Columbia Pictures

JACK THE GIANT KILLER Scribe Set to Pen GOOSEBUMPS Adaptation

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 13th, 2012 at 4:01 pm

As Columbia Pictures continues to develop its adaptation of the horror series Goosebumps, they’re set to go back to the drawing board. The project has seen a number of writers take a crack at the script (including Carl Ellsworth), but now Heat Vision reports that Darren Lemke is coming aboard to start fresh. Lemke wrote the spec script for Jack the Giant Killer, which Bryan Singer directed and is set to open this summer. The scribe also wrote a re-imagining of The Nutcracker and worked on Shrek Forever After.

If you’re unfamiliar with the book series, author R.L. Stine wrote over 50 books under the Goosebumps moniker that successfully gave me night terrors throughout the early-mid 90s (who am I kidding, Say Cheese and Die still haunts me to this day). There’s no word on what kind of story Columbia is looking for, but seeing as how Lemke is starting from scratch, I’m willing to bet they’re not entirely sure either. To get an idea of what a live-action Goosebumps looks like, hit the jump for a couple clips from the 90s TV series. Beware of terrifying cheese…

David Gordon Green to Direct Adaptation of Time-Travel Love Story Q

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 14th, 2011 at 5:56 pm

Pineapple Express director David Gordon Green has been set to write and direct an adaptation of Evan Mandery’s novel Q for Columbia Pictures. The novel centers on a man who is visited by a future version of himself who tells him not to marry the love of his life. He acquiesces, but then spends the rest of his life trying to undo his decision all while more future selves try to thwart his plans. THR describes the film’s tone as It’s a Wonderful Life “with a combination of romance, comedy, and drama.” Matt Tolmach is producing alongside Pouya Shahbazian.

I never got around to seeing Your Highness but I’m a huge fan of Pineapple Express. While the director is best known for his recent comedies, he made a name for himself with dramas like George Washington and All the Real Girls. Green’s latest directorial effort, the Jonah Hill comedy The Sitter, opens next month. Hit the jump to read a synopsis of the novel Q.

Screenwriter Hired for Film Adaptation of RISK Board Game

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 9th, 2011 at 3:53 pm

If you’ve been waiting with bated breath for a film version of Hasbro’s never-ending board game Risk, well today’s your day. Columbia Pictures has tapped John Hlavin (Underworld: New Dawn) to pen the screenplay for the adaptation of the strategy game. Risky Business reports that the film version will be an action thriller set in modern day. I’m not entirely sure how a film can be resemble the game, unless you cut-away from battle scenes set on Earth to giants in space moving pieces around and yelling at each other over accusations of cheating. That’s a movie I would see. Hlavin wrote a couple of episodes of FX’s The Shield and also penned the Western revenge thriller The Gunslinger which James Mangold is directing.

Columbia Pictures Lands Domestic Rights to Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal’s KILL BIN LADEN; Films This Summer for Late 2012 Release

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: May 24th, 2011 at 5:17 pm

Columbia Pictures has acquired domestic rights to Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal’s (The Hurt Locker) next movie, which has the working title Kill Bin Laden.  The press release says, “the film focuses on the black ops mission to capture or kill Osama bin Laden, which culminated in his death earlier this month during a high-stakes raid on his compound in Pakistan. Bigelow and Boal have been developing the project since 2008 and plan to incorporate recent events into the film.”

We knew the project was moving forward because Joel Edgerton was recently cast as one of the special operatives.  However, the press release says they’re going to start filming this summer and it’ll be released in late 2012.  As one of the many who thought The Hurt Locker was a brilliant movie that not enough people got to see, I’m happy that Bigelow and Boal’s next release will be everywhere.  Hit the jump for the full press release which has some quotes.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK Producer Scott Rudin Options “The Terrorist Search Engine” as Possible Starring Vehicle for Jesse Eisenberg

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 12th, 2011 at 7:34 am

When it comes to prestige pictures, producer Scott Rudin is a heavy-hitter.  His credits include No Country for Old Men, The Royal Tenenbaums, and last year’s Best Picture nominees The Social Network and True Grit.  Now he’s optioned an intriguing New York Magazine article, “The Terrorist Search Engine” about Evan Kohlmann, who was once dubbed by an FBI agent “The Doogie Howser of Terrorism”.  Kohlmann, who is a government expert witness in terrorism cases due to his extensive study of jihad particularly in terms of how it relates to the Internet, has become a controversial figure because testifying has become his primary source of income.

