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Monday, November 29, 2004 5:11 PM EST
'Akeelah and the Bee' Puts a Spell on Lions Gate Films
Lions Gate Films and 2929 Entertainment will finance and distribute Akeelah and the Bee, an inspirational, triumph over adversity drama it was announced today by Michael Paseornek, Lions Gate Films President of Production. The film centers on a precocious eleven year-old girl from South Los Angeles whose journey to compete in the National Spelling Bee unites her community. Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, What's Love Got To Do With It) will play Dr. Joshua Larabee and Keke Palmer (Barbershop 2: Back in Business) has been cast in the title role.
Doug Atchison will direct from his script, which first garnered attention when it won the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship in 2000. Sid Ganis' Out of the Blue Entertainment and Michael Romersa's Reactor Films will produce with Nancy Hult Ganis and Danny Llewelyn in association with Laurence Fishburne's Cinema Gypsy Prods., Inc. 2929's Todd Wagner, Mark Cuban and Marc Butan with Helen Sugland of Landmark Artists Management will executive produce. Mike Paseornek, Lions Gate Films President of Production and Donna Sloan, Senior Vice President of Production, will oversee the project and Jonathan Ruiz, Vice President of Production, will act as the project production executive, which has been fast-tracked for an early 2005 start date. This marks the second collaboration between Lions Gate Films and 2929 Entertainment, following this spring's thriller Godsend.
"We were so thoroughly impressed and taken with Doug Atchison's winning screenplay that we immediately knew this was a film we wanted to make," said Paseornek. "His is a singular new filmmaking voice which we are looking forward to bringing to audiences everywhere."
"When we first read Doug's script we were blown away," stated Butan. "This is a story with great characters, incredible heart and a positive message and we are thrilled to be working with Doug to bring it to the screen."
Ganis describes Akeelah as the Rocky of spelling bee movies. "It's a sports story with a lot of heart." Atchison first developed the idea for "Akeelah" after seeing ESPN's inaugural broadcast of the Scripps Howard Spelling Bee. At the time, he observed that few inner city children participated in the competition. "Akeelah comes from an environment where many kids feel like the Spelling Bee is for someone else. In order to compete, Akeelah must first overcome her feelings of inadequacy. It's the quintessential underdog story," says Atchison. Hult Ganis added, "It champions education in a wonderfully exciting and dramatic story."
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Keanu Reeves, who most recently starred in The Day the Earth Stood Still, has signed to lead the cast of actioner Cowboy Bebop, according to Daily Variety. Reeves will take on the role of lead bounty hunter Spike Spiegel. Cowboy Bebop, a Japanese animated series, tells the story of a group of interstellar bounty hunters and their adventures aboard the starship Bebop..
Forest Whitaker, who was recently seen in Vantage Point and Street Kings, has been confirmed to be in negotiating to join the cast of the action film The Expendables, Stallone's latest writing and directing effort, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Whitaker would play the CIA liaison for a group of mercenaries (played by Stallone, Jet Li, Randy Couture and Jason Statham) who are clandestinely sent to South America to overthrow a dictator..
Director Adam Shankman, who helmed the upcoming Disney family adventure pic Bedtime Stories, will next tackle Disney's Bob the Musical and likely Sony's Sinbad, Daily Variety reported. Bob the Musical centers on a mild-mannered man who suddenly hears the "inner song" of people's hearts after being struck on the head..
Barry Sonnenfeld, who is an exec producer and director on "Pushing Daisies", will direct and produce the action comedy The How-To Guide for Saving the World for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Daily Variety reported. The project, penned by BenDavid Grabinski, refers to an instruction manual for saving the world, which is left behind by a secret group that protects the Earth from alien invaders after the group is wiped out. .
Tracy Morgan, who most recently appeared in First Sunday, will star in and produce the comedy Freshman Roommates for The Montecito Picture Company and Paramount Pictures, according to Daily Variety. TJ Miller (Cloverfield) will also star in the film. Freshman Roommates asks the question what if those spam emails aren't scams. .
Harrison Ford, last seen in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal, will star in Morning Glory, which is a comedy that J.J. Abrams is producing for Paramount Pictures. Rachel McAdams (Wedding Crashers) is in negotiations to join the cast too. Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada) wrote the script. Roger Michell (Enduring Love) is set to direct. .
Visual effects wizard Scott Charles Stewart, who co-founded the effects house The Orphanage, has signed to direct Priest, a horror Western adapted from a TokyoPop comic book, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The story is set in a world ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampire and follows a warrior priest who turns against the church to track down a murderous band of vampires who have kidnapped his niece. .
Olivia Wilde, who starred in Turistas and is a series regular on Fox's medical drama "House", has signed on to star in Tron 2.0, the sequel to the 1982 Disney cult classic being directed by Joseph Kosinski, according to Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. The original, about a programmer thrust into a computer and forced to fight in games he helped create, is remembered for its sci-fi gladiator-style battles and groundbreaking special effects..
Max Payne star Mila Kunis, who is probably best known for her role in "That 70s' Show" has joined the cast of The Book of Eli, the Denzel Washington sci-fi action thriller from Warner Bros. Pictures and Alcon Entertainment, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Albert and Allen Hughes are directing the pic..
Dimension Films and writer-director Rob Zombie are teaming for a second helping of Halloween madness this October, according to Daily Variety. Zombie will write and direct H2, the sequel to his 2007 reinvention of the John Carpenter horror classic. The new film picks up right as the first remake ended, following the aftermath of Michael Myers' murderous rampage through the eyes of the sister he hunted..
Helmer James L. Brooks, who has directed only five films during his career and hasn't helmed one since 2004's Spanglish, will next team up with Reese Witherspoon on How Do You Know for Sony Pictures, according to Daily Variety. Witherspoon was set to start lensing an Untitled Cameron Crowe Project for Sony in February, but that film has been pushed to July, leaving an opening in the actress' schedule..
Jay Baruchel, who was last seen in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Tropic Thunder, is negotiating to play the title role in a live-action The Sorcerer's Apprentice for Walt Disney Pictures, Daily Variety reported. Baruchel would join Nicolas Cage, who plays the sorcerer in the Jon Turteltaub-directed film..
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A Christmas Carol ()
$22,325,000Avg. Gross: $17,184 in 3,683 Theaters
Cumulative Total: $63,289,000
The Men Who Stare at Goats (R)
$6,200,000Avg. Gross: $9,530 in 2,453 Theaters
Cumulative Total: $23,376,000
Precious: Based on the No... ()
$6,090,000Avg. Gross: $51,230 in 174 Theaters
Cumulative Total: $8,914,000


