Release Date Announcements : A THOUSAND WORDS, THE DEVIL INSIDE, RED HOOK SUMMER, STEP UP 4, TWYLIGHT ZONES

A THOUSAND WORDS - March 23, 2012

A high concept dramedy starring Eddie Murphy about a man who learns that he only has 1000 wordls left to speak before he dies. The movie is directed by Brian Robbins, who also helmed two other comedies starring Murphy : "Norbit" and "Meet Dave". The screenplay will be penned by Steve Koren, who is known for such movies as "Click", "Bruce Almighty" and the upcoming Adam Sandler starrer "Jack and Jill". Take all this information as you will.

THE DEVIL INSIDE - January 6, 2012.

A small-budget horror about a woman who gets involved in a series of unauthorized exorcisms. Written and directed by William Brent Bell ("Stay Alive").

RED HOOK SUMMER - Summer, 2012

A drama written and directed by Spike Lee about the Red Hook neighbourhood from Brooklyn. Lee will be reprising the role Mookie from the 1989 classic "Do The Right Thing". Also starring : James Ransome, Clarke Peters, Samantha Ivers and Limary Agosto.

STEP UP 4 - August 10, 2012

Official Synopsis : STEP UP 4 is the next installment in the worldwide smash Step Up franchise, which sets the dancing against the vibrant backdrop of Miami. Emily, the daughter of a wealthy businessman, arrives in Miami with aspirations of becoming a professional dancer, but soon falls in love with Sean, a young man who leads a dance crew in elaborate, cutting-edge flash mobs. The crew, called the MOB, strives to win a contest for a major sponsorship opportunity, but soon Emily’s father threatens to develop the MOB’s historic neighborhood and displace thousands of people. Emily must band together with Sean and the MOB to turn their performance mobs into protest mobs, and risk losing their dreams to fight for a greater cause.

TWYLIGHT ZONES - October 19, 2012

A drama set in 1960, that follows the evolution of a rock band, called "Twylight Zones". The movie stars Christopher McDonald, James Gandolfini, Brad Garrett and Jack Huston.Written and directed by David Chase, creator of "The Sopranos".

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HBO Developing Dramatic Boxing Series Based On Mike Tyson

HBO has ordered a pilot from Doug Ellin, the writer and producer of "Entourage," for a dramatic series based on the rise of a fictional Newark, N.J. boxer.  Ellin has enlisted Spike Lee and Mike Tyson to co-produce.

"Da Brick" is the title of the series about the up and coming fighter loosely-based on Tyson's own rise to fame as a boxer. 

The idea for the project stemmed from a conversation Tyson had with Ellin while the former heavyweight champion was doing a guest spot on "Entourage" in 2010.

"Why don't you do with my life what you did with Mark's [Wahlberg] life on 'Entourage?' Ellin said Tyson asked him while on the set.

Simple as that, a gritty new series was born.

The title "Da Brick" is a reference to Newark being know as "The Brickyard City" or "Brick City."

Ellin will act only as producer of the series with co-producer Jim Lefkowitz while "Entourage" ends it's eight year run on HBO.  The head writer will be John Ridley, Lee's co-writer in a film-in-development about the Los Angeles riots.

It is not known if Tyson will hone his "Hangover 2" acting chops and appear in a  role or guest spot on the series but, his wife, Lakiha Tyson will co-executive produce with Azim Spicer.

Lee's people have been scouring local New York City area boxing gyms for locations and actors.  The casting directors are looking for actors who "have chops" and fight experience.

By basing a series on the dwindling fight game, does HBO have a Pacquiao or a patsie on it's hands?

Wahlberg produced "The Fighter," last year's Academy Award nominated and winning film about boxer 'Irish' Mickey Ward and his brother Dicky, which successfully brought the world of boxing to the masses.

On the other hand, FX's "Lights Out," a fine series about a fighter coming out of retirement, was cancelled after a single critically-acclaimed season. 

Even if Tyson doesn't appear in the series, it will probably not be too difficult to separate the fiction from the facts regarding the one-man demolition crew.  There is too much of his life that was public domain.

Both inside and outside of the ring, Tyson's recollections alone bring a solid foundation of incidents for the writers to incorporate into the scripts.  The out-of-control fighter has endured both the glory, the scandals and the shame behind the sport.

I wonder if there will be pigeons and facial tattoos?