Mattel Wants To Duplicate ‘Transformers’ Success, Developing Little Known ‘Dino-Riders’ Into Film Franchise
What was another in the long line of 80s cartoons that were really just 30-minute animated commercials for a line of toys. However, unlike Transformers or He-Man, which were able to build their cartoons into popular properties in their own right, the Dino-Riders created all of 14 total episodes before giving up. Now, however, Mattel is trying to turn the brand into a film in an attempt to compete with Hasbro’s mega-successful Transformers. (TB)
WWE Studios Gets Josh Gad In the Ring For Its Gorgeous George Biopic
The writer-actor and Ryan Dixon will script the biopic of flamboyant wrestler George Raymond Wagner, better known as Gorgeous George. WWE is working on the film with Robert Halmi Jr.’s Great Point Media. The wrestler was a TV fixture in the early days of pro wrestling. Gad has not yet committed to playing the wrestler. (DH)
Jennifer Lawrence Walks Away From One Acclaimed Filmmaker, but Circles Another
Weeks away from the release of her final Hunger Games movie, Lawrence is in talks to star in Darren Aronofsky’s next film, an untitled indie drama. Earlier this week, she walked away from Richard Linklater’s The Rosie Project. She is currently shooting Passengers with Chris Pratt and director Morten Tyldum. (COL)
Today In Reboot News: MGM To Take Another Crack At ‘WarGames’ As a Digital Short
A reboot of the 1980’s sci-fi thriller has been in the works for some time, but was announced will not be a feature film, but a short interactive film that allows viewers to make decisions that affect the story. The new version will be created by Interlude, an interactive media and technology company that is developing new media technologies that change according to the viewer’s decisions or interests, which will influence the dialogue and story like a video game. (IW)
Kate Winslet Is Going Back In Time Again, This Time To Play a Real Life Legend
Oscar winner has signed on to play American model, artist and war correspondent Elizabeth “Lee” Miller, a project based on the biography The Lives Of Lee Miller. Miller was a muse and collaborator to the likes of Pablo Picasso and painter/photographer Man Ray. During World War II, she began a career as a photojournalist, documenting the Blitz and witnessing the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps in Germany. Project is looking for a writer and a director. (EMP)
ABC Wants a Full Second Season For ‘Fresh Off the Boat’
Sophomore comedy has secured a full-season back-nine order. Renewed for 13 episodes — the same as its freshman run, for which the 1990s-set comedy launched midseason — the Tuesday comedy returned with a fall launch and a strong lead-in from proven brand The Muppets. Through three episodes, the series is averaging 5.2 million total viewers in live-plus-same-day returns. (LF)
Relativity Bankruptcy Update: Tom Forman will Stay Aboard TV Division After Sale
The hedge funds that are poised to own Relativity Media’s television operations are close to a deal that will keep Forman on board as the company’s chief executive officer, an attorney for the buyers said in a court hearing this morning. (VAR)
HBO Wants To Stay In the Lena Dunham Business, Orders a 60s Feminism Comedy Pilot She’ll Direct
Set in 1963, Max follows Maxine Woodruff (Lisa Joyce), a low-level magazine writer who may be in over her head with the movement. Girls executive producers Dunham, Jenni Konner, Murray Miller, and Ilene Landress also exec-produce Max’s pilot, with Miller writing the script and Dunham directing. It’s Dunham’s first pilot since bringing Girls to the small screen. (EW)
Harry Connick Jr. Lines Up a Pretty Sweet Post-‘American Idol’ Gig
The musician/actor will host Harry, a syndicated daytime talk/variety show to air on Fox-owned stations around the country. Harry will include comedic man-on-the-street interviews, live musical performances and parodies, stunts and audience-participation bits. Justin and Eric Stangel (Late Show with David Letterman) will executive-produce alongside Connick and his frequent collaborator, Ann Marie Wilkins. Show will premiere in Fall 2016. (TVL)
Screenwriters: ‘Thirteen Ghosts’
The 102-page screenplay by Neal Marshall Stevens, based on the screenplay by Robb White, latest revisions by Richard D’Ovidio. Script is labeled Revised Production Draft, and dated November 4th, 2000. (DS)