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Stephen Kinghas become the master of horror, with dozens of his works adapted into film and television, but one of his most infamous projects rises above all the others: Maximum Overdrive. The 1986 film marked King's sole directorial effort, with the author swearing off directing afterward due to the insanity of making the film. But it has become a cult classic for its campy, bonkers nature, and star Emilio Estevezrecently revealed that he even scripted a sequel.

"I started to imagine what a sequel to Maximum Overdrive would look like, and during the [2023 Hollywood] strike, I wrote one," Estevez told Josh Horowitz on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast. "I don't have the rights to any of this... I started on page one, now I'm on page 10, I'm on page 20, now it's 50 pages, and I can't stop." Estevez added more about the premise of his truly wild-sounding sequel:

"I created an insane world.

Stephen King has written hundreds of short stories and more than sixty novels, but he has only directed one movie: the goofball 1986 film Maximum Overdrive (watch it Here). King has avoided directing ever since and star Emilio Estevez has said that not only does he regret working on the movie, but that King has even begged Estevez to forgive him for getting him into that mess. But Estevez doesn’t regret his involvement with Maximum Overdrive so much that it would keep him from working on a sequel – in fact, he pitched and wrote a script for a Maximum Overdrive 2 himself!

Based on King’s short story Trucks, Maximum Overdrive has the following synopsis: After a comet causes a radiation storm on Earth, machines come to life and turn against their makers. Holed up in a North Carolina truck stop, a group of survivors must fend for themselves against a mass of homicidal trucks.

Former child star Corey Feldman rose to fame with his roles in popular 80s movies like Stand by Me, The Goonies, The Lost Boys, and Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter. According to the actor and musician, Feldman was also cast in a major role role for the acclaimed film What's Eating Gilbert Grape alongside Juliette Lewis and Johnny Depp.

Per People, Feldman spoke about What's Eating Gilbert Grape during a new interview with Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan's The Magnificent Others podcast. Feldman said he was originally cast as Arnie Grape, a teenager with developmental disabilities who was ultimately portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. It was then alleged that after his casting, Depp went to the film's producers to request that Feldman should be dropped from the project, citing the actor's struggles with addiction.

“I was actually cast to play Leonardo DiCaprio's role," Feldman said, adding that...

DiCaprio's early career includes some outstanding romantic dramas. His collaboration with Martin Scorsese and work with other great directors like Christopher Nolan and Quentin Tarantino shows his dedication to interesting standalone projects. DiCaprio shines in roles based on real-life figures, delivering award-winning performances in movies like The Revenant.

Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the greatest actors currently working in Hollywood, and there are a few key movies which have helped cement his reputation. DiCaprio started out as a prodigious young talent, earning his first Oscar nomination at the age of 19. He delivered on the promise that he showed in his early career with a string of critically acclaimed performances in a variety of roles. First, he became a handsome romantic lead, but he soon transitioned into crime dramas, historical biopics and much more.

DiCaprio has never appeared in a major movie franchise, despite some big offers. Instead, he has focused on interesting standalone projects.

Stephen King has written hundreds of short stories and more than sixty novels, but he has only directed one movie: the goofball 1986 film Maximum Overdrive (watch it Here). King has avoided directing ever since and star Emilio Estevez has said that not only does he regret working on the movie, but that King has even begged Estevez to forgive him for getting him into that mess. But one cast member who doesn’t share the negative opinion King and Estevez have on Maximum Overdrive is Giancarlo Esposito, who appears in the film as a character called “Videoplayer.”

Esposito, best known these days for his role on Breaking Bad, told Cinema Blend that he thought King did a brilliant job on the film. Esposito said, “I thought Stephen was brilliant in directing that film and thought he would have a long career as a director. He’s prolific as a writer of course,...

Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive is a cult classic despite being a critical and commercial flop. Actor Giancarlo Esposito praised King's directing and enjoyed working with him in the film. Stephen King has repeatedly apologized for the movie, acknowledging his struggles with addiction during its production.

Released in 1986 and based on the Stephen King short story Trucks, Maximum Overdrive remains the only movie the horror author ever directed, and for good reason. It was a critical and commercial flop, earning just $7.4 million at the box office against a budget of $9 million. However, while its widely regarded as one of the worst Stephen King adaptations ever made, its also become a guilty pleasure of many over the years, including Giancarlo Esposito, who appeared briefly in the movie early on in his career.

