Strippers, Werewolves, Dinosaurs, Aliens, Cowboys, Ninjas and Vikings, Oh My

It may not feel like it sometimes, but believe me: This is a great time to be a moviegoer. Harvey Weinstein is at the height of his powers, Titanic is finally coming out in murky 3-D, head-exploding propaganda is No. 1 at the box-office, and we've got a superhero flick to look forward to virtually every week from May to August. What more could you want from the film industry? What's that? Strippers vs. werewolves, you say? Sure - that can be arranged. To wit, today's extraordinary news from THR: Well Go, the indie distributor that brought you such trenchant fare as Mutant Girls Squad and The Greatest American Snuff Film, has struck a deal for North American rights to an actual movie called Strippers vs. Werewolves. It is what it sounds like and will no doubt present a fine counterpoint this summer to Steven Soderbergh's male-stripper opus Magic Mike. Earth needs a balance, folks. Fine - strippers and werewolves and $300 budgets aren't your thing. You're more of a dinosaurs vs. aliens kind of person. Great! Guess what? Move over cowboys, its dinosaurs that are going to battle aliens now. Following its launch announcement last May, Liquid Comics will release graphic novel Dinosaurs Vs. Aliens this summer based on an original story by Men In Black director Barry Sonnenfeld who worked closely on the project with comic book creator Grant Morrison (Batman, 18 Days, The Invisibles). Morrison is writing both the graphic novel and the film screenplay for Sonnenfeld to direct while artwork for Dinosaurs Vs. Aliens is being done by Liquid Comics artist Mukesh Singh, who previously worked with Morrison on the 18 Days hardcover book. [...] The story for Dinosaurs Vs. Aliens is based on a secret world war battle that was never recorded in history books. When an alien invasion attacks Earth in the age of the dinosaurs, our planets only saviors are the savage prehistoric beasts which are much more intelligent than humanity has ever imagined. Of course they are. But OK, OK, I hear you - forget the strippers and werewolves and dinosaurs and aliens, and let's see about a new kind of hero comprising three facets of a Bourne-style agent on a quest for revenge. Did I mention he's mentally ill? What could go wrong? Take it away, Mike Fleming: Universal Pictures has acquired the action film Cowboy Ninja Viking and has Marc Forster ready to make the graphic novel adaptation his next film. The graphic novel and a Disney-developed script by Zombieland writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese were acquired by Universal after the script came in and was deemed too edgy for Disneys family film mandate. [...] The title character comes from a secret government program to turn schizophrenics into assassins. The protagonist comes through the program with the skill sets of a cowboy, ninja and a viking. While most of the patients involved in the program are sent back to insane asylum after the program went awry in Iraq, he escapes and uses his skills to track down the billionaire who masterminded the program. What a world! This all bodes very well for my recently completed script Blogger vs. Half a Bottle of Ambien. Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Harvey Weinstein's Bully Problem and Ours

