Deadline Hollywood reports (and ShockTillYouDrop.com confirms) that pre-production on Halloween 3D , due in theaters next October, has cooled down.The script, written by Todd Farmer, was turned in on Friday, however, Bob Weinstein of Dimension Films feels the production is being rushed. Directed Patrick Lussier ( My Bloody Valentine 3D ), who signed on to the film recently, had to begin by November so he could start Drive Angry , with Nicolas Cage, early next year.Dimension Films is going to wait until Lussier is "free" so they can take their time.

Temple Hill Entertainment has acquired screen rights to "L.A. Candy," the bestselling debut novel by Lauren Conrad, ex-star of reality series "The Hills" and "Laguna Beach."Temple Hill partners Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey ("Twilight" franchise) will produce. Conrad will be executive producer through her Blue Eyed Girl Productions. Bowen said they will set a writer before looking for a studio/financier for the project.Here is how HarperCollins describes the novel:Los Angeles is all about the sweet life: hot clubs, cute guys, designer . . . everything. Nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts can't wait to start living it up. She may be in L.A. for an internship, but Jane plans to play as hard as she works, and has enlisted her BFF Scarlett to...

Thomas the Tank Engine is headed for the big screen. HIT Entertainment has hired screenwriter Josh Klausner ( Shrek the Third ) to write a script for a feature based on "Thomas & Friends," created by the Rev. W.V. Awdry in the 1940s."'Thomas & Friends' is a phenomenally successful and versatile brand that appeals to children and families worldwide," said Julia Pistor, who heads Hit Movies. "Generations of children have grown up with the adventures of 'Thomas & Friends' with its storytelling tradition, positive values, timeless lessons and rich train history. We look forward to working with Josh Klausner to translate the classic 'Thomas & Friends' stories into a thrilling, big, modern adventure movie."Thomas represents the world's...

Heat Vision reports that James Purefoy and Mark Strong have joined the cast of John Carter of Mars , Disney's adaptation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs books that Andrew Stanton is directing.Thomas Haden Church said earlier this summer that he was probably on board, and that's confirmed now as well.Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins topline the film, which centers on a Civil War veteran (Kitsch) who finds himself mysteriously transported to Mars, where he becomes embroiled with the planet's warring people.Church plays Tal Hajus, an ambitious and vicious Thark warrior who is biding his time to be a ruler.Purefoy plays Kantos Kan, the captain of the Xavarian, the kingdom of HeliumÂ’s grand warship. Strong is Matai Shang, the ruler of the Thems with godlike status.Also in...

Joel and Ethan Coen know a lot about the spirit of brotherhood and while their new movie A Serious Man mostly deals with being Jewish in the Midwest during the last '60s, seen through the travails of physics professor Larry Gopnik, played by theater actor Michael Stuhlbarg, it adds another layer in the form of Larry's relationship with his brother Arthur, played by Richard Kind, best known for his roles on "Spin City" and "Mad About You."As much misfortune as Larry seems to experience in the movie--his wife is leaving him and a student is trying to bribe him for a better grade--Arthur just can't seem to get any sort of break, having many personal problems, including gambling, which keeps him from getting a job and forcing him to leech off of Larry's good will....

Fox Searchlight Pictures has revealed the full new trailer for Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox , opening in theaters on November 25th. The film utilizes classic handmade stop motion techniques to tell the story of the best selling children's book by Roald Dahl.In the adaptation, Mr. and Mrs. Fox (George Clooney and Meryl Streep) live an idyllic home life with their son Ash (Jason Schwartzman) and visiting young nephew Kristopherson (Eric Anderson). But after 12 years, the bucolic existence proves too much for Mr FoxÂ’s wild animal instincts. Soon he slips back into his old ways as a sneaky chicken thief and in doing so, endangers not only his beloved family, but the whole animal community. Trapped underground and with not enough food to go around, the animals band together to fight...

Screen Gems and Constantin Film announced today that Resident Evil: Afterlife , the next installment in the widely successful "Resident Evil" film franchise has begun production in Toronto, Canada. The fourth film, which will be shot and released in 3-D, is a first in the "Resident Evil" film franchise. Most of the key creative players, who turned the "Resident Evil" film franchise into a global phenomenon, will be reprising their roles in "Afterlife."Actress Milla Jovovich returns as the zombie-fighting heroine Alice. Ali Larter reprises her role as Claire Redfield from Resident Evil: Extinction . Spencer Locke, who played K-Mart in "Extinction," is also set to return. New to the film franchise is leading man Wentworth Miller,...

The Hollywood Reporter 's "Risky Biz Blog" got the scoop that actress Jessica Alba is in negotiations to join Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro and company in Paul Weitz's Little Fockers , the third chapter in the comedy series that kicked off in 2000 with Meet the Parents . She will play an attractive pharmaceutical rep whose looks wreak havoc on male characters in the story.The production is set to begin in a few months for a release on July 30, 2010.

Aaron Guzikowski's hot spec script for Prisoners , which was picked up by Alcon Productions a few months back, has begun negotiations with a potential director, and it's none other than Training Day helmer Antoine Fuqua, according to Risky Biz Blog .The project that at one point attracted the likes of Bryan Singer, Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg is being fast-tracked with plans to start shooting early next year with plans for it to be released by Warner Bros. on October 22 next year.There's no word whether Christian Bale or Mark Wahlberg might still be involved with the film, which was at one point going to be made for a much bigger budget, but had recently been reconfigured to be produced for less than $40 million.

Imagi International Holdings, a leading producer of CG-animated feature films with studios in both Hong Kong and the U.S., today announced that it had secured mainland China co-production status for its film Astro Boy .