Bruce Willis Drops Out Of Woody Allen’s Movie: Broadway ‘Misery’ Schedule To Blame
Scratch the Die Hard star from the ensemble of Allen’s new film. Woody’s camp confirmed this development and that Willis’ plan to work with Allen was hobbled by his other plan to take the Broadway stage in the adaptation of the Stephen King bestseller and movie classic. Allen will recast in time to keep the production on schedule. (DH)
Bankrupt Relativity Media Wants Money to Keep Key Staffers Tucker Tooley and Tom Forman
The embattled company has proposed giving cash incentives to key executives in order to keep them on board as it winds its way through bankruptcy proceedings. The company is looking for approval to pay $314,868 to president Tooley, CFO and co-COO Andrew Matthews, managing director Carol Genis, Relativity Television CEO Forman and co-COO Greg Shamo, according to filings. Ryan Kavanaugh is not listed among the executives looking for compensation incentives. (VAR)
Katherine Heigl Knows the Rule: If At First You Don’t Succeed On TV, Try Try Again
The actress has landed the starring role in CBS’ revamping of its drama pilot Doubt, which was shot for this year’s pilot season, but CBS decided to re-cast and re-shoot the project rather than pick the title up to series. Heigl takes over the lead role originally played by KaDee Strickland. Some original co-stars who are still on board include Laverne Cox, Dule Hill, Dreama Walker and Elliott Gould. (EW)
Plan B Teams With A24 To Finance and Produce the Adaptation Of ‘Moonlight’
Based on the play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,” by Tarell McCraney, follows two Miami boys as they navigate the temptations of the drug trade and their burgeoning sexuality. Barry Jenkins has written the script and will direct the film, with Brad Pitt’s production shingle on board to produce and the indie distributor financing and distributing the project. (SAA)
It Appears Channing Tatum and Fox Have Found Their Female Lead For ‘Gambit’, If She Actually Wants the Role
Lea Seydoux,from Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol, Blue Is the Warmest Color and in the upcoming Bond film, Spectre, has been offered the female lead in the X-Men spinoff. The role is Belladonna Boudreaux, heir to the head of the Assassins Guild, and a friend/lover/enemy of the title character. According to reports, the decision is now resting with the actress. (CB)
Seattle ‘Up’ House Movie in the Works From Fox Searchlight
The story of the famous house in Seattle that caused a media sensation due to its similarities to Pixar’s Up is getting the movie treatment. Fox Searchlight has picked up an untitled project from John Whittington with the owner of the house at the center. Will Gluck is on board to produce the drama along with Jodi Hildebrand, his partner at Olive Bridge Entertainment. Gluck is not attached to direct at this stage. (THR)
Fox’s Next ‘Planet of the Apes’ Movie Nabs ‘Low Riders’ Actor to Star
Gabriel Chavarria, who plays one of the leads in Universal’s upcoming drama, is in early talks to nab a key role in Fox’s latest Planet of the Apes installment. Matt Reeves, who directed 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, has returned as helmer for the new project, which has the working title War of the Planet of the Apes. Mark Bomback also is back as screenwriter and Chernin Entertainment as the producer. (HV)
Warner Bros. and Vertigo Entertainment Are Getting Behind an Adaptation Of ‘To the White Sea’
Based on the James Dickey novel about an American gunner who parachutes into Tokyo from his burning plane during World War II, then makes his way across the frozen northern expanse of Japan in an attempt to reach the sea, and freedom, the project previously had the Coen Brothers attached, but now will be looking for a new writer-director to take the reins. Roy Lee is the producer behind the project. (SF)
Trailer Buzz: ‘Legend’
StudioCanal and Working Title have released the new trailer for the upcoming period crime drama starring Tom Hardy as legendary twin London crime lords Ronald and Reginald Kray. Film also stars Emily Browning, David Thewlis, Christopher Eccleston, Taron Egerton, Tara Fitzgerald and Chazz Palminteri, was written and directed by Brian Helgeland, and hits theaters on October 2nd. (CBR)
Online Film School: Thirty-Seven Things Learned From Listening To David Fincher’s ‘Gone Girl’ Commentary
The director is never one to mince words, and he always delivers commentary tracks that entertain and inform in equal measure. If you doubt it, go listen to the Fight Club commentary with Brad Pitt and Ed Norton. He tackles this one alone resulting in a few collective minutes of silence, but he spends most of the film’s two and a half hour running time sharing facts, anecdotes and curse words. (FSR)