Leonardo DiCaprio Rumored for Prisoners: Prisoners has had a rough ride at Warner Bros. as it has lost and gained cast members and directors over the years. It was even included on the studio’s 2010 preview with Antoine Fuqua directing for a Fall release, but Fuqua has since departed the project leaving it without a director or a cast. Now, rumor has it Leonardo DiCaprio is stepping in where the likes of Hugh Jackman was the latest attached along with names such as Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg before him and before Fuqua, Bryan Singer was set to direct.
The film centers on a Bible-reading, deer-hunting survivalist father who turns vigilante and abducts the man he suspects is behind the disappearance of his 6-year-old daughter and her friend. He begins to torture him in a desperate attempt to find out what he did with the girls, whom he’s convinced are still alive.
Will it ever get made? The script ranked high on the 2009 Black List so I would say yes. However, when? That I can’t say, but with comparisons to Mystic River, Seven, Taken and The Silence of the Lambs I don’t see how it can sit much longer. DiCaprio, though, is next expected to star in Mel Gibson’s Viking feature so it will definitely have to wait a little longer. [Deadline]
50 Cent is Now a Screenwriter: Mario Van Peebles is set to direct Things Fall Apart written by 50 Cent and Brian Miller with 50 Cent set to star. The film centers around a star football running back, played by Jackson, who faces a personal tragedy as well as his own mortality while in his senior year in college. Soon-to-be 35-year-old 50 Cent is said to be dropping 65 pounds to play the role of a college-aged senior. Yeah, I’m already seeing this one in the bargain bin. [Variety]
Mark Strong is Green Lantern‘s Sinestro: Apparently it’s a big deal to learn Mark Strong will be playing the role of the villain Sinestro in Green Lantern. Sinestro is a Green Lantern corps. instructor turned nemesis of Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds). Martin Campbell is directing the film for a June 17, 2011 release. [Twitter via Slash Film]
Lautner Abducted by Lionsgate: Lionsgate has reportedly won the bidding war with the “most aggressive offer” for Twilight star, Taylor Lautner’s next film Abduction, which is currently without a director. The film centers on a teen who has long felt disconnected from his parents, and figures out why, which unleashes a chain of violent events. Shawn Christensen wrote the script, which apparently sold for nearly $1 million. Lautner will continue work on the Twilight Saga as well as playing the title role in Stretch Armstrong for Universal Pictures among several projects he’s been attached to recently. [Deadline]
Scott to Star in Smith’s Hit Somebody: When Kevin Smith isn’t bitching about getting kicked off Southwest Airlines flights he makes movies and outside of this coming weekend’s release Cop Out he is working on Hit Somebody, which Seann William Scott (who has a role in Cop Out) is set to star in. Scott will play Buddy in the film based on a Warren Zevon song with lyrics by acclaimed writer Mitch Albom. The film is said to be a story of a hockey enforcer who strives to score just one goal in a hockey game. [NHL.com via SlashFilm]
Scream 4 Underway in May: Scream 4 is set to begin filming in May and Wes Craven is confirmed as returning to the director’s chair. Neve Campbell is back along with Courteney Cox and David Arquette as the other confirmed stars. [Los Angeles Times]
