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Writer and producer Michael Diliberti is making his directorial debut with his upcoming movie Bad Man from Hemlock Circle Productions. In this Lethal Weapon-inspired film, the filmmaker worked with his hand-picked cast, including American Pie star Seann William Scott.

In Bad Man, Johnny Simmons stars as Bobby Gaines, a small-town cop who truly believes that all it takes to save the day is being a good guy. However, as his personal life worsens and a dangerous new criminal element settles down locally, it becomes too much for him to handle. Cue Sean William Scott's Bobby Gaines, a hotshot federal agent and bad boy who declares that he knows exactly how to fix the down problems—needless to say, things don't go as anyone expects.

Director Michael Diliberti sat down with The Direct's Russ Milheim to discuss how he could finally direct for the first time, prepare for that process,...

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Novocaine is a romantic action comedy film co-directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen from a screenplay by Lars Jacobson. The 2025 film follows Nathan Caine, a young bank manager with a rare disease that allows him to feel no pain. When his girlfriend is kidnapped during a bank robbery, he decides to chase the robbers to get his girlfriend back and use his ability in his favor for once. Novocaine stars Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, and Jacob Batalon. So, if you loved the insane action, hilarious comedy, and compelling characters in Novocaine, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota (Netflix) Credit – RSVP Movies

Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota is an Indian romantic action comedy film written and directed by Vasan Bala. The 2018 film follows Surya,...

The Stifmeister is coming to ABC for the upcoming comedy series Shifting Gears. The Milf hunter, Seann William Scott, joins Tim Allen and Kat Dennings for the multi-camera project, which goes into production in November. Scott boards the series for a lead role that replaces the character Nick from the pilot episode.

According to the show’s description, Tim Allen plays Matt, the stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. When Matt’s estranged daughter, Riley (Dennings), and her teenage kids move into his house, the actual restoration begins. Scott plays Gabriel for the series, a family friend of Matt and Riley who works at the shop with Matt. Scott’s Gabriel replaces Nick from the pilot. Initially, Froy Gutierrez played Nick. Nick was Matt’s son and Riley’s younger brother, who spent his days coding video games. Nick is no longer a part of the show as it moves into production.

Seann William Scott has boarded ABC’s upcoming comedy series, “Shifting Gears.”

He will join series lead Tim Allen, as well as Kat Dennings, Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, Maxwell Simkins and Barrett Margolis in the new sitcom. Scott’s casting comes months after “Shifting Gears” was ordered to series by ABC after initially receiving a pilot order from the network in March.

The new series centers on a stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop named Matt (Allen). “When Matt’s estranged daughter Riley (Dennings) and her kids move into his house, the real restoration begins,” according to the official logline.

Scott joins the cast as Gabriel, a family friend of Matt and Riley who works in the shop. Mitchell will play Stitch, while Simkins plays Carter and Margolis stars as Georgia.

By the time “Shifting Gears” was ordered to series in July, writers Mike Scully and Julie Thacker-Scully,...

Exclusive: Production has wrapped on indie feature Bad Man, starring Seann William Scott (American Pie) alongside Johnny Simmons (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), Rob Riggle (21 Jump Street), Chance Perdomo (After We Fell), Andre Hyland (Barry), and Lovi Poe (Chelsea Cowboy).

Inspired by a true story, the action-comedy follows a wild man state cop (Scott) who shows up in a small town with a big meth problem and immediately butts heads with a strait-laced local deputy (Simmons) as they attempt to solve a murder.

The production marks the feature directorial debut for Michael Diliberti, who co-wrote the screenplay with JJ Nelson. Previously, he wrote the Sony movie 30 Minutes or Less which starred Danny McBride, Jesse Eisenberg, Michael Pena, and Aziz Ansari, with Ben Stiller producing.

Producers are Warner Davis and Todd Friedman for Hemlock Circle Productions, Brian Levy for Entertainment 360, Monty Blencowe and Shaun Sanghani for Sss Entertainment.

Exclusive: Deadline hears that STXfilms is in advanced talks with Let’s Be Cops and The Girl Next Door filmmaker Luke Greenfield to direct the action-thriller We Are Untouchable.

Greenfield will direct from a script he co-wrote with Captain Mauzner (Billionaire Boys Club, Wonderland, Factory Girl). The Greenfield/Mauzner screenplay is based on a screenplay by Oritte Bendory and Aaron Feldman with revisions by Michael Diliberti and by Anthony Drazan. Greenfield most recently directed and produced the Focus Features dramedy Half Brothers. We Are Untouchable will be his next project. Chernin Entertainment is producing. We Are Untouchable focuses on a group of international college grads working in Mexico City at their respective diplomatic embassies. By day, they’re slaving away as mailroom assistants getting abused by their bosses. But when they find out they have diplomatic immunity — and they can’t get arrested for anything they do — they go wild with...

