Precious Writer Pens Attica Feature for Liman: Oscar-nominated screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher will write a script based on the Attica prison uprising for Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity). The project is said to be a personal one for the director whose father, Arthur L. Liman, served as chief counsel to the New York State Special Commission on Attica Prison and co-authored the commission’s report chastising then-Gov. Nelson Rockefeller and prison authorities for their role in the riot, in which 32 inmates and 10 hostages were killed, 39 of them in an assault by state police officers. In a blog entry written by Liman at 30 Ninjas, he taps out, “My father died in 1997. I had never visited Attica, never visited any maximum-security prison for that matter. In December, I set up a movie based on my father’s report… The prison itself looks [like] art directed straight out of a movie. Built in 1929, it has a huge wall around it; turrets and the buildings behind the wall are all brick, dramatic and looming.” [In Contention, THR and 30 Ninjas]
Paltrow Catches Soderbergh’s Contagion: Gwyneth Paltrow has joined Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard and Jude Law in Contagion for director Steven Soderbergh written by Scott Z. Burns (The Informant and The Bourne Ultimatum). The film takes place in a worst case scenario of a deadly virus taking place over four continents. [Deadline]
New Story Details on Riddick: The third film in the Riddick franchise, simply titled Riddick and starring Vin Diesel as the title character will apparently follow Diesel’s character — the most wanted man in the galaxy — who’s been left for dead on a barren alien planet, dealing with “trisons” (three-legged bisons) and “mud demons.” He must then contend with two squads of bounty hunters, one of which ride rockets called jetcycles. [THR]
Morgan Joins Worthington in The Fields: Jeffrey Dean Morgan has apparently landed a role opposite Sam Worthington in The Fields to be directed by Michael Mann’s daughter Ami Canaan Mann. The film centers on a Texas homicide detective (Worthington) who joins with a New York detective to investigate unsolved murders in the Texas bayous. Filming is set to begin in April in Louisiana. [BD]
Wiig to Star in Apatow Production: “Saturday Night Live” star and frequent feature supporting actress, Kristen Wiig, is getting a chance at a feature debut for director Paul Feig and Judd Apatow aboard to produce what is currently an untitled comedy at Universal Pictures marking Wiig’s first bigscreen starring role. The project is looking at a possible spring start on the comedy described as revolving around women competing to plan a friend’s wedding party. Wiig co-wrote the screenplay with writing partner Annie Mumolo. [Variety]
Bynes Gets a Pass: Amanda Bynes will join Owen Wilson, Jenna Fischer and Jason Sudeikis in the Farrelly brothers’ comedy Hall Pass for New Line. The film revolves around two married couples who find themselves going through the motions and the wives give their husbands a “hall pass” to engage in extracurricular affairs. [Variety]
Pinkaew Brings His Elephant to America: Thai director Prachya Pinkaew is probably best known in the States for having directed Tony Jaa in Ong Bak and The Protector and he is now set to make his English language debut with Djimon Hounsou and Kevin Bacon lined up to star in the action thriller Elephant White with filming set to begin in Thailand on March 8. The film, scripted by Kevin Bernhardt (One Last Dance) will feature Hounsou as a mercenary, while Bacon portrays an old acquaintance of Hounsou’s character whose allegiance can’t be trusted. [THR]
