Script Pipeline

Crime/drams, thrillers, and some fairly unusual adaptations in June. . . . Fresh off his role as Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe will star in a remake of the classic All Quiet on the Western Front. A sequel to Men in Black, The Bourne Identity, Clash of the Titans, and Ghost Rider are in the works as well. On the prequel side of things, Carrie Bradshaw’s character will give teenage fans a thrill in The Carrie Diaries. And (finally) a live-action version of the extraordinary children’s book The Wind in the Willows. Other selected sales include: –A live action/animation film adaptation of Legos, appropriately titled Lego. –The spec script Step Dawg, a comedy about a man whose mother is set to marry his former best friend. To be produced by Morgan Creek. –The Marvel character Dr. Strange will see a film version. –Remake of the 1980s “classic” (well, sort of anyway)…

A number of novel adaptations, a handful of specs, and some low-to-mid budget projects dot the May script sales landscape. Disney will remake a live-action version of Cinderella, in addition to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Cameron Crowe dips back into directing and will helm the family-drama project We Bought a Zoo. And since it’s been so long since we’ve seen the beginnings of the Spider-Man series, the franchise will get a re-boot (it has been almost eight years since the “original” awesome version came out. . .). Other selected sales include: –New Line’s MacGyver will see a reload for the big screen. Jason Richman will pen the adaptation. –JJ Abram’s Bad Robot and writer Phil Alden Robinson (Field of Dreams) will team up on a heist action/thriller revolving around the true story of thieves that robbed a jewelry facility in Belgium. –A film adaptation of the TV series Gidget….

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…