Exclusive: NBC has put in development The Last Video Store, a single-camera comedy from screenwriter Michael Diliberti (30 Minutes Or Less), NCIS: Los Angeles co-star Eric Christian Olsen and his Cloud Nine Productions, and CBS Television Studios where Olsen and Cloud Nine are under a deal.

Written by Diliberti, inspired by recent reporting on the world’s last Blockbuster Video store, the comedy revolves around Calvin, who returns home to run the last video rental store of a once major franchise with his estranged best friend. Calvin reconnects with his youth and past as he and his employees attempt to navigate life through their love and knowledge of movies.

Diliberti executive produces with Bryan Haas. Cloud Nine’s Olsen and Kate Schumaecker also executive produce, with John Will producing. CBS TV Studios and Cloud Nine co-produce.

Diliberti’s screenwriting credits include 30 Minutes Or Less, starring Danny McBride, Jesse Eisenberg,...

Exclusive: Netflix has acquired an action/comedy feature pitch by screenwriter Michael Diliberti that he will write as a vehicle for Glen Powell (Set It Up) and Jay Ellis (Insecure), who will be seen together in the upcoming Paramount sequel Top Gun: Maverick.

Diliberti, whose credits include 30 Minutes Or Less, will write a film that revolves around two young Secret Service agents who are stuck with the worst detail in the First Family… the President’s black sheep son.

When the boy is kidnapped abroad, they have to step into the line of fire to get him back. The project will be produced by Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch and Becky Sanderman. Brian Levy will be executive producer.

Diliberti is repped by Brian Levy at Pulse Films and David Krintzman at Morris Yorn; Powell is ICM Partners; Ellis is UTA and Rise Management.

In addition to the fall TV season kicking off this week, news of future movie-related TV shows is in full force. All the latest:   The Nice Girls?  Joel Silver, who produced Shane Black's under-seen 2016 comedy masterpiece The Nice Guys, is now turning the movie into a drama series for Fox. And there's a twist, which is also a trend-following update: the show will be led by women, not guys. 30 Minutes or Less screenwriter Michael Diliberti is scripting the project. Silver has already turned Lethal Weapon, a movie he produced and Black wrote, into a TV show, but that one left the characters' gender the same as they are in the source material.    Tom Hanks gets animated Tom Hanks, who broke out in television many...

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Joel Silver is looking to bring his 2016 buddy cop comedy The Nice Guys to Fox. According to Variety, Silver wants the series to be a female-led drama TV series.

The Nice Girls is being described as a one-hour female take on Silver’s popular feature film written by Shane Black that starred Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. Fox has ordered a script for the project from Silver Pictures Television.

Michael Diliberti (30 Minutes Or Less) will write and executive produce, with Silver. Diliberti is next set to direct his script Miami, Pi for RatPac and Pulse Films.

If the project gets picked up, it would be the second buddy cop film from Silver to come to Fox. The network recently launched the second season of Lethal Weapon.

No word on who producers have their eyes on to play the lead roles, it is way too early to know that yet. But...

Kirsten Howard Sep 29, 2017

The Nice Guys are about to become The Nice Girls in a new Fox TV series...

Shane Black's 70s-set buddy Pi comedy The Nice Guys was one of our 'films of the year' in 2016. Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe were both on top form in the neo-noir actioner and we warmed to it immediately.

See related  Star Trek: Discovery episode 1 review - The Vulcan Hello Star Trek: Discovery episode 2 review - Battle At The Binary Star Star Trek: Discovery episode 3 review - Context Is For Kings

The infamous director tends to write these sorts of capers almost effortlessly - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is also up there with the classics of the 00s for us, and Iron Man 3 still stands out as one of the most offbeat McU efforts, despite its CGI-heavy and rather nonsensical conclusion.

Interestingly, Black's original script for The Nice Guys was...

The recent Ryan Gosling film “The Nice Guys” is getting a female-centric TV update at Fox. The network has given a pilot order with significant penalty to the hour-long action comedy “The Nice Girls[/link],” which is a contemporary female take on director Shane Black’s 2016 buddy movie that also starred Russell Crowe. Michael Diliberti (“30 Minutes or Less”) will write and executive produce the TV version that hails from 20th Century Fox Television, Lionsgate and Silver Pictures Television. Joel Silver, who has a first-look deal with Lionsgate, is an executive producer, along with Rodney Ferrell and Ken Kao. Also Read: 'True Lies' TV Reboot.

