Aaron Sorkin to rewrite 'Moneyball' for Brad Pitt and Sony

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures is bringing in Aaron Sorkin (West Wing) to salvage Moneyball, the Brad Pitt baseball drama that was derailed last month when the studio balked at director Steven Soderbergh's direction for the movie. Sorkin is set to do a polish of the original Steve Zaillian script, based on the Michael Lewis book about the Oakland A's and their general manager, Billy Beane. A draft is expected shortly. Soderbergh is no longer involved in the movie in any capacity and the studio is looking for a new director.  

'Project Runway' contestants announced

Lifetime announced the 16 contestants for the new season of Project Runway, the first since the show left Bravo. The L.A.-set season starts airing August 20 and brings back judges Nina Garcia, Michael Kors, and judge/host Heidi Klum, as well as contestant mentor and fan favorite Tim Gunn. The full cast list is after the jump.

Jon Heder stars in Comedy Central sitcom from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay

Comedy Central has ordered 10 episodes of a show starring Napoleon Dynamite's Jon Heder and written and produced by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, and Chris Henchy. The untitled sitcom stars Heder as an unemployed computer IT specialist who leaves the big city and returns to his small hometown, where he moves back in with his parents and younger brother. "We've always been fans of Jon's," McKay said in a press release. Heder costarred with Ferrell in 2007's big-screen Blades of Glory. "This deal gives us a chance to take some big creative swings without the risk of testing and focus grouping the show to death." The series will debut in 2010.

Michael Jackson memorial cost L.A. $1.4 million

Los Angeles officials say Tuesday's memorial service for Michael Jackson cost the city $1.4 million to cover security, traffic control, and other services, according to the Associated Press. The figure includes $1.1 million in overtime pay for the 4,173 police officers securing the Staples Center, Forest Lawn cemetery, and other areas that attracted fans and media, the Police Department said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa lauded the final cost, saying it was "far less" than the initial estimate of $4 million. City attorney Carmen Trutanich said his office is looking into ways to legally require third parties to pick up some of the tab. The City of Los Angeles has also set up a Web page asking citizens to contribute money to help defray the costs. So far, fans have donated $17,000 through the site, but the effort has been hampered by heavy Web traffic that crashed the servers Tuesday night and several times Wednesday, according to the mayor's office.

Talk about it on PopWatch: Will you pony up for Michael Jackson's memorial service?

Michael Moore's next film will be about 'Capitalism'

Documentary maker Michael Moore revealed yesterday that his new movie is to be titled Capitalism: A Love Story, according to Variety. The film will focus on "the disastrous impact that corporate dominance and out-of-control profit motives have on the lives of Americans and citizens of the world" and will be released on October 2.

Brooke Shields to star in 'Furry Vengeance'

Brooke Shields has signed on to play Brendan Fraser's wife in the live-action family film Furry Vengeance according to the Hollywood Reporter. Fraser himself will essay the role of a real estate developer who must deal with a band of raccoons.

Michael Jackson tribute show planned for London

A Michael Jackson memorial concert is being planned for August 29 at the O2 Arena in London where the late star had planned to perform 50 dates. Variety is reporting that Randy Phillips, president of the company AEG Live which was promoting the O2 shows, told UK's Sky News that "at some point the world needs to see this production, and I would imagine it could be done as a tribute with the family... and the stars that were influenced by (Jackson). We are discussing with the family so the sooner the better."

'Smurfs' movie gets 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua' director

Director Raja Gosnell (Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Never Been Kissed) has been tapped to helm Sony's upcoming animated/live action hybrid Smurfs movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film is slated for release in both 3D and 2D formats on December 17, 2010.

'How I Met Your Mother' producer teams with author Harlan Coben

According to The Hollywood Reporter, best-selling author Harlan Coben and How I Met Your Mother executive producer Greg Malins have sold a pitch for a new crime procedural series to Fox. The hour-long drama will center on a former private investigator who suffers from a complete lack of inhibitions thanks to a head injury. Now working as a criminology professor, he teams up with his students to solve crimes.

Michael Jackson's death inspires live shows

Plans for several new live events have been set in motion following the untimely death of Michael Jackson, according to Variety. The concert show Thriller -- Live, currently on stage on London's West End, is prepped to embark on a world tour later this month with stops including Munich, Barcelona, and Paris. The show's producers have are also keen on launching a touring version in the U.S. next year. Rumors are also circulating about a memorial concert on August 29 in London's 02 Arena, where Jackson was set to begin his 50-date concert series next week. In addition, a Broadway Version of Thriller, based on Jackson's iconic 1983 music video, was already in development before the singer's death.