Drac Attack! The brand new the new sony Pictures Buys Period Bloodsucker Pitch From Jason Keller

EXCLUSIVE: The brand new the new sony Pictures has acquired a pitch from scribe Jason Keller for just about any period origin story round the Dracula mythology which will be produced by Joe Roth and Palak Patel. I’m hearing the sale was high six figures against seven-figures. It may be the newest in the growing report on films in regards to the legendary vampire borne in the legend of Vlad the Impaler. There's furthermore a latest version of Dracula Year Zero that has risen within the grave with Gary Shoreline pointing, Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless writing and Moneyball‘s Mike P Luca creating. Additionally, there are an apocalyptic contemporary project coagulating that’s using the book trilogy by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan that found the final outcome while using recently released The Evening Eternal, which Del Toro creates because he completes Off-shoreline Rim. And Keller themselves is installed on another contemporary vampire film, adapting the Justin Cronin novel The Passage for Matt Reeves, through which government experiments on crictally ill people launches a plague of vampires of the underworld from the underworld. Affiliates in the new the new sony would just the intention is always to launch some time franchise. The sale includes the combatants inside the race to make a Snow White-colored film. Keller most recently scripted Relativity Media’s Mirror Mirror, and Roth and Patel produced Snow White-colored as well as the Huntsman for Universal. Roth remains elevated just like a producer making legendary characteristics inside the public domain. Aside from Alice's adventures in wonderland and Snow White-colored as well as the Huntsman, he’s creating Oz: The Fantastic and Effective Maleficent with Robert Stromberg pointing and Jennifer Aniston starring as well as the Channing Tatum-attached Peter Pan Begins. Keller also scripted Machine Gun Preacher and rewrote the arrival Sylvester Stallone-Arnold Schwarzenegger pic The Tomb. More youthful crowd scripted Go Like Hell for Fox, your dream for 60s muscle vehicle supremacy between Ford and Ferrari that has Michael Mann installed on direct. Keller’s repped by CAA and Management 360.

Murdoch to launch Sun on Sunday this week

LONDON -- Rupert Murdoch's new Sun on Sunday will bow Feb. 26 -- and for Murdoch that day can't come too soon. The tycoon plans to remain in London to supervise the launch of a paper that has been in the cards ever since News Corp. shuttered the News of the World last July, when the phone-hacking scandal went toxic. Announcing the launch date, News International's CEO Tom Mockridge hailed the move "as a truly historic moment in newspaper publishing." In his statement, Mockridge added that News Corp. "has made clear its determination to sort out what has gone wrong in the past and we are fundamentally changing how we operate as a business." Commentators were divided on the wisdom of launching a Sunday edition of the Sun when the U.K. newspaper biz is in decline and the phone hacking and police corruption scandal shows no sign of ending. But in the avowedly anti-Murdoch Guardian Roy Greenslade, a one-time assistant editor on the Sun, saw next Sunday's debut as proof that Rupert Murdoch has finally rediscovered his old, buccaneering self. Greenslade wrote, "This astonishing initiative is all about one angry man, having suffered a setback that looked as if it might end in him sacrificing his British media interests, striking back to save his empire. "It's personal, not corporate. "He wants to show his staff, the politicians, the rest of Fleet Street, the readers, News Corp.'s investors -- indeed, the world -- that he will not go quietly." Other media sages have been more skeptical. The Guardian's former editor Peter Preston, writing in the Observer, said a Sunday Sun could backfire if more journos at the paper are arrested on allegations of bribing public officials, or if charges are eventually brought against any of the 10 arrested to date. It remains to be seen if the Sun on Sunday -- or SOS as it's been nicknamed -- is a hit with U.K. readers, many of whom stopped buying a Sunday newspaper when the News of the World closed. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

British Film Institute poised to get more coin

LONDON -- The British Film Institute could be set for a dramatic increase in its funding, thanks to a boom in sales of National Lottery tickets, according to the latest U.K. government estimates. Culture minister Ed Vaizey announced that the BFI is now projected to receive 240 million ($380 million) in lottery coin from 2012-13 to 2016-17, up 20% from the previous predicted figure of around $318 million. That would translate as an average budget of $78 million a year to be spent on U.K. film production, distribution, training and industry development. The government previously said the BFI's lottery funding would increase from $43 million to $68 million a year by 2014. That compares to the budget of $40 million a year received by the U.K. Film Council before its closure last April. But insiders estimate that the BFI's actual budget could even higher, to as much as $90 million a year, after including unspent surpluses inherited from the UKFC and recoupment revenues from hit UKFC films such as "The King's Speech" and "Streetdance 3D." The BFI was already set to benefit from the government's decision to give a larger share of the national lottery revenues to the arts from 2012 onward, after several years in which a significant proportion of lottery coin was diverted to funding the London 2012 Olympics. The latest increased budget estimates follow an unexpected rise in lottery ticket sales. The Arts Council of England is also now projected to receive an extra $253 million from 2012 to 2017, bringing its total five-year budget to $1.98 billion. But Vaizey cautioned that these increases will only materialize if the current upward trend of lottery sales continues over the next five years. "In a time of economic uncertainty, the arts are more important than ever," Vaizey said. "The cultural value is immeasurable and we are in no doubt about the contribution that the arts make to our economy, our communities, our schools and our well-being. "We reformed the National Lottery so that the arts, film, sports and heritage would all benefit. And rising ticket sales mean that an extra 200 million could be going to the arts over the next five years, which is great news for artists and audiences across the country." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Israeli distrib holds 'A Separation'

