Julie & Julia Sparks Cookbook Sales

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Adaptation, Books

Five years after her death, Julia Child is once again making news on film, television…and print.

Thanks to last weekend’s release of Julie & Julia, the famed chef’s cookbook has received a boost in popularity. Mastering the Art of French Cooking, originally published in 1961, has now been at or near the top of both Amazon and Barnes and Nobles’ best-seller lists.

In the movie, Amy Adams’ character, Julie Powell, attempts to create all of Mastering’s 524 recipes. Powell’s year-long journey became the basis for her own book, Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen. (That memoir - since retitled Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously - currently ranks #38 on Amazon.)

Read More | MSNBC

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Half-Blood Prince Posters Unveiled

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Warner Bros, Adaptation, Adventure, Science Fiction, Sequels, Books, Upcoming Releases

Almost three months have passed since Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince‘s original premiere date. Will you be able to wait five months longer?

After digesting the ominous message from this first poster, make sure to check out two more after the jump.

Click to continue reading Half-Blood Prince Posters Unveiled

Read More | MTV Movies

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All the Buzz on the Twilight Sequel

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Adaptation, Drama, Romance, Sequels, Books, Rumors

Given Twilight‘s spectacular opening weekend, Summit Entertainment’s plans for a sequel came as no surprise. (Even if the news was announced after Day One.) Unfortunately, the studio’s desire to quickly turnaround the followup has forced Catherine Hardwicke to drop out of the project. But should a change of director give fans a reason to be concerned?

Click to continue reading All the Buzz on the Twilight Sequel

Read More | Entertainment Weekly

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Tim Burton’s Alice Is Off to England

Posted by Kathleen Kane Categories: Disney, Adventure, Animation, Classics, Family, Mystery, Books, Casting, Celebrity Gossip, Filmmaking, Rumors, Upcoming Releases

Disney’s favorite eccentric director Tim Burton is at it again, and this time he’s digging a bit older and traveling a bit further for his latest classic remake: Alice in Wonderland.

Burton is taking the cast and crew across the pond to Plymouth, where they will be holding auditions this week for the film’s extras. Casting director Ilenka Jelowicki explains why the locale is perfect for production:

“It’s a period movie, set in Victorian England, so we’re very specific about the look we need. In an ideal world, out of the 125 women we need, they would all have long, naturally coloured hair. We’d love men with beards or facial hair – lamb chops or big sideburns, that sort of thing.”

The only confirmed cast member is HBO‘s Australian actress Mia Wasikowska (In Treatment), who is set to play Alice. Take a wild guess who might be casted as one of the crazy Wonderland characters—I dare you!

Click to continue reading Tim Burton’s Alice Is Off to England

Read More | The Independent

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Robert Downey Jr. Will Star In Competing Sherlock Holmes

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros, Adaptation, Mystery, Books, Casting, Upcoming Releases

We now know who Team Ferrell/Cohen will eventually have to face off against at the box office: Iron Man.

Just last week, we told you that former Talledega Nights co-stars Will Ferrell and Sacha Baron Cohen would be reuniting for film about Sherlock Holmes. Unfortunately, their Columbia Pictures comedy did not have a director or release date attached to it yet. It also faced comparison to a similar project being formed at another studio.

Now Warner Bros. has announced that Robert Downey Jr. will be donning the detective’s cap for their take on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novels. While there will most likely be tone differences between the two movies, Downey’s version will reportedly be “less stuffy” than what we have seen in the past.

The Guy Ritchie film will start production in October (before the Columbia version) in hopes of a October 2009 opening.

Read More | Variety

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Scenes from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Warner Bros, Adaptation, Adventure, Science Fiction, Sequels, Books, Upcoming Releases

Thanks to USA Today, we are now getting glimpses of what’s to come for Harry Potter.

According to director David Yates (Order of the Phoenix), the “bloody Death Eaters turn up and cause all sorts of anarchy” in the saga’s sixth film. We can also expect to see some sparks between Potter and Ginny Weasley.

(You can view a few additional pics after the jump. More can also be found here.)

Click to continue reading Scenes from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Read More | USA Today

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Sacha Baron Cohen, Will Ferrell Reunite for Sherlock Holmes

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros, Adaptation, Mystery, Comedy, Books, Casting, Upcoming Releases

For his next production, Judd Apatow has once again reached into his bag of funny men to decide on casting. This time around, Will Ferrell and Sacha Baron Cohen - rivals in 2006’s Talledega Nights - will be working as a team on a comedy about Sherlock Holmes.

In the currently-untitled project, the Borat star will play the famous literary detective. Meanwhile, Ferrell will take on the role of Watson, his crime-solving assistant. The movie will be penned by Etan Cohen (Tropic Thunder) for Columbia Pictures. No director has so far been assigned.

Although a target date hasn’t yet been determined, Apatow’s film could face comparisons to another upcoming project. Warner Bros. has plans for its own adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books; that version will be helmed by RocknRolla‘s Guy Ritchie.

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Box Office Breakdown: Ashton Kutcher Drives Past Speed Racer

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Family, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Books, Lists, New Releases

Despite arresting visuals and a $120 million budget, the Wachowski brothers were unable to bring Speed Racer to life.  The Warner Bros. movie - which many had already predicted would fall behind Iron Man - did even worse than originally thought.  At one point, it was believed the anime adaptation would debut in 2nd place.  Unfortunately, the final box office numbers placed the PG film in third.

Meanwhile, What Happens in Vegas became the second wedding-themed entry in the recent Top Ten.  The comedy, starring Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher, replaced Made of Honor as the go to ‘chick flick’ of the week.  The movie grossed $20.1 million, a slim $1.6 million more than Speed.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Ashton Kutcher Drives Past Speed Racer

Read More | Variety

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Movie Remakes: Killer Tomatoes, Rosemary’s Baby

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Adaptation, Drama, Horror, Comedy, Books, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases

Although I have a hard time believing there are people out there born after the ‘70s, I understand there are many who’ve never even heard of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.  Fortunately for them, there will soon be a remake.

Kent Nichols and Douglas Sarine - the creators behind the “Ask A Ninja” web shorts -  have taken on the challenge of retooling the cult classic.  Although the update’s budget will undoubtedly be larger than the original’s (the first film reportedly cost less than $100,000), it’s unclear how far the writers will deviate from the 1978 storyline.

The movie about murderous fruit spawned three sequels including Return of the Killer Tomatoes and Killer Tomatoes Strike Back.  (George Clooney‘s career managed to survive an appearance in the former.)  No target date for the redo has been announced.

Click to continue reading Movie Remakes: Killer Tomatoes, Rosemary’s Baby

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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Michael Cera to Star in Film Adaptation of Youth in Revolt

Posted by Kathleen Kane Categories: Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Adventure, Romance, Satire, Comedy, Books, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases

Youth In Revolt, both a critically acclaimed novel by C.D. Payne and a failed MTV mini-series, has been adapted into a screenplay and began production early this year. This original and hilarious black comedy will star Michael Cera (Juno, Superbad) as the story’s overly sex-crazed protagonist, Nick Twisp, who - along with an inconvenient hair trigger on his erectile response - involves himself in arson, car theft, homelessness and even an identity change to satisfy his pubescent desires and finally lose his virginity. Although no other cast members have been confirmed, Cera’s recently built reputation for the role as the awkward teen with no grip on a decent romantic or sex life (which rightfully won him 2 nominations for Best Young Actor this year) will certainly do great justice for the role.

Click to continue reading Michael Cera to Star in Film Adaptation of Youth in Revolt

Read More | New York Times

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