Speaking with CinemaBlend, Esposito took time to reflect on Maximum Overdrive, saying that at the time he thought King...

Horror master Stephen King has had his terrifying stories adapted into movies since the 1970s, The prolific author has been the literary backbone behind some of cinema's best films. These include Academy Award-nominated and winning films like The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and Misery, box office explosions like 2017's It and the 2019 sequel, and possibly the greatest coming-of-age movie of all time, Stand by Me.

However, in 1986, King took a step outside his novelist comfort zone, and decided to direct Maximum Overdrive, a revved-up, diesel-fueled horror movie about sentient machines trying to take over the world. The cheesy, gory, critically-panned movie brought together a fun cast of Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle (Batman), Laura Harrington (What's Eating Gilbert Grape), Yeardley Smith (The Simpsons), and Holter Graham (Fly Away Home). Taking place in Wilmington, Nc, Maximum Overdrive brought forth corny one-liners, massive truck explosions, snarky ATMs, and squished children. Over the past 35+ years,...

Stephen King has been a certifiable master of horror for decades, inspiring countless creatives from authors to artists to filmmakers and many, many more. His prolific writing is the subject of awe and mockery, but it’s undeniable that some of our favorite films of all time were born out of King’s eccentric mind. It’s only natural that the author would try his hand at directing after seeing his work adapted by so many others, and in 1986 his one and only directorial venture was released: Maximum Overdrive.

Based on King’s short story Trucks from the anthology Night Shift, Maximum Overdrive follows a group of survivors battling sentient machinery (mostly trucks) trying to take over the planet. It’s a wacky premise that could be an interesting commentary on the way the technologies we create ultimately subjugate us. Instead, it’s a chaotic B-movie full of logic gaps,...

Stephen King has written hundreds of short stories and more than sixty novels, but he has only directed one movie. The goofball 1986 film Maximum Overdrive (watch it Here), which came to Blu-ray as part of the Vestron Video Collector’s Series back in 2018. Now it has been announced that Vestron Video has put together a special steelbook release of Maximum Overdrive – and this steelbook will only be available at Walmart! The street date is May 30th, and pre-orders are already been accepted on Walmart.com.

Images of the steelbook case can be seen at the bottom of this article.

Based on King’s short story Trucks, Maximum Overdrive has the following synopsis: After a comet causes a radiation storm on Earth, machines come to life and turn against their makers. Holed up in a North Carolina truck stop, a group of survivors must fend for themselves against a mass of homicidal trucks.

Get behind the wheel of one wild ride when Lionsgate’s Vestron Video Collector’s Series releases Stephen King’s Maximum Overdrive on Blu-ray SteelBook on May 30!

The Blu-ray + Digital SteelBook is exclusive to Walmart, up for pre-order now. Maximum Overdrive was notably written for the screen and directed by Stephen King himself.

We assume the SteelBook release has the same special features as the recent Vestron Video Collector’s Series Blu-ray release of Maximum Overdrive, which included…

New: Audio Commentary with Writer Tony Magistrale, Author of Hollywood’s Steven King New: Audio Commentary by Actor and Comedian Jonah Ray and Blumhouse Film Executive Ryan Turek New: “Truck Stop Tales” Featurette – An Interview with Producer Martha De Laurentiis New: “Rage Against the Machines” Featurette – An Interview with Actress Laura Harrington New: “Honeymoon Horrors” Featurette – Interviews with Actor John Short and Actress Yeardley Smith New: “Maximum Carnage” Featurette – An Interview with...

As someone who has loved Stephen King’s Maximum Overdrive for more than 30 years now (I wrote about it Here a few years back), the recent Vestron Video Collector’s Series Blu-ray for what I consider to be the ultimate cult film of the 1980s is an absolute treasure trove of awesomeness for fans and newcomers alike. The special features dive into literally everything you could want (minus an interview with King and Maximum Overdrive star Emilio Estevez), from the casting to the effects to how producers Dino De Laurentiis and Martha Schumacher (De Laurentiis) helped establish “Hollywood East” in Wilmington, North Carolina, and even follows the story of how the Green Goblin head came to be restored back in 2011.

