Banks in Trouble: Elizabeth Banks is in talks to star in The Next Three Days, the Paul Haggis–written and –directed remake of the French thriller Pour Elle, about a woman imprisoned for a murder she claims she didn’t commit; Russell Crowe has previously been cast as her husband, who attempts to save her from the big house. So does that “claims she didn’t commit†part give away the big, huge surprise twist ending right off the bat, or is it just some hedging by an uninformed Hollywood Reporter writer? [HR]
Crossing the Atlantic: MTV is developing its own version of the ensemble teen drama Skins, a BBC hit and Stateside cult favorite. The show, which featured Slumdog Millionaire’s Dev Patel before he got internationally famous, has a group of teenage consultants, as well as teens on the writing staff, for authenticity’s sake; the adaptation will be set in Baltimore and will be cast with unknowns. So, are you thinking what we’re thinking? David Simon as head writer? [Variety]
Theroux-ly Evil: Justin Theroux has joined the cast of Your Highness, the David Gordon Green–directed comedy about a lazy prince (Danny McBride) on a quest to save his father’s kingdom. Theroux plays the villain, Leezar, an evil wizard with (alert: crucial information ahead) a bejeweled magical staff, who kidnaps a princess (played by Zooey Deschanel). It also stars James Franco and Natalie Portman. This is shaping up to be the best period movie since Robin Hood: Men in Tights. [HR]
Hancock Flies Again: Adam Fierro and Glen Mazzara have been hired to write the sequel to Hancock, the Will Smith superhero flick that made a boatload of money last year. The movie will explore the world introduced in the first, in which Hancock is part of a line of immortal beings that have been around for 3,000 years but lose their power when around other immortals. The best time for their enemies to strike? Immortals singles cruises. [HR]
TV’s Don: FX has picked up the Don Cheadle exec-produced series March for Madness. The show will revolve around a corrupt college basketball program as it makes a run in the March Madness tournament, and will be told through the eyes of the once idealistic head coach. We liked this better when it was called Blue Chips. [Variety]
Lovely: According to a blog post from Dan Savage, HBO is considering an adaptation of his sex column “Savage Love.†It will be nonfiction, with a “focus on current events and cultural trends with sex as the filter.†So, will this be the greatest thing to happen to curious 14-year-olds whose parents shell out for the premium movie channels since Real Sex? [HR]