Greenberg Pair To Reteam For Popper’s?: Ben Stiller and Noah Baumbach, who just paired up for Greenberg, may be working together on another project. The duo are both in talks to bring 1938 children’s book Mr. Popper’s Penguins to the big screen. Popper’s tells the story of a house painter who ends up with a family of twelve penguins, named Popper’s Performing Penguins, a “stage act that goes on tour and causes mayhem at every stop.†As we already pointed out though, we’re having trouble getting excited about a penguin movie that doesn’t feature the Madagascar variety. [Variety]
Three, Again: Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. and Mrs. Smith) is in talks to direct Warner Bros.’ remake of The Three Musketeers. Strangely, British director Paul W.S. Anderson is already working on a 3-D adaptation of the Alexandre Dumas story for Summit. Perhaps this will play out like the infamous Antz/A Bug’s Life “rivalry,†just with French swordsmen instead of animated insects. [Variety]
Idols Reunited: Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard, the final two contestants in the second iteration of American Idol in 2003, will join forces for a co-headlining summer tour spanning the East coast and midwest. Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson still hasn’t responded to a text message Justin Guarini sent her in 2008. [Billboard]
Daldry Takes On Close: Stephen Daldry (The Hours, The Reader) will tackle another literary adaptation as he will direct Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, an adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s 9/11-themed novel. The book focuses on Oskar Schell, a nine-year old who searches New York for the lock that matches a key given to him by his father, who was killed in the September 11 attacks. So all that stands between Daldry and an Oscar nom is, well, finding an Oskar. [HR]
Toni Finds Foster: Toni Collette and Ioan Gruffudd will star in Foster, a Jonathan Newman-directed film about a couple who decides to adopt after their own son is killed when, all of a sudden, “a boy unexpectedly arrives on their doorstep.†Sort of takes wish fulfillment to a whole new stratosphere, huh? [Deadline]
Meloni Approaches Legends: Law & Order: SVU star Chris Meloni is spending his own money to option Legends of A Suicide, a collection of five short stories and a novella written by David Vann about a relationship between a boy and his Alaskan father, eventually leading to the father’s suicide. Meloni plans to direct and star in the film, and will write the first draft of the script. “The guy’s writing just seduced me,†Meloni said, which we just can’t help but find totally adorable. [Deadline]
Chad Tags In: Chad Lowe has joined ABC Family’s drama series Pretty Little Liars, based on the Alloy series of novels about four teen girls who begin receiving mysterious messages. He will replace Alexis Denisof in the role of lead actress Lucy Hale’s father. “Look at me now, Hilary!,†Lowe bellowed after getting the news, accelerating along the freeway. [HR]
An Album A Decade: Reflection Eternal, the duo consisting of rapper Talib Kweli and producer/rapper Hi-Tek, who debuted their first album in 2000, will reteam after a long ten years to release their follow-up, Revolutions Per Minute, on May 18. They may want to consider renaming the album VERY FEW Revolutions Per Minute, just so they don’t, you know, give anyone the wrong idea. [Pitchfork]