News

Exclusive: Vertical Entertainment has acquired worldwide distribution rights to Small Engine Repair, the film based on the critically acclaimed stage play (LA Critic’s Choice and New York Times Critic’s Pick).

Vertical is planning a theatrical release in September positioning the film for awards season.

The black comedy is written, directed by and starring John Pollono (Stronger) alongside Jon Bernthal, Shea Whigham (Joker), Jordana Spiro (Ozark), Spencer House (Space Force) and Ciara Bravo (Cherry).

It follows lifelong friends Frank (Pollono), Swaino (Bernthal) and Packie (Whigham) who share a love of the Red Sox, rowdy bars and Frank’s teenaged daughter Crystal (Bravo). But when Frank invites his pals to a whiskey-fueled evening and asks them to do a favor on behalf of the brash young woman they all adore, events spin wildly out of control in this exploration of brotherhood, class struggle and toxic masculinity.

Lionsgate is adding the “high-octane thriller” Point Break to its list of new movies. The film, which is a remake of the 1991 action thriller of the same name, will be directed by Ericson Core, who previously filmed Invincible, The Fast and the Furious, and Daredevil.

Alcon co-founders and co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove are producing with Christopher W Taylor and screenwriter Kurt Wimmer. Robert L Levy, Peter Abrams and John McMurrick serve as executive producers.

The movie is set to start production next March. It will be shot on-location in places like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, China and Malta.

Here’s a summary of the movie:

“The action centres on a former extreme sports superstar and FBI rookie who infiltrates a gang of itinerant thrill-seekers in a bid to crack a series of international robberies. As the law enforcer’s investigation goes deeper he develops a strong tie with...

Exclusive: Lionsgate International has added the high-octane thriller to its crop of new AFM titles alongside Mortdecai, Gods Of Egypt and Love & Mercy.

Ericson Core will direct Alcon Entertainment’s reimagining of iconic 1991 action thriller Point Break. He previously served as director of photography on Invincible, The Fast And The Furious and Daredevil.

Alcon co-founders and co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove are producing with Christopher W Taylor and screenwriter Kurt Wimmer. Robert L Levy, Peter Abrams and John McMurrick serve as executive producers.

Point Break is earmarked to start shooting in March 2014 on location in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, China and Malta.

Warner Bros will distribute in the Us.

The action centres on a former extreme sports superstar and FBI rookie who infiltrates a gang of itinerant thrill-seekers in a bid to crack a series of international robberies.

As the law enforcer’s investigation goes deeper he develops a strong tie with an enigmatic adventurer attempting...

Exclusive: Lionsgate International has added the high-octane thriller to its crop of new Afm titles alongside Mortdecai, Gods Of Egypt and Love & Mercy.

Ericson Core will direct Alcon Entertainment’s reimagining of the iconic 1991 action thriller and previously served as director of photography on Invincible, The Fast And The Furious and Daredevil.

Alcon co-founders and co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove are producing with Christopher W Taylor and screenwriter Kurt Wimmer. Robert L Levy, Peter Abrams and John McMurrick serve as executive producers.

Point Break is earmarked to start shooting in March 2014 on location in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, China and Malta. Warner Bros will distribute in the Us.

The action centres on a former extreme sports superstar and FBI rookie who infiltrates a gang of itinerant thrill-seekers in a bid to crack a series of international robberies.

As the law enforcer’s investigation goes deeper he develops a strong tie with an enigmatic adventurer attempting to become...

Danny DeVito is set to direct the indie comedy "Honeymoon With Dad" at Tapestry Films and Reel FX Creative Studios reports Variety.

The story follows an accountant who, after being left at the altar, winds up going on his would-be honeymoon with his estranged and larger-than-life father. Scott Atkinson and Tegan West penned the script.

It's not certain whether DeVito is interested in also starring in the project, but it is possible. Shooting will take place during DeVito's next hiatus from his work on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia". Michael Schreiber, Peter Abrams, Cary Granat and Jared Mass will produce.

Danny DeVito will step behind the camera for another directing endeavor, signing on to make Honeymoon With Dad for Tapestry Films and Reel FX Creative Studios.

The story follows an accountant who was left at the alter. He is subsequently forced to spend what would have been his honeymoon with his estranged father. It isn't known if Danny DeVito plans on starring in the indie as well.

