Samantha Morton, Dominic West and Polly Walker have all joined Andrew Stanton’s “John Carter Of Mars.” The Disney project will chronicle the story of a Civil War veteran (Taylor Kitsch) who is mysteriously transported to Mars and becomes involved with the hostile environments. Lynn Collins and Willem Dafoe also star. [THR]
Joan Jett and Jackie Fox from the all-girl rock band The Runaways are in the midst of an ugly court battle which sees Jett suing Fox for trying to claim compensation on The Runaways’ name. Fox has reportedly been attempting to disrupt the production of “The Runaways” biopic, starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning among others, demanding to see and approve a script first. Jett argues that no character based on Fox is in the film and is subsequently seeking compensation for the disruptions caused by Fox and a declaration that Fox has nothing to do with the band, now trademarked by Jett. [TMZ]
28 Weeks Later” director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo has been tapped to helm “Bioshock,” the long gestating video game adaptation which was left in disarray after Gore Verbinski left the project over production difficulties. The film will center on a pilot who crash-lands near a secret entrance of the underwater city of Rapture and becomes involved in a power struggle. Not a bad replacement. [BFDealMemo]
TV stars Stephen Moyer and Lily Collins have joined the cast of graphic novel adaptation “Priest,” which currently boasts Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q and Karl Urban in its cast. Directed by Scott Stewart, the film will be set in a world ravaged by war between man and vampire. Despite playing a vampire every week on “True Blood,” Moyer will portray a mere mortal here. [Variety]
As we reported a few weeks ago, Diego Luna’s directorial debut will be “Abel,” a family drama told through the eyes of a child. Jose Maria Yazpik will star in the project which will shoot in Mexico on a budget of $2.73 million under the banner of Canana Films – Luna’s own production company which he opened with fellow thesp Gael Garcia Bernal and producer Pablo Cruz. [Variety]
The James Cameron-produced, Alister Grierson helmed “Sanctum” has gained a funding source through Wayfare Entertainment. The film is a fictional drama inspired by Andrew Wight’s near-death experience when he led an expedition of 15 divers into a remote underwater cave system below Australia’s Nullarbor Plain, and then watched a freak storm collapse the cave entrance. Camera and 3D technology used on Cameron’s “Avatar” will be utilized for “Sanctum’s” production as well. [Variety]
Ryan Condal has been tapped to scribe “Queen & Country,” the story of a female ‘Bourne’-type character who is on the run in Eastern Europe after carrying out an assignment. Condal, who made it on last year’s Black List with his re-envisioning of the King Arthur tale “Galahad,” is also writing “Hercules” which Peter Berg is producing as a potential directorial vehicle. [THR]
