Author Archives: Sarah Sommer

About Sarah Sommer

Sarah is a journalist and an artist who lives in the city. She loves movies and television. She reads early and often. Sarah also helps out over at BSCkids.com and our other sites!

Oliver Twist To Become “Olivia Twisted” Through CBS Films

Let’s forgo the obvious pun and just say that CBS Films has decided to take a different approach when deciding to adapt the classic novel “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens. The company has officially optioned Michael Roberts’ screenplay entitled, Olivia Twisted.

Roberts used the classic novel to create a hyper-real, gothic city type tale with its primary focus being a young woman named Olivia. However, she isn’t an ordinary woman. Olivia is part of a highly trained gang of street kids ranging in age from 6 to 19 who work for a criminal named Fagin. When the gang takes on a kidnapping job, it lands in the middle of a turf war between the city’s two major kingpins.

One of the draws of this particular adaptation is the fact that it plans to focus on the beautifully choreographed action scenes and setting as seen from the eyes of the former stuntman. The project is the debut script for Roberts, who broke into the business as a stuntman for TV shows including “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Alias” before an injury prompted a career change.

Michael De Luca and Michael De Luca Productions’ Alissa Phillips are attached to produce.

There is no word on a projected date for production or who they want to star in this gritty re-imagining.

New TV Series To Be Made From Novel Based On Real-Life Dramas of Two Police Administrators

Police procedural dramas always do well on television as they play on viewers neurosis as well as make them feel apart of the crime solving. It is no surprise that Undergo Entertainment, a production company in Los Angeles, California, has attained the film rights and is currently working on the development of a television series based on the lives of Chris DiGiuseppi and Mike Force.

Chris DiGiuseppi and Mike Force are full-time Police Administrators who have successfully published their second book. The Fallen (HCI Books) is the second installment in The Light Bringer trilogy featuring the fantastic adventures of lead protagonist, Police Lieutenant Alan Crane. What most people don’t realize is when Crane is on duty, who he “protects and serves” reaches far beyond the world of the living.

In The Fallen, ex-military man Alan Crane and his supernatural companion Michael Simmons fulfill their duty helping people pass over to the other side. Crane delves even deeper into the mystery of death when good and evil collide once again and he and Michael discover that the darkness is now entering the world of the living. This story takes readers on a quest that leads our heroes to seek the true motives of ‘The Fallen.”

The new series will be based on the entire trilogy written by the Chief of Police and the Deputy Chief of Police of Lake St Louis, Missouri, The Light Bringer trilogy is based on real-life incidents that confront these two heroes on a daily basis. They have tried to find meaning in the tragedies they encounter through writing these books.

This full-length novel should be available in all book stores and online through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, both in hardcopy and e-book (Kindle and Nook), on February 5, 2013. You can also watch the book trailer below:

Ron Howard Eyes Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book Adaptation

It was announced last summer that Neil Gaiman would be adapting his 2008 Newberry Medal winner novel, “The Graveyard Book.” Disney bought the movie rights after several years of attempts by different studios to adapt the novel. Now, the big screen adaptation has seemingly found a new director in Ron Howard.

Inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 classic “The Jungle Book,” Gaiman’s novel is officially described as follows:

Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place-he’s the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians’ time as well as their timely ghostly teachings-like the ability to Fade. Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead? And then there are things like ghouls that aren’t really one thing or the other.

This will be Gaiman’s third film, preceded by 2009’s Coraline and 2007’s Stardust, both of which received positive reviews. Gaiman also has a television series in the works with HBO based on his novel American Gods. His two movie adaptations have both received relative success in the box office as well. Coraline has an IMDb rating of 7.7 out of 10 and Stardust received a 7.8.

Henry Selick had plans to adapt The Graveyard Book as a stop-motion feature for Walt Disney Pictures, but the new vision of the project has it moving forward as a live-action film. There is no word on when they expect this adaptation to move forward into production or who they wish to star in the feature. However, with Ron Howard at the helm, the movie appears to be in good hands.

Up Up & Away! What it Takes to Own TV and Film’s Most Iconic Cars

This infographic concept was produced by Chapman Automotive Group.

5 Things Fans Want Out Of Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D.

Production has finally begun for “Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D.” and fans are starting to get excited for the Joss Whedon adventure (and maybe this one won’t get cancelled after one/two seasons!) So far only the pilot has been ordered but given the amount of hype the series is already getting and the big names that have signed on, it seems doubtful the show will get less than a full season order.

