News for
Derek Haas (I) More at IMDb Pro »

15 articles from 2008

8 October 2008 3:54 PM, PDT | From Comicmix.com | See recent Comicmix news

David Cronenberg, the director best known for creepy fare such as The Fly and Scanners, is about to change genres.  Variety reports he is in negotiations to direct The Matarese Circle, the political thriller written by Robert Ludlum.

The MGM film would star Denzel Washington and its story is set back when there was still a Cold War. Washington’s American would have to find a way to cooperate with a Russian counterpart to stop a plot aimed at destroying multiple national governments.

Ludlum’s best seller has been adapted by the writing team of Michael Brandt and Derek Haas (3:10 to Yuma). It has been fast-tracked since the studio, headed by Tom Cruise and Mary Parent, acquired the rights in April.

Cronenberg most recently directed the action-packed Eastern Promises.

Robert Greenberger

8 October 2008 1:55 PM, PDT | From screeninglog.com | See recent screeninglog news

David Cronenberg is in talks to helm the big-screen adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s political thriller “The Matarese Circle,” according to Variety.

Denzel Washington may star in the project, which is set against the backdrop of the Cold War and follows an American and a Soviet who team up to foil a plot to topple the world’s governments.

Cronenberg is directing a screenplay by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas.

Ludlum also wrote the popular Jason Bourne novels, which were successfully adapted into three excellent big-screen action blockbusters.

Cronenberg, who usually does not take on genres such as this one, most recently directed “Eastern Promises.” Other recent films include “A History of Violence” and “Spider.”

As for Washington, he was last seen in “The Great Debaters.” He has several projects coming up, including “The Taking of Pelham 123” and “The Book of Eli.”

Franck Tabouring

8 October 2008 9:41 AM, PDT | From Reelzchannel.com | See recent ReelzChannel news

The recent success of novelist Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne series on screen has prompted MGM to explore the author's back catalog. The studio is currently setting up Ludlum's 1983 novel The Matarese Circle and they've landed perennial box office power player Denzel Washington for the lead role.

Today Variety reports that David Cronenberg, who has enjoyed a career renaissance with A History of Violence and Eastern Promises, is in talks to direct. 3:10 to Yuma scribes Michael Brandt and Derek Haas are adapting Ludlum's novel.

Set at the height of the cold war, Washington will play an American spy who must team up with a Soviet spy to prevent a plot to destroy the world governments.

Source: Variety

Next Showing:

Link | Posted 10/8/2008 by Jeff

David Cronenberg | Denzel Washington | The Matarese Circle

Jeff Otto

8 October 2008 12:43 AM, PDT | From Aceshowbiz | See recent Aceshowbiz news

MGM's next political thriller project, "The Matarese Circle", is most likely to have found its director. Though nothing has been set in stone yet, David Cronenberg is currently in talks with the studio to take the part of the flick's helmer, as reported by Variety.

If the negotiations go on smoothly, the director of "Eastern Promises" will be tackling the behind the lens role using the script penned by "3:10 to Yuma" writing duo, Michael Brandt and Derek Haas. He will also work with Denzel Washington who is attached to star in the film.

Based on a Robert Ludlum novel, "Matarese Circle" is set during the period of Cold War. It tells the story of two conflicting secret agents who team up to bring down an international group of killers known as the Matarese. MGM reportedly are expecting to start the production in spring 2009.

AceShowbiz.com

7 October 2008 2:18 PM, PDT | From firstshowing.net | See recent FirstShowing.net news

Filmmaker David Cronenberg has lined up his next project - an adaptation of Robert Ludlum's political thriller The Matarese Circle. Denzel Washington is already attached to play CIA frontrunner Bradley Scofield in the film. The book, first published in 1979, follows two rival agents from the CIA and Kgb who find themselves working together to ferret out and vanquish members of a mysterious group of criminals called the Matarese that has infiltrated the highest levels of American government. The two writers behind 3:10 to Yuma and Wanted, named Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, have written the adaptation with power producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura attached to produce alongside Nick Wechsler and Jeffrey M. Weiner. Only two rival spies—and one mysterious woman—can stop them: Scofield, CIA, and Talaniekov, Kgb. They share a genius for espionage—and a life of terror and explosive violence. Sworn enemies, they have vowed to terminate

Alex Billington

7 October 2008 2:16 PM, PDT | From cinemablend.com | See recent Cinema Blend news

Yeah, sure, an adaptation of a spy novel could feel like yet another boring Bourne Identity knockoff. But The Matarese Circle has two things going for it-- it's based on a book actually written by Bourne creator Robert Ludlum, and apparently none other than David Cronenberg may be directing it. The Hollywood Reporter says that Cronenberg is looking into directing the thriller, which Denzel Washington is already set to star in. Washington will presumably play the American member of a pair of rival intelligence agents (the other is Soviet, naturally) who try to track down members of the Matarese, a criminal group that has infiltrated the American government. Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, who has written solid screenplays like 3:10 to Yuma and Wanted, have already adapted the book. Cronenberg is consistently restless in his tastes, and it seems entirely plausible that he could make brilliant work out of what

7 October 2008 1:20 PM, PDT | From Movie Jungle | See recent Movie Jungle news

David Cronenberg is apparently negotiating to direct the political thriller "The Matarese Circle," which may spawn a franchise for distributor MGM. Denzel Washington is set to star in the project, adapted from a Robert Ludlum conspiracy novel. Michael Brandt and Derek Haas ("Wanted") adapted the screenplay and Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Nick Wechsler and Ludlum Jeffrey M. Weiner will be producing. The book follows two American and Soviet intelligence agents who are pulled into working together when a group called The Matarese infiltrate the American government.