TEL AVIV -- Israeli audiences are no more separated from "A Separation." Shani Films has acquired Israeli distribution privileges to Iranian helmer Asghar Farhadi's Oscar-nommed pic about divorce and family tests in modern-day Tehran. The film has become playing solely at Lev Movie theaters, an Israeli moviehouse conglomerate possessed through the distributor. Pic is repped by FilmIran in Iran by The new sony Pictures Classics within the U.S. Politically, Israel and Iran are poised around the edge of war, but Israeli interest has spurred within the film since it had been introduced that both "A Separation" and Israeli helmer Frederick Cedar's "Footnote" could be competing for top foreign-lingo Oscar on February. 26. This really is Iran's second jerk within the category, and Israel's tenth. Neither country has ever taken a statue. The Iranian pic, which is the leader for that Oscar after using the foreign film prize in the Golden Globes, has been proven in the original Farsi, with Hebrew subtitles. Both Cedar plank and Farhadi took pains to help keep political tensions from the motion picture debate. In a hastily-arranged news conference in Israel following a nomination of "Footnote," a jubilant Cedars joked that after his moment involves walk the red-colored carpet in the Kodak Theater, "I really hope just to walk submit hands with my spouse, or possibly and among the producers. The hands of (Farhadi) will most likely be used.Inch So far as Israelis go, you will find certainly a couple of near to Farhadi's heart. Talking with Break London this past year after "A Separation" snapped up the Golden Bear in the Berlin Film Fest, Farhadi was requested to explain his dream cast for any Hollywood version from the pic. To experience Simin, the feminine lead, he drawn on an Israeli, exclaiming, "Natalie Portman! Simin could be performed by Natalie Portman within the remake!" Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Tenpercenter Carlos Carreras joins APA

Talent agent Carlos Carreras has joined APA after ankling from Paradigm. Carreras will report to Ryan Martin, head of the agency's Talent Department. Carreras' client roster has a wide variety of Latin American talent including Demian Bichir, Karen Olivo and Ana Claudia Talancon. Other clients include Jose Maria Yazpik, Jordi Molla, Leonardo Sbaraglia, William Fichtner, Gina Rodriguez, Derek Theler, Diego Klattenhoff, Ashley Zukerman, Jason Priestley, Harrison Gilbertson, Oscar Jaenada and Jordi Molla. It's unclear which clients will follow his move to APA. Carreras previously worked as an agent at UTA for five years, expanding representation in the Spanish-language marketplace with Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Smits, Ruben Blades and Wilmer Valderrama and Guillermo Arriaga. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Ramsey cast in CW's 'Arrow' pilot

RamseyDavid Ramsey has been cast in the CW pilot "Arrow." Thesp, who is currently recurring in CBS' "Blue Bloods" as the mayor of NY, will play the character John Diggle, a former military man now working as a bodyguard for hire who soon finds he is trapped in a battle of wits, loyalty and trust. Stephen Amell was previously cast for the lead role of Oliver Queen. "Arrow," which is based on the DC Comics book "Green Arrow," is being produced by Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Prods. Greg Berlanti is writing and exec producing with Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg. David Nutter is directing the pilot and also receives exec producer credit. Ramsey has previously appeared in "Dexter" and "Ghost Whisperer." He is repped by APA, Principato-Young and Stone, Meyer, Genow, Smelkinson & Binder. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

