Francis Lawrence

Scott Frank to Pen HOUDINI for Columbia

by Jason Barr    Posted: May 24th, 2011 at 6:58 pm

Columbia has hired scribe Scott Frank (Minority Report) to pen its Harry Houdini-centered drama, cleverly titled Houdini. Director Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) has been attached to helm the project since March and Heat Vision confirms that he and Frank will team up to bring a “grounded” vision of the legendary escape artist. Per the report, Houdini will feature the namesake attempting to expose a spiritualist as a fraud only to get caught up in what appears to be a “tragic scam.”

Similar to the rat race that Snow White is currently competing in (which Brendan so mathematically details here), Houdini also has several tales currently in development. In addition to Columbia’s Houdini, DreamWorks acquired the rights to J. Michael Straczynski’s (creator of Babylon 5 and personal favorite comic series Rising Stars) Houdini/Sir Arthur Conan Doyle script Voices from the Dead back in February. Not long after that news, Summit hired Noah Oppenheim to pen an adaptation of William Kalush’s book The Secret Life of Houdini. For better or worse, it doesn’t look as if moviegoers should have any shortage of Houdini content coming their way over the next few years.

Reese Witherspoon and Director Francis Lawrence Interview WATER FOR ELEPHANTS

by Christina Radish    Posted: April 19th, 2011 at 7:20 am

From the best-selling book of the same name, Water for Elephants tells the story of veterinary student Jacob Jankowski (Twilight star Robert Pattinson), who has to drop out of school after the unexpected death of his parents, and ends up jumping a train that happens to belong to the Benzini Bros. Circus. When he is discovered, his skills with the animals are put to use and he soon meets star performer Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), who is also the wife of the Big Top’s often violent and abusive owner, August (Christoph Waltz). The bond between Jacob and Marlena forms over their mutual admiration of the animals, but also develops into something deeper, as the two see a second chance at happiness in each other.

During a press conference at the film’s press day, Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon and director Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) talked about what made them want to do a film of this time period, working with an elephant as a co-star, and how the showmanship and mystery of the circus is similar to making movies. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

8 Movie Clips and 17 High Resolution Images from WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Starring Robert Pattinson

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 1st, 2011 at 9:53 pm

20^th Century Fox has release 8 clips and 17 high resolution images from the upcoming drama, Water for Elephants.  Directed by Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend), the film stars Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, and Christoph Waltz. Here’s the synopsis:

Based on the acclaimed bestseller, Water for Elephants presents an unexpected romance in a uniquely compelling setting. Veterinary school student Jacob (Pattinson) meets and falls in love with Marlena (Witherspoon), a star performer in a circus of a bygone era. They discover beauty amidst the world of the Big Top, and come together through their compassion for a special elephant. Against all odds — including the wrath of Marlena’s charismatic but dangerous husband, August (Waltz) — Jacob and Marlena find lifelong love.

Hit the jump to check out the clips and 17 images.  Water for Elephants opens April 22nd.

Sony Moves Forward With Houdini Film; Francis Lawrence in Talks to Direct

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 23rd, 2011 at 4:00 pm

In keeping with Hollywood’s tradition of fixating on one subject of interest for multiple competing projects, Harry Houdini seems to be the next flavor of the week. Sony is making moves on its long-gestating Houdini project with Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) in talks to direct the film. Variety reports that Jimmy Miller (The Other Guys) will produce. The studio is looking to revamp the story while maintaining its period setting.

DreamWorks recently acquired the rights to Michael Straczynski’s Voices from the Dead, which pits Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle as detectives solving mysteries in 1920’s New York. Additionally, last month Summit tapped Noah Oppenheim to adapt William Kalush’s book The Secret Life of Houdini into a feature film. That flick portrays Houdini as a superhero. Which of these projects, if any, will get off the ground first? I guess the race is on.

New Trailer for WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Starring Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: March 3rd, 2011 at 9:12 pm

20th Century Fox has released a new trailer for Water for Elephants, the adaptation of the Sara Gruen novel of the same name directed by Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend).  Robert Pattinson stars “a penniless and recently-orphaned veterinary school student [who] parlays his expertise with animals into a job with a second-rate traveling circus.”  He falls in love with one the star performers (Reese Witherspoon), who unfortunately happens to be married to an unbalanced ringleader (Christoph Waltz).  Watch the new trailer after the jump.

