Trailer Buzz: DreamWorks Pictures Declassifies New Spielberg/Hanks ‘Bridge of Spies’ Trailer
DreamWorks, Touchstone Pictures and Fox 2000 have released a new trailer from the upcoming drama, starring Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan, and Alan Alda. Directed by Steven Spielberg, it hits theaters October 16th. (SSN)
Ice Cube as Scrooge? Universal Thinks So, Picks Up Christmas Story Spec ‘Humbug’
Script from writers Todd R Jones and Earl Richey Jones has the rapper/actor attached to star and Tim Story to direct. The script is a contemporary retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic story of a wealthy real estate mogul who is shown a path to redemption by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Cube will produce alongside Jeff Kwatinetz. Jones & Jones will co-produce. (VAR)
Looks Like Fox Needs a New Director For Channing Tatum’s ‘Gambit’ Movie
Rupert Wyatt has left the project, citing production delays that now make the film conflict with another planned project. However, the chatter is, however that it runs a little deeper, with talk of script and budget issues that necessitated more time before the shoot kicks off. And that attempting to align the production so that footage of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras can be captured has also affected the dates. (EMP)
Meanwhile, Fox Locks Down Wes Ball To Complete the ‘Maze Runner’ Trilogy
The director of The Maze Runner and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials confirmed at the latter’s premiere on Tuesday that he will direct the third and final installment of the series, adapted from James Dashner YA trilogy. Scorch Trials opens tomorrow, while the third film, Maze Runner: The Death Cure will open February 17th, 2017. (COL)
Intrigue and Screenwriter Strife Has Hit David O. Russell’s ‘Joy’
Bridesmaids scribe Annie Mumolo lost a credit to David O. Russell after he took over the picture. The silver lining? She may still be eligible for an Oscar after being awarded a story credit by the Writers Guild. Russell will get sole screenwriting credit for the film, which stars Jennifer Lawrence and is due in theaters Christmas Day. Mumulo’s name will be first in the shared story credit. (THR)
‘Law & Order’ Live Reality Spinoff Series From Dick Wolf Greenlighted By NBC
In line with NBC’s push into live entertainment, the series will be live as well as interactive. The network has given the green light to Law & Order: You The Jury, a one-hour courtroom docu-drama series from Law & Order boss Wolf and reality producer Magical Elves. NBC originally bought the project — sans the live part — in early May as You The Jury. It has now been given the Law & Order branding, a first for an unscripted series. (DH)
Stephen King’s ‘The Mist’ Is Being Adapted Again, This Time For the Small Screen
Anew television series based on King’s 1980 horror novella and Frank Darabont’s 2007 film adaptation is in in the works from Dimension TV. The project, which has King’s blessing, is being written by Christian Torpe, creator of the Danish TV series Rita. The series is to tell an original story about a seemingly innocuous mist that seeps into a small town and plunges it into chaos, stirring up psychological frights and otherworldly creatures. (EW)
‘London Has Fallen’ Will Have To Wait Until March To Fall Completely
Gramercy Pictures has once again shifted the film’s release date, moving the Olympus Has Fallen sequel from its scheduled debut on January 22nd, 2016 to March 4th. Film stars Gerard Butler as Secret Service agent Mike Banning alongside Aaron Eckhart as the President. Also returning are Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, and Melissa Leo. Babak Najafi directs from a screenplay by Creighton Rothenberger & Katrin Benedikt and Chad St. John. (CS)
Strap Yourselves In, We Now Have a List Of Hollywood’s 100 Favorite Shows
You can only have one favorite show. Here, thousands of the town’s insiders pulled the trigger and name theirs in THR’s first entertainment-industry ranked TV list, as the stars and creators reveal their never-told stories (Bill Cosby as Sam Malone?!). (HRTV)
Screenwriters: Reel Story — Break the Glass! Stop Worrying and Start Writing
One of the main differences that distinguishes amateurs from professional writers is that amateurs sometimes write. They write when they have the time or when they feel like it, or when they take a class and have an immediate deadline – whereas professionals write on a regular basis. Professionals set a writing schedule and stick to it no matter what. They understand that consistency is critical to success. (SM)