Category Archives: Movie Adaptations

Spy Thriller ‘The Right Hand’ Optioned

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The spy thriller, The Right Hand, from author Derek Haas is headed to the big screen. Universal Pictures and producer Scott Stuber are behind the fresh movie deal. Haas along with screenwriting partner Michael Brandt, are planning to work on adapting a screenplay. It seems a very well-made book trailer spawned mega interest in the thriller, but this team won out.

The project definitely as a capable screenwriting team. Their works include Wanted, 2 Fast 2 Furious and 3:10 To Yuma. Brandt and Haas are also behind the new NBC series, Chicago Fire.

The Right Hand is the fourth novel from Derek Haas. The novel hit bookshelves on November 13th, from Mulholland Books. The story follows Austin Clay, a spy so covert that he’s basically a ghost. when he’s sent in to investigate a missing American operative, being held by Russians, he uncovers more than he bargained for. There’s a conspiracy at work, involving a mole hiding in the top-most echelons of the U.S. government. Fans of Angelina Jolie’s Salt, and hit series Homeland, should enjoy this picture when it all comes together. It also has the feel of Tom Clancy’s work.

Damian Saccani will serve as executive producer on the project.

In a statement Haas explained, “I’m thrilled The Right Hand is in the hands of Scott Stuber and Universal, with whom Michael and I have had incredible movie experiences. We love that after readers get a chance to discover this spy thriller in November, we’ll get to bring it to the screen ourselves.”

Readers seem to agree that Haas’s work is non-stop action and very stylish to boot. Could this be the new Bourne Identity? This year’s Bourne Legacy was a little lackluster in my opinion. That wasn’t the fault of the actors, who did great jobs with what they were given. Adding Jeremy Renner to the series, did some to keep the beat breathing. The script just felt to me like a somewhat clumsy attempt at CPR. Still, there’s potential there, provided a another sequel pulls out all the stops.

He isn’t a spy, per say, but if this genre thrills you, do not forget to check out Alex Cross this weekend. In this one Tyler Perry faces off against a serial killer in a role Morgan Freeman has brought to life twice before. Matthew Fox and Jean Reno also star.

Of course Mission Impossible 4 also fits into the spy genre. I thought that was a decent return for that franchise, but some of the action was a little far-fetched.

James Ransone Replaces Nate Parker in Oldboy

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To many, Oldboy is a cult classic. The 2003 South Korean film was directed by Park Chan-wook. It is loosely based upon the Japanese manga of the same name, written by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya and illustrated by Nobuaki Minegishi. The American re-make has just had a casting switch up.

James Ransone has signed the dotted line and will replace actor Nate Parker in the film Spike Lee will direct. There was some scheduling conflicts that are to blame for the swap. The re-make is scheduled for release in 2013 and has a script from Mark Protosevich.

I’ve got to say, I do like the way the cast is shaping up. Josh Brolin will star as the lead character, Joe. This character’s name is Dae-su Oh in the original korean film. Joe is captured and imprisoned in a hotel room for over two decades without a clue as to why. the day he is suddenly released, he is told he’s got four days to figure out why it all went down.

To say he’s trapped in a hotel room is a little too nice to describe his incarceration. In the original film, there’s a TV set in his room, but no window. He’s fed, but also frequently gassed by his mysterious captors who will cut his hair but won’t wash any blood stains out of his room. The TV shows him that his wife was murdered shortly after his own kidnapping and the police suspect him. When he is mysteriously freed, he can’t very well go to the police.

Ransone will play a doctor who works with the lead female, who is acted by Elizabeth Olsen. Yes, that’s younger sister of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Ransone, largely a TV series actor, worked with Spike Lee on Inside Man. He also acts in the horror flick out now, titled Sinister, and starring Ethan Hawke.

Sharlto Copley from District 9 and The A-Team will co-star as the antagonist. I’m a big fan of his work. Samuel L. Jackson is expected to do a cameo.

Film critic Roger Ebert said the original Oldboy was a “powerful film not because of what it depicts, but because of the depths of the human heart which it strips bare”. That’s an incredible review! Also, in 2008, a CNN poll found that Oldboy was considered one of the ten best Asian films ever made. In fact, I just saw Oldboy on a list of the best Asian films of all time, standing tall amongst titles like The Man from Nowhere and Seven Samurai. It is very much time to bring an American version to those unfamiliar with the original. I do recommend watching the original before the re-make comes out. It has a style all its own.

