Normally studios only want to remake movies people have already heard of, but if you’re going to mine the past, it makes sense to also look at films that are good, but which have largely been forgotted. That seems to be New Line’s plan, as they’re developing a remake of director Herbert Ross’s 1973 murder mystery, The Last of Sheila.

The original followed a rich Hollywood producer who invites a group of friends to his yacht for a mysterious scavenger hunt. The party takes place one year after his wife’s death, who died at a previous party due to a hit and run accident. The vacation turns from a joyful experience to a deadly game of cat and mouse, with many secrets revealed as the night unfolds. It starred James Coburn, Raquel Welch, James Mason, Ian McShane and Dyan Cannon.

The studio is currently searching for a writer. (Source: THR)

If a movie already has Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts attached, you wouldn’t think it would need any more star power, but it’s getting some behind-the-scenes, as George Clooney has just signed on to produce August: Osage County.

Based on the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play by Tracy Letts, August: Osage County tells the story of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose lives have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Midwest house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. Streep has been cast as pill-popping matriarch Violet Weston, and Roberts will play her complicated adult daughter Barbara. John Wells will direct from Letts’ screen adaptation.

Clooney commented, “Grant and I are thrilled to work on this project. It’s already a great cast and great material and I can’t think of anyone better than Harvey [Weinstein] to put this all together. And we’re particularly excited to work with our dear friend John Wells [who gave Clooney his big break on ER]. It’s such a terrific group and we feel honored to help bring it to the screen.”

The filmmakers are still casting, with shooting set to begin this autumn. (Source: Variety)

Leonardo DiCaprio is getting a couple of wives, on-screen at least, as Broadway actress Cristin Milioti is in talks to play his first wife in The Wolf of Wall Street, while Pan Am star Margot Robbie is negotiating for the female lead, the second spouse.

The story, based on Jordan Belfort’s memoirs, chronicles his life as a phony stockbroker, who swindled millions out of investors before being caught. The adaptation also deals with his rocky personal life and addictions to drugs and alcohol. Jonah Hill and Kyle Chandler also star.

Robbie will play Nadine, the current wife of DiCaprio’s Jordan Belfort, while the lesser known Milioti will be the first wife, a hairdresser who was devoted to her husband, until he started to have affairs.

Terence Winter (Boardwalk Empire) wrote the screenplay for Martin Scorsese to direct. Production is scheduled to begin this August in New York City. (Source: Variety)

James Corden has popped up in the likes of The History Boys, Starter For 10, Lesbian Vampire Killers and The Three Musketeers, but he hasn’t made a huge impact on film as yet. However following his Tony win last week, Corden’s US profile is on the rise, and he’s now booked two movie roles, according to Deadline.

Corden is up for the new film from Once director John Carney, Can A Song Save Your Life, which already has Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfeld and Adam Levine onbaord. Corden will play the best friend of Knightley’s character, who plays a singer who moves with her boyfriend to New York to pursue music careers, but she gets dumped as soon as he makes it.

He’s also set to star as Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts in the long-gestating, One Chance. Potts is the British cell phone salesman who showed up onstage to sing opera on BGT in 2007. Although he didn’t really look the part, he left the audience with their jaws on the floor. David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada) is directing that film.

Disney has announced that start of shooting on Maleficent, the studio’s new live-action film about one of their most famous villains, the evil fairy from Sleeping Beauty, who causes Princess Aurora to prick her finger and fall asleep. They’ve also released the first image, which you can see above (and click on it for a larger version where you can get a better look at Jolie’s creepy eyes and horned headdress).

Here’s the press release: ‘Burbank, CA (June 19, 2012) – The Walt Disney Studios announced today that production began Wednesday, June 13th, on “Maleficent,” starring Academy Award®–winning actress Angelina Jolie.

‘Directed by two-time Oscar®-winning production designer Robert Stromberg (“Avatar,” “Alice in Wonderland”), in his directorial debut, and produced by Joe Roth, “Maleficent” is written by Linda Woolverton (“The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast”) and executive produced by Angelina Jolie, Don Hahn, Matt Smith and Palak Patel.

‘Co-starring in the film are Sharlto Copley (“District 9”), Elle Fanning (“Super 8”), Sam Riley (“On the Road”), Imelda Staunton (“Vera Drake”), Miranda Richardson (“The Hours”), Juno Temple (“Atonement”) and Lesley Manville (“Secrets & Lies”).

‘This is the untold story of Disney’s most beloved villain, Maleficent, from the 1959 classic “Sleeping Beauty.” The film reveals the events that hardened her heart and drove her to curse the baby, Aurora.

‘Behind-the-scenes talent includes Academy Award®–winning cinematographer Dean Semler (“Dances with Wolves,” “In the Land of Blood and Honey”), production designer Gary Freeman (“Saving Private Ryan,” “The Bourne Supremacy”), two-time Oscar® nominated costume designer Anna B. Sheppard (“Schindler’s List,” “The Pianist”) and seven-time Academy Award–winning makeup artist Rick Baker (“Planet of the Apes,” “Men in Black”).

‘”Maleficent” is scheduled for a March 14, 2014 US release in 3D.’