June 29 2006

Robert Nelson Jacobs has been hired to script a draft of the Untitled Hunter Scott Project (a.k.a. “U.S.S. Indianapolis” and “The Good Soldier”) at Universal Pictures. The biopic is loosely based on 12-year old student Scott Hunter, whose high school term paper led to the exoneration of Capt. Charles Butler McVay III, who was initially court-marshaled for sinking the U.S.S. Indianapolis during WWII.* J.J. Abrams is attached to direct, while Chris Moore is producing. 6/29

*Remember Quint's monologue in "Jaws"?

Shane Morris has sold his pitch “Redneck Games” to New Line Cinema. The comedy follows a disgraced Olympic athlete who competes in the real life Redneck Games, which were created as an alternate version of the ’96 Atlanta Summer games. Mike Karz is producing with Josh Weinstock. 6/29

Don Roos has been hired to pen the film version of John Grogan’s memoir “Marley & Me” for Fox 2000. The family-friendly comedy bestseller is about the author’s 13-year relationship with his incorrigible dog, Marley. Gil Netter is producing. Rodney Ferrell is shepherding the project for the studio. 6/29

Julian Goldberger has been hired to pen “The Marfa Lights” for Burnt Orange Prods. and Sunflower Prods. The coming-of-age drama loosely based on George Sand’s 18th Century French novel “Le Petite Fadette” is about twin brothers in Texas – one is a “coyote” smuggling Latino immigrants into America illegally, while the other is an Iraq War veteran who seeks help from a Mexican mystic healer. Brian Presley has signed on to star. Carlos Carrera will direct. Presley, Terrence Malick, Ed Pressman, Will Wallace, Carolyn Pfeiffer, and Tom Schatz are producing. 6/29

In drug-addiction news: First, playwright Craig Lucas and historian Michael Horowitz have been hired to pen an Untitled Timothy Leary Project for Appian Way. The biopic drama will track the counter-culture icon’s life from being a West Point cadet in the 40s to becoming the LSD-popping hippy in the 60s. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Simpson (Appian Way) are producing, along with Hillard Elkins (Elkins Entertainment).

Next, Alan Parker has signed on to helm “Ice at the Bottom of the World” for New Line. The family drama written by Mark Richard (based on his own short story) is about a Navy captain who reluctantly retires for health reasons, only to return home to the turbulence of dealing with a heroin-addicted daughter who is the single mother of a biracial child. Charlize Theron is starring. Parker (Dirty Hands) will also produce with Theron (Denver & Delilah Films), along with Bob Berney (Picturehouse).

Finally, Marcia Gay Harden has enlisted her own daughter Eulala Grace Scheel to star with her, Marian Seldes, Michael Gaston and Candace Buckley in “Home.” The road family drama set during the 60s written and to be directed by Mary Haverstick is about a mother who takes her daughter on a road trip in order to break her family’s apparent streak of addiction. Haverstick, Michele Mercure and Chad Taylor are producing, while Paul and Judy Ware are executive producing. 6/29

Dyanne Stempel and Jennifer Robinson have sold their pitch “Frenemies” to Paramount Pictures for low- to mid-six figures. The dark comedy is about the lows two former BFFs will sink after they become arch-foes. Caitlin Scanlon (Pounce Pictures) is producing. Alli Shearmur is shepherding for the studio. 6/29

Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman have signed on to top-line “The Bucket List” for Zadan/Meron Prods. The buddy road comedy scripted by Justin Zackham follows two terminally ill old dudes who decide to bounce from their cancer ward to raise some hell in Monaco. Rob Reiner is directing. Craig Zadan, Neil Meron and Alan Greisman are producing, with Zackham and Travis Knox executive producing. 6/29

Anne Rice has sold the film rights of her novel “Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt” to Good News Holdings. The author will pen the drama adaptation herself, which dramatizes the life lived by the seven-year old Jesus as he and his Jewish mother and father trek from Egypt to Nazareth. George Barna. David Kirkpatrick, Christopher Chisholm, Martha Cotton, Thom Black, and Rich Christopher are producing. 6/29