The past week or so has seen quite a few writers land some gigs, ranging from big blockbusters to gritty thrillers, so let’s get right into the mix.
First up, Fox is continuing to develop their “Fantastic Four” reboot, and in keeping with studio tradition, they are continuing to throw writers at the project. Get ready to clutch your fanboy pearls as Simon Kinberg (“X-Men 3: The Last Stand,” “Jumper,” “Sherlock Holmes” and part of the team working on the “Star Wars” spinoffs) is now putting his pen to the movie, following efforts by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jeremy Slater. But it seems their efforts are being tossed as Kinberg, who is also boarding as a producer, will be “overhauling the script substantially.” Whether or not this affects the targeted March 6, 2015 release date remains to be seen. [THR]
Meanwhile on the Fox lot, the love-in with Mark Millar continues as the studio has hired Carter Blanchard to adapt the comic writer’s upcoming “Kindergarten Heroes” for the big screen. It’s a property that skews young with everyone involved hoping to kickstart a family franchise, because duh. It’s still early days as Millar’s book has yet to hit shelves, but on paper, it sounds like a more mainstream version of “Kick-Ass.” [Deadline]
Though Ben Affleck‘s slate is filled up in the immediate future by starring in David Fincher‘s “Gone Girl,” putting on the cape and cowl in “Batman Vs. Superman” and then directing “Live By Night,” he’s still working on his Whitey Bulger biopic. After “Boardwalk Empire” heavy Terence Winter took a stab at it, “Gone Baby Gone” and “The Town” scribe Aaron Stockard will next take a pen to the tale of the notorious real life gangster. Since he already is more than familiar with Affleck’s sensibilities, it looks like a match made in heaven. [Deadline]
As Ang Lee starts on work on a 3D boxing movie, tracking the rivalry and bouts between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, he’s bringing in a big gun to help on the script. “The Queen,” “Rush” and “The Last King Of Scotland” scribe Peter Morgan will be putting it all together. “It’s a look at how brutal the confrontations were between Ali and Frazier,” Morgan said. “They were marked by how aggressive Ali was towards Frazier out of the ring. He taunted and belittled him.” [Daily Mail]
Lastly, “The Limey” and “Dark City” writer Lem Dobbs will get working on “The Kill List” for Rupert Sanders. The adaptation of the Frederick Forsyth novel will follow “a U.S. Special Forces agent who is tasked with tracking down a powerful terrorist.” Sound generic? Maybe. But let’s just remind you that Forsyth also wrote “The Day Of The Jackal,” which was turned into a pretty awesome movie. So even if this is half as good, it may still be compelling particularly with a script by Dobbs. [LA Times]