I won’t really dive into the story of Maximum Overdrive, because chances are, if you’re reading this site, you are probably already pretty familiar with King’s tale...

It’s a damn good week to be a Stephen King fan, that is for sure, because we have two must-own Blu-ray releases coming out on Tuesday, perfect for some inspired Halloween-time viewings. First up, Scream Factory has put together a Collector’s Edition of Creepshow that is just utterly phenomenal, and there’s also the long overdue Blu for Maximum Overdrive that’s coming out as part of the Vestron Video Collector’s Series.

As if that wasn’t already enough, Brian De Palma’s Sisters joins the ranks of The Criterion Collection this week, Night of the Demons is getting the Steelbook treatment, there’s an unrated version of Fede Alvarez’s Evil Dead that arrives on Blu, plus there’s a special edition of Deadbeat by Dawn to look forward to as well.

Other notable releases for October 23rd include The Devil’s Doorway, The Unnamable, Patient Zero,...

Maximum Overdrive is the only movie legendary horror author Stephen King ever directed himself, and while fans have been torn between loving it and hating it, there is no denying it has a certain energy and aura that is utterly fascinating. Now, the 1986 cult classic is back in beautiful Blu-ray, looking better than it ever has before, and we have a sneak peek at what to expect from this release.

The Maximum Overdrive is arriving on limited edition Blu-ray this Tuesday, October 23, just in time for the Halloween holiday. To celebrate, we have a special look back at the movie featuring Stephen King himself. Hear tales of what it was like working with King as he brought his one and only sci-fi horror masterpiece to life.

Vestron Video Collector's Series lets fans go behind the wheel of this very wild ride, with Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive hitting the stores and...

Program Description

Get behind the wheel of one wild ride when the Vestron Video Collector’s Series releases Stephen King’s Maximum Overdrive on limited-edition Blu-ray on October 23 from Lionsgate. Written for the screen and directed by the original Master of Horror – Stephen King – this marks the first time ever that this horrifying film about sentient, homicidal machines has been released on Blu-ray in the U.S. Maximum Overdrive is loaded with all-new special features, including interviews with Producer Martha De Laurentiis and Special Make-Up Effects Creator Dean Gates; on-set vintage interviews with Stephen King, Emilio Estevez, and Laura Harrington; behind-the-scenes footage; and more! The Maximum Overdrive limited-edition Blu-ray will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.97.

Official Synopsis

Get ready for the ultimate battle of man vs. bloodthirsty machine in this terrifying Stephen King classic! For three horrifying days, the Earth passes through the tail of a mysterious comet.

Get behind the wheel of one wild ride when the Vestron Video Collector’s Series releases Stephen King’s Maximum Overdrive on limited-edition Blu-ray on October 23 from Lionsgate. Written for the screen and directed by the original Master of Horror – Stephen King – this marks the first time ever that this horrifying film about sentient, homicidal machines has been released on Blu-ray in the U.S. Maximum Overdrive is loaded with all-new special features, including interviews with Producer Martha De Laurentiis and Special Make-Up Effects Creator Dean Gates; on-set vintage interviews with Stephen King, Emilio Estevez, and Laura Harrington; behind-the-scenes footage; and more! The Maximum Overdrive limited-edition Blu-ray will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.97.

Get ready for the ultimate battle of man vs. bloodthirsty machine in this terrifying Stephen King classic! For three horrifying days, the Earth passes through the tail of a mysterious comet. The skies glow...

Get behind the wheel of one wild ride when the Vestron Video Collector's Series releases Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive on limited-edition Blu-ray&#8482 on October 23 from Lionsgate. Written for the screen and directed by the original Master of Horror - Stephen King - this marks the first time ever that this horrifying film about sentient, homicidal machines has been released on Blu-ray in the U.S. Maximum Overdrive is loaded with all-new special features, including interviews with Producer Martha De Laurentiis and Special Make-Up Effects Creator Dean Gates; on-set vintage interviews with Stephen King, Emilio Estevez, and Laura Harrington; behind-the-scenes footage; and more! The Maximum Overdrive limited-edition Blu-ray will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.97.

Maximum Overdrive Blu-ray special features include:&#8226 New: Audio Commentary with Writer Tony Magistrale, Author of Hollywood's Steven King&#8226 New: Audio Commentary by Actor and Comedian Jonah Ray and Blumhouse Film Executive Ryan Turek...

