-One of the most well known and recognizable studios may be up for sale. Again. This summer, MGM fired CEO Harry Sloan, while financial restructuring expert Stephen Cooper was brought in to try and find a way out of $3.7 billion dollars in debt. However, according to some estimates, in today’s market the studio is only worth $1.5 billion. There are a number of scenarios that might play out in the next couple of weeks. The most popular opinion is that the studio will be auctioned off in bits and pieces, with the film library going here and the logo going there etc. Kirk Kerkorian, who has already bought and sold the studio twice before, is expected by some to make yet another bid for lion. Some say a pre-packaged bankruptcy might happen, while others speculate that Time-Warner may swoop in at the 11th hour with an offer for the whole company. MGM’s only release this year was the remake of “Fame,” while “Hot Tub Time Machine,” “The Zookeeper” and “Red Dawn” are the only releases planned for 2010. What this means for “Bond 23” and “The Hobbit” – the most valuable properties the studio owns, which were both scheduled to shoot next year – remains to be seen.
-David Koepp, one of the Hollywood’s most prized screenwriters, is ready to take another seat in the director’s chair for his first film since 2008’s “Ghost Town.” Sony has acquired the rights and fast-tracked Koepp’s “Premium Rush” written with frequent collaborator John Kamps. The chase film is about a twenty-something bike messenger who picks up an envelope at Columbia University, and then is subsequently chased by a dirty cop who wants what’s in the envelope. If this sounds like a low-budget (and fairly lame – are we seriously talking about a bike chase movie here?) film, think again. The project is officially being viewed as a big-budget action picture, with elaborate chase sequences a la William Friedkin. Sony is hoping to cast the lead soon and we’re guessing this is going to film sometime in the spring.
-Zachary Quinto is ready for a new adventure. The pointy eared Vulcan is currently circling “Whirligig,” a Canadian indie film about a man who in trying to woo an older woman, and ends up befriending her son. Even though The Hollywood Reporter was set to report on this, the Heroes star is apparently a long way from being officially signed on, with a number of “contingencies” (we guess that’s code for salary?) still needing to be met. Quinto has been very selective about his next project, only being officially signed on to the inevitable “Star Trek” sequel. Meanwhile, you can continue to catch him each week on the show with the most diminishing returns these days, “Heroes.”
-And speaking of diminishing returns, the currently filming “Little Fockers” has snared Harvey Keitel into its steel jaw of crappy comedy. The second sequel to “Meet The Parents,” brings back regulars Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner and Owen Wilson, while adding Laura Dern and Jessica Alba to the parade of stars aiming for the lowest common denominator. In case you actually care, Keitel will play a contractor that Stiller hires. Hilarity will no doubt follow. Paul Weitz, who shouldn’t be allowed near a camera after the colossal failure of the horrible “Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant,” is directing, with the film set for a tentpole release next summer on July 30th.
-In other biker related news, Jason Priestley is currently developing his own cycling pic, “Death Of A Freerider.” The actor optioned the film rights to a Rolling Stone article “Freerider” by Jesse Hyde, about the life and death of 22-year-old Canadian mountain biker who got involved in the world of cross-border drug smuggling. Priestly, along with Chad Oakes and Mike Frislev of Nomadic Pictures, are hoping to get the film in front of cameras late next year. There is no word yet if Priestley himself will play the young biker, but he was like 63 when he was on “90210” so anything is possible.
-The dudes over at Collider have found a promo video for James Franco’s forthcoming stint on “General Hospital” and it’s kind of amazing: