United Artists has recruited Timothy J. Sexton to pen “Timecrimes,” the adaptation of Nacho Vigalondo’s Spanish-language film “Los Cronocrimenes.” Steven Zaillian and Agnes Metre are producing the feature, a noirish thriller about a man who travels back in time half an hour to prevent a serious crime. UA picked up the remake rights back in January, when the original film — for which Magnolia holds the U.S. distribution rights — played the Sundance Film Festival. Sexton, repped by Endeavor, scored the sought-after assignment on the strength of his work on the feature “Children of Men,” nominated for an Academy Award, and TV projects like HBO’s “Live From Baghdad.” {nl}                                                         Source:  The Hollywood Reporter{nl} {nl} 

“Battlestar Galactica”showrunner Ronald D. Moore is making a major move to the bigscreen, signing with United Artists to create and write a sci-fi trilogy. {nl}UA’s keeping details of the project under wraps. {nl}Moore has written extensively for TV and film, with feature credits on the upcoming “The Thing” as well as previous credits on “Mission: Impossible II,” “Star Trek: First Contact” and “Star Trek: Generations.” {nl}Moore also was a writer-producer on the “Star Trek: Next Generation” TV series and is the co-creator, writer and exec producer on the reimagined “Battlestar Galactica,” which launched in early 2005. Tom Cruise and producing partner Wagner revived the UA label in 2006 and have released “Lions for Lambs,” with WWII thriller “Valkyrie” set to open in February. UA’s also developing the Jessica Biel starrer “Die a Little” and sci-fi actioner “The Champions,” with Guillermo del Toro attached to direct. {nl}Wagner noted that she and Cruise worked with Moore on “Mission Impossible II,” and added, “Over the last decade Ron has emerged as the foremost sci-fi, fantasy creator, writer in the industry and working with him to bring his creative talents to the big screen is a great partnership for our studio.” {nl}UA President of Production Don Granger brought the project into the studio.{nl}Source: Variety

A trusted source very close to our site was able to catch an early screening of TROPIC THUNDER last night (release date: August 15, 2008) and here are his thoughts on the film starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr., among many others… Yo guys, So I caught an advance screening of Tropic Thunder last night, in NYC, and it was quite the experience. I walked into the theatre lobby and there’s Ben Stiller standing right there. The theatre was packed because Paramount wanted ‘regular’ people to see it with the critics. Stiller introduced the film and said that his dad, Frank Costanza aka Jerry Stiller was in the audience. I saw him and Phillip Seymour Hoffman after the screening. Still said that it was an unfinished version and that there were some effects shots that needed to be polished up, so some of the stuff looked liked like a GTA game. Anyway, to the movie. First and foremost, I have to say this: There is a major star (uncredited and unadvertised by the studio) whose performance as a psychotic studio exec is a near-legendary performance in this actor’s long and famous career. He steals the show, easily. This isn’t just a cameo. He’s basically the villain. At the end of the movie, when the credits came up, an individual screenshot for each actor, this actor’s name and pic got the biggest ovation by far, and it was a really nice moment. I don’t know what else to say without spoiling too much, but Downey’s performance is also a show-stealer, and the surprising anchor of this movie is Jay Baruchel’s character, the only sane one was the bunch. Jack Black is hilarious, as are Nick Nolte and of course Stiller. Matthew McConaughey, in what was supposed to be Owen Wilson’s role, also plays a major part in this movie and is perfect as Stiller’s agent. The movie is a satire on Hollywood and has a lot of in jokes and great bits. It’s at a gag-per-second pace. This movie will play huge when it opens in August, that’s for sure, and it’s also the most foul-mouthed comedy I’ve seen in a long time, if not ever. Lots and lots and lots of F-bombs. I don’t know how people will review this movie without mentioning who the above-mentioned actor is, but they shouldn’t, because I heard genuine surprise followed by glee when people realized who it was under that beard and bald cap. He appears pretty early on so its not a massive surprise, but it’s a nice treat, for sure. {nl}Source: JoBlo

To: Tom Cruise Forever.com, KatFor: Immediate Release to All Members From: United Artists Paula Wagner, CEO Date: January 18, 2008{nl}I have known and worked with Tom for more than 25 years. He’s a rock-solid dependable partner, and I have the utmost respect and admiration for his talent, integrity, kindness, and dedication. Andrew Morton’s book is a disgraceful piece of gossip-mongering, filled with distortions and outright lies that no sensible person will take seriously. I am not a Scientologist, nor are most of the people Tom and I work with, but that doesn’t mean I can sit by silently while he is attacked for his religious beliefs. As a filmmaker and an American, I feel strongly that an individual’s religion should have no bearing on their professional life. I have always believed that Americans celebrated these differences, and to see the vitriol that has been directed towards my friend is truly discouraging. It’s easy to mock an out-of-context video, but that doesn’t change the fact that Tom Cruise is one of the hardest-working and nicest human beings I have ever known.

Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner – C/W Productions Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. November 2, 2006 {nl}For Immediate Release: {nl}United Artists, the studio founded by movie greats Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and D.W. Griffith some 85 years ago and responsible for delivering such iconic film franchises as “Rocky,” “Pink Panther” and “James Bond,” will be reborn under a partnership formed between Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (MGM). The announcement was made today by Harry E. Sloan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MGM. {nl}Cruise and Wagner, one of the most successful film production teams ever, will drive the rebirth of United Artists as MGM’s operating partner. Along with their substantial ownership, Cruise and Wagner will have control of setting the company’s production slate, from development to production greenlighting ability, subject to certain parameters. Wagner will serve as Chief Executive Officer of United Artists, overseeing the day to day operations of the studio alongside her longstanding producing partner Cruise, who will star in as well as produce films for United Artists and also be available to appear in film projects for other studios. {nl}Cruise last teamed up with the original UA on “Rain Man” in 1988, which won four Academy Awards including Best Picture. {nl}In establishing United Artists as a new entity, MGM and Cruise/Wagner will return the studio to its former roots by recognizing what made UA great in the first place – studio management by creative talent who can best encourage and support other creative talent. The talent friendly studio will be reborn as a place where producers, writers, directors and actors can thrive in a creative environment, developing and producing entertaining film projects. The plan would allow artists throughout the community to pursue their creative visions outside of the traditional studio system. {nl}The studio plans to have a production slate of approximately four (4) films each year, which may increase in the future. Worldwide marketing and distribution will be handled by partner MGM. UA will be a major supplier of feature films to MGM, with production and development of UA movies being fully financed by MGM and its partners. MGM is the only major studio controlled by private equity firms which include Providence Equity Partners and Texas Pacific Group along with industry partners Comcast Corp. and Sony Corp. of America. {nl}”Partnering with Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner, we have the ideal creative foundation from which to reintroduce the United Artists brand,” said Sloan in making the announcement. “Tom and Paula are the modern versions of the iconic founders of United Artists – Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and D. W. Griffith – and our partnership with them reaffirms our commitment to providing creative talent with a comfortable home at United Artists and a dedicated distribution partner in MGM. United Artists is once again the haven for independent filmmakers and a vital resource in developing quality filmed entertainment consistent with MGM’s modern studio model.” {nl}Commented Cruise: “Paula and I are very respectful of the rich history and tradition of United Artists, and we welcome the opportunity to contribute to that legacy by providing a wide range of releases that appeal to all audiences. It’s our desire to create an environment where filmmakers can thrive and see their visions realized.” {nl}”This is a great opportunity for Tom and me to re-establish the United Artists brand and to work closely with the creative community,” stated Wagner. “As studio partner-operators, we will provide a supportive environment and infrastructure for filmmakers that will allow them to do their best work.” {nl}”Providing Tom and Paula with the ability to greenlight films under the UA banner validates MGM’s commitment to and recognition of independent producers as the true creative nucleus of Hollywood filmmaking,” said Rick Sands, COO of MGM. “The relationship between UA, which will provide the creative environment for independent producers to nurture content of their own vision and MGM, which will apply its expertise to distribution and marketing to those projects, is an ideal collaboration of art and business. The resurgence of United Artists will take us another step closer to realizing the full revitalization of MGM. Harry and I are personally thrilled to be working with Tom and Paula.” {nl}Paula Wagner and Tom Cruise launched Cruise/Wagner Productions as an independent production company in September 1993. Since its inception, the company has enjoyed unparalleled success, producing a wide range of films that have earned multiple awards, widespread critical praise and global box office grosses in excess of US$2.9 billion. Films produced by the company include the Mission Impossible franchise as well as critical and commercial successes such as “War of the Worlds,” “The Last Samurai,” “The Others” and “Vanilla Sky,” among others. {nl}Tom Cruise is one of the most successful, critically acclaimed and sought after movie stars in the world. In a career spanning 26 years, Cruise has received three Academy Award nominations and has won three Golden Globe awards for his performance in such hit films as “Born on the Fourth of July,” “Jerry Maguire” and “Magnolia” and numerous accolades for his performances in “The Last Samurai,” “Minority Report” and “Collateral.” Cruise’s films have resulted in worldwide box office totals of approximately US$6 billion and his last two films, “War of the Worlds” and “Mission: Impossible III” have grossed nearly US$1 billion worldwide. Overall, Cruise has made 14 films that have grossed US$100 million in domestic receipts alone, with his last seven consecutive films reaching that benchmark. {nl}The agreement between Cruise Wagner Productions and MGM/UA, which takes effect immediately, was brokered by Cruise Wagner’s representative CAA and attorney Bert Fields.

