Today's Film News: More Sex, More City?

By Katey Rich

Not everyone can snag a first-look deal with a major studio the same day of their feature directing debut, but it seems when you've got Sex and the City on your side, the rules are a little different. Michael Patrick King, who wrote and directed this weekend's guaranteed blockbuster, has signed a deal with DreamWorks for his next project, Variety reports today. While he says the project won't be a sequel to Sex and the City, he doesn't rule out the possibility either. Speaking as a fan of the show-- stop it! Stop it now! Leave well enough alone!

Robert Rodriguez is still apparently planning a remake of Barbarella following his success in the horror/action world (Sin City, Planet Terror), but in the meantime he'll be making a pretty big shift. The Hollywood Reporter writes that he'll direct the family adventure movie Shorts, about a town swept up in a craze when a local boy discovers a rainbow-colored rock that grants wishes. Huh? William H. Macy, Leslie Mann, Jon Cryer and James Spader will fill in the grown-up roles, with Kat Dennings and Jimmy Bennett representing the younger generation.

David Gordon Green is another director making a shift in genre, going from indies like George Washington and All the Real Girls to this summer's Pineapple Express. It seems he'll continue heading in that direction, Variety reports, directing the comedy Your Highness with Pineapple star (and college friend) Danny McBride. McBride, who I am convinced is the next big thing in comedy, will play an arrogant, lazy prince who has to save his father's kingdom.

And finally, National Lampoon has wandered through the weeds a little lately, making low-budget comedies no one really wanted to see. It seems they're hoping to get the mojo back by returning to their fertile roots: college. The production company has gotten behind the spec script Frat Chance, the Reporter writes, about a nerd who must pledge a fraternity to fulfill his scholarship. We can't even imagine the hijinks that will ensue. Well, we can, but we can't imagine how they'll be funny the 10th time around.