Seth Grahame-Smith

Tim Burton Talks DARK SHADOWS and FRANKENWEENIE; Gives Update on BEETLEJUICE Sequel

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 12th, 2012 at 6:50 pm

We recently brought you a new image from Tim Burton’s adaptation of the cult classic TV series Dark Shadows, and now we have quite a few words from the director on a few of his upcoming projects. He’s currently in post-production on Dark Shadows, which tells the story of a vampire (played by Johnny Depp) who attempts to reintegrate with his descendants after being buried for 200 years. In addition to talking about the setting, tone, and characters of Dark Shadows, Burton gave an update on the Beetlejuice sequel that Seth Grahame-Smith is writing and revealed that they’ll be testing an IMAX version of Frankenweenie. Hit the jump for all the details.

Warner Bros. Pays Big for Seth Grahame-Smith’s Three Wise Men-themed UNHOLY NIGHT

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 1st, 2011 at 3:16 pm

Seth Grahame-Smith is quickly becoming a household name. His breakout came with the novels Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, which were subsequently put into development as feature films (Vampire Hunter is already in post-production, whereas Zombies is stuck in a bit of a development hell). He wrote the initial scripts for both films, was subsequently drafted to pen Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows, and created the MTV series The Hard Times of RJ Berger. Now Warner Bros. is said to be paying in the vicinity of $2 million for Grahame-Smith’s next book, the biblical-themed action-adventure Unholy Night, which tells the story of the Three Wise Men. Hit the jump for more on this Hollywoodized iteration of the biblical tale.

Warner Bros to Adapt Young Adult Fantasy Novel THE SCORPIO RACES

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: October 27th, 2011 at 6:20 pm

With The Hunger Games set to pick up where the Twilight franchise leaves off next year, studios are constantly mining books for the next big moneymaker. Warner Bros. had put its stock in The Scorpio Races, a young adult fantasy novel by author Maggie Stiefvater. The recently-released book follows a young woman who is the first female to enter her island’s annual horse race. In this case, the horses are flesh eating creatures from Celtic lore. Romantic.

Stiefvater also authored the best-selling, young adult Shiver trilogy about werewolves and first loves. The Scorpio Races will be produced through KatzSmith Productions, by David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith. Hit the jump for more on The Scorpio Races.

KatzSmith Sells Jonathan W. Stokes’ Dark Comedy Spec MURDERS AND ACQUISTIONS to Warner Bros.

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: September 24th, 2011 at 10:54 am

Seth Grahame-Smith is still waiting for his first produced feature script to reach theaters, but once it does, we’re in for a flurry of credits.  Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows is up first on May 11, 2012, followed by Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter on June 22, 2012.  Next, Grahame-Smith will reunite with Burton to script a Beetlejuice reboot, and develop the comedy spec From Mia with Love at Fox.  Just to keep things interesting, Grahame-Smith and his KatzSmith producing partner David Katzenberg are now pitching the work of other writers.  KatzSmith signed a first-look producing deal with Warner Bros. earlier this month—as of yesterday, their first sale is Jonathan W. Stokes’ dark comedy script Murders and Acquisitions.  The story contrasts a career in finance with the life of a hitman: “Both worlds collide when an ousted CEO decides to hire an assassin to kill the corporate raider who stole his company.”

The story behind the sale is pretty neat, and worth your time after the jump.

Warner Bros. to Reboot BEETLEJUICE; Seth Grahame-Smith to Possibly Write Script; Updates on His Other Projects with David Katzenberg

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 6th, 2011 at 11:01 am

David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith and their KatzSmith production company have signed a two-year first-look deal with Warner Brothers.  One of the first projects under that deal is a Beetlejuice reboot because of course it is.  For those who haven’t seen the original: stop making me feel old.  Tim Burton’s 1988 comedy starred Michael Keaton as the eponymous character, a mischievous ghoul who teams with a young woman (Winona Ryder) to get her parents out of their new home so it can be restored to its dead owners (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin).  Deadline reports that the deal grew out of Grahame-Smith’s screenwriting work on Tim Burton’s next film, Dark Shadows, an adaptation of the 1960s horror TV series.  Grahame-Smith, who came to popularity out of his gimmick novels Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (film adaptations are in the works for both), is contracted to write two scripts under the deal and Beetlejuice could be one of them.

Hit the jump for other projects KatzSmith has in the works.

Emma Stone Offered Lead in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES

by Jason Barr    Posted: June 22nd, 2011 at 6:06 pm

After testing the waters with Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, and Scarlett Johansson, Lionsgate has offered the female lead in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to Emma Stone. Heat Vision reports on the offer to play Elizabeth Bennet, a zombie-killing heroine who sees her quest to save England from the undead made more difficult by the arrival of Fitzwilliam Darcy. The role was originally filled by Natalie Portman and has been vacant since the Oscar-winning actress decided to act solely in a producing capacity on the pic. Craig Gillespie (Fright Night remake) will direct Pride from an updated script by Fright Night scribe Marti Noxon.

