Sony Pictures Classics has bought the rights to Woody Allen’s “Whatever Works” starring Larry David and Evan Rachel Woods, plus Ed Begley Jr. and Patricia Clarkson as (presumably) Woods’ parents. According to Variety, the New York-set comedy is schedule to hit this summer though no official date has been set yet.
This is Allen’s first Gotham-based picture in four films. Before this there was his London trilogy (which featured his best film in years, “Match Point”), then of course which was followed by his Spanish-set breath of fresh air, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” Many have noted that Allen has never really worked with Larry David before, but we were re-watching “New York Stories” the other day and the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star actually has a tiny part in Allen’s “Oedipus Wrecks” vignette within the omnibus picture as a stage manager to the magician who loses the protagonist’s mother.
Samuel Goldwyn has bought “Cold Souls” starring Paul Giamatti playing Paul Giamatti in a Charlie Kaufman-esque (sorta) metaphysical comedy that played at this past Sundance film festival. [THR]
Summit Entertainment and Lionsgate Films might be merging. What does this mean for the “Twilight” franchise? Maybe more gore, schlock and blood? (Lionsgate loves torture porn and the godawful, “Saw” horror series). Pure speculation. Even that studio probably knows not to mess with a good (relatively speaking) thing one would hope. [TheWrap]