The SEQUELS That Time Forgot

[MacGuffin]

Congratulations, it's a little Focker
By Steven Zeitchik; Hollywood Reporter

It looks like "Little Fockers" is finally coming of age.

The long-gestating third installment of the comedy franchise is maturing quickly at Universal — but with new parents.

John Hamburg has been brought on to write the screenplay after Larry Stuckey penned an earlier draft. 

The Endeavor-repped Hamburg is a Ben Stiller collaborator who did drafts on "Meet the Parents" and "Meet the Fockers" and worked with the star on "Along Came Polly." He also wrote and directed the comedy "I Love You, Man," set for release next month via Paramount.

Meanwhile, Jay Roach, who of course directed the first two films and had been loosely attached to direct this one, will not helm the picture. The hyphenate is concentrating on the comic romp "Dinner for Schmucks" for DreamWorks and Parkes/Bowles and only will produce "Fockers."

Producers instead are out to a handful of top comedy directors and hope to close a deal imminently.

Among the candidates said to be in the running are comedy veteran Paul Weitz, who wrote and directed "In Good Company" and co-wrote and co-directed "About a Boy"; the quirky-comedy figure David Wain, writer-director of cult pic "Wet Hot American Summer" and Universal's male-buddy hit "Role Models"; and Peyton Reed, who directed the current Jim Carrey starrer "Yes Man."

After some slowed momentum, Universal and Tribeca Prods. are, sources said, moving forward quickly on the project, with an eye toward shooting as early as summer or fall.

On the casting side, Stiller, Robert De Niro and Owen Wilson — the last of whom had unrelated small parts in the first two pics as an ex-fiance and a minister, respectively, but could have an expanded role here — are in negotiations to star in "Fockers."

The "Fockers" franchise of course stars Stiller as a liberal, do-no-right husband and De Niro as his conservative, unforgiving father-in-law. "Little Fockers" is expected to revolve around the children of Stiller and Teri Polo, who plays his wife.

The property has provided a reliable cash infusion for Universal, with the first two pics earning more than $800 million worldwide.

But after the sequel "Meet the Fockers" came out in 2004, development encountered some hiccups. The "Little Fockers" project was announced two years ago with Roach protege Stuckey writing the script but until recently had not gained sufficient traction to move forward. Now? A baby may finally be on the way.

[hedwig]

OH MY GOD THE PUNS IN THAT ARTICLE!!! THE PUNSSSSSSS MY GOD THE PUNSSSSSSS!!

[modage]

http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/12/cinematical-seven-way-late-sequels/

[MacGuffin]

Winona Ryder to star in 'Heathers 2,' has nothing better to do
Source: Los Angeles Times

Yes, there will be a sequel to the 1988 cult dark comedy "Heathers," starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater.

But from what little we've heard so far, it sounds pretty dreadful.

Ryder is pretty excited, because it means appearing in a follow-up to the film that made her famous oh-so-many years ago.

She tells Us Magazine:

"Whatever you hear, there is a sequel in the works. I swear to God. But for some reason the writer Dan Waters and director Michael Lehman don't want to talk about it.

"I've been wanting to do a sequel forever. There is a story, and Christian [Slater] has agreed to come back as a kind of Obi-Wan character."

An Obi-Wan character? Are they high?

[socketlevel]

Winona Ryder to star in 'Heathers 2,' has nothing better to do
Source: Los Angeles Times

Yes, there will be a sequel to the 1988 cult dark comedy "Heathers," starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater.

But from what little we've heard so far, it sounds pretty dreadful.

Ryder is pretty excited, because it means appearing in a follow-up to the film that made her famous oh-so-many years ago.

She tells Us Magazine:

"Whatever you hear, there is a sequel in the works. I swear to God. But for some reason the writer Dan Waters and director Michael Lehman don't want to talk about it.

"I've been wanting to do a sequel forever. There is a story, and Christian [Slater] has agreed to come back as a kind of Obi-Wan character."

An Obi-Wan character? Are they high?

