The U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal by NBC Universal to review a lower court ruling that reinstated a complaint alleging that the network stole the idea for its SyFy series Ghost Hunters. Parapsychologist Larry Montz and publicist Daena Smoller had claimed in a 2006 suit that between 1996 and 2003 they had pitched the idea of paranormal investigators using technology to investigate claims of haunted properties to entertainment companies including NBC and its subsidiary then called the SciFi Channel. They lost in district court on the issue of copyright but the case was reinstated on appeal on grounds of implied breach of contract. NBC Universal, with the backing of the MPAA argued to the Supreme Court that federal copyright law trumped state contract law. The high court on Monday declined to review the appeals court ruling, which allows the suit by Montz against NBC Universal, Pilgrim Films & Television which produces Ghost Hunters, and other defendants to proceed.
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NBC Universal Loses Court Appeal To Deny ‘Ghost Hunters’ Breach Of Contract Suit
Jason Bateman & Melissa McCarthy Team For Universal Comedy 'ID Theft'
BREAKING: Jason Bateman is attached to star with Bridesmaids’ Melissa McCarthy in the Universal comedy ID Theft. Bateman is producing the comedy with Scott Stuber. Script’s by The Pursuit of Happyness scribe Steve Conrad with Craig Mazin rewriting. The premise 
was originally for a guy who gets his identity stolen by another guy, and it was written for Bateman and another actor. That changed after Bateman saw McCarthy’s scene stealing role in the summer hit Universal comedy Bridesmaids and he pushed for her to be the identity thief. This is meant to be McCarthy’s first film when Mike & Molly goes on hiatus, shooting in April 2012. Bateman has become an increasingly industrious producer, most recently setting up a movie deal for Under the Banner Of Heaven, the drama based on the Jon Krakauer non fiction book that got set up at Warner Bros, with Ron Howard directing and Dustin Lance Black writing. Bateman is producing the Brian Grazer, Shannon Costello and Stephanie Davis.
Universal Makes First-Look Deal With Jason Blum Of 'Paranormal Activity' And 'Insidious'
EXCLUSIVE: Jason Blum will bring the studio into the low-budget but often high-gross world of genre films. Universal Pictures has made a 3-year first-look deal with Blum and his Blumhouse Productions which produced the Paranormal Activity franchise, and followed that up with Insidious, the James Wan-directed thriller that has already become one of the most profitable films of 2011. A sequel seems inevitable.
The original Paranormal Activity cost about $15,000 and grossed $193 million. The first sequel cost $3 million and grossed $177 million worldwide and the third film debuts Oct. 21. Insidious cost $1.5 million and grossed $81 million worldwide and is still rolling out. This guy is minting money. He’s producing the latest installment of the fright franchise Amityville Horror: The Lost Tapes for Dimension Films, produced the Barry Levinson-directed eco-horror film The Bay, The River for ABC and the Jay Chandresakar-directed comedy Baby Makers. He is producing the Oren Peli-directed Area 51 for Paramount Pictures, as well as The Lords of Salem, with Rob Zombie directing. Blum’s also an exec producer on the John Hillcoat-directed The Wettest County in the World. This amounts to an aggressive move into the low-budget area for Universal, which, if anything, is known for spending generously on its slates.
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'Fast Five' Will Transition Franchise From Street Racing To Future Full Of Heist Action
EXCLUSIVE: No one’s been harder on Universal than me for all its recent years of misses and no hits (if you don’t count Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me and Hop). So I’m relieved that the studio has a big fat blockbuster overseas in Fast Five, which releases into North American theaters this Friday as the fifth installment of the very popular street racing franchise. 
But here’s what really gives me reason to think Universal might be back on the right track: what’s planned for Fast Six. No studio has ever dared to change the genre of a successful franchise, but I’ve learned that’s exactly what chairman Adam Fogelson and co-chairman Donna Langley are plotting. It’s a bold and provocative move. In summary, I like it.
It’s already known that Universal has started Chris Morgan – the screenwriter of Fast Five as well as The Fast And The Furious 3: Tokyo Drift, and Fast & Furious 4 — on the script for the sixth installment as part of his new production deal at the studio. But Morgan is also a great scripter of the crime-thriller genre, like Wanted. So what Fast Five sets up nicely is a Fast Six whose plot revolves around a major robbery. And Universal’s intent is to transform the street-racing franchise into a series of heist films.
It was Universal’s previous administration of chairman Marc Shmuger and co-chairman David Linde who put the original … Read More
Tory Metzger Nearing Deal To Head Production For David Linde's Lava Bear
EXCLUSIVE: Tory Metzger is ready to jump back into the production game. Metzger, one of CAA’s top talent agents when she left the agency in 2008 to run production for Media Rights Capital, is in talks to steer creative and production for David Linde’s Lava Bear. That’s the global platform for film production, financing and distribution that the former Universal Pictures chief is getting off the ground with discussions for a first-look Universal deal and a relationship with Reliance ADA. Metzger left Media Rights Capital last summer. She and Linde have a long relationship working on high profile films both while she was at CAA and MRC. All sides declined comment.
