Executive moves

John Budkins
Now: Vice President, Programming and Scheduling, CBS Television
Stations (as of 12/13/10, New York)
Was: Vice President, Sales, Northeast region, CBS Television
Distribution

Jeff Gaspin
Now: Pursuing other opportunities
Was: President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Television Group

Amy Emmerich
Now: Vice President, Production and Development, Travel Channel (New
York)
Was: Senior Director, Development, MTV (New York)

Phil Gonzales
Now: Senior Vice President, Communications, CBS Entertainment
Was: Vice President, Communications, CBS Entertainment

Andy Kubitz
Now: Senior Vice President, Program Planning and Scheduling, CBS
Was: Vice President, Program Planning and Scheduling, CBS

Gene Lavelle
Now: Senior Vice President of Distribution, Associated Television
International
Was: Vice President, Sales, First Look Studios

Lauri Metrose
Now: Senior Vice President, Communications, CBS Television Studios
Was: Vice President, Communications, CBS Television Studios

Jonathan Ruane
Now: Director of Development, E! Entertainment Television
Was: Story Producer, “Jerseylicious” (Style Network/Endemol USA)

Craig R. Tinsley
Now: Product Manager, Spike Digital Entertainment
Was: IS&T Intern, Nickelodeon Animation Studios

2010 Variety’s Writers to Watch

Will link to the Variety profiles when it’s released:

 

Travis Beacham
Sheila Callaghan
Adam Cozad
Michael Diliberti
Tim Dowling
Lena Dunham
Seth Grahame-Smith
Mike Jones
Rashida Jones & Will McCormack
Alan Schoolcraft & Brent Simons

casting news

CBS FILMS Ben Affleck offered the role of “Mitch Rapp” in Antoine Fuqua’s CONSENT TO KILL.

FOCUS Casey Affleck offered the role of “Nick Flynn” & Robert De Niro offered the role of “Jonathan”in Paul Weitz’s ANOTHER BULL**** NIGHT IN SUCK CITY.

FOX Adam Berg has been offered directing duties on the Robert Rodriguez-vacated DEADPOOL.

Tom Hardy (not doing “Snowhite and the Huntsman”) offered the role of “Henry Sturgess” in Timur Bekmambetov’s ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER. WARNER BROTHERS

Zac Efron offered the lead role in Albert Hughes’ AKIRA.

Ryan Gosling offered the role of “Private Billy Cage” in Doug Liman’s upcoming ALL YOU NEED IS KILL.

Charlize Theron in consideration for the role of “Detective Sarah Essen” in director Christopher Nolan’s upcoming THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.

Kacie Thomas and Vera Farmiga are both in contention for the role of “Julie Madison” for THE DARK KNIGHT.

FOX SEARCHLIGHT

Jodie Foster offered the role of “Evelyn Stoker” & Carey Mulligan offered the
role of “India Stoker”in the upcoming STOKER.

Deborah Ann Woll is up for the female lead “Chantry” in director Alex
Holdridge’s THE F-WORD.

NEW LINE CINEMA

Jeremy Renner offered the role of “Snake Plissken” in Breck Eisner’s remake
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK.

SPYGLASS

Reese Witherspoon offered the lead role of “Alex” in Elizabeth Allen’s IS HE THE
ONE?.

LIONSGATE

Bradley Cooper is atop of the list for the role of “Mr. Darcy” and Tilda Swinton
is atop of the list for “Lady Catherine” in the upcoming PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND
ZOMBIES.

Mike White has become the top contender to replace David O. Russell in PRIDE AND
PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES.

NEW REGENCY

Brad Pitt is on top of the short list for New Regency’s THE GRAY MAN.

MISC

Sam Rockwell, Casey Affleck, Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem are on the shortlist
to join Brad Pitt in writer/director Andrew Dominik’s upcoming COGAN’S TRADE.

