Berlanti in Line to Direct The Flash: New rumors have Greg Berlanti as a potential candidate to direct The Flash. Berlanti co-wrote the script for Green Lantern and was attached to direct before the gig went to Martin Campbell. Wedding Crashers helmer David Dobkin was the last director to abandon the project, which I have been reporting on since 2004 when David Goyer was attached to write, produce and direct the feature for Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment. [IESB]
Frankel and Liman in Line for Musketeers: David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada) and Doug Liman (Jumper) are said to be the directors Warner Bros. is eying to direct an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’s 17th-century adventure novel “The Three Musketeers”. Peter Straughan (The Men Who Stare at Goats) is currently penning the screenplay. [Los Angeles Times]
De Palma Among Trio in Line for Paranormal Activity 2: Word is Brian De Palma (Scarface), Brad Anderson (The Machinist) and Greg McLean (Wolf Creek) are the three directors Paramount is courting to direct Paranormal Activity 2 following the unceremonious departure of Kevin Greutert whom Lionsgate forced back into the director’s chair for Saw VII in an example of sheer pettiness. Based on pedigree alone I would expect McLean to get the gig, but either way we should have an announcement soon as the set October 22 release date looms. [Los Angeles Times]
Bob Sapp Joins Conan: Bob Sapp will play Ukafa, a leader of Kushite Tribemen from the savannahs of Kush, in Marcus Nispel’s Conan. Ukafa is Khalar Singh’s second in command, jealous that Singh’s son, Fariq, will one day be warlord. He obeys his leader but plots the overthrow of his son. He is a mighty warrior and unbeatable in battle — until he comes face to face with Conan. Production slated to March 15th in Bulgaria for a 2010 release. Sean Hood recently performed a rewrite on the script. [Latino Review]
Farrellys Hand Applegate, Milano and Angel a Hall Pass: Christina Applegate, Alyssa Milano, Vanessa Angel and Larry Campbell are set to join Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Jenna Fischer, Amanda Bynes and Stephen Merchant in the Farrelly brothers’s Hall Pass, a comedy centered on a married couple who find themselves in a lull in their marriage and just going through the motions. The wife then gives her husband (Wilson) a “hall pass,” a free ticket to engage in extramarital encounters. Sudeikis would play the guy’s best friend, who also gets a free pass. Applegate will play one of the wives, but which one is not known. Filming is currently underway in Atlanta. [THR]
Pearce and Wood Set for HBO’s “Mildred Pierce”: Guy Pearce and Evan Rachel Wood will join Kate Winslet in the HBO miniseries “Mildred Pierce” for director Todd Haynes (I’m Not There). The five-hour miniseries will be an adaptation of James M. Cain’s classic noir novel, which centers on Mildred Pierce Beragon (Winslet), a proud single mother struggling to earn her daughter’s love during the Great Depression in middle-class Los Angeles. Filming will take place in new York from April 12 through June 1. [Production Weekly]
Cornish Set for Madonna’s W.E.: Abbie Cornish is reportedly set to star opposite Vera Farmiga in W.E., the biopic about the affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson that led to the British royal abdicating the throne to marry his divorcee lover. Farmiga will portray the Duchess. The film tells parallel tales about Wallis Simpson in the 1930s and a contemporary woman called Wally Winthrop, who has romantic problems of her own – in addition to the fact that she’s obsessed with the Duchess of Windsor’s life. [Daily Mail via The Playlist]
Parisot Helming Central Intelligence: Dean Parisot (Fun with Dick and Jane) is set to direct the Universal Pictures comedy Central Intelligence with The Hangover‘s Ed Helms in the lead. The story revolves around an accountant (Helms) who’s thrown into the world of international espionage after reconnecting with an old friend through Facebook. The script was written by Ike Barinholtz and Dave Stassen. [Variety]
Brooklyn Decker and Nicole Kidman are Set for Sandler Comedy: Recent Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover model and wife of tennis star Andy Roddick, Brooklyn Decker, and Nicole Kidman are set to join the cast of Adam Sandler’s upcoming comedy Just Go With It featuring Sandler opposite Jennifer Aniston. Sandler will play a man who recruits Aniston to pose as his soon to be divorced wife and pretends her children are his family. Decker will play a young girl who catches Sandler’s eye. Kidman’s part is said to be a cameo appearance. Production is set to begin in Los Angeles in March in time for a Valentine’s Day 2011 release. Frequent Sandler helmer Dennis Dugan (I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry) will direct from a script penned by Allan Loeb, Tim Dowling, Tim Herlihy and Sandler . [Screen Daily and THR]
Costner Will be Learning Italian: Kevin Costner is set to star in Learning Italian, a spy comedy for director Kevin Reynolds who’s directed Costner before in the likes of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Waterworld. Costner will play a CIA agent who has been stationed in an idyllic coastal town in Italy to keep an eye on a KGB agent there — until both secret agencies order the two spies to return to their respective countries and cook up a pseudo-threat to justify their continued stays in Italy. [Deadline]
Keener, Meester and Laurie are Peeling The Oranges: Leighton Meester, Catherine Keener and Hugh Laurie in the dramedy The Oranges for director Julian Farino. The film, written by Jay Reiss and Ian Helfer, centers on a man’s romantic relationship with the daughter of a family friend, which turns their lives upside down. Shooting is expected to start this April in New York City. [Variety]