People forget how strange the first film was when it was released.  i'm sure on paper a lot of it seemed almost stupid.  so i say the more washed up this premise sounds, the better chance it has to live up to the heart of the first one and actually be good.    fuck ya make him an obi-wan character, because it sounds like the worst idea ever, but if it was pulled off it might just be the quirk they need.

[MacGuffin]

Robert Downey Jr. May Sink His Teeth Into Anne Rice Series 'The Vampire Chronicles' As Lestat
Source: MTV

This is double-take-worthy news. Hell, it's late. Go take yourself a triple.

Robert Downey Jr. is in "close talks" with Universal Pictures to play blood-sucker Lestat Du Lioncourt in a big screen return for Anne Rice's "The Vampire Chronicles," according to a report at Bloody Disgusting. It should be noted that there's no attribution for the news, though BD has a good track record with scoops.

Downey would be the third actor to wear Lestat's fangs after Stuart Townsend, in "Queen of the Damned" (2003), and, perhaps most famously, Tom Cruise in "Interview with the Vampire" (1994). There's no word yet on how the planned return to Rice's fiction will approach the story, with or without the "Iron Man" star.

Speaking of the armored superhero, between that franchise and Downey's upcoming role in "Sherlock Holmes," he's building up quite an assortment of leading man roles. Lestat would certainly be a huge win, though he'd have Cruise's memorable "Interview" performance to top. Personally, I think Downey could do it.

The outstanding success of "Twilight" no doubt played a part in looking back to Rice's material. Vampires are huge and it was only a matter of time. Gary Oldman had better watch out-- Bram Stoker may be next. Whether or not Downey moves forward as Lestat, it looks like we're going to see more of Rice's enduring character in theaters again very soon.

[MacGuffin]

Fox, Sony TV look to revive 'Heathers'
Mark Rizzo, Jenny Bicks to adapt 1989 film
Source: Variety

Dear Diary: Fox is developing a contemporary take on the 1989 Christian Slater/Winona Ryder feature "Heathers."

Dark comedy will be adapted for TV by scribe Mark Rizzo, with an assist from "Sex and the City" alum Jenny Bicks. Sony Pictures TV, where Bicks is based, will produce, along with Lakeshore Entertainment, which holds the rights to "Heathers."

Rizzo is still kicking around ideas on how to update "Heathers" 20 years after the film became a favorite among the underground set. But the characters from the movie are all expected to be there -- Veronica Sawyer (played in the movie by Ryder), J.D. (Slater) and the "Heathers."

The original movie revolved around Veronica as she navigates a clique of mean girls -- all named Heather -- and rebels after meeting J.D., the new guy at school. Soon, the Heathers start "accidentally" dying at the hands of Veronica and J.D., who cover up the deaths by faking them as suicides. Ryder's character chronicles her teen angst and the rising body count with regular diary entries.

The idea for a "Heathers" revival came from inside UTA, where reps for Rizzo and Bicks decided the title was ripe for revival and contacted Lakeshore about potentially dusting off the franchise.

For Lakeshore, the project, which is in the script stage at Fox, reps its introduction to the world of TV.

"We had the title, and talked about doing a film remake at times," said Lakeshore prexy Gary Lucchesi. "But doing it for TV seemed like a fresh and original idea."

Rizzo is onboard to write and exec produce, while Bicks is a nonwriting exec producer. Lucchesi and Lakeshore's Tom Rosenberg will also exec produce.

Rizzo's credits include the pilot "Zip," which was developed twice at NBC, while Bicks is also known for "Men in Trees" and "Leap of Faith" and has also been adapting "Washingtonienne" for HBO.

The original "Heathers" pic was directed by Michael Lehmann and penned by Daniel Waters. Other stars included Shannen Doherty.

[Fernando]

'Bad Boys 3' in the works
Peter Craig will write the screenplay
THR.COM

Columbia Pictures is developing a third installment of the high-octane "Bad Boys" franchise, tapping Peter Craig to pen the screenplay.

The hope is to have a script that would reunite director Michael Bay, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. At this point, with the project in the early stages, none has a deal to return.

