Molly Cruz forms Belle Pictures with Alcon

Producer Molly Cruz has created Belle Pictures to build up and convey features and television qualities in colaboration with Warner Bros.-based Alcon Entertainment inside a four-year first-look deal.Belle's first project's an adaptation of "The Bootlegger's Boy," football coach Craig Switzer's memoir about training at Oklahoma College and also the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Alcon will finance with Cruz creating together with brothers and sisters Thad and Trent Luckinbill, who introduced the project in.Patrick Massett and John Zinmann ("Friday Evening Lights") have been in discussions to pen the variation. Allison Rayne continues to be drawn on Vice president of development at Belle with Jon Schumacher as creative professional and Emma Branch as production professional. Smith's presently creating supernatural love story "Beautiful Animals" together with Erwin Stoff and Alcon cake toppers Andrew Kosove and Broderick Manley. She created "P.S. I Really Like You," professional created "The Blind Side," which she introduced to Alcon. She offered like a production executive at Alcon just before developing 2S Films with Hilary Swank and creating "Something Lent her first feature. Cruz remains partners with Swank on 2S Films. Massett and Zinmann are repped by CAA and Industry Entertainment. Thad Luckinbill is repped by Brillstein Entertainment. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Terra Novas Allison Burns Joins NBCs Continue, Lauren German Cast In Chicago Fire

EXCLUSIVE: Terra Nova regular Allison Burns remains cast in NBC’s comedy pilot Continue. The only real-camera project, put together by Scott Silveri and directed by Todd Holland,concentrates on Ryan (Matthew Perry), an irreverent yet charming sportscaster who, trying to maneuver ahead in the loss, finds surprising solace within the people of his mandatory support group. Burns, repped by ICM and Thruline, may have Ryan’s awesome assistant. Because of her contractual obligation to Terra Nova, which has her in first position, Burns, who received multiple pilot offers after Fox cancelled the pre-historic drama on Monday, continues to be billed just like a guest star inside the pilot for Continue. While Terra Nova co-star Christine Adams, who just reserved the ABC pilot Americana, happen to be released early as her character wasn't prone to continue in Season 2, Burns, along with the relaxation in the show’s core cast, weren't released as creating studio last century Fox TV is shopping Terra Nova along with other systems. (It's had discussions with Netflix) Lauren German has grew to become part of the cast in the NBC drama pilot Chicago Fire starring Jesse Spencer. On Wolf Films and Universal Televisions action-driven drama in regards to the complex and heroic males and girls in the Chicago Fire Department, German may have the all-business and humorless Kay with whom they reviews. German is coming initially from off a substantial arc on CBS’ Hawaii Five- this season.

'Common Law' looking for May 11 debut

USA Network has set May 11 because the launch date for newcomer dramedy series "Common Law." Skein, from CBS Television Galleries and Junction Entertainment, concentrates on two cops who're forced into couples therapy in order to save their professional partnership. "Common Law," looking for 12 episodes and presently shooting in New Orleans, will air at 10 p.m. Fridays, a evening the cabler effectively first showed "Monk," "Psych" and "Whitened Collar." USA Network is arranging the Sarah Shahi-starrer "Fairly Legal" at 9 p.m. Fridays and can use that like a lead-set for the "Common Law" premiere. As with the broadcast world, Fridays can be challenging for cablers to highlight their wares but USA Network bucked the popularity in '09 when hit series "Whitened Collar" broadcast its first season there. "Common Law" was initially scheduled to debut Jan. 26, however the show was gone to live in summer time -- a conventional strong season for USA Network -- after receiving high praise from focus groups. Michael Ealy, Warren Cole, Jack McGee and Sonya Walger star in "Common Law," that is professional created by pilot director Jon Turtletaub, co-designers Cormac Wibberley and Marianne Wibberley, and Craig Sweeny. In other casting news, Erectile dysfunction Begley Junior. will guest star in a set of approaching episodes. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Rankings: Idol Drops Slightly ABC Comedies Up

