BITS & PIECES

Sam Raimi is in negotiations with Paramount to re-do the Jack Ryan franchise. Very interesting idea to have someone like Raimi, who is best know for fantastical action pictures, tackle a realistic spy film series. I have enoyed all of the previous Jack Ryan adventures, my favorite being CLEAR & PRESENT DANGER. I also think the last installment, THE SUM OF ALL FEARS, is an underrated action flick.

Clint Eastwood is now set to direct and star in GRAND TORINO for Warner Brothers. The fast production already has a December 2008 release planned. Clint is also behind this November's THE CHANGELING, a child abduction drama, for Universal. He's directing that film with Angelina Jolie toplining. No plot details have surfaced about GRAND TORINO, but one would assume it has to do something with cars...and we also have to assume that both of these films will be award contenders...

Peter Berg (THE KINGDOM, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) is now officially attached to direct a big-budget re-make of DUNE for Paramount. I am a huge fan of Berg and his filmmaking aesthetic so the chance to see him tackle a crazy, cerebral sci-fi films is quite exciting. Although someone like Ridley Scott might, on paper, be a better choice for an epic like DUNE, Berg hasn't disappointed yet so I am willing to bet on him at the moment.

Anthony Minghella (54) and Arthur C. Clarke (90) passed away yesterday; very sad. Condolences to their families.

My favorite movie blogger, Jeffrey Wells @ www.hollywood-elsewhere.com , lost his sister to cancer yesterday as well. Losing a family member is never easy; my thoughts and prayers go out to him.

Director James Mangold (3:10 TO YUMA, WALK THE LINE) is set to make his first action film -- CYCLOPS -- which is based on a graphic novel, for Warner Brothers. The story is trippy, with this description from Variety really grabbing my interest: set in the near future, the actioner concerns mercenary forces whose soldiers wear Cyclops-like cameras in their helmets and broadcast in real time to both central command and living rooms. One mercenary chosen to lead an elite squad begins to realize he isn't fighting for freedom and justice as much for commerce. Sounds very cool to me. Very cool.