Charlize Theron’s Denver and Delilah Films has acquired screen rights to “Florence of Arabia,” Christopher Buckley’s satirical novel about a State Dept. employee, played by Theron, who fights for equal rights for the women in an Middle Eastern country after watching her friend marry its prince and then get executed. Theron will also produce. [Variety]
A live-action adaptation of manga “Akira” is reportedly a “real priority” and may “go before the third quarter of next year for a 2011 release.” Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way production company, the adaptation is set for two features that will cover 3 volumes of the story about a governmental genetic project and a teenager’s attempt to save a fellow biker gang member. [AnimeNetwork]
From almost ironic death to resurrection:Tony Scott’s “Unstoppable,” with Denzel Washington (is Chris Pine still on board?) is set to begin filming mid-September in Pittsburgh. [ProdWeekly]
The Austin Film Society and Fantastic Fest’s August 15 dusk-til-dawn Cinemapocalypse marathon in Austin, Texas will screen Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds.” Tarantino will also be on hand to introduce the film as well as his chosen double feature. [AnneThompson]
Director Robert Schwentke (“The Time Traveller’s Wife”) is reportedly in talks to helm the comic book adaptation “Red.” Starring Bruce Willis and Morgan Freeman, the WildStorm/D.C. comic follows a former black-ops agent forced out of retirement when a high-tech assassin threatens him and his girlfriend. Been there done that? [THR]
“King Kong” is reportedly heading down the prequel path with the rights to a prequel story “Kong: King Of Skull Island.” And if it couldn’t sound any more absurd, the premise reads: The story focuses on Kong’s island home and how he came to be the… King (claiming the title in cage matches with gigantic lizards no doubt). Plans are to use performance capture technology for the film like that used in “Beowulf” and the upcoming “A Christmas Carol.” Congratulations? [MTV]
Peter Jackson has revealed that a release of a Blu-ray Extended Edition of his “Lord Of The Rings” trilogy is still at least a year away. Jackson also plans to convert the entire trilogy to 3D at some point though this would probably still be a far while away. [MTV]
Channing Tatum is reportedly set to lead the Pang Brothers’ “The Darkness.” The comic adaptation will center on Jackie, a target for assassination by the don of the New York mafia, who finds his body possessed by a malevolent spirit that has inhabited his family for several generations known as “the Darkness” which provides supernatural powers that feed off the dark. [BloodyDisgusting]
Paul W.S. Anderson and longtime producing partner Jeremy Bolt have picked up film rights to Peter V. Brett’s debut fantasy novel “The Warded Man,” a story set in a future where mankind is in a feudal state and is attacked nightly by demonkind. That is until three young people emerge – including the title character, a man with wards, or spells, tattooed on his body – with the potential to change things. Anderson is attached to direct and produce. That was seriously not worth typing up. [THR]