NCIS Celebrates 200 Episodes with an Emotional "What If?" Story

Mark Harmon and Muse Watson, NCIS What if? That's the basic question at the heart of NCIS' 200th episode. The landmark hour (airing Tuesday at 8/7c on CBS) takes Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) to his favorite diner for his usual morning cup of coffee. But he gets a whole lot more: Out of the blue, a hooded gunman approaches Gibbs, pulls his weapon and fires.Get more scoop on your favorite shows in our Winter TV previewCue a string of mind-bending flashbacks that ask the question: What if Gibbs had taken a different path? "There's almost an It's a Wonderful Life quality to it," executive producer Gary Glasberg says. "Gibbs is given an opportunity in a millisecond to see what the world would have been like if key moments in NCIS history and lore had unfolded differently. We've taken some of those moments and we let people see them unfold differently."Indeed, Michael Weatherly, who plays Agent Tony DiNozzo, says the "brain-teaser, easter-egg-y... fabricated realities" will bring back characters who have long been dead. Among them: Gibbs' wife (Darby Stanchfield) and daughter, Gibbs' mentor Mike Franks (Muse Watson), and Ari (Rudolf Martin), one of Gibbs' enemies and the brother of fellow NCIS Agent Ziva David (Cote de Pablo).But the biggest surprise of all is connected to Gibbs' previously unseen mother. "I've got two words for you: Gibbs' mom," Weatherly says. "Two hundred episodes and now we get Gibbs' mom? I can't even begin to tell you the emotional weight that put on me. I was a little misty. More than misty - I was full-blown crying. You'd have to be a robot not to cry."NCIS Exclusive: Entourage's Perrey Reeves to play Tony's [SPOILER!] But the episode isn't a total tearjerker. Weatherly says playing an alternate version of himself was quite fun. "I want the fans to relax and understand I didn't do anything strange to my hair," Weatherly jokes. "There's no fake sideburns like [in the episode] "Baltimore" last year. I didn't dye it black. Much to my chagrin, there's no Magnum P.I. mustache."But there are a few major differences [for Tony]," Weatherly continues. "There's a wedding ring and in some version of a time strand - it's like a Star Trek episode for God's sakes - there are babies."Does that mean the fans who have long hoped Tony and Ziva would hook up will finally get to see their fantasy played out? Not exactly. Rather, in this alternate reality, Sasha Alexander's Kate Todd never died, and therefore Ziva and Tony's first meeting comes under much different circumstances. "There's a little glimpse into Ziva and Tony meeting now as opposed to then," Weatherly says. "I really enjoyed Tony in that scene. I wanted to make him the best version of him for that. That's a wonderful world that I see there."Check out our list of TV's sexiest crime fighters!Viewers can get excited, however, about the possibilities for another fan-favorite couple, Abby (Pauley Perette) and McGee (Sean Murray). "I think people will be very satisfied," Glasberg says. "It touches on everyone in ways that you've always wanted to see." But despite all the fun, Weatherly admits that an NCIS without Gibbs is a "daunting thought." "What would that be like if he were incapacitated to a point where he didn't behave the way we've come to expect him to behave?" Weatherly says. "It's an unthinkable world that we explore in this 200th episode, and I have to say, part of me was relieved when it was over. I was like, 'I just want to have a good cracking mystery next week!'"Fear not, Gibbs isn't going anywhere. "Things get back to normal again," Glasberg says. "But I'd like to believe that as Gibbs enters the episodes that follow, he has a new perspective on why he's here, who he is and his importance to NCIS."Look back at 200 episodes worth of photo from NCISImportant enough for another 200 episodes? "We'll see what happens," Glasberg says. "As long as everybody is having a good time and as long as we can come up with fresh stories, we'll do it as long as we can."NCIS airs its 200th episode Tuesday at 8/7c on CBS.

BBC nabs NRK's 'Lilyhammer'

LONDON -- The BBC has nabbed another Scandinavian drama skein -- Norwegian pubcaster NRK's breakout hit "Lilyhammer," which bowed within the U.S. on Netflix. The eight-parter stars Stevie Van Zandt as NY mobster Frank 'The Fixer' Tagliano who moves to Norwegian included in a witness moving plan. In Blighty, "Lilyhammer" will air on trendy web BBC4, whose signature shows include Danish dramas "The Killing" and "Borgen," both produced by Danish pubcaster DR. Henrik Pabst, director of worldwide format acquisition and regional sales director Scandinavia, Benelux, U.K., at distributor SevenOne Worldwide, stated: "Wow! Exactly what a series. First the purchase to Netflix and also the outstanding launch in Norwegian -- scoring an exciting-time high for any Norwegian drama series -- and today most importantly off it will likely be airing around the BBC.""Lilyhammer" bowed on NHK recently drawing 998,000 audiences, a crowd share of 56%.BBC purchases topper Sue Deeks referred to the skein as "fresh, funny and offbeat.""Lilyhammer" is created by Norwegian shingle Rubicon in colaboration with SevenOne Worldwide.A week ago the BBC introduced it had bought the 2nd number of "Borgen." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Exclusive 'Double' Blu-ray Extra: Spy Versus. Spy!

Within this exclusive Blu-ray featurette in the approaching discharge of "The Double," Topher Sophistication describes how he's along the side of the crowd, in additional ways the other. Grace's character is billed using the struggle of lowering a Soviet assassin, who unknowingly to him is actual his mentor, Paul, performed by Richard Gere. "My character Ben Geary's nearly the same as the crowd. He's a new comer to Paul's situation," Sophistication states within an interview for that Blu-ray. "He's type of using the audience when it comes to determining what's happening. Both of us are attempting to allow it to be different things and much more real and different.Inch Browse the exclusive featurette following the jump! The film's director, Michael Brandt, describes in the own interview he wanted to create a spy movie that did not seem like a spy movie. Particularly, he wasn't searching for the tense glances and trench jackets. "I did not would like it to seem like a basic spy movie," Brandt states within the featurette, with his co-author Derek Haas. "I needed it to seem like a film with many different momentum, a film with many different action, in this way, however , type of a film having a forward thrust into it.Inch "The Double" hits Blu-ray and DVD today (The month of january 31). What have you think about the job interview with Topher Sophistication from "The Double"? Inform us within the comments below as well as on Twitter!