*Updated with Full List of Special Features and New Trailer* If you think of rogue steamrollers and bloodthirsty semi trucks every time you hear AC/DC's "Who Made Who," then you might be a big fan of Maximum Overdrive, the 1986 horror film directed by the master of the genre himself, Stephen King. Several of us at Daily Dead are passionate fans of the zany movie that pits humans against machines, so we're excited to see that Lionsgate's Vestron Video is bringing Maximum Overdrive to Blu-ray in the Us.

New Press Release: "The Vestron Video series keeps on trucking with the upcoming release of Stephen King’s cult classic Maximum Overdrive, arriving on limited-edition Blu-ray™ on October 23.

Stephen King’s Horrifying Vision Arrives on Blu-rayTM in the U.S. for the First Time Ever!

Street Date: 10/23/18

Blu-ray™ Srp: $39.97

Program Description

Get behind the wheel of one wild ride when the...

Laura Harrington has been tapped to write The Trials of Nina McCall, which will tell the story of one of the largest mass quarantines in U.S. history.

The film is an adaptation of the forthcoming book by Scott Wasserman Stern, which is due out in spring 2018 from Beacon Press. Cathy Schulman (Crash, Bad Moms) picked up the film rights to Stern's novel over the summer and will produce via her Welle Entertainment banner.

The story will center on the American Plan, a program set up by the U.S. military and U.S. Centers for Disease Control that allowed local law enforcement and health officials to gather...

Early word is that the new It remake is one of the better Stephen King adaptations. So of course we're going to take a look back at one of the worst... Maximum Overdrive (1986) Director: Stephen King Stars: Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle, Laura Harrington A mysterious comet flying close to Earth causes all machines on the planet to come alive and turn on their human owners. There's been no... Read More...

Lifetime is giving a vote of confidence to “UnReal,” giving the show a fourth season renewal, even as the show’s third season premiere is still several months away.

The network also renewed drama “Mary Kills People” for a second season, and greenlighted two new made-for-tv movies: “Faith Under Fire,” starring Toni Braxton, and “The Simone Biles Story.”

Read MoreHow ‘UnREAL’ Is Really Helping Female Filmmakers Break Into TV

“UnReal” Season 3, which was originally scheduled to air this summer, has been pushed to early 2018, as previously announced. Production on Season 3 has already wrapped, but the delay will allow Lifetime to pair it with “Mary Kills People” next year.

Season 4 of “UnReal” is the first to be produced under new showrunner Stacy Rukeyser. In Season 3, Rachel (Shiri Appleby) and Quinn (Constance Zimmer) must deal with a new feminist “suitress,” Serena (Caitlin FitzGerald), on their dating competition show-within-a-show, “Everlasting.”

Besides “UnReal” and “Mary Kills People,...

Rebecca Lea Nov 13, 2016

Stephen King described Maximum Overdrive as a "moron movie". But was he right?

The film: The Earth is passing through the tail of a comet and it causes the technology across the world to become sentient and automatically evil. Humans swiftly become the targets and a motley crew of survivors take refuge in the Dixie Boy Truckstop, including ex-con Bill (Emilio Estevez), his grumpy, power-mad boss Bubba (Pat Hingle), and hitchhiker Brett (Laura Harrington). As the trucks around them start to pick them off, or more accurately, flatten them like pancakes, they have to work together and figure out a way to defeat the sentient vehicles surrounding them.

See related The lessons NBC’s Parenthood has taught us Bad Santa 2: the brand new poster

One of the frequent responses I’ve had since I started revisiting Stephen King films is that people can’t wait...

Sometimes, it’s not easy being a former James Bond. Pierce Brosnan made a movie, titled The Moon And The Sun, with Academy Award winner William Hurt, and Paramount Pictures has just cancelled its imminent release. It would have been Brosnan’s first film since the triple 2014 disappointment of The Love Punch, The November Man and A Long Way Down.

Directed by Sean McNamara (Field Of Lost Shoes), The Moon And The Sun is based on the award-winning 1997 novel of the same name by Vonda N. McIntyre. The story brings together elements of science fiction and historical romance, to tell the tale of the Sun King, King Louis Xiv (Brosnan) in 17th Century France, and his quest for immortality.