The Aquabats Super Show Pool party, baby! After many years of attempting, super hero rockers The Aquabats finally reach your TV screen this Saturday using the Hub's new cool comedy series The Aquabats Super Show!The show, which debuts Saturday, March 3, features a mixture of concert footage, animation and live action skits. The band's all there - MC Softball bat Commander, Crash McLarson, Jimmy the Robot, Ough Fitness and Bald eagle "Bones" Falconhawk.Christian Jacobs, who plays MC Softball bat Commander within the Aquabats, can also be the co-creator of stylish pre-school series Years old Gabba Gabba (that has frequently featured this guitar rock band) but continues to be looking to get an Aquabats Television show off the floor in excess of 10 years. "In lots of ways Years old Gabba Gabba is really a spinoff from the Aquabats show," Jacobs states. Consequently, the prosperity of Years old Gabba Gabba assisted resurrect The Aquabats Super Show. And merely as Jacobs' kids were small children once the idea for Years old Gabba Gabba came into being, they are now pre-teens and also the perfect audience for that Aquabats' more edgy sensibility.Jacobs describes the brand new show like a mix between your sixties Batman, "Strange Al" Yankovic, Land from the Lost and Years old Gabba Gabba. "The Aquabats show is stuffed with references and influences like fake advertisements, crazy public service bulletins, and it is frightening and action-packed," he states. "It is a popular culture pizza."Yankovic makes several looks in season one, playing the "Leader around the globeInch in a single episode along with a super hero in another. Other visitors include Jon Heder and Lou Gemstone Phillips. Jacobs can also be the creator and director for that Aquabats Super Show, together with executive producer Jon Berrett.Here is a sneak look of among the Aquabats Super Show's commercial parodies:

Feuerstein set for 'In Your Eyes'

Before he returns to shoot the fourth season of USA's hit series "Royal Pains," star Mark Feuerstein will join Michael Stahl-David and Zoe Kazan in Brin Hill's romantic sci-fi indie "In Your Eyes," which Joss Whedon ("The Avengers") wrote and will exec produce.Stahl-David and Kazan star as characters who live on opposite sides of the country and share a powerful connection, as they can see and hear each other despite having never met.Feuerstein will co-star as Kazan's cold, controlling husband.Night & Day Pictures' Michael Roiff and David Rothenberg will produce the metaphysical love story with Whedon's Bellwether Pictures partner Kai Cole. Production will begin soon in Los Angeles and New Hampshire.Feuerstein's feature credits include Ed Zwick's "Defiance" and Nancy Meyers' "What Women Want." Thesp is repped by UTA and Framework Entertainment. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

HBO nabs rights to 'Primos'

HBO has acquired U.S. pay TV and VOD rights to Spaniard Daniel Sanchez Arevalo's social comedy "Primos" (Cousinhood).Sold by Barcelona-based sales outfit Film Factory Entertainment, pic premieres Stateside in July.A Warner Bros. release, "Cousinhood" was the fourth-highest grossing Spanish pic of 2011, cuming an upbeat E3.5 million ($4.7 million).Sanchez Arevalo's third feature was produced by two of Spain's most internationally-minded production companies, Mod Prods and Atipica Films.Vicente Canales' Film Factory has just extended its business relationship with Jose Antonio Felez's Atipica, inking international sales rights on Alberto Rodriguez's action thriller "Grupo 7" (Unit 7).At Berlin, Film Factory is presenting buyers with a first teaser promo of "Unit 7," which is now in post.Writer-director Alberto Rodriguez, who broke through in 2005 with coming-of-age pic "7 Virgins," drew on real-life events for "Unit 7."Film turns around a semi-official police unit battling drugs and prostitution in downtown Seville before the 1992 Intl. Expo.Pic toplines Spain's hottest local thesp, Mario Casas ("Three Meters Above the Sky," "Brain Drain"), alongside Antonio de la Torre ("The Last Circus") and Inma Cuesta ("The Sleeping Voice").Warner Bros. opens "Unit 7" in Spain April 4 on around 250 prints. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Jaume Collet-Serra to helm CBS pilot 'Quean'