Executive moves

Mike Aho
Now: Vice President, Factual Television and Executive Producer, Collins Avenue (A ContentFilm Company)
Was: Freelance Executive Producer

Tracy Green
Now: Senior Vice President, Development, LMNO Productions
Was: Executive Vice President, Head of Development, Original Productions

Troy Knowles
Now: Agent, Below the Line, WME
Was: Assistant, WME

Josh McLaughlin
Now: Executive VP, Film, Chernin Entertainment
Was: Executive VP, Motion Pictures Division, The Mark Gordon Company

Melissa Reid
Now: Sr. VP, Production, Jerry Bruckheimer Films & Television
Was: VP, Development, Jerry Bruckheimer Films & Television

Adam Steinman
Now: Vice President, Non-Scripted International Development & Sales, Warner Bros. International Television Production
Was: Vice President, Development, Tiger Aspect USA

Monika Zielinska
Now: Director of Development, Comedy Central
Was: Manager of Development & Original Programming, Comedy Central

Poached: Spec/project news

MISSED CONNECTIONS

Representation:   Ken Freimann (Circle of Confusion) & John Tantillo
(Tantillo Entertainment)
Written by: Brad Vassar
Unable to make his own moments, a young man steals others’ to try and
find the one.

HOOF HARRINGTON’S GREATEST HITS

Representation: Brooklyn Weaver/Adam Marshall/Angelina Chen (Energy
Entertainment) & Tobin Babst (UTA)
Written by: Dutch Southern
Pulpy hitman actioner.  SNATCH meets PAYBACK.

KURTZMAN/ORCI ALREADY INTO DREAMWORKS

COPPER CREEK

Representation: Anthony Vasto (Instrumental Literary Mgmt.)

Written by: Jeff Hammer & Chris Grimley

A Rocky Mountain town is terrorized by an unknown, intelligent menace
that hunts at night.  When communication is cut off to the outside
world, an alcoholic ex-sheriff leads the survivors in a fight for
their lives while the town doctor races to find a potential cure for
the plague of violence. Grounded werewolf film in the vein of SILVER
BULLET.

GOING OUT FRIDAY-

OATH OF OFFICE

Representation: Josh Schechter (Hyphen)
Written by: Abram Mackowka
Political thriller.

SHEEP MEADOW

Representation: Charlie Ferraro (UTA) & Aaron Kaplan (Kaplan/Perrone)
Written by: Chris Sparling
Thriller.
LOGLINE: While in the middle of investigating several highly unusual
missing persons cases, a troubled NYPD detective is relieved of duty,
only to have his young son be the next person to go missing. In the
vein of a supernatural TAKEN.

BIG BOOK/PITCH Sale

A DOG’S PURPOSE

Representation: David Boxerbaum & Steve Fisher (APA)
Written by: Bruce Cameron & Cathryn Michon
Gavin Polone attached to produce.  Based on the novel by Bruce Cameron.

**SOLD PRE-EMPTIVELY TO DREAMWORKS FOR HIGH SIX FIGURES.  APA REPS THE
BOOK AND WRITERS.**

COMIC BOOK

WHO IS JAKE ELLIS?

Representation: Ford Gilmore (Illuminati Entertainment)
Written by: Nathan Edmondson & Tonci Zonjic
The story of a mercenary spy operating in the European underground
with one particularly unusual quirk: he has a maybe, possibly
imaginary benefactor that only he can see, a man known as Jake Ellis.
Check it: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=28779

RETROSEXUAL – went out OCt 19th, territories supposedly assigned the 20th

Representation: Anthony Vasto (Instrumental Literary Management)
Written by: Richard Warren Stern
A metrosexual executive gets a crash course in macho when he revives
the career of a 70’s sex symbol in a bid to save his father’s company.
ANCHORMAN meets THE HANGOVER in tone.

LONDON ROCKS

Representation: David Saunders (APA)
Written by: Malcolm Needs
In the spirit of THE ITALIAN JOB meets NATIONAL TREASURE. An American
con man discovers the missing French crown jewels hidden beneath
Trafalgar Square, the busiest intersection in all of England.

KING DOM

Representation: Shari Smiley (CAA)
Written by: Kevin Walsh
A failing used car salesman from Detroit hits the jackpot when he
learns he’s the new King of Tonga, thanks to his mother’s illicit
affair years earlier with the previous King.

