Cruise Looking For Horizons' Female Lead

Noomi Rapace and more testing.... Universal might be seemingly dumping half the projects it has in development right now (Mary Harron's adaptation of young adult novel Wicked Lovely was just the latest victim of the turnaround purge), but some movies are apparently still in good standing, with Tron Legacy director Joseph Kosinski's sci-fi epic Oblivion - now called Horizons - in the fast lane, and looking for actresses to star alongside Tom Cruise. According to Variety, there is a pretty familiar batch of names in the mix getting set to test alongside the Cruiser for two prime female roles. Take a bow Noomi Rapace (soon to be seen in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows) Olivia Wilde (The Change-Up and Cowboys & Aliens), Jessica Chastain (Tree of Life and the upcoming The Help), Brit Marling (Sundance sensation who writes and stars in films such as Another Earth) and Olga Kurylenko (Centurion). From the sounds of the synopsis in the latest report, the title switch might not be the only change that has taken place since Toy Story 3's Michael Arndt did a polish on the script. While the essential story of a ruined Earth stalked by an alien race and humans living among the clouds remains intact, there appears to have been a slight shift in the focus of the central plot. Cruise is still playing a man (now revealed as named Jack) whose job it is to go down to the planet's surface and repair drones that keep the extraterrestrials at bay. But while he used to discover a crashed life pod with a mysterious woman inside, now the talk is of a story about his former fiancée named Julia and his current love Victoria, who acts as his eyes and ears when he's on a mission. Still, there's a chance the whole crashed pod element might remain.... Kosinski is looking to get the film ready for a July 2013 release date. For his part, Cruise is now focusing on annoying Jack Reacher fans by playing the hard nut vigilante in the One Shot novel adaptation with Christopher McQuarrie writing and directing.

Wolverine 2 May Push Back To Spring Start

EXCLUSIVE: The studio says itnever officially has given the sequel a production state date. Fox was looking at a Fall 2011 start date for the Christopher McQuarrie script forWolverine 2 starring Hugh Jackman and directed by James Mangold. But now that may push back to Spring 2012. The screenplay mostly takes place in Japan. But studio insiders tell usit’s hard finding just where to shoot in Japan these days because of weather-related considerations. Now the location mightswitch to Canada or become a combination of the two countries. Butwe’re also hearing thatthe start date will wait until afterJackman finishes making Les Miserables. There’s no question that20th Century Fox wants the pic badly and has been trying to get its sequel to the X-Men spinoffThe Wolverine rolling for quite awhile now. In June it landed director Mangold after Darren Aronofsky bowed out in March, ending one of the most competitive contests amongHollywood helmersfor a major studio film. That set up the studio thinking that it could begin production in the fall.