Scott Atkinson and Tegan West wrote the screenplay, with Michael Schreiber, Peter Abrams, Cary Granat, and Jared Mass producing. Production is expected to begin sometime next year, after Danny DeVito wraps on the current season of FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Danny DeVito made his directorial debut in 1987 with Throw Momma From The Train, which he co-starred in alongside Billy Crystal. Other directorial credits include The War of the Roses, Hoffa, Matilda, Death to Smoochy, and Duplex.

IFC Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to the thriller “Breaking the Girls” from Myriad Pictures at the Toronto International Film Festival market. The film will receive a limited theatrical release. Madeline Zima, Agnes Bruckner and Shawn Ashmore star in the story of a college student and her manipulative new friend, who make a pact to murder each other’s enemies to disastrous results. “But I’m a Cheerleader” filmmaker Jamie Babbit directed from a screenplay by Mark Distefano and Guinevere Turner. Read More: IFC Films President Jonathan Sehring Wants You to Know a Few Things Myriad’s Kirk D’Amico produced along with Andrea Sperling (“Like Crazy”). Peter Abrams and Robert Levy of Tapestry Films are executive producers. Sundance Selects/IFC Films exec Arianna Bocco negotiated the deal with D’Amico. IFC Films has recently released “Sleepwalk With Me,” “About...

IFC Films has acquired from Myriad Pictures the U.S. distribution rights to director Jamie Babbit's thriller, "Breaking The Girls," starring Madeline Zima, Agnes Bruckner, and Shawn Ashmore, Myriad announced in a statement on Monday in Toronto. Written by Mark Distefano and Guinevere Turner, the film was produced by Myriad's Kirk D'Amico and Andrea Sperling. Peter Abrams and Robert Levy of Tapestry Films serve as executive producers. The film will have a limited theatrical in the U.S. The film tells the story of a university student framed for murder after she teams up...

"Jackass" film series director Jeff Tremaine will make his narrative feature debut on the comedy "Revenge of the Jocks" at Warner Bros. Pictures says The Hollywood Reporter.

The film takes the premise of 1980's comedy hit "Revenge of the Nerds" and turns it around. In this incarnation, the story follows three popular high school jocks whose glory days are long behind them.

Now they find themselves forced to adapt to a world run by the geek and nerd crowd, a few who're happy to unleash their own torment on them.

"I Heart Huckabees" scribe Jeff Baena is currently re-writing the script from Rami and Etan Cohen which the studio picked up in early 2009. Peter Abrams, Robert L. Levy, Michael Schreiber and Andrew Panay are producing.

Looks like there's some activity going on with a couple of people from the "Jackass" crew, one of them being director Jeff Tremaine. He's been sinking his teeth into the documentary-style comedies for over a decade now, it's finally time for a change. That's why it's cool to hear that Tremaine is finally signed on to direct the narrative comedy "Revenge of the Jocks." Written by "I Heart Huckabees" scribe Jeff Baena, "Revenge of the Jocks" focuses on threemen, once popular high school jocks with their glory days behind them, finding themselves forced to adapt to a world run by the geek and nerd crowd, some of whom are only too eager to unleash their own tormenting on the new underdog class. Don't know about the rest of you, but that premise sounds pretty awesome. Producing "Jocks" is Michael Schreiber, Peter Abrams, Robert L. Levy and Andrew Panay.Although "Jackass 3D...

Jackass 3D director Jeff Tremaine is taking the leap into narrative movies with the Warner Bros. comedy Revenge of the Jocks.

This new comedy takes the premise of the classic 80s comedy Revenge of the Nerds DVD and turns it upside down. Revenge of the Jocks centers on three men, all popular jocks in high school, who find themselves trying to adapt to a new world ruled by geeks, nerds and fanboys. They find themselves being tormented by the same types of nerds who they tormented back in their heyday.

Etan Cohen and Rami Cohen wrote the original screenplay, which is being rewritten by Jeff Baena (I Heart Huckabees). The project was first picked up in March 2009.

Peter Abrams, Robert L. Levy, Michael Schreiber, and Andrew Panay will produce the comedy project. No production schedule was given for Revenge of the Jocks.

