Bond Joins Tattoo: It’s official! Daniel Craig has officially signed on to play journalist Mikael Blomkvist in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and his deal includes options for the second two films in the series. (Meanwhile, the world continues to wait breathlessly for the Lisbeth Salander announcement.) With this part and his role in Cowboys & Aliens, the current James Bond is now involved in three different franchises. Not too shabby. [Deadline]
Day and Night: Leah Remini, who was recently named one of the co-hosts of CBS’s new View-like daytime talk show, will also work with the network on a primetime endeavor. The former King of Queens star has signed a development and talent holding deal with CBS to headline a new half-hour comedy project for the network. Meanwhile, Kelly Ripa is just slowly shaking her head and smirking right now, remembering when she thought hosting a morning show by day and acting in a sitcom by night was going to just be a piece of cake. [Deadline]
Sarandon’s Year: Susan Sarandon has been added to the pilot of HBO’s The Miraculous Year, one of several actors “tapped for guest-starring/potential recurring roles†in the series about a high-powered New York family. The pilot is directed by Kathryn Bigelow and stars Norbert Leo Butz, Frank Langella and Hope Davis. Of course, this year has been anything but miraculous for Sarandon, which makes the whole thing kind of melancholy. [Deadline]
Alexander The Terrible: Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum) and 20th Century Fox are developing an adaptation of the childrens’ book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day into a “high-concept family comedy.†The Judith Viorst book, which has never before been adapted for the big screen, will be tackled by screenwriter Rob Lieber. The book revolves around “family members collectively enduring the worst day of their lives,†which causes Alexander, the young protagonist, to get so fed up that he threatens to move to Australia. Do whatever you want, Alex, but good luck catching a Justin Bieber show down under! [Variety]
Man Power: Asger Leth is in negotiations to direct the cop thriller Man on a Ledge, the story of a female psychologist and a “former NYPD officer who threatens to jump to his death.†Sam Worthington is attached to star, though we’ve learned that doesn’t mean all that much. [Variety]
Alexander The Terrible: Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum) and 20th Century Fox are developing an adaptation of the childrens’ book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day into a “high-concept family comedy.†The Judith Viorst book, which has never before been adapted for the big screen, will be tackled by screenwriter Rob Lieber. The book revolves around “family members collectively enduring the worst day of their lives,†which causes Alexander, the young protagonist, to get so fed up that he threatens to move to Australia. Do whatever you want, Alex, but good luck catching a Justin Bieber show down under! [Variety]