News – From Around The Web

GEEKY HAPPINESS
Deadline Hollywood reporting… So it looks like Watchmen director Zack Snyder has been brought back into the WB fold to direct their next Superman film. This stays in line with rumors that the character is going dark, a reality many Superman purists are not happy about (I kinda like it – the character needs a fresh take). Completing the geek orgasm, Peter Jackson is negotiating to direct the Hobbit films, something we suspected all along. The question is, with all this union jibber-jabbery, WHERE are the films going to be shot?

TIME TRAVEL WILL NEVER GET OLD
Summit continues to spend their Twilight money, their most recent option being a sci-fi novel titled “Tempest” by Julie Cross that hasn’t hit shelves yet. In what seems to be the norm for these pre-bought Hollywood book deals, the book will be the first in a trilogy about a 19 year old man who witnesses his girlfriend’s murder just before jumping back in time. Are these book deals the new spec scripts?

CAMERON CROWE
Cameron Crowe is gearing up to direct “We Bought A Zoo,” a script of his based on the book by Benjamin Mee. It’s a real-life story about a guy who buys a run-down zoo in the English countryside, only to experience some unforeseen family-related problems. Matt Damon, Thomas Hayden Church and Amy Adams are said to be onboard. I have the script and love Crowe but his last script, the Volcano-Satellite romantic comedy, left me colder than an Alaskan ice cube. On the plus side, this project sounds more interesting.

BELOW THE SURFACE
Writer John Kelly has given his spec script “Below The Surface” some air, as it will be directed by Xavier Palud, director of “The Eye.” It’s about a group of scientists who are sent off to a remote island to investigate the disappearance of another team. I don’t know why but I always love this setup. I remember being there opening day for Event Horizon. Boy did that not turn out well. Here’s hoping Below The Surface does better.

ALL GOOD THINGS
This is the first time I’m hearing about this Ryan Gosling – Kirsten Dunst film based on the real life disappearance of the wife of real-estate heir Frank Durst. I love the last two roles Gosling has chosen and think he’s becoming a solid indication of good material. So if you have this one, please send it to me! :)

DO THE BEST WRITERS RESIDE ON TV?
Over at The Big Picture blog, they have a quick article on Aaron Sorkin and some post-opening Social Network thoughts. Sorkin talks about taking the job because it was more like a TV project in that he could write it and know it was going straight to screen. He admits that that’s the reason he likes working in TV more than movies, and that these days, all the best writers write in TV for the same reason.  Do you agree?