News

After so many years of giving acclaimed, dramatic turns, Bryan Cranston finally returns to comedy with Why Him?, playing a dad who has serious doubts about his daughter’s boyfriend – resulting in a sweet, raunchy and often laugh out loud watch.

The film pits James Franco against Cranston’s doting father. Having wrapped his daughter in cotton wool for the best part of two decades, Cranston’s Ned is given a stern wake-up call upon meeting her new love interest, Laird, an Internet celebrity that looks to be James Franco doing his best James Franco impression. John Hamburg is behind the lens, flanked by a team of producers that includes Shawn Levy, Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill and Dan Levine.

At the recent press day for Why Him?, we sat down with Cranston and Franco to talk about their new film. Over the course of our interview, we discussed crazy ex-girlfriends,...

After so many years of giving acclaimed, dramatic turns, Bryan Cranston finally returns to comedy with Why Him?, playing a dad who has serious doubts about his daughter’s boyfriend – resulting in a sweet, raunchy and often laugh out loud watch.

The film pits James Franco against Cranston’s doting father. Having wrapped his daughter in cotton wool for the best part of two decades, Cranston’s Ned is giving a stern wake-up call upon meeting her new love interest, Laird, an Internet celebrity that looks to be James Franco doing his best James Franco impression. John Hamburg is behind the lens, flanked by a team of producers that includes Shawn Levy, Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill and Dan Levine.

At the recent press day for Why Him?, we sat down with co-stars Keegan-Michael Key, Zoey Deutch and Megan Mullally to talk about their new project. Excited and enthusiastic, the actors...

Love them or loathe them, holiday comedies are a cornerstone of Hollywood’s yearly release plan. Sure, they may not scale the box office heights of the summer tentpoles, but with every year that passes, another truckload of festive-themed features light up the silver screen with varying results.

In 2016, that collection will comprise the likes of Bad Santa 2, Almost Christmas and Why Him?, the latter of which is arriving by way of Fox.

Due for release on December 25, the first and decidedly Nsfw trailer has now surfaced, pitting James Franco against Bryan Cranston’s doting father. Having wrapped his daughter in cotton wool for the best part of two decades, Cranston’s Ned is giving a stern wake-up call upon meeting her new love interest, Laird, an Internet celebrity that looks to be James Franco doing his best James Franco impression.

John Hamburg is behind the lens, flanked by a...

James Franco goes breaking dad on Bryan Cranston in the first trailer for Why Him?.

Check out the Red Band & Green Band trailers and new poster for Why Him?.

Red Band trailer – Nsfw!

Green Band trailer

Directed by John Hamburg and produced by Shawn Levy, Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill, Dan Levine, the screenplay is by John Hamburg & Ian Helfer with the story by Jonah Hill and John Hamburg & Ian Helfer.

Over the holidays, Ned (Bryan Cranston), an overprotective but loving dad and his family visit his daughter at Stanford, where he meets his biggest nightmare: her well-meaning but socially awkward Silicon Valley billionaire boyfriend, Laird (James Franco). The straight-laced Ned thinks Laird, who has absolutely no filter, is a wildly inappropriate match for his daughter. The one-sided rivalry-and Ned’s panic level-escalate when he finds himself increasingly out of step in the glamorous high-tech hub, and learns that Laird is about to pop the question.

Jason Sudeikis, Ed Harris and Elizabeth Olsen are set to star in the road-trip drama "Kodachrome" for 21 Laps.

Based on A.G. Sulzberger's 2010 New York Times article, the story follows a father and son who take a road trip to Kansas in order to develop photographs at Kodak's last Kodachrome lab before it closes its doors forever.

Mark Raso ("Copenhagen") will direct from a script by Jonathan Tropper ("This Is Where I Leave You"). Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Shawn Levy and Dan Levine will produce.

Source: Variety...

Exclusive: 20th Century Fox has acquired the feature rights to Agatha Christie’s classic mystery novel And Then There Were None, and the studio has set The Imitation Game‘s Morten Tyldum to direct. Eric Heisserer will adapt Christie’s 1939 novel, which has sold more than 100 million copies to establish itself as the all-time biggest-selling mystery novel. The film will be produced by 21 Laps' Shawn Levy, Dan Levine and Dan Cohen, along with Hilary Strong and the author’s…...

