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Tag Archives | movie deals

"Chicken Soup for the Soul" book cover

“Chicken Soup for the Soul” headed for the big screen

By on Thursday, August 8, 2013

Another major book series has been snatched up by Hollywood and is on track to be turned into a theatrical production. “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” the inspirational and uplifting book collection, reportedly has sold more than a  100 million copies. The original book of short stories, plus some bonus reads, hit book shelves this past June, to celebrate its 20th anniversary.  Now, comes word Alcon Entertainment has a deal to produce a movie based on the series, according to Deadline. Warner Bros is on board... Read More →

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“Looking for love” contest: Win book contract, $10,000, and maybe get movie deal

By on Saturday, June 22, 2013

  There are tons of talented writers in the Southland, especially here in the Media City, with all kinds of stories to tell. One of them could have just what Quirk Books is searching for through its “Looking for love” contest. Quirk is not on the prowl for the typical love story. This company likes to publish offbeat books like “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” which became a New York Times bestseller and is in development to become a movie. Another Quirk book, “Miss Peregrine’s Home... Read More →

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Cleveland Browns clipart

Entertainment Bits: Disney star gets book deal, hip hop artist hooks movie role, and NBCUniversal plan is a go

By on Thursday, April 25, 2013

Teen TV star scores book offer Disney Channel star, Bella Thorne, is now an actress, singer, dancer, and author. The 15-year-old has a new deal to write a YA, young adult, book series called, “Autumn Falls,” according to Galleycat. Not familiar with Thorne? Well, she’s co-stars in the sitcom, “Shake It Up,” and reportedly has 2.9 million followers on Twitter! Sean Combs joins football movie cast Hip hop artist, music mogul, entrepreneur, and actor, Sean “P.Diddy” Combs has been added to the ensemble cast... Read More →

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A screenplay

Script sales and deals

By on Friday, January 6, 2012

“Little White Corvette”  — Action/comedy screenplay by Michael Diliberti reportedly sold in a deal worth a cool million bucks to GK Films. It’s about money-strapped siblings who set out to peddle a load of cocaine discovered in the trunk of their late father’s white corvette. Diliberti wrote the story with David Branson Smith. Script is on the Black List 2011, a collection of unproduced screenplays favored by Hollywood executives. Emma Stone is attached to star and will executive produce along with Diliberti. Both Stone... Read More →

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A screenplay

Script deals and sales

By on Thursday, November 10, 2011

Evan Spiliotopoulos to rewrite “Asteroids” for Universal Pictures— This busy screenwriter picks up another big assignment. Universal has hired Spiliotopoulos to rework “Asteroids” based on the 1970’s Atari video game. Original script by Matt Lopez. Spiliotopoulos is repped by UTA. More here on Variety. Chris Shafer and Paul Vicknair’ hired to write “The Girl Who Conned the Ivy League” — Shafer and Vicknair are two hot screenwriters on the fast track. This project is based on a Rolling Stone magazine article about the true story of a woman who... Read More →

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movie poster "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Strange Tides"

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Strange Tides” opening tomorrow

By on Thursday, May 19, 2011

The big summer movies are rolling into theaters. Tomorrow, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Strange Tides,” opens in the U.S.  The fantasy adventure is the fourth installment in the “Pirates of the Caribbean”  film series. The movie is based on the book from 1987, “On Strange Tides,” by Tim Powers. Today over on the publishing site Galleycat, Powers talks about his fantasy  book, how it got optioned by Disney, and more here.

