Steven Spielberg to Develop Crichton's Pirate Latitudes

Steven Spielberg is developing a film based on the novel Pirate Latitudes from the late author, Michael Crichton. They worked together when Spielberg adapted Crichton's ever popular Jurassic Park novel. The new book comes out November 24.

David Koepp, who who wrote the screenplay for Crichton's Jurassic Park and the sequel The Lost World, is going to be handling screenwriting duties here. Spielberg will produce and might even direct this project. The story is being described as "a daring plan to infiltrate Port Royal, one of the world's richest and most notorious cities, and raid a Spanish galleon filled with treasure."

"Michael wrote a real page-turner that already seems suited for the big screen," Spielberg spoke of Pirate Latitudes. "Michael and I have had almost two decades of solid collaborations. Whenever I made a film from a Michael Crichton book or screenplay, I knew I was in good hands. Michael felt the same, and we like to think he still does."

DreamWorks will wait and see how Koepp's screenplay shapes up before putting together a schedule. Michael Crichton died this past November from cancer.

VIDEO: James Cameron's AVATAR

AVATAR takes us to a spectacular new world beyond our imagination, where a reluctant hero embarks on a journey of redemption and discovery, as he leads a heroic battle to save a civilization. The film was first conceived by Director James Cameron 14 years ago, when the means to realize his vision did not yet exist.

Now, after four years of actual production work, AVATAR delivers a fully immersive cinematic experience of a new kind, where the revolutionary technology invented to make the film, disappears into the emotion of the characters and the sweep of the story. The film hits theaters on December 18th, 2009.

Bryan Singer to Direct Excalibur

Warner Bros. is developing a remake of the 1981 John Boorman-directed Excalibur, as a potential directing vehicle for Bryan Singer, who is producing.

Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures have labored for months to pull together the rights to the film, which Singer will produce with Julie Yorn.

Inspired by Thomas Malory's 15th century work, and scripted by Rospo Pallenberg and Boorman, Excalibur explores the myth of King Arthur, complete with the Knights of the Round Table, Merlin the wizard and the quest for the Holy Grail to save Arthur's life. The original picture broke such talent as Helen Mirren (who played the evil Morgana), Liam Neeson (Sir Gawain), Gabriel Byrne, Patrick Stewart and Ciaran Hinds.

Singer hasn't selected a writer to pen the script yet.

Billy Bob Thornton in Pound for Pound

Billy Bob Thornton will star in boxing drama Pound for Pound, based on a novel from F.X. Toole (Million Dollar Baby). Ron Shelton will write and direct the indie film.

The project centers on the parallel lives of a retired and widowed boxer beset by depression after his grandson is killed in a car accident and an up-and-coming teenage Latino fighter from a difficult background. The lives of the two intersect in unexpected ways. Thornton will play the retired boxer, while producers are out to cast on the younger role.

Producers say that despite the dark undertones, there remains an optimistic note to the pic. "Unlike Million Dollar Baby, which was fabulous but a dark movie and a tragic story, this is a dark story but with a life-affirming, hopeful ending," Greif said.

The project will begin shooting in the first quarter of 2010.

New Moon Trailer featuring Jacob Black

The New Dreamworks Movie Studio

DreamWorks announced today that they've found the first phase of funding for their new studio, partnering with Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group to close the deal. Walt Disney Studios will now handle the marketing and distribution for the studio. Here is the official release:

Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, chairman of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, the parent company of Reliance Big Entertainment and Reliance BIG Pictures along with Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider, the principal partners of DreamWorks Studios jointly announced today the completion of the first phase of funding for their new motion picture company, based in Los Angeles, California.

They further announced that J.P. Morgan Securities arranged the syndication of approximately $325 million of senior debt, which Reliance Big Entertainment is matching with its equity commitment. The Walt Disney Studios, who will handle marketing and distribution for the studio, will also extend a loan to DreamWorks as part of the distribution deal.The debt financing was led by J.P. Morgan, who brought together other lenders to set-up DreamWorks with its first wave of funds. Participants include: Bank of America, City National Bank, Wells Fargo, Comerica, Union Bank of California, SunTrust, California Bank & Trust, and Israel Discount Bank.Anil Ambani said: "Our partnership with Stacey and Steven is the cornerstone of our Hollywood strategy as we grow our film interests across the globe. Given our faith in the business plan that they presented to us and despite the current economic climate, we were always confident that this day would come. Now Stacey and Steven can focus on producing more of the great films for which they are renowned."

"This will allow us to move ahead quickly into production with our first group of films," said Stacey Snider and Steven Spielberg in a joint statement. "We wish to thank Anil personally for his foresight and fortitude over the past months. We congratulate J.P. Morgan for their leadership in attracting this funding during today's most challenging financial environment. Our thanks also to our distribution partner Disney who we look forward to working with in getting our movies out to the global audience."

