News

Exclusive: Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip), James Franco (The Disaster Artist) and Christopher Meloni (Snatched) are joining Katt Williams (Scary Movie V), Craig Robinson (Hot Tub Time Machine), James Paxton (Twisters) and Oliver Wyman (Feeling Randy) in Adam Rifkin’s psychedelic stoner comedy Toad.

Architect have launched worldwide sales on the eve of Berlin’s EFM. Pic is due to shoot in Q2, 2025 in Atlanta.

James Paxton and Oliver Wyman play Sam and Alex, two hapless but lovable stoners, who accidentally find themselves in the service of crime lord, Charles (Robinson), when they are made to transport a mysterious box from LA to Vegas. Almost immediately, their childlike curiosity gets the better of them and upon opening the box, they find a bunch of live, psychedelic Sonoran “acid” toads. When the toads begin to overheat, the duo make an ill-advised attempt at mouth-to-mouth, thereby dosing themselves with extreme amounts of the toads’ psychedelic secretion.

Exclusive: Comedian Katt Williams is boarding Adam Rifkin’s trippy road-trip comedy Toad opposite James Paxton (Twisters) and Oliver Wyman (Feeling Randy).

The pic follows two dudes who are hired by terrifying crime boss, Charles (Craig Robinson), to transport a box of contraband psychedelic toads from L.A. to Vegas. When the soaring desert temperatures cause the toads to suffer heatstroke, the two imbeciles are inadvertently dosed when they give the toads CPR and suddenly find themselves on a hallucinogenic odyssey.

Williams will play Earl, a cigar-chomping, human-size anthropomorphic toad who may or may not be a figment of the boys’ imaginations. Earl pops up at key points along their journey to give them unsolicited but much-needed advice and philosophical wisdom.

Says Rifkin:”Katt Williams is not only the funniest man on the planet, he’s a latter-day prophet with a voice that resonates across generations. His ability to channel raw truth,...

Exclusive: The Office alum will be playing the villain in Adam Rifkin’s psychedelic Laugh Factory comedy feature production Toad. Cameras roll in February.

In the spirit of pics like Cheech and Chong’s Up In Smoke, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, Toad follows the wild story of two naive slackers, Sam (James Paxton of Twisters) and Alex (Oliver Wyman of Feeling Randy), who are hired to transport a box of contraband psychedelic toads from LA to Vegas. When the desert heat causes the toads to suffer heatstroke, our two heroes are inadvertently dosed when they give the toads CPR and suddenly find themselves on an hallucinogenic odyssey.

Robinson will play Charles, a charming, yet terrifying crime boss who entrusts the delivery of his precious toads to the knuckle headed Sam and Alex. When Sam and Alex fail to arrive in Vegas on schedule,...

Exclusive: The Laugh Factory is venturing into feature film production with the launch of Laugh Factory Entertainment; their first project being Adam Rifkin’s stoner comedy, Toad, which Deadline first told you about.

The new division will be led by new Laugh Factory President David Fuhrer, Head of Entertainment John Weiser and Laugh Factory founder Jamie Masada who are expanding the iconic brand beyond the comedy clubs into film, television, podcasts, digital content, and live events.

James Paxton

Directed by Rifkin and co-written by the filmmaker with Piers Ashworth, Toad, follows the wild story of two naive slackers, Sam (James Paxton of Twisters) and Alex (Oliver Wyman of Feeling Randy), who are hired by a crime boss to transport a box of contraband psychedelic toads from LA to Vegas. When the desert heat causes the toads to suffer heatstroke, the two are inadvertently dosed when they give the toads CPR...

Exclusive: Filmmaker Adam Rifkin, Brad Wyman and Michael P.J. Gerstein’s FutureIII Entertainment have acquired the option rights to Brazilian Mixed Martial artist Rickson Gracie’s HarperCollins memoir, Breathe: A Life in Flow.

Rickson Gracie, now 64, ended his fight career undefeated. Breathe: A Life in Flow follows his rise from the victories in the streets during the 1970s to joining the pantheon that includes Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris.

Rickson Gracie’s memoir weaves together the story of his career with the larger history of the Gracie family dynasty and the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, to his final fight in the Tokyo Dome in 2000.

Brazilian jujitsu, the fighting style developed and pioneered by the Gracie family, has become one of the world’s most prominent martial arts, and Vale Tudo, the “anything goes” style of Brazilian street fighting over which the Gracies had a monopoly, was...

