Elston Gunn's WEEKLY SCRIPT REPORT (Major Sales, Events, and other News!)
January 27th, 2001
- Disney Co. grabbed Martin Hynes' (STEALING STANFORD) comedy pitch HONEST ABE for John Turteltaub (PHENOMENON) to direct. It's a modern MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON with a man who becomes a hero due to his honesty and is recruited to run for governor of a major state. Hynes will write the screenplay.
- Brothers Jeremy and Luke Jackson will write the comedy RIGBY HALL for 20th Century Fox and producer Wayne Rice (DUDE, WHERE'S MY CAR?). It's centers on the ANIMAL HOUSE antics of a college dorm in San Diego.
- DreamWorks picked up a romantic comedy pitch from Lisa Jones about a public relations executive who can't get his wife pregnant. Chris Rock may produce and possibly star. Jones will write the script, which is said to be WHEN HARRY MET SALLY... meets THE BEST MAN.
- Scribes Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer (SCARY MOVIE) will develop an "unromantic comedy" with director Frank Coraci (THE WEDDING SINGER) for the Canton Co. Tad Douglas is currently writing the script. It's about a young couple who realize they hate each other upon getting engaged and moving in together. The guy must figure out an escape plan to get out of the relationship yet retrieve the engagement ring -- a priceless family heirloom.
- Todd Alcott (ANTZ) will write WONDER WOMAN, based on the DC comic book, for Warner Bros./Silver Picutres.
- Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio (upcoming BUBBLE BOY) will rewrite OLD for the Walt Disney Co. about two teens who turn into elderly men after making fun of senior citizens.
- Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (A SCANNER DARKLY) will write the thriller MANHUNT for Jersey Films. It is described as FUGITVE in the wilderness.
- Keith Thomson (COMPANY MAN) will rewrite the Imagine/Disney project ORDINARY JOE about an ad agency's search for the most average person in America.
- Chris Wilkinson and Steve Rivele (NIXON, ALI) will write an untitled script for Fox 2000 about an Irish orphan rescued from the potato famine in 1895 and brought to America where he becomes a powerful figure with connections to the mob. The story, which will follow the character to 1955, is likened to an Irish version of THE GODFATHER. Director Jim Sheridan, who came up with the idea, may helm the project and will most likely share story credit.
- Paramount and producer Scott Rudin are developing LABYRINTH, based on the upcoming novel by Mark Sullivan, who will adapt the thriller about a marine biologist having to face her demons in a cave where criminals are holding her family. She had lost her assistant in a caving accident there earlier.
We finally have some script activity happening this year. My pick of the week? I have to go with the untitled Irish mobster pic from Wilkinson/Rivele. Jim Sheridan is interested, Oliver Stone directed one of their scripts and Michael Mann is currently directing another. I hope they blow us away.
-- Elston Gunn
(Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety)
- Brothers Jeremy and Luke Jackson will write the comedy RIGBY HALL for 20th Century Fox and producer Wayne Rice (DUDE, WHERE'S MY CAR?). It's centers on the ANIMAL HOUSE antics of a college dorm in San Diego.
- DreamWorks picked up a romantic comedy pitch from Lisa Jones about a public relations executive who can't get his wife pregnant. Chris Rock may produce and possibly star. Jones will write the script, which is said to be WHEN HARRY MET SALLY... meets THE BEST MAN.
- Scribes Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer (SCARY MOVIE) will develop an "unromantic comedy" with director Frank Coraci (THE WEDDING SINGER) for the Canton Co. Tad Douglas is currently writing the script. It's about a young couple who realize they hate each other upon getting engaged and moving in together. The guy must figure out an escape plan to get out of the relationship yet retrieve the engagement ring -- a priceless family heirloom.
- Todd Alcott (ANTZ) will write WONDER WOMAN, based on the DC comic book, for Warner Bros./Silver Picutres.
- Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio (upcoming BUBBLE BOY) will rewrite OLD for the Walt Disney Co. about two teens who turn into elderly men after making fun of senior citizens.
- Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (A SCANNER DARKLY) will write the thriller MANHUNT for Jersey Films. It is described as FUGITVE in the wilderness.
- Keith Thomson (COMPANY MAN) will rewrite the Imagine/Disney project ORDINARY JOE about an ad agency's search for the most average person in America.
- Chris Wilkinson and Steve Rivele (NIXON, ALI) will write an untitled script for Fox 2000 about an Irish orphan rescued from the potato famine in 1895 and brought to America where he becomes a powerful figure with connections to the mob. The story, which will follow the character to 1955, is likened to an Irish version of THE GODFATHER. Director Jim Sheridan, who came up with the idea, may helm the project and will most likely share story credit.
- Paramount and producer Scott Rudin are developing LABYRINTH, based on the upcoming novel by Mark Sullivan, who will adapt the thriller about a marine biologist having to face her demons in a cave where criminals are holding her family. She had lost her assistant in a caving accident there earlier.
We finally have some script activity happening this year. My pick of the week? I have to go with the untitled Irish mobster pic from Wilkinson/Rivele. Jim Sheridan is interested, Oliver Stone directed one of their scripts and Michael Mann is currently directing another. I hope they blow us away.
-- Elston Gunn
(Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety)
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