Kirsten Dunst, 'Tree of Life' Win Top Prizes at Cannes Film Fest

Terrence Malick's'The Tree of Life'divided criticsat the Cannes Film Festival, but a jury led by Robert De Niro awarded it the Palme d'Or, the festival's highest honor, Sunday.

Another media storm surrounded 'Melancholia' afterLars von Trier's outlandish behavior got himbannedfrom the festival, but that didn't stop the film's star,Kirsten Dunst, from being honored for her role as a depressed bride. While the ban prevented von Trier from attending the ceremony, his film was still eligible for prizes.

"What a week it's been,"Dunst said as she accepted the prize. She thanked the fest for allowing the film to remain in competition and von Trier"for giving me the opportunity to be so brave in this film, and so free.'"

Charlotte Gainsbourg and Bjork have previously won the award at Cannes for their roles in von Trier's 'Antichrist' and 'Dancer in the Dark.'

See the complete list of winners after the jump

The Grand Prix was shared by two Cannes veterans: Nuri Bilge Ceylan's 'Once Upon a Time in Anatolia' and brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne's 'The Kid With a Bike.'

The Dardennes have won the Palme d'Or twice, for 'Rosetta' in 1999 and 'The Child' in 2005. Ceylan received the Grand Prix for ''Distant' in 2002 and the director prize for ''Three Monkeys' in 2008.

Nicolas Winding Refn took the director laurels for his action-thriller, ''Drive,' starring Ryan Gosling. In his acceptance speech, he called Gosling ''my favorite alter ego.''

Cannes 64th Film Festival Awards

Palme d'Or:'The Tree of Life' (Terrence Malick, U.S.)

Grand Prix (tie):'Once Upon a Time in Anatolia' (Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Turkey) and 'The Kid With a Bike'' (Jean-Luc and Pierre Dardenne, France)

Director:Nicolas Winding Refn ('Drive,'U.S.)

Jury prize:'Polisse' (Maiwenn, France)

Actor:Jean Dujardin ('The Artist,' France)

Actress:Kirsten Dunst ('Melancholia,' Denmark-Sweden-France-Germany)

Screenplay:Joseph Cedar ('Footnote,' Israel)

Camera d'Or:'Las acacias' (Pablo Giorgelli, Argentina-Spain)

Palme d'Or, short films:'Cross' (Maryna Vroda)


{Variety1,2}

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When Sexy Goes Behind the Camera: Is Angelina Jolie the Newest Sex Symbol Director?

CouldAngelina Jolietake home a Best Director Oscar next February?

Not only has the sultry siren written and directed her first movie, a Bosnian war drama called 'In the Land of Blood and Honey,' butshe's landed a distribution dealthat will see it released on Dec. 23, thereby announcing its ambitions as a serious awards-season contender.

You'd think there'd be some difficulty in making the transition from sex symbol in front of the camera to critically acclaimed filmmaker behind the camera. But if that's Jolie's dream, she's in good company, since critics and Academy voters have often been remarkably kind to matinee idols who are just getting their feet wet as directors.

Exhibits A and B areRobert RedfordandKevin Costner. Both movie hunks won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director their first time out of the gate. Redford won for family drama'Ordinary People'in 1981, Costner for epic western'Dances With Wolves'in 1991. (In a tidy coincidence, both beat veteranMartin Scorsese, who was a contender with two of his greatest films,'Raging Bull'in 1981 and'Goodfellas'in 1991.)

Warren BeattyandMel Gibsonboth won best director Oscars for just their second efforts behind the camera, Beatty for 1981's Russian revolution saga 'Reds' and Gibson for his 1995 medieval war drama'Braveheart,'which also won Best Picture.George Clooneywas nominated for his second directing job, 2005's historical drama 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' though he didn't win.

The Academy also likes it when screen hotties create their own opportunities by writing screenplays. Beatty was nominated for his first writing effort, 1975's 'Shampoo,' and again for 'Reds.'Emma Thompsonwon an Oscar for her first screenplay, 1995's Jane Austen adaptation 'Sense and Sensibility,' in which she also starred.Matt DamonandBen Affleckwon an Academy Award for their first screenplay, 1997's drama'Good Will Hunting,'which had juicy roles for both of them. Affleck also won critical praise and Oscar talk (though not actual nominations) for his two directing efforts, Boston crime dramas 'Gone Baby Gone' and 'The Town.'

Jolie's film has some traits in common with some of those mentioned above. It sounds epic in scale, centering on a controversial historical event (à la Costner, Beatty, Gibson, and Clooney). It's not a vanity project, since Jolie didn't cast herself in the movie (neither did Redford). And in working with distributor FilmDistrict, she gets the services of veteran indie film marketerBob Berney, who managed successful awards campaigns for such films as'Pan's Labyrinth,''The Young Victoria,'and'La Vie en Rose.'(In that respect, she's echoing Damon and Affleck, whose 'Good Will Hunting' had the Oscar marketing savvy of Miramax's Harvey Weinstein behind it.)

It also helps that Jolie already has an Oscar, for her role in 1999's'Girl, Interrupted,'and that she's made humanitarian disasters of the sort depicted in her film her signature issue as an activist. So she's not likely to be seen as a dilettante who has no business telling this story or even getting behind the camera.

Besides, any excuse to get Jolie on a red carpet seems to make the whole industry happy.

•Follow Gary Susman on Twitter @garysusman.

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Today on indieWIRE: 'Drive' Premieres in Cannes& More Reaction From Censored Lars von Trier

• Curious aboutLars von Trier'sreaction to becoming"Persona Non Grata"at Cannes?indieWIREwas able tointerviewthe exiled director, who spoke directly about the recent controversy."I was extremely stupid,"he said,"but on the other hand we should worry about not being able to talk about certain things."

• Stephanie Sigmanhas been making waves with her first lead role inGerardo Naranjo's 'Miss Bala.'indieWIREprofiled the actress,asking her about taking on such a demanding part and her plans for the future.

• indieWIRE profiledSean Kirkpatrick, who wrote and directed Relativity Media's Rogue and AMC Theaters' Big Break Movie Contest winner 'Cost of Soul.' Clickhereto read Kirkpatrick's thoughts on winning the contest.

• Cannes reviews: indieWIRE lead criticEric Kohnwasnotpleased with'This Must Be the Place,'calling the film"too much of a godawful mess to merit serious moral scrutiny."Kohn also got a chance late last night to see'Drive,'praising the filmfor being"a hyperactive love letter to road rage with unapologetic glee."Finally, Kohn reviewed'Oslo, August 31st,'which hedeemed"a powerful, upfront document of a recovering drug addict confronting the demons of his past."

• Cannesselectedthe three winners for the Cinéfondation prizes. The awards went toDoroteya Droumeva's 'The Letter,' Kamal Lazraq's 'Drari'andSon Tae-gyum's 'Fly by Night.'

• Anne Thompsonis back onthe Oscar beat, this time from Cannes.

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Today on indieWIRE: Lars Von Trier Banned From Cannes

• Lars Von Trier'scomments at the Wednesday press conference for'Melancholia,'in which he joked about sympathizing with Hitler and possibly being a Nazi, racked up even more controversy today. The Cannes Board of Directors declared Von Trier a"Persona Non Grata,"meaning he is unable to physically collect any awards for his film, and his future with the festival is in question. Von Trier could also face legal action from France, where anti-Semitic remarks can lead to six months in prison or a€22,500 fine.indieWIREreportedon the latest development in this scandal.

