Lee Daniels

Showtime Developing LGBT Drama Series with TEMPLE GRANDIN Writer and Lee Daniels; Fox Buys Comedy Pilot from Jonah Hill and Comedian Hannibal Buress

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: October 11th, 2011 at 10:59 am

The filmmaker is already involved with a TV adaptation of The Valley of the Dolls at NBC, but director Lee Daniels is playing around with the small screen even more. Deadline has word that Daniels is working with Temple Grandin writer W. Merritt Johnson for a new drama at Showtime that will focus on the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transsexual) subculture. Daniels is attached to direct the pilot for the potential series which is set in New York City and centers on the disenfranchised multicultural transgender youth of the Ball subculture. The culture has changed over the decades, but the underground society is said to consist of New York City’s disadvantaged black, Latino, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual communities who come together to compete for trophies and prizes, almost like a set of fraternities. Showtime’s no stranger to the lives of some of these communities with shows like The L Word and Queer as Folk in their past, so this definitely seems right up their alley. And with an Academy Award nominated director and Emmy nominated writer on board, it should be an interesting series.

Details on a new comedy pilot from Jonah Hill and comedian Hannibal Buress after the jump.

PRECIOUS Director Lee Daniels Bringing VALLEY OF THE DOLLS Series to NBC

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: September 26th, 2011 at 3:06 pm

The classic 1966 novel from Jacqueline Susann has already seen several adaptations in the form of a 1967 film, a mini-series in 1981 and even a late-night soap opera in 1994. But now The Valley of the Dolls is getting a full fledged TV series treatment as Deadline reports Oscar-nominated Precious director Lee Daniels will write and direct a series adaptation of the novel and will also executive produce the project. The story chronicles the lives, career highs and ultimate self-destruction of three female best friends over the span of 20 years. One works at a Broadway talent agency, another is a vaudeville star, and the other is a showgirl.

This is yet another period drama series for NBC who debuted The Playboy Club just last week. It remains to be seen if it will last a whole season though. As for Daniels, this is his first TV endeavor and I’m just hoping this project at least delays Daniels’ desire to remake Federico Fellini’s Nights of Cabiria. As a film director, Daniels told a powerful story, but with little style, so I’m hoping to see some more definitive characteristics shine through in his future projects.

John Cusack Replaces Tobey Maguire in Lee Daniels’ THE PAPERBOY

by Jason Barr    Posted: July 11th, 2011 at 8:13 pm

John Cusack has signed on to star in Oscar-nominated director Lee Daniels’ (Precious) adaptation of the 1995 Pete Dexter novel, The Paperboy. Cusack replaces Tobey Maguire who was forced to drop from the pic as a result of scheduling conflicts with The Great Gatsby. Zac Efron also stars in The Paperboy with both Nicole Kidman and Matthew McConaughey in “advanced negotiations” to join the project as well.

Dexter’s novel is set in Florida and centers on a pair of brothers who team-up to investigate the potential wrongful conviction of a death-row inmate. Per Variety, Cusack will play the prisoner in question. The thesp can next be seen in a pair of thrillers The Factory and The Raven which hit theaters on December 19th, 2011 and March 9th, 2012 respectively. For more on The Paperboy, hit the jump to check out a synopsis for Dexter’s novel.

Casting Call: Nicole Kidman in Talks for THE PAPERBOY as Tobey Maguire Drops Out, John Goodman Joins Ben Affleck’s ARGO

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 27th, 2011 at 1:52 pm

We’ve got a couple more casting stories for you today. First up, Nicole Kidman is now in talks to join the cast of Lee Daniels’ (Precious) adaptation of Pete Dexter’s novel The Paperboy. THR reports that Kidman would replace Sofia Vergara, who was forced to drop out after Tobey Maguire’s exit from the project shifted the schedule, imposing on her Modern Family shoot. Matthew McConaughey and Zac Efron are apparently still attached to star in the film, which centers on the slacker son of a newspaper editor in Florida, who gets wrapped up in investigating a murder case. Filming is set to begin later this summer.

Hit the jump for the news of John Goodman joining Ben Affleck’s directorial vehicle Argo, as well as a synopsis for the novel The Paperboy.

McConaughey, Maguire, Vergara, and Efron to Star in Lee Daniels’ THE PAPERBOY

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 13th, 2011 at 10:10 am

Matthew McConaughey, Tobey Maguire, Sofia Vergara, and Zac Efron will star in the adaptation of the 1995 Pete Dexter novel The Paperboy for Precious director Lee Daniels.  The story is about the slacker son of a newspaper editor and publisher who gets caught up in a murder investigation with his older brother and (and this is from the official book description) Ward’s partner, “evil dandy Yardley Acheman.  I never thought four words could go together so perfectly.