It was revealed last week that “Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D.” will take place after the film, Marvel’s The Avengers. The timeline and connections of this show has led to several questions and expectations that will surely be answered in the pilot episode and subsequent seasons.

So, here are five things that fans will want answered in the highly anticipated series.

::::Possible Spoilers Ahead::::

#5: The Origins Of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe currently has six interconnecting film as well as three shorts with the agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D. playing a role in all of them. The big question, however, is about how the organization of was formed as it has never been fully explored. It is not a long shot to assume we will learn more about the inner workings and the origins of the agency in a series called “Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D.”

One suggestion is that Marvel Studios could decide to follow the comics and have the agency be created by Fury but rather than acting on it, he files the idea away where it’s then discovered and put into action by the unnamed council of twelve people (renamed the World Security Council in The Avengers). What makes this idea work is that it adheres with the current dynamic that Fury and the Council presented in the film.

With Whedon on the project, however, expecting something more isn’t out of the ordinary. Whedeon’s projects often have a secret organization that seemed to control everything yet you only learn about their history little by little throughout the series, never giving too much away at a time. We see this with the Initiative in “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” Wolfram & Heart in “Angel,” Blue Sun in “Firefly,” and Rossum in “Dollhouse.” It would fit right into his style if we never fully know the back story of “S.H.I.E.L.D.” until the very end.

#4: Cameos

Seriously. One of the things that makes the Marvel Cinematic Universe awesome is how interconnected every film is to the others. Marvel Studios has done a phenomenal job at keeping everything together and with the release of a television series also set in the universe, they have a wealth of time and material to keep things fresh in between films. However, this also means fans will be expecting some cameos.

Currently, Clark Gregg is the only returning actor who has confirmed to appear on the show. Samuel L. Jackson hasn’t been contracted to appear, Cobie Smulders is still contractually obligated to “How I Met Your Mother,” and there’s been no talk about Scarlett Johansson participating in the show.

Since the show is based on the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization, its operatives are probably the best bet at cameos that fans will see. The actual superheroes are less likely though not completely out of the question. Taking a look at each hero it seems that Thor will be the least likely to make a cameo with the fact that he lives in outer space not withstanding. Now that Tony Stark and Bruce Banner are BFF’s since the end of The Avengers, and Tony’s reputation for making things for S.H.I.E.L.D., it stands to reason the pair of them could make an appearance. Additionally, it appears that Marvel is stalling the development of the “Hulk” television series which could hint at his appearance in this project.

Some fans are also hopeful that S.H.I.E.L.D. will allow glimpses into the superhuman prisons on Earth namely The Vault, The Raft, and The Cube.

#3: Consistency

This has been mentioned a lot already and is not really a worry so much as an expectation. Things can get dicey with a media empire such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, then to throw a television show into the mix, that can be downright scary when it comes to continuity. One line of dialogue can cause a canonical error that will alienate fans as well as push the show further from the movies rather than closer.

The one thing that will keep this project on the right track is, that’s right, Joss Whedon. Fans should have no fear of the consistency of this show with him in charge. He already has great knowledge of the universe after working on the film not to mention how well loved his past television projects have been.

Fans have also pointed out that the continuity will in fact be easier to maintain with the television show addition surmising that it is a lot easier to lose the details when there is a new movie every three years rather than a new episode every week.

#2: Foreshadowing For New Films

Given how connected all the movies are, it is not surprising when one of them references another or gives hints to what fans can expect in the future. For example, at the end of Iron Man 2, there is a map on a computer screen with various blips indicating different characters from the Marvel Universe. It is short and sweet but for fans who notice it, it reminds them that Whedon has got this and there is nothing to worry about.

Marvel has consistently foreshadowed throughout the films they’ve made. Iron Man had the initial “Avenger initiative” conversation. The Incredible Hulk had the frozen Captain America briefly appearing in an alternate opening, and Tony inexplicably had Captain America’s shield in Iron Man 2. These are details that aren’t just decided on a whim, rather done purposefully to hint at what is to come.

With Whedon at the helm, it seems safe to say that the show will contain hints and clues to upcoming movies and events.

In the timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the series will air after Iron Man 3 and around the same time that Thor: The Dark World is released but before Captain America: The Winter Soldier. This gives some opportunities to lay some groundwork before these films hit the theater without outright spoiling the films. Marvel Studios has made their films stand alone and connected at the same time so fans and audiences don’t have to see every movie to appreciate the story, but if you’ve seen them all then there are pieces inside to connect the dots and it stands to reason that S.H.I.E.L.D. wont be any different.

