Downplaying Wayne: The Coen brothers are set to reteam with Scott Rudin for a quasi remake of True Grit, the 1969 Western for which John Wayne won an Oscar. The new movie will focus more on the original Charles Portis book, which revolves around a 14-year-old girl who tracks her father’s killer along with a U.S. marshal in hostile Indian territory; the remake will tell the story from the girl’s point of view. Also, whoever plays the new marshal is going to have a really stupid haircut. [Variety]
Puppetology: Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham, America’s most successful stand-up — his act took in $19.2 million on tour last year, the highest gross in the country — has signed a deal with Comedy Central for a new series. Six episodes have been ordered of the show, which will feature Dunham onstage with his popular puppets, including Achmed the Dead Terrorist (catchphrase: “Silence! I kill you!â€), as well as interacting with people in the street. And somewhere, Dane Cook is trying not to move his lips so much. [Variety]
Ghost Busted: Alyssa Milano has filled the leading-lady shoes of Sigourney Weaver in the upcoming Ghost Busters video game, scripted by Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis. Weaver is the only primary member of the original cast to turn down the game, which will let users become Ghost Busters recruits. Milano — who voices the character Dr. Ilyssa Selwyn, the curator of a “World of Gozer†exhibit at the Natural History Museum — said she’s “just flattered to be asked to be part of Ghost Busters.†“The fucking video game,†she did not then mumble under her breath. [Variety]
Art House: Brittany Snow has joined the cast of indie flick Walks, already featuring Emmanuelle Chriqui and Rumer Willis. The movie revolves around a group of New Yorkers gathered for the homecoming of a convicted graffiti artist. Because when you think street art, you think, of course, Brittany Snow, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and Rumer Willis. [HR]
Barr Back: Roseanne Barr is working with former Roseanne producer Caryn Mandabach on a family comedy in which she would once again play the matriarch. Jim Vallely is attached to write the script for the show, being pitched to Fox. Current working title: Roseanne II: The Streets. [HR]
Little Money Machine: Pete Segal is in talks to direct Little Fockers, the third installment in the Meet the Parents trilogy. The movie, scripted by I Love You, Man’s John Hamburg, managed to nab Segal when his scheduled Get Smart sequel was pushed back. And now for an unsettling factoid: So far, the series has grossed over $820 million. [Variety]