Can ‘The Women’ Finally Make it to the Screen?

The Women Finally to Film?: Diane English’s remake of The Women, gestating for more than ten years, might finally shoot in August as final pieces of puzzle fall into place. Annette Bening and Eva Mendes join already-cast Meg Ryan, Jada Pinkett Smith, Debra Messing, and Candice Bergen; producers include Mick Jagger and Dove Soap. We can’t wait to see that pair at the podium when this thing wins Best Picture. [Variety]

Fleck, Boden to Adapt Calamity Physics: The Half Nelson team of Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden will adapt Marisha Pessl’s novel, Special Topics in Calamity Physics, for Scott Rudin and Miramax. Fleck will direct while Boden produces. This announcement actually makes us marginally interested in this movie! [Variety]

Witherspoon Hits Midnight: Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine) will write a remake of 1939 Claudette Colbert comedy Midnight for Universal. Reese Witherspoon will star as the young woman who becomes a pawn in a rich older man’s scheme. Rest assured her determination and good spirits will see her through. [Variety]

Woody, Weinsteins Together Again: The Weinstein Company acquires rights to Woody Allen’s latest, Cassandra’s Dream, suspense thriller starring Ewan McGregor, Tom Wilkinson, and Colin Farrell. Meanwhile, Woody is already prepping his next, natch, a Spanish-set film starring Javier Bardem and shudder-inducing muse Scarlett Johansson. [Variety]

Deschanel Joins Shyamalan: In a shocking twist nobody saw coming, Zooey Deschanel has joined the cast of M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening. Co-starring Mark Wahlberg, film is about a natural crisis threatening to cause the apocalypse. Yet to be seen whether Shyamalan will again cast self as writer whose work could save the world. [Variety]

Sufjan, Tan Dun Part of Next Wave: Brooklyn Academy of Music announces roster for fall’s Next Wave Festival, including a composition about the BQE by Sufjan Stevens, a New York premiere of a Tan Dun work, and dance companies from Taiwan and Israel. [NYT]

Roundabout Putting on The Ritz: Roundabout Theater Company announces Broadway revival of Terrence McNally’s 1975 comedy The Ritz, about a straight man on the run from the mob who hides out in a gay bathhouse. Rosie Perez tackles the role for which Rita Moreno won a Tony; Kevin Chamberlin co-stars; Joe Mantello directs. We’ve never even heard of this show before. Is it as ludicrous as it sounds? [Playbill]

Piazza Team Reunites: Director, writer, and composer of last season’s The Light in the Piazza reunite in Seattle. Intiman Playhouse will present new Craig Lucas translation of Uncle Vanya, directed by Bartlett Sher with music by Adam Guettel. Samantha Mathis stars, even though she had nothing to do with The Light in the Piazza. [Playbill]

Random House Films Picks Thriller: Scott Sigler’s thriller Infested, to be published next spring, is optioned by in-house film company Random House Films along with sequel. Rogue Pictures will co-produce adaptation, about a virus that turns its victims into serial killers. Well, it doesn’t sound as dated as The Ritz, but viruses? Serial killers? What is this, 1997? [PW]