IMAGINE IS NOW ATTACHED TO PRODUCE WITH WRITER/PRODUCER KEVIN WALSH…
COMEDIAN RUSSELL PETERS IS ATTACHED TO STAR IN A CAA-REPPED PACKAGE

SHE’S ALL YOURS

Representation: Jordana Mollick & Brendan Bragg (Black Sheep Entertainment)
Written by: Nick Garfinkle & Damon Lopez O’Dwyer
When Matt accidentally proposes to his new girlfriend, her cop father
threatens to frame him for the murder Matt just witnessed if he breaks
her heart like previous exes . . . Matt realizes his only way out of
the fast-approaching wedding is to make her fall in love with someone
else. How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days meets Meet The Parents.

Various news

20th Century Fox:
“Avon Man” – Allan Loeb turned in his rewrite and they’re trying to
get Hugh Jackman to commit for an October start.  Once that happens,
they’ll go out o Anne Hathaway for the female lead.
“Caesar” –   Friedo Pinto  doing female lead.
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2” – with director David Bowers on board, they
will start up ASAP to release in March.
“We Bought a Zoo 2” – Matt Damon engaging and now trying to make a
deal for a January start.
“X-Men: First Class” – Mindy Marin off and Joseph Middleton on.
Indie:
“Judge Dredd” – Sarah Finn & Kate Dowd on board to cast.  Pete Travis
directing.  Looking for the male lead, “Dredd” and the female lead,
“Anderson.”
Mandate:
“Great Hope Springs” – Closing deals for Meryl Streep & Jeff Bridges.
PS Hoffman has date issues and his role (“Dr. Feld”) may open up.
“Broken City” – Got an extension on their option and are looking to
package this Sidney Lumet film.
“Dream On” – With Thomas Carter on board to direct, this will cast
soon.
New Line Cinema:
“Horrible Bosses” – Kevin Spacey  has “Harken” offer.
Paramount:
“Footloose” – Kenny Wormwold is set as the male lead opposite Julianna
Hough.

WBros:
“Arthur” – Offers to Luis Guzman for “Bitterman” and Geraldine James
for the mother, “Vivienne.”  Negotiating with Nick Nolte for “Burt
Johnson.”
“A Dolphin Tale” – Alcon Ent., offer to Robin Williams.  10/10 start
date in Florida.
“The Lucky One” – Village Roadshow now on board to co-fi/co-pro.  Josh
Duhamel and Garrett Hedlund/Chris Hemsworth (younger version) are the
top choices for the male lead, “Logan.”
“Motor City” – Offer to Denzel Washington to star.
“A Star Is Born” – Talking to Alcon to co-fi/co-pro.
“Sherlock Holmes 2” – Guy Ritchie doing a 2-week rewrite and then will
go do Daniel Day Lewis for “Dr. Moriarity.”  DDL is doubtful to work,
so they have Sean Penn, Javier Bardem & Gary Oldman behind him.

Project updates

DreamWorks:

“War Horse” – Tom Hiddleston set for one of the leads.  Spielberg directing in August in the UK.

“The Help” – Out to Jessica Chastain for “Celia,” Anna Camp for “Jolene” and Ahna O’Reilly for “Elizabeth.”

New Line:

“The Hobbit” – Hearing David Yates will direct.

“Horrible Bosses” – Now out to Phillip Seymour Hoffman for “Harken.”

“Final Destination 5 3-D” – Steve Quale to direct.  September 13th start date in Vancouver.

Paramount:

“Untitled Jack Ryan” – Sam Raimi, Gore Verbinski, Timur Bekmambetov & Kevin MacDonald meeting to direct.  Chris Pine will star.

Indie:

“Cloud Atlas” – Now out to Tom Hanks & Halle Berry in addition to James McAvoy, Ian McKellen & Natalie Portman.  Tom Tykwer directing and the Wachowskis producing.  Spring 2011 start.

Fox:

“X-Men: First Class” – Studio wants Michael Fassbender for “Magneto,”

but he’s refusing to test.  Also strong interest in Aaron Johnson.

Also strong interest in Amber Heard for “Young Mystique” and in Rosamund Pike for “Moira.”

“We Bought A Zoo” – Talking to Matt Damon “This Means War” – For the role of “Tuck” opposite Chris Pine & Reese, the top choices are Sam Worthington and Justin Timberlake.