Joining Stacey Snider and Steven Spielberg on DreamWorks' Board of Directors on behalf of the Reliance ADA Group are Amitabh Jhunjhunwala, Vice Chairman, Reliance Capital, and J.P. Morgan's Alan J. Levine.Alan J. Levine of J.P. Morgan Entertainment Advisors led the Reliance team in structuring the capital and business plan for the company. Schuyler Moore at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan was Reliance's counsel. DreamWorks was advised by Skip Brittenham at Ziffren Brittenham LLP, Bruce Ramer and Harold Brown at Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, and Cravath, Swaine & Moore. John Miller and David Shaheen at J.P. Morgan Securities led the senior debt syndication.

"It took great dedication over many months to turn our vision for this company into a reality," said Jeff Small, President and Chief Operating Officer of DreamWorks Studios. "The time spent by everyone navigating the changing economic waters allowed us to make the most responsible deal for DreamWorks and ensure that our partnership with Reliance, from the very beginning, was built on solid ground. We appreciate the faith our bank group has in our business plan and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with them."

DreamWorks has a long-term distribution deal with The Walt Disney Studios, which will market and distribute approximately six live-action films a year for the company, except for India where Reliance Big Entertainment will retain distribution rights. The first release under Disney's Touchstone banner is expected in 2010.

James Vanderbilt to Write Spider-Man 5 & 6

Sony Pictures Entertainment is having screenwriter James Vanderbilt begin preliminary work on Spider-Man 5 and Spider-Man 6. The studio is currently working on Spider-Man 4.

Vanderbilt wrote the first draft of Spider-Man 4 but that didn't stop director Sam Raimi from bringing in David Lindsay-Abaire to rewrite him.Currently, rewriting the Spider-Man 4 script is Gary Ross. Sony wants to have it in production in early 2010 with a release slated for May 2011.Even though Raimi brought in another writer, executives at Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios like what Vanderbilt has brought to the table. Spider-Man 5 and Spider-Man 6 have a connected storyline, so it make sense to have one person write the scripts (at least initially).

Apparently, that was the plan when Vanderbilt came on to write Spider-Man 4, but the idea of shooting a fourth and fifth film back to back with the original cast was eventually jettisoned.It isn't currently clear whether Raimi, Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst will be back after Spider-Man 4. Should they not return, "Vanderbilt's script would be the blueprint for a franchise reboot." Laura Ziskin will be back as producer.

Some are wondering why Vanderbilt would be doing any work on Spider-Man 5 and Spider-Man 6 when it isn't clear who is even going to be in the movies. It seems that Sony wants to release Spider-Man films more often. There was a two year lapse from Spider-Man to Spider-Man 2. And it took three years for Spider-Man 3 to come out. When Spider-Man 4 debuts, four years will have passed.

MovieWeb's Inglourious Basterds Cast Interviews

MovieWeb.com spoke exclusively with a few of the actors from this amazing ensemble cast like Diane Kruger, director/actor Eli Roth, B.J. Novak and part of the international contingent in French actress Melanie Laurent and German actor Christoph Waltz.

Alphie Allen to Star in Powder

Mark Elliot is set to make his directorial debut with the big screen adaptation of Liam Boyle’s rock and roll drug novel Powder. Singer Lily Allen’s younger brother Alfie Allen is set to star in this upcoming drama.

The original novel revolved around a small time band that makes it big in the music industry, and thus succumbs to all the evils it has to offer. The project is also set to star newcomers Jefferson Hall, Al Weaver, Jo Woodcock and Vinette Robinson. Powder will begin filming at London’s V Festival starting next week.

The film will shoot in Liverpool, London and Ibiza before wrapping in Spain this October.

Michael Jackson Movie

With all the tributes yet to come out for Michael Jackson, it seems the singer will live on for years to come. Sony Pictures announced today that it has completed its $60 million dollar deal with concert producer AEG and Jackson's estate, and will release a full length movie called "This Is It" October 30th. The film will feature behind-the-scenes footage of the late star's rehearsals for the concert series in London he was unable to begin.

The LA Times reported that several scenes of the movie will be in 3-D and that Sony now plans to "begin negotiations with High School Musical director Kenny Ortega, Jackson's creative partner on the concert series, to direct the movie."

Tom Cruise's Son to Star in Red Dawn Remake

Tom Cruise's son Connor is set to star in a remake of the 1984 action war drama Red Dawn, according to reports. The 14-year-old will play Daryl, the youngest in the group of high school students who wage war against foreign invaders.

The original film helped launch the Hollywood careers of its stars Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen. Filming is due to begin in Detroit next month and is scheduled to be released in September 2010. Connor Cruise, who was adopted by Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, made his big screen debut last year as the young Will Smith character in drama Seven Pounds. He will join other cast members including former Home and Away stars Chris Hemsworth as leader Jed Eckert and Isabel Lucas as cheerleader Erica who has to be rescued from an internment camp.

The cast are reportedly heading off in a few weeks for military training in preparation for the film at an undisclosed location. Unlike the original film, which was released towards the end of the Cold War, the reversion will see the group of teens, who become known as the Wolverines, invaded by Chinese and Russian troops.

