MOVIES
Director-screenwriter-producer Tyler Perry has signed on to star as psychologist Alex Cross in a new film adaptation based on the James Patterson novels.
Several tidbits from Omnimystery News: Summit Entertainment has picked up the film rights to This Dark Endeavor, by Kenneth Oppel, a thriller that's not being released until August of this year. It's subtitled "The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein", which gives you a hint of what the book and movie are about; more film rights, too, as projects are in the works based on Three Seconds, the fifth mystery in the Sundkvist and Grens series by Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström; and also a new version of the Fletch series of mysteries by Gregory Mcdonald, first adapted as a vehicle for actor Chevy Chase in the 1980s.
A mystery untitled-mystery-film has been acquired by Paramount Insurge, about a young woman accused in the mysterious murders of three religious figures (the mystery is in the details...). William Brent Bell (Stay Alive) is directing the film and cast, which includes Fernanda Andrade (Fallen), Simon Quarterman (Perfect Strangers), Evan Helmuth (Ready or Not) and Suzan Crowley (Christabel) will star.
George Clooney and Grant Heslov are producing a political thriller titled Argo, based on an article written in Wired magazine about how the CIA fooled the Iranian government in 1979 as an effort to rescue six U.S. diplomats who were being held hostage. Rumors are that Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone and The Town) is in negotiations to direct.
TV
The USA Network has announced May 1 as the premiere date of the 10th season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe are rejoining the cast.
Looks like the remake of the hit British series Prime Suspect (starring Helen Mirren) is back on again, after being shelved for awhile. NBC has ordered a pilot that changes the setting to New York and follows "an iconoclastic female detective (who) has to make her bones in a tough New York precinct that is dominated by men."
The CW has given a pilot order to Cooper & Stone, a drama about two Chicago female detectives who specialize in pop culture knowledge and solving homicides.
A&E is developing Overload, a crime drama from writer John E. Pogue and film producer Irwin Winkler (Rocky) about a female detective blessed and cursed with hyper-acute senses who balances her work and personal life in Boston.
Kyle Killen (Lone Star) is producing a pilot for NBC titled REM, about the simultaneous and parallel lives of a detective who cannot let go of any aspect of his fractured family after a horrible car accident.
PODCASTS/RADIO
Elizabeth Foxwell's Bunburyist blog notes that Montana Public Radio's "The Write Question" program featured C. J. Box discussing his mystery Nowhere to Run.
Raymond Chandler fans will want to tune in as BBC Radio 4 airs four radio plays from Chandler's novels this month. Paul Davis has more info.
Actually, that news about "Reagan's Law" comes from a year ago. It's the preliminary title of the show now better known as "Blue Bloods," starring Tom Selleck.
Cheers,
Jeff
Posted by: J. Kingston Pierce | February 07, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Thanks, Jeff! I've removed the erroneous tidbit and posted a note to that effect. Apparently, I really DO need more coffee.
Posted by: BV Lawson | February 07, 2011 at 01:38 PM
Jeff Goldblum's contract expired and he left the show. Where did you get the information that he was staying on for Season 10?
Posted by: Vinnie Vidi Vici | February 07, 2011 at 01:58 PM
Although I knew Goldblum originally decided not to renew his contract with CI for the 10th season, there were talks to try and get him to come back at least for a few episodes. One news source I came across indicated that was indeed the case, but since I can't seem to verify this anywhere else, I've decided to remove it from the posting. Wishful thinking, perhaps, and it may still happen, but I'm not sure I'm counting on it.
Posted by: BV Lawson | February 07, 2011 at 02:43 PM