Still the best-selling novelist of all time with over two billion books sold (beaten only by the Bible and Shakespeare), Dame Agatha Christie's singularly most famous mystery is set to get another film adaptation.

"The Imitation Game" director Morten Tyldum has been hired to helm a new film version of "And Then There Were None" which 20th Century Fox has just acquired the feature film rights to.

Eric Heisserer ("The Thing," "Final Destination 5") has been hired to pen the script for the new version which Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Dan Cohen and Hilary Strong will produce. The new one which reportedly boasts a "take that got the Christie estate excited."

The story follows ten strangers who are invited to an isolated island for a dinner party at the behest of a mysterious host. It's soon revealed they have been cut off from the mainland, and one of the...

Mr. Garvey is getting promoted to the big screen. Deadline reports that Paramount Pictures has pre-emptively snapped up Substitute Teacher, a film treatment of the popular Key & Peele comedy sketches featuring a hilariously prickly inner city substitute teacher doing time in a white, suburban high school.

Keegan-Michael Key will again star as takes-no-guff Mr. Garvey, and Jordan Peele will play a rival teacher who battles him for the students’ affections. The script will be penned by Rich Talarico and Alex Rubens, who co-produce Key & Peele for Comedy Central. Key and Peele will produce along with Shawn Levy and Dan LeVine of 21 Laps and Peter Principato, Paul Young and Joel Zadak of Principato Young Entertainment.

Substitute Teacher is the second film project Key and Peele are working on. The duo begins filming Keanu for New Line next month. Written by Peele and Rubens, it centers on two friends who attempt to...

Back in September, we reported that Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele are developing a feature version of their Key & Peele substitute teacher sketch for Paramount Pictures. Keegan Michael Key, who plays the teacher named Mr. Garvey in the sketch, would only say that they are in talks with Paramount for the project, and that two of their Key & Peele writers are working on the script. Today Deadline has word that Paramount has pre-emptively bought their pitch for a Substitute Teacher movie.

Keegan Michael Key will reprise his role as Mr. Garvey, with Jordan Peele set to play a rival teacher who is trying to become the students' favorite. The original sketch, which debuted in 2012, follows Mr. Garvey, an inner-city substitute who refuses to take any flack from his all-white, suburban high school students. The video currently has over 72 million views on YouTube.

Key & Peele writers Rich Talarico and Alex Rubens are penning the script,...

Dimension Films announced today that they have preemptively purchased The Witches' Ballroom, a pitch by Ray Wright. Wright previously wrote The Crazies, and his last spec script, The Widow, was recently sold to Vendome.

The Witches' Ballroom will be produced by Shawn Levy and Dan Levine at 21 Laps. The logline is currently being kept under wraps.

Here's what The Weinstein Company co-chairman Bob Weinstein had to say about the project.

"I've been a huge fan of Ray Wright for a very long time now and we've been trying to find something to collaborate on. The Witches' Ballroom is going to terrify audiences in a way they've never seen before."

Screenwriter Ray Wright had this to say about his project finding a home at Dimension Films.

"It's exciting when an original idea takes off, particularly psychological horror which is such a visceral thrill to write. Dimension is the perfect home for it.

Evil witches remain as hot as the flaming pyres which once burned their bones, and another flick centering on these deliciously evil practitioners is on its way from Dimension Films. Read on for details.

From the Press Release

Dimension Films announced today that they have preemptively purchased The Witches' Ballroom, a pitch by Ray Wright. Wright previously wrote The Crazies, and his last spec script, The Widow, was recently sold to Vendome.

The Witches' Ballroom will be produced by Shawn Levy and Dan Levine at 21 Laps. The logline is currently being kept under wraps.

"I've been a huge fan of Ray Wright for a very long time now, and we've been trying to find something to collaborate on. The Witches' Ballroom is going to terrify audiences in a way they've never seen before," said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company.

"It's exciting when an original idea takes off, particularly psychological horror,...

