Note: I fell behind a bit the past few days, so here’s a massive roundup to get reasonably caught up.

Boo-U
Dreamworks Animation is pushing forward with their “super secret ghost project“, competing for a fourth-quarter 2012 release slot. Referred to internally as Boo U., the story centers on a ghost who is bad at his job and must return to ghost school. The film recently picked up writer Jon Vitti (The Simpsons Movie). It’s kinda sad, because this is a project that would inspire all sorts of possibilities if it were being made at Pixar. Another ghost-centric film, referred to as Freakers, is being written by Joe Syracuse & Lisa Addario (Surf’s Up) centers on a ghost story told from the ghosts’ point of view, in their world. [Source: THR]

Bounty Hunter
Jason Sudeikis (SNL, 30 Rock) has been cast in the Columbia comedy opposite Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler. The movie centers on Milo (Butler), a bounty hunter hired to track down his ex-wife, Casidy (Aniston), who has skipped out on bail. Sudeikis will play Stewart, a work friend of Casidy’s who falsely believes he is her boyfriend and takes off after her when she goes on the run. Andy Tennant (Fool’s Gold) directs from a script by Sarah Thorp (Twisted). [Source: THR]

Bride Of Frankenstein
Neil Burger (The Illusionist) is in talks to resurrect the Bride Of Frankenstein for Universal. Burger would pen the script with writing partner Dirk Wittenborn. The sequel continued the story of Frankenstein’s monster who persuades Dr. Frankenstein to create a mate. The doctor is successful, but the Bride (who is not a central character) winds up rejecting the monster at the end of the movie. About five years ago, American Splendor scribes Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini were attached to write, setting the  picture in contemporary New York, with a young woman dying and then unnaturally brought back to life. Burger’s version is expected to differ significantly from that concept. [Source: Risky Biz Blog]

The Experiment
Adrien Brody, Forest Whitaker, Elijah Wood and Cam Gigandet will star in a remake of the German psychological thriller Das Experiment. The original centered centered on a group of ordinary men recruited to take on the roles of guards and prisoners as part of a research study and examined how the effects of assigned roles, power and control affected the participants. Brody will portray the de facto leader of the prisoners while Whitaker will play a guard who’s corrupted by the power he’s given. Prison Break creator Paul Scheuring writing and directing with filming set to begin in Iowa next month. [Source: Variety]

Footloose
Dancing With the Stars‘ Julianne Hough will be make the transition to acting in the upcoming remake of Paramount’s 1984 classic. The dancer, singer and choreographer will join Chace Crawford (who recently replaced Zac Efron), assuming her scheduling works for the March shoot. The original told the story of a rebellious outsider who moves to a new town where music and dancing are banned and proceeds to shake everything up. Kenny Ortega (High School Musical) directs, while the latest draft was written by Susannah Grant (The Soloist). [Source: THR]

Inception
Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi feature has officially begun shooting in Tokyo. The film which stars Leonard DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt among others has a rumored budget of $150+ million. The story, which is being extremely quiet, is “a sci-fi thriller set within the architecture of the mind.” [Source: /Film]

The Invisible Man
David Goyer updated ShockTilYouDrop on the status of his version of the HG Wells classic. “I’ve since finished a draft and I’m in the midst of revisions for it right now,” he says. “Universal seems pretty high on it. So, they’re just breathing down my neck to get the revisions done. It’s a movie they’d like to make.” Universal also has The Wolfman coming to theaters this November, so the success of these two movies will most likely influence whether other classic monster franchies are revived. [Source: ShockTilYouDrop]

Just Wright
Rapper-turned-actor Common (Smokin Aces, Terminator: Salvation) has been cast opposite Queen Latifah in a romantic sports comedy directed by Sanaa Hamri. Scripted by Michael Elliott, film concerns a sports trainer who finds herself falling in love with a professional basketball player while rehabilitating him from a career-threatening injury. Paula Patton (Deja Vu, Precious) was also recently cast. [Source: Variety]

