New Line has taken it’s first step toward bringing Freddy Krueger back to the big-screen. Veteran scriptwriter Wesley Strick (Arachnophobia, Cape Fear, Mission: Impossible 2) has been hired by the the Warner Bros division to pen the reboot of A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Wes Craven wrote and directed the original, which was released in 1984. The film introduced Freddy Krueger (played by Robert Englund), who became one of the most popular villains in movie history. It’s unexpected success created a franchise that helped turn New Line into a serious industry player in the mid-1980s.

The original movie revolved around Krueger, a serial child killer murdered who returns with a burned face and razor glove to terrorize teens in their dreams.

The new version will keep the setting in high school, but will have more of a dark tone and deal with Krueger and the psychology of nightmares a little deeper. The plan is to have the film ready for the 25th Anniversary of the original.

The company is being overseen by Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, and Dave Neustadter.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

21

Written by: Written by: Peter Steinfeld, Allan Loeb, Ben Mezrich
Directed by: Robert Luketic
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Liza LaPira
Synopsis: The fact-based story about six MIT students who were trained to become experts in card counting and subsequently took Vegas casinos for millions in winnings.

Brutal Massacre: A Comedy

Written by: Written by: Stevan Mena
Directed by: Stevan Mena
Starring: David Naughton, Brian O’Halloran, Ellen Sandweiss, Ken Foree, Gunnar Hansen
Synopsis: This mockumentary stars David Naughton as a beleaguered horror director who sets out to make the movie that will put him back on the A list! Unfortunately for him, a quirky crew and penchant for mishaps don’t make anything easier in this hilarious satire of low-budget filmmaking.

There is a rumor floating around that Tom Cruise and partners are tossing around the idea of a sequel to the 80’s classic Top Gun. According to “insiders” (whatever that means), here’s the general concept of the sequel:

“The idea is Maverick is at the Top Gun school as an instructor — and this time it is he who has to deal with a cocky new female pilot.”

I have to say that I agree with Merrick over at Ain’t It Cool News - this would be a really cool husband / wife vehicle for Cruise and Katie Holmes. She could play the cocky new female pilot. Here’s to hoping Tony Scott will come back to direct it. They should release it on a double bill with Beverly Hills Cop 4 and Flashdance: The Next Generation.

Source: The UK Sun

Universal Pictures has hooked us up with passes to THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR in Dallas! The screening is on Tuesday, July 29. Since it’s so damn hot outside, we decided that all you need to do to get a pass is e-mail me (chase@gordonandthewhale.com) with your mailing address by NO LATER than 5pm this Friday, July 25 and we’ll send you one pass admitting you and a guest (NO PURCHASE NECESSARY). Passes are limited, as I only have 50, so the first 50 people to email me asking for a pass will get them. Also, remember, seats are not guaranteed, admission is based on a first-come, first-served basis. See ya soon!

The Night Chronicles has been formed by M. Night Shyamalan and Media Rights Capital, which will be a financing / production partnership that plans on generating one thriller per year for three years.

In a move that most people will find comforting after the reaction to his latest film, The Happening, Shyamalan will not direct the films, but act as producer. This marks the first time he will produce a movie that he didn’t helm and write. Shyamalan will pick the writers and directors after he has created the stories and ideas for the project. MRC will be financing and setting the films up with distribution. Ashwin Rajan has been hired by MRC to oversee development of the film projects. He is a veteran UTA agent and the cousin of Shyamalan.

Shyamalan has stated:

“Filmmakers have always been my inspiration. Working with the next wave of innovative filmmakers will teach me many things that I can bring to my own writing/directing and give my stories the opportunity to be brought to the screen in a stunning way.”

The ownership of the copyrights and artistic control will be retained by Shyamalan and MRC. New MRC prexy Tory Metzger believes that Shyamalan will be very involved in the running of The Night Chronicles. He will also have a copyright ownership stake.

Metzger had this to say about the Shyamalan and the partnership:

“These films will be based on ideas in keeping with what has made Night so successful, and has made him unique to his time.”

The MRC was attracted to the director because of his record of generating more movie ideas than he can make, since he writes, directs, produces and often acts in the films he works on. The other reason they liked the idea of working with him is because he has a good record of keeping his films on budget.

Shyamalan is directing a live-action version of Nickelodeon’s The Last Airbender next. Paramount has scheduled the film to be released on July 2nd, 2010.

Source: The Deadbolt

Karen Janszen will be adapting Ingrid Law’s young-adult book Savvy for Walden Media. Janszen adapted the Nicholas Sparks book A Walk to Remember for Warner Bros. Her most recent credits include Gracie for Picturehouse and Duma for Warners.

The publishing division of Walden has partnered up with Penguin Young Readers Group to publish the novel.

Law’s first novel, which revolves around a Midwestern family with superpowers, is getting rave reviews. The author had been living in a trailer up until now.

Savvy will most likely be distributed through 20th Century Fox and marketed by Fox Walden, just like all the other Walden films being developed.

Source: Variety