Zak Penn To Write 'The Karate Kid 2'

Looks as if plans for a sequel to The Karate Kid remake are under full-swing now -- seeing as a writer has been tapped to pen the script.  Welcome aboard, Zak Penn.

Columbia Pictures has tapped "The Incredible Hulk" scribe Zak Penn to rewrite its untitled sequel to 2010's surprise hit "The Karate Kid." Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris were hired to write a sequel just weeks after director Harald Zwart's "Karate Kid" reboot took in $55.6 million domestically over its opening weekend. China-set pic went on to gross $359 million worldwide. While plot details remain under wraps, original stars Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan are expected to reprise their roles, though no deals are currently in place. Overbrook Entertainment principals Will Smith, James Lassiter, Ken Stovitz and Jada Pinkett Smith will produce with Jerry Weintraub, while Sony exec DeVon Franklin will oversee the project for the studio.

Source: Variety

Stunning New 'Amazing Spider-Man' Trailer

The new trailer for Sony's The Amazing Spider-Man has been released. And, wow, am I totally blown away. It's looking much better than I anticipated. Can't wait.

MGM Acquires New 'RoboCop' Scribe

The hunt has ended for the search for a new screenwriter for MGM's RoboCop redux.

MGM has hired Gran Torino screenwriter Nick Schenk to work on the screenplay for RoboCop. Jose Padilha is attached to direct the action sci-fi reboot.
The CAA-repped Schenk had been working with Padilha, who co-wrote and directed Elite Squad: The Enemy Within, on the action thriller Tri-Border. The writer also has the original drama The Judge set up at Warner Bros. with Team Downey producing.
MGM has been developing a new take on the RoboCop franchise, which launched with the 1987 film directed by Paul Verhoeven, for years. The studio is hoping for a summer start, but no one has yet been cast in the title role.

Source: THR

'The Crow' Remake Lawsuit Settled

The on-and-off-again remake for the 1994 movie The Crow, starring Brandon Lee, has been plagued with issues by the studios involved.  Apparently all has been settled and the movie will seemingly go on.

“The lawsuit between Relativity Media and The Weinstein Company concerning THE CROW has been amicably settled out of court, and the parties will continue to work on the film together as planned. In addition, Relativity Media has dismissed all of its claims against The Weinstein Company for any wrongdoing regarding the release and distribution of NINE, and The Weinstein Company has dismissed all of its claims against Relativity Media.” 

At one point Bradley Cooper was set to play the title role, but some time has passed since those days and it's unclear at this time where the project is headed. 

'Psycho' Gets A TV Prequel Series

Much like the 1987 TV movie Bates Motel, A&E is resurrecting the idea for their network.  Here's the latest...

A&E is continuing its push into scripted programming, developing series projects based on the famed hotel featured in Psycho and a Danish format about serial killers.
The network Friday announced it is in early development on Bates Motel, a potential series from Universal Television for A&E that would serve as a prequel to the Alfred Hitchcock 1960 classic Psycho.
The series would offer an understanding into how Norman Bates' psyche developed and would tell the back story of the film's killer, learning of how his mother, Norma, and her lover damaged him, transforming him into serial-killing motel owner. Anthony Perkins played Norman in the film.
Anthony Cipriano penned the script.
The project is not the first time a Psycho spinoff effort has been attempted. NBC aired a 90-minute TV movie titled Bates Motel in 1987.

Thanks to The Hollywood Reporter for the scoop.