Exclusive: Filmmaker Adam Rifkin is set to direct his next feature, the stoner comedy, Toad, which he co-wrote with Bank of Dave scribe Piers Ashworth. Cameras will roll this autumn in New Mexico.

James Paxton

In the spirit of such pics like Cheech and Chong’s Up In Smoke, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, Toad tells the tale of two naive slackers, Sam (played by James Paxton of Twisters and Rifkin’s western Last Train to Fortune) and Alex (Oliver Wyman of Feeling Randy), who are hired by a frightening cartel boss to deliver a cardboard box from LA to Vegas for the tidy sum of $10k. The boys think it’s their lucky day. Instructed not to look in the box, the duo can’t contain their curiosity and as soon as they drive off the property they pull over and have a peek.

Actor, writer and filmmaker Honey Lauren has set the cast for her feature directorial debut “Mistake.”

The indie drama stars Dominic Bogart, Matt Bogart (“Jersey Boys Live!”), Emmy winner and Golden Globe nominee Kay Lenz (“House”), Brett Cullen and Jiji Hise (“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”) alongside Lauren.

The film follows Larry Benson (Dominic Bogart) who is born intersex in the deep south in 1941. His parents must choose, boy or girl. With hormone treatment Larry is raised as a man. The deep south is anything but an understanding environment in which to realize that a mistake has been made.

Brandon Keener, Cameron Deane Stewart, Natalie Makenna, Rachel Alig, Elaine Alexander, Michael Villar, Jennifer Daily (“Casual”), Max Emerson (“Single All the Way”), Carrie Gibson and Jaime Gallagher round out the supporting cast.

Brad Wyman (“Monster”), Erik Bakken and Davey Robertson are serving as producers. Production is underway in Kentucky and Los Angeles.

Exclusive: Malcolm McDowell is saddling up with James Paxton, Bernadette Peters and Laura Marano for Adam Rifkin’s Western Last Train to Fortune.

Last Train to Fortune also reteams McDowell with his former wife, Oscar winner Mary Steenburgen, the duo previously starring together in the 1979 sci-fi drama Time After Time and the 1983 Martin Ritt drama Cross Creek.

In the pic, McDowell plays Cecil Peachtree, a stuffed-shirt schoolmaster who misses the last train to Fortune and meets an outlaw named Dooley (Paxton), at which point they strike a deal: The gunslinger will ride the book-loving Cecil to Fortune in exchange for his teacher’s stipend awaiting him. Along the way there are gunfights, jailbreaks and saloon gals, and our mismatched heroes form an unlikely bond. The pic, which is produced by Michael P.J. Gerstein, Paxton, Matt Williams, Rifkin and Brad Wyman (the Oscar-winning Charlize Theron drama Monster) is said to be...

One of the company’s secret releases for their Black Friday Sale, Vinegar Syndrome has just given 1996’s Freeway a 4K Ultra HD upgrade and it’s packed with fresh new material.

The modern take on Little Red Riding Hood was directed by Matthew Bright, with Reese Witherspoon as Little Red Riding Hood and Kiefer Sutherland as the Big Bad Wolf.

Vinegar Syndrome writes, “Among the most notorious and jaw dropping “mainstream” movies of the 90s, Freeway has earned a reputation as a neo-exploitation classic and critically acclaimed indie thriller thanks to its unhinged violence, sharply written dialogue, and general non-stop barrage on good taste, all wrapped up as one truly twisted fairytale.

Starring Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon alongside film and TV superstar Kiefer Sutherland (The Lost Boys), and co-starring Emmy nominee Bokeem Woodbine (Dead Presidents), along with acclaimed character actors Wolfgang Bodison (A Few Good Men), and Dan Hedaya...

Exclusive: Even before the pandemic, the foreign sales market became mired down with some risky bets, i.e. the over exorbitant Roland Emmerich sci-fi disaster title Moonfall which carried a 140M production cost (resulting in a 44.3M WW gross), and Simon Kinberg’s femme spy ensemble The 355 at a 75M cost (which grossed just under 28M WW).

But there’s arguably a safer way to make moolah in the foreign sales sphere and that’s off of YA feature adaptations.

True, it’s been a while since the grand slam days of Lionsgate’s Hunger Games series and Summit International’s Twilight franchise, however, these movies can be made off a low cost yielding singles, doubles, or even home runs at the box office. Or worst case scenario, be in the black simply off their sales to streamers. And if a movie strikes out, it doesn’t sting so...