In a preemptive deal, Dimension has picked up The Witches’ Ballroom, a pitch by Ray Wright, with Shawn Levy and Dan Levine of 21 Laps to produce. The logline is being kept under wraps, but Wright co-wrote the 2010 remake of The Crazies as well as horror thriller Case 39 and Pulse, so expect something creepy. "It's exciting when an original idea takes off, particularly psychological horror which is such a visceral thrill to write," said Wright in the announcement. Dimension's Matthew Singer and Keith Levine will oversee development. Wright, who also has The Widow set up at

read more...

Dimension Films has preemptively purchased Ray Wright’s pitch “The Witches’ Ballroom,” the company announced Wednesday. Wright previously wrote “The Crazies” and his last spec script, “The Widow,” was recently bought by Vendome. “The Witches’ Ballroom” will be produced by Shawn Levy and Dan Levine at 21 Laps. The logline is currently being kept under wraps. Also read: Dimension, RADiUS Pick Up Salma Hayek Thriller ‘Everly’ “I’ve been a huge fan of Ray Wright for a very long time now and we’ve been trying to find something to collaborate on. ‘The Witches’ Ballroom’ is going to terrify audiences in...

Dimension Films announced today that they have preemptively purchased The Witches' Ballroom , a pitch by Ray Wright. Wright previously wrote Breck Eisner's 2010 version of The Crazies , and his last spec script, The Widow , was recently sold to Vendome. The Witches' Ballroom will be produced by Shawn Levy and Dan Levine at 21 Laps. The logline is currently being kept under wraps. "I've been a huge fan of Ray Wright for a very long time now and we've been trying to find something to collaborate on. 'The Witches' Ballroom' is going to terrify audiences in a way they've never seen before," said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company. "It's exciting when an original idea takes off, particularly psychological horror which is such a visceral...

"Prisoners" director Denis Villeneuve has signed on to helm a film adaptation of Ted Chiang's Nebula-winning 1998 novella "The Story of Your Life" for FilmNation, Lava Bear Films and 21 Laps.

The story begins when alien crafts land around the world and an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine their intentions.

She soon learns to communicate with the aliens, she begins experiencing vivid flashbacks that become the key to unlocking the greater mystery about the truth behind their visit.

Eric Heisserer adapted the script, while David Linde, Shawn Levy and Dan Levine will produce. Shooting aims to begin later this year.

Source: Heat Vision...

Here's my holiday single, "Christmas (is Coming Down)," featuring Kenny Margolis (Cracker), Dan Levine (They Might Be Giants), David Ogilvy, Ms. Laura Fay Lewis, and artwork by Shiloh Jenz.

This pop rock ditty, and all of my music, can be purchased from CD Baby, Amazon, iTunes, and other digital music outlets.

And check out my most recent solo CD If We Never; the perfect stocking stuffer.

Happy Christmas!

peace, Dusty...

Ed Oxenbould, best known for playing the title character in writer-director Matthew Moore's 2012 short film "Julian," is in talks to star in director Miguel Arteta's upcoming Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad, Day , The Wrap reports. He joins a cast that includes Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner as Alexander's father and mother. Written by Judith Viorst in 1972, the famous children's book revolves around family members collectively enduring the worst day of their lives. Alexander's day goes from bad to worse after he wakes up with gum in his hair. The film is being produced by Shawn Levy's 21 Laps and the Jim Henson Company. Levy and Dan Levine will produce for 21 Laps, while Lisa Henson and Jason Lust will produce for the Jim Henson Company....

Jennifer Garner is in talks to join the cast of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which has Steve Carell attached to star.

Based on the popular 1972 children's book by Judith Viorst, the story centers on a young boy who wakes up with gum in his hair, and finds his day getting progressively worse. When he makes a wish that his family could experience his suffering, the wish comes true. Steve Carell is playing Alexander's father, with Jennifer Garner set to play the title character's mother.

Miguel Arteta (Youth in Revolt) is directing from a screenplay by Lisa Cholodenko and Rob Leiber. Shawn Levy and Dan Levine are producing through their 21 Laps production company, alongside The Henson Company's Lisa Henson. Production will commence sometime this fall.

Jennifer Garner will next be seen in Dallas Buyers Club. The actress is prepping to shoot Draft Day for director Ivan Reitman.

