The brand new the new sony, Moritz pursue Uziel actioner

The brand new the new sony offers an action-comedy at Neal H. Moritz' Original Films, getting upset up an untitled pitch from "DrainInch scribe Oren Uziel. Plot particulars they're under systems aside from being known to as "Die Hard" meets "Home Alone." Ori Marmur will oversee the job for Original while Lauren Abrahams will oversee for your studio. Moritz can be a producer on Sony's approaching "21 Jump Street," New Line's "Jack the big Killer" and Universal's "R.I.P.D." It's the second project that Uziel provides in the new the new sony following his spec obtain the alien-invasion comedy "Drain,Inch setup with Matt Tolmach. Uziel can also be writing New Line's reboot of "Mortal Kombat" with Kevin Tancharoen following a duo labored with on web series "Mortal Kombat: Rebirth" and composed the variation of Cat Patrick's "Forgotten," setup with Josh Schwartz' Fake Empire for Vital with Hailee Steinfeld attached. Uziel is repped by WME and Circle of Confusion. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Taking apart Alcatraz's Mysteries: The Number Of '63s Will Work With Hauser?

Jorge Garcia Alcatraz's second outing did not supply as numerous new mysteries because the series premiere, however the couple of which were dished out were enough to whet our appetites for additional. Rather, the episode featured Hauser (Mike Neill), Rebecca (Sarah Johnson) and Diego (Jorge Garcia) around the search for well known child killer Package Nelson (Fringe's Michael Eklund), who is actually among the missing '63s, several criminals who mysterious disappeared from Alcatraz island in 1963. Parminder Nagra's response to Alcatraz premiere: "Already? You are killing me off?" Kit's eventual capture did mention a couple of new questions, though. Let us have a look in the new mysteries Alcatraz introduced now: Why were the Warden (Jonny Coyne) and Deputy Warden (Jason Butler Harner) so set on tormenting the criminals? The males holding the secrets to Alcatraz appear to consider sick pleasure in playing using the criminals heads, may it be the warden looking to get Package Nelson to confess to killing his brother or putting Ernest Cobb (Joe Egender) inside a private cell having a Chatty Trina, or even the deputy securing Jack Sylvane (Jeffrey Pierce) up in solitary on visitors' day. Do their motives run much deeper than putting the hardened crooks instead? Did the Warden have some understanding large was coming? He apparently is aware of the doctors taking bloodstream in the criminals, but did he realize there is a larger overall plan? Also, may be the Warden now a '63 themself? We learned within the premiere he passed away years back, however the relaxation from the prison population's dying certificates had eventually been photoshopped, so perhaps exactly the same could be stated for that Warden's? Taking apart Alcatraz's Mysteries: Who're the '63s? The number of '63s will work with Hauser? Lucy, who had formerly been a mental health specialist around the island, eventually teamed with Hauser, but she wasn't the only person. Hauser introduced the dead body of Package Nelson to Dr. Beauregard in the duplicate Alcatraz prison for him to operate on. In line with the premiere, by which Hauser threatened Jack Sylvane having a visit in the doc, Beauregard is someone the criminals fear. Why did Hauser kill Package Nelson when he's taken safeguards to create another '63s back alive? Was the truth that Package would be a harmful child killer exactly why he could not be stored alive? Or does Hauser believe his body could hold some solutions to in which the '63s happen to be? What went down to Hauser to create him so heartless? Sure, Hauser demonstrated he does, actually, have feelings after Lucy was shot, but he was prepared to let a young child die so they might capture Package. There has to be a much deeper reason why he's closed themself removed from feeling anything or having faith in anybody. Who kidnapped Diego Soto as he was 11? Though he was not able to inform Rebecca what went down, Diego revealed to Kit's kidnapping victim he, too, have been taken as he would be a child, but could escape. Is the main reason Diego grew to become so committed to criminals? Did law enforcement ever catch his captor? That has cash on the kidnapper as being a '63 who returned earlier? Just us? Alcatraz's J.J. Abrams: New Fox drama is with an island, but it is not Lost How come the prisoners' motives so apparent? Angry that his mother abandoned him, but later elevated a daughter, sniper Ernest Cobb specific women who have been around fifteen years old, his sister's age, and continued a shooting spree over 72 hours. Package Nelson kidnapped 11-year-old boys for 3 days before killing them because this is the age he'd killed his more youthful brother. Are most excessively apparent motives or must we start monitoring these amounts? What burning questions have you got about Alcatraz? And are you tuning directly into discover the solutions? Alcatraz airs Mondays at 9/8c on Fox.