#1: Agent Coulson’s Return Explained

It was revealed that the character of Agent Coulson would be in “Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D.” despite the fact that he seemingly died at the end of The Avengers. Fans will want a good explanation of why this character is back and more importantly: How?

It has been speculated that what was actually seen in the film was the death of a Life Model Decoy (as mentioned by Tony Stark earlier in the movie). What makes this plausible is that we know Fury lies and therefore could have lied in order to bring everyone together for the big bad fight against Chitauri.

Others have said the exact opposite. That it is possible that the Coulson on the series will be the Life Model Decoy while the original Coulson did indeed die in the film. What makes this idea plausible is that having a “robot” character struggle with being his humanity as an AI while remaining unkillable is right up the alley of a Joss Whedon project (“Dollhouse,” “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” anyone?) and would continually add depth to character.

Whichever way they take it, fans WILL be looking for an explanation.

James Ponsoldt Signs On To Write and Direct The Big Screen Adaptation of Pure

James Ponsoldt has officially signed on to write and direct Fox 2000’s upcoming film adaptation, Pure, based on the novel of the same name written by Julianna Baggott. The novel is the first in a planned trilogy and is set to be released in early 2012.

“Pure” has an official plot summary that follows:

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it’s his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

Karen Rosenfelt is attached to produce the film version. There is no word yet on when the film is expected to be underway or a projected release date for the completed film.

You can check out a trailer for the novel itself in the player below:

Homer’s Odyssey Heads To Space With Sci-Fi Adaptation

We’ve seen Odysseus be pretty much a badass in all major settings except the final frontier (that’s right, I said it and I am not ashamed.) Warner Bros. is FINALLY making Homer’s awesomely epic epic, The Odyssey, into a science fiction film. The studio has officially hired James DiLapo to write the script to the futuristic remaining. Warner Bros has also put in place a blind writing deal behind the project to keep him in the studio fold.

High school english just wasn’t complete till you read Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey both of which have been previously adapted and most likely viewed by you. The Iliad was adapted into the Wolfgang Petersen-directed Troy, which starred Brad Pitt as Achilles. The Odyssey was most famously adapted in 1997 starring Armand Assante, Greta Scacchi, Irene Pappas, Isabella Rossellini, Bernadette Peters,Christopher Lee, and Vanessa L. Williams.

The Odyssey centers on the Greek hero Odysseus and his journey home after the fall of Troy. It takes Odysseus ten years to reach Ithaca after the ten-year Trojan War. In his absence, it is assumed he has died, and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must deal with a group of unruly suitors who compete for Penelope’s hand in marriage.

Terry Dougas of 1821 Pictures hatched the idea of setting the tale in space and he and cohort Paris Kasidokostas Latsis brought the idea to the studio. The project got kickstarted with the pitch by DiLapo. The studio now sees it as a potential franchise and it’s being steered by Greg Silverman and Courtenay Valenti and Racheline Benveniste.

There is no word yet on when the project is expected to begin production or who they want to star in the epic. How they will adapt the story for a space/futuristic setting will be interesting to see but not to difficult given the universal themes that makes the story relatable throughout the ages.

CBS Series “Under The Dome” Casts Colin Ford

The upcoming CBS series, “Under the Dome,” based on the novel by Stephen King has cast its first actor. Colin Ford, most known for his role in the film We Bought A Zoo, has been added to the series set to air this summer.

“Under The Dome” has a 13-episode order and comes from famed director/producer Steven Spielberg and the author Stephen King.

Based on the 2009 best-selling novel, the series is set in Chester’s Mill, a small New England town suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an enormous transparent dome. The town’s inhabitants must deal with surviving the post-apocalyptic conditions while searching for answers to what this barrier is, where it came from and if and when it will go away. Ford will play Joe, a teenager living in Chester’s Mill, a very smart kid who’s understandably freaked out when he discovers that the mysterious barrier covers the whole town — and both his parents are outside of it.

Niels Arden Oplev, known for helming The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, is set to direct the first episode based on a script provided by Brian K. Vaughan. Spielberg’s Amblin Television, which developed the project, is co-producing with CBS TV Studios. Neal Baer will serve as showrunner. DreamWorks’ Stacey Snider is executive producing with Spielberg, King, Baer, Vaughn, Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank.

In addition to playing Matt Damon’s teen son in We Bought A Zoo, Ford played Young Sam Winchester on the CW’s “Supernatural.” He also recently guest starred on NBC’s “Revolution” and voices the title character on the Disney Jr. animated series “Jake And The Never Land Pirates.”

