Witherspoon attached to West Memphis 3 pic

WitherspoonReese Witherspoon is attached to star in Atom Egoyan's West Memphis Three drama "Devil's Knot."Pic is based on investigative reporter Mara Leveritt's 2003 book "Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three," which chronicled the prolonged murder trial of defendants Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr., who served 18 years in prison before being released in August. The trio were accused of killing Christopher Byers, Michael Moore and Stevie Branch, three 8-year-old boys who were found brutally murdered and hog-tied in a wooded area of West Memphis, Arkansas known as Robin Hood Hills.Witherspoon will play Pam Hobbs, the mother of one of the victims. Hobbs originally believed that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley murdered her son, but as the case dragged on and more details became available, she came to believe that the trio did not commit the heinous crime.Scott Derrickson and Paul Boardman wrote the script, which they began working on in 2006 when the project was set up at Dimension Films. Egoyan recently worked with Boardman to develop the latest draft.Former Dimension prexy Richard Saperstein ("Hancock") will produce with Elizabeth Fowler, Clark Peterson ("Rampart") and Boardman.While there are no rights deal with Echols, Baldwin or Misskelley, the producers have secured life rights to several figures involved in the controversial case, including private investigator Ron Lax.Production on the under-$20 million feature is expected to start in the summer.The West Memphis 3 case has attracted heightened media attention as well as the interest of Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, who produced Amy Berg's documentary "West of Memphis," which will debut at Sundance.Witherspoon, who was last seen in "Water For Elephants," next stars alongside Chris Pine and Tom Hardy in McG's "This Means War." Thesp, who won an Oscar for "Walk the Line," recently wrapped Jeff Nichols' indie "Mud" with Matthew McConaughey.Witherspoon is repped by CAA and Management 360. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

The 100 Days 'Til The Hunger Games Poster Puzzle Hunt Is On -- And We've Got #78!

Make like Katniss and sharpen those hunting skills, Hunger Games fans, because Lionsgate’s launching a scavenger hunt with a worthy payoff to count down the mere 100 days that remain until Suzanne Collins’ dystopian teen battle royale tale hits screens on March 23: Collect all 100 pieces in the Hunger Games 100 Poster Puzzle Hunt and be the first to get a peek at the full official first poster for the March flick. You can start with golden-flecked puzzle piece #78 (of 100), which Movieline hosts exclusively after the jump. (Hint: It’s a corner piece! Get to puzzling already!) [Click to launch Movieline’s Hunger Games cast gallery] Here’s how to play: - One hundred (100) puzzle pieces are hiding online waiting to be discovered and pieced together; once you fit all 100 pieces together, post your completed puzzle to Facebook and @tag The Hunger Games Official Movie Page. - When the first fan solves the puzzle and posts it to Facebook, Lionsgate will release the poster in all of its high resolution glory. Helpful hints: Search for #HungerGames100 on Twitter to track each piece, and get more info on the game here. Without further ado… behold, piece 78/100 (Download the PDF here directly: http://bit.ly/t2cwNC) Good luck citizens, and may the odds be ever in your favor! Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Spiner to helm 'Olvido'

MADRID -- Fernando Spiner, whose Gaucho Western "Aballay" walked away while using lion's share of kudos at Monday's Argentine Academy awards ceremony, will adapt another Argentine classic: "Mas alla del olvido." Argentina's foreign-language Oscar submission, "Aballay" changes a celebrated short story by Antonio Di Benedetto. Helmer-scribe Spiner's "Olvido" can be a remake in the Argentine movie of the title directed by Hugo del Carril in 1956. The amour fou tale has Del Carril becoming an Argentine ranch-owner stumbling in Paris upon a cabaret dancer who's an inactive ringer for his deceased wife. Taking her to Argentina, he tries to change her to the spitting picture of his former spouse. But tragedy strikes once more. "Del Carril might be the Orson Welles of Argentine cinema, a director, actor, producer, film author and music artist," mentioned Spiner. The 1956 "Olvido" changes 1892 novel "Bruges-la-Morte," by Belgium's Georges Rodenbach. Spiner mentioned it inspired 1954 French crime novel "The Living as well as the Dead," acquired by Alfred Hitchcock for your 1958 pic "Vertigo." "Olvido" is defined at Spiner's Buenos Aires label, Boya Films. Spiner aims to go in production late 2012, shooting in Argentina. On Monday, Spiner scooped eight Argentine Academy awards for "Aballay," including director, actress (Moro Anghileri), cinematography and modified script. "Aballay" is becoming leaving major territory sales for Kevin William's KWA, Willams told Variety. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Hammond: From Mess Tailor To Julia Roberts & Kaira Pitt, Oscar Talk Is Everywhere