Official Synopsis for ‘Kick-Ass 2’ Released

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What’s more kick-ass than the Kick-Ass film? Hopefully the answer to that question is Kick-Ass 2.

The project began as a creator-owned comic book series of the same name written by superstar Mark Millar and illustrated by John Romita, Jr. Kick-Ass the comic, ran for 8 kick-ass issues and was published by Marvel Comics under the Icon imprint.

The film adaptation hit theaters thanks to LionsGate, in March of 2010. It was directed by Matthew Vaughn, also known for X-Men: First Class, and produced by Vaughn and A-List actor, Mr. Brad Pitt. Perhaps The Brad was also a fan of the comic series, eh?

It starred Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Dave Lizewski, who develops the alter ego, Kick-Ass, and the always funny Christopher Mintz-Plasse as The Red Mist. Of course Chloe Moretz, soon to star as Carey in the Stephen King-based re-make, was the much embattled Hit Girl. See, its one thing for a big bad gangster to beat up a child hero in a comic book, but the same scene on the big screen, and what you get is a scandal. Nicholas Cage played Big Daddy, Hit Girl’s father. He played such a controversial and somewhat insane character particularly well. He was believable, in my book, but then he often portrays crazy with special panache. Mark Strong was our lead villain, a member of organized crime. Well, that is, unless you consider his costumed son, The Red Mist, the primary antagonist.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, believe it or not, is a British actor, and he has gone on to star in a few high-profile films. He was the despicable character of Joe in Albert Nobbs, a picture with Oscar noms. He was Ben in the totally risque action-drama, Savages. And he’ll appear as Count Vronsky in Anna Karenina, opposite Keira Knightley and Jude Law beginning on 9 November in the USA.

Kick-Ass 2 is coming to a theater near you on June 28th, 2013. The Kick-Ass and Red Mist you know and love will return. That means Taylor-Johnson and Mintz-Plasse are back in the saddle again. Let’s take a look at the official synopsis.

Kick-Ass, Hit Girl and Red Mist return for the follow-up to 2010’s irreverent global hit: Kick-Ass 2. After Kick-Ass’ (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) insane bravery inspires a new wave of self-made masked crusaders, led by the badass Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey), our hero joins them on patrol. When these amateur superheroes are hunted down by Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), reborn as The Mother F%&*^r, only the blade-wielding Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) can prevent their annihilation.

When we last saw junior assassin Hit Girl and young vigilante Kick-Ass, they were trying to live as normal teenagers Mindy and Dave. With graduation looming and uncertain what to do, Dave decides to start the world’s first superhero team with Mindy. Unfortunately, when Mindy is busted for sneaking out as Hit Girl, she’s forced to retire, leaving her to navigate the terrifying world of high-school mean girls on her own. With no one left to turn to, Dave joins forces with Justice Forever, run by a born-again ex-mobster named Colonel Stars and Stripes.

Just as they start to make a real difference on the streets, the world’s first super villain, The Mother F%&*^r, assembles his own evil league and puts a plan in motion to make Kick-Ass and Hit Girl pay for what they did to his dad. But there’s only one problem with his scheme: If you mess with one member of Justice Forever, you mess with them all.

How can you not love it? The film comes from Universal John Leguizamo and Donald Faison also on the cast list.

Twilight Saga Marathon Trailer Released

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Do you remember how it all began? The boy at Forks High School with the strange eyes; Bella trying to figure out how he stopped the car from crushing her in the parking lot. Bella, alone in the woods with Edward, breathing the word vampire on the chill, humid air for the first time. How about the very first time Jacob transforms? When we first meet the sinister Volturi. Or the beautiful outdoor event that was Bella and Edward’s wedding?

These moments and more can be re-lived during the Twilight Saga Marathon event. So, call all your girl friends and buy your tickets soon.

Summit Entertainment is responsible for the cinematic event, which will include a five-film marathon of The Twilight Saga. That’s right, your ticket gives you access to re-watch Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn part one, all in one day, just before seeing for the first time ever, the latest and final installment, Breaking Dawn part two. Fandango has revealed that the event happens November 15th, 2012 at theaters across North America. They also unveiled a nostalgic new trailer just for the Twilight Saga Marathon. It features some of those famous Twilight moments, including the chilling scene where the army of Newborns walks out of the sea.