THR reports that filmmaker “Pedro Almodovar (Talk to Her) developed the project for over a decade with Dexter before Daniels came on board.  As we reported in February, Daniels wanted Bradley Cooper, Alex Pettyfer, and Vergara so 1 out of 3 ain’t bad especially when you consider that the one you got is terrific and the other two are kind of bland.  McConaughey did some great work earlier this year with The Lincoln Lawyer, Maguire is always reliable, and I’m willing to give Efron a shot at weightier material.  Hit the jump for the synopsis of the book (which has nothing to do with the classic arcade game pictured above).

PRECIOUS Director Lee Daniels Casting for THE PAPERBOY; Wants Bradley Cooper, Sofia Vergara and Alex Pettyfer

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 18th, 2011 at 4:13 pm

It looks like Precious director Lee Daniels has finally settled on his next project. Apparently he’s currently rewriting an adaptation of Pete Dexter’s novel The Paperboy. The book tells the story of the slacker son of a newspaper editor in Florida, who gets wrapped up in investigating a murder case. Vulture reports that Daniels already has his cast in mind and has sent out offers to Bradley Cooper, Sofia Vergara and Alex Pettyfer.

Daniels wants Cooper to play Pettyfer’s older brother, and is eyeing Vergara to play a death-row inmate’s wife. The cast isn’t locked in place, and given the presumed busy schedules of each of these in-demand actors it’s definitely not a foregone conclusion that they will sign on. Daniels has been flirting with a number of projects to follow up Precious, and it looks like he may finally have made a decision. Hit the jump for a synopsis of the book.

PRECIOUS Director Lee Daniels to Adapt Pulitzer Prize Winner ANNA IN THE TROPICS

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: December 13th, 2010 at 9:39 pm

Lee Daniels (Precious) has signed on to direct an adaptation of Anna in the Tropics, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play by Nilo Cruz. Anna in the Tropics is inspired by Anna Karenina, and centers on a family of cigar makers in Tampa in the 1930s “whose lives are changed by the power of literature.”

Daniels will develop the script with Cruz, starting in January.  Hit the jump for a synopsis and Cruz’s remarks on the adaptation.

Director Lee Daniels May Put SELMA on Hold in Favor of THE BUTLER

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 30th, 2010 at 11:26 am

While director Lee Daniels (Precious) had put together a terrific cast for the historical drama Selma, the inability to find financing for the film may push the Oscar-nominee to make The Butler, another African American-centered historical drama, his next project.  Butler centers on the real-life story of Eugene Allen, a servant in the White House over 34 years, who watched the eight presidents he worked for wrestle with and finally stem the tide of segregation.  The first draft of the script was written by Recount screenwriter (and Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum) Danny Strong, but Daniels will immediately begin re-writing it if decides to do the picture before Selma.  The Butler has almost solidified financing from The Weinstein Company, Pathe, and Skyline Pictures.  Deadline reports that filming could begin as early as this fall and Daniels has reportedly approached Denzel Washington about playing Allen.

Hit the jump to learn more about the status of Selma.

PRECIOUS DVD Review

by Sasha Tandlich    Posted: April 9th, 2010 at 7:27 am

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, is the multifaceted story of an overweight, illiterate Harlem teen pregnant with her second child. The film blends fantasy with reality in order to portray the methods Claireece “Precious” Jones uses to deal with abuse and poverty, among other things. The film has the right blend of humor to offset the seriousness, but attempts to tackle a plethora of issues, making it sometimes straddle the line of believability. More after the jump.

Liam Neeson and Cedric the Entertainer Join Cast of Lee Daniels’ SELMA

by Ti Alan Chase    Posted: March 24th, 2010 at 2:53 pm

Still riding high on his multiple Academy Award nominations, breakout director Lee Daniels (Precious) has been busy putting together the cast for his next picture, Selma.  The movie will focus on the pivotal Civil Rights march which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.

Over the past few weeks Daniels has confirmed that Hugh Jackman and Lenny Kravitz  will play key roles in Selma.  And today MTV is reporting that Liam Neeson and Cedric the Entertainer have also joined the cast.  Neeson will be playing President Lyndon Johnson, and Cedric will portray Ralph Abernathy, who helped King to organize the march.

The role of Dr. King will be played by David Oyelowo (The Last King of Scottland).  The role of Alabama Governor George Wallace has not yet been cast, but is expected to be filled soon.  It was presumed that Robert De Niro would play the role, but MTV says his collaboration with Daniels will likely not be with this project.

Hugh Jackman to Play Sheriff Jim Clark in Lee Daniels’ Upcoming Civil Rights Drama SELMA

by Bill Graham    Posted: March 11th, 2010 at 12:29 pm

Remember how just last week we told you that Hugh Jackman was cast in Lee Daniels’ upcoming film, Selma, about the three marches in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama during the height of the American Civil Rights Movement? Now, Vulture has the scoop about what role Jackman will be playing: the hot-tempered sheriff Jim Clark, who sparked international controversy for his actions. Jackman also seemed to realize that he had just inadvertently given them a major bit of news, as he said, “You’re the first person I’ve told, so I’m not even sure if I was meant to say that. So there you go, that’s enough trouble for one night.”