Exclusive: Steve Richards' Endurance Media has set Steve Barnett to be President of Production, as the company has picked up three scripts from Black List writers Tyler Marceca, Michael Diliberti and Daniel Kunka. Barnett joins James Tomlinson, who is VP Production. Endurance Media, which has a strategic alliance with Entertainment One Films, was founded last year by Richards, a longtime Silver Pictures executive. Here are the scripts: Malpractice, written by Tyler…...

Dylan O’Brien has signed on to star in “Little White Corvette,” a brother-sister action-comedy that was developed as a starring vehicle for Emma Stone, TheWrap has learned. The long-gestating project, which has bounced around from MRC to Columbia Pictures, just landed at 20th Century Fox, the studio behind O’Brien’s popular “Maze Runner” series. Iain Morris (“The Inbetweeners”) is in talks to direct from a script by Michael Diliberti. Graham King will produce under his Gk Films banner, while 20th Century Fox executives Emma Watts and Jason Young will oversee the project on behalf of the studio. Also Read: 'Maze Runner: The Scorch.

Una

A new photo has emerged of Rooney Mara and Ben Mendelsohn in Benedict Andrews' "Una" (formerly titled "Blackbird"). Tara Fitzgerald and Riz Ahmed also star.

Adapted from Scottish playwright David Harrower's Olivier Award-winning play, the movie centers on an illicit and damaged love affair and its devastating consequences. The film is currently in post and doesn't have a release date. [Source: Screen]

Athena

Producer Amy Pascal has acquired Michael Diliberti's pitch "Athena" which follows a troubled young woman who is recruited by a covert agency and learns she is the descendant of the fabled goddess of wisdom and war. Rachel O'Connor and Bryan Haas would also produce. [Source: Deadline]

Nest 3D

Kellan Lutz and Kelsey Grammer are set to join Li Bingbing in the 3D killer spider sci-fi action thriller "Nest". Kimble Rendall ("Bait 3D") directs the Chinese-Australian co-production which is now in pre-production in Australia.

The story follows a...

Exclusive: Amy Pascal has just acquired Michael Diliberti’s pitch Athena, about a troubled young woman who is recruited by a covert agency and learns she is the descendant of the fabled goddess of wisdom and war. We’re hearing the deal was for mid-six against seven figures. It’s the latest pickup for Pascal, who is producing this at her new Sony-based Pascal Pictures along with Rachel O’Connor. Bryan Haas will also serve as producer. Diliberti recently sold another pitch, …...

Feature writer Michael Diliberti (30 Minutes Or Less) has set up two TV projects through his double blind script deal at ABC Studios. He has teamed with Shine America and Jack Black’s Electric Dynamite for comedy Skin Deep, which has sold to ABC, and with Fake Empire for Vice, a drama set up at CBS. ABC’s Skin Deep centers on an idealistic young beauty salon owner forced to take on a brash and opinionated male stylist. Diliberti is exec producing with Electric Dynamite. CBS’ Vice revolves around a pair of inexperienced young cops who must confront their own vices when they stumble into high-profile undercover work in the City of Angels. Diliberti and Fake Empire’s Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage and Len Goldstein exec produce. Diliberti is with Wme, Brian Levy and David Kritzman.

In its second not-great idea in less than 24 hours (A steampunk drama? That's something we need?), ABC has purchased a show called Party Girls. Written by 30 Minutes or Less scribe Michael Diliberti with Crazy, Stupid, Love's John Requa and Glenn Ficarra on board to direct and executive produce, it's about an unprofessional party planner with "wild ways" who's struggling to lead a band of "misfit employees on the straight and narrow." In other words, the most unabashed Party Down rip-off conceivable.

Exclusive: ABC has bought Party Girls, a half-hour spec script by feature writer Michael Diliberti (30 Minutes Or Less), which has Crazy, Stupid, Love helmers John Requa & Glenn Ficarra attached to direct and executive produce. The project, from ABC Studios and Shine America, is executive produced by Jack Black and his Electric Dynamite, which has a deal with Shine. Party Girls is a workplace comedy about a party planner, Maddy Duke, who enjoys the events she plans a bit too much. As Maddy’s company starts to hit a rocky patch she is forced to reign in her wild ways and her more conservative CFO Anne tries to keep Maddy and the rest of her misfit employees on the straight and narrow. Also exec producing the project are Charlie Gogolak and Shine America’s Carolyn G. Bernstein. On the feature side, Diliberti’s script Little White Corvette that has Emma Stone attached to star,...

