Monday, November 24, 2003

After poring over the most recent issue of The Hollywood Reporter (weekly edition), I compiled this list of upcoming film projects which are based on crime novels. Some of them actually look like they might be pretty good.

The Manchurian Candidate (Paramount)
Start: In production
Book: Richard Condon
Cast: Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Jon Voight
Director: Jonathan Demme
Screenwriter: Daniel Pyne
Note: Remake of the 1962 classic which starred Frank Sinatra

The Bourne Supremacy (Universal)
Start: Nov. 24
Book: Robert Ludlum
Cast: Matt Damon, Joan Allen, Brian Cox
Dir: Paul Greengrass
Scr: Tony Gilroy
Note: Sequel to 2002's The Bourne Identity

Tishomingo Blues (Section Eight)
Start: Nov. 30
Book: Elmore Leonard
Cast: Don Cheadle, Matthew McConaughey
Dir: Don Cheadle
Scr: John Richard
Note: Produced by George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh

Sahara (Crusader)
Start: November
Book: Clive Cussler
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, Penelope Cruz
Dir: Breck Eisner
Scr: Joshua Oppenheimer, Thomas Dean Donnelly, Douglas S. Cook, David Weisberg, Josh Friedman, David S. Ward, James V. Hart
Note: Breck Eisner is the son of Disney Chairman Michael Eisner

Void Moon (Warner Bros.)
Start: December
Book: Michael Connelly
Cast: Al Pacino, Diane Lane
Dir: Mimi Leder
Scr: Michael Cristofer, Michael Connelly

Be Cool (MGM)
Start: January
Book: Elmore Leonard
Cast: John Travolta
Dir: F. Gary Gray
Scr: Peter Steinfeld
Note: Sequel to Get Shorty (1995); Produced by Danny DeVito

Hostage (Stratus)
Start: January
Book: Robert Crais
Cast: Bruce Willis
Dir: Florent Siri
Scr: Robert Crais