• There has been some confusion about the technicalities of becoming a"Persona Non Grata."It seemsVon Trier would still be eligible to receive the Palme d'Or, but would be unable to attend the ceremony.

• Speaking of the Palme d'Or,indieWIREoffered a round-up of the top five contenders for the coveted prize. Clickhereto read about the five front-runners, including'Melancholia'and'The Tree of Life.'

• indieWIRE lead criticEric KohnreviewedPedro Almodóvar's'The Skin I Live In,'starringAntonio Banderasas a deranged plastic surgeon. Kohn wasonly so-soon the dark medical thriller, stating Almodóvar"lets the mess pile up and enjoys it."Kohn wasa much bigger fanofJafar Panahi's 'This Is Not a Film,'calling it"a moving expression of frustration, as well as an eloquent indictment of Iranian society."

• The aftermath surrounding Von Trier's Nazi remarks has kept iW's blog network busy.Anne Thompsonreported on the controversy as didThe Playlist,who offered their opinion on the whole matter:"Yes, the director was being a prize ass, to the surprise of absolutely no-one. But we'd think that the official reprimand, and subsequent apology would have been the end of the story, without the need to blacklist the director. If Von Trier had stood up and outlined racial supremacist views, that would have been one thing, but he was nowhere near that, and even clarified his views at the time, and to ban Von Trier from the festival only a few days after parading Mel Gibson, a man on record as making genuinely racist and anti-Semitic statements, down the red carpet for the out-of-competition premiere of 'The Beaver,' a move designed to generate publicity just as much as Von Trier's comments were, is an act of staggering hypocrisy."

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Today on indieWIRE: Lars von Trier Gives the Press a Field Day in Cannes

• One of the festival's most anticipated titles,Lars Von Trier'ssci-fi downer'Melancholia,'screened in the wee hours of the morning. The verdict, according toEric Kohn:"A dark apocalyptic masterpiece."Clickhereto read Kohn's full review.

• As for Von Trier's own verdict?"Maybe it's crap actually. Of course I hope not, there's quite a bit of possibility this is really not worth seeing."That's just one choice quote the Cannes vet made at following the film's unveiling.Among the others:"OK, I'm a Nazi"..."Oh, 'Melancholia' is a comedy. You should see what happens when I try tragedy"... And,"We had fun doing this film, but I would like to talk about my next film which is -- as Kirsten (Dunst) insisted -- is going to be a porn film."

• After the worldwide press had a field day with Von Trier's explosive Nazi comment, the director was quick to offeran official apologyvia a press release. In it, he simply stated that"he let himself be egged on by provocation."

• Kohn also caught Aki Kaurismaki's deadpan comedy'Le Havre.'"Combining his economical storytelling with a life-affirming plot, Kaurismaki churns a fundamental scenario through his own unique narrative tendencies, yielding a product both heartwarming and irreverent, two qualities that should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with his distinctive touch,"Kohn wrote in his review."Beyond that, it also introduces an element of political commentary to the director's work that deepens its impact."

• The Playlistgot caught up in the Von Trier mania on La Croisette. First up theyreviewedthe film (slapping it with a C+), reported onthe outrageous press conferenceand investigated whether Von Trier's next project will in fact be aporn film.

• Anne Thompsonweighed in on theTilda Swinton-starring'We Need to Talk About Kevin'and where it might find a home."At the premiere, green-eyed Tilda Swinton looked every inch the statuesque movie star with a light blond bob, candy pink lips and backless dark azur blue and purple Haider Ackermann sheath,"she wrote."Having won a supporting actress nod Oscar for 'Michael Clayton' as well as top notices for 'I Am Love', a small distributor with the right deft marketing touch -- I'd pick Roadside Attractions, but they appear not to be chasing hard after this -- could deploy a Swinton awards campaign to turn this tough little movie into a must-see."

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Much-Anticipated Trailer for Steven Spielberg's 'The Adventures of Tintin' Arrives

Yesterday, we got afirst lookat the U.S. and U.K. teaser posters for directorSteven Spielberg's Peter Jackson–produced 3D motion-capture animation adaptation of Belgian artist Georges"Hergé"Remi's comic book series 'The Adventures of Tintin.' Today, we get the trailer.

Aside from a few still images and the poster, Spielberg has kept 'Tintin' a mystery. But from the looks of things, the director's affinity for revolutionary special effects ('Close Encounters of the Third Kind,' 'Jurassic Park') has been put to good use here, with the motion-capture technology pioneered by Spielberg's real-life friend and 'Back to the Future' collaboratorRobert Zemeckislooking sharper than ever.

However, one secret remains: Where is the rest of the film's title? The full title had been 'The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn,' however, the subtitle is absent from both the poster and the trailer.

Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis andDaniel Craigstar in the flick, which hits theaters Dec. 23.Check out 'The Adventures of Tintin' trailer after the jump.

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Indie 'Black Swan' Crosses $300 Million Mark in Worldwide Grosses

'Black Swan,' the much-awarded ballet thriller that landedNatalie Portmana Best Actress Oscar, opened huge in Japan last week, raking in an impressive $6.1 million. But that's not the real story here. No, the real story (viaDeadline) is that those couple of million pushed the $12-million-budgeted Fox Searchlight indie to a worldwide gross of $305 million, making it one of only a handful of independent features ever to reach the massive figure.

'Swan,' which is already on DVD in the U.S., raked in over $106 million domestically and is just short of $200 million in the international market, where it continues to do gangbuster business. Japan was the last major foreign territory where 'Swan' had not opened.

It takes a perfect storm of buzz, hype, good reviews and word of mouth for an independent feature to churn up grosses comparable to a major studio hit (a pretty big hit at that), and only a few have ever broached the $300 million mark.The Hollywood Reporterlists 'Slumdog Millionaire' ($377.9 million), 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' ($368.7 million) and Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' ($611.9 million) as independently-financed features that have exceeded $300 million in earnings.

The film has been a pleasant surprise for Fox International. Buoyed by the impressive performances of 'Swan' and the animated film 'Rio' abroad, Fox's overseas arm became the first to cross the $1 billion mark this year.

Haven't checked out 'Black Swan' yet? Well, what are you waiting for?Start with the trailer below:

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Bootlegging Drama 'Wettest County in the World' Ignites Bidding War

Competition is hot right now at Cannes for the U.S. rights to the prohibition-era drama 'The Wettest County in the World,' starring Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, and Gary Oldman.

CBS Films, FilmDistrict and Relativity Media are trying to outbid each other for the potential Oscar contender after viewing a promo reel.

The film is based on the book by Matt Bondurant andfollows three brothers who run a massive bootlegging operation in southern Virginia. When their business is threatened, they extract violent revenge. If you've seen other films by Aussie director John Hillcoat, ('The Road' and 'The Proposition'), you'll know just how bloody that revenge can get.

Singer/screenwriter Nick Cave, who wrote 'The Proposition's original script and its score, adapted 'County' for the screen. Mia Wasikowska ('Jane Eyre') and Jessica Chastain ('The Tree of Life') costar.

Negotiations will determine the terms of the film's roll-out: the producers want a nationwide release (along the lines of 'True Grit'), while buyers prefer a more niched platform release. Producers are reportedly aiming for a 2011 release to qualify for an Oscar run.