The Last Song
Greg Kinnear and Kelly Preston have been cast as Miley Cyrus’ parents in Disney’s adaptation of the upcoming Nicholas Sparks novel. The story centers on a rebellious teenager (Cyrus) who is forced to spend the summer with her estranged father (Kinnear), a former Juilliard professor and concert pianist. [Source: THR]

Money Never Sleeps
British actress Carey Mulligan (Pride & Prejudice) has been cast as Gordon Gecko’s daughter, Winnie, in Oliver Stone’s Wall Street sequel. Winnie Gecko is the fiancee of Jacob (Shia LaBeouf), and hasn’t spoken to her father Gordon in 11 years while he was away in prison since she blames her father for the suicide of her brother Rudy. Taking place 21 years after the events in Wall Street and set in the world of hedge fund managers around election time, Gordon Gecko agrees to help Jacob get his revenge against a hedge fund manager as long as Jacob helps restore and mend Gordon’s relationship with Winnie. Winnie works for a senator in Washington, DC. [Source: Latino Review]

Once Upon A Time…
Mike Mitchell (Shrek Forever After) is set to direct MGM’s live-action fantasy, based on a script Charlie Vignola, Kevin Marcus and Bradley Marcus. The story has Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty married to their handsome princes, the Charming brothers, and planning to live happily ever after — only to see their spouses go missing. The sisters-in-law set out to save their husbands and the fairy tale kingdom. An MGM rep said the studio does not have to license Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty from the Walt Disney Co. because the characters are in the public domain. [Source: Variety]

Teen Wolf
A remake of Michael J. Fox starrer Teen Wolf is in early development, because apparently Hollywood has given up and we should all get used to this. Warner Bros snagged the rights five or six years ago and are currently out to writers, looking for a fresh reinterpretation of Rod Daniels’ 1985 hit. The studio isn’t sure ”which way they’re going to go.” [Source: Moviehole]

The Secret History Of Tom Trueheart
Framelight Productions and David Uslan set to produce and adapt the children’s book trilogy into a series of feature films. The series follows a young boy and his older brothers in the Land of Stories. Production on a first live-action pic, based on the 2007 book, is aimed for a mid-2010 start on a planned $60 million budget. Framelight’s Jeffrey D. Erb and Robert L. Robinson Jr. will join Uslan in producing the film, with the series’ British author, Ian Beck, on board as exec producer. A screenwriter will be hired shortly. [Source: THR]

Tron 2
A pretty intensive, spoiler-filled early script review for Tron 2 has gone up over at CC2K. [Source: CC2K]

Trophy Boys
Josh Sugarman is setting eye on a group of young writers as a way of examining Generation Y in the narrative film as his feature directorial debut that has begun shooting in New York. Ryan Eggold (90210) plays a self-righteous twentysomething, with David Gallagher (7th Heaven) playing a friend who collaborates with him on a script. Tahyna Tozzi (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) plays a love interest for both. The film’s title describes members of a generation, coddled by their parents, that grow up with an overestimated sense of self-worth. Sugarman co-wrote the screenplay with Brandon Yankowitz. [Source: THR]

Unbreakable 2
M. Night Shyamalan is apparently still keen on doing a sequel to Unbreakable. “I don’t know where all the parties are in the world. Sam [Jackson] is like ‘Mr. Comic Book’ now. And Bruce, I don’t know what he’s up to. I don’t know where Disney’s at in their head and what kind of movies they’re up for making. But yeah, I love that movie.” Would Disney ever want to work with Shyamalan again after that entire Lady In The Water fiasco? [Source: MTV]

Untitled Facebook Status Project
Lisa Hamilton Day, a former exec at Dreamworks and friend of Christy Fletcher’s, wryly posted last week: “Lisa Hamilton Day’s Pomeranian raided Chinese takeout bag overnight, opened and ate a fortune cookie. Her fortune: You have strong spiritual powers, and you should develop them.” Fletcher, who runs a New York lit agency was thoroughly amused by the comment and immediately saw a story in it. Now Fletcher’s teamed up with Howie Sanders on a tween series about Charlotte, the Pomeranian, who uses her newfound superpowers to save her owner’s home after said owner loses her job and is forced to contemplate moving in with her folks, in a deal that would entail selling the Facebook update and optioning the dog’s life rights. Sigh. Seriously, I didn’t even make that up. [Source: Dark Horizons]

