Punk rock movies are usually a very mixed bag (see this year’s “CBGB“) but with colorful characters and big emotions, filmmakers are going to keep flocking to the subject matter. Thus, Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (“American Splendor,” “Cinema Verite“) are going to turn it up with “Ten Thousand Saints.” The pair adapted the Eleanor Henderson novel, set in 1980s New York City (of course), that tells the story of “Vermont teenager Jude, who moves in with his hippie dad in NYC after his best friend Teddy overdoses. There he falls in with the no drugs, no sex, no meat straight-edge hardcore punk scene of the East Village.” Hailee Steinfeld is on board in the role of Eliza, “who becomes pregnant with Teddy’s child and leans on his brother Johnny and Jude for support.” [Deadline]
Last fall when “Tarzan” was first gearing up, Samuel L. Jackson was eyed for a role and then everything shut down. Now, with the movie revived, the actor is swinging back to the blockbuster about a man in a loincloth who leaps from trees. Alexander Skarsgard and Christoph Waltz are attached to star in the movie, and we presume Jackson will slot out the part of the ex-mercenary sidekick of Tarzan he was originally linked to. David Yates will direct though Warner Bros. haven’t yet officially greenlit this one. [Variety]
So, that Chilean miner movie has been coming together, and the final cast looks like this: Juliette Binoche, James Brolin, Oscar Nunez, Antonio Banderas, Kate Del Castillo, Lou Diamond Phillips, Mario Casas, Juan Pablo Raba, Tenoch Huerta, Jacob Vargas, Marco Trevino and Alejandro Goic. Binoche actually replaces Jennifer Lopez who had a scheduling conflict with “American Idol” and that’s probably the only time in history we’ll ever type those words.”The 33” will shoot on location in Chile to tell the true story from 2010 “of the collapsed Copiapo copper mine and the 33 miners who remained trapped more than 2,000 feet underground.” [Deadline]
Amanda Seyfried will get into the dating game with “He’s F-ing Perfect.” The comedy project which once interested Emma Stone “follows an Internet-savvy woman who convinces her friend to dump her new boyfriend so she can date him instead.” Funny or Die veteran Jake Szymanski will direct. [Variety]
Lastly, Kevin Hart will get in the game with “Ballers.” The comedian will co-write and star in the film about “a man who lives in the shadow of his NBA superstar brother (to be played by LeBron James), but gets a chance to prove himself when he and some pals attend a weekend fantasy basketball camp in Miami.” A director is being sought with an eye to shoot next summer. [Deadline]