Breaking: Disney is in talks with Jennifer Garner to star with Steve Carell in the Miguel Arteta-directed live-action adaptation of the Judith Viorst children’s book Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Lisa Cholodenko wrote the script with Rob Lieber, and Disney has Steve Carell attached to play Alexander’s dad. Garner will play his mother. Shawn Levy is producing through his 21 Laps banner along with Lisa Henson and Dan Levine. Production will begin in the fall. Alexander is the key character, and he starts a wretched day with the realization that the gum he fell asleep chewing is now hopelessly tangled in his hair. Things get worse from there, to the point he threatens to chuck it all and move to Australia. Garner stars in Dallas Buyers Club, the film that just got acquired by Focus Features, and she’s set to star in Draft Day,...

Jennifer Garner is in negotiations to star opposite Steve Carell in Disney’s adaptation of the popular children’s book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Shawn Levy and Dan Levine are producing the family movie via their 21 Laps banner along with Lisa Henson of the Jim Henson Co. Miguel Arteta is directing. A classic since it was published in 1972, Bad Day was written by Judith Viorst and centers on a boy who has a very horrible day and finds out that other people can have them too. Story: Jennifer Garner, 'Butter' Star, on the Tea

read more...

Disney has Jennifer Garner in talks for the lead with Steve Carell in the adaptation of Judith Viorst's children's book "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day," report sources. Miguel Arteta helms the live-action film scripted by Rob Lieber and Lisa Cholodenko. Carell and Garner would play Alexander's parents in the film produced by Shawn Levy's 21 Laps as well as Dan Levine and Lisa Henson. Plans are start production on the adaptation in the fall. Alexander starts his horrible day after falling asleep with gum in his mouth and waking up with gum in his hair. He then trips on his skateboard, and drops his sweater in a sink of running water. He then resolves to move to Australia.

Jennifer Garner is in talks to join the cast of director Miguel Arteta's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad, Day , according to a story at The Hollywood Reporter . She would play Alexander's mother in the children's book adaptation with Steve Carell already attached to play the boy's father. Written by Judith Viorst in 1972, the famous children's book revolves around family members collectively enduring the worst day of their lives. Alexander's day goes from bad to worse after he wakes up with gum in his hair. Garner starred last year in The Odd Life of Timothy Green . She's soon set to appear in Jean-Marc Vallee's Dallas Buyers Club . The film is being produced by Shawn Levy's 21 Laps and the Jim Henson Company. Levy and Dan Levine will produce for 21...

Miguel Arteta is to adapt popular children's book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day for Disney Pictures.

The Cedar Rapids filmmaker will direct the movie based on a screenplay by Lisa Cholodenko and Rob Lieber, Deadline reports.

The Kids Are All Right director Cholodenko was previously attached to direct the film, but recently dropped out.

Alexander tells the story of a young boy who considers moving to Australia after having a wretched day.

Disney has already hired Steve Carell to play the boy's father, while Shawn Levy, Lisa Henson and Dan Levine are on board as producers.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day will enter production in the autumn.

Watch a trailer for Cedar Rapids below:...

A year ago it was announced that The Kids Are All Right director Lisa Cholodenko was going to direct Disney's big screen adaptation of the classic kids book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Deadline now reports that she's no longer attached to direct the movie, and that Youth in Revolt and Cedar Rapids director Miguel Arteta has taken her place. I like the other films that he's made, and I'm sure he's going to end up doing a solid job with this one.

The book was written by Judith Viorst, and follows a young boy who endures a frustrating day that begins with him waking up to find gum in his hair and ends with him threatening to move to Australia. The books basically prepares children for the craziness of life and how to deal with all of the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days that lie ahead.

Director Miguel Arteta (Cedar Rapids) is in talks to step in for Lisa Cholodenko at the helm of Disney's adaptation Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which has Steve Carell attached to star.

Lisa Cholodenko was set to direct back in October, when Disney picked up the project out of turnaround from Fox, but she left the project last month. Lisa Cholodenko co-wrote the screenplay adaptation, based on Judith Viorst's book, but it isn't known if Disney will use that script or seek out new writers.

The story centers on the title character, a young boy who wakes up with gum in his hair, as he finds his day getting progressively worse and worse. Steve Carell will portray Alexander's father. Shawn Levy is producing through his 21 Laps company, alongside Lisa Henson and Dan Levine. Production is scheduled to begin sometime this fall.