Jaume Collet-Serra has signed onto direct the CBS drama pilot "Quean," from scribe Ilene Chaiken and Joel Silver. Collet-Serra made his first foray into TV a year ago by pointing the pilot for ABC's thriller "The Stream,Inch which bows on Tuesday. The The the spanish language language helmer can be a rising star round the feature side, getting steered last year's Liam Neeson starrer "Unknown" and 2009's "Orphan." He's attached to the Warner Bros. tentpole "Akira." "Quean," from Warner Bros. TV, involves a femme hacker who teams with Concord police to help solve crimes. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Helmer places Israel in kudos scene

'Footnote'TEL AVIV -- Oscar is rapidly becoming the Ultimate Goal from the Holy Land.Using the recent language film jerk for Frederick Cedar's "Footnote" -- concerning the relationship from a father and boy, as well as their study of Jewish religious law -- Israel presently has 10 nominations under its belt -- but to date, not really a single win. Not one other country continues to be nominated a lot of occasions simply to constantly go back home empty-handed.This really is Cedar's second dance with Oscar his "Beaufort" squeaked in to the race in 2007 after Eran Kolirin's "The Band's Visit" was disqualified for getting an excessive amount of British dialogue. "Beaufort" lost to Austrian entry "The Counterfeiters."In almost any year, Cedar plank is possibly this small country's best expect the elusive statue. Three of his four movies took the very best picture prize in the Ophir Honours, a kudo that instantly qualifies a pic to become Israel's submission for foreign-lingo Oscar. "Beaufort" was the very first Israeli film to become nominated in 24 years, and also, since then, Israel has loved a jerk each year except 2010.Israel's noms come as no real surprise, states Boaz Hagin, lecturer in the Dept. of Film and tv at Tel Aviv U., because filmmakers here get their eyes around the prize."Lots of Israeli films in the last decade were type of pre-selected to become nominated. These were co-productions with Europe and were frequently asked to festivals as well as designed for festivals through (fest)training courses," Hagin states.The chances appear stacked against Israel all over again, though, using its greatest competition, Asghar Farhadi's "A Separation" -- which examines family's breakdown inside a society torn between your religious and also the secular -- already getting nabbed a cache of honours, together with a Golden Globe.But while politically, Israel and Iran are poised around the edge of war, Israel Film Academy member Yariv Mozer thinks the statue is going to be judged on merit alone."Filmmakers everywhere, and particularly in Iran and Israel, don't reflect government guidelines more often than not it's totally the other way round," states Mozer, who choose most Israelis, hasn't seen "A Separation," "Therefore, it is within our mutual interest to not begin to see the Academy's competition as political."Pressure of coming near to Oscar gold a lot of occasions has considered heavily on Israeli company directors and producers, Hagin states, which pressure has sometimes come at the fee for audiences in your own home.InchThey are giving the Western viewer the things they think the Western viewer really wants to see," he states of Israeli company directors. "You will find some films which are overlooked by Israeli audiences and therefore are very effective in festivals.""Waltz With Bashir," which taken part in 2008, would be a partnership with both France and Germany, and "Ajami," nominated in '09, was co-created with Germany. "Footnote," however, like "Beaufort," is 100% Israeli. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Fox orders spy drama pilot

Fox appears keen to obtain a series in regards to a female spy on its schedule, if it is latest pilot pickup is any suggestion. The network has acquired an untitled drama from twentieth century Fox TV, 21 Laps/Adelstein Prods. and former "Bones" co-executive producer Karyn Usher in regards to a 14-year-old girl within the espionage world that's stated to become a mix between "Alias" and "The Professional." Pickup comes just days after Fox nabbed a Josh Friedman drama, "Resource," in regards to a female CIA agent. Executive producers are Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Shawn Levy and Usher. Additionally to "Bones," Usher has created for "The Playboy Club" and "Prison Break." Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Book of Mormon's Andrew Rannells Lands Lead in NBC's Ryan Murphy Comedy