Here you go, my movie reviews of:

"Old Dogs"

"The Road" (To read my written movie review of "The Road," click here)

"Fantastic Mr. Fox"

Here's more info on the films I reviewed, courtesy of Yahoo Movies:

"Old Dogs"

Cast and Credits

Starring: John Travolta, Robin Williams, Kelly Preston, Ella Blue Travolta, Lori Loughlin

Directed by: Walt Becker

Produced by: Garrett Grant, Andrew Panay, Peter Abrams

Two best friends -- one unlucky-in-love divorcee and the other a fun-loving bachelor -- have their lives turned upside down when they're unexpectedly charged with the care of 7-year-old twins while on the verge of the biggest business deal of their lives. The not-so-kid-savvy bachelors stumble in their efforts to take care of the twins, leading to one debacle after another.

Genres: Comedy and Kids/Family

Release Date: November 25th, 2009 (wide)

MPAA Rating: PG for some mild rude humor.

Distributors:

Walt Disney Studios Distribution...

We are pleased to offer you new clips from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures' "Old Dogs," starring John Travolta, Robin Williams, Kelly Preston, Seth Green, Ella Bleu Travolta, Lori Loughlin and Matt Dillon. Walt Becker ("Wild Hogs") directs from the writing by David Diamon and David Weissman. Andrew Panay, Robert L. Levy and Peter Abrams-produced comedy sees theatres on November 25th and looks absolutey hilarious. Two best friends -- one unlucky-in-love divorcee (Robin Williams) and the other a fun-loving bachelor (John Travolta) -- have their lives turned upside down when they’re unexpectedly charged with the care of six-year-old twins while on the verge of the biggest business deal of their lives. The not-so-kid-savvy bachelors stumble in their efforts to take care of the twins (newcomers Ella Bleu Travolta and Conner Rayburn), leading to one debacle after...

See new images from the film as well as new clips and new footage from the premiere of "Old Dogs," starring John Travolta, Robin Williams, Kelly Preston, Seth Green, Ella Bleu Travolta, Lori Loughlin and Matt Dillon. Walt Becker who really made me laugh to tears with "Wild Hogs," directs from the writing by David Diamond and David Weissman. The film is produced by Andrew Panay, Robert L. Levy and Peter Abrams. Two best friends -- one unlucky-in-love divorcee (Robin Williams) and the other a fun-loving bachelor (John Travolta) -- have their lives turned upside down when they’re unexpectedly charged with the care of six-year-old twins while on the verge of the biggest business deal of their lives. The not-so-kid-savvy bachelors stumble in their efforts to take care of the twins (newcomers Ella Bleu Travolta and Conner Rayburn), leading to one debacle after another, and perhaps to a new-found...

Producer Andrew Panay is venturing out of his role as a partner at Tapestry Films to sign a three-year exclusive deal that will see him developing and producing movies for Walt Disney Studios.

Panay will produce the feature projects via his unnamed studio-based shingle, which will add staffers. The deal is a homecoming of sorts for Panay, who began his career as an intern and assistant at Disney.

At Tapestry, Panay came up with the idea for "Wedding Crashers," producing the movie with partners Peter Abrams and Robert Levy. He also created the idea and produced Tapestry's comedy hit "National Lampoon's Van Wilder," starring Ryan Reynolds.

Last year, Panay and Tapestry produced the upcoming Thanksgiving comedy "Old Dogs," starring John Travolta and Robin Williams, then acted as a producer sans the company on the Kristen Bell comedy "When in Rome."

It was the experience on those two films that "just...

"The Spiderwick Chronicles" helmer Mark Waters is in talks to direct a new comedy from Participant Media about the effects of greed.

"Minimum Wage" centers on a corrupt corporate executive who is convicted of fraud. As punishment, he was sentenced to live on minimum wage for one year in the town his company bankrupted, as per Hollywood Reporter.

Peter Abrams, Robert Levy, and Andrew Panay are producing.

Waters has finished directing the New Line Cinema film "The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past." The film, starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner, will be released on May 1.

Mark Waters is in negotiations to direct Minimum Wage, a timely comedy from Participant Media that tackles the effects of greed, report the trades. The project is being developed by Peter Abrams, Robert Levy and Andrew Panay, the producing team behind comedies such as Van Wilder, Employee of the Month and Wedding Crashers. Wage centers on a corrupt corporate executive who is convicted of fraud and sentenced to a year living on minimum wage in the town his company bankrupted. It was written by Tegan West (The Cave) and Scott Atkinson. Waters’ directing credits include Head Over Heels, Freaky Friday, Mean Girls and Just Like Heaven. He ventured away from the rom-coms last year for the adventure/fantasy flick The Spiderwick Chronicles. He recently finished work on The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, a rom-com starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner which is set to open in May.

