Fifty Shades of Grey Nabs Network Producers; Nora Ephron's Finale: Biz Break
In Tuesday morning's round up of news briefs, Nora Ephron planned her memorial, which took place Monday in New York. Also, the latest schedule is out with a packed schedule of Comic-Con events. An Agatha Christie adaptation will get U.S. distribution; and new castings for Sir Anthony Hopkins, Alicia Silverstone and Billy Burke.
Social Network Team to Produce Fifty Shades of Grey
The duo behind the Oscar-nominated The Social Network, Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti, will collaborate to produce the racy nobel by E.L. James, which Universal and Focus picked up in a bidding war in March. The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy centers on a torrid love affair between a college student and a mysterious billionaire, THR reports.
Nora Ephron's Final Production
Ephron, who died June 26th of complications from leukemia, ple-planned her memorial service, which took place Monday at Lincoln Center in Manhattan's Upper West Side. Tributes came from Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep and Martin Short and the guest list included Sen. Al Franken, Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer, Martin Scorcese, Steve Kroft, Alan Alda, Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, Rob Reiner, Jon Hamm, Jennifer Westfeldt and frequent collaborator Scott Rudin, THR reports.
The Latest Comic-Con Event/Party List
Parties, cook outs, concerts, happy hours and a good number of curious events such as a Zombie Walk, Superhero Pub Crawl, Nerd HQ and more are charted and ready for all you fanboys and allies, The Tracking Board reports.
Sony Label Takes Rights to Agatha Christie's Crooked House
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions have picked up rights to director Neil LaBute's adaptation of Agatha Christie's classic murder mystery novel for the U.S., Canada and select international territories. The script is by Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellows, Tim Rose Price and LaBute, Deadline reports.
Sir Anthony Hopkins Boards Noah
The actor will play Methusaleh in Darren Aronofsky's film about the Biblical figure. Hopkins joins Russell Crowe, Ray Winstone, Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, Jennifer Connelly and Douglas Booth, Deadline reports.
Alicia Silverstone and Billy Burke Don Boots
Silverstone and Burke wil star opposite Amanda (A.J.) Michalka in the coming-of-age drama Jesus in Cowboy Boots. The film revolves around a small-town girl (Michalka) who struggles with her self-centered mother (Silverstone), but come to realize her worth through her imaginary cowboy friend (Burke), Variety reports.