According to Variety, Diablo Cody, the screenwriter behind Juno and Jennifer’s Body, has signed on to write and produce Universal’s Sweet Valley High. The project, based on the eponymous novels, will be Cody’s third high school-based film.
More on Diablo Cody and Sweet Valley High on PopWatch:
Diablo Cody + Sweet Valley High = Amazing!
According to Variety, director David Fincher has already assembled key cast members of his Facebook-based movie, The Social Network. Eisenberg (The Squid and the Whale) will play Facebook mastermind, Mark Zuckerberg and Timberlake will take on the role of Sean Parker, co-founder of Napster and Facebook’s president. Andrew Garfield will play Eduardo Saverin, Zuckerberg’s partner who had a falling out with Zuckerberg as the network became a phenomenon.
The AP reports that Scooby-Doo co-stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddy Prinze Jr. became first-time parents to daughter Charlotte Grace Prinze on Saturday.
Jaclyn Smith’s publicist denies rumors alleging that the former Charlie’s Angel suffered a serious accident in Honduras that might have been a suicide attempt. The rumors started earlier this afternoon, when Perez Hilton blogged about the actress’ accident based on an un-sourced article in a Honduras newspaper alleging the wounded actress had been airlifted to a hospital. Jay Schwartz, Smith’s rep, tells EW: “Totally untrue. I spoke to her this morning and she is fine. Perez did not confirm the item with me.” Her assistant Melinda Kaye also confirmed to EW: “Jaclyn is alive and well and in L.A. with her family. The [Honduras newspaper] story is about Jaclyn’s stand-in Sandra Franklin who was her stunt double for Charlie’s Angels.”
Kevin Federline, Britney Spears’ ex-husband and father to her two children, has announced he’ll be among the contestants trying to slim down on the next season of VH1′s Celebrity Fit Club, reports People. The season featuring Federline premieres February 14, 2010. Happy Valentine’s Day.
The arguments have started in the extortion trial involving John Travolta, says the Associated Press. Today, prosecutors alleged a paramedic treating Jett Travolta, John’s late son, threatened to release private information unless the Pulp Fiction star paid them $25 million. Though Travolta is expected to take the stand, he was not present while prosecutors went over evidence in the case Tuesday.
Lionsgate announced today that it has acquired rights to the latest film by Traffic scribe Stephen Gaghan. The Academy Award-winning writer and director will helm the film—a “character-driven thriller”—as well as serve as producer. Gaghan is co-writing its script with Shannon Burke. Allyn Stewart and Kipp Nelson will serve as executive producers. Says Lionsgate president Alli Shearmur in a press release, “We are very excited to be in business with Stephen Gaghan, a master storyteller who has raised the bar for character-driven suspense in contemporary film. Steve has earned the right to have greater control over the creative content of his films along with a meaningful participation in its commercial success.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, director Justin Lin—who helmed Fast & Furious—is signing on to direct Summit’s remake of Highlander. The 1986 cult hit, which starred Sean Connery, followed a group of immortals who battled for domination in the modern world. This version will be an action film. Producer Neal Moritz has also signed on to the film, which is reportedly being written by Iron Man writers Art Marcum and Matt Hollaway.
Starting Dec. 13, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury will star in the revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Broadway musical A Little Night Music. The production—which will mark Zeta-Jones’ Broadway debut—will be directed by Trevor Nunn. “I look forward to starting rehearsal with this extraordinary group of people and working with the incomparable Angela Lansbury, whose work I’ve long admired,” said Zeta-Jones in a statement. Previews for the production—staged in the Walter Kerr Theatre—begin Nov. 24.
According to Publishers Weekly, Ballantine Books has purchased a memoir written by Jenny Sandford, the wife of South Carolina governor Mark Sandford. The publisher calls the book an “inspirational memoir” that “will grapple with the universal issue of maintaining integrity and a sense of self during life’s difficult times.” Governor Sandford became tabloid fodder back in June when it was discovered he was having an affair with an Argentine woman. Jenny Sandford’s memoir will be on stands in May 2010.
