Kate Goes Mini: Kate Winslet will star in Mildred Pierce, an adaptation of the James M. Cain novel to be directed by Todd Haynes (I’m Not There). The book was turned into a 1945 movie starring Joan Crawford, who won an Oscar playing a bored housewife turned restaurateur dealing with backstabbing, romance, and murder. This version will be a mini-series, probably airing on HBO, although the deal is not official. Either way, Winslet should probably go ahead and clear some Emmy-size shelf space. [Variety]
The Future Sucks: Former X-Files writer Frank Spotniz has two “scary future†projects in the works at HBO. The first, Humanitas, takes place in a time where major advances in medicine have created moral dilemmas for doctors and have incited fears of potential pandemics. The other one, The World Inside, is an adaptation of Robert Silverberg’s 1971 novel, in which overpopulation is out of control and people live in controlled urban centers, where anger is eliminated, fertility is highly prized, and sex is everywhere. Variety calls it grim, but we’re thinking, awesome! High five! [Variety]
Wall Street 2 Takes a Mulligan: Your new crush Carey Mulligan has joined the cast of Oliver Stone’s Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps in the role of Gordon Gekko’s daughter. Her character will be “romantically linked†to Shia LaBeouf’s, but we understand that’s not her fault. [HR]
Wall Street 2 Takes a Mulligan: Your new crush Carey Mulligan has joined the cast of Oliver Stone’s Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps in the role of Gordon Gekko’s daughter. Her character will be “romantically linked†to Shia LaBeouf’s, but we understand that’s not her fault. [HR]
Harvey Tells It How It Is: Steve Harvey’s book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man has been optioned by Screen Gems. The advice book, which helps women better understand their significant others, was inspired by a segment on Harvey’s radio show and will be turned into an ensemble romantic comedy. A rom-com based on an advice book based on something Steve Harvey said once? Where do we sign up? [Variety]
Fire Burning: ABC has signed on for a TV adaptation of St. Elmo’s Fire. The original, directed and co-written by Joel Schumacher, featured a bunch of Brat Pack actors as recent Georgetown graduates struggling with the transition to adulthood. This one will drop those characters in favor of new ones, three boys and three girls, but will mostly keep the setup the same. One major difference? The spot where they hang out will be changed from St. Elmo’s Bar & Restaurant to — ready? — St. Elmo’s Bar & Grill. [HR]