Seeking endless youth, he dispatches representatives to capture endangered sea monsters, rumoured to provide eternal life. Father Yves de la Croix (Benjamin Walker) returns with two – one dead and one alive.

Paramount has pulled The Moon and the Sun from its release schedule.

Based on the award winning novel by Vonda McIntyre, the adventure film was due to be released on April 10.

The film stars Pierce Brosnan as King Louis Xiv, whose quest for immortality leads him to capture and steal the life force of a mermaid, which his daughter ends up befriending.

Sean McNamara directed the film, which is yet to be assigned a new release date.

Co-starring in the film is William Hurt, Benjamin Walker, Kaya Scodelario, Pablo Schreiber and Fan Bingbing as the captured mermaid.

The screenplay was penned by Academy Award winning writer Ronald Bass, Brokeback Mountain's James Schamus, Barry Berman, Laura Harrington and Bill Mechanic.

Kill the Messenger

Several new images are out of Jeremy Renner as journalist Gary Webb in Focus Features' upcoming "Kill the Messenger" opening October 10th.

Webb was a reporter investigating a story which leads to the shady origins of the men who started the crack epidemic in the Us and how profits were being used by the CIA to arm rebels fighting in Nicaragua. [Source: Flicks and Bits]

The Age of Adaline

Lionsgate has scheduled a January 23rd 2015 release for Sidney Kimmel Entertainment's fantasy romance tale "The Age Of Adaline".

Blake Lively plays a young woman who mysteriously stopped aging long ago and finds the courage to begin living fully. Harrison Ford, Michiel Huisman, Ellen Burstyn, Amanda Crew and Kathy Baker also star. [Source: Screen]

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Actor Wesley Snipes revealed in a recent podcast interview with Empire Magazine that, at one time, he was going to make an appearance in...

The studio has acquired Us rights to The Moon And The Sun starring Pierce Brosnan and will release on April 10, 2015.

Producer and Pandemonium Films CEO Bill Mechanic shopped the project to the studio. Good Universe has been selling international rights.

Brosnan plays the so-called Sun King, whose quest for immortality is challenged by his daughter after he captures and steals the life-force of a mermaid.

Sean McNamara directs from the novel of the same name by Vonda N McIntyre. Laura Harrington adapted the screenplay with revisions by Mechanic, Barry Berman, Harrington, James Schamus and Ron Bass.

Mechanic produces alongside Hong Pang, Wei Han, Paul Currie, McNamara, and David Brookwell.

The cast includes William Hurt, Benjamin Walker, Kaya Scodelario, Pablo Schreiber and Fan Bingbing.

The studio has acquired Us rights to The Moon And The Sun starring Pierce Brosnan and will release on April 10, 2015.

Producer and Pandemonium Films CEO Bill Mechanic shopped the project to the studio. Good Universe has been selling international rights.

Brosnan plays the so-called Sun King, whose quest for immortality is challenged by hisn daughter after he captures and steals the life force of a mermaid, only to be

Sean McNamara directs from the novel of the same name by Vonda N McIntyre. Laura Harrington adapted the screenplay with revisions by Mechanic, Barry Berman, Harrington, James Schamus and Ron Bass.

Mechanic produces alongside Hong Pang, Wei Han, Paul Currie, McNamara, and David Brookwell.

The cast includes William Hurt, Benjamin Walker, Kaya Scodelario, Pablo Schreiber and Fan Bingbing.

Paramount Pictures has picked up U.S. distribution rights to The Moon and The Sun, starring Pierce Brosnan as King Louis Xiv in a tale of how the French monarch tries to achieve immortality by stealing the life force from a mermaid. The studio is slating the historical fantasy for a wide release on April 10, 2015. The cast also includes William Hurt, Benjamin Walker, Kaya Scodelario, Pablo Schreiber and Bingbing Fan. Sean McNamara has directed the film from the novel same name by Vonda N. McIntyre, with a script by Laura Harrington, with revisions by Bill Mechanic and Barry Berman, Harrington,

read more...

