Columbia pulls plug on Brad Pitt’s Moneyball
June 21, 2009 by Jane Boursaw
I bet Steven Soderbergh had a HECK of a weekend. It must be crazy nerve-wracking to have a studio balk at a movie project just days away from the start of filming.
That’s what happened with “Moneyball” a baseball drama being directed by Soderbergh and starring Brad Pitt (pictured, at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in May 2009).
The cast and crew were prepped to start shooting this week, but Columbia pulled the plug; co-chair Amy Pascal says she wasn’t comfortable with the script, which has changed a lot since the project was greenlit.
You have to wonder just …read more
Jaden Smith Snags "Karate Kid" Remake
November 10, 2008 by Jane Boursaw
In the oh-no-not-another-remake department, “The Karate Kid” remake is a go at Columbia, with Jaden Smith in the title role. That’s Jaden, pictured, along with his dad, Will Smith, at the Los Angeles premiere of “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” on Oct. 26, 2008. Look at that face!
Rumors have been circulating for a while, but a note landed in my inbox today confirming the casting of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s offspring. Jaden co-starred along with his dad in “The Pursuit of Happyness” (which I loved).
More after the jump…
Kirsten Dunst in for Voting Documentary
November 9, 2008 by Jane Boursaw
Maybe Kirsten Dunst needs a serious project to help balance out “Spider-Man” 4 and 5. She’s making a documentary about how the nation votes, working with filmmaker Jacob Soboroff on the project.
Both Dunst and Soboroff are directing and producing the film, which explores why American voter participation lags behind turnout in other countries. Soboroff is the director of Why Tuesday?, a nonprofit organization that researches ways to increase voter turnout.
More after the jump…
Steve Carell Attached to "The Beaver"
November 6, 2008 by Jane Boursaw
When I heard that Steve Carell was attached to a project called “The Beaver,” I thought, wow! that’s cool! They’re bringing “Leave it to Beaver” back to life in the modern world!
Not so. It’s actually a movie project about a guy who walks around with a beaver puppet on his hand, treating it like a human creature with human feelings. Those who’ve seen the script by Kyle Killen say it’s whimsical, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Lars and the Real Girl” springs to mind.
I can definitely see Steve Carell in something like that. It takes somebody with …read more


