Thomas Bezucha (Big Eden, The Family Stone, Monte Carlo) will direct The Art of Racing in the Rain, based on Garth Stein's bestselling novel, from a script by Mark Bomback (Wolverine), the Wrap reported. Universal Pictures originally purchased the rights to the novel in 2009 as a star vehicle for Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy), who will not appear in the movie, but is producing with Neal Moritz (Fast & Furious), the Wrap noted.
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"God bless Werner Herzog because sometimes we need a reminder that cinema can be unpredictable and unexpected," Indiewire observed in reporting that the cast for an upcoming film adaptation of DBC Pierre's novel Vernon God Little begins with Russell Brand, and "Mike Tyson and Pamela Anderson are now in talks to join the movie." The project, written by Andrew Birkin (Perfume, Joan of Arc, Omen III), "will begin production this spring once Herzog wraps on Queen of the Desert."
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Johnny Depp will star in Black Mass, based on the book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob by Dick Lehr and Gerald O'Neill. Indiewire reported the film at one point was going to be directed by Barry Levinson, with Johnny Depp and Joel Edgerton starring, but "was shut down and seemed like one of those projects that may be forever troubled." Now, however, it's back on with Depp in the lead role, Scott Cooper (Out of the Furnace) directing, Mark Mallouk writing and Tom Hardy "in early talks to co-star." Production is scheduled to begin in May.