Lexus and Oscar-winning film studio The Weinstein Company are currently partnering on the annual Lexus Short Films program, currently in its fourth season, with filmmakers Patty Jenkins, Antoine Fuqua and Taylor Sheridan joining the selection committee. The committee, which also includes executives from The Weinstein Company and Lexus, will recommend the top four short films submitted to the contest through Withoutabox. This year’s theme is “Transformation,” and will focus on films that “transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.”

The selected short films get their work taken to the next level by receiving full production resources with the help of The Weinstein Company. More information is available here.

“Wonder Woman” director Jenkins is no stranger to the art of the short film. She explained how an early short film started her career and why she’s excited about participating in the Lexus program.

What are the qualities you look for in a great short film?...

The 2014 European Film Market only just kicked off, but as far as we're concerned, the best news of the year so far has come today as Bill Paxton is returning to the director's chair... for an adaptation of a Joe Lansdale novel no less!

Per Deadline, Paradise City, the production label of Paris-based Memento Films International, has tapped Paxton to direct an adaptation of Joe Lansdale’s novel The Bottoms based on a script by Brent Hanley, who wrote Paxton’s excellent 2001 directing effort Frailty.

“I have been a big fan of Joe Lansdale’s writing since the Hap and Leonard novels,” Paxton says. “His stories and characters are vivid, original, and indelible. The screenwriter Brent Hanley and I have been looking to team up again since Frailty, and when we read Joe’s book The Bottoms, we knew we had hit pay dirt. With a story and script this good,...

Earlier today we alerted you to the special Halloween screenings at the American Cinematheque. They aren't the only Halloween game in Los Angeles. Cinefamily has announced their 30 midnights program for Halloween. Last year the focus was on video nasties; this year it is the United States of Horror, a "cross-country death trip, with each night celebrating a different state of the Union, and regional horror filmmaking of all stripes. Whether it's unknown directors toiling away on backyard labors of love, or itinerant auteurs falling in love with and shooting an unfamiliar landscape as if it was their own, this series' thirty entries provide a vibrant overview of our nation's hidden horror history." Sounds way safer than taking an actual roadtrip.

Your itinerary:

Tuesday, Oct. 1st, midnight – Southern California: Equinox

Wednesday, Oct. 2nd, midnight – Arizona: White of the Eye (producer Brad Wyman in person!)

Thursday, Oct. 3rd, midnight – Nevada: Tremors

Friday,...

FundAnything, backed by Donald Trump and founded by Bill Zanker, has been on the crowdsourcing scene for a month now but aims to set itself apart from IndieGoGo and Kickstarter with the power of celebrity. The neophyte crowdfunding site has tapped veteran producer Brad Wyman (Monster, Barb Wire) as its Cco – that’s Chief Crowdfunding Officer – and head of Film/Video/Web in charge of developing fundraising projects and building a worldwide sales team. Wyman most recently did a stint at rival crowdfunder IndieGoGo and will look to help nurture fundraising projects and invest FundAnything’s own seed money to help select projects meet their full or partial funding goals. FundAnything is open to projects that span film, television, webseries, and other types of projects including music, gaming, and nonprofit, but unlike other crowdsourcing competitors is actively looking for celebrity-fronted campaigns. “We’re looking to celebritize crowdfunding,” Zanker tells me...

In a novel development FundAnything has brought in Brad Wyman to serve as chief crowdfunding officer and head of the film/video/web division.

Wyman, who produced Monster, spent the past year at Indiegogo working on projects in film, video and web and is charged with building a worldwide sales team focused on arts, community and non-profit projects.

“We are so thrilled to welcome Brad Wyman into the FundAnything fold,” said FundAnything.com founder Bill Zanker. “Brad’s experience, knowledge and energy will bring out the best in our campaigns and will help people get their campaigns funded.”

“One of the things that most excites me about my new position at FundAnything is that unlike other platforms, we are here to help you get funded,” said Wyman.

Lionsgate have sent over three new clips from Jason Statham’s new movie, Blitz.It’s set for release 20th May in the UK and stars Jason Statham, Luke Evans, David Morrissey, Aidan Gillen, Paddy Considine, Chris Wilson and is directed by Elliott Lester. Check out the new clips below and you’ll see this has the usual Statham signature stamp on it!

Synopsis: Jason Statham (The Mechanic, The Expendables) heads the cast of Blitz as the tough, uncompromising and un-pc detective “Brant”, who is teamed with unlikely partner “Sgt Porter Nash” played by Paddy Considine (The Bourne Ultimatum) to investigate a series of police murders. BAFTA and Tony Award-nominee Aidan Gillen (HBO’s The Wire) and fellow BAFTA-nominee David Morrissey (Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, State of Play, Nowhere Boy) join the cast as a cop-hating serial killer “Weiss” (Gillen) and hack crime reporter “Dunlop” (Morrissey).