{The Hollywood Reporter}

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Ryan Gosling to Direct Himself in 'The Idolmaker;' Browning Joins 'Magic;' More Casting News

'Blue Valentine' starRyan Goslingwill star in and direct 'The Idolmaker,' about rock promoter and producer Bob Marcucci, who discovered teen idols Frankie Avalon and Fabian.

The actor's directorial debut will be a remake of the 1980 film of the same name, which was directed by Taylor Hackford and starred Ray Sharkey ('Wiseguy') as Marcucci.

Gosling is in Cannes this week to promote his film 'Drive,' with Carey Mulligan. He also has the remake of 'Logan's Run' lined up, and the crime drama 'Gangster Squad.'

{Deadline}

Read on for more new projects for Emily Browning, Juno Temple, Kellan Lutz and Camilla Belle.

Emily Browning ('Sucker Punch'), Juno Temple ('The Three Musketeers') and Catalina Sandino Moreno ('Maria Full of Grace'), are joining Michael Cera in 'Magic, Magic.' The indie thriller is about a girl who slowly starts to lose her mind while vacationing with friends in a remote area of Chile. Sebastian Silva ('The Maid') will write and direct.

Browning is currently in Cannes with 'Sleeping Beauty.'

{Variety}

'Twilight' hunk Kellan Lutz and Camila Belle, whose films include 'Push' and 'When a Stranger Calls,' are in negotiations to star in 'Bumped,' for 'The Mighty Ducks' director Stephen Herek. The indie drama will follow five strangers whose paths cross during a long layover at Chicago's O'Hare Airport.

Production is expected to start next month.

Lutz has two films coming out this year, 'Breaking Dawn,' and 'Immortals,' in which he plays Poseidon. After that, he'll star with opposite Mandy Moore in Dermont Mulroney's directorial debut 'Love, Wedding, Marriage.'

Belle is attached to star in the South African soccer drama 'Zebras' for director Bruce Beresford.

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Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Olsen Are 'Very Good Girls'

That mysterious third Olsen sister is set to become a little less mysterious.

Elizabeth Olsen, who garnered rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival for her performance in the indie'Martha Marcy May Marlene,'will star oppositeDakota Fanningin 'Very Good Girls,'Deadline reports.

The film follows two teenage girls through a summer in New York City. After they graduate high school, each becomes determined to lose her virginity, and things get complicated when they fall for the same charismatic street artist.

The cast also includesPeter Sarsgaard,Dustin HoffmanandSissy Spacek.

Best guess says Sarsgaard plays the charming street artist ala his young-lady-seducing character in 2009's'An Education.'

{via Deadline}

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Early Edition: Matthew McConaughey Gets Plum Role; Julianne Moore Joins 'What Maisie Knew'; More

The 64th Festival de Cannes and the TV upfronts (where the networks show off their wares to potential advertisers) is keeping Hollywood busy this week ... the industry movers and shakers are either out of town or in hiding, so things can be slow in these parts. Still, there's plenty of news from Cannes, as well as a smattering of home-grown deals to call to your attention.

Here's a prestige picture that may just giveMatthew McConaugheytherole of his career. According toDeadline,Content Film has acquired'The Dallas Buyers Club,'starringHilary Swankand McConaughey, about a Texas electrician named Ron Woodroof who contracted AIDS in 1986 and was given six months to live by his doctors. Since at that time the FDA hadn't approved AIDS treatments, Woodroof illegally smuggled medicine into the U.S. -- and lived another six years. And he made sure that other AIDS victims also got his drugs. McConaughey will play Woodroof. We're talking Oscar possibilities here.

Alexander Skarsgard,Julianne MooreandSteve Cooganwill star in'What Maisie Knew,'an adaptation of the Henry James novel brought up to date in contemporary New York. This is more Hollywood than Henry James: The comedy drama centers on Maisie, a 6-year-old girl enmeshed in the bitter divorce of her mother, a rock and roll icon, and her father, a charming but distracted art dealer, according toThe Hollywood Reporter(from Cannes). Moore stars as Maisie's mother, Coogan as her father and Skarsgard stars as Moore's new husband. The part of Maisie has yet to be cast for the film, which will begin shooting in New York in August.

Here's more literature-transformed-for-the-big-screen: Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's'The Great Gatsby'(in 3D) is picking up more steam with the announcement Wednesday that newcomerElizabeth Debickihas been cast in the role of Jordan Baker, the love interest of narrator Nick Carraway. Debicki joins Tobey Maguire as Carraway, Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as Daisy. {Deadline}

Sam Rockwell,Mickey RourkeandChristopher Walkenwill join Colin Farrell in'Seven Psychopaths,'a black comedy written and directed by Martin McDonagh, who helmed the delicious hit man thriller 'In Bruges.' According toVariety(from Cannes), the story centers on a screenwriter (Farrell) in need of inspiration for his script, titled 'Seven Psychopaths.' Two of his buddies (Rockwell and Walken) get him involved in dog kidnapping schemes, which gets them all in trouble when one of the dogs belongs to a gangster (Rourke).

Dennis Quaidis joining Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Irons in'The Words'a thriller which will be the directorial debut of 'TRON: Legacy' writers Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal. Info on the film, produced by Benaroya Pictures, is sketchy: The story centers on a successful writer who discovers the steep price he has to pay when he steals another writer's work. {Variety}

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New 'Real Steel' Trailer Enters the Ring

In the good old days, when gasoline was cheap, real steel referred to big, hunky American cars that dominated the roads; in the near future, real steel refers to 2,000-pound robots who stand in for humans in boxing rings. In Shawn Levy's sci-fi drama'Real Steel,'Hugh Jackmanplays an ex-boxer who trains a robot to fight like the champs of lore. The film co-stars Kevin Durand, Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie, Dakota Goyo and Hope Davis, and will arrive in theaters Oct. 7 via DreamWorks and Disney.

Check out the just-released full trailer after the jump.

Here's the official synopsis:

A gritty, white-knuckle, action ride set in the near-future, where the sport of boxing has gone hi-tech, 'Real Steel' stars Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxingvenueto the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback

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Sam Worthington Goes Bad for 'The Last Days of American Crime'

'Avatar' starSam Worthington, currently hard at work filming thesequel to 'Clash of the Titans,' is set to star in directorF. Gary Gray's ('The Italian Job') take on the graphic novel 'The Last Days of American Crime.'

Worthington will star as a career criminal forced to put together one last big heist before the government implements a form of legal mind control that makes it impossible for citizens to violate the law. The actor will also serve as an executive producer on the project, which will be shopped at the Cannes Film Festival next week. (viaThe Hollywood Reporter)

For more casting news, read on.

Stanley Tucciis the latest star to join the massive cast of 'The Hunger Games,' director Gary Ross's big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' best-selling young-adult novel about a 16-year-old girl who competes in a survival contest orchestrated by a powerful, post-apocalyptic government. 'Winter's Bone' Oscar nomineeJennifer Lawrencestars as Katniss, with a cast that also includesJosh Hutcherson,Liam Hemsworth,Elizabeth BanksandWes Bentley. (Deadline)



Nicole Kidmanis in talks to star in the low-budget supernatural thriller 'Spectre' for 'Insidious' directorJames Wan. Kidman's Blossom Films is co-producing the $10-million-budgeted spookfest with Overnight Productions. (Variety)




Hilary Duffmay be out as Bonnie Parker in the upcoming 'The Story of Bonnie and Clyde.' Or maybe not. It depends on who you ask. The film's casting director issued a statement saying that Duff would no longer be starring in the film. However, director Tonya Holly insists she still wants the actress for the role and is working with Duff to overcome scheduling conflicts. (TMZ)

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Why is Ralph Macchio Thanked in the 'Thor' Credits?

