By Katey Rich
Maybe the key to making a Southern melodrama that doesn't sound trite is to base it on a true story. That, or come up with a really killer title. Luckily the latest project in development at Columbia has both; The Wettest County in the World will be based on an upcoming book by Matt Bondurant, about a sweeping moonshine ring run by his grandfather and great-uncles. The Hollywood Reporter writes that the director will be John Hillcoat, currently working on another crime-laden novel adaptation, Cormac McCarthy's The Road.
Speaking of The Road, it's included in a big round-up article in Variety that tackles a subject I never thought I'd be tired of hearing about-- awards season. Yes, it's officially April, which means it's only six months until the real awards contenders start seeing release! (Well, six months is generous; eight months is more like it). Included in the roundup are many of the expected contenders, like Ron Howard's Frost/Nixon and Sam Mendes' Revolutionary Road, but also some unexpected films that seem to be positioning themselves for awards glory, like Bryan Singer's Valkyrie and the indie drama Flash of Genius. While many of these movies sound promising, bothering with Oscar predictions seems exhausting and foolish at the moment-- which is probably exactly why I'll be doing it for the next ten months.
Jennifer Aniston has spent more time in the tabloids in the last few years than she has on screen, but now at least she'll be behind the camera. She and Kristin Hahn are teaming up to form Echo Films, a production company with a first-look deal at Universal. Aniston will actually be spending plenty of time in front of the camera as a result of the deal, which finds Echo developing a number of projects with Aniston attached to star. Variety describes many of the projects, some of them romantic comedies and at least two based on scientific studies. No, really.
And finally, Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) has plans, but apparently not very big ones. He's just signed on to direct Larklight, a $200 million period sci-fi fantasy that he calls "probably the most expensive film I've made and will ever make." You're gonna eat those words when Star Wars 8 comes knocking, buddy. The Hollywood Reporter says the movie, based on a book by Philip Reeve, will be about a brother-sister duo of space explorers who team with a band of pirates to save the universe. So, like I said, Star Wars. Trust me, Shekhar, Luke and Leia need you. You're their only, well, you know.
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