– Despite the atrocity that was the “Transformers” sequel, Michael Bay is set to return to another one of his franchises. Scribe Peter Craig has been tapped to pen a screenplay to a third installment in the “Bad Boys” series. No one has inked any deals but it is hoped the project will reunite Bay with producer Jerry Bruckheimer and actors Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, who play Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. The first two films grossed over $200 million domestically.
– Nu Image/Millennium Films has greenlit the fifth installment to the “Rambo” franchise, with Sylvester Stallone set to once again star and direct. Production will begin on the film in the spring, which will follow Rambo as he adapts to life at the retirement home. No, seriously the film will see Rambo battle his way through human traffickers and drug lords to rescue a young girl abducted near the U.S.-Mexico border. Sly’s “The Expendables” is currently in post-production readying itself for an April 3rd release.
– The Weinstein Company have announced a third installment of the “Halloween” franchise is in development and will be in 3D. Appropriately titled “Halloween 3D,” the film won’t however see a return by Rob Zombie who has already announced his departure with a new director already in negotiations, described by Bob Weinstein as someone with horror experience who will bring a “different take” to Zombie’s franchise.
– Nicolas Cage is set to star in “Drive Angry,” a 3D revenge actioner that Patrick Lussier will direct for Nu Image/Millennium Films. The film, which was written by Lussier and Todd Farmer, centers on a man (Cage) who is looking to avenge the murder of his daughter and find his kidnapped grandchild. The “vendetta/rescue spins out of control as the chase gets bloodier by the mile, leaving bodies strewn along the highway.”
– “Wanted” and “3:10 To Yuma” co-scribe Derek Haas has sold his short story “Shake” to Jerry Bruckheimer for a reported seven-figure sum which Bruckheimer will develop into a feature film. Haas’ story, which centers on an FBI agent chasing a killer while he begins to lose control of his own body, originates from Popcornfiction.com which Haas recently created for TV and film writers to showcase their pulpy short fiction.