If you sat through all the credits for'Thor'this weekend, you saw a teaser for the upcoming Marvel superhero combo flick, 'The Avengers.'

You may have also noticed an odd credit: A"thank you"forRalph Macchio.

What does the original 'Karate Kid' and current 'Dancing With the Stars' contestant have to do with the mighty god of Thunder? Or the superhero universe in general?

While you ponder that he was perhaps teaching Thor some karate moves or coaching Loki in what it feels like to be an 'Outsider,' the answer is much simpler.It turns out, nothing. The Macchio being thanked in the credits is acompletely different guywho happens to have the same name, but is a Marvel comic book writer who co-wrote 'Thor' back in the early '80s.

According tocomicbookdb.com, the Marvel universe Macchio is not related to his more famous counterpart, but has been nicknamed the Karate Kid because of the name similarity.

Maybe if Hollywood Macchio plays his cards right, he can wrangle a cameo in 'The Avengers.'

{via theWashington Post}

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Tarantino Wants Will Smith for 'Django Unchained'

Here's a clash of the titans:Will Smithfacing off againstSamuel L. JacksoninQuentin Tarantino's'Django Unchained,' the director's first outing since the overwhelming success of 2009's'Inglourious Basterds.'

According to a report atThe Hollywood Reporter,Smith has emerged as the front-runner to star in the spaghetti Western about a slave in the Old South who teams with a German bounty hunter to search for the slave's wife and take down an evil plantation owner.

Sources told THR that Tarantino would like Smith to star in the film as Django, but no official offer has been made to the star. The script has been making the rounds of Hollywood last week and has garnered, in THR's words,"wide acclaim."

Jackson andChristoph Waltzalso are circling key parts (Reports last week had Christoph Waltz -- an Oscar-winner for 'Basterds' -- confirmed as the bounty hunter; insiders say that Tarantino wrote the part for him). Jackson would play the house slave to the bad guy, plantation owner Monsieur Calvin Candie, and he would face off with Django.

The title of the film pays homage to the Sergio Corbucci 1966 spaghetti Western 'Django' and director Takashi Miike's 2007 'Sukiyaki Western Django,' in which Tarantino had a small role.

The original star of 'Django,' Franco Nero, has said he is attached, along with Keith Carradine and Treat Williams, though that has yet to be confirmed.

'Django Unchained,' which will be distributed domestically by The Weinstein Co., will begin shooting in the fall in the South if everything falls into place.

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Today on indieWIRE: Donald Trump Gets 'Trumped,' 'Hobo With a Shotgun' Director Dishes on the Film's Inspiration& More

Today on indieWIRE:Donald Trumpgot'Trumped'in Toronto, the'Hobo With a Shotgun'director dished on the real man behind the legend, and more.

• Need another reason to hate Donald Trump? Welcome to the documentary'You've Been Trumped,'which screened Thursday afternoon at Toronto's Hot Docs. Clickhereto read the full report on the world premiere of the film that exposes what Trump did in order to build a hotel and golf course in rural Scotland.

• Part performative theater, part practical one-stop shop to connect with the primary decision-makers of the non-fiction landscape,the Hot Docs Forumin Toronto serves an important function for both sides of the pitching table, as well as the hundreds of observers in attendance both days. Of the 23 pitches made,eightstood out toindieWIRE.

• 'Hobo With a Shotgun,'the splatterfest grindhouse homage with a title that keeps on giving, took a strange route to make it to movie theaters.indieWIREcaught up with the film's Canadian director,Jason Eisener,to get all the dirty details.

• 'The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye'directorMarie Losieris this week'sFUTURESpick. Her documentary, which debuted at Berlinale earlier this year (where it won a Teddy Award), is currently making a stop at Hot Docs in Toronto.

• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainmentannouncedthe launch ofFox World Cinema, a new label for worldwide films, available on DVD, VOD and Digital Download later this year in the U.S.

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Hot Doc a Day: 'Love Shines'

Hot Docs, North America's biggest documentary film festival, kicks off its 2011 run on April 28 in Toronto. Jam-packed with documentaries running through May 8,Moviefone Canadawill be there from start to finish, offering up looks at some of the festival's noted films.

What hasn't been said aboutRon Sexsmith? The musician's musician, this Canadian singer/songwriter (and damn fine guitarist) is a favorite of the greats. Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, Chris Martin, Feist and Sir Paul McCartney think he's one of the world's great melody makers and lyricists. Critics prop him up and industry types listen to his records, but every honest-to-God fan has been hard-won for the shy troubadour. Will Sexsmith ever be a household name, or will he always be an acquired taste?

This is what documentary 'Love Shines' tries to find out. Director Douglas Arrowsmith follows Sexsmith while he makes his most recent recording, 'Long Player Late Bloomer' in Los Angeles. At the helm -- a guy usually reserved for the Metallicas, Bon Jovis and Motley Crues of this world–- producer Bob Rock. The hope is that these two talents can force the industry to recognize the pop genius of the Sexsmith discography.

'Love Shines' does a nice job at editing together vintage Super 8 footage of his youth alongside present-day commentary. Raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Sexsmith was every bit the daydreamer that his fans might imagine he would be. He was a father early and has since gone through several relationships. One short scene interviews his grown son, who comments with subtle melancholy about growing up with a father who spent most his time on the road.

Sexsmith's personal life is a distant second-place winner in the race for real estate in 'Love Shines.' At the heart of this doc is the odd mix of his personal songwriting footage and interviews about his anxiety about wanting a successful record. Tension is felt when fellow Canadian Michael Bublé calls Bob Rock out of the blue during one of the recording days. It is easy to see the mixed emotions Sexsmith must feel about the mega-success Bublé is currently enjoying. Kiefer Sutherland also makes an appearance, offering Sexsmith a spot on his Ironworks label and a high-profile Los Angeles showcase -– but the results fall flat.

As songs take form in Rock's studio and a record starts to come together, there is an excitement about the prospect of success, but insecurity about Sexsmith's motivations. Can you force popularity? Does Rock have a Midas touch to match his golden price tag? Perhaps musician Steve Earle explains it best when he points out that Sexsmith is lucky to have any kind of recognition at all.

Regardless of the conclusion, 'Love Shines' is a journey worth taking, a must for fans, and already a musical favorite, winning the audience award at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival.

Screenings:
Friday, May 6, 9:45PM - Isabel Bader Theatre
Saturday, May 7, 9:45PM - Isabel Bader Theatre
Sunday, May 8, 4:00PM - TIFF Bell Lightbox 2

For complete schedule and movie listings, visit theHot Docs website.

