SAM RAIMI

[MacGuffin]

Sam Raimi has Archenemies

IESB.net reports that "Spider-Man" helmer Sam Raimi has inked a deal to produce the film adaptation of the Dark Horse comic series, "Archenemies".

Sam Raimi, Josh Donen and Mike Richardson will produce the film, currently set up at Paramount, which is based on the comics penned by Drew Melbourne.

Says Wikipedia : The 4-part comic series focuses on the superhero Star Fighter and his archenemy Underlord, as well as roommates Ethan and Vincent. They just happen to be the same people, though neither Ethan (Star Fighter) nor Vincent (Underlord) are aware of that fact.

Ethan and Vincent are each horrible roommates, though they are unable to give up their apartment in order to escape the other. Ethan's a slob who likes throwing parties simply to annoy Vincent. Vincent is creepy. Vincent most likely hates Ethan more than he ever could hate Star Fighter.

At the same time as they're fighting between each other (in both their identities), Vincent is attempting to become a member of the The Masked Circle, a secret society of supervillains that both his father and brother already belong to.

[MacGuffin]

Exclusive: Sam Raimi's Pulp Fiction
From Spidey to The Shadow and Doc Savage?!

IGN has learned that several pulp heroes of yesteryear will be brought to life on the big-screen courtesy of none other than Dark Man and Spider-Man filmmaker Sam Raimi.

The project would unite a number of famous pulp heroes from Street and Smith Publications, which had once been among the top pulp publishers.

Characters that we were informed would be included in the film are Doc Savage, The Shadow and The Avenger, and quite possibly other (or all) major Street and Smith characters.

Street and Smith's titles included The Wizard & Cash Gorman, Crime Busters, The Skipper, The Whisperer, Bill Barnes Air Trails, Nick Carter Magazine, Pete Rice Magazine and Unknown, as well as other crime and Western books.

Additional sources advised us that Raimi is directing the project, which IGN was told would be written by a screenwriter named Siavash Farahani (Ingenue). Farahani, we were also advised, wrote a screenplay for a big-screen version of the CrossGen comic Ruse for Disney.

The Shadow was previously brought to the screen in 1994 with Alec Baldwin as the title character. A Doc Savage movie had long been in-development, attracting the likes of Arnold Schwarzeneggar, James Cameron and Frank Darabont at various points.

[gob]

This could and should be absolutely awesome. I'm not a huge fan of the Spiderman movies so this is pretty exciting to see Raimi potentially tackling something different.

[MacGuffin]

Col wrapped in 'Shadow'
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? Columbia Pictures and Sam Raimi know.

After a lengthy negotiation, Columbia has acquired the screen rights to "The Shadow," the legendary 1930s pulp hero, for a big-screen adaptation to be produced by Raimi and Josh Donen through their Buckaroo Entertainment banner. Michael Uslan is also producing via his Comic Book Movies, Llc/Branded Entertainment.

Columbia has set Siavash Farahani to write the screenplay.

"The Shadow" debuted in 1931 on a CBS radio show which aimed to boost the magazine circulation of sponsor Street & Smith. The character was actually the moniker for the announcer, and listeners began demanding stories based on the name.

Walter B. Gibson created the character, writing the adventures of a crime-fighter who skulked in shadows wearing a hat and cape, and who had the power to cloud men's minds.

The Shadow became one of the greatest pulp heroes of the time, and the radio series, which featured a young Orson Welles, spawned the catchphrase "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"

The character proved a merchandising bonanza, was the subject of seminal comic books, and influenced an array of pop culture, from Batman to "V for Vendetta."

The character moved to the screen, becoming the hero of several movies in late '30s and '40s, a Columbia cliffhanger serial starring Victor Jory, and a couple of TV series in the early days of television.

The Shadow's most recent incarnation was a big-budget 1994 feature from Universal starring Alec Baldwin and directed by Russell Mulcahy. The movie didn't fare well at the boxoffice, quashing a hoped-for franchise.

A "Shadow" movie has long been a dream project for Raimi, and the crime-fighter's influence can be seen in Raimi's 1990 movie, "Darkman."

"I've been a passionate Shadow fan ever since I was a kid and have long dreamed of bringing this character to the screen," Raimi said. He is not attached to direct at this time.

After "Spider-Man 3" opens in May, the future of the Raimi-directed mega-successful franchise becomes an open question. Star Tobey Maguire has not committed to doing more. And Columbia is relishing having Raimi's cinematic fingers on another action hero.

"We're thrilled to be re-teaming with Sam as he brings another legendary comic book character to a new generation of fans," Columbia president of production Matt Tolmach said. "This property is in the perfect hands."