Wanted 2
Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch, Day Watch) is ready to start prep on a sequel to the Mark Millar adaptation. “In July we will start preparation for the film. I think in the late autumn or winter shooting will be performed, in America, India, and Russia,” Mr. Bekmambetov said to RIA Novosti. The film promises to bring back Angelina Jolie’s character, who was victim to the most awesome homicide/suicide ever filmed, aswell as introducing new characters. [Source: RIC]

Title: King Lear
Year: 1983
Network: Channel 4
Director: Michael Elliott
Writer: William Shakespeare
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Colin Blakely, Anna Calder-Marshall, Leo McKern, Dorothy Tutin, John Hurt, Diana Rigg
Music: Gordon Crosse
Distinctions: Emmy for outstanding lead actor (Olivier)
Length: 158 minutes
Synopsis: an elderly king gives up his kingdom and goes mad
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), November 2008
Subjective Rating: 7/10
Objective Rating: 7/10 (points off for cinematography, special effects/design and music)

Wow, almost three hours of Shakespeare and I never got bored. The acting is exceptional. The production quality is very, very British Television.

La compañía de juguetes y juegos, Bandai, ha anunciado el jueves que lanzará un trading card game (cartas intercambiables, tipo Magic), en Septiembre 13, junto con una serie de animación y manga. La compañía ha pasado los últimos tres años desarrollando “la nueva generación de juegos de cartas”. Las cartas representarán dragones, demonios, aves, insectos y otros espíritus que los jugadores podrán controlar en batallas. Bandai afirmó que el juego se distinguirá por su rápida dinámica de juego y giros inmediatos. El estadounidense Michael Elliott (Magic, Duel Masters, etc) ha estado a cargo del desarrollo.

La compañía de animación Sunrise producirá la adaptación al anime, que será transmitida en la temporada de otoño. Los animadores planean incorporar efectos gráficos computarizados para representar las batallas del juego. Adjunto a este proyecto, también se empezará una serie de manga en la revista para niños Kadowaka Shoter’s Kerokero Ace en Julio 26. En la misma revista se incluirán estrategias para jugar, perfiles de los personajes de la historia y cartas raras. Personalmente, siempre me voy a quedar con Magic, pero las primeras temporadas de Yu-gi-oh! no me parecieron del todo malas. Habrá que darle una oportunidad.

Just when you think you have heard and seen it all, there comes along a story that redefines the depths of cruelty and depravity to which some people are willing to descend. This is a story about a pregnant, mentally retarded mother (Dorothy Dixon) who suffered horribly and was ultimately murdered by the very people who were entrusted with her care. I find it hard to believe that anyone, much less 6 people, could exhibit such wanton disregard for the life of another human being and engage in such reprehensible behavior as described below. Dorothy Dixon was ridiculed, tortured and murdered by monsters. After all that she had to suffer though: May she finally Rest In Peace.

When Dorothy Dixon, 29, died she was six months pregnant and the mother of a one-year-old baby boy. The police believe Dixon died as a result of a blow on the head delivered by 43-year-old Judy Woods. It was however the autopsy that revealed the extent of the torture that Dixon suffered:

X-rays revealed roughly 30 BBs lodged in her. Deep-tissue burns covered about one-third of her body — her face, her chest, her arms and feet — and left her severely dehydrated. Her face and body showed signs of prolonged abuse. Many of her wounds were infected.

A Madison County grand jury indicted Michelle Riley, 35, Judy Woods, 43, Michael Elliott, 18, Benny Lee Wilson, 16, and LeShelle McBride, 15, of first-degree murder, aggravated battery and one count apiece of intentional homicide of an unborn child, heinous battery and unlawful restraint. A 12-year-old boy is charged as a juvenile. The victim Dorothy Dixon, 29, and all the suspects except Elliott lived at at 2957 Hillcrest St. in Alton, Ill. Bail for each person was set at $1 million. Riley and Elliott are being held at the Madison County Jail; Wilson and McBride are charged as adults but are being held at a juvenile detention center. Judy Woods has been held without bail since Feb. 1 at the Madison County Jail. Dixon’s one-year-old son who weighed only 15 pounds, was taken into protective custody. Neither the child’s father nor the unborn child’s father was identified.

