Will Ferrell as cinematic cult icon Russ Meyer? Um, yes please. First announced last summer, word on “Russ & Roger Go Beyond” has been a bit quiet, other than Josh Gad being eyed to play the famous critic (though it doesn’t seem to have panned out). But now it looks to have attracted a very interesting name to get behind the camera.
Michael Winterbottom (“24 Hour Party People,” “The Trip“) is in talks to direct the movie that will tell the tale of Ebert and Meyer, who traveled to Hollywood and the 20th Century Fox lot to write the X-rated “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.” Christopher Cluess (“The Simpsons,” “SNL”) penned the script about this rather wild chapter in Roger Ebert’s life. Filming will begin later in the year, but of course, the role of Ebert needs to be filled. Suggestions?
Meanwhile, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch continue their victory lap following “John Wick.” They’ve got a sequel brewing to their breakout movie, and earlier this month it was rumored they were being courted for a DC Comics film. Well, another comic company has snagged them instead.
Valiant Entertainment has inked a five-picture deal with Sony, and one of the first out of the gate will be “Bloodshot,” with a release aimed for 2017. Stahelski and Leitch will be behind the camera, with the lead character described by Wikipedia thusly: Bloodshot is a former soldier with powers of regeneration and meta-morphing made possible through nanites injected into his blood. After having his memory wiped numerous times, Bloodshot is out to discover who he really is and get vengeance on those who did this to him.
Valiant also has “Harbinger” in the works too, but no director has been revealed just yet.
