MOVIE NEWS
HARSH TIMES
Christian Bale (Batman Begins) and Freddy Rodriguez (right) are set to star in
independent film Harsh Times, says 'Production Weekly'.
The film is a West Coast version of Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets, set in
South Central Los Angeles.
David Ayer (Training Day) will make his feature directorial debut from his
original screenplay, which was developed at the Sundance screenwriter's lab.
Production is set to begin in Los Angeles the beginning of December.
The story follows Mike Alvarez (Rodriguez), unemployed and looking for a
job, and Jim David (Bale) who has just been accepted by the DEA to do his
share of the dirty work in Columbia.
A pair of hell-raising beer-drinking screw-ups with time on their hands,
they spend a few days riding around Los Angeles, causing trouble and leaving
havoc in their wake - until it all catches up to them and the good times
turn harsh.
BEHIND THE MASK
Producers Dino and Martha De Laurentis have assigned Peter Webber (Girl With
A Pearl Earring) to direct Behind The Mask, the Hannibal Lecter prequel
currently being scripted by author Thomas Harris.
Harris' novel will be released next autumn, with the movie adaptation set to
begin production in May 2005 for a summer 2006 release.
Dino De Laurentis: "It is a revenge story that shows why he became a
cannibal. But he kills people that audiences want to see killed. So while
there is a natural revulsion, the sympathy toward Hannibal remains."
The producers and director will soon begin scouting locations in Lithuania,
the Czech Republic and France. They will simultaneously search for young
actors to play Lecter at three pivotal moments in his younger life before
the events of Red Dragon.
THE INVISIBLE
David Goyer (Blade) is set to direct the English-language remake of The
Invisible for 'Spyglass Entertainment' and 'DreamWorks', says 'Variety'.
The movie, written by Mick Davis, is based on the Swedish supernatural
thriller about two young teens whose real selves are invisible to others.
One teen's untimely death renders him literally invisible. The other is
metaphorically invisible due to the neglect she's endured since the death of
her mother.
Davis wrote the original film in English. The script was then translated
into Swedish and directed by Joel Bergvall and Simon Sandquist.
TRANSFORMERS
Screenwriter John Rogers (Catwoman) has been hired to write the
long-gestating live-action version of classic 80's cartoon and toy franchise
Transformers, for 'DreamWorks'/'Paramount'.
Steven Spielberg is executive producing the film that is currently slated
for a summer 2006 release and will likely be a franchise property. Tom
DeSanto, who executive produced the two X-Men films, wrote the story that
Rogers will adapt.
Rogers is also working on Rush Hour 3 for director Brett Ratner, due out
next year. At 'DreamWorks', Rogers is also producing Fatal Frame, based on
the Japanese video-game.
WATCHMEN
It's a sad day for fans of Alan Moore's classic graphic novel, as director
Darren Aronofsky (Requiem For A Dream) has pulled out of the superhero
project.
Aronofsky may have only made two movies in over five years, but his
undoubted skill and intelligent viewpoiunt would have given Watchmen a much
greater chance of success. Word has it that a fabulous cast was being
assembled, based on Aronofsky's involvement, so even they could depart -
depending on who takes over.
** IN THE PIPELINE **