Mark Waters is in negotiations to direct "Minimum Wage," a timely comedy from Participant Media that tackles the effects of greed. Peter Abrams, Robert Levy and Andrew Panay are producing.

Written by Tegan West and Scott Atkinson, the story centers on a corrupt corporate executive who is convicted of fraud and sentenced to a year living on minimum wage in the town his company bankrupted.

Jonathan King and Erin Stam are overseeing for Participant.

The company, headed by CEO Jim Berk and president Ricky Strauss, aims to make commercial films with a social bent. This year, it was behind such movies as Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor" and Errol Morris' "Standard Operating Procedure" and is involved in upcoming pics "The Soloist" and "The Informant."

Waters, repped by CAA, last directed "The Spiderwick Chronicles." His comedy "The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" is in the can and set for a May 1 release.

Mark Waters is in talks to direct Minimum Wage , a comedy from Participant Media that tackles the effects of greed, says The Hollywood Reporter . Peter Abrams, Robert Levy and Andrew Panay are producing. Written by Tegan West and Scott Atkinson, the story centers on a corrupt corporate executive who is convicted of fraud and sentenced to a year living on minimum wage in the town his company bankrupted. Waters last directed The Spiderwick Chronicles . His comedy Ghosts of Girlfriends Past will be released on May 1st.

Chicago – This 11-image slideshow contains official press images and schedule information for the recently announced slate of films to be released by Walt Disney Pictures in 2009 including new films starring Isla Fisher, Bruce Willis, Robin Williams, John Travolta, Ryan Reynolds, Josh Duhamel, and the newest Pixar film.

These 2009 Walt Disney Pictures include “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” “Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience,” “Race to Witch Mountain,” “Hannah Montana The Movie,” “earth,” “Up,” “The Proposal,” “G-Force,” “When in Rome,” “Surrogates,” “Toy Story in Disney Digital 3-D,” “Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” “Old Dogs,” and “The Princess and the Frog”. Not all films have images released, but release details and dates were announced for the entire 2009 slate.

The release dates, cast lists, and filmmaker information for these Walt Disney Pictures films can be found below in chronological order, followed by a slideshow of available images.

“Confessions of a Shopaholic”

Cast: Isla Fisher,...

Anne Hathaway just found her next project.

The actress, who is generating awards buzz with her role as a neurotic recovering addict in "Rachel Getting Married," is set to star in Fox's "The Opposite of Love."

The film centers on a commitment-phobic young attorney (Hathaway) who finds her well-constructed life coming apart when she rejects her ready-for-marriage boyfriend.

The project is based on the best-seller by Julie Buxbaum, with Kara Holden adapting the screenplay. Sources say the tone of the film is in the vein of "Jerry Maguire."

Tapestry Films is producing, with Michael Schreiber and Peter Abrams overseeing for the company. Jenny Marchick is overseeing for Fox.

Hathaway told The Hollywood Reporter last week at the "Rachel" premiere that she had taken the summer off and was looking for her next project.

With "Opposite," the actress, best known for her roles in "The Devil Wears Prada" and the "Princess Diaries" films,...

• Known for laughers and knee-slappers such as An Inconvenient Truth, Darfur Now and Standard Operating Procedure, THR announced that Participant Media is teaming up (with Tapestry Films) on a comedy that goes by a storyline that should have occured for a couple of high-ranking folks at Enron. The partnership puts together a company with a great track record in terms of quality content and another with forgettable slew of comedies such as The Comebacks, the Van Wilder franchise and box office gold Wedding Crashers and The Wedding Planner to vouch for. Currently being polished off by scripters Tegan West ("The Cave") and actor Scott Atkinson, Minimum Wage tells the story of a thieving corporate exec sentenced to live on minimum wage in the town his company bankrupted. Tapestry's partners Peter Abrams, Robert Levy and Andrew Panay will produce the feature and Participant's vp Creative Affairs and Production Jodi Zuckerman

...

Bernie Mac has joined the cast of Old Dogs, the John Travolta-Robin Williams comedy that Walt Becker is directing for the Walt Disney Co.

Old Dogs is a buddy comedy revolving around two best friends and business partners whose lives are turned upside down when they find themselves taking care of 7-year-old twins.

