Hugh Jackman is set to star in Six Years, a film based on thriller writer Harlan Coben's upcoming novel, which is currently being developed by Paramount. The novel tells of a man who watched the love of his life marry someone else, then six years later sees the husband's obituary, attends the funeral, and finds the widow is not his past love, throwing his memories into doubt.
It appears Tom Cruise just can't get enough of TV/book icons. After starring as Jack Reacher and in Mission Impossible, he now has his eye set on a film adaption of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. George Clooney was originally in line to take on the lead role of spy Napoleon Solo, with Steven Soderbergh directing, but both dropped out. Guy Ritchie was brought on board to direct and Cruise is likely to take over Clooney's slot.
Omnimystery News reports that Relativity Media has optioned the soon-to-be-published psychological thriller Scare Me by Richard Parker for a film project.
Robert Redford is in talks to join Captain American: Winter Soldier, likely playing an older member of secret government agency S.H.I.E.L.D. in a role similar to the one played by Ralph Fiennes as M’s replacement in last year's James Bond movie Skyfall.
Dreamworks has signed up Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair) to direct Rebecca, a remake of the 1940 Alfred Hitchcock film.
Director Antoine Fuqua is in early talks to re-team with his Training Day star Denzel Washington for the film adaptation of the TV series, The Equalizer.
Former British footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones has joined the thriller The Killer's List, playing a retired hit man and widower whose young son is kidnapped.
TV
HBO has picked up a thriller project from British filmmaker Ben Wheatley. Titled Silk Road, it's said to be in the same vein as the classic Patrick McGoohan TV series, The Prisoner
Actor-comedian Steve Coogan has landed the starring role in the David Shore drama pilot Doubt, centering on a former cop "who's now a cunning but charming low-rent lawyer who uses his street smarts to work the system for his clients while battling his own demons and wooing his ex-wife." Meanwhile, Mercedes Ruehl was also just added to the cast, playing a lawyer in the firm.
Terry O’Quinn (Lost) is set to replace the departing Tom Berenger as the lead opposite Ramon Rodriguez in Fox's drama pilot Gang Related. The concept centers on Ryan Lopez (Rodriguez), a gang member sent in to infiltrate the San Francisco Police Department, while O'Quinn will play a tough, dynamic police chief who oversees the Gang Task Force.
NBC has acquired the US broadcast rights to the crime drama Crossing Lines, co-produced by German producer Tandem and Criminal Minds showrunner Ed Bernero. The show is about the International Criminal Court's special crime unit that investigates serialized crimes that cross over European borders. (Hat tip to Omnimystery News.)
Fans of CSI will be happy to hear that CBS has renewed the show for a 14th season, and apparently stars Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue will return in their current roles.
TNT has set premiere dates for its summer lineup, including the new private eye drama King & Maxwell and the unscripted Cold Justice that follows two real-life female investigators. The network also plugged in broadcast dates for returning shows Rizzoli & Isles and Perception (June 18), and Franklin & Bash (July 24).
Meanwhile, ABC has also announced summer premiere dates, including Motive, which follows a single-mother detective and her partner, Detective Oscar Vega, in a format similar to Columbo, in which the killer and victim are identified at the beginning of each episode rather than at the end. Another new show is Whodunnit, from CSI creator Anthony E. Zuiker that puts 13 contestants’ investigative skills to the test in a mystery reality competition.
Mamie Gummer (Emily Owens M.D.) has landed the female lead in the CBS pilot Backstrom, a show based on the Swedish book series by criminologist/novelist Leif G.W. Persson.
New cast changes are coming to TNT's Major Crimes for its second season. Nadine Velazquez (My Name Is Earl) is joining the show for the role of Deputy D.A. Emma Rios, and Robert Gossett, who has played Assistant Chief Russell Taylor is being promoted to a regular role.
Karen Gillan (Dr. Who) is joining season 3 of Adult Swim‘s live-action spoof series NTSF:SD:SUV, playing Daisy, a ‘Q’ tech expert.
Sierra/Engine Television is bringing the 13-episode mystery drama series Siberia to global distribution. The show is set in the remote Siberian territory of Tunguska, location of the 1908 meteor impact, more than 100 years later as unsuspecting reality-show contestants are put in harm's way and have to band together to survive.
PODCASTS/VIDEO
Making the media rounds to promote his latest book, Six Years, Harlan Coben appeared on the Today Show last week and on MSNBC's Morning Joe.
Author and Criminologist Jennifer Chase joined Book & Crime Talk on Blog Talk Radio.
THEATER
The opera based on the life of Anna Nicole Smith will make its U.S. debut next fall, presented by the Brooklyn Academy of Music and New York City Opera. With music composed by Mark-Anthony Turnage and libretto/staging/direction by Richard Thomas, the project follows the life of the former Playboy Playmate of the Year until her tragic death in 2007 at age 39 from a fatal drug combination.
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