Kristen Stewart is of course best known for her leading role in The Twilight Saga, but the actress has been doing remarkably well to keep her career diverse over the years, and one particular film we were looking forward to seeing her in was Cali.

Stewart was set to pick up her first producing credit on the film as executive producer, with the brilliant Nick Cassavetes (The Notebook, Alpha Dog) behind the camera, and Alex Pettyfer recently set as her co-star in the film.

It now looks like the project is unfortunately going to be looking for a new leading female, with Gossip Cop revealing that the young actress has exited the movie. The report also states that Amber Heard (Zombieland, Drive Angry) has been offered the role in Stewart’s place, though Variety’s Josh Dickey suggests that talks of a replacement are premature.

The film would have seen...

Update: Kristen Stewart isn't headed for "Cali" after all.

Upon the aftermath of the scandal involving her "indiscretion" with Rupert Sanders, K.Stew has decided to keep a low profile and dropped out of what would've been her next film project, according to Variety.

Stewart's been staying out of the public eye as much as possible lately upon the revelation that she cheated on Robert Pattinson with her "Snow White and the Huntsman" director. Besides stepping away from "Cali," she also won't be appearing at the London premiere of "On the Road" next week.

No replacement has been announced yet, though The Playlist reports that Amber Heard is rumored to be the frontrunner. There's also no word on whether this sudden lack of a leading lady will mean a shift in a start date for the project — it was originally set to commence with production, like, around now.

- -...

Taking her bags of Twilight money with her, it looks like the Kristen Stewart has backed out her only upcoming project. A report on Gossip Cop (via Fsr), later confirmed by Variety, indicates that the star will not lead and likely not executive produce the “gritty actioner” Cali. Set to be helmed by Nick Cassavetes, the film also has Magic Mike star Alex Pettyfer on board and now we’ve already got word of a possible replacement.

Amber Heard (Drive Angry, The Rum Diary) has become linked to the lead now, but nothing is confirmed yet and those involved say an announcement will be coming soon. While this news will likely lead to assumptions about recent activities from Stewart, one can’t fault the busy actress for taking a break. Supposedly great in the upcoming On the Road, I’ve been wanting to see a different side of her so...

In the two weeks since the shocking news broke that Kristen Stewart cheated on longtime boyfriend Robert Pattinson with a married director, there has been an endless stream of reports, rumors, lies and speculation from the media.

Stewart might have issued a very public apology for her "momentary indiscretion" with Rupert Sanders, but the 22-year-old actress is now choosing to retreat from both the public eye and her career.

On Thursday, multiple outlets confirmed that Stewart has dropped out of leading role in "Cali," a film directed by Nick Cassavetes and written by Michael Diliberti. According to the film's IMDb profile, Stewart is also credited as an executive producer, which in theory would mean this was a project she believed in, and makes her decision to drop out even more surprising.

There have also been reports that Stewart is ducking out of her promotional obligations for "On The Road," which...

Kristen Stewart might have issued a very public apology after news broke that she cheated on boyfriend Robert Pattinson with married director Rupert Sanders, but the young actress has since been mum and has even dropped out of an upcoming film.

Both Variety and GossipCop confirmed that Stewart has dropped out of a leading role in "Cali," a film directed by Nick Cassavetes and written by Michael Diliberti.

Stewart was set to star in the movie about San Fernando Valley lovers Mya (Stewart) and Chris (Alex Pettyfer), who sell a fake snuff film and escape with the cash only to "return from the dead" to save the younger sister Mya left behind.

GossipCop reports that Amber Heard has been asked to join the "Cali" cast, but it remains unclear whether Heard will take over Stewart's part.

According to the film's IMDb profile, Stewart is also credited as an executive producer.

Alex Pettyfer and Kristen Stewart in Cali? (Photo: Alex Pettyfer tattoos in Beastly.) We all knew that Kristen Stewart will be starring as the anti-heroine in the Michael Diliberti-written, off-beat actioner Cali. Now we’ve just learned that Magic Mike‘s young stripper / dancer Alex Pettyfer will likely play Stewart’s partner in the film to be directed by Nick Cassavetes (Unhook the Stars / The Notebook / Alpha Dog). Alex Pettyfer: from stripper to snuff filmmaker According to Variety, Pettyfer, also known for Beastly and I Am Number Four, is "in final negotiations" to co-star in Cali. The film’s title, I should note, refers not [...]...

• In either the most shrewdly or poorly timed piece of casting news this month, Alex Pettyfer is closing in on a deal to star opposite Kristen Stewart in Cali, an action film about two lovers who disappear after making a bundle on a bogus snuff film. Nick Cassavetes (Alpha Dog, The Notebook) is directing from a script by Michael Diliberti (30 Minutes or Less). As of press time, no huntsmen or vampires appear to be involved in the film. [Variety]

• Jason Schwartzman, Paul Giamatti, and Ruth Wilson (BBC’s Luther) have signed up for Saving Mr. Banks, about the struggle between Walt...