The premiere of “Under the Dome” is scheduled for Monday, June 24, 2013 at 10pm on CBS.

The Taming of the Shrew Adaptation Secures Anne Hathaway

Since staring in Les Miserables, Anne Hathaway seems to be jumping on the classic literature remake bandwagon. Rumor has it that the Hathaway is set to star in the upcoming big screen adaptation of the William Shakespeare play, “The Taming of the Shrew.”

Rather than a straight forward period film, the project will be a modern-day retelling of the play set in mid-20th century Italy. Considering this will be set in a more current time frame, the question remains of whether or not this retelling will retain the misogynistic elements of mens control over women and the desire to have a compliant and obedient wife remain. It is the 20th century after all and women have finally been given permission to have free will, right? That’s a thing right?

In case you didn’t read this on your own or in 11th grade english class, “The Taming of the Shrew” follows the tale of two sisters. One unsurprisingly more lovely than the other. The story depicts the utter gentlemen, Petruchio, as he attempts to court and marry the headstrong and titular “shrew” that is Katherina. Considering the fact that she didn’t choose Petruchio as a suitor, she is understandably an unwilling participant in the relationship. However, through “taming” and the various psychological torments that is the definition of true love, Katherina becomes the obedient bride every man desires. There is also a subplot featuring the hotter sister and a competition of men vying for her attention and thusly her hand in marriage.

Us women need some taming by the men in our lives in order to find someone who is willing to deal with our hysteria, amiright? Forget those old ideals of true love and happiness, that takes a whole lot of work after all. Just marry us off to some dick who will deny us food and water while physically and emotionally humiliating us in front of our friends and family at our wedding and then hence forth the rest of our lives. It’s every girls dream, right?

What a great tale! My hopes are that this modern-day retelling is more closely related to 10 Things I Hate About You rather than the actual play.

Abi Morgan has signed on to script the adaptation. The project will be produced by Debra Hayward and Working Title, another individual with knowledge of the film told TheWrap.

“The Taming of the Shrew” was famously adapted in 1967 staring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Another adaptation, also a modern-day retelling, was released in 1999 in the form of 10 Things I Hate About You starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles.

The casting of Hathaway is only a rumor at this point as Universal, Working Title and Hathaway’s representatives at CAA all declined to comment on the project.

Character Guide To Oz The Great And Powerful

Walt Disney is preparing for the release of their upcoming film, Oz The Great and Powerful based on the novels by L. Frank Baum (such as the most notable, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”) by releasing an official character guide to the film.

The film follows Diggs (Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, who is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. He thinks he’s hit the jackpot and that fame and fortune are his for the taking — that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Kunis), Evanora (Weisz) and Glinda (Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity — and even a bit of wizardry — Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

Below, you can check out a guide to some of the incredible characters set to soon hit the big screen, paired against original passages from Baum’s first book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

OZ (OSCAR DIGGS)

James Franco

“Well, one day I went up in a balloon and the ropes got twisted, so that I couldn’t come down again. It went way up above the clouds, so far that a current of air struck it and carried it many, many miles away. For a day and a night I traveled through the air, and on the morning of the second day I awoke and found the balloon floating over a strange and beautiful country.” – Oz

Oscar Diggs, aka Oz, is a small-time magician who takes his magic act on the road as part of a traveling circus in the Midwest. A man with dubious ethics, Oz is a handsome, charming charlatan who is skilled at smooth-talking his way out of problems. When he is hurled into the magical Land of Oz, Oscar faces a fight-or-flight dilemma that holds the fate of a kingdom in the balance, forcing him to decide what kind of man he truly is before it is too late.

THEODORA

Mila Kunis

“In the civilized countries I believe there are no witches left, nor wizards, nor sorceresses, nor magicians. But, you see, the Land of Oz has never been civilized, for we are cut off from the rest of the world. Therefore we still have witches and wizards amongst us.” – Glinda

Theodora is a beautiful, naïve witch who is protected by her powerful sister Evanora. Theodora only wants peace to come to the Land of Oz and truly believes that a prophesied wizard will arrive someday to restore order.

EVANORA

Rachel Weisz

“One of my greatest fears was the Witches, for while I had no magical powers at all I soon found out that the Witches were really able to do wonderful things.” – Oz

A witch to be feared, Evanora is Theodora’s over-protective sister. With her penetrating gaze, she exudes a powerful presence and has positioned herself as the royal advisor and protector of Emerald City.