Paramount has locked U.S. distribution on period fantasy adventure The Moon And The Sun, starring Pierce Brosnan and Kaya Scodelario. The adaptation of Vonda N. McIntyre’s 1997 Nebula Award-winning novel follows King Louis Xiv’s quest for immortality as he captures and tries to steal the lifeforce of a mermaid, a quest complicated when his daughter befriends the creature. William Hurt, Benjamin Walker, Pablo Schreiber and Bingbing Fan also star in the film helmed by Soul Surfer‘s Sean McNamara, which Paramount has slotted for April 10 against Fox’s Nicholas Sparks adaptation The Longest Ride. Pandemonium Films’ Bill Mechanic (Coraline) brought the pic to Paramount and produced alongside Hong Pang, Wei Han, Paul Currie, McNamara, and David Brookwell. Script is by Laura Harrington, with revisions by Mechanic, and Barry Berman, Laura Harrington, James Schamus and Ron Bass. Good Universe is handling international sales.

Reviewed by Kevin Scott, MoreHorror.com

Maximum Overdrive (1986)

Written by: Stephen King

Directed by: Stephen King

Cast: Emilio Estevez (Bill), Pat Hingle (Bubba), Laura Harrington (Brett), Yeardley Smith (Connie), John Short (Curtis), J.C. Quinn (Duncan Keller), Holter Graham (Deke Keller), Frankie Faison (Handy)

Alright, I know that I probably can’t tell you anything new about this one, but sometimes I feel like I need to defend it as a wonderful and random anomaly that will probably never happen again. Stephen King as a director? AC/DC doing the complete score? Man, that sounds like horror/rock and roll heaven! In a way, it was. Once again, I do have some nostalgia for this film. It was the humble beginnings of one of my favorite cities, Wilmington, Nc becoming a prolific film town. This film was made by Deg films along with a couple of other King adaptations like “Cat...

Reviewed by Kevin Scott, MoreHorror.com

Dead End (2003)

Directors: Jean Baptiste Andrea, Fabrice Canepa

Writers: Jean Baptiste Andrea, Fabrice Canepa

Cast: Ray Wise (Frank Harrington), Lin Shaye (Laura Harrington), Mick Cain (Richard Harrington), Alexandra Holden (Marion Harrington), Billy Asher Rosenfeld (Brad Miller), Amber Smith (Lady in White), Steve Valentine (Man in Black)

I’m always amazed at how long a film will stay stagnate on my Netflix list. This one sat on it for I’m thinking around six months or so. What’s even more amazing are the pre conceived notions about the film that I get from the synopsis and the cover art. I’m usually more surprised than anything else, and that can be good or bad. I’m an optimist for the most part, and am almost always glad that I went ahead and took care of business and watched it. With the directors’ names, I...

One of the downsides of living in a movie landmark with a half-mile long driveway is that obsessed fans who can’t get a satisfactory peek from the road will occasionally think nothing about rolling up to your front door. Jim Lutz and Alex Carrillo have lived in their 100-year old farmhouse in Manor, Texas, since 1977, raising five children, running a jewelry business, and occasionally lending their rustic home to a movie or television production. But the tourists who come knocking aren’t imposing on their hospitality because of Roadie, the 1980 movie starring Art Carney and Meat Loaf that filmed there.

Kathy Evans, Founder and Executive Director, announced the nine musicals and eighteen writers selected for the third summer of the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. For nine consecutive weeks beginning June 23rd, each writing team will have an individual weeklong residency in Rhinebeck, New York to write their musical. All costs are fully funded by donors including The Ascap Foundation, The Dramatists Guild Fund, and The Noel Coward Foundation. Writers include Tony-winners and nominees Duncan Sheik Spring Awakening, and Heidi Rodewald and Stew Passing Strange, and multi-award winners Adam Gwon, Laura Harrington, Joe Iconis, Kait Kerrigan, and Brian Lowdermilk.

Kathy Evans, Founder and Executive Director, announced the nine musicals and eighteen writers selected for the third summer of the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. For nine consecutive weeks beginning today, June 23rd, each writing team will have an individual weeklong residency in Rhinebeck, New York to write their musical. All costs are fully funded by donors including The Ascap Foundation, The Dramatists Guild Fund, and The Noel Coward Foundation. Writers include Tony-winners and nominees Duncan Sheik Spring Awakening, and Heidi Rodewald and Stew Passing Strange, and multi-award winners Adam Gwon, Laura Harrington, Joe Iconis, Kait Kerrigan, and Brian Lowdermilk.