Gold stars to Alex Pettyfer‘s team, as the actor’s possible involvement with the Kristen Stewart-starring Cali has hit the web just as the Twilight star cops to a (totally bizarre) affair with her Snow White and the Huntsman director. You capitalize on that Google traffic, A-Petts! Variety reports (via ComingSoon) that the Magic Mike star is in final negotiations to star in the Nick Cassavetes film, described as a “gritty action” film based on Michael Diliberti‘s script. Cali centers on a “pair of San Fernando Valley lovebirds” (Stewart and the role that Pettyfer is in talks for) who decide to make some big cash by making and selling a fake snuff film that “kills off” Stewart’s character, Mya. That great plan is derailed years later when Stewart’s character is forced to return to her hometown in order to save her younger sister and is, in...

Alex Pettyfer, fresh from taking it all off for the ladies in the surprising hit “Magic Mike”, will next be seen taking it all off in “Cali” with “Twilight’s” Kristen Stewart. The “I am Number Four” star is currently in negotiations to join the cast of the gritty drama, which has had Stewart attached from the very beginning. Nick Cassavetes will direct the film, which would star Stewart and Pettyfer as Mya and Chris, “a pair of San Fernando Valley lovebirds who sell a fake snuff film and ride off with a bundle of cash. Years later, Stewart’s character must ‘return from the dead’ to save the younger sister she left behind.” Kristen Stewart is coming off her own surprise hit, “Snow White and the Huntsman”, a film that has been in the news lately. The film and, er, other people involved in it. Michael Diliberti, who wrote the script,...

This, here, is probably the sort of news Kristen Stewart wants going around at the moment. So, before we start dabbling in the dirty world of gossip and on-set dalliances, let’s talk about a motion picture. ShowBlitz reports that Alex Pettyfer will be playing a love interest to the actress in Nick Cassavetes‘ (I’ve come to hate these two sequential words) gritty actioner, Cali.

Michael Diliberti (30 Minutes or Less) is behind the screenplay, which revolves around two lovers, Mya (Stewart) and Chris (Pettyfer), who disappear after making some money off a fake snuff film starring the former. However, this period of seclusion and inactivity is interrupted when her young sister needs to be rescued from some bad characters, “angry former business partners, homicidal porn stars, stoner vet techs, [and] an unstoppable killing machine in a cowboy hat” among them. The action kicks into gear, and said action is incredibly gritty.

Magic Mike star Alex Pettyfer is in final negotiations to star in Cali alongside Kristen Stewart.

The story centers on a San Fernando Valley couple, Chris and Mya (Alex Pettyfer and Kristen Stewart), who decide to fake Mya's death by making a snuff film, before skipping town with loads of cash. Years later, Mya must return home to save her younger sister.

Nick Cassavetes (The Notebook, Alpha Dog) is directing from a screenplay by Michael Diliberti (30 Minutes or Less, Stop Loss). Kristen Stewart is also making her producing debut on the project, alongside Craig J. Flores, Zev Foreman, and Michael Diliberti.

Production is scheduled to begin later this summer, with Nicolas Chartier's Voltage Pictures financing.

Cali comes to theaters in 2014 and stars Kristen Stewart, Alex Pettyfer. The film is directed by Nick Cassavetes.

After going shirtless for dollar bills in Magic Mike, Alex Pettyfer is going from male revues to gritty action. Variety has word that the I Am Number Four and In Time star is in final negotiations to play love interest to Kristen Stewart in the gritty action thriller Cali from The Notebook and Alpha Dog director Nick Cassavetes. We first heard about this project back in May with news that the script came from 30 Minutes or Less scribe Michael Diliberti with a story that follows two lovebirds who sell a fake snuff film and ride off with a bundle of cash. But that's just the beginning Stewart's next turn in a lead action role. More below! Years after their score and leaving the San Fernando Valley, the girl (Stewart) must come back (figuratively coming back from the dead) to save the younger sister she left behind. Considering I wasn't all...