Scott Silver Talks About Rewriting the Biblical SAMSON into a Superhero for Francis Lawrence

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: February 16th, 2011 at 9:35 pm

More than two years have passed since Warner Bros. first bought the pitch for a “futuristic retelling of Samson and Delilah” to be directed by Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend).  At that time, Scott Silver was known as the screenwriter behind 8 Mile.  Since then, Silver has earned an Oscar nomination for his part in writing The Fighter, which provides an audience to share his plans for Samson.  For instance, when Samson is transplanted from Biblical times to the future, his divinely granted strength qualifies as a superpower.

“I’m finishing up something completely different, a superhero movie set in the future for Warner Bros.  It’s an original superhero.”

Read more of what Silver had to say after the jump.

International Trailer for WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson

by Ramses Flores    Posted: January 18th, 2011 at 6:54 pm

20th Century Fox has released a new international trailer for Water for Elephants.  Based on the novel by Sara Gruen, the film tells the story of a man who joins a traveling circus during the Great Depression after his parents die in a car accident. While at the circus, he finds himself falling in love with one of the main stars of the show, who is married to the circus’ cruel and violent animal trainer.  The film stars Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz, Hal Holbrook, and the always great and underused Paul Schneider; Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) directs.  Hit the jump to watch the trailer and read a full plot synopsis.

Universal Acquires Bestselling Book UNBROKEN as Directing Vehicle for Francis Lawrence

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 4th, 2011 at 10:01 am

Universal Pictures has picked up the rights to Laura Hillenbrand’s bestselling non-fiction novel Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.  According to Deadline, the studio is in talks with Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) to direct and Crazy Heart director Scott Cooper to pen the script.  Universal also produced the adaptation of Hillenbrand’s previous book, Seabiscuit, and picked up $148 million worldwide plus seven Oscar nominations as a result.

Unbroken centers on Louis Zamperini, a former Olympian whose plane crashed at sea during World War II.  Zamperini and two crewmates floated adrift for 47 days and 2000 miles, he was caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a POW camp where he was specifically targeted by a sadistic overseer.  Hit the jump for the synopsis of the book.

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Trailer Starring Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, and Christoph Waltz

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 15th, 2010 at 5:51 pm

The trailer for Water for Elephants has gone online.  Based on the novel by Sara Gruen, the film is directed by Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) and stars Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon, Oscar-winner Christoph Waltz, and MTV Movie Award-winner Robert Pattinson.  The story is set during the Great Depression and centers on a veterinary student (Pattinson) who drops out of school and joins a second-rate traveling circus after his parents are killed in a car accident.  While at the circus, he falls in love with Marlena (Witherspoon), who is married to a cruel and violent animal trainer (Waltz).

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  The film also stars James Frain (TRON: Legacy), Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild), and Paul Schneider (Parks and Recreation). Water for Elephants opens April 15, 2011.

Lawrence, Greengrass, Cooper, Berlanti, and Campbell on Shortlist to Direct TALES FROM THE GANGSTER SQUAD

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 6th, 2010 at 9:32 am

Earlier today, we reported that Warner Bros. was offering the director’s chair to Tales from the Gangster Squad to Darren Aronofsky after Ben Affleck decided to pass on the project.  Latino Review is now reporting that Warner Bros. has some other major names lined up should Aronofsky choose to go another way (a way that would most likely involve retractable adamantium claws).  The five other candidates for the gig are Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend), Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Ultimatum), Scott Cooper, Greg Berlanti (Life As We Know It), and Martin Campbell (Casino Royale).

Latino Review also reports that they’ve read the script for Tales from the Gangster Squad and “it’s all sorts of kickass.”  The story centers on Sgt. John O’ Mara and his off-the-record gang of LAPD officers who attempt to bring down legendary gangster Micky Cohen in the late 1940s.

Will Smith to Head to THE CITY THAT SAILED or Suit up Again for MEN IN BLACK 3

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 23rd, 2010 at 9:38 pm

It looks like Will Smith has narrowed his many possible projects down to The City That Sailed or Men in Black 3.  After over a year of speculation, Variety reports that the actor will likely make one of the projects his next feature.  While, the plot of MIB 3 is unknown, we all know what kind of movie it will be: sci-fi action-adventure.  But The City that Sailed is an adventure-fantasy we first reported on back in July of last year.  Here’s what I wrote about back then:

Written by Andrew Niccol, the story follows a New York City street magician whose daughter, because of family circumstances (read: Daddy likes the whores), lives in England. In exploring a lighthouse one day, the girl discovers a room with magic candles and wishes to be reunited with her father, causing the island of Manhattan to break away and drift across the Atlantic, the magic candles apparently not having access to priceline.com or any comparable service.  I guess the other option is that she could just walk across…if it’s not too deep.