For more on the project, hit the jump to check out a synopsis of Seth Grahame-Smith’s book which the film will adapt. If Stone accepts Lionsgate’s offer, Pride would be another high-profile pic for the actress who recently wrapped director Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man. She can also be seen alongside Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell in Crazy, Stupid, Love. due out July 29th and stars in The Help which is slated to hit theaters on August 12th.

Marti Noxon Pens New Draft of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES

by Jason Barr    Posted: May 31st, 2011 at 6:40 pm

It looks as if scribe Marti Noxon (I Am Number Four) will reunite with director Craig Gillespie on Lionsgate’s adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith’s bestselling parody novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Having recently teamed-up for the upcoming Fright Night remake starring Colin Farrel and Anton Yelchin, TheWrap reports that Noxon has written a new Zombies draft for Gillespie who took the helm back in April. At that time, it was believed that the director would use a script by David O. Russell (The Fighter). It now looks as if Russell’s effort will fall to the wayside to make room for Noxon’s draft.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies has yet to cast any roles after Natalie Portman dropped out of the lead to act solely as a producer. For those unfamiliar, Grahame-Smith’s book tells the story of Elizabeth Bennet, a zombie-killing heroine who sees her efforts to save England from the undead interrupted by fellow hunter Fitzwilliam Darcy. For more on the project, hit the jump to check out a more detailed synopsis of the book.

Fox Picks Up Comedy Pitch From ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER Scribe

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 14th, 2011 at 10:44 am

20^th Century Fox has acquired a comedy spec script written by Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter scribe Seth Grahame-Smith alongside David Katzenberg, Bryan Shukoff and Kevin Chesley. Titled From Mia With Love, the John Hughes-style coming of age comedy is described as a mix of Weird Science and Risky Business and centers on three guys who decide to lose their virginity by ordering a Russian mail-order bride, who then refuses to leave (as most Russian mail-order brides tend to do).

Deadline reports that Katzenberg will direct, with he and Grahame-Smith producing. Katzenberg and Grahame-Smith are executive producers on MTV’s The Hard Times of R.J. Berger, on which Shukoff and Chesley are scribes. Katzenberg and Grahame-Smith were contenders to direct the film version of Grahame-Smith’s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, but the job ended up going to Timur Bekmambetov.

Producer David Katzenberg Talks THE HARD TIMES OF RJ BERGER Season 2

by Christina Radish    Posted: April 11th, 2011 at 8:12 am

The scripted comedy The Hard Times of RJ Berger, from co-creators/executive producers David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith, is currently in its second season on MTV. It’s funnier, more ambitious, raunchier and even more heartfelt, as the anatomically gifted teenager, RJ Berger (Paul Iacono), not only has to navigate the horrors of high school, but he also has to deal with the separation of his parents. And, if things aren’t already hard enough for RJ, who finds himself caught between the girl of his dreams (Amber Lancaster) and the girl he lost his virginity to (Kara Taitz), he will meet an older woman who poses a whole new set of challenges.

During this exclusive phone interview with Collider, David Katzenberg talked about wanting to outdo themselves for Season 2, writing to their strengths this time around, balancing the raunchiness of the series with the heart, and their hopes for a Season 3. He also talked about overcoming the expectations of his family name, branching out to direct episodes of another show for MTV, establishing his production company, KatzSmith, with business partner Seth Grahame-Smith, and wanting to make a name for themselves in feature films as well as television. Check out what he had to say after the jump:

Craig Gillespie Close to Being Chosen as Director for PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES UPDATED

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 5th, 2011 at 6:52 pm

Could this project finally have a director? Lionsgate’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies has gone through so many director changes that it’s becoming impossible to keep track. Well now, it seems that long-rumored frontrunner Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl) is poised to land the job. Directors David O. Russell and Mike White were previously attached to direct the adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith’s retelling of Jane Austen’s classic, with a number of directors “rumored”, “in contention”, and “in talks” over the course of development.

Deadline reports that fellow contenders, including David Katzenberg and Smith himself, have been notified that the position will be given to Gillespie. The director recently wrapped the remake of Fright Night with Colin Farrell. Hit the jump to read a synopsis of the book.

Update: THR has now confirmed that Craig Gillespie will officially helm the project. So, finally, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies has a director.

