German director Oliver Hirschbiegel (”Downfall”) will direct Warner Bros. planned remake of the classic sci-fi tale “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”.

Written by Dave Kajganich, the new version centers on a female protagonist who uncovers a conspiracy in a small town where the inhabitants’ personalities seem to be changing.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers began as a serial novel and became two well-known motion pictures: a1956 film by Don Siegel and a 1978 remake by Philip Kaufman that starred the likes of Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum, and Leonard Nimoy.
As well as one lesser-known 1993 film, starring Terry Kinney, Meg Tilly and R. Lee Ermey. And now it appears we could have a fourth Invasion on our hands.

In Don Siegel’s original 1956 sci-fi/horror film, hysteria spreads through a small California town after townspeople appear to their relatives and friends as strangers while retaining their outward appearances. Aliens who take over the bodies of sleeping humans is actually a jet-black satire of McCarthyism and 1950s conservatism.

The studio owns the remake rights to the film after making 1993’s Body Snatchers, directed by Abel Ferrara.

Production on the new version will start this October in Baltimore. Casting for the role would be mere speculation at this point.

“Don’t Look Now” remake sexed up

“Don’t Look Now”, 1973, considered one of the scariest and sexiest films is getting the remake treatment. But will Hollywood adaptation of the short story by British author Daphne du Maurier come up to the same expectation as the original, remain to be seen.

The famous film starred Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie as a grieving couple on a trip to Italy after the death of their daughter Christine.

Scene featuring Sutherland and Christie has become one of the most celebrated love scenes in the movies, but Hollywood wants to create a sexier environment for the film so it’s changed the timeframe from winter to summer and plans to add more sex scenes.

Paramount Pictures’ update centers on a couple, John and Laura Baxter, who go to Venice, Italy, to recuperate after the sudden death of their daughter only to encounter strange visions that suggest their daughter’s presence. Andrea Berloff will write the screenplay for the adaptation.
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88 Minutes for Al Pacino

Emmett/Furla Films, in conjunction with Avi Lerner’s Millennium Films have signed Jon Avnet(Fried Green Tomatoes) to direct the thriller 88 Minutes starring Al Pacino(Scent Of A Woman).

88 Minutes tells the tale of a college professor, played by Pacino, who pulls down a second job — as forensic psychiatrist for the FBI. The professor must use all his skills and training to save his hide after he’s told that he’ll be killed in 88 minutes. The list of possible suspects who might want to knock him off includes a former lover, a serial killer already on death row, and a disgruntled student.

The project was originally put together by Pacino and Glengarry Glen Ross director James Foley, but never happened.

Gary Thompson wrote the script and will produce the film with Avi Lerner, Randall Emmett, George Furla, Jon Avnet, and John Thompson.
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John Moore, director of Flight of the Phoenix and Behind Enemy Lines, has signed another deal with 20th Century Fox to helm a big-screen remake of the 1976 theological horror film The Omen.

‘The Omen 666’ will be a direct remake of the original, which starred Gregory Peck, Lee Remick and David Warner.

The script is written by Dan McDermott, who is in charge with bringing the tale directed by Richard Donner in 1976 to a contemporary level.

The Hollywood legend starred Gregory Peck as the American diplomat whose pregnant wife (Lee Remick) delivers a stillborn child. Without her knowledge, he substitutes it for another newborn baby, who they call Damian and raise as their own. But as their son grows up, strange accidents begin to take place around him, including the hanging of his nanny and the death of a priest who tries to help the family.

Gradually, the diplomat becomes convinced that his son is the Antichrist – the Devil’s son who will preside over the Apocalypse.

Moore’s “Omen 666″ is set for release on June 6th, 2006.

The studio has set a tentative October 3 start date for the project, with Hutch Parker and Peter Kang overseeing.

Farrell wins court order in sex tape controversy

Actor Colin Farrell, 29 accused Playboy playmate and his Ex-girlfriend Nicole Narain, 31 of trying to distribute and profit from 14-minute video of him having sex with her that he made 2 ½ years ago. The actor wants the video kept out of the public eye.