You've most likely learned about Bully, right? The anti-bullying documentary featuring real video of real teenage bullies tormenting real peers, interspersed with experts and sufferers alike expounding on our ongoing bullying epidemic? Clearly you've, because when the Weinstein Company wasn't pushing its 2012 Oscar crop decrease your throat, it absolutely was protesting a lot of of a ratings "debate" that will need youngsters under 17 to visit the doc getting a parent or gaurdian or protector. God forbid! Because the last factor we wish is parents and teens watching and ideally speaking in regards to a movie about bullying, right? I individually vowed not to succumb with this most ironic of Weinsteinian hobbies: Most likely probably the most legendary bully in the modern Hollywood era delivering a movie about bullies, then freely bullying the MPAA throughout the final week along with his annoyed! Campaign! To overturn Bully's R rating for language! For her or him! No, really: "I have been compelled with the filmmakers as well as the children to fight with an exception," Weinstein mentioned in the statement. "[...] I'd like every child, parent, and educator in the united states to find out Bully, therefore it is imperative for people to attain a PG-13 rating." That was a riotous threat to think about "a leave of absence within the MPAA" following a rating was upheld on appeal (by apparently one election, which was awfully convenient for your press-release narrative, however). Such altruism, Harvey, seriously. But what can perform when writers as smart and influential as Andrew Sullivan take Harvey's bait not once, not two occasions but three occasions, or when the tired, transparent King's Speech/Blue Valentine-esque gambits that stimulate Harvey's singular genius transcend PR stuntery being... uh, this: a "Human Rights Petition" launched having a Michigan high-schooler seeking a PG-13 for Bully: Once I reaches seventh grade, a few males emerged behind me while putting my books throughout my locker. They referred to as me names and asked for me why I even bothered to demonstrate my face in class because nobody loved me. I overlooked them because I used to be terrified of what else they might say and desire they might determine if I had been around them. Once I visited shut my locker, they pressed me in the wall. They condemned my locker shut in my hands, breaking my fourth finger. I held back tears when i seen them hightail it laughing. I didn't get seem advice therefore i was there, alone and afraid. I merely heard the film Association of america has given an R rating to Bully -- a completely new film being launched soon that documents the epidemic of bullying in American schools. Because of the R rating, most kids wont check this out film. Nobody under 17 will probably be allowed to look for the film, as well as the film won't be allowed being examined in American middle schools or high schools. Wow. OK. Putting away the exploitation from the youthful woman's distressing bullying experience as well as the blatant untruth the R-rating precludes Bully's exhibition in American middle schools or high schools (as though Congress passed some constitutional amendment suspending parental permission slips), there is no fundamental "human right" dictating that Weinstein Company releases ought to be viewable by everybody. What's happening presently in Syria can be a human-rights problem. This is often a crass, cynical marketing ploy having a guy who eats Oscars and shits Tonys. Let's keep in mind many distributors' extended-standing frustration in what they term the inconsistency in the MPAA ratings board - using one ratings standard to Film A and also the other to Film B (frequently regarded as like a significant studio versus. indie conflict, however when The Weinstein Company isn't a significant after Sunday evening, then there's nothing). Since it did somewhat at least a year ago while using King's Speech, the board counted the F-tanks and launched the R-rating consistent with numerous prior films it had also rated R. Time, right? Not for Harvey, who understood both box-office impositions the King's Speech and Bully would face because he experienced bed mattress wonderful them as well as the MPAA mileage he could milk from both contretemps. The kvetching commenced immediately. Basically, this isn't the MPAA's problem, and anyone who attempts to persuade you it's is either wrong or possibly a bald-faced liar. Or he's Harvey Weinstein, who is able to be both people things in equal measure however, many frequently plays the showman middle with mastery beyond reproach. This, however, with Harvey themselves freely invoking his "school-age kids of my very ownInch and freely acknowledging in one statement how "the Cincinnati school district signed onto bus 40,000 from the students for the movie consider the appeals board maintained the R rating, the school district will have to cancel people plans"? Situation... gross. It's also socially detrimental, as noted by no less than a couple of Sullivan's site visitors who chimed in round the matter today: "Inside a cinema on Friday evening, I saw numerous youthful children (age groups 5-10, roughly) in line with their parents to look for the R-rated Act of Valor, the completely new action movie/recruitment video starring active-duty Navy Shuts that goes to date as showing torture. Im supposing that people parents thought that seeing our country defended on-screen so strongly happens to be an positive, character-building experience for children. Although I will disagree, each parent does and may have the legal right to make people options for children. My hope and expectation is always that parents brings their kids to find out Bully too.Inch [...] "Just what the R rating for Bully entails is always that teens (allegedly) can't notice utilizing their pals, where they might want to be assholes and cheer for your bullies throughout. This is often an optimistic factor." Amen. Anyway, the strain continues and barring some type of bleep-tastic editing revisions, Bully is and shall remain rated R for strong language. Or even we causes it to be quiet, black-and-white-colored and splice in the certain charming Jack Russell terrier? Anything, Harvey! Anything. Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter. [Top photo of Harvey Weinstein within the 2012 Independent Spirit Honours: Getty Images]

Brandon Routh, Lucy Davis & Elizabeth Regen Join CBS Comedy Pilot Partners

EXCLUSIVE: Chuck alum and former Superman Brandon Routh, Elizabeth Regen and Lucy Davis have grew to become part of Michael Urie and Sophia Rose rose bush inside the cast of CBS’ half-hour pilot Partners. The multicamera comedy, from Will & Sophistication designers Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, concentrates on long-term pals and partners designers Charlie, who's straight, and Louis (Urie), who's gay. Routh, repped by UTA and Primary Title, may have Louis’ steady partner, a classic alcoholic, club-hopping model, now a sober, vegan nurse. Regen may have Ro-Ro, Charlie and Louis’ colorful assistant. Brit Davis, who starred round the original British version in the Office, may have Renata, droll accountant for Charlies fianc Ali ( Rose rose bush), a jewelry boutique owner. Routh has labored with Kohan and Mutchnick before – he guest starred inside an episode from the multicamera NBC hit Will & Sophistication.