That ain’t all, either. Wait until you get to the part of the new trailer which features scenes from the new film! We’ve got more vampires to meet, and some of them have special abilities. What am I saying? We have yet to meet Mrs. Bella Cullen as a Newborn vamp! She’s got some surprises left to reveal herself!

I know what you’re thinking. Won’t a marathon of the magnitude last all day? Sure it will. But we hear the final film, Breaking Dawn part two, will strike at about 10 pm as a part of that event. Maybe that will give you an idea of how long you’ll be sitting in the theater.

If you have your own plans for marathon at home or just want to skip right to the exiting final film, worry not, you can choose to watch The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 all by itself in North American theaters, beginning on November 16th, 2012. That date isn’t so far away now, either!

Will the wolves team up with the Cullens and their new friends against the Volturi? Will there be betrayals? Will any of our favorites die? What will become of Bella and Edward’s daughter? Will Bella kill Jacob for imprinting on her?

I can answer one question. What’s the craziest part of this trailer? Near the end in the final, frozen, epic battle against the Volturi, it looks like Edward swings his wife into an enemy, putting some serious momentum behind her kick. That was a little weird, yes? It reminds me of Marvel comics Wolverine doing his fast ball special.

Breaking Dawn part one was the 4th highest-grossing film of 2011 worldwide. Will Breaking Dawn part two do just as well? Part two is directed also by Bill Condon. The screenplay came from Melissa Rosenberg and Stephenie Meyer herself. Seeing the last picture in the franchise is pretty exciting stuff, but you have also heard that there’s a special unscripted scene the actors got together and filmed as a gift and tribute to director Bill Condon. Now that will be a noteworthy sequence to watch!

Two of our newest vampires are Christian Camargo as Eleazar and Mía Maestro as Carmen. Maestro sang a track for the last film’s soundtrack.

Read The Official Synopsis for ‘Thor: The Dark World’

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Dust off your glasses and get ready to read all about it. Chris Hemsworth is returning to the big screen as America’s favorite thunder god in Thor: The Dark World and today we have the official synopsis for the action/adventure film.

Coming November 8, 2013, the movie will be directed by Alan Taylor.

Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s Thor and Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgard, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano and Jaimie Alexander with Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Thor: The Dark World is directed by Alan Taylor, produced by Kevin Feige, from a story by Don Payne (credit not final) and screenplay by Christopher Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (credit not final) and is based on Marvel’s classic Super Hero Thor, who first appeared in the comic book Journey into Mystery #83 in August, 1962.

Thor: The Dark World is presented by Marvel Studios. The executive producers are Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Victoria Alonso, Craig Kyle and Nigel Gostelow. The film releases November 8, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Jaimie Alexander, who plays Sif, was in the news not too long ago, having sustained an injury while filming. All reports indicate, thankfully, that the actress is okay. You’ll also notice a familiar name up in the synopsis. It belongs to Zachary Levi, a.k.a. Chuck Bartowski of TV’s Chuck. What an awesome casting decision! Levi is Fandral, a member of the Warriors Three. He was acted in the previous Thor Joshua Dallas in the role due to his commitment on Once Upon a Time. Actually, I hear the role was originally offered to Levi, but he was all tied up filming Chuck. So, I doubt there are any hard feelings between the actors. The last thing we need is another Terrance Howard versus Don Cheadle hubbub over the role of Rhodey in the Iron Man franchise.

It has been a very exciting time for fans of Marvel comics and film. First we saw our heroes in solo gigs for films like Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America, and then the splendid Joss Whedon directed them in one mighty blockbuster, The Avengers. Now, the story continues and more solo sequels debut and eventually an Avengers 2 will be delivered with a big bow on it.

Here’s what you can expect. Its more than just a second dose of Thor.

Iron Man 3 from director Shane Black
Thor: The Dark World from director Alan Taylor
Captain America: The Winter Soldier from directors Anthony and Joe Russo
Guardians of the Galaxy from director James Gunn
The Avengers 2 from director Joss Whedon
Ant-Man TBA

Am I the only true believe that’s ready to see a Dr. Strange movie!?

‘The Woman in Black: Angel of Death’ Finds Director

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Actor Daniel Radcliffe proved he was all grown up and ready to give us a scare in February of 2012. No, this was not when he went nude for Equus on the stage. Rather, that month saw the release of The Woman in Black, a horror film making headlines once again because a new sequel has been ordered.