Said Uslan: "My first comic-book writing gig in the '70s was writing for DC's 'Shadow' comics. I had the chance to spend time with Walter Gibson and derive my understanding of the character directly from the original source himself. Working with Sam, Josh and the entire team at Columbia, I know I am working with the Shadow dream team."

[MacGuffin]

Raimi 'Hell' bent on thriller
Director co-wrote 'Drag Me' with brother
Source: Variety

After helming three "Spider-Man" films, Sam Raimi will return to his genre roots to direct "Drag Me to Hell," a supernatural thriller he wrote with his brother, Ivan Raimi.

The morality tale about the unwitting recipient of a supernatural curse will go into production early next year. It will be financed through Ghost House, a joint venture Raimi and Rob Tapert formed several years ago with Mandate Pictures.

Raimi and Tapert will produce with Grant Curtis, and Josh Donen will exec produce with Mandate's Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake.

Tapert said the Raimis penned the script well before the formation of Ghost House. It was originally written under the title "The Curse" and completed right after the siblings collaborated on 1992's "Army of Darkness," which Sam Raimi directed.

"Sam calls it a 'spook-a-blast,' a wild ride with all the chills and spills that 'Evil Dead' delivered, without relying on the excessive violence of that film," Tapert said. "When one has done three very expensive movies, they get used to eating caviar. Sam will have to ponder what it means to come down from the mountaintop for a moment."

"Drag Me to Hell" is the first Raimi-directed project for Ghost House, which has done very well in the genre game with the Sarah Michelle Gellar starrer "The Grudge," "The Grudge 2," the Stephen T. Kay-directed "Boogeyman," the Oxide and Danny Pang-directed "The Messenger" and, most recently, the David Slade-helmed "30 Days of Night." Ghost House is prepping a remake of "Evil Dead," the 1981 horror film that was Raimi's first breakout hit as a director.

After "Drag Me to Hell," Raimi is expected to go right back up the mountaintop and take the helm of "The Hobbit" films for New Line and MGM now that Peter Jackson has made it clear he won't direct.

"The appeal to Sam on 'Drag Me to Hell' was returning to what he had once done and loved doing, which was entertaining a very specific group of fans and providing a roller coaster ride for them," Tapert said. "He doesn't have the enormous pressure here that goes with handling a hundreds of millions of dollars franchise."

Tapert said no distributor has yet been set for "Drag Me to Hell."

[MacGuffin]

Ellen Page enters Raimi's 'Hell'
'Juno' actress to star in Universal horror pic
Source: Variety

Oscar-nominated "Juno" star Ellen Page is set to topline "Drag Me to Hell," a horror film that Sam Raimi will direct as his next film.

Universal Pictures has acquired domestic and some international rights to the film, which begins shooting March 17 in L.A.

U Pictures chairman Marc Shmuger and co-chairman David Linde made the deal with Ghost House Pictures partners Raimi and Rob Tapert.

The film's described as a morality tale about the unwitting recipient of a supernatural curse. Pic marks a genre return for Raimi after directing a trio of "Spider-Man" films.

"Sam Raimi's return to horror is a cause for celebration," said Shmuger and Linde. "Having Ellen Page onboard to star is an abundance of riches."

In addition to North America, U will distribute in Germany, Spain and Latin America. Mandate International will handle all other overseas territories.

Pic was scripted by Sam and Ivan Raimi, and Tapert will produce with Grant Curtis and Josh Donen. Mandate's Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake will exec produce.

The film will be next for Page, who is also attached to star in "Whip It," the directorial debut of Drew Barrymore.

Donna Langley and Lawrence Grey will oversee the production for Universal.

[MacGuffin]

Page out of 'Hell'
Horror film delay crimps schedule
Source: Hollywood Reporter

It looks as if Ellen Page has not been dragged to hell after all.

Page has dropped out of "Drag Me to Hell," Sam Raimi's return to horror being produced by Ghost House Pictures and Mandate Pictures. Universal is distributing the movie domestically.

The production is being shoved back due to a longer than anticipated pre-production process. Pushing the start date caused a conflict with the two other projects Page has lined up, both for Mandate: "Whip it!" a roller derby comedy being directed by Drew Barrymore and "Peacock," a thriller also starring Cillian Murphy. Part of the time crunch will be the intense physical prep that Page is planning to undergo for "Whip It!"

"We were racing to start production so that we could accommodate Ellen's schedule," Ghost House and Mandate said in a statement. "But like so many other productions trying to start before the potential SAG strike date, this one needed more time and we had to push back the start of production."

The rush is now on to fill the part, that of a woman who is the unwitting recipient of a supernatural curse. The void might cause jitters among the foreign buyers who bought into the movie partially based on Page's starring turn.