Revenge Fire & Ice Ball Postmortem: Who Died? Who Lived? Cast and Producers Tease What's Next

There's no need to wait until March for the anticipated NBC drama Awake when you can watch the first full episode right here now! Awake: A double life, but is either real? Jason Issaacs stars as Michael Britten, a police detective who finds himself leading two simultaneous lives after a car accident. In one, his wife (Laura Allen) has died. He goes to sleep and wakes up in the other, in which he's lost his teenage son (Dylan Minnette). Michael copes with his twin losses with the help of dueling shrinks (Cherry Jones and B.D. Wong) and two different partners: Detective Isaiah "Bird" Freeman (Steve Harris) and Detective Efrem Vega (Wilmer Valdarama). Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Jason IsaacsWilmer ValderramaLaura AllenDylan MinnetteAwake

Goldblum to train Broadway 'Seminar'

GoldblumJeff Goldblum will require within the lead role in Broadway play "Seminar" in April, when current topliner Alan Rickman exits the development. Goldblum, last around the Rialto in "The Pillowman" in 2005, has skedded an eight-week run within the show, which opened up in November to generally strong reviews and solid, otherwise stellar, box office. It's not obvious who, if any, of Rickman's four current co-stars -- Lily Rabe, Hamish Linklater, Jerry O'Connell and Hettienne Park -- will remain on using the production when Rickman leaves. Abide by Theresa Rebeck ("Smash") focuses on a cocky literary giant teaching a personal class to ambitious youthful authors. Production, a global preem that opened up cold around the Primary Stem, is created by Jeffrey Finn, Jill Furman, John N. Hart Junior., Patrick Milling Cruz, Roy Furman, David Ian, David Mirvish, Amy Nauiokas and James Spry. Rickman finishes his run in "Seminar" April 1, with Goldblum walking in to the part beginning April 3. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

First in line at ADG fete

Ed Asner and Penelope Ann Miller Paula Poundstone Host Paula Poundstone didn't shy away from ribbing org members at the Art Directors Guild Awards on Saturday night."Do a lot of you have OCD?" Poundstone asked from the BevHilton stage. "It's got to be hell for you people. It's no wonder you feel like crying in the mud with a priest. If the other people on the projects knew how you were feeling, you might get some of that support that you're looking for. Maybe first in line at craft services." Poundstone did say that art directors were a better-looking crowd than actors. "I think many of them have had some work done. A lot of them look like giant birds flying into a really strong wind," she said.Ed Asner shot back, commenting on Poundstone's white tail and sequin tuxedo. "When Paula first came out, I thought I was back in the Cotton Club," Asner joked. Tony Walton accepted his ADG lifetime achievement award. The honor included video congratulations from Julie Andrews or, as Walton described her, "Our ex, as my wife refers to Julie." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Evil Dead remake gets a male lead

Despite leading lady Lily Collins having dropped out over scheduling issues, the casting process for the Evil Dead reboot continues apace, with a new name having been added to the project. However, this is no replacement for Collins, but rather a new leading man...Shiloh Fernandez is the latest name on the cast sheet, and will take the role that Variety describes as the "male lead". If you don't recognise the name, Fernandez is best known for having played Peter in last year's Red Riding Hood.If he's going to be the leading man, does that mean he'll be taking on the Bruce Campbell role? Well, character details are slim at present, but there could be room for the cowardly incarnation seen in the original film.The story focuses upon a group of five youngsters, who take a trip to a secluded cabin when one of their number (the character earmarked for Lily Collins) decides she needs some time out to recover from a drug problem.The two male roles on offer are David and Eric. The first is a mechanic who's engaged to one of the girls in the group, whilst the second is thought to be the one who triggers the Necronomicon's terrible powers. We reckon Fernandez is in line for the latter...Directed by Fede Alvarez from a script co-written by Diablo Cody, The Evil Dead will open in US cinemas on 12 April 2013, with a UK date yet to be confirmed. We hope one of those kids thought to bring a boomstick with them...