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book cover of "Heaven is for Real: A little Boyis Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back"

Movie deal for bestseller “Heaven is for Real”

By on Monday, May 9, 2011

Another bestselling book is headed to the big screen. Sony Pictures has bought screen rights to “Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of his His Trip to Heaven and Back,” according to deadline.com This book claims to be the true adventures of a four-year -old boy who leaves his body during emergency surgery and takes a trip to heaven. Colton Burpo comments on the doctors in the operating room, his parents in the waiting area, and heaven; where he meets biblical characters and some relatives... Read More →

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Entertainment News Bits: Another downer Box Office, hot spec script sale, and new movie deal for Sandra Bullock

By on Monday, June 7, 2010

“Shrek Forever After” number one again   For the third week in a row, “Shrek Forever After” is king of the domestic Box Office, but the achievement is overshadowed by the lackluster performance of a new crop of films. Audiences are not packing the theaters like they did last year at this time. “Shrek Forever After” drew the biggest crowds making $25.4 million, bringing its three week domestic take to $183.2 million. In second place the new film, “Getting Him to the Greek,” which opened with $17.5 million. The comedy centers... Read More →

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More Hollywood movie deals: Ron Howard, “50 Cent,” & spec script sales

By on Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Academy Award winning director set to make a film about adultery Director Ron Howard is reportedly lining up a comedy, written by Allan Loeb, about infidelity as his next project. The Hollywood Reporter says Vince Vaughn has committed to play a guy who learns his best friend’s wife is a cheater. Kevin James is in negotiations to take on the role of the best friend. Imagine Producer Brian Grazer came up with the idea. Grazer did not have far to look for inspiration with all the cheating celebrities and politicians in the news... Read More →

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Book deals and buzz for two screenwriters-turned-novelists

By on Sunday, December 27, 2009

Hollywood is gung-ho right now for film projects based on material from other mediums — particularly comics and novels. Screenwriter Suzanne Corso has written a number of unproduced scripts, but she recently hit the big time with her first novel. Corso wrote a coming-of-age story, based on personal experience, about a teenager in Brooklyn during the 1970s who falls for a local Mafioso wannabe, according to Publishers Weekly. The novel, “Brooklyn Story” was picked up by Simon & Schuster for publication. Also, Director Penny Marshall grabbed the film rights. Some... Read More →

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NBA hoopster gets starring role in new movie

By on Friday, September 18, 2009

Photo: Keith James/ freelance photographer Cleveland Cavaliers Superstar, LeBron James has signed on to take his game to the big screen. 24-year-old James will star in a comedy called, “Fantasy Basketball Camp” set to go before the cameras next summer, according to Daily Variety. James’ role in the film will not be much of a stretch, he’ll be playing himself. The story reportedly revolves around five guys who get to head off to Vegas to live out their fantasies at the LeBron James Adult Basketball Camp. This is... Read More →

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Frank Sinatra: A new film and book

By on Saturday, May 16, 2009

  Photo: William P. Gottlieb (1947) Legendary crooner Frank Sinatra died 11 years ago on May 14, 1998, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack. Sinatra was 82. Now the entertainer, known as “Ol’ Blue Eyes” or “The Voice,” is about to live again on the big screen and in the pages of a new book. Francis Albert Sinatra was born December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey and grew up to become one of the best known and most accomplished American singers ever. Also, Sinatra achieved recognition as... Read More →

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Angelina Jolie to star in new movie thriller based on best selling novel series

By on Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Best selling author Patricia Cornwell’s popular book sleuth/medical examiner, Dr. Kay Scarpetta ,is headed to the big screen. Angelina Jolie is on board to play the fictional crime solver in a suspense thriller based on the 16-book series, which began with “Postmortem”(1990).  The latest, “Scarpetta,” came out last December.  Cornwell once worked as a newspaper reporter and a computer analyst in a chief medical examiner’s office in Virginia. Cornwell’s novels are know for their complex characters, gripping plots, and grisly details. The movie rights for two of the... Read More →

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Queen Latifah attached to new romantic comedy movie deal

By on Monday, March 30, 2009

   Singer/actress Queen Latifah has signed on to play the lead in the romantic comedy, “Just Wright.” The story is a so-called Cinderella tale involving a physical therapist who falls in love with a basketball player she is helping recover from a career-threatening injury. The rom-com had been in development for the past six years at Disney. Recently, Fox Searchlight picked up the project and set it up to begin production some time in May. Latifah’s company, Flavor Unit, will be co-producing the movie with producer Debra Martin Chase. This is not the first romantic... Read More →

