All Posts Tagged With: "Universal"
Fast and the Furious 4 title, plot disclosed
The Fast and the Furious 4 has been titled Fast and Furious, says Cinematical. As for the sequel’s synopsis, Universal provides the following: “When a crime brings them back to L.A., fugitive ex-con Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) reignites his feud with agent Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker). But as they are forced to confront a shared enemy, Dom and Brian must give in to an uncertain new trust if they hope to outmanuever him.”
LaBeouf enters Dark Fields
Variety reports that Shia LaBeouf will star in Universal’s techno thriller Dark Fields, based on Alan Glynn’s 2002 novel The Dark Fields. The pic will be directed by Neil Burger (The Illusionist). “Story centers on a young man who comes into possession of the ultimate smart pill, and the events that ensue.”
McGowan is still Barbarella
With MTV, Rose McGowan confirms that she will still play the title role in Robert Rodriguez’s remake of Barbarella. It had been reported elsewhere that the actress would not get the part, as Universal was seeking a more famous celebrity for the role. “[The news that I was out] was really irritating because I know all the people over there and obviously it wasn’t true. It was very malicious and there was no proof,” McGowan said of the rumors. “Oftentimes these things have basis in truth but this didn’t. I have contracts to prove it.”
Earth vs. Moon for Universal
Universal has won a bidding war among four studios for the pitch Earth vs. Moon, says The Hollywood Reporter. The deal is in the mid- to high-six figures. The concept for Earth vs. Moon was developed by scribes Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, who will executive produce the project. Scott Stuber will produce the picture. At this time, the story for Earth vs. Moon, simply described as “a sci-fi epic,” has yet to be revealed.
Universal to Kill the Messenger
A motion picture based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb is in the works at Universal, says Variety. “The San Jose Mercury News reporter committed suicide after being the target of a smear campaign when he linked the CIA to a scheme to arm Contra rebels in Nicaragua and import cocaine into California.” Titled Kill the Messenger, the project is being penned by Peter Landesman and will be based on the two books the studio optioned: Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion and Kill the Messenger: How the CIA’s Crack-Cocaine Controversy Destroyed Journalist Gary Webb.
Marshall to Drive for Universal
Doomsday director Neil Marshall will helm Drive for Universal, says Variety. Based on the James Sallis novel, the plot focuses on “a Hollywood stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway car driver in heists.” Hugh Jackman will play the lead in Drive, adapted by Hossein Amini.
Michael Cera’s Little Life
The Hollywood Reporter shows that Michael Cera is in final negotiations to star in Scott Pilgrim’s Little Life for Universal. The picture is to be directed and produced by Edgar Wright, with Marc Platt, Eric Gitter and Nina Park also producing. Described as an “adventure romance,” Life “tells the story of a young slacker (Cera) who meets the woman of his dreams but finds that he can only win her heart by battling and defeating her seven evil ex-boyfriends.”
Universal learns theory of Relativity
Variety reports that Universal and Relativity Capital have come to an agreement that will allow Relativity to co-finance approximately 75% of Universal’s film releases until 2011. The deal could include close to 45 movies and around $500 million. All the studios’ titles, including Working Title and Imagine Entertainment projects, are involved with the partnership, with the exception of Focus Features titles.