The "Boys" movies feature Smith and Lawrence as Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, caught up in cases involving car chases and explosions.

The first "Boys," released in 1995, helped launch Bay as a director and Smith as an action star even though it was not a fire-stamped blockbuster -- it grossed $66 million domestically and $141 million worldwide.

The sequel, released in 2003 when Bay and Smith's stars had risen, grossed $138 million domestically and $273 million worldwide.

All parties have expressed a willingness to return if a story can be hammered out. One potential hurdle, however, would be the costly deals with the players.

Craig, repped by CAA and Management 360, co-wrote "The Town," which Ben Affleck is directing for Warner Bros. and which shoots in Boston next month. He is adapting anime "Cowboy Bebop" for 20th Century Fox and Keanu Reeves.



ive never seen 1 or 2 complete, when I started watching them I turned them off because I coudn't take that much shit on the screen, and I like will smith but the other guy is pretty worthless, can't remember a good movie of him.

[MacGuffin]

MTV prepping pilot for Teen Wolf series
Source: SciFiWire

MTV, once known as "Music Television" due its actually playing "music" on "television", is moving forward in the development of a new series based on the 1985 high school lycanthropy comedy Teen Wolf and has ordered a pilot, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The 1985 film starred Michael J. Fox as a teen basketball player who discovers, along with the other bodily changes associated with adolescence, that he's a werewolf. The movie was co-written by Jeph Loeb, who'd go on to be a writer and producer on shows like Smallville, Lost and Heroes.

In a world dominated by rehashes and remakes, a Teen Wolf series is especially noteworthy in that the "original" was a re-hash of the 1950s creature feature I Was a Teenage Werewolf starring Little House's Michael Landon.

According to MTV exec Liz Gateley, the series will be "...a dramatic thriller with two best friends in the center who provide a great comedy element: They are two very relatable characters on the outer circles of popular cliques."

[MacGuffin]

'Vacation' sequel booked at New Line
Source: Hollywood Reporter

New Line is going on a "Vacation."

The Warner Bros. division is developing a sequel of sorts to the 1983 comedy classic, with David Dobkin attached to produce and possibly direct. 

New Line is meeting with writers to write the script but the take is already developed: the story focuses on Rusty Griswold, the son of Clark Griswold, the protagonists of the initial movies and portrayed by Chevy Chase. The younger Griswold is now a father in his own right and takes his family on a road trip vacation.

The characters would acknowledge that first trip, making the movie more of a sequel than a reboot.

Chase and Beverly D'Angelo, who played the mom in the original movies, will have room to make appearances as grandparents, providing a sense of continuity, though no deals are in place.

The original "Vacation" is a Warner Bros. property but as soon as New Line became part of the studio, exec Sam Brown began sifting through the parent company's titles to see what was available in terms of rights. He eventually found "Vacation," a movie he has watched more than any other in his life, and brought it to New Line president Toby Emmerich and production president Richard Brener, who jumped at the possibilities. The duo asked Warner brass if it had any plans with the title. It did not and the New Line execs persuaded the brass to let them take a crack at it. Brown is shepherding for New Line.

National Lampoon is no involved at this stage, as Warners controls the characters and the title.

New Line is taking meetings with writers this week, hoping to make a movie that skews more towards "Planes Trains and Automobiles" or "Little Miss Sunshine" than "RV" or "Are We There Yet?"

"Vacation" brings CAA-repped Dobkin back in business with New Line, for whom he directed and produced "Wedding Crashers."

[MacGuffin]

Pine Beaming Up Jack Ryan Role?
By: Mike Fleming; Variety

UPDATE: Paramount confirmed this story late Tuesday, and in a statement, Paramount Film Group president Adam Goodman said: "Tom Clancy created an unforgettable character with Jack Ryan. With Chris in this role, we've taken our first step in creating a re-boot that lives up to the successful lineage of the franchise."

Pine is positioned to topline his second Par franchise. He played James T. Kirk in "Star Trek," the JJ Abrams-directed summer hit, and will reprise in the sequel.