[MacGuffin]

Lohman replaces Page in 'Hell'
Actress takes lead role in Sam Raimi thriller
Source: Variety

Alison Lohman will step into the lead role in Sam Raimi's supernatural thriller "Drag Me to Hell."

Ellen Page had been poised to topline the Ghost House Pictures/Mandate Pictures project but stepped aside due to scheduling conflicts.

Universal Pictures will distribute "Drag Me to Hell" domestically.

Film, which will mark Raimi's first helming effort since "Spider-Man 3," centers on the unwitting recipient of a supernatural curse.

Shooting in Los Angeles is scheduled to begin March 31, two weeks later than the pic's original start date.

Raimi penned the screenplay with his brother Ivan.

Rob Tapert, Grant Curtis and Josh Donen are producing. Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake exec produce.

Lohman, whose credits include "Matchstick Men" and "Big Fish," recently appeared in Robert Zemeckis' "Beowulf" and "Things We Lost in the Fire."

[john]

Upgrade.

Very nice.

[MacGuffin]

Raimi, Paramount revive Jack Ryan
Director taking on Clancy character after 'Hell'
Source: Variety

Paramount Pictures is in negotiations with Sam Raimi to spearhead a franchise revival of Jack Ryan, the Tom Clancy-created CIA analyst character who drove four hit movies for the studio.

Raimi would develop and direct a series of films to be produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Raimi's Buckaroo Entertainment partner Josh Donen.

The intention is to generate several films Raimi would develop and direct, featuring Ryan at a younger, more formative point in his career than previously depicted. One invention the studio is considering is to set the film in the present, with the action triggered by a global threat.

Par will draft a scribe to write a Ryan movie that Raimi would shoot after he completes the Universal horror film "Drag Me to Hell." Paramount wants the Ryan movie ready for release in summer 2010.

Ryan is the cerebral CIA analyst who climbed the political ladder and became an Everyman action hero star in a quartet of films spearheaded by producer Mace Neufeld. Alec Baldwin originated Ryan in 1990's "The Hunt for Red October" and when Baldwin famously jumped ship to do "A Streetcar Named Desire" on Broadway, Harrison Ford replaced him in 1992's "Patriot Games" and 1994's "Clear and Present Danger." Ben Affleck played Ryan in 2002's "The Sum of All Fears." The four films grossed $781.5 million worldwide.

While Clancy is completing another Ryan novel, the studio hasn't read it and so hasn't decided if it will use the new book or come up with an original story. Paramount controls rights to the Ryan character, and gets first look at the new novel.

Raimi was drawn to the project because he loves the character. The studio was attracted by Raimi's skill in navigating a franchise, following a trio of "Spider-Man" blockbusters. Raimi is by no means out of the running to make more "Spider-Man" films, but he would have to direct the first film after "Drag Me to Hell" for the studio to make its 2010 release date.

[MacGuffin]

Columbia, Raimi reunite on 'Day' job
Duo to adapt upcoming Dennis Lehane novel
Source: Variety

Columbia and "Spider-Man" director Sam Raimi are reuniting on "The Given Day," an adaptation of an upcoming novel by Dennis Lehane. Columbia has acquired the novel, and Raimi will develop it to direct.

Raimi will produce with Josh Donen.

Deal gives the studio another big project with Raimi, who after three "Spider-Man" films is eyeing a fourth installment currently being scripted by James Vanderbilt.

Raimi is also aligned to reinvent the Jack Ryan franchise at Paramount.

Books by the Dorchester, Mass.-born Lehane have proved popular for directors. Clint Eastwood directed "Mystic River," and Ben Affleck made his directing debut on "Gone Baby Gone." Martin Scorsese has nearly completed production on "Shutter Island," with Leonardo DiCaprio in the starring role.

"The Given Day" is set in 1919 Boston, with the city in turmoil as soldiers are returning home from WWI, having brought back an epidemic of Spanish influenza. Attempts to unionize the police department have set the stage for a historic strike and two cops take center stage."While it deals with many of the same themes as (Lehane's) earlier work, it is also his most ambitious book, tying events of a century ago to the subjects we struggle with today," Raimi said.

The book will be published by HarperCollins on Sept. 23.

[MacGuffin]

Sam Raimi plays 'Warcraft'
Director signs on for live-action adaptation of vidgame
Source: Variety

Sam Raimi has signed on to direct "Warcraft," the live-action film adaptation of the fantasy videogame franchise "World of Warcraft."

Legendary Pictures and vidgame publisher Blizzard Entertainment are mounting the film, and Warner Bros. will co-finance and distribute. The team boasts an impressive pedigree: In addition to the director of "Spider-Man," the partners have added "The Dark Knight" producer Charles Roven to the creative mix.