Miguel Arteta has...

Exclusive: Disney is in talks with Miguel Arteta to replace Lisa Cholodenko as the director of its live-action adaptation of the Judith Viorst children’s book Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. You might recall that late last month, The Kids Are All Right helmer Cholodenko stepped out as director. She wrote the script with Rob Lieber, and Disney has Steve Carell attached to play Alexander’s dad. Shawn Levy is producing through his 21 Laps banner along with Lisa Henson and Dan Levine. Production will begin in the fall. On the feature side, Wme and Management 360-repped Arteta most recently helmed Cedar Rapids and Youth In Revolt. Alexander is the key character, and he starts a wretched day with the realization that the gum he fell asleep chewing is now hopelessly tangled in his hair. Things get worse from there, to the point he threatens...

Taking the reins from the previously-attached Lisa Cholodenko, Miguel Arteta has signed on to direct Walt Disney Pictures' Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day , Deadline reports. Written by Judith Viorst in 1972, the famous children's book revolves around family members collectively enduring the worst day of their lives. Alexander's day goes from bad to worse after he wakes up with gum in his hair. Steve Carell is attached to the project to play Alexander's dad, Ben. In addition to quite a lot of television work, Arteta directed 2009's Youth in Revolt and 2011's Cedar Rapids . The film is being produced by Shawn Levy's 21 Laps and the Jim Henson Company. Levy and Dan Levine will produce for 21 Laps, while Lisa Henson and Jason Lust will produce...

Breaking: Shawn Levy‘s 21 Laps will continue to be a cornerstone presence at 20th Century Fox. Levy’s label has closed a new 3-year overall first look deal with the studio. Levy and president Dan Levine have promoted Billy Rosenberg to Senior Vice President, Dan Cohen to Vice President, Will Rack to Director of Development, and Katie Baron to Creative Executive. “Shawn’s boundless energy, ambition and effortless creativity make him the perfect partner,” said 20th Century Fox production president Emma Watts. We are lucky he continues to call Fox his home.” Levy has been busy. He directed the Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson comedy The Internship, which Fox releases June 7, 2013; 21 Laps produced The Spectacular Now, directed by James Ponsoldt and starring Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kyle Chandler and Brie Larson. That film premieres in competition at Sundance in January. Written by Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber...

FilmNation Entertainment and Lava Bear Films are teaming to finance, produce and handle worldwide sales on Nic Mathieu's sci-fi thriller "Story of Your Life."

Based on an award-winning short story by Ted Chiang, the story deals with aliens landing all around the globe. A linguist is quickly recruited by the Us government in a race to decipher their intentions on Earth.

Eric Heisserer ("The Thing," "A Nightmare on Elm Street") is penning the script while Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Aaron Ryder and Karen Lunder will produce. Shooting will kick off next year.

Source: Variety...

Hey, aliens! We've been waiting for you cats to officially land for what seems like forever. What's with all the needless probing and cat and mouse shenanigans? Make yourself known! Shit or get off the pot already!

According to Deadline, FilmNation Entertainment has partnered with Lava Bear Films to finance, produce and handle worldwide sales for the sci-fi thriller Story of Your Life. Scripted by Eric Heisserer (A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Thing), the film will be helmed by commercials director Nic Mathieu.

Story of Your Life will be produced by 21 Laps’ Shawn Levy and Dan Levine with FilmNation’s Aaron Ryder and Karen Lunder. Lava Bear’s David Linde, Tory Metzger, FilmNation’s Glen Basner and Heisserer will be executive producers. Based on a short story by sci-fi writer Ted Chiang, Story of Your Life is a mind-bending science fiction thriller with a powerful, emotional twist. After aliens land around the globe,...

FilmNation Entertainment, in partnership with Lava Bear Films, will finance, produce and handle worldwide sales for the sci-fi thriller Story of Your Life written by Eric Heisserer (Hours, The Thing, A Nightmare on Elm Street) and to be directed by prolific commercial director Nic Mathieu. The film will be produced by 21 Laps' Shawn Levy and Dan Levine with FilmNation's Aaron Ryder and Karen Lunder. Lava Bear's David Linde, Tory Metzger, FilmNation's Glen Basner and Eric Heisserer will executive produce. Story of Your Life was developed by 21 Laps' Levy, Levine and Dan Cohen, along with Eric Heisserer.