The strong supporting cast...

Lindsay Lohan has been offered the role of murdered actress Sharon Tate in "Eyes of a Dream" reports TMZ (via The Daily Mail).

Photographer Tyler Shields will direct the film and play Charles Manson, the infamous cult leader and subject of the film in question. Sharon Tate was an American actress who was married to film director Roman Polanski. She was eight-and-a-half months pregnant when she was murdered in her home with four other people by Manson's followers.

Brad Wyman will produce. Lohan was tapped to play porn star Linda Lovelace in the film "Inferno" but that project fell apart after Lohan's rehab stint conflicted with the shooting schedule.

Four months after she was let go from the Linda Lovelace biopic after violating her probation and checking into the Betty Ford Center, Lindsay Lohan has been offered a role as another iconic actress: Sharon Tate. Photographer Tyler Shields tells EW that the actress is in talks to star as the Valley of the Dolls actress in his upcoming film Eyes of a Dreamer, a film about murderer Charles Manson, who famously killed a pregnant Tate in August 1969. (Tate was married to filmmaker Roman Polanski at the time.) Though Lohan is not yet locked in for the role, Shields — a...

Lindsay Lohan could be a murder victim in a new film. TMZ has reported that the 24-year-old actress has been offered to play Sharon Tate, the lead character in a biopic tentatively called "Eyes of a Dreamer", which revolves around Tate who was killed by the followers of Charles Manson.

The gossip site also reported that Tyler Shields will play the murderer, as well as helming the project. In addition, the site also claimed that Brad Wyman, one of the executives behind the production of 2003's "Monster", serves as the producer.

Sharon Tate was an American actress who was the late wife of director Roman Polanski. She was murdered in 1969 while she was eight and a half months pregnant with her child. She was killed with four other people in her house by Charles Manson followers.

Lohan last starred in "Machete". She has been dealing with law after she is...

The Movie Gods must have smiled down on Lindsay Lohan because she was just offered a new movie role. She's been offered the role of Sharon Tate in an upcoming movie about Charles Manson. According to TMZ, the movie is called "Eyes of a Dreamer" and is being produced by Brad Wyman, who is one of the guys who did "Monster" with Charlize Theron. Celeb photographer Tyler Shields is directing and staring in the movie--as Charles Manson. But that's about the only info we know so far. Hopefully Lindsay can stay out of trouble long enough to...

By Pat Ryder

HollywoodNews.com: When you think of Lindsay Lohan, Sharon Tate is not the first thing that comes to mind. But if the rumors are true, Lohan is being considered for a role as the late actress in an upcoming biopic about Charles Manson.

TMZ reports that Lohan was offered the role of Tate in the upcoming film “Eyes of a Dreamer,” which will be produced by Brad Wyman. Photographer Tyler Shields would star as Manson and direct.

Lohan watchers will recall that she was tapped to play porn star Linda Lovelace in the upcoming “Inferno,” but was summarily dropped due to her legal troubles and rehab stint. Director Michael Wilder couldn’t hold off filming any longer and Lohan lost the role in November 2010.

At the time, The film’s producer, Chris Hanley told People.com:

Lindsay had scheduling issues due to legal obligations and is continuing...

Lindsay Lohan could soon be a famous murder victim -- because TMZ has learned she's been offered the role of Sharon Tate in an upcoming movie about Charles Manson . The movie's called "Eyes of a Dreamer" and is being produced by Brad Wyman ... one of the guys who did "Monster" with Charlize Theron . The part of Charles Manson will be played by celeb photographer Tyler Shields -- whose work you might recognize -- and get...

There are writers whom readers love. There are writers whom writers admire. And then there are the precious few: writers who can captivate a reader with the telling of their tale and with their characters as well as being able to astound their peers – the people who know the mechanics of what he does – and earn their respect by the journeyman-like talent displayed on every page of every book.

Joe R. Lansdale is one of those writers. Since the publication of his first novel, Act of Love, his unique voice has captured both the hearts and the imaginations of readers and wordsmiths alike.

And now, roughly three decades since, he continues to craft engaging, well written novels that spellbind an eager and voracious audience. With titles like The Drive-In, The Bottoms, Dead in the West, Nightrunners, the majestic Fine Dark Line, and the riotous Hap & Leonard Mysteries (Savage Season, Mucho Mojo,...