In the movie, Mac plays Johnny Lunchbox, the Elvis, Bono, and Beatles of children's entertainment all wrapped up into one super-charismatic puppeteer.

David Diamond and David Weissman wrote the script. Tapestry's Andrew Panay, Peter Abrams and Robert L. Levy are producing.

Kristin Burr and Casey Wolfe are overseeing for the studio.

Mac most recently appeared as a scene-stealing car dealer in Transformers as well as Ocean's Thirteen. He is repped by Endeavor, Handprint Entertainment and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof & Fishman.

Robin Williams has signed on to star opposite John Travolta in Old Dogs, a Walt Disney Co. comedy being directed by Walt Becker. Also joining the cast is Travolta's wife, Kelly Preston, and daughter, Ella Travolta.

Dogs is a buddy comedy revolving around two best friends and business partners whose lives are turned upside down when they find themselves in the care of 7-year-old twins.

Disney bought the project in the summer from David Diamond and David Weissman as a pitch in a seven-figure deal. The duo also wrote the screenplay.

Tapestry's Andrew Panay, Peter Abrams and Robert L. Levy are producing.

Kristin Burr and Casey Wolfe are overseeing for the studio.

Williams next stars alongside John Krasinski and Mandy Moore in Warner Bros. Pictures' License to Wed. His recent credits include Man of the Year, RV, Night at the Museum and Happy Feet.

Williams is repped by CAA, MBST Entertainment and Manatt Phelps & Phillips.

The Wild Hogs duo of John Travolta and director Walt Becker are in the process of reteaming for another Disney comedy, this one titled Old Dogs.

Becker has signed on to helm the movie, while Travolta is in talks to star. Travolta is also hoping to have his wife, Kelly Preston, and daughter, Ella Blue, cast alongside him.

David Diamond and David Weissman wrote the screenplay, which was originally titled Old Dads. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but it is understood to be a buddy comedy revolving around two guys who become middle-aged dads. Disney bought the project as a pitch in a seven-figure deal last summer.

A search is under way for a second male star to pair with Travolta.

Tapestry's Andrew Panay, Peter Abrams and Robert L. Levy are producing. The trio also produced Becker's directorial debut, 2002's Van Wilder.

Becker is attached to direct Schooled, which is set up at Disney. He is repped by ICM, Nine Yards and Sloan, Offer, Weber and Dern.

Touchstone Pictures has pre-emptively picked up Blowback, a buddy action comedy with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Ryan Reynolds attached to star. Sheldon Turner will write the script, which will be produced by Tapestry Films' Andrew Panay, Peter Abrams and Robert Levy, who are coming off the success of Wedding Crashers. Dark Trick Films, run by Jonathon Komack Martin and Reynolds, also will produce the film, and Reynolds will act as an executive producer. Details on Blowback are being kept under wraps, but the high-concept project is being described as a modern-day Lethal Weapon. The two main characters are San Francisco cops.

Rachel McAdams will come between Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn in New Line Cinema's The Wedding Crashers. The film is being produced by Tapestry Films' Peter Abrams, Robert Levy and Andrew Panay and is being directed by David Dobkin. Wilson and Vaughn play divorce attorneys who score with women by crashing weddings; they run into trouble when Wilson's character breaks the guys' rules and falls in love with a bridesmaid played by McAdams, who has appeared in The Hot Chick and will next be seen in Mean Girls and The Notebook. She is repped by Gersh, Shelley Browning at Magnolia Entertainment and Howard Fishman at Armstrong Hirsch.

Christopher Walken is in negotiations to star opposite Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson in New Line Cinema's The Wedding Crashers. Tapestry Films' Andrew Panay and Peter Abrams are producing. The romantic comedy revolves around two guys who have a hobby of crashing weddings in order to meet girls. While crashing a random nuptial, one of them unexpectedly falls in love with a bridesmaid. Walken would play the girl's father, who happens to be the U.S. Treasury secretary. Crashers was penned by the writing team of Steve Faber and Bob Fisher. New Line production executives Richard Brener, Cale Boyter and Magnus Kim are overseeing for the studio. Walken most recently appeared in The Rundown. He was nominated for a best supporting Oscar for his work in 2002's Catch Me If You Can and won a best supporting actor Oscar for 1978's The Deer Hunter. His other credits include Pulp Fiction and True Romance, and he next appears in Man on Fire and The Stepford Wives. Walken is repped by ICM.

Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn are in negotiations to team up in the New Line Cinema comedy The Wedding Crashers. The project, which is seeking a director, is a romantic comedy revolving around two guys who have a hobby of crashing weddings in order to meet girls. While crashing a random nuptial, one of them unexpectedly falls in love. Crashers was penned by the writing team of Steve Faber and Bob Fisher, with Tapestry Films' Andrew Panay and Peter Abrams on board to produce. New Line production executives Richard Brener, Cale Boyter and Magnus Kim are overseeing for the studio. Wilson next appears in the Warner Bros. Pictures thriller The Big Bounce. He also stars in the upcoming Starsky & Hutch feature for Warner Bros. Pictures and appears in Walden Media's remake of Around the World in 80 Days, Franchise Pictures' The Wendell Baker Story and the Walt Disney Co.'s Wes Anderson-directed The Life Aquatic. Vaughn, who most recently starred in the DreamWorks comedy Old School, has several projects in the works. He will appear opposite Wilson in Starsky & Hutch and also appears in the DreamWorks comedy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, the indie drama The Sky Is Green and the 20th Century Fox comedy Underdogs. Vaughn also is attached to star in the New Line comedy No Place Like Home. Wilson and Vaughn are both repped by UTA.

Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn are in negotiations to team up in the New Line Cinema comedy The Wedding Crashers. The project, which is seeking a director, is a romantic comedy revolving around two guys who have a hobby of crashing weddings in order to meet girls. While crashing a random nuptial, one of them unexpectedly falls in love. Crashers was penned by the writing team of Steve Faber and Bob Fisher, with Tapestry Films' Andrew Panay and Peter Abrams on board to produce. New Line production executives Richard Brener, Cale Boyter and Magnus Kim are overseeing for the studio. Wilson next appears in the Warner Bros. Pictures thriller The Big Bounce. He also stars in the upcoming Starsky & Hutch feature for Warner Bros. Pictures and appears in Walden Media's remake of Around the World in 80 Days, Franchise Pictures' The Wendell Baker Story and the Walt Disney Co.'s Wes Anderson-directed The Life Aquatic. Vaughn, who most recently starred in the DreamWorks comedy Old School, has several projects in the works. He will appear opposite Wilson in Starsky & Hutch and also appears in the DreamWorks comedy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, the indie drama The Sky Is Green and the 20th Century Fox comedy Underdogs. Vaughn also is attached to star in the New Line comedy No Place Like Home. Wilson and Vaughn are both repped by UTA.

Shawn Ashmore, best known as Iceman in X2: X-Men United, will star opposite Nick Cannon in Miramax Films' The Underclassman for director Marcos Siega and Tapestry Films. The project begins shooting in October in Los Angeles and Vancouver. Based on his idea, Underclassman sees Cannon star as a detective who, with his schoolboy looks, goes undercover at an elite private school and stumbles upon an international stolen-car ring led by one of his rivals at the school, played by Ashmore. The investigation gets even more surprising when the detective uncovers the person who has been using the students to steal. Underclassman was written by National Lampoon's Van Wilder scribes David Wagner and Brent Goldberg. Peter Abrams, Robert Levy and Andrew Panay of Tapestry Films are producing. Cannon's manager, Michael Goldman, is executive producing with Cannon, as is Doug Johnson. The Canadian-born Ashmore is repped by UTA, Evolution Entertainment and attorney Deborah Klein.

Urban Legend helmer Jamie Blanks has made a deal to direct the supernatural thriller The Ritual for Tapestry Films. The project is currently out to cast and is being eyed to start lensing early next year. Originally developed from an idea by Tapestry's Andrew Panay and penned by scribe Sheldon Turner (The Booster, 52 Blocks), the project centers on two undergraduates who cross the path of a group of co-eds who are practicing black magic in order to manipulate other students. Ritual was originally set up at Dimension Films, however Tapestry is discussing a partnership with Cobalt Media Group that would see the latter finance the project. Tapestry toppers Peter Abrams and Robert Levy will produce along with Panay. The company most recently produced the summer release National Lampoon's Van Wilder starring Ryan Reynolds and Tara Reid. Blanks is repped by CAA and the Firm. His other helming credits include Valentine, starring David Boreanaz, and Silent Number. Turner is repped by Endeavor, Benderspink and David Fox.