Story of Your Life - based on an award-winning short story from one of today's most celebrated science fiction writers Ted Chiang - is a mind-bending science fiction thriller with a powerful, emotional twist. After aliens land around the globe, a linguist is recruited by the Us government in a race to decipher their intentions on Earth.

The very busy Shawn Levy is adding another project to his development docket, though this time it’s only in a producing capacity. FilmNation Entertainment announced today that it would finance and produce the sci-fi thriller Story of Your Life alongside Lava Bear Films, with Levy producing the pic via his 21 Laps banner with partner Dan Levine. Written by Eric Heisserer (The Thing), the film is based on a short story by Ted Chiang that takes place immediately after aliens land around the globe and centers on a linguist who is recruited by the Us government in a race to decipher their intentions on Earth. Commercials director Nic Mathieu is set to direct, and the pic is being fast-tracked with casting beginning immediately for a planned 2013 production start-date. Levy most recently wrapped his latest directorial project, the Owen Wilson/Vince Vaughn comedy The Internship, and earlier this month signed on...

FilmNation and Lava Bear Films are partnering to finance and produce 21 Laps' sci-fi thriller Story of Your Life, based on the short story by acclaimed author Ted Chiang. Prolific commercials director Nic Mathieu will helm from an adapted script by Eric Heisserer (A Nightmare on Elm Street), and is set to begin shooting in 2013. Casting is currently underway. Working with Heisserer, Story of Your Life was developed at 21 Laps by Shawn Levy, Dan Levine and Dan Cohen. The movie is described as a mind-bending sci-fi thriller with a powerful emotional twist. After aliens land

read more...

Breaking: FilmNation Entertainment has partnered with Lava Bear Films to finance, produce and handle worldwide sales for the sci-fi thriller Story Of Your Life. Scripted by Eric Heisserer, the film will be helmed by commercials director Nic Mathieu. The film will be produced by 21 Laps’ Shawn Levy and Dan Levine with FilmNation’s Aaron Ryder and Karen Lunder. Lava Bear’s David Linde, Tory Metzger, FilmNation’s Glen Basner and Heisserer will be executive producers. Based on a short story by sci-fi writer Ted Chiang, Story Of Your Life is a mind-bending science fiction thriller with a powerful, emotional twist. After aliens land around the globe, a linguist is recruited by the U.S. government in a race to decipher their intentions on Earth. Production will begin next year. “If you look at Ted Chiang’s powerful source material, how deftly Eric and the team at 21 Laps handled the adaptation,...

FilmNation Entertainment, in partnership with Lava Bear Films, has announced plans to finance, produce and handle worldwide sales for the sci-fi thriller Story of Your Life , written by Eric Heisserer ( The Thing , A Nightmare on Elm Street ) and to be directed by prolific commercials director, Nic Mathieu. Based on an award-winning short story by Ted Chiang, Story of Your Life is said to be a mind-bending science fiction thriller with a powerful, emotional twist. After aliens land around the globe, a linguist is recruited by the Us government in a race to decipher their intentions on Earth. The film will be produced by 21 Laps' Shawn Levy and Dan Levine with FilmNation.s Aaron Ryder and Karen Lunder. Lava Bear.s David Linde, Tory Metzger, FilmNation.s Glen Basner and Eric...

Exclusive: I’m told that Disney is stepping up to make Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, the adaptation of the Judith Viorst children’s book that has Steve Carell attached to star and The Kids Are All Right writer-director Lisa Cholodenko helming a script she wrote with Rob Lieber. The film will be produced by Shawn Levy and Dan Levine for 21 Laps along with Lisa Henson. The project became a free agent when 20th Century Fox put it in turnaround last month. Carell boarded the project last April. There was interest from Universal, Sony, MGM and Walden but Disney grabbed the live action project. Disney gets one of the more entertaining and humorous of the yarns you read endlessly to your kids at night. Alexander starts a wretched day with the realization that the gum he fell asleep chewing is now hopelessly tangled in his hair,...

