Frankenweenie Trailer Arrives Online

Burton's back in black and whiteSo here it is, the first full trailer for Tim Burton's dead-then-alive-again pet project, Frankenweenie.A stop-motion remake of Burton's 1984 short film, it's just as, well, Burtonesque as you'd expect, all Corpse Bride jawlines and monochrome chiaroscuro.Vocal talents come from a number of different sources, including a couple of Burton old hands (hello Winona Ryder), as they tell the tale of young resurrection fan and hobbying scientist Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan) bringing his dead dog back to life.The animation looks pretty damn good, and it's very encouraging to see just how much this most anticipated of Frankenstein pastiches revels in the sheer darkness of it all.Anyway, take a look at the trailer yourself and let us know what you think. Will you be watching this, "From the director of Alice In Wonderland", when it comes out on Ocotber 5?Let us know in the comment box below.

Bruce Willis Set To Star In Five Against A Bullet for Columbia Pictures And Mimran Schur

CULVER CITY, Calif., March 1, 2012 Bruce Willis will star in Five Against A Bullet, the action thriller being developed by producers Lorenzo DiBonaventura, Jordan Schur, and David Mimran for Columbia Pictures, it was announced today by Hannah Minghella, president of production for Columbia Pictures. Alex Litvak is writing the screenplay which centers on a Mexican politician who, after his father is killed by a drug cartel, hires the five best bodyguards from around the world to protect him through a contentious election. Commenting on the announcement, Minghella said, We have been excited about this project since acquiring the rights last year from Mimran Schur and believe Bruce Willis is the perfect actor to lead this cast. We look forward to moving Five Against A Bullet into production quickly.” Sam Dickerman and Lauren Abrahams are overseeing the project for the studio. Erik Howsam, who first brought the project into Columbia Pictures, will oversee on behalf of DiBonaventura Pictures Bruce Willis has demonstrated incredible versatility with roles in such diverse films as Pulp Fiction, Nobodys Fool, 12 Monkeys, In Country, The Sixth Sense, and his signature role as Detective John McClane in the Die Hard series. Willis was last seen in the Golden Globe nominated feature film RED opposite Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman and John Malkovich and he will next be seen in Wes Andersons Moonrise Kingdom and Rian Johnsons sci-fi thriller Looper as well as this summers G.I. Joe: Retaliation & Expendables 2. Willis will soon begin production on A Good Day To Die Hard (the fifth installment in the popular Die Hard franchise). Lorenzo Di Bonaventura worked at Warner Bros. Pictures from 1989 to 2003, rising through the ranks of the legendary studio to lead their production division and oversee their film slate. While president of production, he was involved in over 130 motion pictures, including Falling Down, A Time to Kill, the Matrix series, Three Kings, Oceans Eleven, the first three Harry Potter movies, and Training Day. Since forming his production company in 2003, the company has produced 14 pictures, including the box-office hits Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Salt, and RED. His most recent film is Man on a Ledge. Mimran Schur Pictures was co-founded by Jordan Schur and David Mimran in early 2009. The company’s first project was Stone, a psychological thriller directed by John Curran and starring Robert De Niro, Edward Norton and Milla Jovovich. They have also produced Henry’s Crime, directed by Malcolm Venville and starring Keanu Reeves, Vera Farmiga and James Caan, and Warrior, starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Morrison and Nick Nolte, who received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of an alcoholic former champion.

Foreign exchange sets June 28 launch for four series

Foreign exchange has set June 28 for launches of the new series "Anger Management" and "Oddly Advantageous" together with the return of comedies "Louie" and "Wilfred." "Anger Management" can be a half-hour laffer starring Charlie Sheen, using the feature starring Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler. Veteran TV author Bruce Helford is showrunner. Cabler bought the show from producers Debmar-Mercury and Lionsgate beneath the same enterprize model useful for the Tyler Perry comedies that air around the best spinner's. Foreign exchange has bought 10 episodes, so when they acquire a sufficiently high ratings threshold, 90 more episodes will instantly be greenlit for production. Due to its June 28 debut, "Anger Management" will air consecutive at 9 and 9:30 p.m. Inside the following days, a repeat will air at 9 o'clock together with new episode will immediately follow. Helford will professional produce with Joe Roth, Mark Burg and Dork Caplan. At 10 and 10:30 p.m. each Thursday, Foreign exchange will air season a few "Wilfred" and season three of "Louie," correspondingly. "Wilfred," an account from the twentysomething slacker who imagines he's a friendship getting a neighbor's dog, was modified within the Australian TV series and stars Elijah Wood and Jason Gann. The initial season ranks as FX's most-seen newcomer comedy, calculating 2.2 million audiences per episode and three.8 million over cumulative airings. Show was modified by David Zuckerman which is produced by Foreign exchange Prods. "Louie," also produced by Foreign exchange Prods., stars and comedian Louis C.K., who also produces and directs. In season two, the skein came 1.4 million audiences and two.6 million around the multi-run of episodes. Foreign exchange has bought 13 episodes for your new seasons of both "Wilfred" and "Louie." Not used to the latenight fray, the half-hour "Oddly Advantageous" will dsicover comedian Russell Brand reaching an energetic audience on topical occasions. The series was made to originate from spring but must be gone after summer season to aid Brand's film schedule. It'll air weekly for six episodes. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

The Complete Pilot Report: NBC's Got Roseanne Barr, J.J. Abrams and Book of Mormon Stars!