‘Tis the growing season. Galleries and marketers are tugging out all of the stops tobring focus on their large honours challengers.The drumbeat continues to be so loudsince Thanksgiving it’snot uncommon to become asked to four to five sceenings, parties, occasions, and Q&As with just one evening. I recieve the sensation everybody ispushing a great deal harder this season than ever before beforebecause of relaxed pre-nomination Academy Of Movement Picture Arts & Sciences rules and also the feeling the race is available.With ballots due bySunday for LA Film Experts, Experts Choice, and Golden Globe honours,AFI Top Ten, yet others, the crush washeavy now. Witness Focus Features’push for Mess Tailor Soldier Spy. Gary Oldman and cast including Colin Firthand key crewhave experienced town doing one screening to another to packed Industry crowds for the kind of SAG, BAFTA, DGA guild honours. A publish-premiere party Tuesday evening came swarms of Academy people while Oldman and company held court.In a Sundaycocktail party attended by people from the La Film Experts, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, along with other groups, I went in to the film’s directorTomas Alfredson (Let The Correct One In) who's a new comer to the Hollywood honours scene but doesn’t appear irritated because of it. After I requested if he was upset by his very British film’s inexplicableloss towards the lower profile minor film Tyrannosaur at this day’s eccentricBritish Independent Film Honours, he stated, “I don’t think they consider Working Title and Universal too independent.”Still, the way a movie around the level ofTinker Tailor could lose to some dreary factor like Tyrannosaur is among the eccentricities of experts honours. Actually theTinker Tailor contingent is fairly thrilledabout their ownreviews and current 86% fresh score at Rotten Tomato plants as well as the industry reaction.In a KCET/American Cinematheque publish-screening Q&A Saturday, Oldman was presented witha career achievement Lumiere award. The actoris known forportrayingfar less restrainedcharacters. But hetold me playing George Smiley and walking in Alec Guiness’footsteps would be a career highlight and that he is wishing to complete another turn according to John LeCarre’s Smiley’s People. Mess Tailor opens within the U.S. today so box officeand possibly honours attention may figure for the reason that decision to visit forward with another Smiley project. Julia Roberts has been busy marketing her writing and directorial debut, the Bosnian war drama Within The Land of Bloodstream and Honey that is getting attention from news shows likeNightline, an hour, which Week With Christiane Amanpour. Jolie utilizes a virtually unknown cast of local stars and shot the film both in British and also the native Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language – but it's delivering within the latter, filled with British subtitles. A minimum of for the time being.Thursday evening’s La premiere party at Boulevard 3 swarming withwell-wishers, Jolietold meshe wanted the pic to betrue towards the occasions that happened and did that which was perfect for the film. An HFPA officer in control ofeligibilityfor the Golden Globes confirmed in my experience that Jolie’smovie is going to be considered for his or her Best Language Film prize. Actually, if you didn't know who directed this movie, you may think it's the work of the great European auteur.It's not qualified, however,for that AcademyAwards’ Foreign Languagecategory because of more difficult rules. It's, obviously, qualified in regular groups for that Academy awards. One ofthe manyoffering congratulations was former Presidential candidate General Wesley Clark who introducedJolie to his boy, a budding filmmaker themself. Clark explained he thought the film, in regards to a war he understood perfectly, only agreed to be “incredible”. That’s the precise word Jolie’s proudfather, Jon Voight, also accustomed to describeher uncompromisingfilm which opens on December 23rd. GK Films and Film Districttoppers Graham King and Peter Schlessel also weresinging the star’s praises. I recommended to King he personally might be nominated within an unprecented 3 picture groups when in a few days’s Golden Globe nominations are revealed: Best Picture Drama for Hugo, Best Animated Feature for Rango, and finest Language Film for Within The Land Of Bloodstream And Honey. “Iwould be at liberty simply to acquire one,” he stated having a smile. Meanwhile, in another corner from the room stoodBrad Pitt, who could nab a few individuals nominations for themself for Moneyball and also the Tree of Existence. Pittseemed alternately intrigued and amused as wetalked aboutthe whole circus and strategiesof honours season.He couldn’t believe men much like me cover this thingyearround now. (“You should write a magazine inside a couple of years,”he chuckled.)He explained hewas happy about his award in the NY Film Experts as well as very happy with Jolie’s movie. The Academy’s relaxed rules mean the meals and wine are flowing at these screening/party occasions. And Academy people I've come across around the circuit appear to become taking pleasure in it more with galleries delivering the invites straight to them the very first time. You will find Q&As everywhere and, for the kind of The Iron Lady’s Meryl Streep and War Equine’s Steven Spielberg in only past week, they arewebcast live all over the world, too, to provide galleries the greatest bang for his or her campaign dollars. To date no webinars of thenumerous parties targeted at bringing in voters: such as the publish-screening fete for Drive Wednesdayat the Andaz Hotel around the Sunset Strip that came Supporting Actor hopeful Albert Brooks and Cannes-winning director Nicolas Winding Refn amongst others. Earlier that evening there is a packedreception at Spagofor china Language entry, The Flowers of War which had Academy and HFPA people interacting withdirector Zhang Yimou and stars Christian Bale and Ni Ni right before these needed to catch an airplane for that movie’s world premiere in Beijing. A number of individuals participants then headed to ICM for any special screening event of Cuba’s entry Habanasation located by Michael Moore which came Sean Penn amongst others to provide support. Meanwhile, Warner Bros was revealing its late-inning release, Very Noisy And Extremely Close, in an industry screening and reception in the La County Museum of Art, much like a celebration they did for J. Edgar there a couple of days earlier. To not be surpassed, Dreamworks did their industry screening of War Equine the evening before in the Academy. And every one of case a little sample of goings on on the circuit all week. This non-stop honours train is sufficient to drive you insane this time around of the year.

