* Warner Brothers really wants to stay in the Tom Hardy business, even if it means throwing him bland sounding movies to keep him busy. A couple of days after signing a first look deal with the studio, Hardy has now been attached to produce and star in an untitled biker pic from Sons of Anarchy producer, John Linson. Written by Mark L. Smith(Vacancy), the film has Hardy as a Vietnam War vet who returns home to 1969 San Francisco and rises to become the leader of a biker gang. To me this sounds beneath Hardy a little bit, but I guess it's a definite step up from This Means War. [Variety]
* Gnomeo and Juliet was one of last year's big surprises early on, and with nearly $200M it should come as no surprise Elton John is looking to come back for more. John and his Rocket Studios are planning a sequel to the animated spoof, only this time they'll be tackling the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Titled Gnomeo and Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes(Ha!!! Ugh!!), the film has Gnomeo and Juliet teaming up with the great lawn ornament detective ever. Elton John will compose more original music for it, and the other writers are coming back as well. Kelly Asbury, who directed the first film, will serve as producer, so a new one will need to be found before production begins in the fall. Aren't there like two or three Sherlock Holmes TV shows in development right now? Plus the BBC Sherlock and the Guy Ritchie movies? With so much saturation of Conan Doyle's detective I think Elton John is in for a severe wake up call whenever this comes out.
* Multi-time Oscar nominated director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu has been quiet ever since 2010's Biutiful, but he appears to be getting back into the game with a film that has some thematic similarities. He'll adapt Jennifer Vogel's memoir, Flim-Flam Man: The True Story Of My Father's Counterfeit Life. Adapted by Jez Butterworth(Fair Game), the film details her life with her father, a criminal counterfeiter and con man, who did it all so his family could enjoy the finer things. The novel focuses on a six month period where he ran from the law, and how it affected his family. [Variety]