April 18, 2006{nl}

A trusted source very close to our site was able to catch an early screening of TROPIC THUNDER last night (release date: August 15, 2008) and here are his thoughts on the film starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr., among many others… Yo guys, So I caught an advance screening of Tropic Thunder last night, in NYC, and it was quite the experience. I walked into the theatre lobby and there’s Ben Stiller standing right there. The theatre was packed because Paramount wanted ‘regular’ people to see it with the critics. Stiller introduced the film and said that his dad, Frank Costanza aka Jerry Stiller was in the audience. I saw him and Phillip Seymour Hoffman after the screening. Still said that it was an unfinished version and that there were some effects shots that needed to be polished up, so some of the stuff looked liked like a GTA game. Anyway, to the movie. First and foremost, I have to say this: There is a major star (uncredited and unadvertised by the studio) whose performance as a psychotic studio exec is a near-legendary performance in this actor’s long and famous career. He steals the show, easily. This isn’t just a cameo. He’s basically the villain. At the end of the movie, when the credits came up, an individual screenshot for each actor, this actor’s name and pic got the biggest ovation by far, and it was a really nice moment. I don’t know what else to say without spoiling too much, but Downey’s performance is also a show-stealer, and the surprising anchor of this movie is Jay Baruchel’s character, the only sane one was the bunch. Jack Black is hilarious, as are Nick Nolte and of course Stiller. Matthew McConaughey, in what was supposed to be Owen Wilson’s role, also plays a major part in this movie and is perfect as Stiller’s agent. The movie is a satire on Hollywood and has a lot of in jokes and great bits. It’s at a gag-per-second pace. This movie will play huge when it opens in August, that’s for sure, and it’s also the most foul-mouthed comedy I’ve seen in a long time, if not ever. Lots and lots and lots of F-bombs. I don’t know how people will review this movie without mentioning who the above-mentioned actor is, but they shouldn’t, because I heard genuine surprise followed by glee when people realized who it was under that beard and bald cap. He appears pretty early on so its not a massive surprise, but it’s a nice treat, for sure. {nl}Source: JoBlo

Why is everyone still picking on Tom Cruise? OK, jumping on a sofa to declare your love for someone is weird. And, yes, he is part of a religion that sounds, to some of us, like it may use Star Trek fan fiction as its holy scripture. But I don’t care about any celebrity’s religious beliefs. The thing is, Cruise has done nothing bad to anyone and, most importantly, continues to make very good movies and be very good in them. So why does he continue to be entertainment blog whipping-boy number one? I ask the question because, after a couple of years of mild snarking at Cruise’s expense, things seem to be turning vitriolic. A recent article by Roger Friedman on the FOX News website (I hate to encourage eyes to such bilge, but you can read it here) tears the actor apart without restraint or any pretence at objectivity, saying that his next film Valkyrie is destined for ridicule

Simon Reynolds has completed another of his brilliant script reviews. This time he’s only gone and made me jealous by reading Valkyrie, the script for the next film to be directed by Brian Singer. Christopher McQuarrie is, without a doubt, one of my favourite screenwriters, so this really has me excited. Over to Simon… A look at Tom Cruise’s slate of upcoming films makes for interesting reading. There’s ensemble drama Lions For Lambs; Men, an Allan Loeb comedy; a possible Spike Lee joint; a surely ill-advised Hardy Boys remake with Ben Stiller (though the pair were hilarious in that MTV M:I spoof.); and Valkyrie, a Bryan Singer directed period thriller scripted by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander. Cruise is certainly making some diverse choices. In Valkyrie, he’ll will play Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, a German officer who becomes integral in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler and stage a coup to establish a new German government towards the tail-end of World War II. The story is based on real events, one of the numerous attempts to end Hitler’s life. An Internet search for “Operation Valkyrie” will reveal much of the film’s plot and the main players for both Hitler and the Stauffenberg ledresistance. Consequently there’s not much point in going into great analysis of the plot since it’s already out there

Here you have some new pictures of Tom & Suri in a park in Los Angeles. {nl}Tom & Suri Out In A Park – March 25th 2008{nl}