Vulture reports that Rudin has taken the project to Sony’s Columbia Pictures and that the film is being set up as a starring vehicle for Jesse Eisenberg.  However, Eisenberg is waiting to see a script before making a commitment.

Columbia Nabs Rights to Best-Selling Book MOONWALKING WITH EINSTEIN

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 16th, 2011 at 3:29 pm

Columbia Pictures has acquired the rights to what is quite possibly the greatest book title ever conceived. Joshua Foer’s best-selling non-fiction novel Moonwalking With Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything delves into the intracicies of memory, framed around Foer attending the U.S. Memory Championship. THR reports that Columbia has optioned the rights for Matt Tolmach (The Amazing Spider-Man) to produce. Columbia president Doug Belgrad has this to say regarding the acquisition:

“This is a very special book which transcends the already fascinating subject of memory. By explaining in personal and entertaining fashion a great deal about how our brains work, Joshua has written a book that sheds light on how memory is connected to humanity.”

The book documents fascinating memory stories, including a man whose memory extends only to his last thought and an individual who can memorize the exact order of 1,528 digits in an hour. Though one wonders how the tome will translate into a fictional narrative, it’s possible that Foer’s narration could turn him into the lead character. Hit the jump for a synopsis of the book.

Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg Are Father and Son in I HATE YOU DAD

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: January 13th, 2011 at 8:53 pm

Adam Sandler is in talks to play Andy Samberg’s father in I Hate You Dad though less than twelve years separate their ages in real life. According to THR, “The story centers on a father who moves in on the eve of his son’s wedding and promptly begins feuding with the bride-to-be.”  Columbia Pictures first picked up the project in August 2008 from a script by David Caspe that has since been rewritten by David Wain and Ken Marino (Role Models). 

I Hate You Dad is one of several possible starring vehicles for Sandler including Narco, The $40,000 Man, and Valet Guys with Kevin James.  Sandler will next be seen in Just Go With It opposite Jennifer Aniston (February 11th), followed by Jack and Jill opposite Adam Sandler in drag later in the year.  Samberg has supporting roles in the upcoming big screen comedies Friends With Benefits and What’s Your Number.

With all due respect to Kevin James, Samberg/Sandler is a more exciting comedic prospect if only thanks to the novelty.  And that’s before you factor in the invigorating potential of a script from Wain and Marino.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK Returning to Theaters This Friday; Will Cross $200 Million Worldwide

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 5th, 2011 at 12:57 pm

The Social Network is currently the frontrunner in the Oscar race as it’s racked up victories from a wide variety of critics’ groups, individual critics, and publications.  However, Sony Pictures is continuing to do everything in its power to push the film’s popularity.  In addition to the film making it’s debut on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday (three months and eleven days since it was first released in theaters), the studio will be re-releasing the film back into 600 theaters this Friday.  In the January doldrums, that’s not a bad strategy and Deadline predicts that the release will push the film over the $200 million mark worldwide.

If The Social Network does win Best Picture, it will be the first victory for Sony’s Columbia Pictures since 1988.

Adam Sandler Recruits Tim Herlihy to Adapt PIXELS

by Ramses Flores    Posted: November 10th, 2010 at 8:58 pm

Screenwriter Tim Herlihy (Bedtime Stories) has been hired to write a feature length adaptation of Pixels for Columbia and Adam Sandler’s production company Happy Madison. Sandler has starred in all eight feature films credited to Herlihy  — Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, The Waterboy, Big Daddy, Little Nicky, and Bedtime Stories.  Their ninth collaboration, Just Go With It, co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Brooklyn Decker.

Pixels is based on the popular short film which became an internet sensation earlier this year.  The fantastic and imaginative short film — directed by Patrick Jean — featured classic video game characters such as Donkey Kong, Frogger, and Pac-Man as they decide to destroy New York City by turning everything they touch into 3D pixels.  You can hit the jump to check out the original short film.