Andrew Rannells Book of Mormon actor Andrew Rannells has arrived charge role in Ryan Murphy's NBC comedy project, Deadline reviews. The only-camera comedy, that is still in development in the network, originates from executive producers Murphy and Dante DiLoreto, both behind Glee and American Horror Story, and new Glee scribe Ali Adler. Rannells would star as you 1 / 2 of a gay couple attempting to begin a family with the aid of a surrogate. The actor has signed a talent holding cope with NBC and series producer twentieth century Fox TV. Murphy will direct the pilot should NBC greenlight production. Obtain the latest news on all of the pilot pick-ups here Rannells, who stars opposite Josh Gad within the Tony-winning Broadway musical, can make his on-screen debut in HBO's approaching comedy Women.

Extended-Time 'Letterman' Comedy Booker Eddie Brill Fired

Extended-Time 'Letterman' Comedy Booker Eddie Brill Fired By Daniel Lehman The month of the month of january 17, 2012 Eddie Brill Eddie Brill, the stand-up comedian which has reserved comics for "The Late Show with David Letterman" in the last 11 years, remains fired, Laughspin.com as well as the new Mirth Magazine reported on Tuesday.In the " NY Occasions" profile launched last Thursday, Brill triggered debate among the comedy community because he states honesty and vulnerability are two of the very fundamental qualities he looks for in the comic. He ongoing to convey: "You'll find less female comics that are authentic. I see plenty of female comics who to thrill an audience will become males." Karen Rontowski was really the only female comedian reserved on "Letterman" this season.InchMirth" reviews that Brill was fired "for speaking using the press without authorization," and not directly consequently of his offensive comments. Brill is constantly on the warm-up Letterman's studio audiences before tapings, but after booking two more comics, he'll be transformed since the booker with what he known to to have an anonymous source as "just a little quantity of 25-year-olds."The "Occasions" reported on Tuesday that "The Late Show" will revert towards the former system for booking comics. Show staffers will scout talent at clubs together with other comedy venues, before inviting these to do in showcases for many senior producers. The producers will determine which comics to book for future tapings.Brill, 53, can be a veteran stand-up comic which has also run clubs, trained comedy courses, and programs the fantastic American Comedy Festival in Nebraska. He's seen just like a mentor together with a sage among more youthful comics. "Every comedian can be a different artist, so I'm not trying to find the identical factor I'm trying to find originality," Brill told Back Stage for your 2011 comedy problem. "Even when I book someone who's brand-new, I book these with that originality in your thoughts, since the one factor about comedy is comedy never changes. Whether it was 1920 or 2020, I'd be capable of distinguish that are the primary one-of-a-kind, soulful comics, individuals nobody really make a difference. five to seven minutes generates for me an idea, which it's my job to will easily notice in people number of minutes if an individual has it or else. My advice to comics is always to stay within themselves and perform the things they are doing, because let us say you target hop on TV, it really doesn't encounter right." Extended-Time 'Letterman' Comedy Booker Eddie Brill Fired By Daniel Lehman The month of the month of january 17, 2012 Eddie Brill Eddie Brill, the stand-up comedian which has reserved comics for "The Late Show with David Letterman" in the last 11 years, remains fired, Laughspin.com as well as the new Mirth Magazine reported on Tuesday.In the "NY Occasions" profile launched last Thursday, Brill triggered debate among the comedy community because he states honesty and vulnerability are two of the very fundamental qualities he looks for in the comic. He ongoing to convey: "You'll find a smaller amount female comics that are authentic. plenty of female comics who to thrill an audience will become males." Karen Rontowski was really the only female comedian reserved on "Letterman" this season.InchMirth" reviews that Brill was fired "for speaking using the press without authorization," and not directly consequently of his offensive comments. Brill is constantly on the warm-up Letterman's studio audiences before tapings, but after booking two more comics, he'll be transformed since the booker with what he known to to have an anonymous source as "just a little quantity of 25-year-olds."The "Occasions" reported on Tuesday that "The Late Show" will revert towards the former system for booking comics. Show staffers will scout talent at clubs together with other comedy venues, before inviting those to perform in showcases for many senior producers. The producers will determine which comics to book for future tapings.Brill, 53, can be a veteran stand-up comic which has also run clubs, trained comedy courses, and programs the fantastic American Comedy Festival in Nebraska. He's seen just like a mentor together with a sage among more youthful comics. "Every comedian can be a different artist, so I'm not trying to find the identical factor I'm trying to find originality," Brill told Back Stage for your 2011 comedy problem. "Even when I book someone who's brand-new, I book these with that originality in your thoughts, since the one factor about comedy is comedy never changes. Whether it was 1920 or 2020, I'd be capable of distinguish that are the primary one-of-a-kind, soulful comics, individuals nobody really make a difference. five to seven minutes generates for me an idea, which it's my job to will easily notice in people short time if an individual has it or else. My advice to comics is always to stay within themselves and perform the things they are doing, because let us say you target hop on TV, it really doesn't encounter right."

