Lee Daniels

New Clip from Lee Daniels’ THE PAPERBOY Featuring Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman and David Oyelowo

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: May 18th, 2012 at 8:43 am

This new clip from director Lee Daniels’ (Precious) upcoming movie, The Paperboy, highlights not only stars Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman, but Daniels’ editing style and a mighty fine musical choice.  It features the same washed-out tones as the previous clip we posted and I have to say, I’m a fan of the look.  However, the clip, titled “Jack’s Daydream,” is loaded with overlays, cuts and transitions that come across as a bit heavy handed.  Luckily, the scene is saved by David Oyelowo snapping Jack and the audience back into reality.  You’ll have to look twice to spot Matthew McConaughey who, in a bit of a departure, doesn’t steal the scene and barely registers on the radar.

The Paperboy, an adaptation of the Pete Dexter novel, features McConaughey and Efron playing a pair of brothers who team-up to investigate the potential wrongful conviction of a death-row inmate (John Cusack).  Hit the jump to check out the clip.

Sam Claflin Joins THE QUIET ONES, Michelle Monaghan to Star in THE COUP and Jesse Williams in Talks for THE BUTLER

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: May 11th, 2012 at 5:27 pm

Let’s talk movie casting additions for a change of pace from all of the TV news we posted earlier today.  Here are the new announcements in brief:

• Sam Claflin (Snow White and the Huntsman) will star in The Quiet Ones, a supernatural horror/thriller directed by Quarantine 2′s John Pogue.
• Michelle Monaghan (Source Code)  is set to join Owen Wilson in The Coup, a thriller directed by John Erick Dowdle (Quarantine).
• Jesse Williams (Cabin in the Woods) is in talks to join The Butler, the Lee Daniels‘ historical drama about White House staffer, Eugene Allen.

Hit the jump for more.

Matthew McConaughey Clip Round-Up: THE PAPERBOY with John Cusack and Jeff Nichols’ MUD

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 10th, 2012 at 11:37 am

The prestigious Cannes Film Festival kicks off next week, and we’re starting to see some promotional materials from a few of the films that will premiere at the fest.  We’ve already seen a stellar trailer for the prohibition-set crime drama Lawless and a fantastic clip from director Andrew Dominik’s (The Assassination of Jesse James) Killing Them Softly.  Now a few clips have surfaced for two Cannes films (both set in the South) that feature Matthew McConaughey.  The first is director Lee Daniels’ (Precious) adaptation of The Paperboy, which features McConaughey and Zac Efron playing a pair of brothers who team-up to investigate the potential wrongful conviction of a death-row inmate (John Cusack).

We also have two clips from director Jeff Nichols’ (Take Shelter) deep South drama Mud, which finds McConaughey playing a fugitive hiding out on an island in Mississippi who, with the help of two young boys, tries to escape and reunite with his lost love (Reese Witherspoon).  Hit the jump to check out the clips.

Matthew McConaughey, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alan Rickman and More Circling THE BUTLER

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 9th, 2012 at 3:32 pm

Director Lee Daniels’ historical drama The Butler is shaping up to be one of the more exciting projects on the horizon.  The film tells the true story of Eugene Allen, a butler who served at the White House from 1952 to 1986. Daniels is casting a slew of stars to take small roles as the famous men and women who come through the White House over the years, with Forest Whitaker, David Oyelowo, and Oprah Winfrey set as the three leads.

Jane Fonda and John Cusack are already onboard, apparently in the roles of Nancy Reagan and President Richard Nixon, and now a number of high profile actors are circling the project as the rights are poised to go up for sale at the Cannes Film Festival next week. Hit the jump to see who else is looking to take on the roles of some historical figures.

24 New Images from Lee Daniels’ THE PAPERBOY Starring Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, and Matthew McConaughey

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 23rd, 2012 at 7:31 am

Last week, we reported that Lee Daniels‘ adaptation of The Paperboy would be premiering at the Cannes Film Festival.  The movie centers on a pair of brothers (Zac Efron and Matthew McConaughey) who team-up to investigate the potential wrongful conviction of a death-row inmate (John Cusack).  Today, the first twenty-four images from the film have gone online, and the film looks sweaty, which makes sense since the story is set in Florida.  The poster already gave us a look at Efron, Nicole Kidman, and McConaughey, but these new images also give us a look at Cusack, Scott Glenn, and David Oyelowo.

Hit the jump to check out the images.  The 2012 Cannes Film Festival runs from May 16 – 25th.

Line-Up for 2012 Cannes Film Festival Announced; Includes COSMOPOLIS, KILLING THEM SOFTLY, LAWLESS, and THE PAPERBOY

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 19th, 2012 at 7:21 am

The full line-up for the 2012 Cannes Film Festival has been announced, and there are some heavy hitting debuts making their premieres.  As we’ve previously reported, Wes Anderson‘s Moonrise Kingdom will open the festival.  This year’s Cannes will also include Cosmopolis (directed by David Cronenberg), The Paperboy (from Precious director Lee Daniels), Lawless (from The Road director John Hillcoat), Killing Them Softly (from The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford director Andrew Dominik), Mud (from Take Shelter director Jeff Nichols), Rust & Bone (from A Prophet director Jacques Audiard) and On the Road (from The Motorcycle Diaries director Walter Salles).

Click on the corresponding link for more on each film, and hit the jump for the full line-up.  The 65th Cannes Film Festival runs from May 16 – 25th.

Forest Whitaker and David Oyelowo in Talks for Lee Daniels’ THE BUTLER

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 6th, 2012 at 3:06 pm

It looks as though Precious director Lee Daniels has settled on his lead for the period drama The Butler. Based on a Washington Post article, the film tells the story of Eugene Allen, a black man who served as the White House butler under eight U.S. Presidents from 1952 to 1986. Variety reports that Oscar winner Forest Whitaker and David Oyelowo (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) are now in negotiations to join the cast, with Whitaker tapped to play the lead. We previously reported that Oprah Winfrey is in talks to star, with a number of actors in the mix for cameo roles as the famous figures who come in and out of the White House. Hit the jump for more on the project.

Oprah Winfrey May Join THE BUTLER; Mila Kunis and John Cusack Eyed to Play Jackie Kennedy and Richard Nixon

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: February 15th, 2012 at 7:24 pm

Although her last live-action role was in 1998’s Beloved, Oprah Winfrey is considering a return to the big screen. The project that caught her discerning eye was the story of Eugene Allen, a black man who served under eight U.S. Presidents from 1952 to 1986 as the White House butler. From Precious director, Lee Daniels, comes The Butler, the story of Allen’s service in the White House through such pivotal moments in history as the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. Daniels is reportedly interested in David Oyelowo (Red Tails) to play Allen; Winfrey would play his wife. It’s also being reported that Mila Kunis (Black Swan) and John Cusack (High Fidelity) have been approached to play Jackie Kennedy and Richard Nixon, respectively. Hit the jump for more.

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.

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