Box Office Report: 'The Help' Beats Four New Films

DreamWorks and Participant Media'sThe Helpcontinued to overperform in the second weekend, beating a brand new round of rivals in grossing $20.5 million and arriving No. 1 in the domestic box office.our editor recommendsBox Office Report: Four New Films No Match for 'The Help,' 'Rise from the Planet from the Apes'Box Office Report: 'Apes' Still Rules 'The Help' Bows Strong 'Glee' On Slow Start Written by Disney,The Helphas tallied up $71.3 million in the first ten days of release. The pic fell under 22% from the opening weekend, if this arrived No. 2. To increase to No. 1 is definitely an unusual task, and reflects the film's great buzz. PHOTOS: How 'The Help' Was Cast Rise from the Planet from the Apes, from 20thCentury Fox, also continued to be a worthy contender in the third weekend, falling only 41% for an believed $16.3 million for any domestic cume of $133.8 million and arriving No. 2. The HelpandRise from the Apesleft the weekend's four new films battling. Robert Rodriguez'sSpy Kids: Constantly on the planet in 4D, in the Weinstein Co./Dimension, did the very best of the bunch, arriving No. 3 and grossing an believed $12 million. "I was within selection of our anticipation. Yes, it had been about the low finish, but because of the market conditions, we're okay with this particular number. We're likely to be who is fit with this particular movie, and it'll play for that relaxation from the summer time, since there's not one other family film arriving," Weinstein leader of distribution Erik Lomis stated. The family pic, getting a B+ CinemaScore, fell particularly lacking the $33 million gained through the last Spy Kids in the This summer 2003 debut. REVIEW:Spy Kids: Constantly on the planet in 4D Nu Image/Millennium's large-budgetConan the Barbarian, written by Lionsgate, and DreamWorks'Colin Farrell-Anton Yelchinvampire remakeFright Nightboth fell well lacking anticipation, grossing $tens of millions of and $8.3 million, correspondingly, in the future in No. 3 with no. 4. "It had been a tough weekend, and disappointing for that new films," Lionsgate executive v . p . of distributionDavid Spitzsaid. VIDEO: Conan the Barbarian: How Jason Momoa Ready For The Role "In the past, August happens to be challenging, but we at Lionsgate have certainly loved lots of success with game titles likeThe ExpendablesandThe Last Exorcism," Spitz ongoing. Marcus Nispel'sConanandCraig Gillespie'sFright Evening, both according to eighties qualities, wound up appealing largely to older moviegoers (also, both of them are ranked R). OfFright Night'saudience, 60% was older than 25Conan, 67%. The 2 photos-each getting a B- CinemaScore--also vied for guys. Males composed 76% ofConan'saudience, and 60% ofFright Night's. Conanwas fully funded by Nu Image/Millennium Films and price up to $70 million to create.Fear Nightcost much less, or simply under $$ 30 million, however the pic's soft performance continues to be a disappointment for DreamWorks. Disney is disbursing Fright Evening. STORY: Collin Farrell: 5 Memorable Roles ConanandFright Evening, along withSpy Kids, were launched in three dimensional, meaning a deluge of three dimensional game titles.Spy Kids cost $27.5 million to create. Elsewhere in the domestic box office, Focus Features' romanticOne Day, starringAnne HathawayandJim Sturgess, made $5.a million in the future in about the low finish of anticipation. In line with the best-selling book by British authorDavid Nicholls,One Dayhad a restricted footprint, only playing in 1,721 theaters. STORY: Hathaway As Catwoman in a single Day: Exactly what the Experts Say Focus, which created the film per its cope with Random House, stated it's happy with the end result.1 Dayopens in a few days within the U.K., where it will do strong business. Within the U.S.,One Daylikely battled to lure moviegoers otherwise intrigued byThe Help, with both films according to books and drawing older women. Of individuals purchasing tickets forOne Day,72% were women, while 73% were older than 25. The film came a disappointing B- CinemaScore. While DreamWorks and Disney are perplexed by Fright Evening's tepid debut--the film received great reviews and performed well in tests--the 2 companies are elated within the Help's great start. "We wished the Help will be a breath of outdoors in the finish of the busy summer time, which has switched to be," Disney executive v . p . of distribution Dork Hollis stated. In other head lines, The new sony's The Smurfs placed No. 6 for that weekend locally, grossing an believed $8 million for any cume of $117.7 million. Better still, the hit family film entered the $300 million mark worldwide over the past weekend, ending the session having a cume of $329 million, inlcuding an worldwide total of $211.4 million. Sores incuded Fox's Glee: The three dimensional Concert Movie, which tumbled to No. 15 in the second weekend, decreasing 69% to $1.8 million for any domestic cume of $10.5 million. In the niche box office, documentary Senna designed a strong showing because it broadened to 14 theaters in the second weekend, grossing an believed 169K for any strong per screen average of $12,071 and cume of $280K. Producers Distribution Agency is disbursing the pic. Kevin Cruz's Red-colored Condition made its debut in La, grossing $25,800 for any cume of $a million. And also the Weinstein Co.'s Sarah's Key ongoing gain strong returns, grossing $783K because it broadened right into a total of 201 theaters for any domestic cume of $3.a million. Domestic Box Office Top Ten (August. 19-21) 1.The Assistance(2,690): $20.5 million 2.Rise from the Planet from the Apes(3,471): $16.3 million 3.*Spy Kids: Constantly on the planet in 4D(3,295): $12 million 4.*Conan the Barbarian(3,015): $tens of millions of 5.*Fright Evening(3,114): $8.3 million 6.The Smurfs(3,057): $8 million 7.Final Destination 5(3,115): $7.7 million 8.half an hour or Less(2,888): $6.3million 9.*Eventually(1,721): $5.a million 10.Crazy, Stupid, Love(1,940): $5 million *Era Related Subjects Box Office Spy Kids Rise from the Planet from the Apes The Assistance Fright Evening

Chris O'Dowd attracted to Sapphires

LONDON -- Irish actor Chris O'Dowd (''Bridesmaids'') will star in ''The Sapphires,'' directed by Wayne Blair, a movie version from the hit Australian stage musical. Occur 1968 and inspired by real occasions, it is the story of the girl band plucked from obscurity inside a remote Aboriginal mission by an unlikely Irish talent scout. He brands them as Australia's response to the Supremes, and takes these phones entertain the troops in Vietnam. Deborah Postman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens and Miranda Tapsell take part in the four performers. Pic, which begins shooting this month around australia and Vietnam, is scripted by Keith Thompson and Tony Briggs, and created by Rosemary oil Blight and Kylie du Fresne of Goalpost Pictures Australia. It's funded by Singapore-based IFS Capital, Screen Australia, Screen NSW, the Melbourne Worldwide Film Festival Premiere Fund, E-Film Australia and eOne's Hopscotch Films. Tristan Whalley of Goalpost Films United kingdom is handling worldwide sales. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Jani Lane: Warrant Honors Late Singer at North Dakota Concert (Video)

While performing in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Warrant paid tribute to their former lead singer, the late Jani Lane, on Friday.our editor recommendsJani Lane's Death: Hollywood, Fellow Musicians ReactWarrant's Jani Lane: 5 Things to Know PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths "The guy was loved and he wrote some amazing songs," Robert Mason, the band's current frontman, told the crowd. "Truth be told, I love singing them. I've always said that." The group dedicated their entire show to Lane, who was found dead on Thursday at 47-years old. STORY: Jani Lane Autopsy Inconclusive; Toxicology Report Pending Lane (born John Kennedy Oswald) served as the lyricist and main songwriter for Warrant. He joined the band in 1986, two years after its formation by guitarist Erik Turner. Watch below as the band performs "Heaven" in his honor. The Lane-penned track was the group's most commercially successful song, off the 1989 album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich. "Heaven" reached No. 1 in Rolling Stone and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Related Topics

New Oscar Producers Announced

Interesting. Coming on the heels of this week's announcement that the 2011 Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Governor Awards will be going to James Earl Jones, Dick Smith, and Oprah Winfrey, comes news that next year's Oscar telecast will be produced by Brett Ratner and Don Mischer. From Deadline Hollywood:"Brett Ratner and Don Mischer will produce the 84th Academy Awards telecast,Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak announcedtoday.This will be Ratner's first involvement with the Oscar show; Mischerwill for the second year in a row serve as a producer and as the telecastdirector."CONTINUE READING ON BEHIND THE SCENES