Disney Planning Hovercar Again

Superman Returns' Serta Harris scriptingThe trend for adopting youthful adult books as likely source material for your hungry development machine shows no symbol of abating with Disney thrusting a version of Matthew Riley's Hover Vehicle Racer to active development and employing X2 / Superman Returns author Serta Harris to craft the script.Simply titled Hovercar, the film version will still follow youthful hero Jason Chaser who gets into an worldwide school that trains up drivers for advanced hover vehicle races. Positive factor his surname wasn't Slug Waste Cleaner Cruz, then...It is not the first time a button House has attempted to shove Riley's book using the development process: it clicked on within the rights in 2004 and several authors, including David DiGilio, John Sayles and Blaise Hemingway required a whack within the script. The Disney team will probably be wanting Harris might be the man making it use I am Number 4 co-authors Miles Millar and Alfred Gough open to supervise things as producers.There's not sure around the director or any cast yet, but people will slot into position supposing the script could be snuff...

Jeff Probst sets directorial follow-up

More than a decade after making his feature directorial debut, Emmy-winning "Survivor" host Jeff Probst has found his follow-up, as he's set to direct John Corbett and Sarah Bolger in the coming-of-age tale "Kiss Me." Liz Sarnoff ("Deadwood," "Lost") wrote the script, which follows a teenage girl through the physical and emotional growing pains of adolescence. Bolger will star as Zoe, who struggles with insecurities of having to wear a back brace to cure her scoliosis. Along the way, she must navigate complicated relationships with her mother, her best friend and Chance (Corbett), a married man whose kids she babysits. Probst will produce with Katy Wallin of MysticArts Pictures, as well as John J. Kelly ("Warrior"). Production will start next month in Los Angeles. Probst made his helming debut with the Wallin-produced 2001 pic "Finder's Fee," which starred Ryan Reynolds and James Earl Jones, as well as "The Descendants" thesps Matthew Lillard and Robert Forster. Its critical success led to Probst's selection as one of 2001's "Ten Directors to Watch" in a series presented by the American Cinematheque. Probst has won four consecutive Emmys for Outstanding Reality Host, making him the only winner of the award since its inception in 2008. Probst continues to host CBS' long-running hit reality series "Survivor," and will host a syndicated daytime talk show debuting this fall. Corbett, who starred on Showtime's "United States of Tara," recently appeared in "Sex and the City 2" and had a recurring role on NBC's "Parenthood." Bolger starred on Showtime's "The Tudors" and will soon be seen in Intrepid Pictures' thriller "Crush," as well as the James Marsden-Claire Danes indie "As Cool As I Am." WME reps Probst and Sarnoff, who co-created Fox's upcoming series "Alcatraz." CAA reps Bolger and Corbett, who's also repped by Lovett Management. Mosaic and U.K.-based Hamilton Hodell also rep Bolger. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Stars emerge for Palm Springs fest gala

Gary Oldman accepts an ovation while Adrien Brody inspects the trophy. Jessica Chastain and Octavia SpencerThere's no "Large Chill" for Glenn Close and Rob Goldblum. Tom Hanks and Thomas Horn present helmer recognition to Stephen Daldry. Michel Hazanavicius and Al Pacino flank Jean Dujardin. Matthew Lillard and Olivia Wilde party within the Parker. Jennifer Aniston and Kaira Pitt A hefty quotient of star energy switched out Saturday for your Palm Springs Film Festival gala, emphasizing the confab's prominence inside the season's kudos race.An hurt Kaira Pitt used a stay with navigate the Convention Center red-colored-colored carpet, but reaches fine form while he recognized the actor award. Pitt thanked Bill Pohlad for backing "The Tree of Existence" and Amy Pascal to get belief in "Moneyball," "no matter the amount of occasions she required to shut it lower."Accepting the Vanguard award for your "Youthful Adult" ensemble, Patton Oswalt introduced, "The Vanguard individuals who win will be the drunkest of.InchThe heavy glass trophies produced by Dale Chihuly provided an easy target for humor. "It is actually a bong," mentioned George Clooney, who was simply due to the fest's top recognition, the Chairman Award. "Many people don't reach similar to their jobs. Just what the producers have no clue,Inch Clooney added, is always that "really we'd take action totally free.In . Berenice Bejo convinced co-presenter Jean Dujardin to speak, saying, "Everybody desires to hear your voice."Michel Hazanavicius, who won the Visionary award, congratulated "The Artist" producer Thomas Langmann, telling him, "I mentioned to not invest your individual money, but he did, so thanks.InchThe scope of worldwide star champion Gary Oldman's clip montage impressed everybody else, as presenter Adrien Brody introduced, "Holy shit, this can be a reel!" Actress champion Michelle Williams mentioned she wanted Lana Turner in their lifetime may have had the encounters she'd within the gala.The career achievement award visited Glenn Close, who channeled memorable figures Cruella p Vil and "Fatal Attraction's" Alex Forrest, and introduced her career full circle by explaining, "My journey becoming an actress kind of began with Albert Nobbs."This Years fest featured two after-parties: a celebrity-laden affair within the Parker, where spotlight award champion Jessica Chastain and breakthrough performance champion Octavia Spencer hit the dancefloor, together with a laid-back fete within the Ace Hotel heavy on European festival filmmakers. Contact Pat Saperstein at pat.saperstein@variety.com

