Adrien Brody, Forest Whitaker to Class Up Experiment Remake

· The German thriller Das Experiment is the next Euro-hit in line for English-language reimagining, with double-barreled Oscar talent Adrien Brody and Forest Whitaker joining Elijah Wood and Cam Gigandet as men roped into a prison-based study of authority. Whitaker's guard becomes corrupted by absolute power, while Brody plays the lead prisoner struggling to get over on the tyrant. So basically it's Last King of Scotland vs. The Pianist, winner gets to keep his career. Fair enough. [Variety]

A new deal for Sam Mendes and a new Conan for the world (maybe?) as Hollywood Ink continues after the jump.

· With Away We Go poised to break $1 million this weekend on still fewer than 150 screens nationally, Focus Features wants to stay in the Sam Mendes business. Universal's boutique outlet agreed Thursday to a first-look deal with Mendes's Neal Street shingle, which has a Western and a George Eliot adaptation currently in development -- neither of which Mendes is confirmed to direct. Somewhere, slumping Focus house director Ang Lee seethes with jealousy and plots his revenge. [Variety]

· Is 41-year-old Australian bodybuilder Roland Kickinger your new Conan the Barbarian? [THR]

· DreamWorks Animation has green-lighted an untitled ghost movie -- referred to internally as Boo U. -- for late 2012. The story concerns "a ghost who is bad at his job and must return to ghost school." Trouble and much soul-searching ensue following a frat party where he overdoes it on the fear-bong. [THR]

· Just to be on the safe side, the major studios have contractually required SAG to commence its next round of contract negotiations on Oct. 10, 2010 -- a full nine months before its recently ratified agreement expires. [Variety]

· Finally, some unqualified good news: City Island, one of the better films to premiere at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, was nabbed for theatrical distribution by Anchor Bay. Huzzah! [THR]