HBO’s “Rome” is Heading to the Big Screen: A big-screen sequel to HBO’s “Rome” is rumored to be heading to the big screen. “Rome” creator/executive Bruno Heller penned the script and show stars Kevin McKidd (Lucius Vorenus) and Ray Stevenson (Titus Pullo) will likely sign onto the movie, which picks up in Germany four years after the series ended. “Rome” aired from 2005-07 and took place during Ancient Rome, beginning with Caesar’s invasion of Gaul and continuing with the rise of the first Emperor Augustus. The series centered on soldiers Pullo and Vorenus, who appeared to die at the end of the series. [EW]
Nichols to Play Conan Love Interest: Rachel Nichols (G.I. Joe) will play Tamara in Marcus Nispel’s Conan. Mickey Rourke has also dropped out of the film as a result of accepting a role in Tarsem Singh’s War of the Gods. [Latino Review]
Gosling Boards Carell Comedy: Ryan Gosling will star opposite Steve Carell in an untitle comedy at Warner Bros. as a suave best friend of Carell’s character, whose life unravels as he tries to manage his relationship with his children. John Requa and Glenn Ficarra are directing with a script by Dan Fogelman (Bolt). [Variety]
Three More Start Smurfin’: George Lopez, Katy Perry and Alan Cumming have all signed on for voice roles in The Smurfs joining Neil Patrick Harris as the confirmed live-action lead and Jonathan Winters who was previously announced as taking on the voice of Papa Smurf. Perry is in talks to portray Smurfette, Alan Cumming is taking on Gutsy Smurf and George Lopez is onboard as Grouchy Smurf. [Variety]
Midnight Run 2 May Put De Niro Back on the Road: Universal has hired Role Models scripter Tim Dowling to write a sequel to the 1988 crime comedy Midnight Run, which featured Robert De Niro as Jack Walsh, a bounty hunter sent to find and return bail jumper and former Mafia accountant, Jonathan “The Duke” Mardukas played by Charles Grodin. The film was directed by Martin Brest and is considered a classic by many. There is no word on plot for the sequel, but De Niro is said to be set to reprise his role. [Deadline]
Oliver Stone Set for Savages: Oliver Stone has signed on to direct and produce Savages, an adaptation of the Don Winslow novel set for publication this July centering on two pals from Laguna Beach who share the same girlfriend and a thriving business growing and distributing the best-quality pot on the planet. When they resist being muscled by a Mexican drug cartel, the girl is kidnapped and the ransom is every cent they’ve made for the last five years. They agree to pay but hatch an alternate plan to get her back, get revenge, and then get lost. Winslow and Stone are collaborating on the script and Stone hopes to make it his next film after this April’s release Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. [Deadline]
Ronny Yu Casts His Lady Generals: Ronny Yu (Jet Li’s Fearless) has cast Gong Li, Zhang Ziyi, Zhou Xun, Tang Wei and Michelle Yeoh in his upcoming film The Lady Generals of the Yang Family. The film tells of how the women from the Yang family of Song dynasty stepped onto the battlefield to avenge the deaths of their warriors husbands, who died while fighting the invading Xia army after being sold out by a traitorous Song official. The story will reportedly depart significantly from the series of novels it is based on and does not focus too much on the themes of loyalty. Instead, it will focus on the heroism of the titular Lady Generals. [Channel News Asia via Twitch]
Pet Sematary Remake to be Written by 1408 Scribe: Matthew Greenberg is set to adapt another one of Stephen King’s novels for the big screen following up 1408 with a remake of “Pet Sematary”, the 1983 King novel centered on a family that trades the city life for the country life in Maine, then discovers that they have moved near a pet cemetery that rests on an ancient burial ground. When the husband’s toddler son is killed in an auto accident, the father takes the boy’s body to the cemetery, where it is resurrected in demonic form. The original film was released in 1989 and even saw a sequel in 1992 starring Edward Furlong and Anthony Edwards. [THR]
Adamson Wades in Fountain City: Andrew Adamson (Shrek) is set to direct the fantasy-adventure Fountain City with a script by Joby Harold (Awake). No plot details have been revealed but word is the budget is looking to be in the $100 million range. [Variety]
Amanda Bynes Drops Out of Hall Pass: Amanda Bynes tweeted the following messages as she has had to drop out of the Farrelly brothers-directed comedy Hall Pass due to scheduling conflicts: “FYI I am NOT in Atlanta doing a cameo in Hall Pass like people think!! I was, but I left because of scheduling conflicts!!! It’s a huge cast and i was going to do a little part but it didn’t work out timing wise!! I have NO idea why people think I’m there filming!” Well Amanda, people think you are there because of this. [Amanda Bynes via Slash Film]
Jessica Lucas Joins Big Momma’s House 3: Jessica Lucas (“Melrose Place,” Cloverfield) has joined the cast of Big Momma’s House 3 alongside Martin Lawrence and Brandon T. Jackson. John Whitesell is directing the film in which FBI agent Malcolm Turner (Lawrence) and his 17-year-old nephew, Trent (Jackson), go undercover at an all-girls performing arts school after Trent witnesses a murder. Posing as Big Momma and Charmaine, they must find the murderer before he finds them. [Variety]
New Line Sets Up Police Academy Remake: New Line is looking to restart the Police Academy with a remake of the ’80s comedy franchise that saw seven films made after the first installment in 1984. Right now it sounds like it is hardly a story with the prospect out to screenwriters and directors with no one yet attached. [THR]
Morgan Eyes Two New Comedies: Tracy Morgan (Cop Out) is set to star in a pair of comedies. The first is ID Theft for Warner Bros., which casts him as a cash-strapped father who sees a shortcut out of his struggles when the credit card of a suburban dad lands in his lap. Colin Jost and Rob Klein are writing the script with notes from Morgan from an original pitch by Kristofor Brown.
The second film is Freshman Roommates for Paramount with Blades of Glory screenwriters John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky in negotiations to write a second draft of the script after original screenwriters John Mulaney and Nick Kroll found their schedules full. The film co-stars TJ Miller (Cloverfield) and explores the proliferation of email scams purporting to be sent by a Nigerian prince looking for help in accessing his fortune. The film asks the question what if one of the emails isn’t a scam. The story kicks off when a young man answers one such email during a drunken stupor. Soon thereafter, the spoiled son of a deposed African dictator (Morgan) shows up at his door, looking to secure his inheritance. [Deadline / Variety]
