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'Juno' writer Cody to produce 'Breathers'



Juno writer Diablo Cody has signed up for Breathers: A Zombie's Lament, according to Variety.

The project will be the third time Cody has worked with Fox Searchlight, following Juno and upcoming Megan Fox vehicle Jennifer's Body.

Cody will produce Breathers, which is based on a soon-to-be-published book by S.G. Browne.

Budding screenwriter Geoff LaTulippe is penning the script, which follows the story of a deceased man who has trouble adjusting to his new zombie status. However, he quickly makes friends when he joins the group Undead Anonymous.

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Verbinski tapped for Universal's 'Clue'



Gore Verbinski has been tapped to helm Universal's live-action adaptation of the popular board game Clue, reports Variety.

The Pirates Of The Caribbean director will also produce under his Universal-based Blink Wink banner alongside Hasbro's Brian Goldner and Bennett Schneir.

Discussing the movie, Blink Wink's senior vice president Jonathan Krauss described it as a "global thriller and transmedia event that uses deductive reasoning as its storytelling engine".

A film version of Clue, known as Cluedo in the UK, was released in 1985 and starred Tim Curry.

The latest movie is the result of a deal inked between Universal and Hasbro last year, with the studio aspiring to develop at least four projects based on brands including Monopoly, Magic and Stretch Armstrong.

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Gondry to direct 'The Green Hornet'



Michel Gondry has been announced as the new director of Seth Rogen's project The Green Hornet.

The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind auteur will replace original director Stephen Chow, who decided against helming the film due to time constraints.

Rogen told MTV News: "It's f***ing crazy! "Me and [co-writer] Evan [Goldberg] have always been gigantic fans of [Gondry].

"We just like anyone who thinks outside the box, and there's really nobody who thinks more outside the box then he does. He's really a magician in a lot of ways.

"The Green Hornet will be a great combination of both of our movies, of both of our styles."

He added that it would combine his and Goldberg's conversational tone and attempts at action sequences with Gondry's "wild, visual imagination" and "funny awkward sensibility".

Rogen recently denied claims that the film had been axed by Sony when Chow left the production, while Adam Sandler has been tipped for a cameo role in the movie.

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Vinnie Jones 'signs up for two films'



Vinnie Jones has signed up to play criminals in two new films, it has emerged.

Jones will join Dave Annable and Katharine McPhee to play a Croatian mobster in Rob Hedden's Wedlocked, Hollywood Reporter says.

He will also play an assassin in the direct-to-DVD prequel from Universal, Smokin' Aces: Blowback.

The film will be directed by P.J. Pesce, and also stars Tom Berenger, Clayne Crawford, Tommy Flanagan and Maury Sterling.

Last year, reports emerged that Jones had become involved in a brawl in a South Dakota bar over a comment made about his role in X-Men: The Last Stand.

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Ferrell, Wahlberg suit up for 'B Team'



Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg will reportedly join forces for the upcoming action comedy B Team.

According to Variety, the pair have been tipped to star as mismatched cops in the Adam McKay-helmed project.

Chris Henchy has been slated to write the script but no details of the storyline have been released yet.

McKay is currently directing Ferrell in the Broadway show You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush, while Henchy recently penned the upcoming Ferrell film Land Of The Lost and is the co-executive producer of HBO's Entourage alongside Wahlberg.

Studios have reportedly begun bidding on the project, and it is expected to have found a buyer by the end of the week.

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Damon to discover 'The Adjustment Bureau'



Matt Damon has been tipped to star in forthcoming science fiction tale The Adjustment Bureau, reports Variety.

Based on a 1954 short story by Philip K. Dick, the plot revolves around a man who discovers that he is living in a manufactured reality which is being controlled by mysterious guardians.

The Bourne Ultimatum scribe George Nolfi has been slated to pen the script and will make his directorial debut on the project, which is scheduled to begin production this summer.

The package has been pitched to studios by Media Rights Capital and is expected to have found a buyer by the end of the week.

Other Dick works to have been adapted for the big screen include Minority Report, Blade Runner, Total Recall and Paycheck.

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'Spider-Man' musical handed release date



The highly-anticipated Broadway musical based on the Spider-Man comics has been handed a release date.

Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark will debut at New York's Hilton Theatre on February 18, 2010, with preview performances beginning on January 16.

The $40 million production, which is thought to be the most expensive in Broadway history, will feature songs and lyrics by U2's Bono and The Edge.

"Spider-Man's battles will hurtle the audience through an original story both recognisable and unexpected - yielding new characters as well as familiar faces - until a final surprising confrontation casts a startling new light on this hero's journey," said the producers in a statement.

Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor, who was responsible for the successful theatre run of The Lion King, will helm the show.

The Wrestler star Evan Rachel Wood has confirmed that she will play Spider-Man's love interest Mary-Jane Watson but no other casting decisions have been announced yet.

Workshops are scheduled to begin in the summer with full rehearsals slated to start in the autumn.

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'Slumdog' child stars given free houses



Two of the child stars from the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire are to be rehoused from the Mumbai slums.

Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismali, who played younger versions of two main characters, are to be moved to more secure, free homes as a reward for bringing "laurels to the country".

"Since the children have made the nation proud, they must be given free houses," local housing association chairman Amarjeet Singh Manhas told The Times Of India.

The youngsters currently live in shacks in the Garib Nagar slum, where they were plucked from obscurity to star in Danny Boyle's film.

Movie bosses have repeatedly denied accusations that the production's child actors were exploited, insisting that trust funds were set up in their names, education provided and adequate salaries paid.

Both children's families have expressed their delight at the move, with Ali's father saying: "Our house was demolished a couple of times by the authorities, the last time being three months ago. We are happy that we will have a permanent roof over our head."

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Del Toro hopes to remake 'Monte Cristo'



Guillermo del Toro has revealed that his dream project is a "Gothic-Western" remake of The Count Of Monte Cristo.

Speaking to MTV News, the Hellboy director said that he hopes to one day helm a reinvention of Alexandre Dumas's classic novel.

"It's a Gothic-Western retelling of The Count Of Monte Cristo, and I co-wrote it with Kitt Carson and Matthew Robbins around 1993 to 1998," he said of the script, thought to be titled The Left Hand of Darkness.

"I wrote a lot of that during the kidnapping of my father, so [there's] a lot of rage," he added, referring to the 72 days his dad was held in Mexico. "I adore that screenplay."

The Count Of Monte Cristo centres on Edmund Dantes, a man who escapes prison after 13 years to exact revenge on a friend who betrayed him. The last big screen adaptation of the story was released in 2002 with James Caviezel and Guy Pearce in the lead roles.

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Morgan brings Reynolds swagger to 'Watchmen'



Jeffrey Dean Morgan has revealed that he attempted to bring some "Burt Reynolds swagger" to his role in Watchmen.

Speaking to Digital Spy at the movie's world premiere, the actor said that he took inspiration from Watchmen illustrator Dave Gibbons's template for his character The Comedian.

"Hopefully [I'll bring] some swagger," Morgan said. "Maybe a little Cannonball Run, some Sharkey's Machine, who knows? Maybe a little bit."

Discussing his role as a government-sanctioned vigilante, Morgan said: "He's the dark side of the superhero film we're doing here. [He's an] alcoholic, nihilist, doesn't treat women very well. All the good stuff that superheroes probably should do!"

Watchmen is released in cinemas on March 6.

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Cera 'agrees to Arrested return'



Michael Cera has allegedly agreed to reprise his role as George-Michael Bluth in the Arrested Development movie.

Citing sources close to the production, E! Online claimed that the actor will appear in the big screen spinoff, ending speculation that he is the lone cast member holding out on the comedy.

The main cast of the short-lived Fox sitcom - Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Tony Hale, Jessica Walter, Jeffrey Tambor and David Cross - have all reportedly agreed to star in the movie, to be written and directed by series creator Mitch Hurwitz.

Arrested Development, which centred on level-headed businessman Michael Bluth (Bateman) as he attempted to control his dysfunctional family, aired on Fox from 2003 until 2006.

Speaking about the movie at Sunday's Oscars, executive producer Ron Howard revealed that the project is "going ahead" as planned.

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Disney's 'Bolt' tops UK box office



Animated comedy Bolt has held on to its lead at the top of the UK box office.

The 3-D Disney adventure, about a dog who believes he has superpowers, pips new entry Confessions Of A Shopaholic to the number one spot. Slumdog Millionaire, Hotel For Dogs and The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button round out the top five.

New release Push debuts at number seven, while Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino narrowly misses out on a place in the top ten, landing at 11 with a limited theatrical release.

The UK box office in full:

1. (1) Bolt - £3,006,050
2. (-) Confessions Of A Shopaholic - £2,846,622
3. (2) Slumdog Millionaire - £1,561,139
4. (5) Hotel For Dogs - £1,180,278
5. (4) The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button - £1,010,219
6. (3) He's Just Not That Into You - £974,319
7. (-) Push - £625,300
8. (8) Pink Panther 2 - £595,956
9. (7) Notorious - £482,498
10. (9) Vicky Cristina Barcelona - £333,456

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Streep 'stuffed bra to get acting jobs'



Meryl Streep has reportedly confessed that she used to stuff her bra in order to land acting roles.

According to WENN, the Oscar-winning actress admitted that she employed the technique to boost her sex appeal in castings.

"I have cheated to get a part. The first time I was on Broadway years ago. Before the audition I filled by 32DD bra cups with paper towels," she is quoted as saying.

"I got the part! I did it again to Sydney Pollack for Out Of Africa. I'd heard he didn't think I was sexy enough so I filled them up again."

Streep eventually earned an Oscar nomination for her role as author Karen Blixen in the 1985 movie.

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Akerman: 'I loved Watchmen boys' club'



Malin Akerman has confessed that she loved being part of Watchmen's boys' club.

The actress told DS at the movie's world premiere that she had fun as one of the few women in the superhero cast.

"Absolutely, which I loved because a lot of times you're not an equal with the boys," she commented. "You're maybe the girlfriend or the wife, but this was so much fun because growing up I'd always been one of the guys.

