Remake OTD: The Bad Lieutenant

"Nicolas Cage will star in an updated version of 1992's 'The Bad Lieutenant' with Werner Herzog directing, Edward R. Pressman producing and Avi Lerner's Nu Image/Millenium Films financing.

Project, also called 'The Bad Lieutenant,' is due to be announced at Cannes. Production will start in late summer.

The original pic, also produced by Pressman, starred Harvey Keitel and was directed by Abel Ferrara from a screenplay by Ferrara and Zoe Lund. That pic received an NC-17 rating with the depraved title character heavily involved in drugs, gambling, sex and stealing while a New York police officer."

To read the rest of Dave McNary's Variety article, click here.

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Well, you know, there's a franchise there.

All Asthma Inhalers CFC-Free In '09

"Millions of people with asthma and other lung diseases will have to switch inhalers by the end of the year. And for many, the transition will not be smooth.

The change — mandated by the federal government in 2005, to go into effect next Jan. 1 — is to comply with the 1987 treaty to protect the earth’s ozone layer. It bans most uses of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which are used as propellants in many inhalers.

CFC-free inhalers have been available for more than a decade. But four million to five million users have yet to switch, according to the consumer advocacy group Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics.

For one thing, the old inhalers cost much less — an average of $13.50, or one-third the price of a CFC-free inhaler, which uses propellants called HFAs, for hydrofluoroalkanes. (CFC inhalers are generic; HFA inhalers are brand-name.) People with asthma use an average of three or four inhalers a year, but some patients use one a month."

Photo by Teva Pharmaceuticals. To read the rest of Laurie Tarkan's NY Times article, click here.

Nissan: Electric Car In U.S. By 2010

"The Nissan Motor Company plans to sell an electric car in the United States and Japan by 2010, raising the stakes in the race to develop environmentally friendly vehicles.

The commitment — expected to be announced Tuesday by Nissan’s chief executive, Carlos Ghosn — will be the first by a major automaker to bring a zero-emission vehicle to the American market. Nissan also expects to sell a lineup of electric vehicles globally by 2012.

In an interview Monday, Mr. Ghosn said Nissan decided to accelerate development of battery-powered vehicles because of high gasoline prices and environmental concerns, not just because of the need to meet stricter fuel-economy standards.

'What we are seeing is that the shifts coming from the markets are more powerful than what regulators are doing,' he said."

Photo by Gil Cohen Magen.

To read the rest of Bill Vlasic's New York Times article, click here.

Fraggle Movie Moves Forward

"The Weinstein Co. will turn the Jim Henson series 'Fraggle Rock' into a live-action musical feature.

Cory Edwards, who directed the animated 'Hoodwinked!' for TWC, will helm the picture and write the screenplay. The Jim Henson Co. will produce and TWC will distribute.

Just like the series, the film will be populated by a mix of human characters and Fraggle Rock puppets. TWC co-chair Harvey Weinstein, who has been steering his company more aggressively into the family film arena, made the marriage with Lisa Henson, who runs JHC with her co-CEO brother, Brian Henson."

If you want to read the rest of Michael Fleming's Variety article, click here.

Happy Beaver Arrives In Moscow!

My buddy Sergey took a bunch of cool shots of my Happy Beaver toy out and about the downtown area. You can see the rest of them here. Of course, I'll be snagging them for my own Flickr account soon, too! Enjoy.

Photo by Sergey Safonov.

Buck Rogers Returns to Hollywood And Toy Shelves

"Nu Image/Millennium Films has acquired film rights to 'Buck Rogers,' and will give live action screen treatment to the venerable pilot who awakens in the 25th Century and battles evil. Nu Image/Millennium's Avi Lerner got the rights from the Dille Trust, which is run by the surviving family of series originator Frank Dille."

To read the rest of Micheal Fleming's Variety article, click here.

If you haven't been there yet, stop by gohero.com and check out the progress on their upcoming old-school (i.e, 30s-style), limited-edition Buck Rogers figure - it's looking great!

Chris Wedge Throws Hat In Live-Action Ring

"Ice Age" helmer Chris Wedge has signed on to direct Brian Selznick's magic-themed children's novel "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" for Graham King's GK Films, Johnny Depp's Infinitum Nihil and Warner Bros.

"The Aviator" scribe John Logan has been tapped to pen the adaptation.

King and Infinitum Nihil's Christi Dembrowski will produce the live-action film, which centers on an orphaned boy who secretly lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station and looks after the clocks. He gets caught up in a mystery adventure when he attempts to repair a mechanical man.

To read more of Tatiana Siegel's Variety article, click here.

Happy Third Anniversary To Us!

Three years already! How time dashes by.
Thanks for making the run so much fun, honey!

Iron Man 2, Avengers, Thor, Captain America Films On The Way

Thanks to Iron Man's $100 million + weekend, Marvel Studios has announced their slate for the foreseeable future:

04/30/10 - Iron Man 2

06/04/10 - Thor (directed by Matthew Vaughn)

05/06/11 - Captain America: The First Avenger

07/?/11 - The Avengers

(Thanks to slashfilm.com for the tip)

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Well, we'll see what happens. Personally, I'm the most psyched about a Captain America movie.

What I'd love to see is a World War II story, with Cap (and Bucky?) battling the Red Skull. The film ends with the Skull defeated, but Bucky dies and Cap's frozen until present day (the sequel, or the Avengers movie). Hah? Haaaah??

SUPER SWEET!

The latest Dark Knight trailer. Can't wait! Iron Man was cool, but this could be even better.

See a really nice version here, or download an even nicer one!

Holy COW!

I reached a new personal best in terms of visitor traffic yesterday - over 2,500 page views! Thanks for visiting and reading, even when work makes the original content pretty thin.

The Hammer House Of Hotness

A sister photoset to The Galactically Hot Women of Star Trek TOS. Not as, um, successful in my mind, but that may depend on who first triggered your 'special purpose'. Anyway, there's plenty of weird hair, thick mascara and corsets. Enjoy!

David Silverman Directing For Disney

"David Silverman, who most recently helmed 'The Simpsons Movie,' has signed on to develop and direct 'The Pet,' a live-action sci-fi family comedy for Disney. Scott Rudin and Craig Perry are producing."

To read the rest of Borys Kit and Gregg Goldstein's THR article, click here. Photo by Ronnie Del Carmen.

Congratulations, David! Have fun!

New Fox Show From Simpsons Alumni

"'The Simpsons' vets Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein have been named exec producers on Fox's animated laffer 'Sit Down, Shut Up.'

(The show) is based on a live-action sitcom from Australia. The animated U.S. version revolves around the lives of seven staff members at a dysfunctional high school in a small northeastern fishing town. Action centers on faculty members, as their egos and personal agendas trump the students' needs."

To read more of Michael Schneider's Variety article, click here.