Ryan Phillippe, Louis C.K The fall TV season is taking shape. Networks have ordered dozens of new pilots starring familiar faces including Zachary Levi, Mindy Kaling, Mandy Moore and Sarah Silverman, and from proven producers like Josh Schwartz, J.J. Abrams, Greg Berlanti and Kevin Williamson. Also making a comeback this year: Iconic characters including Green Arrow, Carrie Bradshaw, Sherlock Holmes and Beauty and the Beast. To keep track of who's doing what, read our complete list of all the series projects in contention and check back for updates on their status. Here are the CBS pilots: (Click here for ABC, CW, Fox and NBC.) DRAMA Applebaum A former public defender-turned-stay-at-home mom becomes a private investigator in this drama based on Ayelet Waldman's Mommy Track Mysteries series. Waldman will write and executive-produce alongside Felicity's Jennifer Levin and Brothers & Sisters' Sherri Cooper. Baby Big Shot A working class woman uses her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at a Manhattan law firm in this series from Happy Endings' Jamie Tarses and The West Wing's Kevin Falls. Dana Calvo (Covert Affairs) will write and co-executive-produce. Toni Trucks will co-star. Elementary A modern take on the cases of Sherlock Holmes in which Sherlock (Eli Stone's Jonny Lee Miller) is a recovering addict and consultant for the NYPD. Robert Doherty (Medium) will write and executive-produce with Justified duo Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly. Trooper A sensible mother becomes a NY state trooper in this project from Jerry Bruckheimer. Heroes scribe Aron Eli Coleite will write and executive-produce. Untitled Greg Berlanti-Nicholas Wootton project (formerly known as Golden Boy) Crash's Ryan Phillippe stars as a young and ambitious new officer who makes the meteoric rise from cop to detective to Police Commissioner. Chi McBride will play his new partner. Nicholas Wootton will write and executive-produce alongside Brothers & Sisters' Greg Berlanti. True Blood's Kevin Alejandro will also star. Untitled Ralph Lamb project The true story of Ralph Lamb - rodeo cowboy turned longtime Las Vegas Sheriff -- set in the 1960s. Nicholas Pileggi and Without a Trace's Greg Walker will write and executive-produce alongside Men in Trees duo James Mangold and Cathy Konrad. Widow Detective After losing three partners in the line of duty, a decorated police detective becomes surrogate husband, lover and father to their families. David Hubbard will write. CSI's Carol Mendelsohn will co-produce. Quean Call it The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in America: An edgy and independent Millennial hacker girl teams up with an Oakland police detective to solve crimes. The L Word's Ilene Chaiken will write and executive-produce with Veronica Mars' Joel Silver. COMEDY Friend Me Twentysomething best friends move to Los Angeles to begin their exciting new lives working at Groupon. Raising Hope's Alan Kirschenbaum and Ajay Sahgal will executive-produce with Kim and Eric Tannenbaum (Two and a Half Men). Parvesh Cheena will co-star. Partners The personal story of two lifelong friends and business partners - one straight and one gay (Michael Urie) - whose friendship has lasted longer than any of their romantic relationships. When one decides to propose to his girlfriend (Sophia Bush), the other's neurotic attempts to be supportive nearly result in a breakup. Will & Grace duo David Kohan and Max Mutchnick will executive-produce. Super Fun Night Bridesmaids' Rebel Wilson writes, produces and stars in this project about three nerdy female friends on their "funcomfortable" quest to have SUPER FUN every Friday night. Conan O'Brien and Conan's Jeff Ross will executive-produce. Untitled Louis C.K./Spike Feresten project Young people try to achieve their creative dreams in tough financial times. Louie's Louis C.K. and Spike Feresten will write and executive-produce. Ann Guilbert will co-star. Untitled Larry Dorf/Ben Falcone project From married Bridesmaids co-stars Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone, this comedy features a single 37-year-old man (Falcone) who loses everything he has in the real estate collapse and finds himself back living at home with his parents. Larry Dorf and Falcone will write. Untitled Greg Malins/Greg Berlanti project Nick has a health scare and realizes Wendy (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), his best friend and business partner of 15 years, is 'the one.' Now he has to figure out how to break it to her. Friends' Greg Malins and Brothers & Sisters' Greg Berlanti will write and executive-produce. Untitled Nick Stoller project Loosely based on executive producer Nick Stoller's real-life experiences, a twentysomething guy (Michael Angarano) gets his heart broken by his girlfriend only to wind up working one cubicle away from her at an ad agency. Terra Nova duo Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope will executive-produce. Chris Smith, Amanda Lund, Adam Campbell and Randall Park will also star. Which pilots sound interesting to you?

Jamie Blackley Lands Lead in 300 Follow up

EXCLUSIVE: Jamie Blackley has arrived the co-lead within the 300 follow up that Noam Murro will direct for Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures. Within the Kurt Johnstad-scripted film, Blackley will have Calisto, a teenager whose need to end up being the heroic guy/soldier his father was leads the 16 years old to become leader of the small gang of soldiers. He’ll join Sullivan Stapleton, who got an online insurance lead a week ago within the next installment from the Zack Snyder-directed 300. Blackley just wrapped charge in lead within the Andrew Douglas-directed uwantme2killhim?, the Bryan Singer created film in regards to a youthful guy who will get entangled within an unhealthy internet relationship that leads to him carrying out a criminal offense. Younger crowd performed among the leads working in london Boulevard opposite Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley and that he wrapped a supporting role in Snow Whitened and also the Huntsman. Blackley is repped by WME, Luber Roklin Entertainmentn and United kingdom-based U . s . Agents.