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Early Edition: Schwarzenegger Chooses 'Cry Macho,' Big Bucks for H'Wood Return; 'Snow White,' 'Gotti' Casting; More

There have been tons of rumors and speculation on which film project would entice ex-California GovernorArnold Schwarzeneggerback to the big screen. No, it's not 'Terminator 5' but 'Cry Macho,' based on a 1975 novel by N. Richard Nash, who also wrote the play 'The Rainmaker,' and which has been optioned for years by 'The Godfather' and 'Million Dollar Baby' producer Al Ruddy. The enticement: $12.5 million plus 25 percent of first-dollar gross. Ruddy and Schwarzenegger will end up co-owning the negative on the film. Here's the story line, courtesy ofThe Hollywood Reporter:"Schwarzenegger, 63, will play Mike, a once well-regarded horse trainer whose wife and son have died. His former boss makes him an over he can't refuse: $400,000 to kidnap the boss' trust fund son, who is living with the man's ex-wife in Mexico. But when Mike locates the boy, a real troublemaker, the ex-wife doesn't want the kid. But as Mike and the boy head back to the states, with the Federales are on their trail, they develop a father-son bond of their own."

Here's the latest from the ongoing saga of casting for Universal Pictures''Snow White and the Huntsman':Sam Claflinwill play the role of the prince opposite Kristen Stewart as Snow White and Charlize Theron as the evil queen. Claflin just starred in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' and, according toDeadline,has just been offered the title role opposite Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore in Warner Bros.' supernatural thriller 'The Seventh Son.' The role of the Huntsman is still up in the air,but the No. 1 candidate currently is 'Thor' star Chris Hemsworth.

Meanwhile, the casting over at'Gotti: Three Generations,'the Gotti family-approved saga of -- what else, the Gotti crime family -- is keeping things all in the family. John Travolta has long been cast to play Gotti Sr. -- known as the"Dapper Don"-- and now Kelly Preston, Travolta's wife, will play Gotti's wife, and their daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta, will play the senior Gotti's daughter, Angel Gotti.Barry Levinson just signed on to direct the film, which also stars Joe Pesci and Lindsay Lohan.{TheWrap}

Ariel SchulmanandHenry Joost,the team behind the cult hit documentary 'Catfish,' have been tapped by Paramount to direct'Paranormal Activity 3.'The original 'Paranormal' director, Oren Peli, is returning to produce while 'Paranormal Activity 2' writer Christopher B. Landon is returning to craft the third outing. This one will be fast-tracked, looks like:Varietyreports that the film will be released on Oct. 21.

Dana Delany,who has made a great TV comeback in the hit ABC series 'Body of Proof,' has joined the cast of the independent crime drama'Freelancers,'which stars Robert De Niro, Curtis"50 Cent"and Beau Garrett. According toVariety,Jackson will play the son of a murdered police officer who has succumbed to the"culture of corruption"in the force and Delany will play a woman from his past. Lionsgate will release the film domestically.

We thought that'Piranha 3D'was a damn funny film so we don't feel too negative about its sequel,'Piranha 3DD,'which is filming now in Wilmington, N.C. Christopher Lloyd, Ving Rhames and Paul Scheer have signed on to join The Weinstein Co. production -- even though the latter two were killed off by the bloodthirsty fish in the first outing. Oh well, it's Hollywood. {THR}

And, lastly, under the title ' 'Pirates of the Caribbean 5' Script Complete But Johnny Depp Isn't Ready To Sell Out Again Just Yet,' the folks over atThe Playlistcast a jaundiced eye atJohnny Depp'shesitation to jump onboard a 'Pirates 5' and 'Pirates 6,' even though the script for the fifth film in the franchise has been turned in."It boils down to story, script and filmmaker,"Depp told The Hollywood Reporter in a cover story for that trade paper."It's not something where I would say, 'Let's shoot it next month to get it out by Christmas 2012.' We should hold off for a bit. They should be special, just like they are special to me."Check out Playlist's take on Depp, 'Pirates,' the Mouse House and millions of dollars in revenue.

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Early Edition: David Boreanaz Joins 'Officer Down'; Roger Donaldson Takes to 'Cities'; More

TV starDavid Boreanazwill make good use of his 'Bones' hiatus downtime to take a leading role in the indie feature'Officer Down,'a paranormal thriller that stars Stephen Dorff, Dominic Purcell, Stephen Lang, James Woods and AnnaLynne McCord. Here's the film's story line, according toDeadline: When a doctor and security guard dream at night, their dreams consist of what the other person did during the day. They meet when the security guard murders his wife, is then hit by a car and brought into the doctor's emergency room. Boreanaz will play a humorless, ambitious rival detective to a cop played by Dorff. The film, the first feature for director Brian A. Miller, begins shooting in Connecticut this week.

Aussie directorRoger Donaldson('The Bank Job,' 'The Recruit' and 'The World's Fastest Indian') will direct 'Cities,' a financial thriller that will interweave stories set in New York, London and Mumbai that stars Clive Owen and 'Slumdog Millionaire's Anil Kapoor. According toVariety,the film is a cautionary tale about greed and ambition set against the Dow Jones all-time stock market high. Production will begin in October in London, Mumbai and New York.

Ex-'CSI' starWilliam Petersen,'Scream 4' starAdam BrodyandRob Corddryare in negotiations to star with Steve Carell and Keira Knightley in Mandate Pictures''Seeking a Friend at the End of the World.'The film, directed by first-timer Lorene Scafaria (who also wrote the script), is set in a near future where an unstoppable asteroid is on its way to destroy all life on earth. In that"end-time"period, a man (Carell) whose wife leaves him amidst the ensuing panic seeks out his high school sweetheart, who wants to be with him when the end comes. Knightley plays a neighbor who travels with him on his romantic road trip. The film will start production at the end of the month. {Variety}

Variety has reported that The Weinstein Company is moving ahead on a remake of Akira Kurosawa's'Seven Samurai,'and has tappedScott Mann(cult fave 'The Tournament') to direct it. The price tag: $60 million, pretty good for a sophomore director. The film will be transposed to modern Thailand and will center on paramilitary contractors hired to protect a village. The folks over atThe Playlistdon't think this is such a good idea. Read what they have to say and then let us know what you think.

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Early Edition: Wes Anderson Begins 'Moonrise Kingdom'; Barry Levinson Takes on 'Gotti'; More

Wes Andersonis a slowpoke when it comes to making films -- there's generally a three-year gap between projects (his last was 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' in 2009) -- so it's about time that he began working on a new one. According toThe Playlist,that project is'Moonrise Kingdom,'a story set on an island off the coast of New England in the 1960s that follows a young boy and girl falling in love who run away together, causing their town to be turned upside town as the townspeople search for them. The cast is impressive: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. The 12-year-old boy and girl at the center of the film are newcomers Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward. Filming has just begun in Rhode Island for a 2012 release.

There's more news on'The Dictator'front, the Sacha Baron Cohen comedy in which he plays the dual roles of a goat herder and a deposed foreign ruler who gets lost in the U.S.:Anna Farisis in negotiations to play the female lead opposite Baron Cohen, according toDeadline.Faris will play the owner of a Whole Foods-style store in New York. Jason Mantzoukas and Ben Kingsley will co-star in the film, being directed by 'Borat' helmer Larry Charles.

Here's an offer we guess he couldn't refuse:Barry Levinsonis taking the reins of'Gotti: Three Generations,'the Mafia saga originally to be directed by Nick Cassavetes, who had to leave the project because of scheduling conflicts, according toThe Wrap.The film has the blessing of John Gotti Jr. John Travolta stars as John Gotti Sr., the head of the Gambino crime family, Lindsay Lohan will play John Gotti Jr.'s wife, Kim, and Joe Pesci stars as Gotti Sr.'s right-hand man, Angelo Ruggiero.

