Script Pipeline

Every genre you can think of makes up April script sales, from horrors and legal thrillers, to teen comedy franchises (see: American Pie 4) and an animated religious drama. I Dream of Jeannie is in yet another stage of rewrites, as is Stretch Armstrong--yes, the Hasbro toy. Sascha Baron Cohen will star in and produce a new project (comedy, of course), and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, based on the short story, has found new life at 20th Century Fox. And for those of you who can't get enough of a solid "stoner Western," Johnny Knoxville will take the lead in Mustache Riders. Hilarity will undoubtedly ensure. . . . On the other end of the spectrum, Khalil Gibran's The Prophet will be adapted as an animated feature. Other selected sales include: --Think The Ring part 1 and 2 were scary? No? Well, brace yourself: Ring 3D is on…

Pretty huge month for script sales. . . . Anyone want to see another Godzilla movie? Warner Bros. will tackle (or rather re-tackle) one of the world’s most well-known franchises, perhaps to atone for the sins of the previous nineties big-budget spin. Buck Rodgers will get a modern-day telling (in 3D of course), as will Popeye, at least an animated rendition. Laverne and Shirley—perhaps not in 3D—written by Jamie Foxx, may star Jessica Biel and Jennifer Garner as two street-tough friends. And, in this writer’s opinion, finally a film version of the classic children’s book A Wrinkle in Time. Other notable sales: --30-somethings who want to relive 1999 rejoice: American Pie 4 is on the slate. --Speaking of part 4s, Scream plans on expanding beyond the trilogy with another installment. --22 years later, DeNiro will reprise his role in Midnight Run with a sequel. --Anna Faris will star in a…

Novel adaptations, a few remakes, and some frankly off-beat concepts fill the first part of March. In addition, a former Script Pimp Writers Workshop “Recommend” found success with one of his scripts, “Smashed,” a suspense/thriller. Best of all, though: “Gilligan’s Island.” The movie. Believe it. And a little astounding (and humbling for those of you want to retire at 40), 94-year-old Sherwood Schwartz will co-produce with his son. Other selected script sales include: --New Line will helm a remake of the classic 1980s comedy “Police Academy.” --A feature film version of the hit HBO series “Rome,” with (possibly) the original leads. --Deepak Chopra’s comic “Beyond” will be adapted for the big screen. --Biopic of the erratic and controversial figure Herbert Hoover. --Tim Burton will co-produce an Abraham Lincoln vampire hunter script. . . . Somehow that sounds pretty awesome.

Star vehicles push January’s script sales—both old stars and rising actors—as well franchise sequels. “G.I. Joe” was apparently worthy of a second installment, as was “Paranormal Activity” (of course) and “Four Brothers,” with the sequel “Five.” A handful of scripts, three dramas and a thriller, are also headed into development with Philip Seymour Hoffman’s production company. Other selected script sales include: --Tom Hanks and Julia Robert set to star in “Larry Crowne,” revolving around a change of careers for a middle-aged man (surely it’ll be more interesting than that). Hanks will also direct. --Comedian Demetri Martin’s script “Will” is set to star Zach Galifianakis and Paul Rudd. Will Ferrell and Adam McKay to produce. --A biopic of the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Steven Spielberg will co-produce. --An as-of-yet untitled George Lucas CGI project

A relatively quiet December and early January for script sales, in comparison to previous months—as expected. Script Pimp partner Sean McKittrick and Darko entertainment will co-produce the horror/romance “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” with Lionsgate and Natalie Portman’s company. The comic adaptation bug bites again, as the franchise “Deadpool” will see a film version, and other comedies and action/thriller scripts found their way in the winter sales. Few dramas marked the landscape of genres, at least for this period ending 2009. Selected scripts include: --An as-of-yet untitled Ron Howard / Vince Vaughn romantic comedy project. --The comedy “Mail Order Groom,” which may star Tiny Fey and Steve Carell, who are producing. --A new Mel Gibson-helmed film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and centering on the Vikings. Scripted by William Monahan. --“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” a remake of the popular Swedish film of a different name.

Comedies, anyone? A slate of comedies—some traditional, some off-beat— make up the script sales for December. A handful revolve around (surprise) vampires, some concerning astronauts, and others two “classic” characters once appearing on “In Living Color” and “Martin.” Other scripts include an adaptation of the civil rights march in Selma, a Greenpeace dramatic project, a remake of “The Black Hole,” and three—yes, three—Aziz Ansari (“Parks and Recreation”) projects. Selected script sales: --Mindy Kaling (“The Office”) will be co-writing the romcom “The Low Self Esteem of Lizzie Gillespie.” --And the vampire craze wears on. Amy Heckerling will direct “Vamps,” which will center on two female vampires who find love in New York. . . no, really. But veteran Heckerling should pull it off brilliantly. --Martin Lawrence and Jamie Foxx team up as Shenaheh and Wanda, their female characters from the bygone nineties, playing two rather hideous bank robbers. --Remake of the…

Biopics and stories revolving around real-life stories and figures, as well as higher-profile comedies, are littered among dramas, horrors, and thrillers across October’s script sales. The hit Japanese manga comic “Ghost in the Shell” will see a big-screen adaptation, as will “Warcraft,” based on the popular game. The “Spider-man” sequel, “Venom,” is currently in the process of rewrites. “Vacation,” a sequel to the 1983 Chevy Chase comedy, sees a grown up Rusty Griswold take his own family on vacation—a writer is currently being sought. Selected/notable sales include: --A $150 million budgeted project centered on the Prophet Mohammed --“Men in Black 3,” with Ethan Cohen penning the script and Barry Sonnenfeld directing --An untitled George Gershwin biopic --The romantic comedy “Jack and Jill.” Adam Sandler will star as both Jack and Jill (not a typo) Lastly, TV comedy fans rejoice: “Arrested Development” is coming to theaters. And yes, everyone who’s awesome…

As always, sequels and remakes are scattered throughout September’s script sales, as well as a biopic on the post-presidential life of Teddy Roosevelt (“River of Doubt”), a mid-nineties Wall Street crime/drama, a fantasy basketball camp comedy featuring NBA star LeBron James, the comedy “Super” starring Ellen Page and Rainn Wilson, and an as-of-yet untitled Barry Manilow project focusing on his fans. Other selected/notable sales include: --Building upon the successful franchise, a new edition of “Spy Kids” in 3-D --A fresh look at the classic “A Star is Born” --Nicholas Cage will reprise his role in “Ghost Rider 2” --A remake of “The Fly,” with David Cronenberg possibly writing and directing --Live-action “Barbie” film—no writer attached as of yet --Another re-imagining of “The Three Musketeers”