This was either the best or worst day to run this news depending on how you look at it, but either way, Kristen Stewart probably wishes it were tomorrow already. With tabloids catching her in the act of canoodling with her "Snow White and the Huntsman" director Rupert Sanders, the actress and helmer both issued personal statements to the press apologizing for their indiscretion. How the fabled KStew/RPatz relationship will sustain remains to be seen -- devotees on either sides tend to be fairly extreme -- but business must continue as usual it seems, as the actress' next project keeps rolling. Variety reports that "Magic Mike" badboy Alex Pettyfer has joined indie flick "Cali" with Stewart. Penned by Michael Diliberti ("30 Minutes or Less"), the story finds Stewart playing Mya, who pairs up with her boyfriend Chris (Pettyfer) to make a fake snuff film which they sell for a wad...

Alex Pettyfer might not have launched a blockbuster career with I Am Number Four, but he’s still managing to round up work. He’s just had success as part of the Magic Mike cast and has now signed on to co-star with Kristen Stewart in Cali.The Nick Cassavetes thriller finds the pair as a couple of lovebirds called Chris and Mya in the San Fernando Valley, who make a ton of cash by shooting and selling a fake snuff film. But the problems start years after they head off into the sunset, when Mya’s younger sister gets into trouble and she has to return from the “grave” to save her.The script is by 30 Minutes Or Less writer Michael Diliberti, and while that film skirted around danger, we expect this one to take a much darker tone, particularly since it carries the “gritty” tag.Cassavetes is looking...

Alex Pettyfer is in negotiations to join Kristen Stewart in the Nick Cassavetes-directed crime drama Cali , Variety reports. 30 Minutes or Less screenwriter Michael Diliberti is providing the screenplay, which will feature Stewart as Mya, a young woman who, with her boyfriend, Chris, fakes her own death as part of a snuff film and runs away. Years later, she has to return to the San Fernando valley in an effort to save her sisters. Cali will shoot this later summer with Diliberti, Craig J. Flores and Zev Foreman producing and Nicolas Chartier and Brian Levy executive producing. (Photo Credit: FayesVision / Ian Wilson / WENN.com)...

Ghostbusters 3

"Men in Black 3" and "Tropic Thunder" scribe Etan Cohen has come onboard to rewrite the script for "Ghostbusters 3" at Sony Pictures.

Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky ("The Office") were hired almost four years ago to pen the previous attempts at a script. [Source: Variety]

50 Shades of Grey

Actor and scribe Jim Piddock has come onboard to pen the film adaptation of E.L. James' hot as anything erotic bestseller “50 Shades of Grey” at Universal.

The story follows a literature student who meets a handsome, yet tormented billionaire and develops a volatile, highly-passionate affair with him.

Update: Piddock is no longer onboard. [Source: Moviehole]

My Spy

Universal Pictures is in preliminary negotiations to acquire action comedy script "My Spy" out of turnaround from CBS Films. Jake Kasdan is attached to direct while Lorenzo di Bonaventura, David Ready and Mark Vahradian are producing.

Described as a mix between "Risky Business" and "Weird Science...

Though he’s already got at least two current projects crawling on their hands and knees through the nightmarish development desert, writer-director Jake Kasdan has an older idea might just jump to the head of the queue. Action comedy My Spy appears to have escaped the dreaded limbo of turnaround.Variety reports that Universal is in negotiations to acquire the script, which was originally developed, then dumped, by CBS Films when it couldn’t find the right director.The plot is being kept in a special folder marked “classified” for now, though the trade mag’s agents were able to sniff out that it’s apparently along the lines of Risky Business and Weird Science, which makes us think it’s about a youngster / teenager who somehow gets control of a secret agent. Or becomes a secret agent. Or… we’ll have to wait and see.While Jeremy Slater and...

While Jake Kasdan had moderate success with last year’s Bad Teacher — a couple of folks even said it was funny, too — he’s bounced around quite a bit in the time since. In this mere, not-so-long span, there have been offers for Sex Tape, Family Getaway, an untitled comedy, and the Shawn Levy-produced Man Made. That’s plenty (actually, too much) for anybody, but even David O. Russell can give us some hint as to what’s coming next.

Add one to the pile, since Variety reports that Kasdan and Universal are planning to join forces on an espionage comedy, My Spy, a piece said to be in the vein of ’80s classics such as Weird Science and Risky Business. Michael Diliberti (30 Minutes or Less) and Jeremy Slater wrote the original script for CBS Films, but, with Universal’s pending acquisition, Kasdan and his brother, Jon, will give the thing another polish.

The action comedy My Spy sprung back to life today with Variety reporting on Universal Pictures acquiring the movie from CBS Films and hiring Jake Kasdan to direct. Based on the script by Jeremy Slater and Michael Diliberti, described by Variety as a cross between Risky Business and Weird Science, CBS Films placed the film on hold when it was unable to find the right director. In addition to Jake Kasdan joining with Universal Pictures to direct My Spy, Kasdan also signed on to adapt the original script with his brother Jon Kasdan.