Billy Bob Thornton Returns to Directing With 'Jayne Mansfield's Car'

BERLIN (AP) Billy Bob Thornton says his frustration at the state of films in America prompted him to direct his first feature in more than a decade, the 1960s family drama "Jayne Mansfield's Car."The 56-year-old Thornton, who previously directed "All the Pretty Horses" and "Sling Blade," brought the movie to the Berlin International Film Festival for its premiere Monday. It's one of 18 films competing for the festival's Golden Bear award.The cast includes Thornton, John Hurt, Robert Duvall and Kevin Bacon.Thornton said he had been complaining about movies in America so "instead of complaining, I decided to just write one and direct it."He says he thinks he will go on to direct more "but I probably won't direct the next Star Trek movie or anything like that."Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. PHOTO CREDIT Johannes BERLIN (AP) Billy Bob Thornton says his frustration at the state of films in America prompted him to direct his first feature in more than a decade, the 1960s family drama "Jayne Mansfield's Car."The 56-year-old Thornton, who previously directed "All the Pretty Horses" and "Sling Blade," brought the movie to the Berlin International Film Festival for its premiere Monday. It's one of 18 films competing for the festival's Golden Bear award.The cast includes Thornton, John Hurt, Robert Duvall and Kevin Bacon.Thornton said he had been complaining about movies in America so "instead of complaining, I decided to just write one and direct it."He says he thinks he will go on to direct more "but I probably won't direct the next Star Trek movie or anything like that."Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

CA Tax credit program 'limited,' study finds

A UCLA study has mentioned that California's four-year-old Film and television Tax Credit Program needs to be extended once the condition is always to maintain its position just like a production center -- instead of seeing shooting flee elsewhere."The uncertainty created with the limited size California's tax credit program, which has the ability to provide credits by lottery to merely one inch every five candidates, causes many film and tv producers to pursue credits off their states," the study authors mentioned.Showbiz producers and unions are actually strong supporters in the program, which has doled out $400 million in tax credits so far. The program was extended for just about any single year in October when Gov. Jerry Brown signed Setup Bill 1069 round the final day for your governor to approve or veto bills from last year's legislative session.Variety reported on Jan. 26 that Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes had pledged presenting legislation which will extend California's film production incentive program -- probably for five years -- using the goal of telegraphing stability for the industry. The Golden State's program is substantially smaller sized rather than as sweet as much others, getting a maximum 25% credit with any production over $75 million excluded.The completely new study, titled "There's Room Like Home," was completed by UCLA's Institute for Research on Labor and Employment incorporated within the Headway Project.Study learned that the tax credit program is benefitting the problem economically by getting an imapct of $1.04 for every dollar spent. Research launched last summer season with the La County Economic Development Corp. and funded with the Movie Assn. of America thought that figure at $1.13 for for every $1 the problem allocated, using the assumption that any production seeking a tax credit would depart California whether it didn't receive one.The UCLA report learned that 8.4% in the credits presented to 14 productions that have been produced despite situated about this years-11 wait list visited films and tv suggests that may have shot in California anyhow.The study also recommended the California program be modified inside the following ways:-- The annual allocation needs to be elevated from $100 million to $200 million. "California's program is uncompetitive with locations for instance NY, Louisiana and Canada that offer $400 million to $500 million every year in subsidies, haven't any caps and supply much greater rates," the authors mentioned.-- films and tv shows with budgets a lot more than $75 million needs to be allowed to register getting a 12% credit. "Fundamental necessities greatest and several beneficial projects, frequently trading $100 million to $200 million and employing thousands of employees per project," the authors mentioned. "Today, almost all of individuals 'tentpole' productions leave California for states that, like Louisiana, haven't any cap by themselves subsidies."-- allow credits being transferrable within the entertainment industry. "Jetski from the tax credits entirely within the intended industry and removes the incentive for filmmakers just to walk out condition looking for a cash option that California doesn't offer," the report mentioned.-- supply the California Film Commissioner energy to deny or withdraw a credit once the project shows California becoming an unattractive location. "Such recommendations aren't uncommon in other states," the authors mentioned.-- commission a completely new bipartisan study, comprised of legislators who both support and oppose the program. The authors mentioned this kind of study would take six several days and cost $250,000 -- a "pittance" as compared to the present annual $100 million tax credit allocation."California cannot simply provide its arms and enable an important industry to go away the problem completely," in conclusion mentioned, watching that 40 other states and many offer incentives. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com