Dustin Lance Black

J. EDGAR Behind-the-Scenes Footage and Q&A with Cast and Crew

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: December 22nd, 2011 at 6:07 pm

Fans of Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar will want to go ahead and skip to the jump, as will admirers of the work of three-time Oscar-nominee Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar-winning writer Dustin Lance Black and Armie Hammer. Oh, and history buffs of the Hoover-era of American government will likely want to hit the jump to, as there you’ll find almost eight minutes worth of behind-the-scenes footage, a Q&A with the above-mentioned gentlemen and further insight into the man that was J. Edgar Hoover. With a little more than a month to go until the 84^th annual Oscar nominations are announced, it’s a safe bet that J. Edgar’s cast and crew will be in the running for some hardware on February 26^th at the Kodak Theatre. Hit the jump to check out the video.

Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black Talks J. EDGAR, THE BAREFOOT BANDIT, and Ron Howard’s UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 6:08 pm

With director Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar now playing in limited release, I recently got to speak with screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk).  Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as J. Edgar Hoover, the controversial founding director of the FBI, the film boasts a great supporting cast including Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench, Josh Lucas and Ken Howard.  You can watch the trailer here.

During my exclusive interview, Lance Black talks about how he prepared to write the screenplay, why he wanted to tell the story, his reaction to Eastwood directing his screenplay, how they cut out a lot of the first act in the editing room, and how he wanted the script to be faithful to the truth.  In addition, he talked about The Barefoot Bandit, which is based on the true story of Colton Harris-Moore, and after he finishes he’ll move on to Under the Banner of Heaven, which is based on Jon Krakauer’s nonfiction book about Mormon fundamentalists.  Hit the jump for more.

J. EDGAR Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 8th, 2011 at 2:21 pm

Clint Eastwood paints a broad, meticulous, and shallow portrait of controversial FBI director J. Edgar Hoover in the new biopic J. Edgar.  As seen by Eastwood’s past output from at least the past several years (and arguably even further), the Hollywood veteran seems content to glide along the surface of his subject rather than probe deeper and ask tough questions.  The result for J. Edgar is a movie where at the end of two hours and nineteen minutes you shrug and go, “Yep.  That’s a Napoleon Complex.”  Despite Leonardo DiCaprio acting his heart out as Hoover, and a fine supporting performance from Armie Hammer, J. Edgar is fascinated with its title character but the fascination runs skin-deep.

More Images From Clint Eastwood’s J. EDGAR, Plus Eastwood Talks Film’s Take on Hoover’s Sexuality

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: August 12th, 2011 at 4:01 pm

The fall movie season is about to begin, and character-driven dramas should be just the thing to remedy me from a bad case of blockbuster fatigue. We’ve had our share of popcorn movies this summer, some great (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) and some painful (Green Lantern), but I’m very much ready for the promising flicks slated for the second half of this year, including Clint Eastwood’s biopic J. Edgar.

Just yesterday we got our first official look at Leonardo DiCaprio as the titular character in the film, and now a few more images have been released, giving us our first look at Armie Hammer as Hoover’s confidant/purported lover Clyde Tolson. Additionally, Eastwood revealed that the film leaves much of Edgar’s sexuality up for debate. Hit the jump for the images and quotes from Eastwood.

20th Century Fox Pays Barefoot Bandit $1.3 Million to Make Movie about His Crime Spree

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 11th, 2011 at 10:20 am

Who says crime doesn’t pay?  Answer: someone who didn’t sell the movie rights to his crimes.  THR reports that Colton Harris-Moore, the “Barefoot Bandit”, has signed a deal worth $1.3 million with 20th Century Fox. However, the money won’t go into Harris-Moore’s pocket but towards the $1.4 million he owes as restitution to his victims.  Harris-Moore will write the script with Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk).

I’m wondering if the two will do a Catch Me If You Can take on the material or go in a different direction.  It certainly lends itself to that angle as Harris-Moore had a two-year crime spree that ended in February 2007 when he crashed an airplane he taught himself to fly.  Harris-Moore’s entertainment Lance Rosen says, “It’s very unusual for this kind of money to be paid for anyone’s life story rights.”  It’s unusual but not impossible!  Hit the jump for my fake tips on how to turn your crimes into moving pictures!