Pine is separately in talks to team with director D.J. Caruso in the Paramount drama "The Art of Making Money," early next year.

Talks are just getting underway, but Pine is expected to come aboard the Jack Ryan film as the project takes shape. The studio and producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mace Neufeld are working with a script draft by Hossein Amini, based on an original concept. They are still in deep development and it is unclear whether Pine would make another "Star Trek" before the Jack Ryan film. He will clearly be working often for Paramount over the next several years.

Pine, currently starring with Denzel Washington in the Tony Scott-directed "Unstoppable" for Fox, is vying to be the fourth actor to play Ryan, the CIA analyst in the Par film series. 

Alec Baldwin originated the character in 1990's "The Hunt for Red October," Harrison Ford played him in 1992's "Patriot Games" and 1994's "Clear and Present Danger," and Ben Affleck played Ryan in 2002's "The Sum of All Fears."

[MacGuffin]

New Line ready for another 'Vacation'
Studio updating franchise family film saga
Source: Variety

New Line is booking a reboot of its "Vacation" franchise and has tapped Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley to write the newest incarnation.

Property, which started with the 1983 Chevy Chase starrer, spawned three sequels that followed the Griswold family on holiday.

The latest project, which will no longer carry the National Lampoon credit, is being described as more of an update than a sequel and will be closer in tone to "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" than the previous chapters. Story will focus on Rusty Griswold, now a grown man, who decides to take his own wife and kids on a road trip to Wally World before it closes forever. Chase is expected to reprise his role as Clark Griswold, now a grandfather.

"Wedding Crashers" helmer David Dobkin is producing the new pic.

Sam Brown and Dave Neustadter are overseeing for New Line.

"Vacation" marks Goldstein and Daley's fourth project at New Line in 2½ years. Most recently, they did an overhaul of "Horrible Bosses," about three friends who resolve to kill their employers. Seth Gordon ("King of Kong") is directing. Duo are rewriting "Burt Wonderstone" about a prominent Vegas magician who falls from grace, and they sold original spec "The $40,000 Man" to the company in 2007. In addition, they are penning another original, "Cal of the Wild," for DreamWorks.

[Stefen]

Thanks, Sleepless -- thanks alot.

JERK!

[MacGuffin]

Universal taking another 'Midnight Run'
Robert De Niro will produce and star in comedy sequel
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Universal and Robert De Niro are getting ready for another run.

The studio is developing a sequel to "Midnight Run," the 1988 action comedy that starred De Niro as a bounty hunter who must bring back an embezzler, played by Charles Grodin, across the country.

Timothy Dowling, the writer behind Universal's comedy "Role Models," is being brought on board to pen the script that would bring back De Niro's character, Jack Walsh, and pair him with a younger comedic foil.

"Run," while not a huge hit, was well-recieved by critics, even as it pushed the f-word count to new heights. The movie is also a touchstone for execs on road movies as well as thriller-comedies.

Although several made-for-TV movies were made as sequels -- without the original stars -- De Niro began to seriously consider a sequel during his recent "Little Fockers" shoot.

De Niro will produce with Tribeca Films partner Jane Rosenthal.

Dowling, repped by CAA and Mosaic, also worked on the upcoming comedies "She's Out of My League" and the Tom Cruise-starrer "Knight and Day." Dowling broke into the biz by penning the satire short "George Lucas in Love."

[MacGuffin]

Smith and Jones signed on for Men in Black III 3-D
Source: SciFi Wire

That proposed third Men in Black movie is rumored to be moving forward, with both Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones signed up and a script in the works. And it's in 3-D.

That's the report on Showbiz 411;

Director Barry Sonnenfeld tells me that "Men in Black 3-D" is ready to roll. Will Smith has signed on, Tommy Lee Jones is in, and a script is awaited.

Yes. I did say 3D. "Men in Black 3? will be in 3D. Sonnenfeld says it is so.


No details on the plot, but sounds like the gang is back to fight threats from beyond the stars by summer of next year. Stay tuned!