The action comedy My Spy sprung back to life today with Variety reporting on Universal Pictures acquiring the movie from CBS Films and hiring Jake Kasdan to direct. Based on the script by Jeremy Slater and Michael Diliberti, described by Variety as a cross between Risky Business and Weird Science, CBS Films placed the film on hold when it was unable to find the right director. In addition to Jake Kasdan joining with Universal Pictures to direct My Spy, Kasdan also signed on to adapt the original script with his brother Jon Kasdan.

KStew wants to 'get together really weird, freaky actor people' for the Nick Cassavetes-directed film, her first producer credit.

By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Kristen Stewart

Photo: MTV News

Kristen Stewart might be the light in the darkness of "Snow White and the Huntsman," but in her next film, "Cali," Stewart is fully embracing the unsavory. The Nick Cassavetes-directed flick is expected to shoot this summer and, from the looks of it, it exists in a world that couldn't be farther from the fairytale world of "Snow White."

"Hopefully after all of this we can go and we can do it in the summer, like lock ourselves away for a few weeks in the Valley [in L.A.] in a little production office and get together really weird, freaky actor people," she told MTV News. "It's filled with like the coolest characters."

The film centers on Mya (Stewart) and Chris,...

KStew wants to 'get together really weird, freaky actor people' for the Nick Cassavetes-directed film, her first producer credit.

By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Kristen Stewart

Photo: MTV News

Kristen Stewart might be the light in the darkness of "Snow White and the Huntsman," but in her next film, "Cali," Stewart is fully embracing the unsavory. The Nick Cassavetes-directed flick is expected to shoot this summer and, from the looks of it, it exists in a world that couldn't be farther from the fairytale world of "Snow White."

"Hopefully after all of this we can go and we can do it in the summer, like lock ourselves away for a few weeks in the Valley [in L.A.] in a little production office and get together really weird, freaky actor people," she told MTV News. "It's filled with like the coolest characters."

The film centers on Mya (Stewart) and Chris,...

It was no surprise to hear this week that studios already have sequels like The Avengers 2 and Smurfs 3 in the works, but with Cannes kicking off, there are bound to be many more, new and exciting projects announced soon. In the meantime, here are a few interesting and/or noteworthy projects that were recently added to IMDbPro's database of development titles:

Amazing Girl – Zoe Saldana stars in this project from Transformers producer Ian Bryce. Written by Pool Boys scribe Justin Ware, the comedy centers on a burnt-out superhero looking to make a fresh start for herself as a normal civilian.

They Came Together – Parks and Recreation rivals Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler are set to star in this romcom from their Wet Hot American Summer creators David Wain and Michael Showalter. Lionsgate is producing the project with Wain on board to direct.

D – Roman Polanski reunites with his Ghost Writer scribe Robert Harris for this dramatic feature based on the scandalous Dreyfus Affair, which involved the wrongful conviction of a Jewish French captain who was accused of treason in the late 19th Century and sentenced to death.

This Man, This Woman – Pariah filmmaker Dee Rees has been tapped to direct this indie drama about a divorced couple who begin to rekindle their relationship after randomly being seated next to each other on an airplane. Veteran screenwriter Frederic Raphael (Two for the Road, Eyes Wide Shut) penned the script. Mike Lobell produces.

Cali – Nick Cassavettes teams up with Twilight's Kristen Stewart for this action comedy about a guy and a girl trying to flee L.A., but are forced to return in order to save the woman's sister. Voltage Pictures and New School Media are producing the film written by 30:Minutes or Less writer Michael Diliberti.

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"The Notebook" director Nick Cassavetes has hopped onboard as helmer of the Kristen Stewart-led gritty action thriller "Cali" at Voltage Prods. and New School Media reports Variety.

Stewart plays half of a pair of San Fernando Valley lovebirds who sell a fake snuff film and ride off with a bundle of cash.

Years later the girl must return to save the younger sister she left behind. Michael Diliberti penned the script while Craig J. Flores and Zev Foreman will produce.

Nick Cassavetes will direct the previously announced Kristen Stewart in the upcoming romantic action comedy Cali.

The Michael Diliberti penned script follows a young San Fernando couple who sell a fake snuff film to make some quick cash. Years later, the woman who supposedly "died" on film must return to her hometown to save her younger sister from trouble. Complications thus ensue.

Producer Zev Foreman had this to say about Nick Cassavetes boarding the project.

"Nick's the perfect director for this gritty, L.A.-based story and will smartly balance the dynamic action with a true love story. Nick's record of working with top talent continues here in his collaboration with Kristen Stewart."