Paris Jackson Lines Up First Feature Film Role Alongside Ray King

First Released: December 9, 2011 3:49 PM EST Credit: C-It Entertainment Group, LLC La, Calif. -- Caption Paris Jackson around the cover of Lundons BridgeJust a week ago, in the Vegas premiere of Cirque Du Soliels Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour, Paris Jackson told Access Hollywood she planned to follow along with in her own fathers actions and go into the entertainment world being an actress. And today, Access has confirmed the 13-year-old has arranged her first feature film role. Paris will star being an up to now undisclosed human character in Lundons Bridge and also the Three Secrets, an active action feature film, with different kids book series by Dennis H. Christen. Based on the books description on Amazon . com, the storyline surrounds the war between your land and also the ocean. Ancient ocean-miracle turns a dolphin right into a human, an evil spell changes a teenage boy right into a dragonfly along with a once good and loving jellyfish full becomes an evil fairy godmother. This contemporary day adventure forces an naive family being the weapon to battle the war which rages around the land and underneath the ocean, the description reads. Paris can also be featured around the book cover. The film will even feature the voices of Ray King as King Pom, his wife, Shawn King as Full Dalina,and Joey Fatone as Paco, a ocean equine. The project is presently in production with no release date is presently available. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Nikita Scoop: "Naked" Sean Pierce, Damaged Fingers along with a Clean Sweep

