Thursday, October 15

• Ridley Scott in Talks to Direct Adaptation of Red Riding

  Variety writes that Ridley Scott is in talks with Columbia to direct a feature-length adaptation of the British mini-series Red Riding. Columbia recently acquired the rights, and the studio is courting Scott and screenwriter Steven Zaillian as potential collaborators on the project. The two worked together previously on American Gangster and Hannibal.

  The miniseries was based on a series of novels by David Peace and aired in March 2009 as three feature-length episodes, which took place in 1974, 1980, and 1983. The first story centers around a reporter (played by Andrew Garfield) who investigates the abductions of several Yorkshire-area girls. His efforts are hampered by corrupt local police, who have been paid off by a greedy businessman (played by Sean Bean) trying to build a mall in the area.

  Scott and Zaillian, should they agree to take on the project, would move the action to the US and condense all three episodes into one feature-length movie. Scott already has several projects on his plate, including Robin Hood and a prequel to his own Alien. If Zaillian signed on to write the script, it will be only his second in four years; he also co-wrote the script for the upcoming Moneyball, which has already run into several snags.

  
  

  Posted 10/15/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Sean Bean | Ridley Scott | Steven Zaillian | Andrew Garfield | Red Riding: 1980 | Robin Hood | Red Riding: 1974 | Alien | Moneyball | Red Riding: 1983

Thursday, September 24

• Facebook Movie Casts Justin Timberlake, Jesse Eisenberg, and Andrew Garfield

  Last week, MTV Movies asked Jesse Eisenberg about the upcoming Facebook movie, pressing him for an answer as to whether he was part of the rumored cast, which also included Justin Timberlake and Andrew Garfield. Eisenberg simply responded, "They are rumors; that is true."

  Well, now we can freely say that all these rumors are true. Variety is reporting that all three are now officially attached to The Social Network, which is being directed by David Fincher (Benjamin Button, Zodiac, Fight Club) and produced by Kevin Spacey.

  The script for the movie was penned by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, Charlie Wilson's War) and tells the story of how Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook in 2004 while a sophomore at Harvard. In the five years since, Facebook has amassed more than 200 million users. Sorkin adapted his script from the Ben Mezrich book The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal.

  You might remember Eisenberg from his memorable performance in The Squid and the Whale as writer-director Noah Baumbach's alter ego, a maladjusted youth with daddy issues. That role, we're sure, had an influence in the choice to cast him as Zuckerberg, who has been characterized as highly intelligent, ambitious, and socially awkward. Eisenberg also appears opposite Woody Harrelson in Zombieland, which comes out next Friday.

  Timberlake has been cast as Napster co-founder Sean Parker, who became Facebook's founding president. Garfield will portray Eduardo Saverin, who helped Zuckerberg launch the networking site, but later abandoned the relationship due to quarrels over financial issues.

  The movie is expected sometime in 2010. No other casting decisions have been announced as of yet.

  
  

  Posted 09/24/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: David Fincher | Kevin Spacey | Jesse Eisenberg | Justin Timberlake | Aaron Sorkin | Andrew Garfield | The Social Network

Thursday, September 17

• Jesse Eisenberg Addresses Rumors About Role in Facebook Movie

  During an interview for the upcoming Zombieland, MTV Movies asked Jesse Eisenberg about the rumors he will star as Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, which begins filming in October and will be released sometime next year.

  When asked very pointedly if the rumors were true, Eisenberg evasively answered, "They are rumors; that is true." He then fumbled for a graceful exit from the conversation, but definitely left some room for interpretation.

  The Social Network is being helmed by David Fincher, who also directed Benjamin Button, Zodiac, and Fight Club. This prompted Eisenberg's Zombieland co-star Woody Harrelson, who was also present for the interview, to ask Eisenberg how he could possibly say no. Eisenberg simply responded (unconvincingly, in our opinion), "I'm sure you could find a reason to say no."

  The script for the movie was penned by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, Charlie Wilson's War) and tells the story of how Zuckerberg created Facebook in 2004 while a sophomore at Harvard. In the five years since, Facebook has amassed more than 200 million users. Sorkin adapted his script from the Ben Mezrich book The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal.

  Kevin Spacey is acting as one of the producers and has already expressed great excitement over the project. Other rumored stars include Justin Timberlake and Andrew Garfield.

  
  

  Posted 09/17/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: David Fincher | Kevin Spacey | Woody Harrelson | Jesse Eisenberg | Justin Timberlake | Aaron Sorkin | Andrew Garfield | The Social Network