Steve McQueen Picks Next Project, ‘Nebraska’ Writer’s Directorial Debut Underway, Scorsese’s New Drama Lands At HBO

Steve McQueen Has Been Taking His Time Choosing His Next Project, Until Now

The director of the most recent Best Picture winner will do another biopic, this time about athlete/singer/actor/activist Paul Robeson. No start date or actor has been talent has been announced. (TP)

Oscar-Nominated Writer of ‘Nebraska’ Finally Gets His Directorial Debut Off the Ground

Bob Nelson’s The Confirmation has begun filming in Canada with Clive Owen, Maria Bello, Patton Oswalt, Tim Blake Nelson, Robert Forster, Matthew Modine, Stephen Tobolowsky and St. Vincent discovery, Jaeden Lieberher, (DH)

Martin Scorsese Is Back In Business With HBO, and This Time, He’s Bringing Benicio Del Toro

The cable network picks up Cortés, an historical drama about the Spanish conquistador who led the fall of the Aztec empire, and the friends and enemies he made along the way. Del Toro will executive produce and might star. (EW)

Fresh From Her ‘Gone Girl’ Glory, Rosamund Pike Looks Set To Scale ‘The Mountain Between Us’

The actress is circling the female lead in survival love story, based on Charles Martin’s novel about two people who survive a plane crash in the mountains. Charlie Hunnam is already attached. (VAR)

It’s Promotion Day At Disney! Two Lucky Execs Get Bumped Up the Ladder

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Andrew Millstein and Pixar Animation Studios’ Jim Morris have both have been given a title boost to President, and will continue to oversee business operations and production at their respective animation studios. (AS)

Universal Picks Up ‘The Hunt For El Chapo’ For Peter Berg To Direct and Produce

The story of the capture of notorious drug cartel leader Joaquin Guzman was originally an article in The New Yorker. Dallas Buyers Club writer Craig Borten is writing.  (THR)

The Boston Marathon Bombing Drama Has Found a Director and a Studio, But Needs a Star

Safe House helmer Daniel Espinosa is on board to direct the feature for 20th Century Fox, from a script by The Fighter scribes Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy. Casey Affleck had been attached to star, but as since fallen out. (COL)

Madonna Taps Dianne Houston To Write the Adaptation Of ‘Adé: A Love Story’

Material Girl will direct the film, based on the book by Rebecca Walker, which will be produced by American Beauty producer Bruce Cohen. (SAA)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Peanuts’

Just a couple days after the first images were released comes the first trailer from the Fox and Blue Sky 3D adaptation of the legendary Charles Schulz comic strip featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang. (EMP)

Screenwriters: Script Angel — Inspiration For Your Screenwriting Journey

Turning your dreams of a screenwriting career into your reality is tough. But amidst all the learning and strategizing it’s important to make the time to find the inspiration that will keep us going. (SM)