Kathy Evans, Founder and Executive Director, announced the nine musicals and eighteen writers selected for the third summer of the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. For nine consecutive weeks beginning June 23rd, each writing team will have an individual weeklong residency in Rhinebeck, New York to write their musical. All costs are fully funded by donors including The Ascap Foundation, The Dramatists Guild Fund, and The Noel Coward Foundation. Writers include Tony-winners and nominees Duncan Sheik Spring Awakening, and Heidi Rodewald and Stew Passing Strange, and multi-award winners Adam Gwon, Laura Harrington, Joe Iconis, Kait Kerrigan, and Brian Lowdermilk.

Some of the city's quirkier spots will be the venue for screenings of contributions from 29 countries. Alan Sykes settles back with his popcorn

Fifteen venues across the city of York will be the setting for the Aesthetica Short Film Festival (Asff) next weekend. The festival is organised by Aesthetica Magazine, one of the relatively few serious arts publications flourishing outside London.

The films – 'short' in this case means under half an hour – will be screened in a variety of locations, including a traditional cinema, the city's Theatre Royal, the 800-year-old Micklegate Bar, the Lord Mayor's Mansion House, a gastro pub and a mediaeval church.

Twenty nine countries will be represented in the festival, including Taiwan, New Caledonia, Croatia and Iran, as well as the UK, France, the USA, Russia and Australia – but not, for some reason, India, or any countries from Africa.

Cherie Federico, editor of Aesthetica Magazine and director...

Laura Harrington ("The American") will adapt Sam Osman's fantasy-adventure novel "Quicksilver" into a feature for Gold Circle Films says Variety.

The story recounts the tale of three disparate middle school students who are confronted by the truth of their bloodlines and their prophesied role as humanity's only defense against an alien occupation force.

They must figure out who in their dreary English village is an alien foe and who may be a secret ally. Paul Brooks will produce.

With the Oscar nomination buzz surrounding Leonardo DiCaprio for his titular performance in J. Edgar, it's a good time to take another look at a Texas-made movie from early in DiCaprio's career, the terrific What's Eating Gilbert Grape.

Released in 1993, director Lasse Hallström's highly praised film follows the Grape family, a close-knit but intriguingly dysfunctional clan living in the fictional Iowa town of Endora (although actually shot in Central Texas). Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) spends much of his time watching over his mentally retarded younger brother, 17-year-old Arnie (DiCaprio, in an Oscar-nominated performance), while his sisters, Amy (Laura Harrington) and Ellen (Mary Kate Schellhardt) slave away in the kitchen. Ruling the roost is the siblings' widowed, depressed and morbidly obese mother, Bonnie (Darlene Cates), whose girth and mental state have prevented her from leaving the family's rural house for years.

read more...

Stephen King may be a legendary horror writer, but sadly his directorial efforts never reached that kind of apex. His one and only ever directing gig was 'Maximum Overdrive', his own adaption of his short story 'Trucks', back in 1986. The now cult horror starred Emilio Estevez dodging the hellish advances of technology as a barrage of electrical appliances attacked - including a bunch of trucks, lawnmowers and even a vending machine. Pat Hingle ('Batman'), Laura Harrington and Lisa Simpson herself Yeardley Smith starred also. News is that the production company Dino De Laurentiis is prepping a remake which doesn't actually make me shudder. Technologies a huge part of our lives and has been effectly covered in horror in the past few years with features such as 'Pulse' so it could be interesting. Or could stink up the place!...

No 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' for Hardwicke? Cinema Blend is reporting that "Twilight" director Catherine Harwicke is stacked with so many upcoming projects that the rumor she will return to direct the fourth installment in Summit Entertainment's popular vampire series titled "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" may finally be squashed.

According to the article: Hardwicke is considering distancing herself from the vampire craze using Paramount’s Dot War. It’s an action adventure film expected to be a cross between "War Games" and "Real Genius". The focus of Laura Harrington’s script is a videogame programmer who receives government training to take down terrorists via virtual technology. The screenplay has been collecting dust for quite some time so Paramount is seeking someone to do a rewrite. If the final product is up to Hardwicke’s standards, she’ll likely board the project.

It definitely sounds like Hardwicke isn't going to have...

Catherine Hardwicke ("Twilight") is apparently considering directing "Dot War" for Paramount Pictures says Pajiba.

Laura Harrington's script follows a video-game programmer who becomes trained by the government to use virtual technology to fight terrorism.