GLINDA

Michelle Williams

“The Witch of the South. She is the most powerful of all the Witches, and rules over the Quadlings… She is kind to everyone. I have heard that Glinda is a beautiful woman, who knows how to keep young in spite of the many years she has lived.” – Soldier

Glinda is a good witch who rules over a peaceful kingdom of simple, kind folk. Beautiful Glinda is not only a compassionate and benevolent witch, but also a fierce protector of her people. Though Glinda sees through Oz’s façade early on, she knows genuine goodness lies within and helps Oz achieve his true destiny.

CHINA GIRL

Joey King (voice)

“But the strangest of all were the people who lived in this queer country. There were milkmaids and shepherdesses, with brightly colored bodices and golden spots all over their gowns; and princesses with most gorgeous frocks of silver and gold and purple; and shepherds dressed in knee breeches with pink and yellow and blue stripes down them, and golden buckles on their shoes; and princes with jeweled crowns upon their heads, wearing ermine robes and satin doublets; and funny clowns in ruffled gowns, with round red spots upon their cheeks and tall, pointed caps. And, strangest of all, these people were all made of china, even to their clothes, and were so small that the tallest of them was no higher than Dorothy’s knee.”

China Girl is from the village of China Town, where everything, including the inhabitants, is made of china. When destruction befalls her land, the brave, resilient China Girl encounters Oz and they strike up an unlikely friendship.

FINLEY

Zach Braff (voice)

“But if you are going to call the Winged Monkeys we must run away, for they are full of mischief and think it great fun to plague us.” – Oz

The Queen of the MiceFinley is a winged monkey that accompanies Oz on his journey. Finley doesn’t have a high opinion of Oscar and lets him know it. Ultimately he becomes a loyal ally and helps Oz discover his true self.

FRANK

Zach Braff

“I do not know where Kansas is, for I have never heard that country mentioned before. But tell me, is it a civilized country?” – Glinda

Frank is Oz’s assistant and right-hand man—he’s the money handler, costume mender and prop wrangler for Oz’s magic act. Frank is put upon and underappreciated but is Oz’s only friend.

KNUCK

Tony Cox

“I am the Guardian of the Gates, and since you demand to see the Great Oz I must take you to his Palace. But first you must put on the spectacles… [I]f you did not wear spectacles the brightness and glory of the Emerald City would blind you. Even those who live in the City must wear spectacles night and day. They are all locked on, for Oz so ordered it when the City was first built, and I have the only key that will unlock them.”– The Guardian of the Gates

Knuck is a dour, unsmiling Munchkin, who, as the Herald of Emerald City, announces all the visitors. Despite his cantankerous demeanor, he is loyal to Glinda and thus reluctantly becomes Oz’s ally.

WINKIES

“The Winkies were very kind to me, and wanted me to rule over them after the Wicked Witch died. I am fond of the Winkies, and if I could get back again to the Country of the West, I should like nothing better than to rule over them forever.” – The Tin Woodman

The Winkies are the formidable, spear-carrying, 8-foot tall, uniformed guards of Emerald City under the command of Evanora.

QUADLINGS

“The country of the Quadlings seemed rich and happy. There was field upon field of ripening grain, with well-paved roads running between, and pretty rippling brooks with strong bridges across them. The fences and houses and bridges were all painted bright red, just as they had been painted yellow in the country of the Winkies and blue in the country of the Munchkins. The Quadlings themselves, who were short and fat and looked chubby and good-natured, were dressed all in red, which showed bright against the green grass and the yellowing grain.”

The Quadlings are inhabitants of Glinda’s kingdom. They are kind-hearted, simple country folk who are mostly farmers.

MUNCHKINS

While she stood looking eagerly at the strange and beautiful sights, she noticed coming toward her a group of the queerest people she had ever seen. They were not as big as the grown folk she had always been used to; but neither were they very small. In fact, they seemed about as tall as Dorothy, who was a well-grown child for her age, although they were, so far as looks go, many years older.

The Munchkins are giggling, happy little people, who live peaceful lives singing and making pretty clothes. Though they don’t have a care in the world, they are loyal to Glinda and do their best to help her if and when she needs them.

The upcoming film version, opening in North American theaters on March 8 and Australia on March 7, tells the story of how the wizard, Oscar Diggs, came to Oz (a story never told in any of the books). The movie is directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man) and stars James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff and Joey King.

Optionated

Books being Optioned to Movies, Television Shows, Video Games