The Woman in Black grossed about $127,730,736, worldwide. It was directed by James Watkins, with a screenplay by Jane Goldman. This was the same talented lady who did writing work for Stardust, X-Men: First Class and The Debt. The film was based upon the scary Susan Hill novel of the same name.

The story follows a young lawyer, acted by Radcliffe, who circumstances lead to stay in the home of some locals in the English countryside in the Edwardian era. That’s why you saw photos circulating the web of the Harry Potter actor in that great old-fashioned attire. Eel Marsh House; however, is haunted by, you guessed it, The Woman in Black.

The sequel, called The Woman in Black: Angel of Death, will be directed by BAFTA nominee, Tom Harper, of The Scouting Book for Boys and The Borrowers.

The sequel will be produced by Exclusive Media, Talisman, Cross Creek Pictures and Alliance Films, with Roy Lee as Executive Producer. Screenwriter Jon Croker, who also wrote Desert Dancer, has completed the screenplay, also based on an original story by author Susan Hill.

The story in The Woman in Black: Angel of Death kicks off four decades after the original. I think its safe to say Radcliffe won’t be rejoining the cast, in that case. Eel Marsh House is still standing, having been seized by the government during World War II. The was displaces a group of evacuated children who wind up staying at the house, only to encounter The Woman in Black.

Simon Oakes, Vice-Chairman of Exclusive Media and President & CEO of Hammer Films said: “We are assembling a terrific team to bring The Woman in Black: Angel of Death to the big screen and Tom is a great addition to that family. His unique visual approach and storytelling style perfectly compliments the smart, sophisticated horror movies that Hammer is championing.”

Xavier Marchand Alliance Films’ President of Worldwide Distribution and Managing Director of UK distributor Momentum Pictures, said “We know audiences in the UK and across the world love being terrified by ‘The Woman in Black’ so we’re excited to be partners in bringing them the next episode of Susan Hill’s haunting story, under Tom’s expert direction.”

Director Tom Harper said, “I am thrilled to be a part of The Woman in Black: Angel of Death. This will be a great opportunity for me to collaborate with a brilliantly talented team on the next installment in this exciting series.”

The original Woman in Black film is considered one of the highest grossing British horror film of the past 20 years. It had an atmospheric and noteworthy soundtrack by Marco Beltrami.

In Eric Eisenberg’s review of the original detailed that the picture used “shadows and low light to create a sense of disorientation and panic. The house in which Arthur is working is filled with terrifying toys and porcelain dolls that aren’t scary by themselves, but do a brilliant job adding a creepy ambiance to every scene. Unfortunately, the movie does make heavy use of jump scares, which will effectively raise the audiences’ blood pressure, but feel cheap and phony in the aftermath.

He also said, “As a whole it’s an effective and creepy ghost story. …It may not elicit screams from everyone that goes to see it, but it is guaranteed to send chills down the spine of even the bravest viewer.”

Shailene Woodley

Shailene Woodley Up for MJ Role in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’

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Shailene Woodley

Ready for more Shailene? I am. And it looks like Spider-Man may also be ready for his dose. Young actress, Shailene Woodley is making news this week because she’s up for one big comic book movie role. You didn’t think Mary Jane Watson could go without entering Peter Parker’s life forever, did you? Well, she’ll be introduced to the young hero in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Woodley has been offered the role.

Watch your back Gwen Stacy, MJ is returning to the big screen! Of course Mary Jane is well-known as the Lois Lane to the world’s most beloved wall-crawler. Then again, these days Superman is dating Wonder Woman. So, in the Spider-Man reboot, Spidey, acted by Andrew Garfield, found his love interest in Gwen Stacy, a blond also often featured in the comics. She’s acted by wonder kid, Emma Stone.

Believe it or not, audiences best know Emma Stone as a red-head, but she’s a natural blond. She dyed her tresses red to turn more heads in Hollywood and it worked. So, when she was first cast in The Amazing Spider-Man, folks assumed she was playing Mary Jane Watson, another famous redhead. Then, Stone went dramatically blond. No one would have guessed it was a return to the familiar for the young star.

I think Shailene will look super in red. I also think this was an amazing casting decision. If a young lady is going to give Emma Stone a run for her money on the big screen, I think Shailene has the chops to do it! I can already hear her calling Peter Parker “Tiger”. Insert growling sounds here.