21 Laps Entertainment and Fox 2000 have acquired film rights to Joel Stein's upcoming book "Man Made" and Jake Kasdan ("Bad Teacher") is in talks to direct says EW.

The story is a nonfiction account of the author's efforts to mentally and physically test himself in ways he’s never had to before so he can be a better role model for his infant son.

These include riding along on a shift with firefighters, taking on an Mma fighter, going through Marine basic training, and consulting with various tough guys about what it means to be a modern American male. Kasdan, Dan Levine and Shawn Levy are set to produce.

Many fatherhood comedies feature a hard-edged old man who’s tougher than he needs to be, but producer Shawn Levy has picked up a story about a new dad who needs to grow a pair.

Levy’s 21 Laps Entertainment production company and Fox 2000 have acquired the upcoming book Man Made by Joel Stein (out May 15), about a guy trying to learn how to be a man so he can be a better role model for his infant son.

The struggles of parenting have been a favorite subject of the Night at the Museum and Real Steel filmmaker, though Levy will Not be directing this one.

Steve Carell could be the first cast member to sign on for Lisa Cholodenko's upcoming live-action adaptation of the classic children's book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day . Deadline has the news, saying that the Seeking a Friend at the End of the World and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone star will play a character named Ben. Written by Judith Viorst in 1972, the book revolves around family members collectively enduring the worst day of their lives. Alexander's day goes from bad to worse after he wakes up with gum in his hair. The 20th Century Fox release is being produced by Shawn Levy's 21 Laps and the Jim Henson Company. Levy and Dan Levine will produce for 21 Laps, while Lisa Henson and Jason Lust will produce for the Jim Henson Company....

There was something about the kids book by Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day that I really liked when I was growing up. I thought it was funny. But the older I got the more I realized that's what life was really like... a bunch of terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. With a few little good things sprinkled in the middle.

The director of the film The Kids Are All Right, Lisa Cholodenko, is in negotiations with 20th Century Fox to direct a live-action adaptation of the children's books that sets kids up for the disappointments of life. 

Story by Judith Viorst follows a young boy who endures a frustrating day that begins with him waking up to find gum in his hair and ends with him threatening to move to Australia. Other characters include Alexander's two older brothers and their parents.

The family...

Lisa Cholodenko, who received an Oscar nomination for co-writing The Kids Are All Right , is in negotiations to direct Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day , a live-action adaptation of Judith Viorst's classic children's book, reports Variety . The 1972 book revolves around family members collectively enduring the worst day of their lives. In the book, Alexander's day goes from bad to worse after he wakes up with gum in his hair. The 20th Century Fox release is being produced by Shawn Levy's 21 Laps and the Jim Henson Company. Levy and Dan Levine will produce for 21 Laps, while Lisa Henson and Jason Lust will produce for the Jim Henson Company.

Exclusive: DreamWorks has made a preemptive deal for an untitled pitch that will be written by Jonathan Tropper as a potential directing vehicle for Real Steel helmer Shawn Levy. Part of the deal is rights to a December 10 article in The New York Times about the last lab that had the chemicals to process Kodachrome in the final days before Kodak retired the photo development system and conceded to digital cameras. The plan is to shape that event--Kodachrome fans ventured to the Kansas lab from all over the country--into a father-son road trip story to reach the lab and process photos before those still photo images are forever lost. The film will be produced by 21 Laps' Levy and Dan Levine and Gotham Group's Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Eric Robinson. Gotham brought the project to 21 Laps and they worked out the pitch together. Tropper most recently adapted the Steve Martin novel...

A nice adventure story is making it's way to the big screen, and that's Twentieth Century Fox's new film "Scavengers." The film is set to be taken on by "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" director Thor Freudenthal. Chris Baldi is writing the script but no word on when Fox expects filming to start.After their adventurer father dies, three estranged brothers must unite to go on an international treasure hunt to collect their inheritance. Since adventure movies are starting to become all the rage again, it's pretty cool that Twentieth Century Fox invests in something like "Scavengers." Alexandra Milchan will be producing under Emjag Productions along with Dan Levine and Shawn Levy under 21 Laps Entertainment.Source: Coming Soon!