Hardwicke is waiting on a rewrite of the script, if it goes well she will then determine if she will direct the film. Hardwicke is also attached to "The Girl With the Red Riding Hood".

Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke has been busying herself with an immense roster of projects. According to Cinema Blend, she "recently dropped the film If I Stay to take on The Girl With the Red Riding Hood" and is now considering taking on Dot War.

Reports Cinema Blend, "It’s an action adventure film expected to be a cross between War Games and Real Genius. The focus of Laura Harrington’s script is a videogame ,,, Hardwicke is associated with include Hamlet, Maximum Ride and The Monkey Wrench Gang.

See also: ...

Catherine Hardwicke directing Dot War?Pajiba is reporting that Catherine Hardwicke might be directing Dot War for Paramount Pictures.

Dot War is being described "as War Games meets Real Genius, and it's about a video-game programmer who is trained by the government to fight terrorist using virtual technology.

The project is based on an old script from Laura Harrington. Apparently, it has been in the rounds of development for awhile. Hardwicke is attached to a few other projects but the only one with a greenlight is The Girl With the Red Riding Hood.

Apparently, she is waiting for the rewrite of Dot War and based on this that will determine if she will direct the film.

Since she left The Twilight Saga behind, director Catherine Hardwicke's potential projects have proven to be far more interesting than melodramatic vampire love. At one time she was being considered to direct the 21 Jump Street movie, but The Girl with the Red Riding Hood - potentially starring Amanda Seyfried - seems to be at the forefront of her choices. However, Pajiba now reports that the director has interest in a project called Dot War, an action-adventure movie described as War Games meets Real Genius, focusing on a video game programmer who is trained by the government to fight terrorists using virtual technology. The script, written by Laura Harrington, is old, so a rewrite is in order before Hardwicke makes a decision. Though Twilight was a less than stellar addition to her filmography, Hardwicke is definitely making it hard to discern exactly what kinds of movies we can expect her...

Once you go Twilight, you never go back. A number of the series. stars are trying to defy that typecast by branching out and pursuing other projects. There.s Kristen Stewart who stars in The Yellow Handkerchief and The Runaways, Robert Pattinson.s Remember Me is set to hit theaters on March 16th, and, most impressive of all, Anna Kendrick is prepping for the Academy Awards. These three and their co-stars are building careers thanks to Twilight.s jump-start. Director Catherine Hardwicke is another case. She isn.t just the director of Twilight; she.s the woman behind Thirteen and Lords of Dogtown too! As reported by Pajiba, Hardwicke is considering distancing herself from the vampire craze using Paramount.s Dot War. It.s an action adventure film expected to be a cross between War Games and Real Genius. The focus of Laura Harrington.s script is a videogame programmer...

Catherine Hardwicke, despite an impressive resume that includes Lords of Dogtown and Thirteen, and who may be the fourth best female director in Hollywood (I place her behind Kathryn Bigelow, Nicole Holofcener, and Sofia Coppola) will nevertheless continue to be most associated with Twilight, at least until she gets another picture off the ground. We reported earlier this year (and the L.A. Times confirmed) that she was attached to direct If I Stay, possibly with Dakota Fanning. But she punted that one in favor of a gothic take on the Red Riding Hood called The Girl With the Red Riding Hood, which has Amanda Seyfried possibly in the lead.

She's attached to a couple of other projects, including another version of Hamlet, but beyond The Girl With the Red Riding Hood -- which is out to cast -- she doesn't have anything greenlit. We learned from The Hollywood Cog,...

It takes courage to stand up and bravely declare your love for a film that almost every living, breathing person declares to be an absolute atomic bomb. You run the risk of spinning yourself into the roll of cinematic social outcast, shunned by your peers and ridiculed by your pals. But I've never been one to give a gear what anyone else thinks about me so what the hell, here goes: I f**king love Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive. Yes, Maximum Overdrive, the hubcap headed, gas spitting 1986 sci-fi action trash classic; the first and - if you believe his publicly uttered promise – only film to be directed by master dark fantasy/horror fiction legend King. The film was one of the worst reviewed studio pictures of it's time and it has since been either ignored, reviled or smarmily embraced by pretentious college kids as a pot enhancing, blissfully bad 80's moron movie experience,...