Elston Gunn's WEEKLY SCRIPT REPORT (Major Sales, Events, and other News!)
August 11th, 2000
- Rob Schneider, Clark Taylor and Martin Olson have written FAMILY DISORDER for Disney which will begin production in the spring as part of an overall first-look production deal with the studio.
- Wayne Rice and Gina Goldman (SUICIDE KINGS) will write CHASING THE WHALE for 20th Century Fox about a casino host who trieds to bring wealthy high rollers into a Vegas casino.
- Callie Khouri (THELMA & LOUISE) will rewrite and direct DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD for Warner Bros. based on the novel by Rebecca Wells. The story follows a daughter who is trying to mend a broken relationship with her mother through the lives and memories of mom and friends.
- David Self (THIRTEEN DAYS) has written an adaptation of the Max Allan Collins graphic novel THE ROAD TO PERDITION for DreamWorks for a starring/directing vehicle for Tom Hanks and Sam Mendes respectively. The story follows a 1930s gangster hitman, Michael O'Sullivan, who is known as the Angel of Death. After his wife and son are killed, he and his surviving son, Michael Jr., embark on a journey of revenge. Production is planned to begin early 2001.
- Steven Spielberg will direct John August's (GO) adaptation of Daniel Wallace's book BIG FISH for Columbia/DreamWorks. It's about a guy who tries to learn the truth about his dying father's life by piecing together stories he has gathered over the years. Fact and fiction are revealed through funny andpoignant flashbacks. Production may begin summer 2001.
- Kevin Williamson will write and produce the thriller CURSED for Dimension Films about a serial killer in New York. The story is supposed to have a unique twist and Dimension is putting the project on the fast track hoping to start production before spring.
- French writer/director Fabien Onteniente is developing a sequel to his hit JET SET to be filmed during the second half of 2001.
- Bradley Allenstein (JUWANNA MANN) will write the script for the remake of the 1960 Jerry Lewis movie THE BELLBOY for MGM. Jackie Chan is attached tostar. Jerry Lewis will serve as a producer on the project.
- Jeremy Leven (DON JUAN DEMARCO, THE NOTEBOOK) will script the Universal remake SEND ME NO FLOWERS based on the Doris Day/Rock Hudson picture about a hypochondria who is so certain he's dying he searches for a new mate for his wife. Frank Marshall (CONGO) may direct.
- Universal Pictures grabbed INSTANT KARMA for Imagine Ent. to produce with Digital Domain. The dark comedy script by Paul Hernandez was put into turnaround by DreamWorks. The story follows a failed bank robber who dies alone in the desert. He goes through several different animal reincarnations, such as a flea and a cockroach, and returns to his old girlfriend to make amends.
- Steven Christopher Young will write the demoltion derby comedy HELL ON WHEELS for producer Casey Silver and his Gone Fishin' Prods.
- Mike Myers will write a new script for Universal/Imagine Entertainment as part of a settlement ending the legal dispute between them. Imagine will produce the script for Universal and Dreamworks, the latter is involved because Jeffrey Katzenberg was instrumental in working out the settlement.
- David Spade has co-written and will star in PUKA PETE about a 1960s hippie who shipwrecks into a deserted island after trying to record whale sounds. He then realizes he wants to start a family and tries to integrate himself into modern society. Fred Wolf co-scripted. Shooting begins in March.
- Michael Tupy has written PUCK, picked up by Warner Bros.-based Peters Entertainmet, about the father-son relationship between Robin Hood and his son Puck, told through the eyes of the boy.
Though I find Kevin Williamson's scripts fun, John August's GO was clever and PUCK rather intriguing, I believe my pick of the week is THE ROAD TO PERDITION by David Self adapted from Max Allan Collins' comic strip novel. Hanks and Mendes aside (though "Wow"), the story alone sounds very captivating and I hope David Self's script will blow us away. His THIRTEEN DAYS script blew some folks away after all. We shall see.
-- Elston Gunn
(Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety)
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