1 September 2008 4:22 PM, PDT | From GetTheBigPicture.net | See recent Get The Big Picture news

Here's a sequel I'd actually be excited about. Mark Millar, author of the original Wanted comic, says he's working on a screenplay for the sequel. He also says that he will write just a screenplay and not a sequel to the six issue comic book series.

"It will be some of the stuff that we didn't utilize from the first book for the movie - like chapters three and four - there will be some stuff from that," Millar told Newsarama, "so in the loosest sense it will be based on the book, but only very little."

It might be worth point out that Millar is not credited with co-writing the script for the summer blockbuster, which was developed by Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, and Chris Morgan, two of whom will return in those capacities on the sequel. I presume he will write his ideas and share them with Brandt and Haas,

Colin Boyd

31 August 2008 8:42 PM, PDT | From Aceshowbiz | See recent Aceshowbiz news

Confirming that he is working on developing a sequel to the surprising summer blockbuster movie "Wanted (2008)", Mark Millar shared a more interesting tidbit on "Wanted 2". In a recent interview with Newsarama, he revealed that the second movie will be a continuance from the first and it will make use of very little parts of the comic book.

On his involvement on developing the material, he said, "What I will be doing is providing them with a very small amount of stuff for a story, and that will be used as a basic story that they can build from." He then added, "It will be a small outline that can possibly be picked apart and not used - but it will be something exclusively for the second film, and no one will ever really see it."

Further on the possible plotline, Millar revealed that he will take little from the

AceShowbiz.com

31 July 2008 7:30 AM, PDT | From ScreenRant.com | See recent Screen Rant news

Earlier this summer, Paramount Pictures officially announced Beverly Hills Cop 4 would grace the silver screen. This despite the fact that they had yet to hire screenwriters and didn’t even have a story in place. They only had Eddie Murphy signed on to return and Brett Ratner was “in negotiations” to direct.

Cut to a few months later, and we now  have screenwriters, ladies and germs!

Michael Brandt and Derek Haas (i.e. the screenwriting duo behind 3:10 to Yuma and Wanted) have been officially hired after submitting an outline/treatment that was given the thumbs up by studio big-wigs, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Ratner and Murphy himself.

I guess this takes Brandt and Haas out of Wanted 2 despite earlier reports.

Beverly Hills Cop 4 will begin filming next year for a Summer 2010 release.

Source: Variety

Jamie Williams

15 July 2008 11:22 AM, PDT | From ScreenRant.com | See recent Screen Rant news

I don’t think that you need me to say that Hollywood loves a franchise - but darn it - I just said it. If it’s not a franchise then it’s just not worth it, and that seems to be the case with Wanted. The James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie starrer has recently crossed the magic $100 million barrier and now Universial Pictures wants a sequel.

“Easily done” I hear you say.

Not quite. There’s a problem or two.

Beware there are major Wanted Spoilers below.

Don’t say that I didn’t warn you!

In the new film version of Mark Millar’s comic book, the two major stars Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman… die. Yes - they bite the big one, leaving only McAvoy’s Wesley Gibson standing to kick ass in the follow-up.

While the film clearly has sequel written all over it - it

Niall Browne

15 July 2008 3:22 AM, PDT | From Digitalspy | See recent digitalspy news

Wanted producer Marc Platt has signed a five-year deal with studio Universal, says Variety. Platt's priority will be to steer a sequel to this month's action hit Wanted with director Timur Bekmambetov and writers Michael Brandt and Derek Haas. Platt also has a remake of Jesus Christ Superstar lined up and is in the early development stages on a big screen version of Wicked, a musical co-financed by Universal with songs by Stephen Schwartz. The latter, a prequel to The Wizard Of Oz, has been a lucrative money-spinner (more)

By Simon Reynolds

15 July 2008 2:59 AM, PDT | From Rope Of Silicon | See recent Rope Of Silicon news

Note: Plot spoilers for Wanted have been blacked out in this article, highlight the text with your mouse to read what is written. Variety has posted an article saying that Wanted producer Marc Platt has just resigned with Universal Pictures through 2012 and has already begun work with Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov and writers Michael Brandt and Derek Haas on Wanted 2. The article points out the fact that just about everyone died in the first film and seems to act as if that would be an issue. However, I think the film easily moves into a sequel and that was actually one of the problems I had with the film despite enjoying the action. Wanted felt like it was a set up for a franchise more than a stand alone effort. Sure, the action was great with the CGI cars and all, but the story was television drama simple. The action

Brad Brevet

28 June 2008 12:10 AM, PDT | From screeninglog.com | See recent screeninglog news

Seen on: June 27, 2008

The players: Director: Timur Bekmambetov, Writers: Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Chris Morgan, Cast: James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Common, Kristen Hager

Facts of interest: Based on the comics by J.G. Jones and Mark Millar.

The plot: A young man gets a chance to end his miserable existence when he's offered to join a fraternity of assassins. 

Our thoughts: In a nutshell, “Wanted” is a stunning adrenaline rush. Much like last year’s over-the-top action flick “Shoot ‘Em Up,” Timur Bekmambetov’s Hollywood debut is incredibly unrealistic but tons of fun to watch. The film boasts pretty much everything to captivate die-hard fans of the genre, never shying away from showing off eye-catching stunts, wild pursuits and utterly thrilling shoot-outs.

Franck Tabouring

27 June 2008 8:22 AM, PDT | From Digitalspy | See recent digitalspy news

Wanted writers Michael Brandt and Derek Haas have penned a "big, fun, fantastic Jurassic Park-type movie" for Sony, says The Hollywood Reporter. The pair wrote All Creatures Great And Small, which revolves around animals taking control of the planet from humans, under the supervision of producer Neil Moritz. Brandt explained: "Because of people's inability to quench their thirst for oil and consumption of resources, we basically (more)

By Simon Reynolds

15 articles from 2008