“Aliens Prequel” – Looking like a January 2011 start in the UK.

“Deadpool” – Out to Robert Rodriguez to direct.  Ryan Reynolds will star.

Fox Searchlight:

“Stoker” – In talks to pick up this Scott Free Prods. project by Ted Foulke.  Jodie Foster & Carey Mulligan are attached to star.  ODA.

random news and gossip

“The Invention of Hugo Cabret” – Chloe Moretz & Asa Butterfield cast

as the kids  along with   Ben Kinglsey as “Georges” and Sacha Baron

Cohen as the “Station Inspector.”

DreamWorks:

“The Help” – Choices are Viola Davis for “Abileen,’ Octavia Spencer

for “Minnie,” & Emma Stone for “Eugenia.”

“Someone In the Dark” – Carlos Brooks is off, now ODA.

Fox:

“Alien Prequel” – draft due this week

“Fantastic Voyage”  - ODA

“Mr. Poppers Penguins” – ODA and talking to Noah Baumbach

“Neighborhood Watch” – Offers now out to Will Ferrell & Bradley Cooper

“Secret Life of Walter Mitty” – OWA, Sacha Baron Cohen is the choice.

“Tender Is The Night” – ODA, Matt Damon & Keira Knightley are the

choices.

“This Means War” – “FDR” choices are Seth Rogen, Chris Pine, Robert

Downey, Jr. & Matt Damon.  James Franco holds the “Tuck” offer (for

now).

“Man and Wife” – Talking to Akiva to direct.

“Wolverine 2” – ODA

“Is He The One” – ODA, Katie Heigl attached.

Indie:

“Lie Down In Darkness” – Scott Cooper starting to put this William

Styron adaptation together.

“The Oranges” – Offer to Jeff Daniels for “Terry Bass.”

“Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson” – Amanda Seyfried, Emma Stone &

Deborah Ann Woll are the choices for the daughter, “Elizabeth.”

Marvel:

“Captain America” – Offers to Channing Tatum for the title role, Keira

Knightely for “Peggy” and Hugo Weaving for “Red Skull.”

New Line:

“The Rite” – Colin O’Donoghue & Sam Riley are the choices to star

opposite Anthony Hopkins

New Regency:

“Mother Trucker” – Craig Brewer w/d.  Channing Tatum and Bradley

Cooper are the next choices.  Out to Kate Hudson for the female lead.

“Pendragon” – Making a deal for Sylvain White to direct.  Rob

Pattinson is the first choice to star.

Warner Bros.:

“Crazy, Stupid, Love” – Offers to Julianne Moore for “Tracy Weaver,”

Emma Stone for “Hannah Weaver” and Judy Greer for “Kate.”

“Red Riding Hood” – Gearing up for a July start in Canada.  Ronna

Kress casting.  Amanda Seyfried and Emma Watson (in order) are the

choices for the lead, “Valerie.”

“Something Borrowed” – Kate Hudson finally has the rewrite for

“Darcy.”  Jessica Biel & Sienna Miller are the back-ups.  Colin

Egglesfield got “Dex.”

“Treasure Island” – Michael Gilio’s draft is in and being kept close

the vest.  ODA.

“Untitled Eric Roth Romance Project” – Draft due in a month.  “The Way

We Were” in tone.  George Clooney & Julia Roberts are the prototypes.

random news

Moneyball – There was a table read last Wednesday.  Jonah Hill read
for the role of “Paul”. The Film is still not greenlit.
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Director: Bennet Miller

Pretend Wife – Per Roger Mussenden, Nicole Kidman has been cast as REA
ANN DEVLIN, and Nick Swardson is cast as EDDIE SIMMS.

THE JURY – closing a deal with a writer (not sure whom)
Studio: Fox 2000
Producer: Apparatus (Marc Forster, Brad Simpson, Tonia Davis), Guymon
Casady, Quentin Curtis
Director: Marc Forster
Writer: Beau Willimon
Logline: Based on Peter Morgan & Pete Travis’ 2002 UK mini about a the
trial of a young Sikh student charged with killing his classmate
tormenter.

WB promos

Jesse Ehrman and Elishia Holmes both promoted to VP at Warner Bros.