Academy Announces Hair/Makeup Shortlist, Sorkin Blasts Media Covering Sony Hack, Hanks Joins ‘The Circle,’ Dershowitz Joins Polanski Legal Team

Seven Films Make the Academy Shortlist For a Potential Hair and Makeup Nomination

Among the lucky few are Foxcatcher, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Theory of Everything. Of the seven films on the shortlist, three will eventually earn nominations. (TOH)

Aaron Sorkin Feels Strongly That the Media Should Not Be Covering Information Leaked In the Sony Hack

In an op-ed printed in Sunday’s New York Times, the Emmy and Academy Award-winning writer calls news outlets who print the info, “is morally treasonous and spectacularly dishonorable.” (HP)

Tom Hanks Is Going To Enter ‘The Circle’ With ‘The Spectacular Now’s James Ponsoldt

Hanks will star and produce, along with partner Gary Goetzman, while Ponsoldt adapted Dave Eggers’ novel and will direct the film. Thriller is about the perils of life in a digital age where privacy is essentially obsolete. (DH)

Alan Dershowitz Joins Roman Polanski’s Legal Team, Hopes To End Statutory Rape Case

The famed lawyer filed a motion in Los Angeles Superior Court requesting permission to represent Polanski, while also demanding a hearing to close the case, based in part on fresh testimony that Judge Peter Espinoza acted unethically and prejudiced matters related to the case. (HE)

After a Lengthy Search, Steven Spileberg Has Found His Sophie For ‘The BFG’

Newcomer Ruby Barnhill has been selected to play the young girl in the adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel, to be directed by Spielberg and starring Mark Rylance as the friendly giant of the title. (VAR)

J.K. Simmons Does Not Only Have an Oscar Nomination In His Near Future, But Also a Starring Role In ‘Kong: Skull Island’

The Whiplash star will join Tom Hiddleston in the film, which will start shooting in 2015 for a March 10th, 2017 release. Godzilla scribe Max Borenstein and Flight writer John Gatins are writing the film, which will be directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts. (SF)

That ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ Mini-Series Is Now Officially a Go At Netflix

A sequel series from the 2001 comedy cult hit is moving forward on the online streaming service, with co-writer/director David Wain overseeing, along with co-writer Michael Showalter and Jonathan Stern, Peter Principato, and Howard Bernstein. (COL)

More Than a Month Before the Festival Actually Opens, Sundance 2015 Already Has Its First Sale

Slow West, starring Michael Fassbender and Kodi Smit-McPhee, has found a U.S. home at A24 and DIRECTV. The film will premiere in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the festival, and comes from first-time feature filmmaker John Maclean. (IW)

So, It Looks Like It’ll Be One Season and Out For Fox’s ‘Gracepoint’

The remake of the hit British series Broadchurch completed its first and only season last week to middling ratings. The show had always been billed as a “limited series,” so no second season was ever necessarily part of the plan. (ITV)

Online Film School: Six Filmmaking Tips From Mike Nichols

The late legend was known as an actor’s director and was one of the most revered filmmakers of the last half century. He leaves behind an incredible legacy. (FSR)