Dragonology
Universal has acquired the rights to Dragonology, the massively successful fantasy book by "Dugald A Steer" (actually Leonard Hartman writing under a Lemony Snicket-style pseudonym), according to The Hollywood Reporter . Written in the form of a non-fiction book, it features esteemed Victorian dragonologist Ernest Drake (a kind of David Attenborough/Professor Challenger hybrid) travelling the world on a quest to prevent dragons from being exploited. The first book in the series, published in 2003, sold more than 2.8 million copies worldwide.
Park Life
Warner Brothers has bought a script called "Imaginary Friends”, about two brothers who discover a fantasy realm in New York’s Central Park, reports Variety . It will be produced by Lin Productions which is currently at work on "Terminator Salvation," the Robert Rodriguez-directed "Shorts" and the Ricky Gervais comedy "This Side of the Truth", Justice League" and the Richard Kelly-directed Cameron Diaz thriller "The Box".
Punisher Trailer
The trailer for Punisher: War Zone is now on-line at Trailer Addict and other sites. It certainly looks a lot glossier than the Thomas Jane version from a couple of years back (which was actually a lot better than it had any right to be, considering it appeared to be made on a budget of $27 and a couple of luncheon vouchers). The costume is also a tad more impressive than a tatty T-shirt this time, but there’s little about the trailer that exactly screams of originality.
Peet joins Emmerich Disaster Movie
Fresh from The X-Files: I Want To Believe, actress Amanda Peet has joined John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton and Danny Glover in Roland (Independence Day) Emmerich’s next disaster movie, 2012, says The Hollywood Reporter . The film involves an as-yet-unspecified a global disaster set in 2012. Global disaster? 2012? Surely London’s staging of the Olympics won’t be that embarrassing? It’s due to be released in 2009.
