Scott Z. Burns

Scott Z. Burns to Write RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES Sequel

by Matt Currie    Posted: May 15th, 2012 at 2:19 pm

Rise of the Planet of the Apes proved to be a sizable sleeper hit for Fox last summer. In an interview at CinemaCon, Fox CEO Tom Rothman told Steve that the studio was “pushing forward aggressively” on a sequel, in anticipation of a possible summer 2014 release date. Director Rupert Wyatt and star (no offense to James Franco) Andy Serkis were both already set to return; today comes news that Contagion and The Bourne Ultimatum scribe Scott. Z. Burns will write the script.

The first film saw a scientist (James Franco) experimenting on apes in search of a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. The result was super-intelligent chimp Caesar (Serkis), who, disgusted by the mistreatment he and his kind endure at the hands of man, leads an uprising. The sequel will, predictably, see Caesar and co. making use of their hard-won freedom to gain dominion over the planet (making it a sort of, “Planet of the Monkeys,” if you will). Hit the jump for more.

Blake Lively, Jude Law, and Channing Tatum to Star in Steven Soderbergh’s THE SIDE EFFECTS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 9th, 2012 at 9:34 am

In Novemeber, we reported that Steven Soderbergh had left the adaptation of the 1960s spy TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and turned his attention to The Bitter Pill with Scott Z. Burns (The Informant) writing the screenplay.  The Playlist now reports that the film—now titled The Side Effects—has locked down financing and cast Blake Lively, Jude Law, and Channing Tatum in the lead roles.  Lively will play, “Emily Hawkins, a woman who turns to prescription meds to cope with the anxiety of the upcoming release from prison of her husband.”  Tatum will play the husband and Jude Law will play Hawkins’ new psychiatrist.  This will be Lively’s first film with Soderbergh, but it will be Tatum’s third collaboration with the director (Haywire and Magic Mike) and Law’s second (Contagion).

Hit the jump for more.

Steven Sodebergh Swallows THE BITTER PILL

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 29th, 2011 at 1:08 pm

Less than two weeks ago we reported that Steven Soderbergh had left the adaptation of The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and now (as expected) he’s already picked up a new project.  Heat Vision reports that Soderbergh has signed on to direct The Bitter Pill, and is pitching the project to multiple studios.  U.N.C.L.E. screenwriter Scott Z. Burns penned the script, but not much is known about the story other than it’s “a thriller set in the world of psychopharmacology.”  That may sound bizarre, but keep in mind that Soderbergh turned the story about a price-fixing investigation into a comedy with The Informant! [Update: Burns tells The Playlist that the movie "deals with people and their moods. It’s about how we as a society can’t tolerate sadness and what that makes us vulnerable to."  I thought "psychopharmacology thriller" was good, but Burns makes the movie sound even better.]

Presumably, Soderbergh will want to shoot Bitter Pill in the spring since he’s shooting his Liberace biopic, Behind the Candelabra, in the summer and that will be his last movie before retiring/going on sabbatical.  Soderbergh’s next film, Haywire, is due out January 20th, and his male-stripper movie, Magic Mike, will likely be released in summer 2012.

Scott Z. Burns Is Ridley Scott’s Rumored “Top Choice” to Write New BLADE RUNNER Movie [UPDATED]

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: September 24th, 2011 at 3:39 pm

Scott Z. Burns has become my favorite new screenwriter, coming off a pair of killer scripts in The Informant! and Contagion.  The success has set him on the path of the blockbuster remake— currently, Burns is reuniting with Steven Soderbergh for The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and working on the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea script for David Fincher.  A new report suggests Burns will soon be summoned by another high profile director to write for yet another big property: Twitch hears Burns is the top choice of director Ridley Scott—as well as studio backers Alcon and Warner Bros—to write the new Blade Runner movie.

Not much is known about the story or the exact nature of the new Blade Runner.  A recent Alcon press release calls it a “follow up,” but admits, “The filmmakers have not yet revealed whether the theatrical project will be a prequel or sequel to the renowned original.”  I’ll wait until we know more before I get too excited.  But if Burns gets involved, I am more interested than I was yesterday.  Read the synopsis for the original 1982 Blade Runner after the jump.

