There’s a lot of breaking news in Hollywood happening every minute. In the age of the blockbuster, it’s easy for some smaller movie and television news to slip through the crack. Last Week in Hollywood is our new weekly series highlighting all the interesting news from the last week that we thought didn’t warrant its own post, but was still worth mentioning. It’s less personal opinions and more a hearty roundup of what you might have missed.
Kevin Smith Creating Green Hornet Sequel Series
Kevin Smith is teaming up with WildBrain, he kids entertainment company behind Peanuts, to develop a Green Hornet animated series which will follow the kids of the original Green Hornet and Kato who are now crimefighting partners.
The Green Hornet animated series will follow the son of the original Green Hornet and the daughter of the original Kato in contemporary times as they partner up to battle crime in Century City. However, the series will also feature “classic Green Hornet elements that fans know and love, including his ultra high-tech car, the Black Beauty.” As well, Kato’s daughter will be the Green Hornet’s partner and not just a sidekick.
Smith said in a statement accompanying the announcement of the yet-untitled Green Hornet animated series:
“It’s an honor to escort the legendary Green Hornet and Kato into their very own animated series for the first time in the rich history of these iconic pop culture characters! We’ll be telling a tale of two Hornets – past and future – that spans generations and draws inspiration from a lifetime spent watching classic cartoons and amazing animation like Batman: The Animated Series, Heavy Metal, and Super Friends. I can’t believe WildBrain gave me this job and I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity to extend my childhood a little longer.”
No release date or network is attached to the Green Hornet animated series at this time.
Courtney Cox Back For Scream 5
Courteney Cox (Family Ties) has just officially signed on for Scream 5 where she will once again reprise her role as reporter Gale Weathers.
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett of the filmmaking group Radio Silence are directing this new sequel, which was once teased as a reboot of the property. However, apparently this new sequel will just be titled Scream, because that’s not confusing at all. David Arquette is also back for more screaming as he has previously signed on to reprise his role as Dewey Riley. This adds weight to rumors that Neve Campbell will also be back as Sidney Prescott.
Radio Silence said in a statement:
“We can’t imagine ‘Scream’ without the iconic Gale Weathers and are so incredibly thrilled and humbled to have the opportunity to work with Courteney. We’re absolute mega fans of her work and we’re so excited to join her in the next chapter of the ‘Scream’ saga!”
James Vanderbilt (Murder Mystery, Zodiac, The Amazing Spider-Man) and Guy Busick (Ready or Not, Castle Rock) are writing the screenplay. The production is aiming to film in Wilmington, North Carolina as soon as they are given the all-clear.
Jordan Peele, Issa Rae Go Down a Sinkhole
Jordan Peele is teaming with Issa Rae on Sinkhole, a “thought-provoking genre piece that engages with questions of female perfection and identity,” from Universal.
The film will be based on Leyna Krow’s short story about “a young family which moves into their dream home, except for the gaping sinkhole in the backyard. The mysterious sinkhole manages to fix broken and destroyed things. However, what if that thing is a person?”
Rae will potentially star in the adaptation. No word on if Peele is interested in directing.
Riz Ahmed, Octavia Spencer Lead an Invasion
Riz Ahmed (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures) have joined the cast of Invasion, a new sci-fi thriller that’s been acquired by Amazon Studios.
Michael Pearce (Beast) is set to direct from a screenplay by Pearce and Joe Barton (The Ritual). The story follows “follows two young brothers who go on the run with their father, a decorated Marine (Ahmed), who is trying to protect them from an inhuman threat. As the journey takes them in increasingly dangerous and unexpected directions, the boys will need to confront hard truths and leave their childhood behind.”
Invasion is hoping to enter production in the United States sometime this year.
Millie Bobby Brown to Star in The Girls I’ve Been
Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) has signed on to star in an adaptation of Tess Sharpe’s YA novel The Girls I’ve Been which she will also produce alongside Jason Bateman. This will mark another collaboration between Netflix and the young actress. She also has Enola Holmes on the docket for the streaming service.
Brown will play the film’s lead character Nora O’Malley, a reformed bisexual con artist who must “use her powers of persuasion and impersonation to get herself, her girlfriend, and ex-boyfriend free during a hostage situation at a bank.”
No word yet on when production is set to start, but I would expect sometime early next year.
Sam Rockwell to Play Merle Haggard in Biopic
Sam Rockwell is set to star as country western signer Merle Haggard in an upcoming biopic for Amazon Studios. Haggard’s life is certainly one ripe for film. He famously went from being a prison inmate to a country western star. Rockwell will be doing his own singing.
Robin Bissell will direct. He recently worked with Rockwell on last year’s The Best of Enemies.
The Merle Haggard biopic will follow “the singer’s rise to fame as he makes strides in trying to become a better man and eventually a revered country music artist. It’ll also dive into his romance with fellow singer Bonnie Owens.”
Amy Adams is the Nightbitch
Amy Adams is set to star in a new movie called Nightbitch at Annapurna Pictures about “a new mother who is becoming increasingly concerned that she’s transforming into a dog.” Surprisingly, this will be an adaptation of Rachel Yoder‘s upcoming novel of the same name that’s slated to be published in the summer of 2021.
This will be the fifth time that Adams has worked with Annapurna Pictures following The Master, American Hustle, Her, and Vice. That’s a whole lot of awards worthy performances from those past collaborations, so maybe Nightbitch will finally give her an Oscar.
Jason Bateman Directing Here Comes the Flood
Jason Bateman is reportedly in early talks to direct Here Comes the Flood, a heist film written by X-Men franchise writer/producer Simon Kinberg. The film is set up at Netflix, which has a pretty warm and cozy relationship with the actor/director thanks to Ozark. The streaming service reportedly paid in the mid-seven figures for the script, outbidding several other companies.
Deadline describes Here Comes the Flood as “an elevated, character-driven love-story heist movie, with the heist playing out in increments.” While Bateman is currently only in talks to direct the film, there is a chance he may want to act as well. There are apparently several “juicy roles” that an actor of his caliber would love to sink his teeth into.
Seth Rogen Writing Script Based on the Hollywood Hustler
Seth Rogen has agreed to pen a script based on the life of Scotty Bowers, sometimes referred to as the “Hollywood Hustler.” Deadline reports Rogen will pen the script for the film, along with his frequent collaborator Evan Goldberg. Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name) will direct. The project is set up at Searchlight Pictures.
That’s it for last week. What projects mentioned are you interested in seeing once completed? Tell us down in the comments!