"I felt right at home and I really, really enjoyed it. It's such a fantastic role and a fantastic film."

The Heartbreak Kid and 27 Dresses star plays Silk Spectre in Watchmen, a second-generation costumed vigilante who is romantically involved with superhero Doctor Manhattan (Billy Crudup).

Watchmen opens in cinemas on March 6.

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'Slumdog Millionaire' heading for stage



The producers of Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire are reportedly planning to adapt it into a musical.

According to India's Hindustan Times, movie bosses are hoping that a stage production will help raise money for children living in the slums of Mumbai.

"The profile of the film will remain high - we can’t assume attention on these children will drift away," producer Christian Colson is quoted as telling The Times.

He reportedly said that a fund set up for the children has already amassed over £500,000 and will continue to grow if the planned musical goes ahead.

Earlier, it was revealed that the Indian authorities had gifted two of the film's child stars with free houses for "making the nation proud".

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'Into You' secures Aus box office top spot



Jennifer Aniston's He's Just Not That Into You is the number one film at the Australian box office.

The ensemble comedy, which also stars Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johansson and Drew Barrymore, took in $2.5 million to spend its second week at the top of the chart.

New release The International debuts in second place, while Zack And Miri Make A Porno and The Reader climb into the top ten, placing at number six and seven respectively.

The top ten in full (totals in Australian dollars):

1. (1) He's Just Not That Into You - $2,530,000
2. (-) The International - $1,116,125
3. (2) Gran Torino - $1,081,827
4. (4) Slumdog Millionaire - $933,782
5. (3) Ghost Town - $774,420
6. (26) Zack And Miri Make A Porno - $755,910
7. (20) The Reader - $552,417
8. (7) Changeling - $408,099
9. (5) Transporter 3 - $381,674
10. (6) My Bloody Valentine 3D - $317,174

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50 Cent plans 'Saints Row' movie



Rap star 50 Cent has revealed plans to develop a movie based on THQ's open-world action series Saints Row, reports Gamespot.

The rapper, real name Curtis Jackson, indicated during a telephone press conference with reporters that he is "optioning the rights" for the project.

"With my relationship with THQ, you'll actually see me develop Saints Row into a screenplay and into a film project," he said.

During the conversation, he also revealed that upcoming game 50 Cent: Blood On The Sand will incorporate similar game-play mechanics to Army Of Two and the Gears Of War series.

The release follows the million-selling 50 Cent: Bulletproof, which he accepted was "difficult to control".

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Razzies boss: 'Film industry is scared'



The creator of the Golden Raspberry Awards has claimed that the movie industry is "terrified" of the alternative gongs.

John Wilson told The Guardian that the Razzies try to focus on well-known films with stars and a big budget because they have "no excuse" to be as bad as some are.

He said: "We are promoting something the industry does not appreciate. They try to ignore us like a fart in a church.

"We poke fun; we're the banana peel on the floor, not the slap in the face. We're not saying 'F*** you'; we're asking 'Why?'

"Oscar night is all about air-kissing and back-slapping, so it terrifies the industry that there are people like us out there."

He added that Halle Berry gave the "perfect example" of how to deal with winning a Razzie when she attended the ceremony and gave a parody speech.

"Admit it, embrace it, enjoy it and move on. Don't get irritable, ignore it or dismiss it as irrelevant," he said.

This year's awards, held the day before the Oscars, were dominated by Mike Myers comedy The Love Guru and Paris Hilton.

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Haley feared losing 'Watchmen' to A-lister



Jackie Earle Haley has revealed that he almost missed out on a role in Watchmen when producers were looking to cast A-list actors in the movie.

Speaking to Digital Spy at the movie's world premiere, the actor said that he made his own Rorschach audition tape to convince director Zack Snyder to hire him.

He explained: "I heard they were going to put movie stars in it and I was like, 'No!'. I called my agent and kept bugging him and he was like, 'Dude, let it go, it's not going to happen'. Then I got a call and he said, 'Looks like they're doing something different, so let's not wait'.

"I did an audition tape and sent it in. I literally made a Rorschach Halloween costume and a bunch of my friends came over and we took half a day to shoot it, half a day to edit it, and we sent it to Zack."

Actors such as Tom Cruise, Jude Law and Simon Pegg had been linked with roles in Watchmen during its earlier incarnations under filmmakers Darren Aronofsky and Paul Greengrass.

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Warner to continue 'NeverEnding Story'



Warner Bros will remake its 1984 fantasy film The NeverEnding Story, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on a German-language novel by Michael Ende, the 1984 original focuses on a young boy called Bastian who escapes into the parallel world of Fantasia when he reads a book titled The NeverEnding Story.

The Wolfgang Petersen-helmed fantasy pulled in $20 million at the US box office and spawned a 1990 sequel and a direct-to-video third instalment in 1996.

The Kennedy/Marshall Company and Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way firm will produce the remake, which will reportedly examine the book in greater detail than the original.

Warner is hoping to capitalise on the popularity of the children's fantasy genre with the new NeverEnding Story. Its Harry Potter series has earned more than $4.5 billion from its five films.

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