Update: Steve here.  While I’d like this story to be true, I’m hearing it’s not. I don’t have 100% confirmation, but I’m pretty sure. More as we hear it.

Steven Soderbergh in Talks to Direct Feature Adaption of THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

by Ben Brown    Posted: November 16th, 2010 at 7:58 pm

If there’s one thing Steven Soderbergh can never be accused of, it’s passivity. Soderbergh just wrapped production on his first foray into the action realm, Knockout. He’s currently filming the star-stuffed thriller Contagion. He’s set to film a Liberace biopic with Michael Douglas and Matt Damon next summer. And now, just to add to the workload, Soderbergh is in early talks to direct The Man from U.N.C.L.E., an adaptation of the 1960s spy series.

Hit the jump for a closer look at the project, as well as some of my thoughts.

Fox Developing Their Own Adaptation of 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA for Director Timur Bekmambetov

by Ramses Flores    Posted: May 16th, 2010 at 6:20 pm

Yesterday we reported director David Fincher was in talks with Disney to direct an adaptation of Jules Verne’s 20.000 Leagues Under the Sea after the studio had passed on McG’s take on the classic adventure story back in November.  Now, Heat Vision is reporting that Fox is developing their own futuristic adaptation of the novel to be directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) from a script by Travis Beacham (Clash of the Titans), which will be produced by filmmakers Ridley and Tony Scott.

Since 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is in public domain anybody can adapt it, it’s just a weird coincidence that two major studios are doing it at the same time.  It will be interesting to see if Disney backs down now since Fox’s take on the project seems like it’s almost ready to go while Disney still has to still finalize a deal with Fincher and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum), who will then start to write the film.  It also seems unlikely that this will be Fincher’s next film since he’s currently attached to direct The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo next.

Needless to say, everyone at Collider is itching to see Fincher’s take on the material.  But if Fox gets out of the gate first, it’s hard to see Disney moving forward with the same movie.  I’m sure we’re going to hear a lot about both films over the next few weeks.

Director David Fincher May Find Nemo in 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA With Scott Z. Burns Adapting the Story

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: May 15th, 2010 at 12:08 pm

Disney sunk the McG (Terminator: Salvation) adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea back in November, though not out of lack of interest in the property: Heat Vision reports that David Fincher is now in talks with the Mouse House to direct the at-sea adventure.  Fincher, known for darker R-rated fare like Fight Club and Se7en, approached Disney with the intent to make a “four-quadrant tentpole”;  20,000 Leagues certainly fits the bill, and could be a major box office player in the right hands (apparently not McG’s).  Among the hands Disney is recruiting are those of Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum), who is currently drafting an adaptation of the Jules Verne story.

Fincher followed up his Oscar nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with the Facebook tale The Social Network—now in post-production—which will likely be succeeded by The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as Burns finishes the 20,000 Leagues script.  More after the jump:

Steven Soderbergh’s CONTAGION Infects Warner Bros, Takes Their Money

by Bill Graham    Posted: February 17th, 2010 at 10:58 pm

Steven Soderbergh’s latest film, Contagion, has quickly garnered quite a cast and now has a buyer in Warner Bros. to help bring the quickly-spreading film to life, according to Deadline. The film was in a bidding war, with Summit Entertainment (Twilight) falling short, and Warner will be helped by Participant Media, who is co-financing the $60 million budget. The eclectic cast already assembled seems to continue to grow, as it was announced yesterday that Gwyneth Paltrow would join Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, and Jude Law.

If Soderbergh and that cast alone doesn’t grab your attention, join me after the break to see why the film brings screenplay writing chops to the table as well.

Steven Soderbergh to Spread CONTAGION With Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Marion Cotillard

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: February 8th, 2010 at 4:27 pm

The Playlist reports that Steven Soderbergh, the hardest working man in show business, has once again lengthened his to-do list.  Soderbergh will re-team with The Informant! scripter Scott Z. Burns for Contagion, an “action-thriller about the outbreak of a deadly virus.”  The film doesn’t have a distribution deal yet, but with such heavy hitters as Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Marion Cotillard attached to star, you can expect a bidding war for the rights.  More on the origins of Contagion and the rest of Soderbergh’s slate after the break.

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