aline brosh mckenna Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Patrick Wilson Laughs With 'Morning Glory'
Filed under: Comedy », Casting », Paramount », Newsstand »
The cast for the cheekily titled Morning Glory (aka "that film where Harrison Ford is going to try and be funny!") really is shaping up nicely. According to The Hollywood Reporter, they've nabbed themselves the second Nite Owl, Patrick Wilson. "The film that Ford is going to try and by funny in" centers on an up-and-coming news producer played by Rachel McAdams. She has to save a struggling morning show, and get its antagonistic anchors (Ford and Diane Keaton) under control.
Trying to save McAdams from losing the will to live is Wilson, who will play her boyfriend. While Wilson is clearly trying to earn some comedy cred (Morning Glory is the third comedy he's signed for, he's also got The Baster and Barry Munday in the works),
I sincerely hope there's a little more to his part than just "the boyfriend." Wilson is quite talented, and playing a boyfriend, even to McAdams, seems like a waste of his charm. Then again, how many actresses have been stuck in such a thankless part? Maybe the tide is turning.
There really is a lot of talent here on both sides of the camera: Roger Michell is directing from a script by Aline Brosh McKenna, and J.J. Abrams is producing with his Bad Robot banner. Let's hope they can bring us a film of the witty, fun Ford (yes, he does exist) and not another Hollywood Homicide.
Harrison Ford and Rachel McAdams Gear Up for TV Talk Shows
Filed under: Comedy », Casting », Deals »
He's faced angry Nazis, villainous Russians, and lots of space baddies, but is Harrison Ford any match for a determined Rachel McAdams? The Hollywood Reporter posts that Ford has grabbed the starring role in Morning Glory, while McAdams is in final negotiations. This one is the brainchild of Aline Brosh McKenna, which Paramount grabbed back October of 2007, and put Venus helmer Roger Michell in the directorial chair.Glory is a comedy that focuses on a "grizzled old-school anchor in the Ted Koppel mold" who is fed up with the incessant and increasing gossip on his evening newscast. (Aren't we all?) He quits, only to get pulled back into the fold by "a hot up-and-coming producer" (McAdams). But it's not for a new, gossip-free take on the evening news. Instead, he gets paired with his rival to help revive a morning talk show.
It's been a whopping 13 years since Ford has starred in a comedy. Time flies when you're an action star! But methinks that he'll slip back into the world of laughs easily. But what about McAdams? Is she a good match for ol' Indy? THR notes that Reese Witherspoon was once in talks for the role, so who would you prefer?
Aline Brosh McKenna Will Get Wrapped Up in 'The Ivy Chronicles'
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Deals », Scripts »
Over the last few years, Aline Brosh McKenna has become the IT writer girl for rom-coms -- which is a large improvement on her cinematic start, Three to Tango. She's the pen behind the adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada. She just brought us 27 Dresses. She's got a bunch of future projects on her plate. And is now adding another one. The Hollywood Reporter posts that she's going to adapt Karen Quinn's The Ivy Chronicles.This might sound familiar, because it's the Sarah Jessica Parker-headed project that Eugene blogged about in June. Said to be in the vein on The Devil Wears Prada (which makes Aline's inclusion pretty darned appropriate), the project focuses on a rich New Yorker who loses her job and starts a business helping other rich people get their kids into elite kindergartens. Oh, rich woes.
The material certainly isn't a stretch for the Sex and the City star, or McKenna, so we can imagine how it will turn out as SJP shows us yet another angle of her rich Manhattanite side.
Mandate Picks Up 'Prada' Scribe's Latest Script
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Deals », Scripts »
Instead of starting out with a bang and fading fast, Aline Brosh McKenna has slowly been building herself a pretty sweet career. She started on Margaret Cho's All-American Girl, had Three to Tango, the Laws of Attraction, and a television show called Drive. Then, well, she penned the ultra-popular The Devil Wears Prada, and followed it up with Katharine Heigl's 27 Dresses. Now Variety reports that Mandate Pictures has picked up her next romcom, which is currently untitled.This time around, her comedic heroine will be Maya -- "a young and highly successful businesswoman who has devoted her life to working for her legendary businessman father. But when Mr. Right enters her life and proposes to her, her father's disapproval of her new fiance leads Maya to devise a mischievous ploy to change Dad's mind." I'm hoping it's hypnotism, but I bet it will be something like a business makeover.