The Aussie actor, who hosted the Oscars last year, was a fan of Daniels’ film Precious, which he felt was the best of the year despite not winning Best Picture last weekend (it did however, win Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay). He also divulged what he thought of this year’s hosts and a story about him getting naked for acting class. Meanwhile, with the recent rumor of Robert De Niro set to play the Governor of Alabama as well, it is apparent that Daniels is quickly rising up the ranks of Hollywood directors. With shooting planned for May, casting news is going to be heating up so stay tuned for more.

Hugh Jackman Cast in Lee Daniels’ SELMA

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 3rd, 2010 at 11:15 pm

Lee Daniels, the Oscar-nominated director of Precious, has cast Hugh Jackman in his upcoming civil rights film, Selma.  Speaking to USA Today, Daniels celebrated that he had something to take his mind off award-season madness: “I have to really start casting the movie because we’re shooting it soon. The only person I’ve nailed in for sure is Hugh Jackman. It’s all over the place.” That’s interesting to note because in January Deadline reported that Robert De Niro was on board to play Alabama Governor George Wallace in the film, which is about the historic march from Selma to the state capital in Montgomery.

Daniels is currently working on the script and plans to begin shooting Selma this May.  He’s also working to develop an as-yet-untitled series for HBO about a multigenerational, multiracial family in Philadelphia, for which he will also direct the pilot.  As for Jackman, when we last checked his scheduled, he was set to shoot Kevin Lima’s comedy Avon Men in April and Shawn Levy’s robot-boxing drama Real Steel in June.  I don’t know if there has been some shuffling with Jackman’s schedule or if he’ll have a very busy three months.  At least he doesn’t have to worry about Wolverine 2 until next January.

PRECIOUS Director Lee Daniels to Bloom New Project for HBO

by Keith Demko    Posted: March 3rd, 2010 at 7:11 am

Apparently determined to scoop up every great director working today, HBO has now added Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire director Lee Daniels to a roster that already includes Martin Scorsese, Kathryn Bigelow and Michael Mann in developing new series for the channel.

Daniels is teaming up with author Amy Bloom to develop an as-yet-untitled series about a multigenerational, multiracial family in Philadelphia. Daniels will direct at least the pilot, and they both will serve as executive producers if this goes to series (anyone wanna bet against that?)

Let’s see … that makes Martin Scorsese developing Boardwalk Empire for Steve Buscemi to star in; Michael Mann and Deadwood creator David Milch teaming up for Luck, to somehow star Dustin Hoffman; Kathryn Bigelow and Broadway producer John Logan collaborating on The Miraculous Year, about one year in the life of a charismatic Broadway producer and his family; The Wire creator David Simon returning very soon with Treme, his post-Katrina New Orleans series, and now Daniels, Yeah, I think you could say HBO is on a roll.

2010 Oscar Nominations Announced; AVATAR and THE HURT LOCKER Lead with 9 Noms Each

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 2nd, 2010 at 6:29 am

Despite opening up the Best Picture race from five nominations to ten, this morning’s announcement of the 2010 Oscar nominations hardly had any surprises.  When the biggest shocker comes from the widely-unseen The Secret of Kells being nominated for Best Animated Feature, then the prediction system worked as it should.  That’s not to say that there’s nothing to be happy or disappointed about.  It’s just that with no surprises, that happiness or disappointment has probably been felt well in advance.  Personally, I’m jazzed that District 9 picked up a Best Picture nomination and I’m really bummed that Peter Capaldi wasn’t nominated for Best Supporting Actor for In the Loop.

But the race between Avatar and The Hurt Locker remains close.  Each film picked up nine nominations and so there’s no clear favorite to win the award.  Right now, Hurt Locker would seem to have a slight edge with its victories from both the Producers Guild and the Directors Guild.  But Avatar‘s box office numbers contribute to its status as does the mainstream acclaim for the film.

Hit the jump to check out the full list of nominees.  The winners will be announced at the 82nd Academy Awards on Sunday, March 7th at 8pm EST on ABC.

The Directors Guild of America Suggests Bigelow, Cameron, Reitman, Tarantino, and Daniels Were the Best Directors of 2009

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: January 7th, 2010 at 10:47 am

The Directors Guild of America just released their nominees for Outstanding Directiorial Achievement in Feature Film for the 62nd annual DGA awards.  Regarding Oscar potential, the nominees include two favorites in Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) and James Cameron (Avatar), two likely contenders in Jason Reitman (Up in the Air) and Quentin Tarantino (Inglorious Basterds), and possible longshot Lee Daniels (Precious).  There are no truly shocking choices among the nominations, but there is some solid filmmaking among the group.

The DGA nominations are often a good predictor of Oscar nominations for Best Director, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see Daniels swapped out for, say, Academy darling Clint Eastwood (Invictus).

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