Next up for Thor? 'Snow White'? According toVariety,'Thor' starChris Hemsworthis the front-runner to play the huntsman in'Snow White and the Huntsman'opposite Kristen Stewart. The role of the huntsman -- pivotal to the film since it's about the relationship between Snow White and the huntsman, who's ordered to kill her by the evil queen (Charleze Theron), but instead helps her escape -- had been offered first to Viggo Mortensen and then to Hugh Jackman. Universal next turned to Joel Edgerton, who's still in the running, but has taken a back seat to Hemsworth, who can have the role if his work on Marvel's 'The Avengers' doesn't get in the way.

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Early Edition: Will Ferrell Takes on Politics; Bryan Cranston Rocks; More

During a press conference Sunday for theWill Ferrell-starring 'Everything Must Go,' which screened last week at the Tribeca Film Festival, Ferrell talked about his next project, the political comedy 'Southern Rivals,' co-starring Zach Galifianakis and directed by Jay Roach ('Meet the Parents')."What's next for me specifically is that I'm shooting a film in the fall with Zach Galifianakis where we're kind of rival Southern politicians in a small congressional district in South Carolina that we'll release for the election season next year,"he said."It kind of comments on the circus that is now modern day politics."Let's keep our fingers crossed that this two physical comedians go for satire and not scatology. We could use a good black comedy about politics about now. (BTW, 'Everything Must Go' is loosely based on a Raymond Carver short story; Ferrell turns in one of his most understated and nuanced performance ever, according toThe Playlist,as an alcoholic who relapses, causing him to lose his wife, his job and his home, and forcing him to hold a yard sale on his front lawn in an attempt to start over. The film, which co-stars Michael Peña and Rebecca Hall, opens a limited run on May 13).

'Breaking Bad's'Bryan Cranstonhas joined the cast of director Adam Shankman's rock musical 'Rock of Ages.' According toThe Hollywood Reporter,Cranston will play the mayor of Los Angeles in the movie about an '80s rock club on the famous Sunset Strip. The actor joins Diego Gonzalez Boneta, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Mary J. Blige, Paul Giamatti, Julianne Hough and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the New Line production that begins filming this month.

Robert Zemeckisis in talks with Warner Bros. to direct a sci-fi thriller project,'Replay,'based on the bestselling 1987 novel by Ken Grimwood, about a man who keeps going back in time and reliving his life over and over. According toNew York Magazine,the plot revolves around a"40-something radio journalist who dies of a heart attack in 1988 and re-awakens back in 1963, in his 18-year-old body, with the memories and accrued wisdom of the previous 25 years intact. He always dies in 1988, and then goes back to the late sixties, but each time he has the ability to make a new sets of choices, resulting in different spouses, progeny, and jobs in each 'life.'"Try as he might, he can't prevent his own death, but sets about trying to prevent the death of his daughter. The project has been floating around Hollywood for almost two decades. United Artists first bought the rights from Grimwood; the project the moved to Disney, where the studio hoped to interest Ben Affleck to direct; when Affleck decided to make the Iranian hostage crisis-based 'Argo,' the project moved to Warner Bros.

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Hot Doc a Day: 'The Lumberfros'

Hot Docs, North America's biggest documentary film festival, kicks off its 2011 run on April 28 in Toronto. Jam-packed with documentaries running through May 8,Moviefone Canadawill be there from start to finish, offering up looks at some of the festival's noted films.

You've probably heard of, known, or are one of those people who take five months of the year to go tree-planting. It's one of those jobs that works its employees hard for a short amount of time. The reward is decent pay and the balance of the year to rest your weary bones.

Take a tree-planting career, put it on steroids and you have the subject of the surprisingly satisfying 'The Lumberfros.' Brush-cutting requires that you be able to wield an industrial-sized weed-whacker, endure staggering heat and fight off swarms of nasty bugs. Many attempt the gig with hopes of big money made in the romantic outdoors, and most leave with their tails between their legs.

'The Lumberfros' is the story of the men who can do the job. Deep in the Northern Quebec boreal forest, growth of profitable trees can be enhanced when forestry workers cut down the small stuff surrounding the largest specimens. It's kind of like weeding a giant garden. Here in nature's grandeur you can pull in $200, $300, or even $600 a day.

Canadian forestry has attracted gritty workers for over a century. The work is a way to escape the scourge of minimum wage, but only if you are willing to grind and toil at the job, and leave your family behind. Many hardened Quebecois still work this land, but an increasing immigrant presence is where this story gets traction.

Mamadou comes from Africa and is arguably the most memorable character in 'The Lumberfros.' His big laugh, powerful body and iron will prove to be valuable tools in these conditions. While rhyming off facts about Alexander the Great, he cuts down dozens of trees with his noisy saw.

Antonie is next. This Romanian's heartbreaking story tells the tale of a man with nothing left to lose. Fleeing a post-Communist mess, he smuggles his way into Canada with the hope of a new start. His punchy attitude and good sense of humor make him an endearing character and a veteran of the craft.

Finally, Gérard represents the native Quebecers who populate the no-frills forestry camps. Not sure if his age, weight and health would allow him to succeed in the craggy conditions, he has found his path as a modern day Paul Bunyan.

Maybe it's the melancholic endurance of the characters, the charm of outdoorsmanship, or simply knowing that working with your hands in the Canadian woods is a refuge of profit; whatever the reason, 'The Lumberfros' is a wonderful doc that shouldn't be missed.

Screenings:
Sunday May 1, 9:30PM - The ROM Theatre
Tuesday May 3, 1:30PM - The ROM Theatre

For complete schedule and movie listings, visit theHot Docs website.

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Moviefone Chats With the Cast of 'Fast Five'

The fifth installment of 'The Fast and the Furious' series,'Fast Five'is out today and we were lucky enough to head down to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to chat with the entire cast! We've gotVin Diesel, talking about his character Dom's unique brand of morals,Paul Walkeron how his character has changed,Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnsonon how much he loves his character Hobbs.

We've got Elsa Pataky, Tyrese, Ludacris, Matt Schulze, Sung Kang, Don Omar, and Gal Gadot giving us a look at what a blast they had, what they did off set and what it means to be back with full fan support.

A bit of advice? When you see the film, stay after the credits. You'll be kicking yourself if you miss that little bit of awesomeness!

Check out the video after the jump.

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Early Edition: Jack Ryan Reboot Moves Ahead; Ben Kingsley Joins 'The Dictator'; More

Paramount Pictures is really anxious to get its reboot of theJack Ryanfranchise started: The studio hiredDavid Koepp('Mission: Impossible,' 'Spider-Man') for seven figures to rewrite the script by Adam Cozad, according toDeadline.Steve Zaillian, who wrote the script for 1994's 'Clear and Present Danger,' originally was on board for the rewrite, but he left the project.Chris Pineis still attached to star as Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan character; he joins a rogue's gallery of Ryans played by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck. Paramount wants Pine to jump into Ryan after he finishes 'Star Trek 2,' which is scheduled for release June 29, 2012.