"Wire" star Aidan Gillen and BAFTA-nominated David Morrissey (The Reaping, Red Riding trilogy) have joined the cast of Lionsgate U.K.'s forthcoming U.K. feature Blitz, the crime thriller about a cop-hating serial killer who targets officers at a South London police station. Directed by Elliott Lester, "Blitz" has been adapted for the screen from Ken Bruen's novel by Nathan Parker, with a cast that also features Mark Ryland, Zawe Ashton and Jason Statham. Produced by Zygi Kamasa, Steve Chasman, Brad Wyman and Donald Kushner, Lionsgate U.K. will fully finance its debut British production, following its commitment last year to expand into the U.K. production arena. The movie, which begins principal photography Aug. 9, will be scheduled for release through Lionsgate U.K. in 2010 with international sales handled by Mandate International.

London -- "Wire" star Aidan Gillen and BAFTA-nominated David Morrissey have joined the cast of Lionsgate U.K.'s forthcoming U.K. feature "Blitz," the crime thriller about a cop-hating serial killer who targets officers at a South London police station.

Directed by Elliott Lester, "Blitz" has been adapted for the screen from Ken Bruen's novel by Nathan Parker, with a cast that also features Mark Ryland, Zawe Ashton and Jason Statham.

Produced by Zygi Kamasa, Steve Chasman, Brad Wyman and Donald Kushner, Lionsgate U.K. will fully finance its debut British production, following its commitment last year to expand into the U.K. production arena.

The movie, which begins principal photography Aug. 9, will be scheduled for release through Lionsgate U.K. in 2010 with international sales handled by Mandate International.

Actor Jason "The Bank Job" Statham is in final negotiations to star in Blitz, adapting author Ken Bruen's bestseller, about a killer targeting police officers. Lionsgate UK will fully finance the project, with Mandate handling international sales. Statham will play a tough cop assigned to the case, with actor Paddy Considine as his partner. Screenplay is by Nathan Parker for director Elliott Lester. Lionsgate UK's Zygi Kamasa, Steve Chasman, Brad Wyman and Donald Kushner will produce Blitz for an August 10, London, UK start. Sneak Peek the trailer for The Bank Job...

Chicago – The Round-Up is back with a house-cleaning version of our legendary column that brings five titles together that have almost nothing in common other than the fact that they might have slipped under your radar as you were busy spring cleaning. A Bollywood musical, an indie film, a new TV show, an old one, and a foreign one. We’ve got something for everyone.

“Caprica” was released on Tuesday, April 21st, 2009.

“Chandni Chowk to China,” “Gavin and Stacey: Season One,” and “Look” were released on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009.

“Two and a Half Men: Season Five” will be released on Tuesday, May 12th, 2009.

“Caprica”

Photo credit: Universal Synopsis: “An astonishing breakthrough is taking shape on the planet “Caprica”. The rapidly evolving spheres of human and mechanical engineering have collided, along with the fates of two families. Joined by tragedy in an explosive instant of terror, two rival clans led by powerful patriarchs,...

Ken Bruen’s police thriller will be directed by Elliot Lester for Lionsgate UK. Donald Kushner and Brad Wyman will produce the film.

The film will centre on a serial killer whose aiming for tabloid immortality by executing cops in southeast London. Lionsgate will produce and also co finance the movie. Shooting for the film will begin early next year. It is sure going to be one of those taut thrillers that is sure going to get an interesting cast.

The British born director, who made his first film Love is the Drug will direct the movie, which is based on a Nathan Parker’s script.

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Actress Lindsay Lohan has signed up to star as a devoted follower of killer Charles Manson in a new movie about the sinister cult leader.

Lohan will star as Manson Family member Nancy Pittman in upcoming film Manson Girls.

Director Brad Wyman confirms the casting to website E! Online, stating, "Yes, I am doing it (the film) with Lindsay."

Manson was found guilty of conspiracy to commit seven murders, including that of director Roman Polanski's actress wife Sharon Tate in 1969. Through the responsibility rule of conspiracy, Manson was convicted of the murders themselves.

First Mark David Chapman, and now this! Lindsay Lohan, fresh off her big-screen role opposite John Lennon's killer (aka the chubby Jared Leto) in Chapter 27, has signed up to star in another film about a murderer – this time, it's Charles Manson. Lohan, 21, will play one of Manson's cult followers, Nancy Pitman, in the movie Manson Girls, E! Online reports. The site quotes the film's producer, Brad Wyman, as saying, "Yes, I am doing it with Lindsay."The actress has been busy back at work since her departure from rehab last fall. She's also recording a new album...

