Mel Gibson is Craaaazy, and so much more.

UPCOMING FILM PROJECTS.

Working Title Films and director Joe Wright (“Pride & Prejudice,” “Atonement”) are developing a live-action feature based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale THE LITTLE MERMAID. Abi Morgan (“Brick Lane”) wrote the script for the adaptation of the classic tale of a young mermaid who gives up her life in the sea for a human prince. Andersen’s story was first published in 1837 and has been adapted numerous times for stage and screen. Wright’s version is inspired by a children’s puppet theatre production of the classic at London’s Little Angel Theatre Company.

Early work has begun on bringing WICKED to the silver screen, reports Deadline, who has received word that J.J. Abrams, James Mangold, Rob Marshall and Ryan Murphy are among the names who have met with the musical’s authors, Winnie Holzman (the libretto) and Stephen Schwartz (the songs). The musical, originally based on the novel, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire, retells L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz” from the perspective of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. Premiering in 2003, the stage version, which originally starred Idina Menzel, Kristen Chenoweth and Joel Grey, continues to perform internationally.

Sir Michael Caine, who plays Alfred in Christopher Nolan’s BATMAN movies, told Digital Spy at the premiere for Inception last night at London’s Leicester Square that the third film will get underway in April for a July 20, 2012 release. You can watch the interview clip below:

The Wachowskis’ upcoming Iraq war film is reportedly titled CN9, according to a tweet from Production Weekly. The film, said to have entered the casting stages, is rumored to deal with a homosexual relationship between a U.S. soldier and an Iraqi. Beginning in the near-future and flashing back, the project will allegedly be shot in a cinema verite style. Though it may have a different meaning for the film, the term CN9, in medicine, refers to the ninth cranial nerve, known as the Glossopharyngeal nerve.

CASTING NEWS.

Edward Norton will not be reprising his role as Dr. Bruce Banner, reports HitFix, who say that Marvel Studios plan to cast a new actor in the part. The report theorizes that a deal could not be made, despite Edward Norton wanting to join the ensemble cast of THE AVENGERS that will include Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Chris Evans as Captain America. Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige confirmed the report with the following statement he sent to the site:

“We have made the decision to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in the Avengers. Our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members. The Avengers demands players who thrive working as part of an ensemble, as evidenced by Robert, Chris H, Chris E, Sam, Scarlett, and all of our talented casts. We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks.”

Marvel Studios is planning a May 4, 2012 release for The Avengers.

According to Variety, Ralph Fiennes, Colin Firth, Gary Oldman and Michael Fassbender will star in the espionage thriller TINKER, SAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY for Working Title and Studio Canal. Tomas Alfredson (“Let The Right One In”) is directing the film, which starts shooting this October in London. Peter Morgan wrote the script. Based on John Le Carre’s seminal cold war best-seller, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, the thriller tells the tale of a spy-hunt within the highest echelons of the British Secret Intelligence Service.

MEL GIBSON.

Will Mel Gibson’s career ever recover? That’s the question everyone’s asking. He seemed to rebound fine from those drunken pictures with random ladies – who weren’t his wife – and his DUI/subsequent anti-Semitic rant, directing the criminally underrated Mayan epic “Apocalypto.” However, his latest uncorking of the crazy has taken him far past the edge of darkness. I’m sure by now you’ve heard the terrible phone conversations between Gibson and his baby mama, Oksana Grigorieva – the Russian pianist who Gibson left his wife of 29 years (and seven kids) for. Gibson split from Grigorieva in April, and there’s since been a domestic violence investigation launched against Gibson, who is alleged to have punched Grigorieva in the face – knocking out several teeth in the process. And then, there’s the taped conversations, which led to Gibson being dropped by his agency, William Morris Endeavor. Here’s just one of them. Judge the insanity for yourself:

FUN NEW TRAILERS.

Focus Features has debuted the trailer for one of my favorite filmmaking duos, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s (“Sugar,” “Half Nelson”), IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY and you can watch it using the player below. The dramedy, opening September 24, stars Keir Gilchrist (“The United States of Tara”), Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts, Viola Davis, Zoe Kravitz, Aasif Mandvi, Lauren Graham and Jim Gaffigan.

In the New York City-set film, 16-year-old Craig (Gilchrist), stressed out from the demands of being a teenager, checks himself into a mental health clinic. There he learns that the youth ward is closed – and finds himself stuck in the adult ward. One of the patients, Bobby (Galifianakis), soon becomes both Craig’s mentor and protégé. Craig is also drawn to another 16-year-old, Noelle (Roberts). With a minimum five days’ stay imposed on him, Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside as he learns more about life, love, and the pressures of growing up:

IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY Trailer

The trailer for direct Todd Phillips’ DUE DATE has come online and can be watched using the player below! Opening in theaters on November 5, the comedy stars Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan, Jamie Foxx, Alan Arkin, Juliet Lewis and Danny McBride.

In the Warner Bros. release, Peter Highman (Downey Jr.) is an expectant first-time father whose wife’s due date is a mere five days away. As Peter hurries to catch a flight home from Atlanta to be at her side for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when a chance encounter with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis) forces Peter to hitch a ride with Ethan–on what turns out to be a cross-country road trip that will ultimately destroy several cars, numerous friendships and Peter’s last nerve.

DUE DATE Trailer

TWILIGHT NEWS.

There is a great profile in GQ this week of Taylor Lautner, star of the “Twilight” films. Yes, I’m as surprised as anyone. But it’s a very fun read.

THE 2010 NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL.

In addition to announcing that David Fincher’s THE SOCIAL NETWORK has been selected as the opening night film of the 48th Annual New York Film Festival, Columbia Pictures has released a new teaser trailer for the Facebook film:

THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Until next week!

Tags: marlow stern, mel gibson, weekly blog