Yesterday we brought you the news thatSacha Baron Cohenwas putting meat on his new film 'The Dictator,'in which he plays the dual roles of a goat herder and a deposed foreign ruler who gets lost in the U.S. Larry Charles, who directed 'Borat' and 'Bruno,' is again behind the camera, working from a script by Baron Cohen and 'Seinfeld' writers Alec Berg, Jeff Schaffer and Dave Mandel; Anna Faris, Kristen Wiig and Gillian Jacobs were reading for the female lead; and Jason Mantzoukas of 'The League' was in negotiations to play Baron Cohen's sidekick. NowVarietyreports thatBen Kingsleywill co-star as a Middle Eastern character who factors into the plot. The film will begin production this May in locations in New York and Morocco, and is scheduled for release on May 11, 2012.

DidButch Cassidyreally die with the Sundance Kid in Bolivia? Not according to'Blackthorn,'the English-language debut of director Mateo Gil that unspooled at the Tribeca Film Festival over the weekend and was just picked up by Magnolia Pictures. The film -- which stars Sam Shepard, Stephen Rea, Eduardo Noriega and Nicolaj Coster-Waldau -- speculates that Cassidy survived his final shootout with the Bolivian military in 1908 to embark on a last adventure, according toVariety.We'll find out later this year when Magnolia releases 'Blackthorn' to theaters.

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Early Edition: Helen Hunt Plays 'Surrogate,' Jane Lynch Joins 'Stooges,' New 'Transformers' Photos

Helen Huntis on a streak: She's gotten good notices in the recent independent melodrama 'Soul Surfer' and is now set to star in another indie drama based on an inspirational true story, 'The Surrogate,' according toVariety.The story centers on Mark O'Brien (played by John Hawkes), a paraplegic polio victim who lived most of his life in an iron lung, paralyzed from the neck down, who, as the film unfolds, contacts a sex surrogate to take his virginity. Hunt plays the surrogate. There's more to the film then sex, of course: The 1980s period piece, according to Variety,"explores O'Brien's manhood and depicts his strong spirit through his relationships with nurses, caregivers, a hip priest, and of course, his surrogate."Rhea Perlman is also set to take a role in the film. O'Brien went on to graduate U.C. Calif., Berkeley, earning a degree in English; he's now a poet and a journalist. The film is being written and directed by TV helmer Ben Lewin, who's also a polio survivor.

Jane Lynchwill be donning nun's garb soon: She's set to join'The Three Stooges'as the Mother Superior who runs the orphanage where the trio grows up, despite her best efforts to get them adopted. The Fox comedy, directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly, will star Chris Diamantopoulos as Moe, Will Sasso as Curly, and Sean Hayes as Larry Fine. Production begins in May. {Deadline}

Let's start the day in a transformative mood, shall we? Here's some just-released photos from'Transformers: Dark of the Moon,'Michael Bay's second sequel in the franchise, due July 1. Check them out after the jump. Tip o' the hat toAin't It Cool News.

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China Bans Movies About Time Travel

If you want to see 'The Source Code,' 'The Time Traveler's Wife' or a 'Heroes' episode, good luck if you happen to live in China. (Believe it or not, this story isnotfrom The Onion.)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, China's media authorities have banned the popular plot device from movies and television, saying the sci-fi notion"disrespects history."

This decision comes as part of the 90th anniversary of China's ruling political party.

"The rationale {for the time-travel ban} is that whatever isn't possible in the real world belongs to superstition,"commented film critic and journalist Raymond Zhou Liming.

Which, we imagine, would also rule out any films where the characters can fly, like 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' or anything supernatural, like 'A Chinese Ghost Story.'
In the highly rated current TV series 'Myth' (Shen Hua), a teenager goes back to ancient China where he finds he is blood brothers with Liu Bang, the first emperor of the 400-year Han Dynasty.

Such visits to the past would seem to satisfy the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's instructions to produce"vivid reproductions of the Chinese revolution, the nation's construction and its reform and opening up."

But the group's guidelines state,"Producers and writers are treating serious history in a frivolous way, which should by no means be encouraged anymore."

China's ruling party bases much of its strict media management on scientific Marxism, so the fantasy of time travel runs counter to state-mandated ways of thinking.

As it turns out, time travel has not been handled very often by Chinese filmmakers, with the last major local film to feature time travel being Hong Kong's 'Iceman Cometh' (Ji Dong Qi Xia), starring Maggie Cheung.

{viaThe Hollywood Reporter}

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Emma Thompson Accused of Plagiarism by Playwright Over Upcoming Film 'Effie'

Playwright Gregory Murphy is accusing Oscar-winnerEmma Thompsonof stealing his idea for a film about the life of Victorian philosopher John Ruskin and his wife Effie from a screenplay he sent to Thompson's husband, actor Greg Wise. Murphy penned alengthy accountof his legal wranglings with Thompson and producers over the proposed film, 'Effie,' and its similarities to 'The Countess,' Murphy's play and screenplay about Ruskin.

Murphy contends that Thompson and Wise, who co-wrote 'Effie' with the actress, were sent copies of his play and screenplay through a mutual friend -- the casting director for the West End production of 'The Countess' -- before their screenplay was written and that despite denials, both have read his script. According to Murphy, there are slight differences between the two films, particularly surrounding how the Effie character is portrayed, but they share"time-frame, character development, structure and tone"so closely that it cannot be coincidental.

In thearticle, Murphy recounts a positive meeting with Thompson at her home in London followed by nearly two years of brokering between lawyers over whom should receive credit for 'Effie''s screenplay. The negotiations recently fell apart, and the parties are now stuck in a protracted legal battle that has 'Effie''s producers seeking to have the screenplay's originality adjudicated by a court in New York so filming can begin this summer.

Murphy says that Thompson's official stance on the similarities between his screenplay and hers are"the result of the fact that both screenplays are based on real events."

The playwright became aware of Thompson and Wise's project in April 2009 when the director of the off-Broadway and West End productions of 'The Countess' contacted a film producer in London to pitch Murphy's screen adaptation of the play. Following a conversation with the producer, the director informed Murphy,"They said they're already doing a film on the subject, called 'Effie,' written by Emma Thompson."

Murphy alleges he had previously sent Wise, though a mutual friend, a copy of his screenplay in hopes that Wise would star as Ruskin.

The playwright met the actress at her home nearly two years ago to discuss the issue. Murphy says he hoped to avoid any sort of legal mess by offering to collaborate with Thompson, who he says was responsive to the idea. The actress, however, told Murphy that she had never seen his play or screenplay for 'The Countess,' a stance she upholds to this day.

After the meeting, lawyers on both sides attempted to negotiate a truce. The first offer was to pay Murphy $10,000 and offer him"special mention and a thank-you in the credits at the end of the film."

Murphy did not respond to the offer and after two months, lawyers for 'Effie' allegedly asked what it would take to settle the case. The playwright wanted paid in the"low six figures and a screenwriting credit."Lawyers for the production at first called the request"quite unacceptable"and"difficult to take seriously"; however, a few months later, Murphy received further correspondence asking how he would like to be credited --"Screenplay by Emma Thompson, Greg Wise and Gregory Murphy"or"Based upon the play 'The Countess' by Gregory Murphy"-- and making a slightly lower six-figure offer.

His demands met, Murphy believed the experience was behind him until his lawyer informed him that he would not be paid a cent until the film began production. This is not customary in the film industry; writers are typically paid 50 percent at the time of signing and the rest when filming commences.

When Murphy declined the offer because of this, lawyers for the production walked away from negotiations entirely, disavowed all previous negotiations and sought a court order against the playwright.

