Elston Gunn's WEEKLY SCRIPT REPORT (Major Sales, Events, and other News!)
December 8th, 2000
- Ron "Gustin" Parker will write the action-comedy-mystery script THE HARDY MEN for Fox 2000. The story follows the "Hardy Boys" as adults, who now hate each other, but unite to save their father, who has been kidnapped. It's based on a previous script by Michael Sargent.
- Brent Hanley (upcoming FRAILTY) will write the big-screen adaptation of the Louis Sachar children's book HOLES for Phoenix Pictures as a directing vehicle for Andrew Davis. It's about a young man accused and convicted of a crime he didn't commit.
- Charles Leavitt (THE SUNCHASER, THE MIGHTY) has been paid seven figures to write an untitled comedy for Bel Air Entertainment and Warner Bros. Plot details are being kept a secret.
- Mike White (CHUCK & BUCK, "Freaks & Geeks") has written ORANGE COUNTY, which will be produced by MTV/Scott Rudin and directed by Jake Kasdan. White is also writing two other scripts as part of deal with Rudin. One will star Jack Black, while the other will be a feature to be directed by White.
- David Franzoni (GLADIATOR) will write a script based on the tale of King Arthur of the Round Table, focusing more on the history and the politics of the time (collapsing of the Roman empire, power struggles), than the mythical aspect of the story (no "Excalibur"/sword-in-the-stone). Jerry Bruckheimer will produce the pic with Michael Bay considered as the possible helmer.
- Seymour Englander will write the screenplay adaptation of THE PLAYERS, Clay Reynolds' 1997 suspenseful black comedy novel about a failed football player who falls into a life of gambling and murder. Producer Mark Mower will produce.
- Chris Ord and Matt Corman will pen the adaptation of THE BODY OF CHRISTOPHER CREED for DreamWorks. Carol Plum-Ucci's mystery novel is about a class freak who mysteriously disappears and the popular 16-year old student who sets out to find out if he ran away, committed suicide or fell victim to a crime.
- Fox 2000 picked up Malcolm Spellman's drama spec EXTREME for 3 Arts Entertainment to produce. It's about a skateboarder who overcomes the odds against him to fulfill his dream of going to the X-Games.
- Stuart Beattie (COLLATERAL) will adapt Jeffery Deaver's upcoming thriller novel THE BLUE NOWHERE for Warner Bros. and Joel Silver. It's about a cop and a computer hacker who join forces to stop a serial killer from infiltrating his victim's lives.
- Bill Mechanic has purchased the comedy script WHEN I GROW UP by Steve Franks (BIG DADDY). It's about a loser who reunites with childhood chums and discovers they've all become what they wanted to be, except for him.
- Jeff Fiskin will write the adaptation of an untitled Robert Reiss novel, based on the character of NYPD sex crimes investigator Conrad Voort, for Paramount Pictures and producer Mace Neufeld. It revolves around Voort discovering he is in over his head while investigating the deaths of four people on a list compiled by a secret branch of the CIA involved in stopping domestic terrorism.
- Paul Rudnick (IN & OUT) is rewriting a script for a sequel to THE FIRST WIVES CLUB for Paramount and producer Scott Rudin, who are in talks with stars Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton to return for a hopeful March start.
ORANGE COUNTY sounds cool. Mike White and Jake Kasdan? I'm there. HARDY MEN sounds great too. The Hardy Boys as hateful adults? It has promise. Hope it's good. They share my pick o' the week with David Franzoni's King Arthur script. It has a lot of potential -- especially if they're concentrating on the intriguing aspects of the politics and history of the time. Let's hope for the best.
-- Elston Gunn
(Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety)
- Brent Hanley (upcoming FRAILTY) will write the big-screen adaptation of the Louis Sachar children's book HOLES for Phoenix Pictures as a directing vehicle for Andrew Davis. It's about a young man accused and convicted of a crime he didn't commit.
- Charles Leavitt (THE SUNCHASER, THE MIGHTY) has been paid seven figures to write an untitled comedy for Bel Air Entertainment and Warner Bros. Plot details are being kept a secret.
- Mike White (CHUCK & BUCK, "Freaks & Geeks") has written ORANGE COUNTY, which will be produced by MTV/Scott Rudin and directed by Jake Kasdan. White is also writing two other scripts as part of deal with Rudin. One will star Jack Black, while the other will be a feature to be directed by White.
- David Franzoni (GLADIATOR) will write a script based on the tale of King Arthur of the Round Table, focusing more on the history and the politics of the time (collapsing of the Roman empire, power struggles), than the mythical aspect of the story (no "Excalibur"/sword-in-the-stone). Jerry Bruckheimer will produce the pic with Michael Bay considered as the possible helmer.
- Seymour Englander will write the screenplay adaptation of THE PLAYERS, Clay Reynolds' 1997 suspenseful black comedy novel about a failed football player who falls into a life of gambling and murder. Producer Mark Mower will produce.
- Chris Ord and Matt Corman will pen the adaptation of THE BODY OF CHRISTOPHER CREED for DreamWorks. Carol Plum-Ucci's mystery novel is about a class freak who mysteriously disappears and the popular 16-year old student who sets out to find out if he ran away, committed suicide or fell victim to a crime.
- Fox 2000 picked up Malcolm Spellman's drama spec EXTREME for 3 Arts Entertainment to produce. It's about a skateboarder who overcomes the odds against him to fulfill his dream of going to the X-Games.
- Stuart Beattie (COLLATERAL) will adapt Jeffery Deaver's upcoming thriller novel THE BLUE NOWHERE for Warner Bros. and Joel Silver. It's about a cop and a computer hacker who join forces to stop a serial killer from infiltrating his victim's lives.
- Bill Mechanic has purchased the comedy script WHEN I GROW UP by Steve Franks (BIG DADDY). It's about a loser who reunites with childhood chums and discovers they've all become what they wanted to be, except for him.
- Jeff Fiskin will write the adaptation of an untitled Robert Reiss novel, based on the character of NYPD sex crimes investigator Conrad Voort, for Paramount Pictures and producer Mace Neufeld. It revolves around Voort discovering he is in over his head while investigating the deaths of four people on a list compiled by a secret branch of the CIA involved in stopping domestic terrorism.
- Paul Rudnick (IN & OUT) is rewriting a script for a sequel to THE FIRST WIVES CLUB for Paramount and producer Scott Rudin, who are in talks with stars Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton to return for a hopeful March start.
ORANGE COUNTY sounds cool. Mike White and Jake Kasdan? I'm there. HARDY MEN sounds great too. The Hardy Boys as hateful adults? It has promise. Hope it's good. They share my pick o' the week with David Franzoni's King Arthur script. It has a lot of potential -- especially if they're concentrating on the intriguing aspects of the politics and history of the time. Let's hope for the best.
-- Elston Gunn
(Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety)
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