Atlas Shrugged has fallen through, although Lionsgate is still interested after Angelina Jolie passed on Dagny. This is for the best. It can't be made into a film. Sorry, but it can't. Especially with a screenwriter who doesn't even grasp the basic plot points of the book--not even talking philosophy, just, you know, events and timelines. Source.
We've asked before, hypothetically (allegedly), "How hard is it to rob a bank?" And now we must ask it again, because they're auctioning off the historical bits owned by the late, great Forry Ackerman. "Ackerman's will stipulates that his estate's share of the profits be divided among his friends." Well done, Forry. Source.
Apparently Amazon is offering free game trial downloads now...? And some real downloads for $9.99 and under? Also, speaking of Amazon, they have Wiis in stock. So if you were looking for one...well, they annoyingly won't let me direct link--no idea what nonsense that's about--but if you go to the front page of the Video Games section you'll find them.
An entire website's worth of pop culture news in a single post. Because it's silly to rewrite press releases into 500 word articles...wouldn't you say?
I understand there's something or other called the Super Bowl happening today...or...something? All I know is that Amazon has got the Super Bowl I-XL collector's set for $54.99, which is 63% off the list price of $149.98. As always, it's good for today only and while stocks last. Click here to buy yours.
The Thing is getting a prequel where we find out the story on the Norwegian camp that got wasted before we joined our heroes. Since Norwegian horror seems to be taking off, I would be behind this if they shot it like one of the Norwegian indie films we've seen recently, like Dead Snow or Cold Prey. I would trust Norway to do this right before I'd trust Hollywood. Source.
Today is NASA's Day of Remembrance. I was going to write up something on this, but Doc broke radio silence on his site to have at it. And he says it better than I could. Go and read.
Amazon's sale today is for the complete series of Get Smart. It's $67.99, which is 66% off the list price of $199.95. Nice. This is a fairly swank set, I own it myself and recommend it for any fan of the show. You can snag yours here. That's today only and while stocks last.
Also they've got an indie/international sale with titles as low as $5.99. You can find that here.
Some sites want to make you waste all your time on pop culture news. We do it in one post so we can move onto other things to waste your time with. Enjoy.
Stan Lee is being sued...by the shareholders of Stan Lee Media. They want three quarters of a billion dollars based on the profits from, among other things, Marvel films. Lee is a defendant, so is Marvel, so is Mrs. Lee, so is Avi Arad. The plaintiffs are stating that the profits belong to Stan Lee Media. How in the hell that's feasible, I have no idea. And didn't they already try this once before? Or did somebody forget to dot an I or something like in the Watchmen dispute and there's blood in the water? Source.
Kristen Johnston (3rd Rock) is considering coming on board Absolutely Fabulous U.S. to play Edina. Source.
Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book won the Newbery Medal. And he managed not to swear in amazement and delight at the librarians and teachers who broke the news. Read the story here. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
A new Bonnie and Clyde? Apparently so. Hilary Duff and Kevin Zegers (Dawn of the Dead remake) are set to star. Not a remake of the 1967 film, but a brand new take. I never did catch War, Inc., but I understand Duff broke away from her good girl image so maybe this shouldn't be immediately dismissed. But then again, I understand erotic dancing with a live scorpion will do that for you. Source.
Atkinson's doing Oliver! and now Lenny Henry is doing Othello. Anyone who doesn't think this is cool please raise your hand so you can be slapped. Shows starts at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds on February 14. Source.
Update: The Amazon deal for today is Six Feet Under: The Complete Series for $59.99, which is 67% off the list price. Is only for today and while stocks last. Snag yours here.
Torso, the Bendis graphic novel, has had its rights lapse. Paramount let it go right after David Fincher who was attached, snagged thirteen Oscar noms for Benjamin Button. They would have had to buy the rights to keep them and they passed. There might be a new agreement struck between Paramount and Bendis and Marc Andreyko, the writers--because they have the rights now. A weird no-brainer, I would think: period serial killer piece grounded in reality. But what do I know? Source.
The aforementioned AbFab U.S. has gone to pilot at Fox. So those of you in the betting pool who said it wouldn't ever get a pilot, pay up. Source.
The Lost head burritos want to meet Captain Chesley Sullenberger, the guy who saved the passengers of US Airways Flight 1549 last week by executing a water landing when an Alfred Hitchcock movie clogged the plane's engines. TV Squad's got a better idea: give him a walk-on role. We concur.
Yes, we're back. The pop culture world moves quickly. But there's no reason we should. The news will still be there when we arrive.
One of the best commercials ever is officially twenty-five years old today, according to TV Squad. I think we are all allowed to feel a little old at the moment. Except you kids. Now get the hell offen my lawn.
Some sites do nothing but regurgitate the contents of press releases and the main Hollywood press outlets at you all day long. We just do it once a day, maybe. If there's enough stuff of interest. And we do it in one fell swoop so you can get on with your lives. Who loves ya, baby?
Sweet creeping Jesus. Preacher lives. Preacher lives fucking big time. John August (who wrote what is probably my favorite Tim Burton film, Big Fish) is going to scribe it. And Sam Mendes (Road to Perdition) will direct--this after a bit of will he or won't he--and apparently he will. Although I am afraid since the synopsis Variety gives is it "centers on the preacher of a Texas town who is struggling to get by and is driven only by his strong moral sense. When the city is decimated by an otherworldly force, he embarks on a journey across the country to take on the evil." If by "take on the evil" they mean "seek out God to find out why he's abandoned his post," then I'm good with that. But you know that won't fly. Not in a feature film. August is apparently also scribing Dark Shadows at Warner Brothers, which I could have sworn I mentioned before.
Hell yes. Dead Snow got picked up stateside by IFC while at Sundance. Also, if you're in Germany, Benelux, the UK and Canada, you're in luck: it got sold there too. Should be out this year in the U.S. If you don't know what I'm talking about, go here. Source.
There's lots of stuff going on in the world, pop culture-wise. Entire sites bloat out the info to waste your time. We've got the same info in a fraction of the time and a single easy-to-read post. Enjoy.
Amazon's deal today is Band of Brothers on Blu-Ray. It's going for $34.99, which is 65% off the list price of $99.98. That is today, of course, and while supplies last. You can snag yours here.
Terry Pratchett is using a helmet that looks like something out of a retro-future sci-fi flick, but in reality "works by directing intense bursts of infrared light into the brain to stimulate the growth of brain cells." This to step up his war against encroaching dementia. No significant improvement yet, but at least it hasn't gotten any worse, reportedly. Fight like hell, Terry. Keep fighting like hell, man. Source.
The Extra Man is a comedy with Paul Dano, Katie Holmes, Kevin Kline and John C. Reilly. "Kline plays a failed playwright who works as an escort for rich widows on the Upper East Side. He develops a mentor-student relationship with a troubled aspiring playwright (Dano)." Filming starts next month in New York. Source.