Farrell has won the first round of a legal fight to stop the video from going public.
In the suit, the Irish star of Alexander and Phone Booth said that he and Narain, had a verbal agreement that the tape was only for their private enjoyment.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Yaffe issued a restraining order that temporarily blocked the public release of the sex video yesterday; a day after Farrell’s lawyers filed the suit.

Apart from the temporary restraining order, Farrell is seeking general and compensatory damages as well as an injunction prohibiting the sale and exploitation of the videotape. A hearing is scheduled for August 10.

Farrell is also seeking damages in the lawsuit saying that his reputation and ability to earn money in Hollywood would be compromised if the tape were to be released.

Named as defendants along with Narain were David Hans Schmidt, a publicist and agent, and Paul Nash, who is described in the suit as the marketing director of Internet Commerce Group, which owns pornographic websites. The suit alleges that the defendants intended to “commercially exploit” the tape.

Ninja Turtles will be back in animated style

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated movie is actually happening after a 14-year break in the new computer-generated style. The new movie will feature state-of-the-art computer-generated animation (CGI) and is set for early 2007 release by Warner Bros. studios.

“We think that a new generation of kids will love discovering Turtles, especially supported by the enthusiasm of fans of the original movies, comicbooks and TV shows,” Warner Bros. president Jeff Robinov said.

“Reintroducing the Ninja Turtles in an animated movie will enable the filmmakers to fully realize the adventure and humor of the property.” said Weinstein chief Harvey Weinstein.

Weinstein Company has signed a deal to distribute the all-CGI film. The turtles have already had three live action movies, the last one happened in 1993.

The comic-book inspired stories of four humanoid fighting turtles caused a worldwide sensation when they were adapted for television in the late 1980s before hitting the big screen in 1990.
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Steve Carrell plays the virgin in the upcoming comedy flick “The 40 Year-Old Virgin”.

Starring alongside the virgin Mr. Carell are Catherine Keener (”Full Frontal”), Paul Rudd (”Clueless”), and Seth Rogen (”Donnie Darko”). “Virgin” was co-written and directed by Judd Apatow, known to comedy fans as the man behind TV series like “Freaks and Geeks” and “Undeclared.”

The plot is as follows. Andy Stitzer (Carell) works at a stereo store. He’s one of those guys who have toys all over his apartment, everything is neat and tidy. He rides his bike to work; he’s a 40 year old geek.

One night, after being invited by some of the people at work to a poker game, it comes out that he’s a virgin. So, the three guys, David (Rudd), Jay (Malco) and Cal (Rogen) decide to take Andy under their wings and try to get him laid.

After some hysterical encounters with different women, Andy meets Trish, played by Catherine Keener, one of the sexier women on the planet.

What happens next? Does Andy still remain the virgin? That remains to be seen.

There’s a great supporting cast, including Elizabeth Banks, Jane Lynch David Koechner, and Kat Dennings.
Mr. Carell’s first starring film hits theaters on August 19th.”

Saw at work again

Saw 2, is the sequel to James Wan and Leigh Whannell’s independent horror film.
The original starred Leigh Whannell, Cary Elwes and Danny Glover.

Lions Gate Films used the 2005 Comic-Con International in San Diego as the launching point for the new trailer for Saw 2

Saw 2 will have an entirely different cast than the original.

In the film, Detective Eric Mason (Donnie Wahlberg) is investigating the bloody aftermath of a grizzly murder and has the feeling that it is the work of Jigsaw, the notorious killer who disappeared leaving a trail of bodies - and parts - behind. And Mason is right.

Jigsaw is at work again. But instead of two people locked in a room, there are eight. Eight strangers unaware of their connection to each other are forced to play out a game that challenges their wits and puts their lives in jeopardy.

Saw 2 slashes into theaters October 28, 2005.