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Super Bowl MVP life story bought by Hollywood

By on Friday, January 30, 2009

  No matter who wins the Super Bowl on Sunday, the Steelers or the Cardinals, it will probably be a super weekend for former NFL star quarterback Jim Plunkett. A movie deal, which involves the life rights for Plunkett’s story, was announced in Variety today.  Plunkett, who is Mexican-American,  was raised by blind parents who struggled to make a living in San Jose, California. Plunkett went on to become a star quarterback at Stanford University. Plunkett won the Heisman Trophy and led Stanford to a 27-17 victory over Ohio State in the 1971 Rose Bowl. ... Read More →

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Hollywood buys another bestseller for the big screen

By on Saturday, January 24, 2009

   A film version of the bestselling novel “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” is coming to a theater near you in the not too distant future. Earlier this week, Universal Pictures bought the rights to the David Wroblewski novel – his first. “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” reportedly has spent  at least 30 weeks on the bestseller lists since being released last September. It was selected for Oprah’s Book Club. Also, Oprah’s Harpo Films will be producing the movie adaptation of the novel along with actor Tom Hanks’... Read More →

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Movie deal for a new twist on the “Romeo & Juliet” love story

By on Wednesday, January 7, 2009

“Romeo and Juliet”  by Sir Frank Dicksee (1853-1928)   The publishing industry has been buzzing for months about Danish author Anne Fortier’s “Juliet.”  In the  novel a woman discovers she may be related to the star-crossed lovers who inspired the classic, “Romeo & Juliet.” Today, there are a flurry of reports about Universal Pictures picking up the movie rights for “Juliet.” Director/producer James Mangold is attached to the project along with his producer wife Cathy Konrad. Mangold and Konrad were involved in the 2007 remake of the western, “3:10 to Yuma,” and are developing the... Read More →

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Fourth grader’s dating book gets a movie deal

By on Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Alec Greven is only 9-years-old, but he knows a thing or two about sweet talking girls. The Colorado fourth grader wrote a self-help pamphlet for his fellow students at the age of eight. “How to Talk to Girls,” was a big hit at a school book fair. Publisher Harper Collins snatched up the dating book and released it last month.     “How to Talk to Girls,” has been selling briskly. When I checked today, it was number 42 on the Barnes & Noble website and ranked 99 on Amazon.com’s... Read More →

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Another John Grisham novel headed for the big screen

By on Saturday, December 6, 2008

Legal crime author John Grisham just keeps cranking out the kind of novels Hollywood loves to turn into movies. Grisham’s latest, “The Associate,” doesn’t hit bookstore shelves until January 27, 2009, but it already has a film deal. Earlier this week, reports came out that actor Shia LaBeouf had won the lead role in the movie version of “The Associate.” Last summer, I saw LaBeouf in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” Also, I caught him in the first “Transformers” flick. I thought the good-looking LaBeouf was... Read More →

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Movie deal: the Louis Armstrong story

By on Saturday, October 11, 2008

Google image/ 1901- 1971 Oscar winning actor Forest Whitaker has signed on to play the great Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong in an upcoming film about the musician’s extraordinary life. Born on August 4, 1901, in a poor section of New Orleans called “The Battlefield,” Armstrong rose to fame as a singer and  trumpet virtuoso. Armstrong was the first important Jazz soloist and his style shaped and influenced that emerging new music form.  In his later years, Armstrong gained new fans by appearing in films and making his mark on the pop music scene. He reportedly died of... Read More →

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Movie Deals

By on Friday, September 5, 2008

Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington is about to make a leap into the future. Washington has signed on to star in “Book of Eli,” according to Variety. Washington reportedly will star as a lone hero in an apocalyptic future who must fight his way across America to bring society the knowledge that could be key to its redemption. The drama will be directed by Allen and Albert Hughes. It will be their first drama since “From Hell” in 2001.  Filming is set to get underway in January. By the way,... Read More →

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