garnered directing experience in Europe with her work in commercials and videos. As mentioned previously, she’s also married into a filmmaking family. Her husband Louis’ father François is a director and his mother Catherine is a costume designer (her most recent work was on the 2009 movie Coco Avant Chanel).

As for Mendes, it is believed that her turn in Wrecking Ball will see her taking on the role of a mother. If true, the role could mark a shift for the actress and help to show off her dramatic chops in the process. She has indeed reached the perfect age where she can explore a wider range in her roles; much in the vein of her work in James Gray’s We Own the Night.

http://collider.com/beatrice-leterrier-wrecking-ball-eva-mendes/69859/

***Adam Sandler Attached to Headline Remake of French Comedy NARCO; Offered the Lead in THE $40,000 MAN ***Salma Hayek Eyed for Lead in Kevin James’ MMA Film ***Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy Up for PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES

Adam Sandler Attached to Headline Remake of French Comedy NARCO; Offered the Lead in THE $40,000 MAN

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: December 11th, 2010

Adam Sandler is attached to star in Narco, a remake of the 2004 French film The Secret Adventures of Gustave Klopp.  The original is about a man with narcolepsy who dreams of action heros each time he falls asleep.  (One of these was played by Jean-Claude Van Damme.)  According to Pajiba, Clay Tarver (Joyride) is scripting the remake for Sandler’s production company Happy Madison.

Hit the jump for the trailer for Gustave Klopp, plus details on the offer out to Sandler to star in The $40,000 Man.

Last we heard about The $40,000 Man, Robert Downey Jr. was said to be interested in the lead role.  Terry Zwigoff (Ghost World) wrote the script, which centers on “a legendary astronaut and ‘true American hero,’ who is horribly injured in a car crash and is rebuilt by the government to be a bionic man but on a budget of $40,000 – which makes him not that bionic.”  John Francis Daley (Horrible Bosses) rewrote the most recent draft.

The offer probably doesn’t mean much more than “Adam Sandler is the most bankable comedy star of the last decade and he could fit in this role.”  But the names of Zwigoff and Daley combined with Downey’s interest suggest a certain level of quality.  I’m interested to see where this project goes.

As promised, here’s the trailer for The Secret Adventure s of Gustave Klopp.  I speak approximately three words of French (merde, dégueulasse, femme), but it looks kinda funny.

http://www.collider.com/2010/12/11/adam-sandler-narco-the-40000-man/

Salma Hayek Eyed for Lead in Kevin James’ MMA Film

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 11th, 2010

Actor Kevin James is quickly becoming the Rob Schneider of the 2000’s. After last year’s Paul Blart: Mall Cop (“Kevin James is a mall cop”), and 2011’s Zookeeper (“Kevin James is a zookeeper”), it’s looking like the actor’s next project will be “Kevin James is a mixed martial arts fighter” (not to be outdone by the upcoming “Kevin James is a valet guy”).  Pajiba reports that James’ Grown Ups co-star Salma Hayek is being eyed for the lead female role.  The Sony Pictures comedy is being written by screenwriter Allan Loeb (The Switch), and centers on a physics teacher who moonlights as a MMA fighter in order to save the job of the school’s music teacher.

Professional MMA fighter (and Zookeeper voice-over co-star) Bas Rutten is also reportedly in talks for a role in the film. No director is currently set for the untitled MMA project. James will next be seen in Ron Howard’s The Dilemma, which opens on January 14, 2011, followed by Zookeeper on July 8, 2011.

http://www.collider.com/2010/12/11/salma-hayek-kevin-james-mma/

Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy Up for PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: December 11th, 2010

Once, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was going to be a collaboration between producer/star Natalie Portman and director David O. Russell (The Fighter).  Then, Portman not to star (staying on as producer), and Russell dropped out.  Lionsgate hired Mike White (Year of the Dog) to replace Russell, but at this point there are no stars for White to direct.

Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper, Mia Wasikowska, Tilda Swinton, and Catherine O’Hara were rumored for roles awhile back.  Two more have thrown their name into the hat: Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy.  Details after the jump.

