NTSC User's News Page

The Bourne Identity helmer Doug Liman has signed to direct upcoming drama All You Need is Kill.

The Warner Bros project is based on the Japanese novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, reports Variety.

The story centres on a solider who gets killed while battling an alien species and lives the last day of his life over and over again. His combat skills sharpen every time he is reborn, and he works to change his fate.

Liman’s previous movies include Jumper, Go and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. His latest effort Fair Game opens November 5.

Jessica Alba will lead the cast of the revived Spy Kids franchise.

The actress will reunite with her Sin City and Machete director Robert Rodriguez to play a mother of a baby and two pre-teen stepchildren who is reactivated for secret agent duties, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Alba’s two oldest children will be the new Spy Kids, taking over from original stars Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara, who are expected to appear in supporting roles alongside Antonio Banderas.

The movie revolves around a plot hatched by a villain called the Time Keeper to freeze time.

Rodriguez will begin production on Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World next month in Austin, Texas with a $30 million budget. It will be the second movie in the series to be released in 3D.

James Cameron has reportedly admitted that the sequel to Avatar will not be released until 2014.

According to the New York Post, it could be up to four years before audiences see the next instalment in the sci-fi trilogy.

The Titanic director recently revealed that he plans to film the second and third films together.

Cameron said: “Right now, the thinking is that [films] two and three are going to be done together. They’ll be released separately, probably a year apart or maybe even two, but they’ll be done in a bunch.”

He added: “I’m mapping out the storyline right now, so there’s a proper arc that plays out over two films, but [it] buttons nicely at the end of two, so you don’t get this horrible second act Matrix feeling – you know, ‘I’ve just sat through a three-hour movie and f**k all happened at the end!'”

Cameron began writing Avatar in 1994.

Ice Age director Chris Wedge has signed to direct an adaptation of fantasy novel Lives of the Monster Dogs.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, screenwriter Adam Kline is adapting the book by Kirsten Bakis.

The novel centres on a pack of genetically engineered intelligent dogs that walk on their hind legs and communicate with people using voice boxes. The dogs also have a penchant for dressing in 19th century formal wear.

The story follows the dogs as they travel to modern-day New York City, meet a film student and begin reverting to their natural states.

The novel was published in 1989.

Sam Worthington has been confirmed to star in Dracula: Year Zero.

The Avatar star, who was previously linked to the Alex Proyas project earlier this year, has also signed on to star in several high-profile films, including Avatar 2, Clash Of The Titans 2 and The Last Days Of American Crime.

Producer Mike de Luca told Encore: “These writers came up with the ingenious – what I think is ingenious – approach combining historical Dracula with Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

“I think vampires are endlessly appropriate candidates for reinvention because there’s something in the DNA in that mythology that appeals to every generation. Every generation owns their own version of the vampire myth.”

The Expendables has remained at the top of the US box office, earning $16 million over the weekend.

In a close race for second place were Vampires Suck, making its debut with $12.2 million, and Julia Roberts’s Eat Pray Love, taking the number three slot with $12 million.

Other debuts include Lottery Ticket at number four, Piranha 3D at number six, Nanny McPhee Returns at seven and Jennifer Aniston’s The Switch at number eight.

Finally, Inception drops to ninth place with $7 million and Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World claims the tenth spot with $5 million.

The US box office top ten in full:
1. (-) The Expendables – $16,500,000
2. (-) Vampires Suck – $12,200,000
3. (2) Eat Pray Love – $12,000,000
4. (-) Lottery Ticket – $11,125,000
5. (3) The Other Guys – $10,100,000
6. (-) Piranha 3D – $10,035,000
7. (-) Nanny McPhee Returns – $8,310,000
8. (-) The Switch – $8,100,000
9. (4) Inception – $7,655,000
10. (5) Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World – $5,034,000

Tim Burton has signed up to work with the writers of Ed Wood on a forthcoming Addams Family project.

Scott Alexander and Larry Karazewski wrote the screenplay for Burton’s 1994 film, which starred Johnny Depp as cross-dressing B-movie legend Ed Wood.

The Alice In Wonderland director will now work with the duo on a forthcoming adaptation of The Addams Family. The 3D stop-motion film will be based on the drawings published in The New Yorker by celebrated cartoonist Charles Addams.

The deal will also see Alexander and Karazewski work together on Big Eyes, a film based on cult artist Margaret Keane.

Karaszewski told Deadline: “Both of these projects are based on artwork that Tim absolutely loves.

“The retrospective in New York of Tim’s own artwork showed how much of an influence Charles Addams was to him. We want the tone to be as darkly funny and subversive as the Addams drawings, and we’ve come up with an approach that nobody has ever done before.”

Jim Carrey is reported to have signed for the lead role in Mr Popper’s Penguins.

According to Hollywood Insider, Carrey will play New York businessman Mr Popper, whose life is thrown into chaos when he receives six penguins in the post.

The film, adapted from the 1938 children’s book by Richard and Florance Atwater, will be directed by Mean Girls and Spiderwick Chronicles helmer Mark Waters, and will bring together live-action and CGI elements.

Ben Stiller and Jack Black were both linked to the role prior to Carrey’s involvement. Shooting is due to begin this autumn.