I know Woodley best from her seemingly out-of-no-where awesome performance in The Descendants. Directed by Alexander Payne, The Descendants should have been just another family drama, but thanks largely to the script, the locale of Hawaii, and to headliners, George Clooney, and Shailene Woodley, it got Oscar attention, winding up with a nom for Best Film and win for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Woodley is very feisty in the film and quite natural. It was only a matter of time before she got another big deal. Welcome to the world of super heroes, Shailene!

What other surprises are in store for us in The Amazing Spider-Man 2? Pow! Zap! It was announced that the roles Harry Osborn and Electro are also up for grabs!

Of course in the Spider flicks which starred Mr. Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst played Mary Jane Watson and Harry Osborn was acted by James Franco.

Electro sounds like an electrifying choice for villain. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Spoiler alert. If you did see the first Amazing Spider-Man, which came out this past summer, you saw a mysterious figure, acted by Michael Massee, in the end credits. We can assume that was Electro, yes?

Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, real life sweethearts now, are returning for the sequel. there’s a May 2, 2014 release date and Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Jeff Pinkner and James Vanderbilt are all writing the script.

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams Circles ‘Suite Francaise’

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Michelle Williams

Suite Française, the novel by Irène Némirovsky (translated to English by Sandra Smith), is being adapted for the big screen. Will Michelle Williams star in it? That’s a possibility!

If the star of My Week with Marilyn signs on to the project, she play Lucille Angellier, an old-fashioned gal with gumption, living in Nazi-occupied France. What does she do? She goes and falls in love with a German officer. Woops! It won’t be easy choosing between love and country, either.

Lucille is married, too, but not in love with her husband, who leaves to join the fight, leaving her under the poor care of her overbearing mother-in-law. Lucille losses herself in the piano when things get tough. Of course, when the young German officer enters her life, staying in their home, revealing he’s a former composer, well, then the attraction becomes undeniable.

British director, Saul Dibb is making the proper preparations. Suite Française will be his next film. Four years ago he was sitting in the director chair for another period drama, The Duchess, for Paramount Vantage. That one starred Keira Knightley of course. Dibb also wrote it.

Williams is now a three-time Oscar nominee, and I’ll say that she earned every nomination. If she accepts the offer to star Suite Française, she’ll be agreeing to rejoin her My Week With Marilyn collaborators David Parfitt and Mark Cooper. Those two are producing Suite Française. Work should begin next spring in London.

Blue Valentine aside, (okay, and Brokeback Mountain aside, too) Williams does some of her best work in period films. She was simply haunting in Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island. did you notice her accent, too? And her work getting into the character of Marilyn Monroe has been unforgettable. My Week With Marilyn resulted in her first Golden Globe win. Soon we’ll see Williams as Glinda the Good Witch in Sam Raimi’s big show Oz: The Great and Powerful, coming from Disney on March 8.

Williams is the only young actress I’ve ever felt can compare in aptitude for acting to the immortal Ms. Meryl Streep. I haven’t had the chance yet to see her in Meek’s Cutoff, but the Western, which has circumstances not unlike the old Oregon Trail video game, sounds very intense. Her romantic comedy, Take this Waltz, was released in September. In it Williams shared the screen with Seth Rogen and Sarah Silverman.

Author Irène Némirovsky is a Jew who lived in Paris as a successful writer even before her novel debuted. Unfortunately, in 1942 she was arrested and deported to Auschwitz, where she died. According to Goodreads, Suite Française remained hidden for sixty-four years. I also hear that because of her untimely death, the novel was never fully completed. Reviewers note the haunting beauty of Némirovsky voice in her book and say the story was riveting and heart-breaking.

Saul Dibb’s Duchess took home the Oscar for costume design and earned a Golden Globe nom for Ralph Fiennes. Dibbs is also working on a thriller called Codenames Only.

RZA and Grant Morrison to Adapt ‘Happy’

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Wu-Tang Clan front man, RZA, is throwing down in Hollywood in a major way. You may have seen the trailer for his riotous up-coming, Tarantino-esque, Kung-Fu flick, The Man with the Iron Fists already, but more trailers are in his future as he signs on to help adapt Happy!

Comic book giant, Mr. Grant Morrison is behind the comic book, called Happy! The story’s main character is Nick Sax, a shady former police officer who has become a hit man. I like him already. Sax is on a hit and it goes south, leaving him pretty badly hurt. These circumstances suddenly open Sax’s eyes to see Happy. Wait until you hear who and what Happy is.

