Joe Russo Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Plenty of musicians have made the transfer from the recording studio to the silver screen, and with varying results. But, it probably isn't so common to see a rock star who's willing to stay behind the scenes. The Hollywood Reporter announced that WB has picked up The Karma Coalition, a spec script written by rocker Shawn Christensen. Christensen is probably best known for his work as lead singer of Stellastar, an indie rock outfit that's toured with Jane's Addiction and The Killers.

According to THR, "The story centers on a professor who engages in a game of cat and mouse with a corrupt detective after he's told his dead wife of five years might still be alive. He uncovers the existence of a secret organization responsible for faking her death but suffers the consequences of that knowledge." The project was written by Christensen and his partner, Jason Dolan. Dan Lin will be producing the flick for Lin Pictures along with the WB. Lin already has some high profile films like Sherlock Holmes and Terminator Salvation in the pipeline, so a low stress thriller probably came as a welcome relief.

Even though Karma sounds like your usual Hollywood thriller (and it was written by two guys with minimal film credits to say the least), WB must have seen something in the idea. The studio will be shelling out $750,000 against $1.5 million for the project *and have attached Joe Russo to direct (which is an odd choice if you ask me, considering Russo's last flick was You, Me and Dupree), and 21's Jim Sturgess to star. So while Karma might not have the best 'film pedigree', at least Christensen already has a day job.

*Correction: Joe Russo and Jim Sturgess are attached to another Dolan/Christensen project, titled, Sidney Hall.

After the unpleasantness that was You, Me and Dupree, Anthony and Joe Russo are looking to explore a different kind of darkness -- the gritty and corrupt city of Ciudad del Este. According to Variety, they're set to direct Ciudad, which will be based on a graphic novel they're writing for Oni Press.

The story will follow a battered hostage negotiator, who travels to Paraguay and the above mentioned city to rescue a kidnap victim. They've been researching the story for years, traveling to crime-infested cities across the world to flesh it out more. Ciudad del Este is next on the travel agenda, a city labeled by the U.S. government as "a threat to national security" that shelters terrorists, drug runners, and all manner of scary people. So stay safe, you two.

The brothers are said to be aiming for a return to their indie roots with this one -- they were formerly behind Pieces, and the seedy George Clooney outing Welcome to Collinwood. (That's a bit of a lost film, isn't it? Weren't those the days when people were still screaming he should have stayed on ER? How things change.) I wish I could say more, but the graphic novel won't be out until 2009, and there's nary a preview on Oni's website. All we can do at this point is give them props for their research, wonder if George Clooney liked them enough to play the weary hostage negotiator, and make glib comparisons to Proof of Life or even Man on Fire.

What would the Christmas holiday be like without a few wacky family-related comedies? This year alone we're getting The Santa Clause 3 (11/3), Deck the Halls (11/22) and Unaccompanied Minors (12/8). Directors (and brothers) Joe and Anthony Russo are hoping to tack on their own classic Christmas comedy after teaming up with local TV reporter-turned screenwriter Phil Johnston on A Friggin' Christmas Miracle.

Universal Pictures has picked up Friggin' Christmas from the trio, with Imagine Entertainment tapped to produce. Project reunites the helming duo (who won an Emmy for directing the Arrested Development pilot) with Universal; they also directed last summer's You, Me and Dupree. Story, which revolves around a father who must drive through the night in freezing conditions alongside his own father, and archenemy, in order to retrieve his son's Christmas present (which he forgot at home) on Christmas Eve, is based partially on an experience Johnston had with his own family. Currently, no production schedule has been announced.

What's he wackiest thing that ever happened to you over the Christmas holiday?