Category Archives: Optioned Books

A Look At The Snow White And The Huntsman DVD Release

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Rupert Sanders’ Snow White and the Huntsman, starring Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth and Sam Claflin, will be released on Blu-ray, On Demand and Digital Download as and Extended Edition on Sept. 11.

The Combo Pack includes an extended version of the film not shown in theaters, as well as a digital download of the film, compatible with iPhone, iTunes, iPad, iPod, iPod touch, Android or online retail partners including UltraViolet (a service that allows consumers to collect movies and TV shows in a cloud to stream and download to TV’s, computers, tablets and smartphones).

The Blu-ray and DVD bonus features include:

  • A New Legend is Born
  • Feature Commentary with director Rupert Sanders, visual effects supervisor Cedric Nicolas-Troyan and co-editor Neil Smith

Bonus Features Exclusive to the Blu-ray:

  • Reinventing the Fairy Tale
  • Citizens of the Kingdom
  • The Magic Of “Snow White and the Huntsman”

Around the Kingdom: 360° Set TourUniversal’s Second Screen: Viewers can control, interact with and explore the film with features on a networked tablet or computer, in sync with the movie on the television screen. During the film, users can access:

      • Flick View: Move content from the tablet to the TV screen, and compare storyboards, animatics, and other bonus material with a “flick” of the fingers.
      • Behind the Scenes (Picture in Picture)
      • Around the Kingdom: 360° Set Tour
      • Virtual flip books
      • Cast of Characters
      • UltraViolet
      • Digital Copy: Viewers can redeem a digital version of the full-length movie from a choice of retail partners to watch on an array of electronics and portable devices including computers, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android and more.
      • pocket BLU App for smartphones
      • Advanced Remote Control: A new way to operate Blu-ray players.
      • Video Timeline: Users can bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.
      • Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
      • Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
      • Keyboard: an intuitive keyboard for data entry
      • BD-LIVE: Access the BD-Live Center through an Internet-connected player to access the latest trailers, exclusive content and more.

Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci Working On Sleepy Hollow Series

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The 2012 pitch season is underway, and Transformers/ Ender’s Game writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are shopping a series based on Washington Irving’s eerie classic, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Phillip Iscove will assist Kurtzman and Orci in writing the script, as the project was his own idea.

The story follows Ichabod Crane as he partners with Sleepy Hollow’s local female sheriff to solve mysteries “in a town ravaged by the battle between good and evil,” according to Deadline.com.

Iscove has been an assistant for UTA (United Talent Agency) for five years, and has had a script on the Black List.

Len Wiseman (Underworld) is on board to direct the drama, which is being touted as a modern-day supernatural thriller. Kurtzman, Orci and Wiseman have worked together before, on the pilot for Hawaii Five-0, which Kurtzman and Orci co-wrote and Wiseman directed.

The three will executive produce “Sleepy Hollow” with K/O’s Heather Kadin.

They are pitching the project to Fox, CBS, ABC and NBC. There is no word on whether anyone is currently interested in the series or if the writers have any talent in mind for the project.

Chris Hemsworth In Consideration For Robopocalypse

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Chris Hemsworth is in consideration to star in Steven Spielberg’s Robopocalypse, the award-winning director’s new techno-thriller. Hemsworth has steadily gained recent popularity with his roles in Thor, The Avengers, and Snow White and the Huntsman.

The Disney-Fox-Dreamworks project will be released worldwide on April 25, 2014. The script for the film is based on Daniel H. Wilson’s novel about the human race’s attempt to survive an apocalyptic robot uprising, according to Deadline.com.

The novel is also quite accurate regarding the mechanics presented within the story. The author has a PhD in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University, and many of the robots in the novel were inspired by real-world robotics research. Sources like Robert Crais and Booklist have compared the book to the works of Michael Crichton and Robert Heinlein.

There is no official offer for Hemsworth yet, and the actor would be Spielberg’s first casting for the film.

View the official summary for Robopocalypse below, and follow this link to read an excerpt from the book.

“They are in your house. They are in your car. They are in the skies…Now they’re coming for you. In the near future, at a moment no one will notice, all the dazzling technology that runs our world will unite and turn against us. Taking on the persona of a shy human boy, a childlike but massively powerful artificial intelligence known as Archos comes online and assumes control over the global network of machines that regulate everything from transportation to utilities, defense and communication. In the months leading up to this, sporadic glitches are noticed by a handful of unconnected humans – a single mother disconcerted by her daughter’s menacing “smart” toys, a lonely Japanese bachelor who is victimized by his domestic robot companion, an isolated U.S. soldier who witnesses a ‘pacification unit’ go haywire – but most are unaware of the growing rebellion until it is too late.

When the Robot War ignites — at a moment known later as Zero Hour — humankind will be both decimated and, possibly, for the first time in history, united. Robopocalypse is a brilliantly conceived action-filled epic, a terrifying story with heart-stopping implications for the real technology all around us…and an entertaining and engaging thriller unlike anything else written in years.”