Bureau Headlines: Monday 08/10

BUREAU HEADLINES: ABC courting Paula Abdul; Victoria Beckham "wooden" in "Idol" judging debut... ABC president slams whiny Katherine Heigl... Wrigley cuts ties with Chris Brown... Miley Cyrus picks up six Teen Choice awards, shows off pole-dancing skills... Kathy Griffin brings Bristol Palin's baby daddy to awards... Cocaine may have contributed to death of TV pitchman Billy Mays... Tom Cruise's son to star in "Red Dawn" remake... Elisabeth Hasselbeck gives birth to third child, son Isaiah Timothy... Daniel Baldwin and wife welcome baby girl... "Sex and the City's" Willie Garson adopts... Tracy Morgan files for divorce... Cheech Marin marries classical pianist.

PHOTOS: Spencer and Heidi Pratt walk "G.I. Joe" red carpet with Heidi's Playboy cover in hand... Jessica Simpson upstaged by weird guy... Bradley Cooper and Renee Zellweger (aka "Cooger") land in Spain (so they must be dating, right?).

GOSSIP: "Oliver" star Mark Lester claims to be biological father of Paris Jackson; not so, says Jackson family source... Michael Jackson buried in mausoleum owned by Berry Gordy?... Lindsay Lohan losing her hair?... Olivia Newton John's ex-boyfriend alive and well in Mexico?... Mischa Barton headed for another breakdown?

Pop Princess Lady Gaga Talks to Billboard Magazine

Billboard Magazine just featured Lady Gaga with lavender lochs -- the article explains the phenomenon that surrounds POP's newest Princess and how she writes top hits........



Sprawled on her bed in an Amsterdam hotel, Lady GaGa is channeling Lady Godiva-sans the horse. While the 23-year-old has famously worn everything from Kermit the Frog to a hat made to resemble the solar system, today she's rocking the one constant in her ever shifting wardrobe-underpants. And nothing more.But despite her dominance on the Billboard Hot 100 and bleached blonde hair, GaGa is not the average pop tart. She's an accomplished songwriter and performer who seems to have come out of nowhere, bursting from the corner of Ludlow and Rivington fully formed and fabulous. In conversation, she's chatty and articulate, but gives off the distinct sense she's 10 steps ahead of everyone else-while the Internet is still buzzing about the lampshade she wore over her face in a TV interview, she's plotting her next move.

Of course, if she invests wisely, she may never need to work again: Her debut album, "The Fame," which was released on Interscope, has sold nearly 1.3 million copies, and her biggest digital single, "Just Dance," has sold 4.4 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. In addition to writing all the tracks on her album, GaGa has previously written for Fergie, the Pussycat Dolls, Britney Spears and New Kids on the Block."Getting into writing for others happened naturally, because at the time, I didn't have a record deal," GaGa says. "I had a deal with IDJ that came and went, but that was it. I don't have an ego about other people singing my songs."

And-as surprising as it may seem amid her outré outfits and the nudge-nudge-wink-wink lyrics-GaGa's path from behind-the-scenes songwriter to cultural phenomenon was a smart, regimented plan. Before she was Lady GaGa, she was Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, an Italian Catholic schoolgirl from Yonkers, N.Y. She played piano and studied music as a child, but it wasn't until she hit her early 20s that her songwriting and performance style clicked. "She wrote almost all her hits in a week," says Vince Herbert, who signed GaGa to his Streamline Records label, a joint venture with Interscope. "She flew to L.A. and sat in a studio with RedOne and just cranked it out."

True Blood Co-Stars To Marry

Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer have played lovers on-and off-screen since they filmed the True Blood pilot, but now they're ready to make it official. Reps for both actors confirmed their engagement to People magazine today.

Ricky Martin's Summer Travels

Oh La La Mag featured some pics from Ricky Martin's Summer Travels - Enjoy!

Bureau Headlines: Tues 08/04

BUREAU HEADLINES: Katherine Jackson wins custody of Michael's three kids ... Kara DioGuardi returning as "American Idol" judge ... Wayne Brady to host "Let's Make a Deal" revival ... Dennis "Mr. Belding" Haskins left out of "Saved By the Bell" reunion ... Mary Lynn Rajskub of "24" (whose role in "Julie & Julia" is too small) marries a personal trainer in Vegas ... Reserve your Kate Gosselin wig early, lest it sell out before Halloween ... Get ready to celebrate Megan Fox Day, courtesy of E! ... Lestat leads Entertainment Weekly's vampire list. Michael Douglas's son arrested in New York meth bust.

PHOTOS: Jennifer Love Hewitt and her impractical footwear play tennis in Hawaii ... Nicolette Sheridan looks amazing in a bathing suit ... Jack Nicholson, not so much.

GOSSIP: "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer accused of ripping off plot ... Arnold Schwarzenegger allegedly planning post-gubernatorial movie comeback ... Lou Ferrigno to join "Dancing with the Stars"? ... Did Jessica Simpson have dinner with John Mayer? ... Mayer stays klassy on Twitter ... Stan Lee says Michael Jackson may have wanted to play Spidey.