'Arrested' in Development; Stewart goes to 'Adventureland'

By Sarah Sluis

"Arrested Development," the three-season television show a little too smart for its own good, might have a film version in the works.  Its high-concept humor, which star Jason Bateman once described as "The
Royal Tenenbaums shot like "Cops,"" makes the film a tougher sell, but producer Ron Howard and series creator Mitch Hurwitz have reportedly been in talks with Fox Searchlight to create a $17 million film (in co-production with Howard's Imagine Entertainment), sure to turn a profit, especially in the DVD market. 

Members of the cast have also mentioned the possibility of a movie during their promotional tours (perhaps purposefully, to create an upswell in interest among fans).  Validating viewers in awe of the talented ensemble, the cast has done well for itself since the show's cancellation, often appearing in one another's projects.  Michael Cera, for example, who played George-Michael Bluth, has become a teen superstar, appearing in films like Superbad, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and Juno. Jason Bateman played opposite Charlize Theron (who had a role in "Arrested Development") in this summer's Hancock, and supported along with Cera in Juno.

Taking advantage of Kristen Stewart's star turn in Twilight, Miramax released the trailer for Adventureland.  Stewart plays the love interest of Jesse Eisenberg (The Squid and the Whale) in the romance set in 1987.  Both play jaded employees of a summer theme park who learn real-world lessons of slackerdom and avoidance while on the job.  Directed by Greg Mottola, who finessed the Apatow-produced success Superbad, the film could fall flat or replicate Superbad's success: your guess from the trailer.

Lionsgate picked up More than a Game, a documentary about LeBron James, the basketball player drafted into the NBA right out of college.  Featuring archival footage from the player's high school days,
as well as film-specific interviews, the movie has sparked interest due to its aggressive pursuit of in-kind marketing deals to support its release.  Nike, for example, launches a LeBron James-centered shoe each September.  Next year, the shoe's marketing campaign will feature a tie-in to the documentary, which is slated for a fall 2009 release.  The documentary, repped by Endeavor, has racked up tens of millions of dollars in marketing contacts to support the film, also bringing on State Farm, Coca-Cola, and the NBA in addition to the Nike deal.  A worthy effort in cross-promotion, the volume and value of the tie-ins would make Jerry Maguire proud.