MSNBC looks for '12 gains

GriffinMSNBC is expecting to see election-year ratings gains in 2012, but not as big of a leap as the cabler took in 2008. MSNBC prexy Phil Griffin was cautious about projecting viewership growth as the presidential race heats up. ''We couldn't possibly have 40 percent growth'' that the cabler saw in 2008, Griffin said during the cabler's sesh Saturday at the TCA press tour in Pasadena. Still, ''we're counting on it to be a big year,'' he added. The 2008 race marked MSNBC's breakout year after its transformation to a liberal alternative to Fox News, and it thrived on the competish among Democrats to succeed George W. Bush in the White House. This time around, Griffin said he's been surprised so far at the more muted response from viewers to political coverage across the cable news spectrum. ''Nobody blew it out'' last week with coverage of Tuesday's Iowa caucuses, adding that he ''expected a bigger night out of Fox News.'' MSNBC used its TCA time to give a big push to its ''Morning Joe'' ayemcast. Griffin touted the show's growth and popularity because of its focus on in-depth interviews and measured tone, compared to other cable politico skeins. '' 'Morning Joe' has become one of the great brands in cable,'' Griffin enthused. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

'Ghost Protocol' scares up $46 mil overseas

Paramount's "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" nabbed $46.2 million from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2, bringing its international cume to a terrif $227.6 million as it spent a third consecutive week atop the overseas box office.The pic, with a global tally of around $365 million through Jan. 2, is on track to become the franchise's highest-grossing installment, according to Par. The second "Mission" topped out at approximately $545 million worldwide in 2000.Large-screen exhib Imax has helped boost totals for "Ghost Protocol."The film's Imax presentation has collected north of $46 million worldwide, of which $13 million comes from international Imax wickets. Par released the film domestically for an exclusive week-early launch in Imax (the pic's domestic Imax tally has reached $33.1 million)."Ghost Protocol" opened in Blighty on Boxing Day (Dec. 26), topping the local B.O. with $12.7 million in its first seven days. (That's nearly 20% better than the third "Mission: Impossible's" initial-week gross in the U.K.)The pic also held pole position in holdover Asian territories, including Japan and South Korea, where after three go-rounds it has cumed $35.7 million and $34.8 million, respectively.Par has yet to release "Ghost Protocol" in several key markets, such as Italy, Argentina and China, where the pic is set to bow late this month. Because of the government-imposed blackout holiday period -- during which only local product is permitted -- China's Oscar foreign-lingo submission, "The Flowers of War," has had room to grow locally. The pic, which bowed Dec. 26, has scored $83 million at the Chinese B.O. in its first 17 days."Flowers" stands as the country's sixth-highest grossing film of all time. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Cheryl Tiegs & Arsenio Hall Weigh In On Their Own Celebrity Apprentice Competition

First Released: The month of january 4, 2012 3:25 PM EST Credit: Access Hollywood Caption Cheryl Tiegs and Arsenio Hall visit Access Hollywood Live, Burbank, Calif., The month of january 4, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Cheryl Tiegs and Arsenio Hall, two cast people in the approaching fifth season of NBCs Celebrity Apprentice, hit the group of Access Hollywood Survive Wednesday, offering hosts Billy Rose bush and Package Hoover heir undertake a few of their rivals. On The American Idol Show Season 2 runner-up, Clay Aiken: Cheryl: Clay Aiken helped me laugh. Arsenio: The best guy, a great friend too Hes charming, hes vibrant and hes among my close friends Something about me and Clay glued. On Real Average women of Nj table-flipper Teresa Guidice: Cheryl: In the of these, I loved her most from the women. On actress/model Patricia Velasquez: Cheryl: I believe Patricia didnt much like me for reasons uknown. On Star Wars legend George Takei: Arsenio: Hes the finest guy to utilize. You will find occasions when everything would go to hell and that he states (puts on George voice), Ohhhhh, my! For their very own ideas around the competition itself, Arsenio suggested he will not be which makes it towards the final boardroom. Are you currently crazy? They almost didnt want me there, a smaller amount, allow me to win, he chuckled. And Cheryl stated thinking back around the competition gives her just a little fear. To tell the truth along with you, just speaking about this and thinking back on everything that happened makes my palms sweat even today. Its frightening, she stated. As formerly reported on AccessHollywood.com, also area of the cast are singer Darlene Gibson, original The Incredible Hulk star Lou Ferrigno, former Miss World Dayana Mendoza, comedian Lisa Lampanelli, American Teeth Paul Teutul Sr., singer/actress Aubrey ODay, magician Penn Jillette, radio host Adam Carolla and IndyCar champion Michael Andretti. Celebrity Apprentice returns on Feb 12 at 8 PM EST/PST on NBC. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.