The case remains open, and Murphy will now have to prove in court that Thompson's film 'Effie' directly plagiarized his play and/or screenplay for 'The Countess.'"I can say from her court papers that she firmly contends that 'Effie' is a fiction created from her imagination and is based on real people and actual historical events,"Murphywrites.

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John C. Reilly Joins 'Hunger Games' Rumor Mill

Looks like'The Hunger Games'has replaced Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit' as the Net film topic buzzdu dour.

On Friday, Paula Malcomson ('Caprica') was cast to play Mrs. Everdeen, mother of Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Prim (Willow Shields), two of the main characters in the Gary Ross adaptation of Suzanne Collins' sprawling post-apocalyptic novels. She was added to a list that already included, in addition to Lawrence and Shields, Elizabeth Banks, Leven Rambin, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Amandla Stenberg and Dayo Okeniyi.

That led the folks over atSlashFilmto put together a list of roles that need to be cast and the stars they felt could fill those shoes: There are several prominent adult roles in addition to 18 more (out of 24 total) Tributes, the teenage participates in the actual Hunger Games themselves. And no sooner did they post their list than SlashFilm reported arumor from VulturethatJohn C. Reillyis in talks to play Haymitch Abernathy, one of the most important roles in the film -- the drunken, former winner of the Hunger Games who helps to train Katniss and Peeta (Hutcherson) for the games.

You can check out their listhere-- but before you do, here's a refresher on the plot line:

The story takes place in the not-too-distant future, when the U.S. has collapsed and has been replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. To keep the subjugated citizens entertained, each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in the brutal Hunger Games, which are broadcast throughout the country, with all citizens required to watch. The first book in Collins' series follows the adventures of two contestants -- Katniss and Peeta -- as they become gladiators in the futuristic reality show.

The film is set to open March 23, 2012, and we can bet that we'll be in store for tons more rumors, plenty of Tweets, and scores of videos and photos from the set before that date.

Let the games begin (or continue).

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The Hulk Smashes 'Eat, Pray, Love'

FromComicsAlliance: It was only because of a recent twist of fate that the Hulk found himself watching'Eat, Pray, Love'the other night, prompting the green goliath to pen a furious yet uncommonly thorough 7,000-word analysis of theJulia Robertsfilm that has laid waste to so many before him. Writing on 'FILM CRIT HULK! HULK BLOG!,' in a piece entitled,"HULK WATCH EAT, PRAY, LOVE FOR YOU A**HOLES,"the Hulk said he felt that author/main character Elizabeth Gilbert was"LARGELY CRITICIZED FOR WRONG AND ODDLY SEXIST REASONS,"and that he was compelled to articulate, insofar as the incredible Hulk can articulate anything, why 'Eat, Pray, Love' is so awful and why its creator seems to suffer from"CRIPPLING SELF-CENTERED-NESS."

Based on the memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert and directed byRyan Murphy, 'Eat, Pray, Love' is the story of a 30-something American woman who initiates a divorce from her husband before taking a year-long journey around the world to complain about everything in a breathtaking expression of so-called"white people problems."At least, that is how the Hulk characterizes the film.

Horribly disfigured and cursed with endless rage as a consequence of a gamma radiation explosion, the Hulk began his treatise by noting that he is not against"chick flicks."

HULK NOT AGAINST"CHICK FLICKS."HULK EVEN FIND THAT TERM REASONABLY OFFENSIVE. MANY PEOPLE CONFUSE THE LOW QUALITY AND PANDERING NATURE OF RECENT HOLLYWOOD ENTRIES WITH THE ACTUAL POTENTIAL QUALITY OF THE GENRE. THAT BIG MISTAKE. IN HULK'S VIEW, THERE SIMPLY GOOD MOVIES AND BAD MOVIES. HULK NOT CARE ABOUT GENRE OR INTENDED AUDIENCE. SO EAT PRAY LOVE = MOVIE ABOUT FEMININITY AND PERSONAL ENLIGHTENMENT? SURE, PERFECT! IT TOPIC NOT EXPLORED ENOUGH IN MOVIES, SO SIGN HULK UP! BUT HULK'S EVENTUAL PROBLEM WITH EAT, PRAY, LOVE THE ACTUAL CONVEYING OF SAID MESSAGE/SOLUTIONS/THEME AND NOT MESSAGE/SOLUTIONS/THEME ITSELF.

The crux of the Hulk's distaste for 'Eat, Pray, Love' -- and by extension, Elizabeth Gilbert herself -- is that throughout the narrative (which the Hulk describes as"ACTUALLY ABSENT"), Gilbert is framed as a sympathetic victim despite the fact that unlike many people, she is lucky enough to define the nature of her existence and make choices and affect changes as she sees fit. Among those choices, deliberately betraying the ones who love her and being a generally rotten individual.

Read more atComicsAlliance

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Ian Holm Will Be in 'The Hobbit'

The place for Hobbit news is Facebook! Several hours ago, anxious, hungry, Hobbit-obsessed fans learned in a roundabout way thatSir Ian Holmwould indeed be returning to the beloved role as Bilbo Baggins (the older version) for the upcoming two-part film(s) 'The Hobbit.'

'Lord Of The Rings' director/producer (co-writer of the film adaptation),Peter Jackson, recently posted a message onhis Facebook fan pageclarifying the identity of a voiceover in ashort videoannouncing the production of the films. Many people assumed the voice was that of Holm. The audio was actuallyMartin Freeman, who plays the younger Mr. Baggins. And it was taken from a script read-through. However, the mistake is unimportant! What is important is that it has now been uttered by someone in the know:"Ian will be returning as the older Bilbo Baggins in 'The Hobbit.'"

The two parts of 'The Hobbit' are currently both in production, and filming in New Zealand, withPart 1set to release in December 2012, andPart 2at some point in 2013. So plan ahead. Way ahead.

(Written By Caroline Dworin)

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Today on indieWIRE: Tribeca Opening Night, 'The Tree of Life' and More

Today on indieWIRE: Coverage of Tribeca's Opening Night, a review of'The Union,'a first look at'The Tree of Life'dinosaur, and more.

• The 10th Annual Tribeca Film Festival kicked off last night with an open-air screening ofCameron Crowe'sdocumentary'The Union'and performances by the Bangles andElton John. Was the event successful?indieWIREtook a lookat the strengths and weaknesses of opening night.

• In this week's in-production column,indieWIREtook a lookat 'Buddy Holly Is Alive and Well on Ganymede,' the adaptation of a sci-fi comic novel starringJon Heder. Also profiled are four more Kickstarter projects.

• In today's business news, Snag Films acquired domestic VOD and digital rights to director Iara Lee's'Cultures of Resistance.'indieWIREreportedon the details of the deal, including the key figures and full press release.

• The anticipation continues to mount over the upcoming release ofTerrence Malick's 'The Tree of Life.'Today's hullabaloo concerns the first still of that much-discussed dinosaur.The Playlistoffered apeekat the creature.

• SXSW favorite'Attack the Block'has released a trailer. Clickhereto check outJoe Cornish'salien-invasion comedy.

• Following the tragic news yesterday of the untimely deaths of photojournalistTim Hetheringtonand photographerChris Hondrosin Libya,Thompson on Hollywoodput together atributeto their work. Included in the obituary are clips from Hetherington's'Restrepo,'several of the duo's photographs and statements regarding their passing.

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