Game of Thrones Star Heads To City of Bones

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Sony recently announced that “Game of Thrones” star Lena Headey has been added to the cast of the upcoming film adaptation, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. Headey, currently playing the role of Cersei Lannister in the hit show, will be playing the role of Jocelyn Fray in the film.

Jocelyn is the mother of main character, Clary, a young women who joins the shadow hunters in an attempt to save her mother. Her disappearance is key to the story, though she won’t appear on screen for most of the movie.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is the big screen adaptation based on the first book of the young adult fantasy book series written by Cassandra Clare and set in present day New York City. It centers on Clary Fray, a seemingly ordinary teenager who discovers she’s a descendant of a line of Shadow hunters, a secret group of half-angel warriors locked in an ancient battle to protect the world from demons. When her mother disappears, Clary must join forces with a group of Shadowhunters to find her. They introduce Clary to Downworld, the dangerous alternate of New York filled with demons, warlocks, vampires, werewolves and other deadly creatures.

Two other actors have also been added to the growing cast list. Jared Harris will play Hodge Starkweather. A teacher to the young shadow hunters. According to the author’s blog, “Hodge is also a really complicated character. He’s not entirely bad, not entirely good. He’s a brilliant man led down a bad path a long time ago and he can’t turn back, but he does love those kids he tutored … I think (Harris will) really nail Hodge’s moral dilemma.”

Godfrey Gao will be taking the much coveted role of Magnus Bane, a flamboyant hipster who is the illustrious High Warlock of Brooklyn.  Clare says of Gao’s casting, “Godfrey is, in addition to being all gorgeous and stuff, super-talented (his audition was awesome), loves the books, and is, like Magnus, ridiculously tall.”

The three new cast members join Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace Wayland, Robert Sheehan as Simon, Kevin Durand as Pangborn, Jemima West as Isabelle Lightwood and wrestler Robert Maillet as Blackwell. The role of the villain of the story, Valentine has not yet been revealed in regards to casting.

Filming is set to begin next month with a release date for the film on August 23, 2013.

The Hunger Games Actors Send Condolences For Colorado Shooting Victims

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Friday morning the cinema world was shaken by something none of us ever considered would happen. The deadly shooting at the midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado left 12 dead and many more wounded.

People all across the world were horrified and saddened by the tragedy and celebrities and fans alike rallied together on behalf of those involved. The famous actors of one of the most anticipated films this year, The Hunger Games were among those who took to their social media sites to send their condolences to those victims.

Jack Quaid, who played Marvel in The Hunger Games, Tweeted, “Send some good vibes to Aurora right now.”

“My heart goes out to the victims and families of the Colorado massacre. Cherish the time you have with the people u love,” wrote Tara Macken, the actress who played the District 4 female tribute.

Willow Shields also chimed in on Twitter, writing, “Horrible news in Colorado this morning. My sympathies to all the families.”

Police say there is evidence Holmes was planning the attack for months. He was arrested outside of the theater just minutes after moviegoers called 911.

Gwyneth Paltrow To Star In Blood, Bones & Butter

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Gwyneth Paltrow is in negotiations to star in the independent film Blood, Bones & Butter, based on Gabrielle Hamilton’s 2011 foodie memoir. Paltrow, a well-known lover of food, is a fitting pick for such a role. In 2008, the actress launched her own website called goop.com, which regularly features healthy recipes from both the goop staff and contributors.

Last year, Paltrow also released her own cookbook, called My Father’s Daughter. It was met with much praise, though some critics noted that it would take a cooking novice “…$450 and five days’ shipping time to acquire the ‘essential’ ingredients of Gwyneth Paltrow’s pantry,” according to The Atlantic. “It would cost an additional $1,300 to upgrade a standard kitchen to one with all her ‘essential tools,’ such as earthenware bowls, butcher block countertops, Global knives, a Vitamix blender, and a Le Creuset Dutch oven. That’s before you get anywhere near the organic duck.”

In any case, it is clear that the actress has a passion for cooking, much like Hamilton, the subject of “Blood, Bones & Butter.” Hamilton is the owner and chef of New York’s Prune restaurant, and a trained writer with an MFA from the University of Michigan. In her memoir, Hamilton chronicles her unusual background. She is the youngest of five siblings born to a French mother and an artist father who made sets for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. She also details her unconventional trajectory to becoming a chef, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Rodrigo Teixeira of RT Features will produce alongside Anne Carey (Adventureland) and her producing partner Mindy Goldberg (Junebug).

The upcoming film is being described as similar to Julie & Julia, the Meryl Streep-starring biography/drama/romance that became an unexpected box-office hit.

Paltrow is currently at work filming Iron Man 3.