The plan is for Raimi to supervise development of "Warcraft" and shoot the picture after he completes work on "Spider-Man 4," which gets under way early next year for Columbia Pictures.

The movie will be financed under the Legendary Pictures' co-production and co-financing deal with WB, in a manner similar to the Todd Phillips-directed "The Hangover" plus the Roven-produced "Batman Begins" and "Dark Knight."

The "Warcraft" universe features an epic conflict between the Horde and the Alliance. The game has developed a global following since its launch in 1994 and shows no signs of slowing. Its most recent expansion, "Wrath of the Lich King," sold more than 2.8 million copies in the first day of release and more than 4 million its first month.

"Warcraft" is "emblematic of the kind of branded, event films for which our studio is best known," said Warner Bros. Pictures Group president Jeff Robinov. The deal revives a long-dormant pact made by Legendary and Blizzard for a film adaptation of the game.

"At its core, 'Warcraft' is a fantastic, action-packed story," Raimi said in a statement.

Raimi most recently directed "Drag Me to Hell."

Roven and his Atlas producing partner Alex Gartner will produce with Legendary's CEO Thomas Tull and chief creative officer Jon Jashni, Raimi and his producing partner, Joshua Donen. Rob Tapert will be executive producer, and Blizzard senior VP of creative development Chris Metzen will be co-producer.

[SiliasRuby]

Yippppe, something other than Spiderman.

[MacGuffin]

Sam Raimi to direct 'Oz' prequel?
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Will Sam Raimi direct "Oz: The Great and Powerful"?

That's a question that could be answered this week as Raimi enters, or not, negotiations with Disney to come aboard the project, which takes an origin story approach to the Wizard, the famed character of the L. Frank Baum books.

The director's involvement comes out of left field, as the shortlist of helmers for the Joe Roth-produced project included Sam Mendes, Adam Shankman and "Wanted" director Timur Bekmambetov. Baz Luhrmann flirted, for like a second, with the project.

Raimi received an offer late Friday and is now mulling it over. Neither Disney nor CAA would comment on any possible negotiations.

If a deal is made, it would be Raimi's first major move since leaving the Spider-Man franchise in December. Although he remains attached as director to "Warcraft," the adaptation of the video game set up at Sony, his name came up recently as a possible replacement for Guillermo del Toro to direct "The Hobbit," a project he once campaigned for. 

"Oz" sees the central character as a fast-talking snake oil salesman during turn-of-the-20th-century Kansas who, after being caught with a married woman, flees in a hot-air balloon and ends up in the magical land of Oz.

The script is well regarded around town and balances character, levity and scare in what Disney hopes will be an event movie. Robert Downey Jr. is unofficially attached as Oz, although no deal is in place.

[MacGuffin]

Sam Raimi to direct 'Saints for Sinners'
'Spider-Man' helmer signs on for DreamWorks project
Source: Variety

Just in time for Comic-Con, Sam Raimi is attached to helm and produce a pic based on graphic novel "Earp: Saints for Sinners" for DreamWorks, Radical Studios, Mandeville and Raimi's Star Road Entertainment.

Radical prexy Barry Levine produces with Mandeville's David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman and Star Road's Josh Donen.

"Earp: Saints for Sinners" is a modern-day re-imagining of Western hero Wyatt Earp fighting outlaws in a ravaged society where the only boomtown left is Las Vegas. "Earp" was created by Matt Cirulnick and Mandeville Films' David Manpearl, and written by Cirulnick and Zachary Sherman.

Cirulnick will adapt and exec produce along with Radical exec VP Jesse Berger and Manpearl. Cirulnick will unveil artwork and story details at Radical's panel at Comic-Con on Thursday.

Radical Pictures has several feature adaptations of graphic novels, including "Last Days of American Crime" with Sam Worthington attached to star, and "Oblivion," with "Tron Legacy" director Joe Kosinski attached to direct.

Radical recently announced an imprint deal with Worthington and his partners at Full Clip Prods. that allows Full Clip to create content for comicbooks and films.

Worthington and his Full Clips partner John Schwarz may star in feature versions of select projects.

Worthington recently unveiled the apocalyptic "Patriots" as an original title from his fledgling Full Clips Prods.

Raimi bowed out of helming future installments of Sony Pictures' "Spider-Man" franchise in January.

He's attached to direct vidgame adaptation "World of Warcraft" for Legendary and Warner Bros., and he has been in talks with Disney direct a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz" dubbed "Oz, the Great and Powerful."

Disney-based Mandeville's upcoming releases include "The Fighter" and a Muppets pic.