Mandate head Nathan Kahane says Brosh McKenna has "an exceptional ability to tell charming and funny stories for women that are guilty pleasures for men." Personally, I hope it's without the friendly condescension in Prada and tons of other projects these days. In Prada, Andy gets chastised for being busy with her job, with no discussion that maybe it's good for her to make the most of this opportunity -- not permanently, but temporarily. This sort of thing is popping up all over the place. Challenging the lead is good and makes for a better movie -- if it isn't done in a way that makes you question the challenger. Anywho, stay tuned, as I'm sure we'll have more romcommy goodness soon.
Paramount Wants Some 'Morning Glory'
Filed under: Comedy », Deals », Paramount », Scripts », Newsstand »
Some might say that women shouldn't head films, but Paramount's looking for some female-headed Morning Glory. Variety reports that Roger Michell has signed to direct the upcoming comedy, which is being written by Aline Brosh McKenna. Set in New York City, the movie will focus on "a struggling female news producer and the iconic, temperamental anchorman she recruits to revive a failing network morning show." There's no "rom" listed before the "com," so maybe this isn't one of those fighters-turned-lovers stories, although it really sounds like it will be. Paramount is trying to get the project, which has insidiously put Oasis into my head, up and running for production this spring.Now, whether your tastes match the work of director Michell or writer McKenna, this pairing should spell at least decent success for the production -- if they stay on their current trajectories. Michell is the director of Persuasion, Notting Hill and the recent critical hit, Venus. McKenna has gone from forgettable flicks like Three to Tango and Laws of Attraction to the wildly-popular The Devil Wears Prada and the upcoming Katherine Heigl romcom, 27 Dresses. Beyond this comedy, Michell is also set to direct The Rip, a thriller for Universal, and McKenna has a number of projects in development.
Ed Burns Trying On 'Dresses'
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Casting », 20th Century Fox »
I've never been a fan of Ed Burns as a filmmaker, but I do kinda like him as an actor. I say "kinda," though, because I haven't had the urge to see him in much since Saving Private Ryan. In fact, as much as I dislike his work as a writer-director, I'm more willing to see his own films in order to see his acting work, than to see other people's films he stars in. I think I'd even see She's the One again before I see A Sound of Thunder or Life or Something Like It. Sure, I only really kinda like him for one role, which had the benefit of Spielberg's direction, but I do believe he is fully capable of being in another great film.
That great film may be awhile yet, as he's just signed on to another film I probably won't bother seeing: 27 Dresses. The romantic comedy, which Monika Bartyzel did an amazing job of telling us about in March, will feature Burns as a man about to marry one sister (Malik Akerman) while being the object of affection of another sister (Katherine Heigl). With this casting news, we are now left wondering how costar James Marsden will fit in to the story. My guess: he plays the guy who Heigl falls in love with once she realizes she can't have her future brother-in-law. 27 Dresses has been written by Aline Brosh McKenna, who last adapted The Devil Wears Prada, rewritten by Dana Fox, who already gave us one wedding rom-com (The Wedding Date) and is being directed by dancer-turned-choreographer-turned-director Anne Fletcher. If you like the sound of that mix of talent, you may want to check out 27 Dresses. As for me, I might just try my luck with Burns' new film, Purple Violets, which premiered Monday at the Tribeca Film Festival.
'Grey's Anatomy' Star Lands Romantic Comedy Lead
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Casting »
While her day-to-day job on Grey's Anatomy seems to less-than-cheery, what with arguments, insults, unrest and pay struggles, Katherine Heigl can at least let out a smile about her side job. She made a stellar professional decision to co-star in Knocked Up, which Scott Weinberg raved about from SXSW. If you can be funny, and you're looking to step into film, there's really no better way right now than to hop on the Judd Apatow train. Now the tow-headed actress is signing on for a more typical romantic comedy -- 27 Dresses. At this rate, I give Heigl a year before she turns into the next Sandra Bullock.The flick isn't some sort of fashion comedy, but rather the cinematic version of "always the bridesmaid, never the bride." Heigl will star as a young, single woman who has taken on the wedding side-job 27 times, and must be super best friends with an entire sorority, or be part of the Cheaper by the Dozen house. When she's offered her 28th trip down the aisle, it's for her sister, who is marrying the man she is in love with. Well, no wonder she's single if she's sitting around pining after her sister's man. Hopefully it's one of those tales where she comes to her senses, rather than her trying to steal her husband's man, or her having a sister who is written as wicked and unworthy. There are only so many Cinderella nods we can take! The original script was written by Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada), with a re-write by Dana Fox, and it will be directed by Step Up helmer Anne Fletcher. The latter is also a choreographer, so does anyone want to bet on the chances that there is some sort of dance number in the movie? Production is set to begin this May in New York City and Rhode Island.
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