He’s a horse. He’s a small, blue horse, with donkey ears, buck teeth, small feathery wings, and oh yes, a unicorn’s horn. And this hardened criminal is seeing visions of Happy. Happy is a real go getter, a positive, type-A personality, and his motto is to never give up. This is one crazy, exciting, hilarious premise. I can already see Mark Wahlberg cast as Nick Sax. Better yet, how about Donny Wahlberg?

As you would expect from the adult material within an Image comic book, the comic includes graphic sexuality, language and violence. This all makes the little blue sprite all the more hilarious. Did I mention that Happy is always, well, happy? In juxtaposing the cartoon carelessness of Happy and Sax’s gritty, ugly world, the character may just find redemption for all his darker deeds. I guess Happy is the angel on his shoulder.

The comic book first appeared only last month from Image Comics with art by Darick Robertson. THR called it a cross between It’s a Wonderful Life, Sin City and Care Bears. That’s priceless. And now it is soon to be a movie.

RZA is making his directorial debut with The Man with the Iron Fists and really hopes to direct Happy! on the big screen, too. He’ll also produce the project, alongside Reginald Hudlin, the same producer working with Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained. In fact, RZA and Tarantino will be mentioned in the same breathe fairly often, I should think, but more on that in a moment. Grant Morrison will write the script himself, to ensure extra goodness. No studio has signed on yet.

The trailer for The Man with the Iron Fists is a real showstopper. In the tradition of Kill Bill, Kung Fu Hustle, and other cool, darkly comedic, violent films, Iron Fists was written by RZA and Eli Roth. Quentin Tarantino agreed to place his name on the film with a “presented by” credit. It does look a lot like his style. In it, Russell Crowe, Cung Le, Lucy Liu, Byron Mann, RZA, and Jamie Chung play a colorful assortment of warriors and assassins in 19th century China. There’s going to be a killer soundtrack and some wicked martial arts. It comes out November 2nd, and if it does well at the box office, excitement should grow for the Happy! adaptation in turn.

Screen Gems to Adapt ‘Black City’

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Black City is a young-adult fantasy series written by Elizabeth Richards. Get this. It isn’t even available for purchase yet, but it is soon to be a major motion picture, thanks to the kind folks over at the Screen Gems studio.

The first book in the series will be released to book sellers on November 13th. It’s coming from a publisher called Putnam Juvenile, which is an imprint of the Penguin Young Readers Group.

Screen Gems raced to buy the film rights to the series because already the franchise has a huge following online. Apparently, those who love young adult fiction are sniffing the air and predicting Black City will be a major hit. All Screen Gems needs now is a screenwriter adept at adapting books to film.

Black City, the first book in the what’s just being called The Black City series, is set in a metropolis where humans and the race of Darklings are separated by a really high wall. There’s a cold war of sorts going on in the aftermath of a terrible war. Tension is at an all time high, and sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and fall in love.

This sounds like your average star-crossed lovers tale, but here’s a cute twist. For some mysterious reason, Natalie literally causes Ash’s heart to beat. I’m guessing Darklings are a little bit like zombies, because Ash’s heart hasn’t beat in a very long time. Of course the young lovers face death if they are found out.

No, scratch that. I think Darklings are vampiric. My online research suggests they drink blood, have wings, and purple eyes. Watch your back Liz Taylor. You, too, Vampire Hunter D. I kid but, reviewers are already calling the book bloody and sexy, so this film will have a dark slant, I’m sure.

Oh yes, and while they’re at it, the paranormal pair uncovers a conspiracy at work within the city. Dun dun dun. Do you think you’ll be hooked?

Black City will be Elizabeth Richards’ debut novel. She’s an award-winning journalist who largely reviewed video games before becoming a travel writer and editor. She also has has experience as a website editor. Now it looks like she could be the next Stephenie Meyer. We’ll have to wait and see.

More and more we are seeing studios scooping up film rights to a hot book, even before it has been officially published. That speaks volumes about the popularity of fiction these days, especially young adult fiction. Twilight and The Hunger Games have been money-makers thus far. Still, there’s a gamble involved when you haven’t first seen the book make it to the best seller’s list.

The phenomenon isn’t secluded to the YA audience, however. The Care And Feeding Of Exotic Pets by Diana Wagman, as we reported not long ago, debuts November 13th, but a film is already in the works. That one is an adult thriller.

If you’re a fan of YA, especially YA of the paranormal variety, you are surely aware that The Host and City of Bones are two novels with film adaptations already under way.