National Lampoon has acquired worldwide rights to Adam Rifkin's Homo Erectus. The prehistoric comedy, the film, written and directed by Rifkin, stars Rifkin and Ali Larter. Produced by Burnt Orange Productions and the University of Texas Film Institute with Brad Wyman and Carolyn Pfeiffer serving as producers and Tom Schatz as exec producer, the film will be released theatrically in September under the title "National Lampoon's Homo Erectus," followed by home video distribution through National Lampoon Home Entertainment.

Kelly Preston and Michelle Trachtenberg have sparked to The Possibility of Fireflies. Dominique Paul is making her directorial debut on the film, an adaptation of her novel. Preston will play a single mother struggling to keep her life in order after her husband abandons her, forcing her to raise their two daughters on her own. Trachtenberg will play the older daughter. The drama will shoot in January in South Carolina. Brad Wyman, Donald Kushner and Patty Jenkins -- the team behind the Oscar-winning Charlize Theron starrer Monster -- are producing. Joel Stevens is an executive producer. Musician BT is composing music for the film and is an exec producer.

Wesley Snipes and Mario Van Peebles, who teamed memorably for 1991's New Jack City, are reuniting for Hard Luck. Cybill Shepherd is joining Snipes, who is in final negotiations to topline the pulpy thriller, which Van Peebles is directing. Brad Wyman (Monster) is producing along with Van Peebles. Hard Luck is described as a quirky thriller following three converging story lines involving bootleggers, a serial killer and drug dealers. Snipes will play a former drug dealer who is trying to go straight but comes across a stash of stolen drugs. Shepherd will play Cass, a middle-aged suburban housewife who hides a sadistic and vicious streak.

Adam Rifkin will write, direct and star in Homo Erectus, a comedy set in prehistoric times. Brad Wyman and Carolyn Pfeiffer will produce the tentatively titled picture, and Burnt Orange Prods. will provide financing. Described as being in the vein of Woody Allen's Bananas and Sleeper, Homo Erectus centers on Ishbo, a philosophical caveman who yearns for more out of life than sticks, stones and raw meat. The rest of his tribe write off his forward-thinking ideas as the ravings of an idiot, including the cavegirl he loves from afar. Tom Schatz will executive produce. Casting has already begun in Los Angeles and Austin.

LONDON -- London-based independent distributor Metrodome has acquired U.K. theatrical and retail DVD rights to Patty Jenkins' Monster, the company said Tuesday. The movie stars Charlize Theron as serial killer Aileen Wuornos, a performance that earned her a Golden Globe nomination. No financial details of the deal were revealed. Metrodome acquired the rights from DEJ Prods. and will release the film April 2 in U.K. theaters. Jenkins penned the screenplay for Monster, which also marks her feature film directorial debut. The movie is produced by Theron, Mark Damon, Clark Peterson, Donald Kushner and Brad Wyman. Other recent Metrodome acquisitions include Mark and Michael Polish's Northfork and The Corporation, directed by Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbot.

Heather Graham, James Purefoy and Andy Serkis have been tapped to star in the independent feature Samantha's Child. The film is being directed by English commercial director Simon Fellows and is being produced by Brad Wyman, Donald Kushner and Andrew Stevens. David Hemmings also was working on the film when he died unexpectedly Wednesday.

In what will likely be her first movie role since giving birth to her son a year ago, Elizabeth Hurley is in negotiations to star in Junction Films' The Method for British director Duncan Roy. Production on the film begins in July in Romania. Written by Katie Fetting, the project is described as Day for Night meets Basic Instinct. It follows a celebrity actress (Hurley) who gets her dream role playing real-life 19th century serial killer Belle Gunness in a feature film and starts to take on the characteristics of the role onscreen and off. Junction Films' Donald Kushner and Brad Wyman are producing with Andrew Stevens of Trademark Entertainment. Trademark will act as worldwide sales agent for the film. Junction and Trademark are co-financing the project, which is budged in the $7 million range. Hurley, repped by UTA and attorney Steven Brookman, most recently starred onscreen in Paramount Pictures' Serving Sara. Her credits include Bedazzled and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. Roy, who is repped by Innovative Artists, wrote, directed and executive produced the indie feature AKA. The film was nominated for a BAFTA Award for best first feature this year and won the audience award at the Outfest Film Festival in October.