So we can cover as many films as possible, we thought we’d give you these quick updates on some of today’s smaller film announcements…
Michael Jackson’s This Is It has got off to a great start in the US, making $4.4 million in its first 24 hours, the most any film has taken on a Wednesday in October. The movie grossed $2.2 million just at midnight screenings. There’s even talk of the film having an Oscar-run, with Sony trying to get it nominated in the Best Picture category (oddly, because it’s released this late in the year, it wouldn’t be eligible for the Best Documentary Prize until the 2011 ceremony). (Source: THR)
Dreamworks has picked up the rights to the spec script, Someone In The Dark, by Richard Blaney and Gregory Small, with Carlos Brooks (Quid Pro Quo) attached to direct. There’s no news on what the film will be about, although it’s being described as a teen thriller. (Source: Variety)
Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who became famous in the States through a series of reality dance competitions and who was a runner-up on So you Think You Can Dance?, has joined the cast of Stomp The Yard 2. Boss is set to star as the film’s antagonist, Taz. He’s previously appeared as dancer in Hairspray and will also be in next year’s Step-Up 3-D. Stomp The Yard 2 starts filming next week. (Source: THR)
Unconfirmed reports are circulating that director Peter Berg (Hancock) has left the planned remake of Frank Herbert’s Dune. This is a bit of a suprise as Berg was discussing his plans for the film only a couple of months ago. The rumours suggest that the producers are already looking at the likes of Neil Marshall and Neill Blomkamp as possible replacement directors. As there’s no official word on this, put this one in the rumour drawer for now. (Source: Pajiba)
Jonathan Demme is working on an adaptation of Dave Eggers non-fiction novel, Zeitoun, which is an account of a New Orleans family experiencing Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, told through the eyes of Abdulrahman Zeitoun, who used his canoe to get around the city and help people. At the moment Demme feels the best way to make the film may be to do it using hand-drawn animation. (Source: /Film)