Schwartz Directs: Josh Schwartz will make his directorial debut on a new adaptation of Jay McInerney’s novel Bright Lights, Big City; he’ll also adapt the screenplay and co-produce alongside Stephanie Savage. The new take — the first was the 1988 film starring Michael J. Fox and Kiefer Sutherland — may be updated to present time. [Variety]
Franco Gets Up: James Franco is in final talks to join the comedy Your Highness, which would reunite him with Pineapple Express director David Gordon Green and co-star Danny McBride. The story follows a lazy prince (McBride) who must complete a quest to save his father’s kingdom along with the help of his more heroic older brother (Franco). Written by Ben Best and McBride — sans Jody Hill, two-thirds of The Foot Fist Way/Eastbound and Down crew — it’s apparently only one of several high-profile projects that have sought Franco: The part-time Columbia student will most likely have to turn down both Christopher Nolan’s Inception and Julia Roberts’s Eat Pray Love because of his preexisting film and school commitments. Considering we once cut class because Gilmore Girls was on, we salute you, James Franco. [HR]
Carell Comedy: Steve Carell is set to star in Dumped, a comedy based on an Andrew Gottlieb novel and to be developed under Carell’s Carousel Productions. He’ll play a man searching for meaning in life after his wife abruptly files for divorce. Unlike the other awesome-sounding Carousel comedies in development, like the Ed Helms Civil War one and the Carell testosterone-injections one, this one just sounds sad. [Variety]
Antebellum Laughs: Two more fine actors have joined Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, and Megan Fox in Civil War bounty-hunter flick Jonah Hex: Will Arnett, as a Union soldier who enlists Hex, and Michael Shannon, as the bizarre ringleader of a brutal gladiator circus event. Hollywood Reporter notes Arnett’s role is “not inherently comic.†But if anyone can wring some laughs out of insane-sounding Civil War movies, it’s Will! [HR]
Late Night With Wanda: Fox is set to replace MADtv with an hourlong late-night show from Wanda Sykes. Debuting in the fall, it’ll feature a panel of recurring guests talking about topical issues, as well as Sykes field segments. Oh man, now this really makes you forget all about that NBC late-night drama — what’s going to happen to Talk Show With Spike Feresten?! Anyone? No? [HR]
Kevin the Inventor Guy: Kevin Spacey will star in and produce indie comedy Father of Invention, co-written and to be directed by the man behind Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector. The plot revolves around a former inventor billionaire genius who, after doing eight years in prison and going broke when one of his inventions goes horribly awry, returns determined to rebuild his career. Replace “invention going horribly awry†with Beyond the Sea, and you’ve basically got The Kevin Spacey Story. [Variety]