Maggie Q, Dillon Casey Nikita's midseaon finale left audiences using more than a couple of questions, and star Maggie Q sitting lower with reporters this month to tease what to anticipate when the show returns in The month of january. Want some almost-nudity? Nikita new guy Dillon Casey, who plays Oversight's Sean Pierce, is going to be draining lower all within the title from the approaching energy play. "He's naked within the whole episode, the one which we simply finished [shooting]," stated Q. "There have been a few women on set who ... [placed] bets how his body was underneath while he would put on suits constantly. Anyway, he strips lower completely to his under garments for the entire episode. He will get associated with a chair without any clothes on. His is amazing." From Nikita to Chuck: TV's most sexy crime martial artists Associated with a chair? That sounds somewhat Amanda (Melinda Clarke) interrogation special to us! Take a look at what else is approaching for Nikita the coming year: Rogue family reunion. Alex (Lyndsy Fonseca) and Nikita will not continually be at odds. "Alex will discover much more about her family, which will move her for the reason that direction again," stated Q. "You will discover their whereabouts interact again. It will likely be lovely. There's this kind of older-sister-more youthful-sister dynamic that continues. It's nice, and you are likely to see some nice, tender moments together too... after which you will see them split apart again." Tomcat fight! Protector Patrick Burns (William DeVry) is around the loose after Michael (Shane West) saved him and Nikita, but that is not the final we'll see of him. "We've got some action stuff together that's really, really fun," stated Q. "And apparently Devon [Sawa], Shane and him possess a large fight that's approaching. Since it is hot. Each time the men fight it's hot." Nikita lite. Fans from the show might have observed their favorite rogue agent has not been going mano a mano just as much recently. Like Q broke a couple of her fingers on set whenever a heavy grate fell on her behalf hands. "We have been trying for everyone the experience at this time beside me for around three episodes because I have been healing," she stated. "I simply required my splints off a week ago to help you see my hands... We needed to write it to the episode you saw with Birkhoff. This SEAL is chasing after me, and that i grab this basketball hitting the cop with. I performed as soon as like, 'Ow!' So there is a Navy SEAL but in some way I hurt my hands on the basketball? It had been all we're able to do because we'd shot the relaxation from the stuff already." Nikita's Maggie Q offers expect "Mikita" fans Amorous Amanda? We are still quaking from Amanda's interrogation of Birkhoff (Aaron Stanford), but apparently there is a much softer side to her. "I believe there's likely to be some allusion to something between her and Percy," Q taunted. An Oversight affair to consider. Nikita may have a lengthy-looked forward to run-along with Oversight's Madeline Pierce (La Femme Nikita's Albert Watson)."It's approaching. It will likely be awesome because Nikita hates her," stated Q. Roan... revealed. The Division cleaner (Take advantage of Stewart) has already established a lot more screen time this year, and there is grounds for this. "Roan is completely associated with everything that's happening at this time,Inch stated Q. "That'll be revealed soon, how he's twisted up within this whole factor with Oversight." As we were Roan, we'd be after Nikita for your facial acidity-skin damage. Percy's master plan. Percy (Xander Berkeley) may be for the reason that glaringly lit Division jail, but he's as harmful as always. "Percy isn't stupid. He isn't secured inside not doing anything,Inch stated Q. "There's lots of underhandedness... and we've got some moments approaching, that is really exciting. You will find likely to be a number of three episodes [Episodes 11-13] running like a one large narrative where everything appears to become converging and also the impending implosion may happen. It's essentially the net of Nikita, Division, Oversight, Percy, Alex -- everything type of uniting and just how twisted it's become and what's been bubbling underneath the surface that will happen." A brand new beginning. "Episode 13 is known as 'Clean Sweep.' So 14 is really a rebirth of all things that simply skyrocketed. Where they are likely to go, we do not know." A finale fatality. What is a Nikita finale with no shocking dying? "Through the finish of year, yes, absolutely," stated Q. "Honestly, through the finish from the second season, you are likely to be like, 'What?!?' Again." Nikita returns with original episodes on Friday, Jan. 6 at 8/7c around the CW.