Robert Downey Jr. to Possibly Star in EMERGENCY

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 20th, 2010 at 1:09 pm

Columbia Pictures has optioned the rights to Neil Strauss’ non-fiction book Emergency! This Book Will Save Your Life as a possible starring vehicle for Robert Downey Jr.  Downey will produce along with his wife and producing partner Susan Downey as well as Michael De Luca.  Screenwriter Allan Loeb (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps) is handling the script.  Strauss’ book has the author learning various survival skills that he will most likely never need to use in his day-to-day life.

Producer Columbia Pictures President Matt Tolmach said of the project in a press release, “Neil Strauss is a tremendous talent and we think Emergency! is his best work yet.  It’s a hugely entertaining read that couldn’t be more timely or topical. We think there is a fantastic film in this book and Robert and Susan, and of course, Mike are the perfect producers to take on the themes of this project.”

Hit the jump for a refresher on Downey’s other projects along with the full press release.

New Trailer for THE TOURIST Starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: October 6th, 2010 at 9:35 pm

Columbia Pictures has released a new trailer for The Tourist, the international thriller which stars Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.  Depp plays an American on vacation in Paris and Venice who becomes entangled in the web of intrigue spun by the enigmatic Elise (Jolie).  Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, and Timothy Dalton also star; Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (The Lives of Others) directs.  Hit the jump to check out the new trailer.

Sony Unveils “Screen Classics by Request”

by Jason Barr    Posted: September 13th, 2010 at 4:27 pm

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has debuted an on-demand DVD pressing known as “Screen Classics by Request.”  This means that, effective today, Sony (which owns Columbia Pictures) is offering consumers the opportunity to purchase DVD copies of classic films from the Columbia film vault for the first time ever.  When I take stock of all the things I can have “on-demand” in life (HBO, Showtime, Hot Pockets), I have to admit that DVDs of previously unreleased classic films ranks pretty high.

Hit the jump for more details on Sony’s classic DVD venture including what titles are currently available.

Cyrus Voris and Ethan Reiff to Pen KARATE KID Sequel

by Jason Barr    Posted: August 27th, 2010 at 7:19 am

Having already mastered the ancient art of “Kung Fu for Pandas,” the writing-team of Cyrus Voris and Ethan Reiff (Kung Fu Panda) are now poised to take on karate (for humans).  Heat Vision is reporting that the two have landed the coveted gig of penning the sequel to Harald Zwart’s The Karate Kid starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith.  To be honest, given the immediate decision to make a sequel, I’m a little surprised that it took almost two and a half months for Columbia to name a writer(s).  Then again, I guess you can never be too careful when putting together a film that mass audiences are most likely going to see regardless of if it was written by able-minded gents such as Voris and Reiff or a less apt writer with a lower price tag (like myself for instance).

As of now, Columbia is declining to release any setting or plot details for the sequel (the guys just got hired, give them a chance to celebrate).  In spite of its approximately $40 million budget, 2010’s The Karate Kid has grossed nearly $300 million worldwide.  In short, be prepared for a long line of “new” Karate Kid films to come your way in the future.

First Trailer for HOW DO YOU KNOW Starring Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, and Owen Wilson

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: August 12th, 2010 at 5:35 pm

Columbia Pictures has released the first trailer for James L. Brooks’ How Do You Know, a romantic comedy led by an impressive cast of Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson, and Kathryn Hahn.  The film centers on a love triangle between a professional baseball player (Wilson), a white collar executive (Rudd), and the object of their affection (Witherspoon).  Check out the trailer after the jump.

Len Wiseman to Direct TOTAL RECALL Remake

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 12:09 pm

Director Len Wiseman (Underworld) is in final negotiations to helm a remake of the 1990 sci-fi flick Total Recall.  Based off the Philip K. Dick short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale”, the original film was directed by Paul Verhoeven and starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.  The first half of the movie is a fantastic mind-bender, but once Schwarzenegger gets to Mars, it ditches the mindgames and becomes a B-action movie mixed with the delightfully bizarre (Kuato!).

Producer Matt Tolmach said in the press release, “Len has an incredible love of the genre and a great gift for action.  He’ll bring a contemporary feel to the film while taking care with everything we love about Philip K. Dick’s original story.”  Hit the jump for the press release and my thoughts on the announcement.

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