Warner Bros. are trying to push ahead with their long-in-development remake of “A Star Is Born.” The project, which has had previous drafts written by Stephen Rivele & Christopher Wilkinson (“Ali”) and Reggie Rock Bythewood (“Notorious”), has a new scribe in the shape of Will Fetters, the writer of the upcoming Robert Pattinson vehicle “Remember Me.” Beyonce Knowles is linked with the lead role of the picture, which, like the 1976 Barbara Streisand version, will focus on the record industry rather than Hollywood. The producer of that version, idiot hairdresser and giant-metal-spider fan Jon Peters, will also shepherd this version.
Paul Dano has joined the untitled action comedy formerly known as “Wichita,” in which Cameron Diaz plays a hopelessly single woman whose life becomes caught up in that of a secret agent (Tom Cruise). Dano will play a charming scientist, the inventor of the movie’s MacGuffin. We really enjoyed the draft of the script we read, which was like a much sparkier version of “Mr & Mrs Smith,” but it seems to have undergone a fair amount of revision since, by director James Mangold, seeing as neither Dano’s character, nor those of co-stars Marc Blucas and Maggie Grace, featured in that draft.
NME points us towards some paparazzi photos of Johnny Depp in Hertfordshire, England, directing a music video for the long-forgotten Britpop one-hit wonders Babybird. Depp, apparently wearing the entire contents of an East London vintage shop, can be seen alongside the band’s frontman Stephen Jones, and his “Public Enemies” co-star Stephen Graham, who is appearing in the video.
– CBS Films and “Se7en” producer Arnold Kopelson have acquired Anthony Jaswinski’s spec script “Sleeper Spy,” about a political assassination. Jeff Wadlow (“Never Back Down”) will direct.
– Geek favorite Alex De La Iglesias, the helmer of “Accion Mutante,” “Perdita Durango” and “The Oxford Murders,” will write and direct the Spanish-French co-production “Balada triste de trompeta,” set in 1973, about a love triangle between two clowns and a trapeze artist. We’re fond of De La Iglesia’s early work, and this sounds much more up his street than the fairly laughable English-language “Oxford Murders.”
– Chris Sparling, the writer of the incredibly taut script for Ryan Reynolds-in-a-coffin thriller “Buried,” has sold a new script to Gold Circle, producers of the likes of “White Noise” and “The Haunting in Connecticut.” “Mercy” is apparently a twist-filled story of a family trying to protect their dying mother, and their own financial well-being, from a violent religious sect. The film’s being fast-tracked, and will shoot early next year.