Ron Howard and Dustin Lance Black Team Up To Adapt UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN for Warner Bros.

by Jason Barr    Posted: July 19th, 2011 at 7:36 pm

The great thing about being Ron Howard (aside from that sweet beard pictured above) is that when one of your projects gets shot down, you don’t have to worry about whether or not you’ll land on your feet. Case in point: only one day removed from Universal passing on his ambitious adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, the Oscar-winning director has already landed another gig. Per Deadline, Howard will join forces with Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk) on Warner Bros. adaptation of the Jon Krakauer novel Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. Briefly, Heaven tells the story of a pair of brothers who murder their younger brother’s wife and infant daughter only to claim they were acting on orders from God.

Howard will also co-produce the pic alongside his Imagine cohort Brian Grazer. Jason Bateman, Stephanie Davis, and Shannon Costello will co-produce as well. In addition to Heaven, you may remember that Howard also has Rush starring Chris Hemsworth and a Spy vs. Spy adaptation waiting in the wings. As for Black, he penned the script for director Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, Armie Hammer, and Josh Lucas. Warner Bros. releases that pic on October 21st. For more on Heaven, hit the jump for a synopsis of Krakauer’s novel.

Dustin Lance Black in Talks to Adapt AMERICAN IDIOT Broadway Musical; Michael Mayer Will Direct

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: April 12th, 2011 at 8:30 pm

Last March, Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman optioned the screen rights to American Idiot, the Broadway rock opera based on the music of Green Day.  Playtone has a first-look deal with Universal Pictures — now the studio is in negotiations to acquire the project.  Deadline reports Dustin Lance Black (Milk) is in talks to write the script.  Michael Mayer, the man behind the stage musical, will direct the movie as well.

The musical tells “the story three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia.”  Watch a clip from the show after the break.

Armie Hammer Offers Details on Clint Eastwood’s J. EDGAR

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 7th, 2011 at 11:09 am

While the filmmakers and cast of The Social Network are making the obligatory pre-Oscar press rounds right now, it’s prime time to get some info on their upcoming projects. Armie Hammer has done just that, as he recently offered up some details on Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar Hoover biopic J. Edgar. Leonardo DiCaprio is reportedly attached to play the title character, with Hammer taking on the role of Hoover’s lover and confidant Clyde Toulson. Apparently the film will span a number of years, with Hammer and DiCaprio donning old-age makeup. Hammer had this to say:

I’m playing Toulson up to his elderly age! Makeup stuff comes within the next couple weeks. We’re definitely doing a lot of wardrobe stuff right now, but the makeup stuff we haven’t done yet.

For more details on the Dustin Lance Black (Milk)-scripted film, including plot points and who Judi Dench is playing, hit the jump.

Damon Herriman Takes on Clint Eastwood’s J. EDGAR

by Jason Barr    Posted: December 23rd, 2010 at 6:25 pm

Australia’s own Damon Herriman (FX’s Justified) has joined Clint Eastwood’s upcoming J. Edgar Hoover biopic, cleverly entitled J. Edgar.  Herriman joins a cast that currently features Leonardo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer (The Social Network), with an offer still on the table for Charlize Theron.  Although little is currently known of its details, Oscar-winner Dustin Lance Black (Milk) is penning the script.

According to The Playlist, Herriman will make a turn as Bruno Hauptmann, the man convicted of abducting and killing Charles and Anne Lindbergh’s baby in March of 1932.  Although convicted, the Hauptmann case later became the source of questions regarding police tampering and witness intimidation.  This questioning led to J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI eventually inquiring about the handling of the case.

Joaquin Phoenix to Play J. Edgar Hoover’s Lover in Clint Eastwood’s HOOVER?

by Ramses Flores    Posted: September 21st, 2010 at 5:08 pm

It seems that Joaquin Phoenix is definitely going back to acting after his “retirement” from the business was revealed to be a hoax last week. The actor is attached to star in the foot-fetish dramedy Big Shoe and might be offered a role opposite Jennifer Garner in The Odd Life of Timothy Green.  Now, Vulture is reporting that Clint Eastwood is interested in having Phoenix star as J. Edgar Hoover’s gay lover and protégé, Clyde Tolson, in his upcoming biopic, Hoover.  Leonardo DiCaprio has been attached to star as Hoover and it looks like an offer will be made to Phoenix once a deal is fully finalized with DiCaprio. Hit the jump to find out more about Clyde Tolson and Hoover’s relationship, and what we know about the film so far.