The “Daddy likes the whores,” was pure speculation on my part, but what was true is that Francis Lawrence, who teamed with Smith on I Am Legend, was to direct.  Now, that’s not the case and currently the project has yet to find a director.  Hit the jump to learn about all the other projects that were on Smith’s plate.

Christoph Waltz Replaced by Viggo Mortensen in David Cronenberg’s Sigmund Freud Biopic, THE TALKING CURE

by Germain Lussier    Posted: March 9th, 2010 at 12:26 pm

Fresh off his Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor, Christoph Waltz has bowed out of David Cronenberg’s The Talking Cure. According to Deadline, He’ll be replaced by frequent Cronenberg collaborator, Viggo Mortensen.  Mortensen will step into the role of famed psychiatrist Sigmund Freud, opposite Waltz’s Inglourious Basterds co-star Michael Fassbender as Carl Jung. The film is about a rumored feud between the two famed mind-menders over a patient, played by Keira Knightley.  Waltz dropped out of the film to concentrate on his role in Francis Lawrence’s Water For Elephants,which is about a love triangle in a circus during the Great Depression.  The film will co-stars Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon.

Considering Mortensen has successfully collaborated with Cronenberg before, on Eastern Promises and A History of Violence, and that his biggest role was also as a fill in (for Stuart Townsend in The Lord of the Rings) this seems like another winning combo from the great actor and director. [Update: French Distributors Mars Films announced via their Facebook page (via ThePlaylist) that Vincent Cassel is also in the film]

Warner Bros. and Director Francis Lawrence Call Out for Marco Polo Movie

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 4th, 2010 at 12:30 am

In an ongoing attempt to make historical figures seem cool, Warner Bros. has bought a pitch from screenwriters Adam Cooper and Bill Collage that would recast 13th century explorer Marco Polo into a hero of fantastical adventures.  While the film would not be a biopic, Polo had an interesting life of traveling Asia for 24 years with his father and uncle, eventually meeting the ruler of the Mongol empire, Kublai Khan.  Polo was also known for his penchant to fuck with blind people who were calling out his name (I have no other explanation as to how the popular swimming pool game began).

Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) is attached to direct.  He’s also on board to helm the adaptation of the Depression-era drama, Water for Elephants, starring Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, and Christoph Waltz.

Variety notes that this is Cooper and Collage’s third consecutive reimagination of a classic story purchased preemptively.  They’ve already sold the story of Moses re-imagined in the style of 300 and a reinvention of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick for Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov.

Christoph Waltz to Play “Dangerous Paranoid Schizophenic Animal Trainer” in WATER FOR ELEPHANTS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 17th, 2010 at 1:28 pm

Deadline reports that Christoph Waltz, who is due to receive an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on March 7th, is joining Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson in Francis Lawrence’s adaptation of Sara Gruen’s novel Water for Elephants.  I had zero interest in this project before, but now I’m excited out of my mind for it, not just because I want to see more Waltz in movies, but because Mike Felming describes the characters as, “a dangerous paranoid schizophrenic animal trainer who is as mean to his wife (Witherspoon) as he is to the circus creatures.”  The story follows a second-rate circus during the Depression.  Pattinson will play a veterinary medicine student who falls for the star performer/wife of the dangerous paranoid schizophrenic animal trainer.

We previously reported that Sean Penn was in talks to join the film, but his talks fizzled and so it now looks like Waltz will have the privilege of playing such an incredible-sounding role.

Sean Penn and Robert Pattinson May Join Reese Witherspoon in WATER FOR ELEPHANTS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 21st, 2010 at 1:22 pm

Variety is reporting that Sean Penn and Robert Pattinson are in talks to star in Francis Lawrence’s (I Am Legend) upcoming adaptation Water for Elephants, with Reese Witherspoon already attached to star.  Richard LaGravenese (P.S. I Love You) will write the script based off Sara Gruen’s best-selling history book of the same name.  Here’s how Variety describes the plot:

Set during the Great Depression, Gruen’s book tells the story of a Cornell Unviersity veterinary student who leaves his studies after his parents are killed, and joins up with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, working as a vet for the circus.

Wow.  The guy literally ran away to join the circus.  I thought that was only a threat made by little kids when they were mad at their parents.  But back to the news, Penn recently signed back on to co-star in the Farrelly Brothers’ The Three Stooges while Pattinson is set to co-star with Christina Ricci in Bel Ami.

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