Marvin Gaye Biopic Goes Gray: Italian Job remake helmer F. Gary Gray is set to direct Marvin, a biopic of Marvin Gaye, the iconic singer who was shot to death by his father in 1984. C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond) is aboard to write the script. Gray said his movie will cover Gaye’s entire life, from his emergence at Motown through his defiance of Berry Gordy to record “What’s Goin’ On” and on up to his death. [Variety]
Ben Kingsley’s Persia Role Is…: Ben Kingsley’s involvement in Prince of Persia was known, but his role was not. Today Variety tells us Kingsley portrays Nizam, who plots to kill his brother King Shahrman and blame it on Prince Dastan so he can take the throne. Filming begins in July in Morocco and England with Mike Newell at the helm. [Variety]
MGM Acquires Ludlum’s “Matarese”: MGM exec, Mary Parent, has picked up the rights to “The Matarese Circle”, which MGM will adapt from Robert Ludlum’s novel. This is in conjunction with the rumors that MGM are prepping to remake Fame, Robocop and Death Wish. [FT]
Avril Lavigne Goes Dark: Singer, Avril Lavigne, was quoted saying, “I’ve got a film role coming up – something you wouldn’t expect from me, something deep and dark.” [London Paper]
Jimmy Joins “Dexter”: Jimmy Smits will star in ten of the 12 episodes greenlit for “Dexter’s” third season. He will play the ambitious assistant district attorney who comes from a high-profile and powerful Miami family. [Variety]
Nalluri is a Tourist: Bharat Nalluri will replace Lasse Hallstrom to direct The Tourist, a thriller centering on an American tourist who finds his life in danger when a female Interpol agent uses him as a dupe to flush out an elusive criminal with whom she once had an affair. Julian Fellowes penned the script. [Variety]
Brittany Murphy Employed Again: Brittany Murphy, Thora Birch, Marc Blucas and Tammy Blanchard are starring in the psychological thriller Deadline. Murphy plays a scribe who travels to an abandoned house to write a screenplay. A bout of writer’s block and other unforeseen events lead her to a psychological breakdown. Sean McConville is making his directorial debut with the independently financed feature, which began principal photography Wednesday in Louisiana. [THR]
Kruger Runs for Her Life: After only getting recognition in the National Treasure films German actress Diane Kruger has landed the female lead opposite Dermot Mulroney in Baltasar Kormakur’s thriller Run for Her Life. Kruger and Mulroney play parents who attempt to get a lung transplant for their dying daughter in Mexico. But after agreeing to the operation, they face an ethical dilemma after discovering that the organs aren’t taken from willing donors. [THR]
Unknown Directing Army of the Dead: Warner Bros. has signed commercial director and visual artist Matthijs van Heijningen to make his feature directing debut on Army of the Dead, an action thriller that takes place in zombie-infested Las Vegas. The film focuses on a father who tries to save his daughter from certain death in a zombie-ridden Sin City. [Variety]
