Dear Diary: Fox is developing a contemporary take on the 1989 Christian Slater/Winona Ryder feature "Heathers."
Dark comedy will be adapted for TV by scribe Mark Rizzo, with an assist from "Sex and the City" alum Jenny Bicks. Sony Pictures TV, where Bicks is based, will produce, along with Lakeshore Entertainment, which holds the rights to "Heathers."
Rizzo is still kicking around ideas on how to update "Heathers" 20 years after the film became a favorite among the underground set. But the characters from the movie are all expected to be there -- Veronica Sawyer (played in the movie by Ryder), J.D. (Slater) and the "Heathers."
The original movie revolved around Veronica as she navigates a clique of mean girls -- all named Heather -- and rebels after meeting J.D., the new guy at school. Soon, the Heathers start "accidentally" dying at the hands of Veronica and J.D., who cover up the deaths by faking them as suicides. Ryder's character chronicles her teen angst and the rising body count with regular diary entries.
The idea for a "Heathers" revival came from inside UTA, where reps for Rizzo and Bicks decided the title was ripe for revival and contacted Lakeshore about potentially dusting off the franchise.
For Lakeshore, the project, which is in the script stage at Fox, reps its introduction to the world of TV.
"We had the title, and talked about doing a film remake at times," said Lakeshore prexy Gary Lucchesi. "But doing it for TV seemed like a fresh and original idea."
Rizzo is onboard to write and exec produce, while Bicks is a nonwriting exec producer. Lucchesi and Lakeshore's Tom Rosenberg will also exec produce.
Rizzo's credits include the pilot "Zip," which was developed twice at NBC, while Bicks is also known for "Men in Trees" and "Leap of Faith" and has also been adapting "Washingtonienne" for HBO.
The original "Heathers" pic was directed by Michael Lehmann and penned by Daniel Waters. Other stars included Shannen Doherty.
Source: Variety
Showing posts with label 80's teen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 80's teen. Show all posts
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Dirty Dancing (2012)
Lionsgate is developing a remake of the 1987 classic "Dirty Dancing" from a new script by Julia Dahl ("Uptown Girl"), says Production Weekly.
The original, released in theaters by Vestron, starred Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. It was made for just $6 million but went on to earn a massive $213.95 million worldwide.
A follow-up, titled "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights," was distributed by Lionsgate in 2004. Produced for $25 million, the movie earned just $27.7 million worldwide.
Source: ComingSoon.net
The original, released in theaters by Vestron, starred Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. It was made for just $6 million but went on to earn a massive $213.95 million worldwide.
A follow-up, titled "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights," was distributed by Lionsgate in 2004. Produced for $25 million, the movie earned just $27.7 million worldwide.
Source: ComingSoon.net
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (2011)
Hollywood is developing a big screen reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer without Buffy creator Joss Whedon. Did you hear that? its the simultaneous gasp of Buffy fanboys (and fangirls) worldwide.
Fran Rubel Kuzui, who directed the original 1992 movie which spawned the television series, is developing the relaunch with Vertigo Entertainment. The characters and canon created in the television series will be completely abandoned.
According to Reuters, the goal would be to “make a darker, event-sized movie” with “franchise potential.” The story would follow a new vampire slayer who must step up to protect the new generation. Kuzui says the the new movie will hopefully take “Buffy into a new place.” The parties won’t rule out Whedon’s involvement, but are currently meeting with writers and hearing pitches.
I have yet to really give the television series a chance, but everyone I know with geek cred swears by it. I never thought that the concept was anything really special. It seems to me that Whedon’s characters and character development elevated the show above other typical genre series. And a big screen movie or television show without his involvement would most likely suck.
Slashfilm
Fran Rubel Kuzui, who directed the original 1992 movie which spawned the television series, is developing the relaunch with Vertigo Entertainment. The characters and canon created in the television series will be completely abandoned.
According to Reuters, the goal would be to “make a darker, event-sized movie” with “franchise potential.” The story would follow a new vampire slayer who must step up to protect the new generation. Kuzui says the the new movie will hopefully take “Buffy into a new place.” The parties won’t rule out Whedon’s involvement, but are currently meeting with writers and hearing pitches.
I have yet to really give the television series a chance, but everyone I know with geek cred swears by it. I never thought that the concept was anything really special. It seems to me that Whedon’s characters and character development elevated the show above other typical genre series. And a big screen movie or television show without his involvement would most likely suck.
Slashfilm
Footloose (2011)
Paramount Pictures announced today that Chace Crawford will play the lead role of Ren McCormack in the film Footloose, which will be produced and directed by Kenny Ortega.
Over the course of his 30-year career, Emmy Award-winning director and choreographer Ortega has worked with superstars Madonna, Michael Jackson, Kiss, Cher, and Diana Ross. He choreographed the classic Dirty Dancing and, most recently, directed all three "High School Musical" films. The hugely successful trilogy has broken numerous records including High School Musical 3: Senior Year's record opening for a song-and-dance film grossing $42 million in its first weekend.