'One Evening,' 'Arcadia' unspooling in Generation

Lucy Mulloy's "One Evening," a U.S.-Cuban-British co-production about two Cuban boys who develop a raft to sail to Florida, and Olivia Silver's U.S. family drama "Arcadia" are among features unspooling within the Berlinale's Generation children and youth sidebar. Inside a world premiere, the recently restored three dimensional version of Da Su's classic Chinese animated film "The Monkey King: Uproar in Paradise," launched in 1961, can also be screening within the section. "One Evening" is just one of seven choices introduced Thursday which will screen within the older-skewing Generation 14plus section. Others include Simon Aboud's U.K. heist pic "Comes a Vibrant Day," starring Craig Roberts, Imogen Poots and Kevin McKidd Robert Sarkies' Kiwi entry "Two Little Boys" and Pietra Brettkelly's documentary "Maori Boy Genius," also from Nz. "Arcadia" screens within the tyke sidebar, Generation Kplus, together with Martin Hoegdahl's Swedish family adventure "The Ice Dragon," Indian helmer Rajan Khosa's "Gattu" and Remi Bezancon and Jean-Christophe Lie's French-Belgian animated pic "Zarafa," in regards to a baby giraffe that travels from Africa to Paris like a gift for that king of France. A maximum of 56 short and movies from 32 nations happen to be selected for that Kplus and 14plus competitions, including 12 feture directorial debuts. Additionally to "The Monkey King," Cornelia Gruenberg's German documentary "14" will even unspool from competition. The Berlinale runs February. 9-19. Contact Erectile dysfunction Meza at staff@variety.com

Tim Burton and Robert Downey Junior in talks for live-action Pinocchio

In slightly odd news, The Hollywood Reporter has introduced that Tim Burton has an interest in pointing an active-action version from the Pinocchio story that's presently being developed at Warner Bros.And charisma-factory Robert Downey Junior is stated to want to consider the film (and the possibilities of dealing with Burton).RDJ would play Gepetto in story that sees him on the pursuit to reunite together with his wooden offspring.If Warners handles to obtain both of these (one of the most bankable names within their fields) to sign up, it'd potentially be among their greatest qualities.Bryan Larger (Pushing Daisies) has written the script for that one, which is not to be mistaken with the Large Seafood-esque Pinocchio prequel that Shawn Levy is mounted on.Guillermo del Toro also offers a three dimensional stop-motion adaptation of Carlo Collodi's classic story within the works.So, through the sounds from it, Pinocchio is preparing to become the brand new Snow Whitened...

Deja view for 2011's top domestic films

2011 was the first year that the top seven domestic grossing films were franchise installments, from the "Harry Potter" finale and "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" through "Fast Five" and "Cars 2." Of the year's top 10, six films unspooled in 3D -- a format that saw mixed results in 2011. Still, 3D saw more commercial releases last year, with 36, than in any other year (2010 bowed 22 3D titles). In 2012, 37 3D films are slated for release (or re-release). For Variety's top 250 domestic box office chart, see pages 22-23. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com