Exclusive: 20th Century Fox has acquired Scavengers, a script by Chris Baldi that Thor Freudenthal will direct. Freudenthal helmed Diary of a Wimpy Kid for the studio. The film will be produced by Emjag Productions' Alexandra Milchan and 21 Laps' Shawn Levy and Dan Levine. The setup: After their adventurous father dies, three brothers who've been estranged discover that in order to collect their inheritance, they will have to go out on a scavenger hunt to find treasure he left behind. Clues bring them back to many of the childhood experiences they shared with their father. Freudenthal is repped by Gersh and The Gotham Group.

Thor Freudenthal ( Diary of a Wimpy Kid ) will direct direct Scavengers for 20th Century Fox, the studio has confirmed to ComingSoon.net. The script, written by Chris Baldi, is described as follows: After their adventurer father dies, three estranged brothers must unite to go on an international treasure hunt to collect their inheritance. Emjag Productions' Alexandra Milchan will produce the film with 21 Laps' Shawn Levy and Dan Levine.

John D. Payne and Patrick McKay ("Goliath") have been hired to pen the script for "The Deadliest Warrior" at 21 Laps Entertainment and Paramount Pictures reports Variety.

The film will be based on the original TV series from Spike TV, currently in its third season, which pits history's greatest warriors in hypothetical battles.

The storyline for the feature version is being kept under wraps. Dan Levine will produce the pic, with the possibility that Shawn Levy ("Night at the Museum") may direct.

Paramount has announced that it will adapt with its sister company, Spike TV, their popular cable show Deadliest Warrior for the big screen according to Deadline. Director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum) and Dan Levine will produce through his 21 Laps banner. It's been said Levy may be directing.“Spike has some of the most innovative and forward-thinking content on television today, Deadliest Warrior being no exception. The property has proven its ability to engage audiences across multiple platforms,” according to&nbsp...

Paramount reports it has cut a deal for 21 Laps Entertainment to produce a big-screen adaptation of Spike TV's original series "Deadliest Warrior", recently renewed for a third television season.

The partnership between Paramount and Spike TV marks the first time the Viacom owned companies have worked together.

"Spike has some of the most innovative and forward-thinking content on television today," said Paramount Film Group President Adam Goodman.

"Deadliest Warrior" pits history's greatest warriors against one another to determine who 'reigns supreme', enlisting world-class fighters, historians and weapons experts to provide insight into the style of combatants, culminating in a head-to-head final fight between two warriors.

The first two seasons included the battles, 'Spartan vs. Ninja', 'Viking vs. Samurai', 'Pirate vs. Knight', 'Yakuza vs. Mafia' and 'Comanche vs. Mongol'.

21 Laps President Dan Levine will produce.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Deadliest Warrior"...

Deadline is reporting that Paramount has announced plans to adapt sister company Spike TV’s hit show, Deadliest Warrior, for the big screen.

Partnering with Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps Entertainment, this will mark the first collaboration between the two Viacom owned companies.

Paramount said of the deal:

“Spike has some of the most innovative and forward-thinking content on television today, “Deadliest Warrior” being no exception. The property has proven its ability to engage audiences across multiple platforms.”

The series, which due to exceptional ratings has just been renewed for a third season, pitches world-class fighters against one another in order to determine which is deadliest. Weapons experts and historians contribute to the debate, and with the help of the latest CGI technology a winner is predicted before the programme culminates in a final head-to-head battle.

The first two series have included such battles as Spartan vs. Ninja and Viking vs.

Don't ask me how, but Spike TV's Deadliest Warrior is about to be turned into a movie. The popular reality TV series pits different kinds of bad ass soldiers from throughout history against each other through re-enactments and pseudo-scientific analysis. (Some memorable match-ups include Viking vs. Samurai and Ira vs. Taliban.) Experts test different types of weapons and armor and then supposedly feed the data into a computer simulation to determine the winner. It's all pretty ridiculous, but I can sort of understand the appeal. What I can't understand, however, is how this is going to be turned into a feature film. Clearly some sort of time travel device will be a necessity. According to the press release, Paramount will be the ones team up with Spike TV to make this a reality. Shawn Levy and Dan Levine will produce, with Levy potentially directing it himself. Levy is best...