Movie News and Views August 22, 2008 Poster Edition

Here's the rundown staring from mid-July:

•-         Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes, and Samuel L. Jackson were working on a film called, "Soul Men," about two backup singers who haven't spoken to each other in 20 years, going on the road and doing a tribute to the deceased lead singer. While this is set for a Nov. 14 release, since Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac passed away no further word has been said on the current condition of the project.

•-         Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper have officially quit "At the Movies." Ebert doesn't want to do it anymore, and Roper couldn't negotiate a new contract. Their replacements are Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz.

•-         "Pass the Sugar" is a new documentary from director Gil Cates, Jr. on the 2005 World Series of Poker.

•-         M. Night Shamma-lamma-ding-dong plans on sitting in the producing chair, letting others film his ideas. Good luck with that one.

•-         Fresh from "Hancock," director Peter Berg will direct a new "Hercules" movie for Universal.

•-         Not only is "Friday the 13^th" being remade, but so is "Nightmare on Elm Street." Current talks have pointed at Billy Bob Thornton to play Freddy Kreuger.

•-         Tim Burton is working on an "Alice in Wonderland" movie.

•-         MTV is planning on remaking "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

•-         "Hairspray" sequel slated for 2010.

•-         The new director for "RoboCop" will be Darren Aronofsky, whose films are "Pi," "Requiem for a Dream," and "The Fountain."

•-         Leo DiCaprio is looking to make a "Twilight Zone" movie.

•-         Disney is planning on releasing "Tron 2," and Jeff Bridges is involved.

•-         Tyrese Gibson in talks to bring "Thundercats" to the screen.

•-         Plans are in motion to adapt Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" trilogy.

•-         "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." Pretty much all I needed to know...

•-         Mike Myers, after the upset of "Love Guru," is now working on "Austin Powers 4."

•-         "Brooklyn's Finest." If you've not heard anything about this movie, let me bring you up to speed: a toll-booth worker went into the hospital. While recovering from surgery, he wrote a screenplay and entered it into a contest. It came in second place, but was sent to Warner Bros. Warner contacted the toll-booth worker and he got a much better reward than placing 2^nd, he optioned the script! Now the movie, "Brooklyn's Finest," is in production with Richard Gere, Wesley Snipes, Ethan Hawke, and Don Cheadle.

•-         Alicia Keyes and Jack White are doing the theme to the new Bond film, "Quantum of Solace."

-                        Kevin Smith's new movie, "Zack and Miri Make a Porno," was rated NC-17 but is now Rated R, thanks to an appeal.