The film is set for a late summer start date.

Cali comes to theaters in 2014 and stars Kristen Stewart.

This wild ride officially has a driver.

Nick Cassavetes is set to return to gritty territory as the "Alpha Dog" director signs on to call the shots for the indie thriller, "Cali," according to Variety.

"Cali" tells the Tarantino-esque tale of Mya (Kristen Stewart) and Chris, two lovebirds with a knack for bad choices and dangerous behavior. After selling a snuff film starring Mya, they skip town with a bundle of cash before anyone realizes the flick's a fake. Years later, Mya's quest to save the younger sister she left behind requires a return to the San Fernando Valley, where she and Chris must face a whole slew of freaks and psychos.

Nick Cassavetes' most successful film to date might be "The Notebook," but the son of John Cassavetes is no stranger to the rugged indie Diy style pioneered by his father — and the style that it sounds might be appropriate for "Cali.

Nick Cassavetes is going back to Cali. Cali. Nick Cassavetes is going back to Cali. Ahem. Wait, what? Oh, right, Nick Cassavetes has signed on to direct the “Cali”, which is set to star “Twilight’s” Kristen Stewart, who will also be making her producing debut on the movie. What exactly does that mean? Probably that she gets an extra line or two in the film’s credits, but other than that, your guess is as good as mine what actors-turned-producers actually do on a movie set. Cassavetes (“My Sister’s Keeper”) will direct from a script by Michael Diliberti, which “follows a pair of San Fernando Valley lovebirds who sell a fake snuff film and ride off with a bundle of cash. Years later, the girl must “return from the dead” to save the younger sister she left behind.” Stewart is playing “the girl”, in case you were wondering.

One is known for moving back and forth between directing romance films like The Notebook and thrillers like Alpha Dog while the other is known for biting her lip incessantly and falling in love with sparkly vampires. Now director Nick Cassavetes and The Twilight Saga star Kristen Stewart (who hopefully sheds her bland skin by kicking ass in Snow White and the Huntsman) will work together on a gritty new action film called Cali. The film, written by Michael Diliberti (30 Minutes or Less) follows two lovebirds who sell a fake snuff film and ride off with a bundle of cash. But that's just the beginning of the gritty story. Years after their score, the girl (Stewart) must come back to save the younger sister she left behind. Variety says Diliberti developed the script on spec before it got picked up by Voltage and that's when Stewart got on board. As...

The Twitter account for the upcoming Les Miserables feature from director Tom Hooper and starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe tweeted out the above behind-the-scenes image from the film noting "London's landmark Old Naval College has become Paris in 1832." [source] Nick Cassavetes (whom I will always remember from his role in Face/Off more than anything else) will direct Cali starring Kristen Stewart. Described as a gritty action feature, the script was written by Michael Diliberti (30:Minutes or Less), and follows a pair of San Fernando Valley lovebirds who sell a fake snuff film and ride off with a bundle of cash. Years later, the girl (Stewart) must "return from the dead" to save the younger sister she left behind. Filming is expected to begin late this summer. [source] The Maleficent film starring Angelina Jolie in the title role has added some impressive names including Imelda Staunton, Miranda Richardson, Kenneth Cranham,...

Crime, California and some unsavory characters? Yep, Nick Cassavetes has been there, done that before, with "Alpha Dog" and the director is going to get gritty once again in the Golden State.

Cassavetes has signed on to direct "Cali," the action flick announced last week that will be co-produced by and star Kristen Stewart. Penned by Michael Diliberti ("30 Minutes or Less"), the story finds Stewart playing Mya, who pairs up with her boyfriend Chris to make a fake snuff film which they sell for a wad of cash before beating it out of the San Fernando Valley. Years later, she's forced to head back to save her younger sister, but to do so she will have to face "angry former business partners, homicidal porn stars, stoner vet techs, an unstoppable killing machine in a cowboy hat" as well as keep a handle on her relationship with Chris.

So yeah, this...

Nick Cassavetes continued to keep his film bio diverse,; after helming the popular romance The Notebook and the family melodrama My Sister’s Keeper, the 52-year-old actor and filmmaker signed on to direct the Kristen Stewart action movie Cali. Variety confirmed the deal with Cassavetes directing the script by Michael Diliberti (30 Minutes or Less) about a pair of San Fernando Valley lovers who fake their deaths and leave town with stolen money only to return and face their enemies in order save a relative. Stewart clearly enjoyed her stunt work and swordplay in the upcoming fantasy Snow White and the Huntsman, co-starring Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth, since the 22-year-old actress made the Los Angeles-set action movie Cali her follow-up project.