Tim Burton and Walt Disney Pictures are in final talks with Australian actress Mia Wasikowska to star in Alice in Wonderland, Burton‘s take on Lewis Carroll‘s classic fantasy novel, says The Hollywood Reporter.
The film, based on a script by Linda Woolverton (The Lion King), will be produced by longtime Burton collaborator Richard Zanuck, former Disney chairman Joe Roth and Jennifer and Suzanne Todd. It will be shot with live–action and performance–capture footage and presented in Disney Digital 3–D.
Wasikowska got her start on the Aussie series "All Saints" and is a regular on HBO‘s "In Treatment." She next will appear opposite Daniel Craig in Ed Zwick‘s war drama "Defiance" and just completed filming the role of a young Amelia Earhart fan in Mira Nair‘s biopic Amelia starring Hilary Swank.
Principal photography starts in November.
Evan Wright penning "Cocaine Cowboys" for stars Mark Wahlberg and Peter Berg
24 July 2008
Gonzo journalist–screenwriter Evan Wright, who wrote the nonfiction book on which the HBO miniseries "Generation Kill" is based, has closed a deal to write the feature "Cocaine Cowboys" for Paramount, says the Hollywood reporter.
Mark Wahlberg and Peter Berg have been attached to star in and direct, respectively, the story of Jon Roberts, an injured Vietnam vet by age 20 who ended up involved in gangland takeovers of New York City nightclubs in the early ‘70s (his uncle was the consigliere to Carlo Gambino). By the end of the decade, Roberts landed in Miami, dealt billions of dollars worth of coke for the Medellin drug cartel and ultimately spent 10 years in prison.
Billy Corben‘s popular documentary of the same name, released by Magnolia in 2006, covered a slice of Roberts‘ history.
Berg and Film 44 cohort Sarah Aubrey are producing with Wahlberg and "Entourage" executive producer Stephen Levinson.
A documentary also called "Cocaine Cowboys" and about Jon Roberts was release in the UK in November last year.
"Mamma Mia!" Here I go again to number 1!
23 July 2008
Well it seems that Meryl Streep has sung and danced her way to a second week at number 1 with "Mamma Mia!" This ABBA soaked musical is proving such a hit that it‘s even beaten cutesy animated robot newcomer "WALL–E" who has to settle for a second place debut.
Will Smith‘s superhero charms in "Hancock" couldn‘t help him from slipping down a spot to 3 this week ahead of a less likely hero in the form of "Kung Fu Panda" also down one place to 4. Eddie Murphy‘s comeback "Meet Dave" makes a comfortable debut at 5 but with less than half the weekend receipts of the panda and his kung fu antics.
"Journey to the Center of the Earth" is still drawing audiences at 6 followed closely by "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" at 7. Angelina Jolie and James MacAvoy‘s action piece "Wanted" is feeling a little less so, falling one place to 8, while Martial Arts action adventure "The Forbidden Kingdom" is down to 9. A new entry at 10 this week is the new British thriller "Donkey Punch" starring some up and coming new stars including Jaime (daughter of Ray) Winstone.
Christian out on bail following assault charge
23 July 2008
According to thetelegraph.co.uk Batman actor Christian Bale was released on police bail yesterday afternoon after being questioned for four hours over allegations of assaulting his mother and his sister at a London hotel.
Sources said that Bale was accused of lashing out at his family members – pushing one of them – in an argument over a long–running family dispute.
Bale was arrested when he attended Belgravia police station in London today after his mother and sister had reported him to police.
He left the back of the station in a blacked out silver Mercedes people carrier and sped past the awaiting paparazzi and heavy security.
Bale gave a statement to detectives of his version of events in what was described by police sources as an allegation of a "minor" common assault.
The 34–year–old was bailed until September and will be allowed to fly back to his home in America.
Jenny Bale, 61, and daughter Sharon, 41, today said an "incident" had taken place but refused to give any details.
Sharon originally denied knowing anything about it but they said: "OK, there was an incident but the police are dealing with it.
"It is an extremely sensitive situation. There is nothing more I can say."
The alleged assault was believed to have taken place on Sunday night at Park Lane‘s Dorchester Hotel, where Bale was staying ahead of the screening of the new Batman blockbuster The Dark Knight in London‘s West End on Monday night.
Mrs Bale said: "Yes I was there and yes there was a family situation but the police are handling it and I cannot say anymore at the moment.
"We didn‘t call the police to the scene. I can‘t say anymore but we didn‘t call the police."
Mrs Bale and her daughter are said to have gone to a police station in Hampshire to make the allegation, which was subsequently referred to the Metropolitan Police.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A 34–year–old man attended a London Police Station on Tuesday by appointment and was arrested in connection with an allegation of assault."
Sources said the argument was over a long–running family dispute.
Bale was born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, South Wales, in 1974. His mother was a circus clown and dancer and the actor grew up in a hippy environment.
In an interview three years ago Jenny said: "I was a dancer in the circus for a while. Christian didn‘t perform but he often watched me.
"I think he loved all the excitement and acting just happened after that. We were always surrounded by animals too. We‘d take in every stray cat and dog, so it was quite mad."
His father, David, grew up in South Africa and ran away to sea, ending up in Britain where he became a pilot stationed in RAF Brawdy near Haverfordwest.
The family moved around via Portugal and Oxfordshire before settling in Bournemouth, where Christian spent his childhood with sisters Louise and Sharon.
Mr Bale was a devoted animal rights and environmental activist. He split from his wife in 1991, when Christian was 13, and four years later the actor moved with him to Los Angeles.
David died, at 62, from a brain tumour in December 2003 and Christian was at his bedside. Since moving to LA he has only been back to Wales once.
Mrs Bale lives in a modest, detached house in Southbourne in nearby Bournemouth.
In a previous interview, Mrs Bale said her famous son had never shunned or snubbed her.
Sharon lives in a semi–detached house near Wimborne, Dorset, which today had the blinds pulled down.
Despite the alleged incident and report, Bale attended the first European screening of The Dark Knight on Monday night.
He was joined on the red carpet by Maggie Gyllenhaal, who plays love interest Rachel Dawes, and Sir Michael Caine who plays Bruce Wayne‘s faithful butler and father figure Alfred. The film took a record $158.3 million in its opening weekend at the US box office overtaking Spiderman 3, which took $151.1 million.
Interest in the movie has increased because of the death of Heath Ledger. His performance as Batman‘s arch nemesis The Joker, has been widely tipped by critics, as well as Caine, to receive a posthumous Oscar.
Shawn Levy Still Going Way Back
22 July 2008
"The Way Back", a coming–of–age dramedy that Shawn Levy was to direct and produce for Fox Searchlight, has now been set up at Mandate Pictures with Levy attached only to produce, says The Hollywood Reporter.
The character–driven film, based on a script by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, centres on a teenage boy from a broken home who strikes up an improbable friendship one summer with the operator of a water park.
Mandate has gone out to several directors, with the company at one point talking to Tom Bezucha (The Family Stone). No director has officially been attached.
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