In June or July of last year both Dixon and Riley rented the 3-bedroom house on Hillcrest St. The monthly rent was $800. Six people lived in the house. LeShelle McBride and the 12-year-old boy are Riley’s children. Woods and Wilson also moved in. Dixon was made to sleep in an unfinished section of the basement, while the others occupied the rest of the house. Riley was an abusive and controlling person who manipulated and threatened everyone in the house. From the start, neighbors Chad Hudson and Terri Brandt considered Riley trouble saying she was evil, vindictive and manipulative. Riley considered Dixon her slave, making her rub Riley’s feet until Riley fell asleep and forcing her to run naked around the house when she got in trouble, the neighbors said.

Rileyand Dixon had moved to Alton from Quincy, where according to Quincy police, they had lived together for some time. Riley worked for the West Central Illinois Center for Independent Living, which helps developmentally disabled people find housing and jobs. That’s where she met Dixon, who was a client. Riley also had problems with the law. She was a drug abuser and had previously sold drugs to pay for her habit. Riley’s criminal record includes narcotics offenses in Quincy in 2002 and 2004, and fighting in 2003. Riley had been taking Dixon’s monthly Social Security check which she had been receiving as a result of her developmental disabilities. Dixon saw little, if any, of the money.

“I thought I knew them real well,” the landlord, property owner Steve Atkins, said.

Atkins said Dixon was quiet and friendly. “She was always nice when she spoke to you.” He saw no hints she’d been suffering or tortured.

Riley, on the other hand, wasn’t as easy going, Atkins said. He was on the property one day making some repairs, and Riley was barking orders, Atkins said.

“I asked her, ‘Do I need to call the Army and tell them to come get their drill sergeant?’ Atkins, 39, said. “I thought that was funny. But she didn’t laugh about it at all, obviously, I hit a nerve.”

The abuse Dixon suffered at the hands of Riley and the others took place between Dec. 1 and Jan. 30. Banished to the basement, the 29-year-old mother with a childlike mind and another baby on the way had little more than a thin rug and a mattress to call her own on the chilly concrete floor. She ate what she could forage from the refrigerator upstairs, where prosecutors say her housemates used her for target practice with BBs, burned her with a glue gun and doused her with scalding liquid that peeled away her skin. They torched what few clothes she had so she walked around naked. They often pummeled her with an aluminum bat or metal handle.

“This is heartbreaking,” police Lt. David Hayes said. “It was almost as though they were making fun of the abuse they were administering. I’ve never seen an almost conspiratorial effort by a group of people to continuously torture someone until she finally died, then not really show any remorse,” Hayes said. “It was just a slow, torturous, tragic way to die. I highly doubt Dorothy Dixon even knew she was dying. The autopsy sort of indicates her immune system just shut down,” he said. “It was not capable of fending off any more.”

In the rental home’s basement, Atkins said, he found a bucket of feces in Dixon’s former room, a waist-high door that was nailed shut, and blood on the walls, washer, dryer and in the basement shower.

“It’s disgraceful the way this girl died, as kind and as sweet as this girl was,” he said. “She didn’t deserve to die the way she did. It’s just terrible, senseless. It’s just a total shame.”

    Dorothy Dixon

Suspects:
Michelle Riley, 35
LeShelle McBride, 15
Judy Woods , 43
Benny Wilson, 16
Michael Elliott, 18
12-year-old male juvenile

Disabled pregnant woman used as target practice
Police: Abuse wasn’t mentioned earlier in Dixon case
Pregnant Mother, Tortured, Dies in Ill.
6 people, including 3 minors, charged in death of pregnant Alton woman
‘I Couldn’t Believe It’