According to Pajiba, Hathaway is under consideration to star as Elizabeth Bennett, while McAvoy would play Mr. Darcy.  The earlier report mentioned Johansson and Wasikowska for Elizabeth, Cooper for Darcy.  It is not clear if Hathaway and McAvoy now top the shortlist, or have merely joined it.  However, it is noteworthy that a Hathaway/McAvoy pairing suggests an entirely different  approach to casting than Johansson/Cooper.

Pajiba also clarifies their report on Hathway’s involvement with the Barbarella remake.  She is indeed interested, but the film will have a tough time breaking out of development hell.  Though Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic were each attached to direct at one stage or another, the project currently has no director.

Here’s the synopsis of the source material for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a novel by Seth Grahame-Smith that inserts zombies into the Jane Austen classic:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.” So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy.

What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Can she vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? [Amazon]

http://www.collider.com/2010/12/11/pride-prejudice-zombies-anne-hathaway-james-mcavoy/

***Sundance 2011: First Images from Dito Montiel’s THE SON OF NO ONE Starring Channing Tatum ***David O. Russell to Possibly Direct THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK Before UNCHARTED; Anne Hathaway and Bradley Cooper May Star

Sundance 2011: First Images from Dito Montiel’s THE SON OF NO ONE Starring Channing Tatum

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 8th, 2010

We have the first images from Dito Montiel’s new drama The Son of No One, which is set to premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival at the closing night film.  The plot centers on two men in post-9/11 New York who are forced to relive two murders they committed as young boys. Their lives start to unravel by the threat of the revelation of these shocking and personal secrets.  The film stars Channing Tatum, Al Pacino, Juliette Binoche, Ray Liotta, Katie Holmes, and Tracy Morgan.  Tatum also starred in Montiel’s previous two films, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints and Fighting.
Hit the jump to check out the images.  The 2011 Sundance Film Festival runs from January 20 – 30th.



And here are links to the first images from other films playing at Sundance:

• Terri
• The Convincer
• Margin Call
• Homework
• Martha Marcy May Marlene
• Red State
• Higher Ground
• HERE

http://www.collider.com/2010/12/08/the-son-of-no-one-movie-images-channing-tatum/

David O. Russell to Possibly Direct THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK Before UNCHARTED; Anne Hathaway and Bradley Cooper May Star

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 8th, 2010

While we’ve been assuming that David O. Russell would be following up his critically acclaimed new film The Fighter with an adaptation of the video game Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, that may not be the case.  According to Showbiz411, O. Russell is planning to adapt Matthew Quick’s novel The Silver Linings Playbook as his next project.  Showbiz also reports that Anne Hathaway is attached to star and that Bradley Cooper is being “wooed” for the male lead (whether that means he’s under consideration for the role or is actively in negotiations is unclear).  The plot centers on a former high school history teacher who gets out of a mental hospital and is placed in the care of his mother. His goal is to win back his ex wife, but he ends up falling for a kooky neighbor who also has mental problems of her own.
While this is the first we’re hearing about Silver Linings, Showbiz was pretty much on the money last month when they reported that Mark Wahlberg, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci were under consideration for Uncharted.  Hit the jump for more on O. Russell’s busy schedule.

In addition to Uncharted and now The Silver Linings Playbook, O. Russell has two more projects he’s circling.  He’s got an untitled cop-drama in the vein of Dirty Harry and Death Wish that could reteam him with his Three Kings star Ice Cube.  He’s also got the flick Old St. Louis with Vince Vaughn and Chloe Moretz.  Whatever O. Russell ends up choosing, hopefully there won’t be another six year delay like there was between I Heart Huckabees and The Fighter.
Here’s the official produce description for Matthew Quick’s novel [via Amazon]:

Meet Pat Peoples. Pat has a theory: his life is a movie produced by God. And his God-given mission is to become physically fit and emotionally literate, whereupon God will ensure him a happy ending—the return of his estranged wife, Nikki. (It might not come as a surprise to learn that Pat has spent several years in a mental health facility.)
The problem is, Pat’s now home, and everything feels off. No one will talk to him about Nikki; his beloved Philadelphia Eagles keep losing; he’s being pursued by the deeply odd Tiffany; his new therapist seems to recommend adultery as a form of therapy. Plus, he’s being haunted by Kenny G!

http://www.collider.com/2010/12/08/the-silver-linings-playbook-david-o-russell-anne-hathaway/