U.S. Sen. Al Franken Asks Justice Dept To Investigate Comcast-NBCU "Gun-Jumping"
Monday, November 22, 2010 — Today, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) asking them to investigate Comcast’s compliance with federal antitrust laws in light of its recent announcement of its proposed leadership for NBC Universal. Since the proposed merger between Comcast and NBC Universal has yet to be approved, Sen. Franken asked the DOJ to evaluate whether Comcast’s recent actions constitute what’s known as “gun-jumping,” or illegal collaboration between pre-merger companies.
Comcast’s announcement comes despite an earlier assurance to federal regulators not to announce further personnel changes “until the deal closing process and timing is certain.”
Sen. Franken wrote in the letter, “The Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission have yet to complete their review of the proposed Comcast and NBC Universal merger. And yet, by publicly announcing their intended managers of each component of NBC Universal, Comcast has effectively told employees at NBC Universal who their ‘
'Despicable Me' Crosses $500 Million Mark
EXCLUSIVE: Despicable Me, the first film out of the gate for Universal Pictures and Chris Meledandri’s Illumination Entertainment, will cross the $500 million worldwide gross mark tomorrow. It steps into rarefied territory as the film continues to roll out around the world. The 3D animated film that starred Steve Carell recently cracked the Top 10 list of all time biggest domestic-grossing animated films. The pic, which cost $69 million to make, has grossed $248 million domestically, which puts it a distant second behind Toy Story 3, but makes it 2010′s second biggest animated film domestic grosser so far. Despicable Me also has become Universal’s sixth highest domestic-grossing film ever, and the studio’s biggest international grossing film of 2010. The film just opened in Japan but hasn’t played yet in several territories including China. It has done $247 million overseas, and is expected to finish as Universal’s fifth all-time biggest grossing film in the international marketplace. Just as important, the picture pulled Universal out of a prolonged slump.
“We couldn’t be more impressed with the movie or with the global Universal and Illumination team that has made it a certifiable blockbuster,” said Universal Pictures chairman Adam Fogelson and co-chairman Donna Langley in a joint statement. “This was a mammoth effort from every division of the company, and their work resulted in the film’s brilliant success. To know that the first project … Read More
Universal Signs Exclusive Deluxe Print Deal
Deluxe, the world’s largest processor of film for the motion picture industry, is now the worldwide provider of 35mm release printing services for Universal which has abandoned Technicolor. (Could it be that Warner Bros is the only major Hollywood studio left using Technicolor?) I understand an announcement will be made Wednesday that Deluxe Entertainment Services Group has signed a multi-year, exclusive worldwide 35mm film print services agreement with Universal Studios that includes Focus Features. The deal follows last week’
Universal Lands Stephen King's 'The Dark Tower' And Plans Unprecedented Feature/Network TV Adaptation
EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures and NBC Universal Television Entertainment have closed a deal to turn Stephen King’
'Little Fockers' Brings Back Dustin Hoffman
UPDATES ‘Little Fockers’ Needs A Week Of Pickups
I’ve confirmed that those pickup shots which I first reported that Universal has scheduled for September on Little Fockers are now more than half a dozen full-blown scenes, including 4 with Dustin Hoffman. The notoriously difficult actor was written out of the Meet The Parents threequel altogether when Universal couldn’t reach a deal with him. But John Hamburg and Jay Roach helped convince Dustin to reprise his role which is “not dissimilar to what we were pitching him in the beginning,” an insider tells me. Hoffman won’t come cheap. 
“It’s costing what we were going to pay him in the first place,” my insider explains. Fortunately for the studio, the film was under budget, but even so it’s at least a $100M film. Hoffman will star in some pivotal scenes opposite Barbra Streisand, and then in a big scene at the end of the movie involving all the major characters. Other pickup scenes focus on Ben Stiller and the kids. Universal continues to spin that Little Fockers could have gone out “as is” since it scored an “85″ for the top 2 boxes with test audiences. ”But we want to make it better. It’s an investment in the future of the franchise.” So we’ll see whether the threequel still set for release in December kills Universal’s golden … Read More
Reliance Bringing Universal Studios Theme Parks To India?