Leonardo DiCaprio Signs on to Star in Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar Hoover Biopic

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 17th, 2010 at 5:14 pm

You may remember that back in late March, we reported that Leonardo DiCaprio was in early negotiations to star in Clint Eastwood’s biopic about the controversial former heard of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover.  It looks like those negotiations have wrapped up as Deadline reports that DiCaprio is now officially on board.  The film has been on the fast track ever since producer Brian Grazer brought Dustin Lance Black’s script to Clint Eastwood in mid-February.  And only Deadline could say that it’s great DiCaprio “is getting out of his Marty Scorsese rut,” as if working with the legendary director is such an awful fate that’s really brought down the actor’s career.

Hit the jump for other projects that DiCaprio’s been circling and to learn more about Hoover.

Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black to Adapt Graphic Novel 3 STORY: THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE GIANT MAN

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 1st, 2010 at 9:54 pm

Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk) has signed on to write and direct an adaptation of the graphic novel 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man.  Written by Matt Kindt, 3 Story “is a modern fable, exploring the life of a giant man, Craig Pressgang, whose strange medical condition causes continuous growth. The tale is told from the point of view of three women — his mother, wife and daughter — and follows Craig’s journey from birth to his eventual three-story height. It also serves as an exploration of loneliness and love’s changing nature.”  According to Heat Vision, Black’s approach will focus on the father-daughter relationship and soften the melancholic ending.

Black recently made his directorial debut with the indie drama What’s Wrong With Virginia which stars Ed Harris, Emma Roberts, and Jennifer Connelly.  He also wrote the film’s script.  He’s also been hired to pen the screenplay for Clint Eastwood’s upcoming J. Edgar Hoover biopic, Hoover.

Leonardo DiCaprio Might Play HOOVER for Director Clint Eastwood

by Germain Lussier    Posted: March 31st, 2010 at 5:04 pm

Will Leonardo DiCaprio and Clint Eastwood be able to succeed where Michael Mann and Billy Crudup did not? Deadline broke the news that the Shutter Island star is in preliminary talks to star as the title character in Hoover, a drama about the formation of the FBI directed by Eastwood and written by Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black (Milk). Crudup played the same role in Mann’s Public Enemies.

Hoover was originally set up at the same place as Public Enemies, Universal, but after the disappointing domestic gross on that film, which obviously covers some of the same subject matter in the same period, they passed on the script. The film’s producer Brian Grazer then brought it to Eastwood, who is at Warner Brothers. That’s where the film is likely to end up.

Hit the jump for more on DiCaprio and the character of J. Edgar Hoover himself.

Clint Eastwood Will Direct HOOVER, Biopic of the Infamous FBI Director Scripted by MILK’s Dustin Lance Black

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: March 10th, 2010 at 5:48 pm

Last week we reported that Dustin Lance Black, the boyish screenwriter behind the Oscar-winning screenplay for Milk, has scripted the biopic of J. Edgar Hoover, the director of the FBI from its 1935 founding to his 1972 death.  Like Milk, the film is going by the surname-only title Hoover.  And just as Black’s Milk script caught the eye of arthouse A-lister Gus Van Sant, the Hoover screenplay has entrapped a director of comparable stature, one Clint Eastwood.  That combination–under Ron Howard’s Imagine banner no less–is sure to guarantee awards attention come Oscar season 2011.

EW reports that the distributing studio is still to be determined, but if Eastwood comes aboard then Warner Bros.–his directorial home of the last four decades–seems the likeliest candidate.  Up next for the prolific Eastwood is Hereafter, the supernatural drama starring Matt Damon and Bryce Dallas Howard, slated for a December 2010 release.

Dustin Lance Black to Pen Screenplay for J. Edgar Hoover Biopic Called HOOVER

by Keith Demko    Posted: March 1st, 2010 at 10:11 am

Having already tackled the life story one high-profile but equally controversial public figure – Harvey Milk for director Gus Van Sant’s Milk – screenwriter Dustin Lance Black is now turning his sights to J. Edgar Hoover, according to Pajiba.

Hoover was played  - with great success in my book – on the big screen recently by Billy Crudup in Michael Mann’s Public Enemies, but has never himself been the subject of a grand biopic, though his life would certainly dictate it. He founded the FBI and remained as its director until his death in 1972, taking all kinds of politicians and mobsters (who can tell the difference?) down along the way.

The movie, to be called Hoover, is being developed by Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment, and as of yet no director has been attached (though Howard himself would seem to be a logical choice.)  Hit the jump to find out some details about Hoover’s seamier side that will surely make their way into Black’s script.

Copyright ©2005 - 2012. All Rights Reserved. California web design