Seth Grahame-Smith Exclusive Interview THE HARD TIMES OF RJ BERGER; Updates on DARK SHADOWS, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES, and ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER

by Christina Radish    Posted: March 24th, 2011 at 9:50 pm

The MTV scripted comedy The Hard Times of RJ Berger, from co-creators/executive producers David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith, returns for a funnier, more ambitious, raunchier and even more heartfelt second season. In Season 1, viewers got to see the anatomically gifted RJ Berger (Paul Iacono) chasing after the girl of his dreams (Amber Lancaster) and, now that he has her, Season 2 sees him facing various obstacles in keeping her. At the same time, RJ’s parents have romantic struggles of their own, when they announce to the teenager that they are separating. As with most high school experiences, life for RJ Berger turns out to not be everything he imagined it would be.

During this exclusive phone interview with Collider, Seth Grahame-Smith talked about paving the way for original programming at MTV, making the show bigger and better for Season 2, balancing the series with 50% heart and 50% fart, and their guest cameos with Paris Hilton, Weezer and Vinny from Jersey Shore.

Grahame-Smith also previewed his next novel, which he’s currently writing, talked about the possibility of he and Katzenberg directing Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, adapted from his own best-selling novel, talked about the process of adapting his own novel for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, which is now in production, writing dialogue specifically for Johnny Depp for the Dark Shadows script, which goes into production in May, collaborating with Tim Burton, and his goals for making Dark Shadows fun and funny. Check out what he had to say after the jump:

Seth Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg in Consideration to Direct PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 16th, 2011 at 5:31 pm

In what’s quickly becoming the longest search for a director ever, a couple of new names have cropped up as contenders to helm Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. In addition to the aforementioned Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl), Heat Vision reports that the author of the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies novel himself, Seth Grahame-Smith, is in consideration to co-direct the flick with partner David Katzenberg (son of DreamWorks Animation guru Jeffrey).

Grahame-Smith and Katzenberg previously created and wrote the MTV comedy The Life and Times of RJ Berger. Grahame-Smith is currently writing the screenplay to the film adaptation of his other “history + supernatural” tome Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter in addition to scripting Dark Shadows for Tim Burton. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies has had a very, very large number of directors attached/rumored/de-tached/in talks over the last few months, so I think I speak for everyone when I say please, pick someone already.

Joaquin Phoenix the Frontrunner to Mentor Benjamin Walker in ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: January 31st, 2011 at 8:34 pm

We are now a few months removed I’m Still Here debacle, wherein there has been plenty of talk about Joaquin Phoenix’s return to acting.  Phoenix was linked to Hoover, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, and Big Shoe; only Big Shoe is still in play, and that project is four months in need of a status update.  The latest project hailed as the possible return of Phoenix is also the best: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

As far as I can tell, 20th Century Fox is simply trying to harness the crazy, offering Phoenix the role of vampire Henry Sturges, “a mythic, ageless figure who turns Lincoln into an axe-throwing expert slayer of vampires.”  Benjamin Walker (Flags of Our Fathers) was cast late last week as Lincoln.  More, including a synopsis, after the jump:

Benjamin Walker Is ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: January 27th, 2011 at 7:14 pm

Benjamin Walker (Flags of Our Fathers) was among the lesser known names of the shortlist — Walker, Adrien Brody, Timothy Olyphant, Josh Lucas, James D’Arcy, Oliver Jackson-Cohen — that screen tested for the lead role in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.  But 20th Century Fox appears eager to get into the Benjamin Walker business.  Walker was the first young actor cast as a student in the X-Men: First Class before he was dropped out to reprise his starring role in the Broadway musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.  In retrospect, that iconoclastically presidential role was the perfect preparation to anchor Fox’s summer tentpole: Variety reports Walker has closed a deal to star in Abraham Lincoln.

Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) will direct and co-produce with Tim Burton and Jim Lemley (9).  Seth Grahame-Smith wrote both the book and the adapted screenplay.  Hit the jump for an official synopsis for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, scheduled for release June 22, 2012.

Adrien Brody, Timothy Olyphant, Josh Lucas, James D’Arcy, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, and Benjamin Walker Screen Testing for ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 13th, 2011 at 1:49 pm

Fox is looking for actors who could play our 16th President if our 16th President hunted vampires in his spare time.  Deadline reports that Fox is screen testing the following actors for the role of young Abe Lincoln in Timur Bekmambetov’s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter: Adrien Brody, Timothy Olyphant, Josh Lucas, James D’Arcy (Into the Storm), Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Faster), and Benjamin Walker (Flags of Our Fathers).  If Brody gets the gig, I hope he brings his cheesy Predators voice to the role.

For those not familiar with the project, Bekmambetov’s 3D adaptation is based on the novel by Seth Grahame-Smith (who also wrote the screenplay) with Tim Burton on board as a producer.  The story imagines that Abraham Lincoln had a secret journal that chronicled his secret life as a vampire hunter avenging his mother’s death. Hit the jump for a synopsis of the novel.  Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is slated for June 22, 2012.

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