The Wall Street Journal reports that Reliance ADA Group is negotiating with Universal Studios to replicate its movie-themed amusement parks in India. The result would be a $1.5 billion new park that covers 400 acres –in either New Delhi or Mumbai–and would combine Universal park attractions with others devoted to Bollywood films. Universal would take a licensing fee for its branded attractions that include themed attractions involving such Marvel Comics characters as Spider-Man, The Hulk and Doctor Doom–deals made well before theme park rival Disney bought Marvel–as well as Dr. Seuss attractions. There are also the venerable rides based on the films of Reliance’s DreamWorks partner Steven Spielberg–who gets a cut of theme park receipts–with Jaws, E.T. and Jurassic Park. Universal’s Islands of Adventure just opened an entire wing of the park devoted to the Warner Bros franchise Harry Potter, which recently opened after two years of construction, highlighted by a ridiculously ambitious simulator ride housed within a replica of Hogwarts Academy that has been carved into a faux mountainside setting that is as overwhelming as the $200 million I’m told was spent to build it. WSJ qualifies that the deal is in the talking stage, but it would mark Reliance’s latest foray into Hollywood. Besides its partnership with DreamWorks, Reliance made first look deals with the production companies of Brad Pitt, Chris Columbus, Jay Roach, George Clooney, Jim Carrey, Tom Hanks, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, Nicolas Cage and … Read More
Chris Meledandri's Illumination Game Plan Includes 'Despicable Me' Sequel, 'Minion' Spinoffs, Dr. Seuss, The Addams Family
EXCLUSIVE: Three years ago, Universal Pictures brass wooed Chris Meledandri away from his president post at Fox Animation to start its first family film unit. Over the weekend, Illumination’
First Look At Universal's King Kong 360 3D
Deadline freelance journalist Diane Haithman visited Universal Studios Tour for the media unveiling of the new “King King 3D 360″ attraction:
In June, 2008, Universal Studios’
Justin Theroux Joins 'Wanderlust'
While Justin Theroux is writing and preparing to direct Zoolander 2 for Paramount Pictures, he has found time to squeeze in a lead role in Wanderlust, joining Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston in the David Wain-directed Universal comedy about a couple’s attempt to escape the trappings of the city for a counterculture life.
While he started out in front of the camera, Theroux is taking acting and writing jobs in equal measure. He just wrapped the villain role in the Universal comedy Your Highness opposite Danny McBride, James Franco and Natalie Portman. He was the sole credited writer on Iron Man [...]
MRC, Universal Make 20 Pic, Five-Year Pact
EXCLUSIVE: Media Rights Capital and Universal Pictures closed a deal that will put up to 20 MRC-generated films through the studio distribution pipeline over a five-year period. The pact begins in 2011.
While MRC partners Modi Wiczyk and Asif Satchu have done repeat business at Universal, this is a new wrinkle in their formula of assembling and funding film packages with big stars and directors, and then licensing distribution to studios on a case by case basis. Those deals were structured to give creative freedom and maximum upside to stars and directors, and eventual ownership stakes in the films when copyrights [...]
SHOCKER: Michael Joe Leaves Universal For Relativity
EXCLUSIVE: I’ve just learned that Michael Joe, Universal Pictures’ much valued EVP, has left the studio after 15 years and is jumping to Ryan Kavanaugh’s Relativity in a senior position. Almost everyone important at Universal is in Cannes for Robin Hood so I can’t gauge reaction. But Joe has been the company’s chief strategy officer, integrally involved in the studio’s business development and strategic planning. While continuing to oversee business development, he also directed the company’s digital initiatives, including wireless, interactive games and d-cinema. Plus, he engineered the company’s entry into new markets and technologies and represented Universal on anti-piracy, public policy and MPAA matters. He also managed Universal’s advanced technology group. Joe [...]
CANNES: Ready For 3D Van Damme?
The muscles from Brussels will star with his regular sparring partner Dolph Lundgren in Universal Soldier IV. Mark Damon’
Clive Owen & JC Fresnadillo Are 'Intruders'
This is unusual: a joint news release from Universal Pictures and United Talent about the news that Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) will direct and Clive Owen will star in the new English-language genre film Intruders. Universal Pictures International and Madrid-based Apaches Entertainment. Apache’s Enrique López Lavigne is Fresnadillo’s longtime producing partner. Spanish media company Antena 3 and Universal Pictures International (UPI) are financing the project, which will be distributed internationally by Universal Pictures International, with UPI’
Green Day's `American Idiot' Making Movie Move With Playtone's Hanks, Goetzman
EXCLUSIVE: The Green Day-fueled American Idiot doesn’t bow on Broadway bow until April 20. Already, talks are underway with Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman to turn the musical into a feature film.
Playtone’s last stage-to-screen transfer was the Abba musical Mamma Mia! Critics might not have loved it, but audiences sure did. The film grossed $610 million worldwide, becoming one of the biggest hits in Universal Pictures history. Hanks and Goetzman have a first-look deal at Universal, but the producers will sew up the movie rights before giving the studio first crack, I hear. They just set up Larry [...]
Helms Will Have Another Hangover Before Central Intelligence Kicks In
Universal won’t start production this spring on Central Intelligence, the comedy that had The Office’s Ed Helms starring and Dean Parisot directing. Rumors raced yesterday that the film was scrapped. Insiders insist that isn’t so. The comedy won’t likely come before Helms reprises in The Hangover sequel, giving Universal time to sort things out.