The film will be produced by the highly successful team of Craig Zadan (a producer of the original Footloose in 1984) and Neil Meron. Together, Zadan and Meron produced the blockbuster Hairspray and the critically acclaimed Chicago, which was the first musical in 34 years to win the top honor of Best Picture Oscar at the 2002 Academy Awards. The film will also be produced by Dylan Sellers (Agent Cody Banks). Academy Award-nominated Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich) wrote the recently green-lit screenplay.
Crawford is best known to audiences worldwide for his role on the hit series "Gossip Girl." He is currently starring in Joel Schumacher's drama Twelve along with Emma Roberts and 50 Cent.
Production on the movie is set to begin shooting in March 2010.
Coming Soon
Over the course of his 30-year career, Emmy Award-winning director and choreographer Ortega has worked with superstars Madonna, Michael Jackson, Kiss, Cher, and Diana Ross. He choreographed the classic Dirty Dancing and, most recently, directed all three "High School Musical" films. The hugely successful trilogy has broken numerous records including High School Musical 3: Senior Year's record opening for a song-and-dance film grossing $42 million in its first weekend.
The film will be produced by the highly successful team of Craig Zadan (a producer of the original Footloose in 1984) and Neil Meron. Together, Zadan and Meron produced the blockbuster Hairspray and the critically acclaimed Chicago, which was the first musical in 34 years to win the top honor of Best Picture Oscar at the 2002 Academy Awards. The film will also be produced by Dylan Sellers (Agent Cody Banks). Academy Award-nominated Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich) wrote the recently green-lit screenplay.
Crawford is best known to audiences worldwide for his role on the hit series "Gossip Girl." He is currently starring in Joel Schumacher's drama Twelve along with Emma Roberts and 50 Cent.
Production on the movie is set to begin shooting in March 2010.
Coming Soon
The Karate Kid (2010)
Jackie Chan says 'Karate Kid' remake will be 'Kung Fu Kid' instead: We're outraged ...in the way that we're not outraged at all!
Let's back up a bit. In January, EW reported that Jackie Chan was taking on the Mr. Miyagi-type role in the planned remake of the 1984 hit The Karate Kid, with Will Smith producing and his 10-year-old son Jaden Smith (The Day the Earth Stood Still) on board to wax on and wax off as the eponymous Karate Kid. Except, according to Chan in a recent interview with New Zealand outlet 3 News, the younger Smith will be known as The Kung Fu Kid instead.
A rep for Columbia Pictures tells EW that, in fact, the film's title has yet to be decided -- which is fine, since, either way, I'm not exactly sure what the big, swan-kicking deal is. From The Matrix to Kung Fu Panda, kung fu is certainly far more hip and now a martial art than that musty old karate your grandpa jabbers on about. Besides, the geekosphere consensus seems to be that naming the film Kung Fu Kid would keep the original Karate Kid unsullied by Hollywood's crass campaign to besmirch every single beloved 1980s childhood touchstone...because that certainly never happened with The Karate Kid Part II, The Karate Kid Part III, or The Next Karate Kid, starring a pre-Beverly Hills 90210 Hilary Swank in the title role.
Of course, I am the same writer who got his knickers all be-twiddled over the plans to make another movie based on the board game Clue, so it's not like I'm carrying loads of moral authority on keeping things in perspective. What do you think, P-Dubs? Is Kung Fu Kid a better title? Should they be remaking this movie at all? Or do you just feel kids of the 1980s have a seriously warped perspective on what made for "good" movies back in the days of Reagan, Rambo, and Howard the Duck?
Entertainment Weekly
Let's back up a bit. In January, EW reported that Jackie Chan was taking on the Mr. Miyagi-type role in the planned remake of the 1984 hit The Karate Kid, with Will Smith producing and his 10-year-old son Jaden Smith (The Day the Earth Stood Still) on board to wax on and wax off as the eponymous Karate Kid. Except, according to Chan in a recent interview with New Zealand outlet 3 News, the younger Smith will be known as The Kung Fu Kid instead.
A rep for Columbia Pictures tells EW that, in fact, the film's title has yet to be decided -- which is fine, since, either way, I'm not exactly sure what the big, swan-kicking deal is. From The Matrix to Kung Fu Panda, kung fu is certainly far more hip and now a martial art than that musty old karate your grandpa jabbers on about. Besides, the geekosphere consensus seems to be that naming the film Kung Fu Kid would keep the original Karate Kid unsullied by Hollywood's crass campaign to besmirch every single beloved 1980s childhood touchstone...because that certainly never happened with The Karate Kid Part II, The Karate Kid Part III, or The Next Karate Kid, starring a pre-Beverly Hills 90210 Hilary Swank in the title role.
Of course, I am the same writer who got his knickers all be-twiddled over the plans to make another movie based on the board game Clue, so it's not like I'm carrying loads of moral authority on keeping things in perspective. What do you think, P-Dubs? Is Kung Fu Kid a better title? Should they be remaking this movie at all? Or do you just feel kids of the 1980s have a seriously warped perspective on what made for "good" movies back in the days of Reagan, Rambo, and Howard the Duck?
Entertainment Weekly
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