Outlander Book Series To Get Own TV Series

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Sony Pictures TV announced their plans to adapt Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling fantasy/romance/adventure book series “Outlander” for television. Ron Moore, developer/executive producer of the popular series “Battlestar Galactica,” will write the adaptation, and Jim Kohlberg’s Story Mining and Supply Co. will produce.

The project will be taken to cable networks this week, according to Deadline.com.

The story begins in 1945, and boasts the provocative tagline, “Claire Randall is leading a double life. She has a husband in one century, and a lover in another….”

The series includes seven books, and has sold more than 20 million copies. The eighth installment will be released next year.

Gabaldon has amassed a passionate fan following, with multiple companies offering “Jamie and Claire” tours of Scotland, during which fans visit locations from the books.

You can read the official plot summary for “Outlander” below:

In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon–when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord…1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire’s destiny in soon inextricably intertwined with Clan MacKenzie and the forbidden Castle Leoch. She is catapulted without warning into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life …and shatter her heart. For here, James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a passion so fierce and a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire…and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.”

Sleeping Beauty To Become A Pesky Stalker

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This is the Sleeping Beauty you probably remember. It’s not going to be anything like this. 

Fresh on the heels of two Snow White adaptations this year alone (Mirror Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman), another classic fairy tale is getting the big-screen makeover. Neal Moritz, producer of 21 Jump Street, is developing a new take on the old story of Sleeping Beauty. 

Keeping up with the idea of edgy remakes, Moritz’s Sleeping Beauty, which is set to be released in 2014, will take some liberties with the typical charming princess character, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Instead, Aurora will be portrayed as a “pesky stalker.”

The new version of the Brothers Grimm story will be a “modern-day retelling” in which the male lead accidentally awakens the princess, who then becomes lovestruck and stalks him. You may remember watching the original film adaptation created by Disney, in which the princess in cursed by the evil seen Maleficent into a perpetually sleep until a kiss awakes her, complete with songs and happy endings. Though, it doesn’t seem Moritz new retelling will go in this direction.

The film will be a comedy, according to AceShowbiz, and Moritz will produce through his Original Film banner.

However, the project does not yet have a studio.

Moritz’s Sleeping Beauty should not be confused with the currently in production film Maleficent, starring Angelina Joli, another retelling of the same fairytale from the point of view of the evil queen.

Casting Update for Catching Fire Film

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Fans are finally getting what they have been waiting for over the last few months. Casting news for the highly anticipated film adaptation sequel, Catching Fire. The film, based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins, is the film and book sequel to The Hunger Games. 

Catching Fire includes some new characters that fans have been dying to know about. Last week it was announced that actress Jena Malone had the role of Johanna Mason, an important role in the second and third books of the trilogy.

Then this week, it was announced that Amanda Plummer, most know for her role as Honey Bunny in cult film Pulp Fiction has secured the role of Wiress, nicknamed “Nuts” by the other tributes due to her lunacy. In reality, Wiress, is actually very smart, catching on to the clock theme of the Arena early on.

Wiress is a part of a duo, though, with the character of Beetee, nicknamed “Bolts,” effectively making the duo “Nuts and Bolts.” The word announced today is that award winning actor Tony Shaloub has gotten the part. Shaloub is most known for his role as the titular character in the USA series,”Monk.” While the role has not been confirmed it seems pretty reasonable.

The biggest news of all is the casting of Finnick Odair. Fans have spent MONTHS speculating who would land the highly coveted role and it seems we finally have a winner. According to Zap2it, british actor Sam Claflin has been officially offered the role of Finnick. Claflin is most known for his role in Snow White and the Huntsman. 

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is set to hit theaters on November 22, 2013.

The Devil’s Knot Begins Principal Photography

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Atom Egoyan’s The Devil’s Knot has announced that the project has begun its principal photography in Atlanta, Georgia.

The film, which stars Academy Award winners Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon, is a biopic based on the 2002 bestselling book entitled, “Devil’s Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three” written by investigative journalist Mara Leveritt.

The Devil’s Knot film adaptation will tell the story of the murders of three young children that sparked a controversial trial of three teenagers accused of killing the kids as part of a satanic ritual. The accused killers, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, were believed to have been arrested as a result of “Satanic panic” rather than actual evidence, according the author’s assertion.

The tale of the killers, known to the world as The West Memphis Three overtook headlines for months leading up to and after their arrest. Since then, they have periodically appeared in the news with new evidence. The trial recently made headlines when the defendants were released in Aug. 2011 after 18 years in prison, due to new evidence uncovered by the defense.

Aside from Firth and Witherspoon, the cast includes Alessandro Nivola (Coco Before Chanel, Junebug), Stephen Moyer (True Blood), Amy Ryan (Win Win, Gone Baby Gone), Matt Letscher (Scandal), Michael Gladis (Mad Men), Rex Linn (Appaloosa), Mireille Enos (The Killing, Gangster Squad), Dane DeHaan (Lawless Chronicle) and Bruce Greenwood (The Place Beyond the Pines, Star Trek).